In the personal palace of the emperor.

    Zhao Feixian and Yu Lang were enjoying a spirited exchange of woes and pleasures, frequently interrupted by the general's interjections.

    Zhao Meihua yawned out of boredom, as being just a child, she couldn't join the conversation. She sat listening quietly until her patience ran out and she stood up, asking in her clear voice.

    "Uncle, mother, may I go play outside?"

    Upon hearing her daughter's request, Zhao Feixian looked towards her brother for his opinion. Yu Lang, understanding well that children of Meihua's age would be terribly bored listening to adults talk for too long, nodded in approval.

    "Meihua, go with Father. I'll play shopping with you," Zhao Minglong quickly suggested, standing up with an eagerness to escape.

    Liu Gonggong, who was standing at service, couldn't help but startle at the thought of the invincible general playing shopping, scooping dirt, and cutting leaves to pretend they were food, and then imagined him chasing his daughter with a beaming smile.

    "Ah...heaven, is a calamity about to strike?"

    Yu Lang intervened quickly, "Minglong, let Hua’er go play by herself for now. We need to continue discussing official matters."

    He hoped to use the time to discuss the numerous issues plaguing the region, which seemed endless. However, the general, glaring in frustration, refused bluntly, uncaring of Yu Lang's higher status.

    "What matters? It's my day off. Why should I sit here discussing anything with you?"

    The emperor gritted his teeth in irritation, his normally smiling face now clouded with anger.

    "Minglong, you scoundrel. You've taken my sister, and now you don't even respect me, your emperor and brother-in-law."

    Zhao Feixian looked between her husband and brother, her eyes showing signs of exhaustion before she finally spoke up, cutting through both their arguments.

    "Dear, why don't you let the maid accompany Hua’er outside? Then we can continue our discussion."

    The general turned to his wife, ready to object, but when meeting her stern look, he quieted down. He didn't want to end up being disciplined in the palace for all to gossip about.

    "Let's discuss it then. It's good for us to consult with each other to solve these problems, don't you think so, Yu Lang?"

    The emperor looked at his brother-in-law, who had quickly changed his stance.

    ‘Ha! Serves you right for having to deal with my beloved sister.’

    Zhao Meihua smiled beneath her white veil, extending her small hand to one of the young maids arranged by Liu Gonggong to take care of her. Quickly, the young girl followed the maid outside the palace.

    "What is your name?" she asked with a clear voice.

    The young maid looked down at the small face hidden under the white cloth, then met the bright, sparkling eyes reminiscent of a star-filled night sky, feeling an immediate fondness for her.

    "My name is 'Jing Yu,' Young Miss."

    The maid answered with a humble and gentle tone, showing no signs of arrogance even though she was a child. Zhao Meihua felt a connection with the person before her, drawn by her gentle and warm demeanor.

    Meihua thought about asking her uncle to let Jing Yu stay with her and Jingyian, hoping her presence would bring warmth to Jingyian’s usual coldness.

    "What would you like to play, Young Miss? Jing Yu will find it for you," the maid asked, seeing the girl's silence.

    "I don't want to play, I just saw there were many flowers in the garden earlier and wanted to go look," Meihua said, her face brightening a bit.

    Jing Yu smiled softly upon hearing this. Girls always appreciate beautiful things.

    "Then, let me take you to that side of the garden. The flowers in the royal garden are in full bloom now, very beautiful."

    Meihua laughed lightly at Jing Yu's enticing tone as if the maid was coaxing a toddler, before nodding in agreement.

    Soon, Jing Yu led her to a pavilion in the garden, surrounded by various kinds of flowers in full bloom, competing in beauty. Another side displayed a field of sweet-scented Mei Gui Hua, spreading their fragrance whenever the breeze passed.

    "So beautiful," Meihua exclaimed, her eyes shining as she gazed at the floral view before her.

    "Do you like it, Young Miss?" the maid asked, smiling happily when she saw the joy in the young girl's eyes.

    'Ah, what a pity. If the Young Miss of the general's manor wasn't affected by that disease that ruined her appearance as the rumors say, she would grow up to be the most beautiful woman in the capital,' Jing Yu thought, her eyes covertly observing the young girl's veiled face.

    "How dare! Who allowed a maid like you to stand here admiring flowers in the royal garden like this?"

