"What do you mean?" Chu Huaiyu asked urgently, tears almost welling up in her eyes from anger.
Chu Qianli smiled, "Miss Huaiyu, it's best if you save this crying trick for the Empress Dowager."
"The future Empress cannot be as fragile as you."
"You..." Chu Huaiyu looked wronged.
But she immediately saw a flicker of disappointment in the Empress Dowager's eyes.
The tears in the corner of her eyes vanished instantly, and she quickly leaned towards the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, Huaiyu is not..."
"We'll talk about this later!" The Empress Dowager snorted, clearly displeased.
She had said before that she disliked scheming concubines in the harem the most.
Chu Qianli was stubborn and proud. It wasn't that she didn't scheme, but she did it openly.
This made her less detestable.
It was a pity that her mother was a courtesan, destined to never be presentable.
As for Chu Huaiyu, her status was noble, but her petty nature was truly annoying.
She stopped paying attention to Chu Huaiyu and stared at Chu Qianli instead.
"Things have come to this, and I have nothing more to say to you. If a seductress causes the downfall of the nation, she will not have a good end."
"If you still wish to stay by Xuan'er's side, you'd best learn to be well-behaved. If you continue to act recklessly and cause any harm to Xuan'er, my royal family will never forgive you!"
She might not concern herself with worldly affairs in the harem, but that didn't mean she knew nothing.
The fact that Feng Yexuan had ventured into Black Wind Ridge for her was known to everyone in the royal family.
Now, Xuan'er was even clashing with the Emperor for her, even speaking disrespectfully to his own father!
If this continued and the position of Crown Prince fell to Prince He, with the Empress's arrogance, she, the Empress Dowager, would lose her place in the harem in the future!
She would never allow such a thing to happen.
"Take care of yourself!"
The Empress Dowager left in a huff.
Chu Huaiyu wanted to see her off but was refused and had to remain in the courtyard.
After the Empress Dowager left, Chu Qianli was about to go to the side hall when Chu Huaiyu took two steps back and blocked her path.
"Fifth Sister."
"A good dog doesn't block the way." Chu Qianli didn't want to waste words with her.
Chu Huaiyu bit her lip, looking pitiful.
"Fifth Sister, I know the Prince is infatuated with your body now, but you can't use the Prince's affection as an excuse to disregard his safety."
"I know everything. The Prince went to Black Wind Ridge for you. Fifth Sister, this is too much! What if the Prince gets hurt..."
Chu Qianli pushed her, interrupting her words.
Chu Huaiyu immediately became as fragile as a kite with a broken string, falling to the ground with a thud.
Qing Ming, who was watching from a distance, immediately came over, almost unable to resist attacking Chu Qianli.
"The Prince is in the side hall. Are you sure you want to attack me?" Chu Qianli looked at him, a forced smile on her face.
Qing Ming gritted his teeth in anger, but Leng Ji had also arrived. Even if he wanted to make a move, he had no opportunity.
Leng Ji glanced at Chu Huaiyu, then at Chu Qianli, his head spinning.
He could only say softly, "Miss Li, please proceed."
"You injured someone and now you want to leave?" Qing Ming clenched his fist.
"I injured her?" Chu Qianli suddenly smiled faintly, "Alright, I severely injured you, so what? Or shall we go to the Prince to confront each other?"
"Even if I injured you, the Prince wouldn't punish me. Try me if you don't believe me?"
Chu Huaiyu gritted her teeth and, with the help of her maid, slowly stood up.
As soon as she stood up, her body went weak, and she almost fainted.
Qing Ming was heartbroken and glared at Chu Qianli, angrily saying, "Fine, let the Prince judge this!"
Although Chu Qianli's internal energy was not very strong, she had practiced the Yi Jin Jing, and her internal energy was equivalent to that of an ordinary master.
As for Miss Huaiyu, she was frail and delicate.
Being struck to the ground without reason by Chu Qianli, with everyone watching, how could Chu Qianli deny it?
Chu Qianli ignored them and walked directly towards the side hall.
Qing Ming looked at Chu Huaiyu and said gently, "Miss Huaiyu, can you... can you walk?"
Chu Huaiyu bit her lip and tried to take a step.
But as soon as she took a step, her whole body went limp, and she almost fell.
Qing Ming looked at her with concern and said, "Miss Huaiyu, perhaps... perhaps I can help you?"
"No... no need." Chu Huaiyu bit her lip, her brow furrowed in pain, but she still firmly refused, "Men and women... should not touch."
"This servant will help Miss." Xiao Ya supported her.
The two of them walked step by step, with difficulty, towards the side hall.
Qing Ming looked at her, so fragile that she could be blown over by the wind at any moment, and truly hated Chu Qianli!
How could a woman be so wicked, not even sparing such a delicate girl?
In the side hall, Feng Yexuan was reading a letter that had just been delivered.
When he saw Chu Qianli enter, he merely glanced at her casually, his attention not seeming to linger on her.
Chu Qianli saying she couldn't see through this man was not humility.
Sometimes, she could clearly feel his attention on her.
But at other times, she felt no warmth from him at all.
Men of the royal family, one could only say, were like accompanying a tiger.
Especially men like Feng Yexuan, who held immense power and were incredibly handsome and alluring!
If one fell for him carelessly, it would be eternal damnation!
She could only stay away.
"Your Highness!" Finally, after Chu Huaiyu had taken one step at a time, relying on her own strong will to enter the side hall, Qing Ming immediately complained, "Your Highness, Chu Qianli struck and injured Miss Huaiyu."
Feng Yexuan's brow furrowed slightly. He finally put down the letter and looked at him, "How was she injured?"
Qing Ming immediately said, "Miss Huaiyu advised Miss Li to treat Your Highness well. Unexpectedly, Miss Li suddenly lost her temper and struck Miss Huaiyu to the ground with a palm."
"Did you witness it yourself?"
"This subordinate witnessed it with his own eyes!" Qing Ming nodded.
A profound and unfathomable glint flashed in Feng Yexuan's eyes. He spoke to Chu Huaiyu, but his gaze was fixed on Chu Qianli's face:
"Miss Huaiyu, are you badly injured?"
Chu Qianli was becoming impatient. She was truly tired from standing for so long.
She just wanted to find Feng Yexuan quickly to discuss something.
But these two people, Qing Ming and Chu Huaiyu, were truly annoying.
She turned to look at Chu Huaiyu and snorted coldly, "The Prince is asking if you are badly injured. Why don't you tell the Prince your symptoms properly?"
"I..." Chu Huaiyu looked up at Feng Yexuan.
But Feng Yexuan was looking at Chu Qianli.
She bit her lip, a hint of unwillingness.
Her voice was very soft, filled with endless grievance, "Huaiyu... is fine, she can still... still..."
Before she could finish speaking, her body suddenly swayed, and she almost fell to the ground.
"Miss Huaiyu!" Qing Ming wanted to go and help her, but he was afraid the Prince would think he had improper intentions towards Huaiyu and harm her reputation.
He could only watch helplessly, filled with anxiety.
Chu Huaiyu finally managed to stand steady, her voice faint, her breath shallow, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, Huaiyu... Huaiyu doesn't know how badly she's injured, but the spot on my chest that was hit feels like... like I can't breathe."