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  Stools had already been set up outside the hall.

  Qiu Daying was bound in pce, and a eunuch from the Bureau of Penalty raised a thick wooden rod and brought it down swiftly.

  The consorts had been ordered to witness the punishment. With the whooshing of the rod through the air and Qiu Daying’s screams ringing out, everyone trembled in fear, legs weak and hearts pounding.

  Feng Yiyue was especially timid—her legs were shaking so much she nearly cried. Standing behind her, Miao Zhaoyi scolded softly, “Useless,” and quietly grasped her hand.

  As the Empress Dowager’s niece, Wen Yao showed no sign of her usual warmth as she watched this act of vengeance on behalf of her aunt. Her expression remained cold and indifferent.

  Empress Shen concealed a string of sandalwood prayer beads within her sleeve. She silently turned the beads, her eyes half-lidded and her face unreadable.

  Blood began to soak through the back of Qiu Daying’s clothes. Wu Guifei couldn’t help but look away—not out of sympathy, but because she had never witnessed something so gruesome before. It unsettled her.

  Shu Fei stole a gnce at Jiang Wanqing and saw her clenched hands trembling at her sides, her face etched with unease and fear. It only confirmed Shufei’s belief: this girl was a weakling who couldn’t keep her composure.

  Qiu Daying’s cries and pleas gradually weakened until they ceased entirely. The final few blows nded like dead weight, striking lifeless flesh.

  Chief Steward Cheng stepped forward, checked for breath, and said with a half-smile, “She’s dead.”

  The words sent a fresh wave of panic through the crowd. Lin Changzai colpsed to the ground, unable to stay upright, and Zhou Meiren, frightened, reached out with trembling hands to help her up.

  “Only... only twenty strokes... how could she die?” Wu Guifei said in disbelief. She’d had pace maids beaten before—even fifty strokes didn’t kill them!

  But Rou Pin, whose father worked at the Ministry of Justice, had already understood.

  This wasn’t a regur punishment. The rod was striking the waist, not the buttocks, and was meant to rupture internal organs. A few hard hits could shatter the kidneys.

  Chief Steward Cheng represented His Majesty’s will. Clearly, His Majesty had never intended for Qiu Daying to survive.

  So ruthless...

  Chief Steward Cheng waved a hand to have Qiu Daying’s body dragged away, then turned to bow toward the Empress and announced with a smile:

  “Your Majesty, esteemed consorts—His Majesty is merciful and rarely punishes the women of the inner court. But Qiu Daying’s offense against the Empress Dowager was grave and unforgivable. Today’s punishment was meant to serve as a warning, so that none may follow in her footsteps.”

  Empress Shen stopped turning her beads and nodded lightly.

  “I understand. I will take care to properly discipline the harem and ensure everyone speaks and acts with prudence.”

  Chief Steward Cheng looked around at the other consorts and asked with a cold smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “And the rest of you?”

  The women hastily responded with trembling voices: “Your servant remembers... we will be cautious...”

  Satisfied, Chief Steward Cheng ordered the eunuchs to clean up the instruments and took his leave.

  He left boldly, but the trail of blood smeared across the floor from Qiu Daying’s body remained—a ghastly sight.

  Empress Shen closed her eyes briefly. When she turned and saw the pale, terrified faces of the gathered women, she lost all interest in continuing the morning audience.

  She sighed.

  “Remember what Chief Steward Cheng said. Go back and rest for now. I will instruct the Imperial Medical Bureau to send each of you a calming tonic ter today.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty…”

  ____

  After leaving Kunning Pace, Feng Yiyue walked quickly along the pace path, her eyes red from crying. Miao Zhaoyi noticed that she was going in the wrong direction and, frowning, called out from behind, "Isn't this the way back to our Chuxiu Pace? Where are you going?"

  Feng Yiyue continued walking and replied through her tears, "I want to see Jiang Fei. I'm scared. I can't sleep alone tonight. I need to be with Her Highness."

