Qin Yushan was injured and naturally could not continue to participate in the banquet. After bidding farewell to Zou Yun'er, she returned to her residence with the help of a maid.
With this interlude, the atmosphere of the banquet became somewhat strange.
Nan Shiying, however, did not seem to mind. She continued to drink wine and eat dishes leisurely, exuding a lazy and unrestrained air that gave people the illusion that she was the true host.
Her presence surpassed even that of Zou Yun'er.
After the main meal, the palace maids cleared away the remaining dishes and served fresh fruits and pastries, reheating the wine to a suitable temperature.
"Ah!"
A palace maid stumbled over something, lunging forward.
An entire pot of wine was directly spilled onto Nan Shiying. Lu Wan didn't even have time to react. Looking at her wide, wine-soaked sleeves, Lu Wan felt a surge of anger. If this were not Lilan Palace, she would have slapped the maid.
Nan Shiying lowered her head. The warm wine seeped into her clothes and then, turning cold, clung to her arm. A patch of her skirt was dampened, and on this wet fabric, a faint scent of grass slowly diffused.
She sighed with a hint of weariness.
Since entering the palace, one incident after another had befallen her, each lesson replaced by another. Countless insignificant figures had come forward relentlessly, like dust motes and willow catkins. This time, who was it?
"Your Highness, please forgive me, Your Highness, please forgive me."
The palace maid got up from the ground, kneeling and begging for mercy in a panic.
Nan Shiying gazed at her quietly, her head bowed.
Zou Yun'er glared fiercely at the palace maid, thinking her useless. To make such a low-level mistake at her banquet was to slap her in the face.
With a ruthless resolve, Zou Yun'er shouted to the eunuchs outside, "Come! Drag this maid away and give her fifty heavy lashes."
"Yes!"
The eunuch squeaked his assent loudly.
Fifty lashes?
That was enough to kill someone.
The palace maid, trembling with fear, kowtowed and begged, "Noble Consort, please spare this servant, spare this servant! This servant knows her mistake."
Zou Yun'er, however, was determined to beat the maid who had embarrassed her to death.
This banquet had been a humiliating affair!
"Princess Consort, Princess Consort, I was wrong, please, please spare this servant." Seeing that the Noble Consort was set on killing her, the palace maid turned to Nan Shiying, kowtowing for mercy.
Nan Shiying watched the terrified palace maid with amusement. The maid likely never dreamed that merely spilling a pot of wine would result in such a severe punishment. But would Nan Shiying spare her? Clearly not. Even though Nan Shiying knew that the moment the mastermind used this palace maid, she had already anticipated Zou Yun'er's reaction.
In other words, the other party was using a borrowed knife to kill.
But did Nan Shiying care? She did not! What use was it to keep a witness?
She lowered her eyes, not even glancing at the palace maid.
Sharp cries of grief, accompanied by the sound of the beatings, echoed through the pavilion. Zou Yun'er ordered the punishment to be carried out outside the pavilion, intending to intimidate everyone present.
After thirty-five lashes, there was a sudden silence.
The eunuch administering the punishment entered the pavilion and reported loudly, "Your Highness, she has no breath."
Zou Yun'er grunted and waved her hand with disgust, "I understand. Drag her away and bury her properly."
"Your Highness is merciful."
After the eunuch offered his flattery, he turned and left.
The entire pavilion was silent. Everyone looked at each other, their gazes shifting between Zou Yun'er and Nan Shiying, adding a layer of fear.
These two were truly ruthless!
Only after the punishment was over did Nan Shiying slowly rise. Zou Yun'er seemed to have just remembered something and instructed the palace maid beside her, "Quickly, take the Princess Consort to change her robes."
Nan Shiying cast a deep, probing look at her. Her gaze, as cold and profound as a deep well, made Zou Yun'er falter slightly, a chill suddenly creeping into her heart.
Nan Shiying withdrew her gaze and smiled, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Then, she said to Lu Wan, "You wait here for this consort."
"But Your Highness—" Lu Wan instinctively started to object, but after seeing Nan Shiying's look, she immediately stopped herself. "This servant obeys."
"This way, Princess Consort." The palace maid walked up to Nan Shiying with a respectful demeanor, leading her towards the west wing.
The palace maid led Nan Shiying into a side room and then said, "Princess Consort, all the robes in this room are new ones made by the Imperial Wardrobe for Noble Consort. Whichever you like, you may change into. This servant will wait outside."
Nan Shiying gave a faint hum and pushed the door open, stepping inside.
Various dresses were hung in a large, doorless wardrobe. Beyond this wardrobe, in the inner room, was a soft couch with a small wooden table holding a tea set.
She surveyed the room and then sat down, leaning against the couch.
Suddenly, voices could be heard from outside the door.
"Ningzhi, Her Highness is calling you." A strange voice rang out, and then the palace maid who had led her for the change of clothes asked with some confusion, "Her Highness is calling me? But—"
"But what? Just go."
"However..."
The voice interrupted Ningzhi's words. "Who else would watch for you here? What are you worried about?"
Ningzhi hesitated, then nodded heavily. "Alright, Sister Xiaocui, please watch here for me. I'll go see Her Highness now."
"Hurry up and go!"
As the voice faded, an eerie silence fell outside. Then, Nan Shiying heard footsteps receding.
It seemed there was no one at the door anymore.
She leaned languidly against the couch, closing her eyes wearily. Before long, the door of the side room was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
Nan Shiying slowly opened her eyes.
She saw a man in a brocade robe walking in.
He had a passable face, but his complexion was pale, his steps unsteady, and dark circles under his eyes, clearly showing signs of excess indulgence and depleted kidney essence.
She tutted, her mind filled with a single thought.
Couldn't these people come up with any new tricks? Why always this same move? Didn't they ever tire of it?
The man carefully closed the door and turned. Upon seeing Nan Shiying lying on the couch with her eyes closed, lust flared in his eyes, and his throat involuntarily bobbed. He walked further into the room, loosening his belt.
Nan Shiying suddenly opening her eyes made him jump. However, the desire in his eyes grew more intense and naked at her sudden rise in beauty after opening her eyes. "Little beauty, you are truly stunning!"
A sickening voice emanated from his mouth, reaching Nan Shiying's ears.
Nan Shiying slowly stood up.
And sighed again.
Disgusting.