    A sharp female voice interrupted Zhao Meihua and Jing Yu from behind. Jing Yu jumped, her face turning pale with panic at the sight of the woman approaching the pavilion.

    "Consort Xian Fei!"

    "You dare! Knowing who I am, why haven't you paid your respects? or is a Consort like me too low to be noticed by you?"

    Jing Yu quickly regained her composure, knelt, and repeatedly kowtowed to beg for mercy from the consort.

    "I was wrong, please forgive me, Consort Xian Fei."

    Zhao Meihua watched silently, understanding that the beautiful woman, with her elegant figure dressed in a vivid red robe adorned with colorful Mei Gui Hua patterns, was a high-ranking consort of the emperor. But seeing her treatment of those under her command only made Meihua feel more irritated.

    Meihua knew that her nature wasn't usually compassionate, especially towards those who bullied others for their status. How despicable!

    Consort Wan Xian Fei looked indifferently at Jing Yu begging for mercy, not really bothered since the maid hadn't done anything wrong. Her annoyance was due to something else, but she just took her anger out on Jing Yu.

    'Ah! It's all that wretched Feixian's fault that the emperor broke his appointment for a tea party with me!'

    Thinking of the Emperor's sister, who had married the man she loved, made Wan Xian Fei even more furious, her beautiful face twisting with rage.

    Poor Jing Yu, a newly arrived maid, was not fully aware of the rules within the royal palace. She was chosen to serve in the emperor’s palace by Liu Gonggong, a trusted eunuch, who admired her humility and modesty.

    What Jing Yu didn't realize was that Wan Xian Fei had long harbored a dislike for her, which hadn't manifested in actions because Jing Yu was always being under the watchful eye of Liu Gonggong or others, preventing Wan Xian Fei from finding an opportunity to punish her. Now, seizing the chance, one of Wan Xian Fei's feet cruelly stomped on the young maid's hand, crushing it with significant force.

    Despite the pain, Jing Yu knew that resisting might lead to even harsher punishment. As a servant, her life and death were at the mercy of her masters. Her only fear was for her old father at home, wondering who would care for him if she were to die.

    'My dear father, I'm so ungrateful. I might die before I can repay your kindness,' she thought.

    Wan Xian Fei smirked viciously, enjoying the maid's fear and lack of retaliation, pressing down her foot harder until Jing Yu's delicate skin tore, revealing bloody flesh. She then grabbed the maid by the hair, forcing her head up, and growled menacingly.

    "You dare tarnish my honor like this? If I let you go, I wouldn’t be able to face anyone again."

    Tears streamed down the maid's face as her body trembled in fear, her bloodied hand drenched with blood from the brutality she endured. She didn't mean to insult the consort, her life as a humble maid was worthless, and she needed to die if commanded.

    "Please have mercy, I didn't mean it... Please..."

    Slap!

    The maid got slapped so hard that her pale face showed red fingerprints. Red blood dripped down to small lips before hitting the ground.

    "Savage!" A small voice suddenly called out, capturing everyone's attention in the pavilion.

    "Cruel and vicious," the young girl continued, her eyes cold and fierce.

    "Ah... I thought a consort was supposed to be graceful and kind-hearted. I didn't realize monsters could also have the title. No wonder your manners are so horrible... Such a disgrace to see."

    Silence fell in the pavilion as all eyes turned to the small figure who had spoken up, previously unnoticed until now.

    'Ah... poor child, she's sure to die now.

    Wan Xian Fei, stepping away from Jing Yu, stood before the small figure and hissed,

    "You wretched child, who are you to insult me?"

    The young girl tilted her head, feigning innocence, "Who insulted you?"

    "You dare to mock me with your insolence?"

    Wan Xian Fei's fury did nothing to intimidate the young girl, who merely raised her eyebrows provocatively.

    "I insult a consort who acts savagely, irrationally, harming others like a wild beast. Did you do such a thing?"

    The sharp response hit Wan Xian Fei like a knife. As Consort Xian Fei, a titled consort of high standing, she had never been so blatantly disrespected. And now, this mere child barely weaned off milk, dared to challenge her authority.

    "Foul-mouthed brat... Fine, since you dare to challenge me, I'll have your tongue cut out and leave you to die," she decreed.

    The young girl, unfazed, looked on as if to provoke further,

    "Who's insulting whom?"

    In her rage, Wan Xian Fei commanded, "Servant, cut out this kid's tongue and let her bleed to death."