  Miao Zhaoyi quickly stepped forward, grasped her arm, and scolded, "What are you doing? Her Highness isn't much braver than you. Besides, the little prince still needs care. Do you want to make Her Highness anxious?"

  Hearing that she might trouble Her Highness, Feng Yiyue immediately stopped in her tracks, stunned and teary-eyed.

  Miao Zhaoyi took out an embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to her, speaking with a trace of impatience: “Fine. If you’re really that scared, come stay in my pace tonight.”

  Feng Yiyue sniffled, hesitated for a moment, then took the handkerchief and wiped her tears.

  “I… I suppose that’s okay…”

  Miao Zhaoyi’s tone softened.

  “Mm. Head back first—I’ve got something to take care of.”

  Feng Yiyue blinked in confusion.

  “What are you going to do?”

  Miao Zhaoyi remained expressionless.

  “To visit Jiang Fei.”

  Feng Yiyue: …

  Just as she was about to protest—why can’t I go too?—Miao Zhaoyi cut her off: “I’m going to discuss proper business with Her Highness. Not like you—sniffling and blubbering. Jiang Guiren may be Her Highness’s younger sister, but I still need to ask Her Highness directly how she wishes us to treat her.”

  Feng Yiyue blinked.

  “But didn’t Her Highness already say we should treat Jiang Guiren just like we treat her?”

  Miao Zhaoyi fell silent.

  She had a feeling Jiang Fei’s attitude toward Jiang Guiren had changed.

  Before, she had looked forward to her sister entering the pace. But at yesterday’s morning audience, her expression had been cold, and when she looked at Jiang Guiren, there was even a fsh of hatred in her eyes.

  That was why Miao Zhaoyi hadn’t gone out of her way to greet Jiang Guiren. She wanted to wait for a better chance to ask Her Highness directly.

  Too zy to expin all this to the brainless Feng Yiyue, Miao Zhaoyi only said, “I have other things to ask. Just go back.”

  Seeing how serious she looked, Feng Yiyue assumed it must be important business she couldn’t help with. Pouting, she left with one of the pace maids down another path.

  Once her figure disappeared around the corner, Miao Zhaoyi finally looked away and continued toward Zhaoyang Pace.

  ___

  “Zhaoyi!”

  Just a few steps in, a soft voice called out from behind.

  She turned and saw it was none other than Jiang Fei’s younger sister, Jiang Wanqing.

  Jiang Wanqing approached quickly, hair slightly tousled from the wind. When she came close, she offered a formal greeting with a gentle smile: “Is Zhaoyi also going to see my sister?”

  Miao Zhaoyi maintained a polite expression. After all, this was Her Highness’s younger sister. She smiled back, “I am. So Jiang Guiren recognizes me?”

  “It was Her Majesty the Empress who told me,” Jiang Wanqing said, her tone unconsciously ced with a bit of pride.

  “After yesterday’s audience, Her Majesty kept me behind, along with Guifei and Shufei. They told me the quiet one sitting below my sister was you, Zhaoyi.”

  Miao Zhaoyi doubted those three said anything nice about her or Her Highness.

  She gave Jiang Wanqing a deeper look. As they walked on, she casually reminded, “The Empress and Jiang Fei are not exactly on friendly terms. You should be careful around them.”

  Jiang Wanqing blinked innocently.

  “How could that be? Her Majesty and Shufei have both been very kind to me. My sister must have misunderstood something.”

  Miao Zhaoyi’s gaze darkened completely, but her smile remained.

  “Perhaps. You can ask Her Highness yourself.”

  When they arrived outside Zhaoyang Pace, a pace maid was sent inside to announce their arrival.

  A short while ter, Second-Rank Maid Dicui came out, smiling as she curtsied.

  “Zhaoyi, please come in.”

  Miao Zhaoyi nodded gracefully and stepped inside. Jiang Wanqing was just about to follow, but Dicui’s smile vanished as she blocked her path.

  “Please wait here, Jiang Guiren. Her Highness will summon you only after she’s finished meeting with Zhaoyi.”

  Jiang Wanqing froze.

  Summoned?

  Her sister… actually expected her to wait for a summons?