Mu the Lesser's younger brother showing up in her palace? This could never be a coincidence. However, Concubine Shu didn't make a fuss. Instead, she quietly observed what Mu Rendong was up to.
She had to figure out whether Mu the Lesser had sent him or if someone else had bribed him. But after sending people to follow him for several days, Concubine Shu still couldn't tell whose man he was. She felt that the person behind Mu the Lesser must be no ordinary figure.
Today, the person who had been following Mu Rendong came back and reported that Mu Rendong was on the move. So Concubine Shu decided to play along with his scheme and secretly arranged everything. However, she never expected that this Mu Rendong was actually targeting her. This scumbag even lusted after her beauty!
She knew she was good-looking, but was she someone so easy to covet? How dare this ugly man have such thoughts? He was truly courting death!
"Servants! Take him with us. We're going to have a good talk with Mu the Lesser." If she didn't vent this anger, she wouldn't feel at ease. She must teach this scumbag a lesson. He was simply disgusting!
"Your Ladyship, Mu the Lesser is currently in the front hall accompanying the Emperor to host a banquet for the court officials," said the maid beside Concubine Shu.
Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu's eyes lit up. The front hall was a perfect place. "Then take him to the front hall. We'll go to the Emperor to seek justice." Concubine Shu ordered someone to tie up Mu Rendong and, in a menacing manner, prepared to go and settle the score with Mu Xingrou.
"You dare! You bitch! Do you know who I am? I'm Mu the Lesser's younger brother. If you dare to lay a finger on me, my sister will never forgive you," Mu Rendong shouted and cursed at Concubine Shu after he came to his senses.
Mu Rendong thought that after he mentioned his sister Mu Xingrou, this woman would be scared. But to his surprise, the woman showed no reaction at all. "Did you hear what I said? My sister is the Emperor's favorite woman. If you dare to offend me, my sister will never let you off."
Those around them burst into laughter upon hearing Mu Rendong's words. Was this guy an idiot? So what if his sister was favored? Their ladyship was one of the Four Concubines. How dare a mere lesser concubine act so arrogantly in front of their ladyship? It was really laughable.
"Stop laughing. Someone, gag his mouth. His noise is getting on my nerves," Concubine Shu said. What if she couldn't cry later?
"Yes," a little eunuch quickly grabbed a tablecloth from the side and stuffed it into Mu Rendong's mouth.
"Remember, all of you be alert. Whether your monthly pay will increase depends on your performance this time," Concubine Shu said, looking at the servants around her.
Hearing this, the servants immediately perked up. The man they were tying up was their golden goose. They couldn't let him escape. "Your Ladyship, don't worry. Your servant (maid) understands."
Concubine Shu nodded in satisfaction at their reaction and then led the group in a grand manner towards the front hall. Halfway there, she thought something was amiss.
"Slap me," Concubine Shu said to the maid beside her. This nearly scared the little maid to death.
"Your Ladyship, please spare me," the little maid immediately knelt on the ground, trembling. Concubine Shu sighed at her. She was so useless.
"Xiaoyi, come and slap me," Concubine Shu said. If she went there unscathed, no one would believe her. So she had to go all out with this act.
Xiaoyi was Concubine Shu's personal maid and had grown up with her. After hearing Concubine Shu's words, Xiaoyi immediately understood her intention. Without hesitation, she slapped Concubine Shu across the face.
"Is that enough, Your Ladyship?" Xiaoyi calmly looked at Concubine Shu. Although she seemed calm on the surface, she was extremely nervous inside. Although it was her master's order and she had to obey, it was the first time she had done such a thing, so she wasn't sure.
Instead of getting angry after being slapped by Xiaoyi, Concubine Shu asked Xiaoyi to slap her on the other side of the face as well. Concubine Shu felt the handprint on her face and thought it was enough. Then she led the group and continued walking forward.
Those behind them looked at Xiaoyi beside Concubine Shu as if she were a goddess. She was truly extraordinary. She even dared to hit her master. They were really impressed.
When they were almost at the front hall, Concubine Shu pinched her thigh. The pain made tears well up in her eyes immediately.
"Woohoo..." It hurt so much.
"Don't worry, Your Ladyship. The Emperor will surely uphold justice for you," Xiaoyi quickly stepped forward to support Concubine Shu.
"Please, Eunuch, announce us. Our lady has an urgent matter and wishes to see the Emperor," Concubine Shu and her entourage stopped at the entrance of the front hall. Looking at the eunuchs standing at the door, she gave them a bag of silver as a tip.
The eunuch took the silver and glanced at Concubine Shu. He immediately understood that Concubine Shu must have been wronged. Not daring to delay, as he had taken the silver, he quickly went inside to announce.
The little eunuch whispered something in the ear of the grand eunuch beside the Emperor and then waited for the Emperor's reply.
After hearing this, the grand eunuch immediately reported it to Yuan Yuchuan. Yuan Yuchuan frowned but didn't say anything. He just ordered someone to summon Concubine Shu in. After all, Concubine Shu came from a prominent family, and her family was powerful. He couldn't afford to neglect her.
After getting the message, the little eunuch stood outside the main hall and shouted, "Summon Concubine Shu into the hall—"
The chattering courtiers all fell silent. They were unclear about what was going on and quietly watched the woman walking in from outside the hall. Concubine Shu's family members, on the other hand, looked at their daughter excitedly as she entered.
Since their daughter entered the palace, they hadn't seen her again. Now they could finally see her, but at the first sight of Concubine Shu, they frowned deeply. How had their daughter become like this?
After entering, Concubine Shu immediately knelt down. "Your Majesty, please uphold justice for this concubine. Otherwise, this concubine will have no face to live on," she said and burst into tears.
"Love, get up and tell me what's going on," Yuan Yuchuan said. He didn't know what had happened to Concubine Shu. Since she had entered with her head down, Yuan Yuchuan hadn't seen the handprints on her face.
"This concubine won't get up. This concubine has no face to face Your Majesty. This concubine only begs Your Majesty to uphold justice. After this, this concubine will hang herself in the palace," Concubine Shu said, raising her head and showing the injuries on her face. Everyone in the main hall saw the handprints on Concubine Shu's face.
"Presumptuous! Concubine Shu, what nonsense are you talking about? And how did you get the injuries on your face?" Yuan Yuchuan thought that if he didn't handle this matter properly, Lord Xu, Concubine Shu's father, and his family wouldn't let it go easily.
Sure enough, as he was thinking this, Lord Xu had already knelt down with his wife. "Your Majesty, please uphold justice for our daughter!"