Madam Liu, twisting a pastry between her fingers, leaned against a soft couch, the gold-inlaid nine-turn hair ornaments dangling by her ears. She was languid and alluring, but a trace of malice, utterly mismatched with her delicate features, flickered in her slightly lowered gaze. "Yu'er," she murmured, "how should I deal with that lowly wretch later?"
As she spoke, she casually crushed the pastry in her hand. The crumbled fragments rained down, falling onto the table and the couch. Yu'er bent down, swept the crumbs onto the floor, and deliberately stomped on them with all her might.
It was as if the pastry crumbs beneath her feet were no longer just crumbs, but… Nan Shiying.
She replied with a smile, "Naturally…"
Her words were barely out when they were interrupted by the anxious shouts of the steward from outside. "Madam, Madam, this is terrible! Madam Qin has been slapped. If you don't go out soon, Nan Shiying will accuse Madam Qin of suspected collusion with the enemy and drag her to the Jingzhao Yin Prefecture."
"What did you say?"
Madam Liu shot up abruptly. The hair ornaments dangling by her ears struck her skin, causing her pain and making her eyebrows knit together. She shoved the door open, her wide, bulging eyes seeming to be stained with blood. With a glare that threatened to split her gaze, she demanded.
If this were any other day, the steward might have felt a flicker of fear. But today, having witnessed Nan Shiying's ferocity, he found the enraged Madam to be more like a paper tiger, all bluster and no substance.
"Madam, Madam Qin lied, claiming you were gravely ill and unable to come out. Before Nan Shiying could even get angry, the servants of the 왕府 (Wangfu - Prince's Manor) fiercely slapped Madam Qin, saying she had disrespected royalty. And that Nan Shiying, how detestable! She's even going to the palace to request an imperial physician to treat you. Madam, you feigned illness and refused to receive her into the manor. If she doesn't pursue this matter, it's a trifle. But if she does, you've disrespected royalty and shown disrespect to the Princess Consort. This charge alone is enough to strip you of your noble title!"
"Madam, you, you should still…"
The steward, in the end, dared not finish his sentence.
"Nan… Shi… Ying!"
For how many years had it been? For how many years had no one dared to insult her? And today, she had been so humiliated by that little slut Nan Shiying.
She unleashed a torrent of furious venting.
Only after smashing most of the things in the courtyard did she manage to suppress her rage.
She wiped away her rouge, pulled off the hair ornaments from her head, and made herself appear as if she were confined to a sickbed. Then, she walked towards the entrance with her servants.
As she neared the door, she slowed her steps, leaning against a maidservant, feigning weakness and feebleness.
She paused with every step, coughed with every step.
"Cough, cough, cough, cough~"
Before Madam Liu even appeared, a series of coughs could be heard. Nan Shiying looked towards the source of the sound, and a delicate figure emerged before her eyes.
Madam Liu!
Who would have thought that this woman, with her gentle demeanor and face like a peach blossom, would possess a heart as venomous as a snake?
As Nan Shiying observed Madam Liu, Madam Liu was also scrutinizing Nan Shiying. That previously timid, cowering girl, who dared not meet anyone's eyes when speaking, whose voice was as soft as a fly's, easily bullied and submissive, had now cultivated such an imposing aura.
She hadn't noticed it before. This little slut was actually so beautiful. If she had known, she should have ruined her face back then.
What Regent Prince? He's just a piece of trash blinded by lust!
"Your subordinate, cough, cough, cough, cough, your subordinate's wife, pays respects to the Princess Consort."
Madam Liu, supported by her servants, approached Nan Shiying. She suppressed the resentment and disdain in her eyes, not even glancing at Madam Qin, who knelt on the ground with a face swollen like a steamed bun. With a smile, she bowed to Nan Shiying and then offered a sincere apology. "I hope the Princess Consort will not blame me. It is truly because I am gravely ill... cough, cough, cough, cough, no... cough, cough, cough, cough, no..."
"Madam, Madam, please calm your breathing first."
Yu'er, her maidservant, spoke while appearing worried, helping her to breathe. Seeing Madam Qin's miserable state, she dared not say more, merely casting a quick glance at Nan Shiying.
However, the dissatisfaction in her eyes was still seen by Nan Shiying and her companions.
Lu Wan stepped forward with a smile, not sparing Madam Liu a glance. She grabbed Yu'er's wrist and yanked her fiercely. Caught off guard, Yu'er's scream was cut short as she was slapped soundly.
Yu'er was sent sprawling to the ground by Lu Wan's slap, nearly causing Madam Liu to fall.
"You!"
Madam Liu had never expected that a servant of the Prince's Manor would dare to slap her personal maidservant to her face. Wasn't this a direct slap to her own face? The anger she had finally suppressed flared up like a prairie fire.
Just as Madam Liu was about to lose her composure, Madam Qin hugged her thigh tightly and asked nervously, "Madam, Madam, are you alright?"
However, her words were still unclear. Although Madam Liu couldn't fully understand what Madam Qin was saying, her own uncontrolled emotions were somewhat soothed.
She suddenly staggered, her body lurching backward.
Madam Qin, with quick reflexes, used her body to support Madam Liu, giving the maidservants time to react.
"Madam, Madam, are you alright!" Madam Liu's maidservants crowded around, one supporting Madam Liu's arm, another helping her to catch her breath, their faces pale with lingering fear.
Madam Liu waved her hand weakly, as if she were about to ascend to heaven.
If the onlookers hadn't been scared away, within an hour, the reputation of Regent Princess Consort Nan Shiying for bullying others and being unfilial would have spread throughout the entire capital.
"Is Concubine Liu no longer able to stand?"
"If she's really unable, be sure to inform me in advance. I can then prepare some good items for the concubine to press down the coffin board, considering it my filial duty."
Her words were so pointed, they were practically asking Madam Liu if she was dying.
Press down the coffin board?
"You..."
Madam Liu, unable to draw a full breath, almost fainted for real.
Watching Madam Liu's furious yet helpless demeanor, Nan Shiying felt so delighted she could have laughed out loud.
This was the most satisfying day since she became Nan Shiying.
She didn't restrain the smile on her face, but instead, with a cheerful tone, loudly berated, "You bunch of cur dogs, what are you still looking at? Hurry and help the concubine inside. If the concubine's condition is delayed by you curs, I'll have your heads chopped off."
If they hadn't heard the laughter in her voice, everyone would have almost believed her.
The people of the Nan Manor were utterly stunned by Nan Shiying's shamelessness. But looking at the pool of blood that had still not dried, and at the miserable state of Madam Qin and Yu'er, no one dared to say another word.
They were afraid of being dragged out and having their heads chopped off.
"Yes!"
The maidservants lowered their heads, not daring to look up, only murmuring their assent.
Nan Shiying then turned and glared fiercely at Xuan Yi, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry and take the Prince's Manor's token and go to the palace to request an imperial physician to treat my concubine!"
"If you delay the concubine's illness, I'll have the Prince chop off your head!"
Xuan Yi: "..."
My Lady, how much do you enjoy having people's heads chopped off!