Volume One, Chapter 12: Ruthlessly Beating a Fallen Foe
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Shi Zhao leaned close to Nanny Bai’s ear and said softly, “Nanny Bai, you’re nothing more than Zhang Yumu’s lackey.”
“What did you say?”
Nanny Bai’s brows shot up, her gaze turning razor-sharp. The force with which she gripped Shi Zhao’s wrist unconsciously increased.
Her movements were hidden beneath her loose robes, making them impossible for anyone else to detect.
Seeing Nanny Bai’s expression grow increasingly grim, Zhang Huaijin hurriedly said, “Zhaozhao, say no more.”
Consort De enjoyed the Emperor’s exceptional favor, and the female official at her side was not someone they could afford to offend.
Shi Zhao merely curled her lips and continued provoking her. “Consort De is my maternal grandaunt. Do you really think she wouldn’t feel guilty if you broke my wrist? When that happens, won’t you still have to apologize to me?”
Nanny Bai’s face grew even more frightening. No longer restraining herself, she squeezed down viciously.
Pain shot through Shi Zhao’s wrist, yet she showed no fear.
As long as Nanny Bai dared to injure her, Shi Zhao would have evidence with which to punish her.
Seeing that Shi Zhao did not even struggle, Nanny Bai let out a mocking laugh.
Did this wild girl really think her scheme was foolproof?
With utter disdain, she said, “Do you think the Empress Dowager will stand up for you simply because you’re injured?”
Yu Siyao’s release from the Inner Prison had indeed been astonishing, but Consort De’s palace had been deeply established for years. In the past few hours, they had already investigated the matter thoroughly.
It was merely a show of mercy from the Empress Dowager.
She had spent less than half an hour in the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility, and when she emerged with empty hands, it was obvious what attitude the Empress Dowager held toward her.
She was nothing but a country bumpkin!
The mockery in Nanny Bai’s eyes nearly overflowed, and the force of her grip grew stronger still.
Did this girl intend to use the Empress Dowager’s power to scheme against her?
Without a summons from the Empress Dowager, she would not even be able to see the Empress Dowager’s face!
“If you dare make a scene, believe me, I can send you back to the Inner Prison on the charge of violating palace regulations,” Nanny Bai snarled.
Her wrist had already gone numb with pain, but Shi Zhao’s lips curved faintly. “I am lowly born and naturally would not presume to trouble the Empress Dowager.”
Nanny Bai’s brow sank.
What nonsense was this wild girl spouting?
If not the Empress Dowager, then was she relying on the Marquis of Wen’an’s household? They would never turn against Consort De for her sake.
Suddenly, she heard the cry of a bird.
Nanny Bai froze and looked toward Shi Zhao’s arms.
She had noticed the black object Shi Zhao was carrying long ago, but had paid it no attention.
Shi Zhao gave the cage in her arms a slight shake. The bird sleeping inside suddenly awoke and began chirping merrily.
Nanny Bai’s heart lurched. She immediately released Shi Zhao’s hand, but it was already too late.
Shi Zhao loosened her left arm around the cage. With a loud crash, the cage fell to the ground.
The oriole inside seemed to have been frightened. Its shrill cries pierced the ears, and the young eunuch leading the way turned deathly pale.
“That is the oriole personally bestowed by His Majesty! Miss Shi Zhao, how could you drop it?”
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Nanny Bai stood rooted to the spot, her hands and feet instantly turning cold.
Everything had happened in the blink of an eye. Zhang Huaijin stared blankly; just moments ago, he had seen Shi Zhao and Nanny Bai whispering to each other. How had the birdcage suddenly fallen?
Then he immediately understood and forced the words through clenched teeth.
“Zhaozhao, you did that deliberately.”
Just to oppose him, she had actually gone so far as to drop the bird personally bestowed by His Majesty and pin the blame on Nanny Bai!
Shi Zhao gave a soft laugh and raised her right hand.
From beneath her wide sleeve, her slender wrist was visibly swollen and red, while the wooden splint meant to hold it in place had shifted.
“If anyone did it deliberately, it was Nanny Bai.”
“Heavens! Miss Shi Zhao, your hand! How did it become like this?”
The young eunuch leading the way was startled once again and nearly fainted from fright.
Zhang Huaijin stared at her in a daze, unable to react.
When had Zhaozhao suffered such a serious injury? Why had he known nothing about it?
Why had she not told him?
Her wrist throbbed with pain, but Shi Zhao regarded Nanny Bai coldly, as though she were looking at a corpse.
“Little Eunuch, the oriole bestowed upon me by His Majesty was frightened. This is indeed my fault. I wish to go before His Majesty and ask forgiveness.”
“This…” The young eunuch shifted his eyes uneasily.
