"You know she's a lunatic? Lunatics should be locked in the cold palace! Don't let them out to harm people! You're so protective of her, daring to bully me for her. Don't blame me for reporting you to the Emperor!" Consort Zhen said proudly.
Mei Fei picked up Consort Yu from the ground and turned around with an evil smile, "Go ahead and report me. Do you think I, Mei Qing, am afraid of you, a sex toy? Even if the Emperor slits my throat, in eighteen years, I, Mei Qing, will be a hero again! I warn you, if you dare to bully Consort Yu again, I'll disfigure your face! You idiot!"
"You, you, you—you're shameless! Shameless!" Consort Zhen pointed at Mei Fei, utterly humiliated. This woman was truly shameless to say such lewd things.
Mei Fei couldn't be bothered to waste her breath with her. She picked up Consort Yu and bolted.
Ziqiu wanted to help carry her, but Mei Fei refused.
"Ah, ah—" Consort Zhen stomped her feet and shrieked. This ugly creature actually disrespected her, a favored consort! But... but she couldn't do anything to her!
She had complained to the Emperor many times, but each time the Emperor said Mei Fei was just like that and she shouldn't pay her any mind.
That bitch! Ugly monster!
Mei Fei carried Consort Yu into Yong'an Palace and placed her on a soft couch.
Consort Yu was covered in dirt, her hair disheveled, and the clothes on her back were torn into strips by the whip.
"Xiao Sheng, you're a doctor, quickly help check her injuries!" Mei Fei urged Bai Sheng.
"Mhm," Bai Sheng nodded and immediately took Consort Yu's wrist to check her pulse.
Consort Yu's maid, Tinglan, tearfully pleaded with Mei Fei, "Consort Mei, could you ask this young doctor to prescribe some medicine to calm Consort Yu down? My lady wanders around the palace every day, and she could accidentally offend any of the masters. If this continues, my lady will eventually be beaten to death by them!"
Mei Fei nodded, "Alright, I understand."
After a short while, Bai Sheng released Consort Yu's wrist and said gently, "Fortunately, there are no internal injuries. These external injuries will heal if a medicinal ointment is applied and she rests for some time."
Tinglan breathed a sigh of relief.
Bai Sheng placed a bottle of ointment in her hand, "Remember to apply it twice a day, morning and evening, and be gentle."
Mei Fei asked, "Xiao Sheng, you heard what Tinglan said just now. Can you prescribe some medicine to treat Consort Yu? If it can't be cured, can you at least calm her down so she doesn't run around like this?"
Bai Sheng sighed slightly, "Consort Yu mainly has a psychological issue. A psychological issue requires a psychological cure. However, I will prescribe some medicine to soothe her emotions and help her calm down as much as possible."
"Okay, that's fine," Mei Fei nodded.
Bai Sheng wrote another prescription. Mei Fei took it and handed it to Ziqiu, telling her, "Go get the medicine for Consort Yu. If Tinglan goes, no one from the Imperial Household Department will pay her any mind. When a master loses favor, the servants have even less status."
"Yes, Master," Ziqiu replied respectfully and left the front hall.
Tinglan was immensely grateful.
Mei Fei had Consort Yu carried into the room and then said to Tinglan, "From now on, Consort Yu will live in Yong'an Palace. Go back and pack some spare clothes, and move here to take care of her."
Tinglan's tears immediately welled up. She knelt before Mei Fei and kowtowed repeatedly, "Thank you, Consort Mei, thank you, Consort Mei!"
Mei Fei finally finished with this matter and sat down with Bai Sheng again.
The four little ones got bored with their toys and all came to lean against Bai Sheng's legs. Bai Sheng could only hold two at a time, so Mei Fei picked up the other two onto her lap, cooing at them to call her Grandma.
Consort Mei was truly a spirited person. Other women feared being called old, but she actually actively sought to be the four little ones' grandmother.
Bai Sheng looked at her and suddenly thought of Uncle Cripple. If these two were together, they would surely be a good match.
It was a shame for such a good person as Consort Mei to be trapped in the rotten imperial palace her entire life.
"Your Highness, do you… still love the Emperor?" Bai Sheng asked in a low voice.
Mei Fei was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Bai Sheng to ask that. She lowered her gaze, her eyes filled with indifference, "I haven't loved him for a long time. He doesn't deserve my love."
"Then, have you thought about leaving the palace? You are so outstanding and skilled in martial arts. How can the imperial palace trap you?" Bai Sheng covered her mouth with her hand and whispered.
Mei Fei gave a bitter smile, "I have thought about it, but if I leave the palace, my son, Prince Yu, will be completely without power. The Empress, the Crown Prince, and those in court can easily crush him."
Bai Sheng thought for a moment, leaned closer to Mei Fei, and lowered her voice, "If the Crown Prince ascends the throne, will Prince Yu and you have a way to survive?"
"No," Mei Fei's expression became serious. The Empress had long hated her. Even before the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she and her son were planning to assassinate Prince Yu. If they truly gained power, she and Prince Yu would have no chance of survival.
"Then, does Prince Yu want to contend for that position? Or rather, does Consort Mei want Prince Yu to contend for that position?" Bai Sheng boldly voiced her doubts.
Mei Fei looked at Bai Sheng with clear eyes and said in a low voice, "I understand what Xiao Sheng means. If Prince Yu and I want to live, we either seize the throne or escape from the palace, change our names, and hide for the rest of our lives."
"Actually, being an Emperor isn't all that great. Although you have supreme power, you have no freedom at all. No matter which path Consort Mei and Prince Yu choose, I will support you," Bai Sheng said solemnly.
She thought of the Baili family's affairs. No matter what, their family would never serve the Great Xia dynasty again in this lifetime.
She also wouldn't force her four children to take the imperial examinations and become high officials. Whatever they wanted to do when they grew up, they could do.
Mei Fei smiled, "Thank you, Xiao Sheng. The future path depends on Prince Yu. I will follow my son's footsteps."
"Consort Mei, you are truly a good mother," Bai Sheng praised. "By the way, there is a very important matter for my visit to the palace, which is to treat your face. My master said that the backlash from Gu cultivation can be transferred to another person through a process of 'shifting and devouring.' This person must either be willing or have severely harmed you. Can you think of such a person?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Mei Fei's eyes lit up. Before she could speak, Eunuch Zhu suddenly knelt before her and said respectfully, "Your Highness, this old servant is willing to be the one to receive the transfer."
"You? No!" Consort Mei decisively refused.
Bai Sheng was also a bit surprised. Eunuch Zhu was truly loyal to Consort Mei.
Eunuch Zhu pleaded, "Master, in this life, allowing me to serve by your side is already the greatest kindness you have shown this old servant. I am a eunuch anyway, and even if I have an ugly face, it won't matter. I will still serve you. But you are a woman, and the Consort Mei of the palace. Because of this face, you have endured so much mockery and slander. Now that there is a chance for treatment, you must seize it. It is this old servant's greatest happiness to share your burdens. I beg Your Highness to grant my request."