The bird had been personally bestowed by His Majesty. By rights, Shi Zhao ought to ask forgiveness, and doing so could not be considered a violation of palace regulations.
He therefore nodded.
Nanny Bai instantly broke into a cold sweat. She bit her lower lip hard and cried out inwardly that things had gone terribly wrong.
The Emperor loved birds. In the past, several palace attendants had been put to death because their negligence had caused his beloved birds to die. Even consorts had been reprimanded for failing to care for their birds properly.
If this wretched girl saw the Emperor, she would certainly put the blame for frightening the oriole on her.
The injury to the girl’s wrist was irrefutable evidence.
Nanny Bai was thrown into utter panic. Before she could think of a way to resolve the matter, she saw Shi Zhao heading toward the Imperial Study.
She hurried after her, covering three steps in two. Just as she reached out to seize Shi Zhao’s sleeve, she withdrew her hand as though she had touched fire.
Gritting her teeth, she rushed in front of Shi Zhao and fell to her knees.
“This servant was blind and offended Miss Yu. I beg Miss Yu to punish me.”
Shi Zhao looked down at Nanny Bai from above and corrected her, “My name is Shi Zhao.”
The young eunuch beside them hurriedly explained, “Miss Shi Zhao’s name was bestowed upon her by the Empress Dowager.”
Shi Zhao’s smile was faint and inscrutable. Deliberately, she asked, “The Empress Dowager has ordered me to enter the palace every month to accompany her in worshiping Buddha. Do you think this injury to my hand will have healed by the next time I enter the palace?”
Every month?
The Empress Dowager was devout in her faith. If she saw that Nanny Bai had bullied someone who revered the Buddha…
Nanny Bai was overcome with terror. Her pupils trembled faintly, and she could not utter a word.
She had been wrong.
This wild girl truly had the favor of both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
What would happen if the imperial family really punished her?
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Would she be sent to the Inner Prison?
You are nothing but a dog at Consort De’s side.
For some reason, the words Shi Zhao had spoken earlier flashed through Nanny Bai’s mind once more.
Consort De would never stake the Emperor’s beloved pet on behalf of a servant, nor plead for her before His Majesty.
A moment ago, her heart had been filled with rage and humiliation. Now, only desolation remained.
Shi Zhao lifted her skirt and crouched beside Nanny Bai, raising her injured wrist.
“Do you think an apology is enough, Nanny Bai? What am I supposed to do about my wrist?”
Nanny Bai’s face turned ashen. The marks left by her fingers were still clearly visible on Shi Zhao’s pale wrist.
She swallowed. The domineering air she had possessed moments before had vanished without a trace. In a low voice, she begged, “Miss Shi Zhao, this servant truly knows her mistake. As long as it can appease you, I will do anything!”
“Anything?” Shi Zhao sighed softly, her dark eyes deep enough to draw a person into their depths.
Her gaze fell upon Nanny Bai’s wrist.
Nanny Bai’s face went deathly pale. Suddenly, she understood what Shi Zhao meant.
She shook her head frantically. No. She could not. It was impossible.
Shi Zhao let out a derisive laugh and rose with Nanny Lan’s support, walking past Nanny Bai and continuing onward.
“Then there is nothing I can do. Do not worry—perhaps His Majesty will not care after all.”
No. She could not.
She could not gamble on it.
She did not want to enter the Inner Prison!
She could never endure the Inner Prison’s punishment of a thousand needles.
Nanny Bai sat there in stunned helplessness, her gaze falling upon a massive stone nearby.
Suddenly, she crawled and rolled toward it. With her left hand, she lifted the stone high, then brought it crashing down.
A scream of agony rang out.
Shi Zhao turned and saw Nanny Bai clutching her right wrist, rolling on the ground in unbearable pain.
Nanny Bai had smashed her own wrist until it was swollen and bruised.
Shi Zhao watched with cold indifference and gave a frigid laugh.
She had been so arrogant while carrying out punishments in the Inner Prison. Now she would rather break her own wrist than return there. Clearly, one could never understand pain until the blows landed on one’s own flesh.
Shi Zhao added coolly, “Nanny Bai, you have injured my wrist twice.”
Nanny Bai was nearly insensible with pain. In a daze, she heard Shi Zhao’s words and shook her head desperately.
“No, I can’t. It hurts too much. I can’t… Miss Shi Zhao, you are kindhearted. Please, take pity on me.”
Shi Zhao did not spare her even a glance. She simply turned and continued walking.
Nanny Bai could not help recalling the prisoners she had seen in the Inner Prison who had bitten through their tongues to kill themselves. A flicker of clarity passed through her mind.
Trembling, she picked up the stone and once again brought it down savagely upon her right wrist.
She did not stop until the bones had truly fractured.
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