Feng Yu knelt on one knee, his face filled with guilt. "Your Majesty, it was my carelessness that almost led to disaster. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
Xue Zining paused slightly at his words. She stood up from her chair and walked towards Feng Yu, speaking slowly, "Feng Yu, you never make mistakes. Why is it today?"
Feng Yu's gaze grew more ashamed. After a moment, he knelt on the ground, his head touching the floor. "Your Majesty, Feng Yu is guilty!"
"You keep saying you are guilty, yet I don't know what crime you have committed. Can you tell me what your offense is?"
The maiden's voice was as cold as frost, carrying a chilling aura.
Even Feng Yu, who had shed blood, could not help but tremble at the coldness.
However, he closed his eyes and said, "Please punish me, Your Majesty!"
"Since that is the case, go and receive thirty lashes!" the maiden's voice was cold.
Feng Yu opened his eyes and lowered his gaze. "Your subordinate obeys!"
After Feng Yu left, the maiden sat back on her chair, her expression much colder.
The eunuch in charge of the punishment looked at Feng Yu, his heart trembling with fear, hesitant to pick up the whip. After all, Feng Yu was a favored confidant of the Empress, and striking him would be tantamount to seeking death.
"Why aren't you striking?" Feng Yu asked coldly, looking at the executioner who held the whip but made no move.
"I... I will strike now." The eunuch, with a tearful face, picked up the whip and lashed Feng Yu's strong back.
After two lashes, Feng Yu spoke again, "Have you not eaten?"
The young eunuch was on the verge of tears. "Lord Feng Yu, I... I will use more force."
As each lash landed on his back, the pain served as a stark reminder that he had indeed made a grave mistake today.
Disobeying the Empress's orders was the greatest error a Feng Yin could commit.
The whipping suddenly stopped. He turned his head and asked, "Why aren't you..."
A maiden in a sky-blue dress stood there, her delicate and beautiful face etched with sorrow, shimmering tears evident in her eyes, making them particularly striking.
Feng Yu felt a stir in his heart and then turned his face away. "Princess Yunlan, why have you come here?"
Xue Yunlan stepped forward, biting her lower lip, her voice choked with emotion. "Are... are you being whipped by my sister the Empress because of me?"
Feng Yu was taken aback, then shook his head. "Princess Yunlan, you worry too much. I merely made a mistake and deserve punishment."
Xue Yunlan shook her head. "Nonsense. It's clearly because of me. I heard that my sister whipped you because of some aunt."
Feng Yu slowly said, "Princess Yunlan, speak with caution. As a Feng Yin, I failed to fulfill my master's command. These punishments are already the Empress's grace."
Xue Yunlan bit her lip, her expression looking somewhat disappointed. "Then... then, is there even a little bit of it for me?"
Feng Yu trembled all over and looked up at Xue Yunlan. Xue Yunlan was also looking at him at that moment, her gaze gentle. He quickly lowered his head and cupped his hands. "Princess Yunlan, this is not a place you should be. I ask that you please return!"
Xue Yunlan did not linger. Instead, she placed a bottle of medicine on the table. "I've brought you the best wound medicine. Don't forget to apply it."
With that, she left without looking back.
Only when her footsteps could no longer be heard did Feng Yu look up. Seeing the medicine bottle on the table, his gaze subtly shifted.
From behind the rockery not far away, Xue Zining watched Xue Yunlan's retreating figure, her gaze growing cold.
"I didn't expect Xue Wenjie's schemes to extend to the Empress's Feng Yin," Hua Yunjin said slowly, standing beside Xue Zining.
Xue Zining sneered. "It's not necessarily my good uncle who thought of this."
Hua Yunjin was taken aback. "Your Majesty, you mean this is Princess Yunlan's idea?"
He saw the maiden's gaze, now clear and sharp, piercing the heart with frost. "We will know in time. I don't have much time left."
Hua Yunjin nodded slightly at her words. "Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?"
"Send all the youths you brought from your clan to Zhaoyuan Palace tomorrow."
Hua Yunjin blinked. "Your Majesty, wouldn't that be too conspicuous?"
The maiden chuckled. "Since I'm being watched even when I'm being cautious, why not let them openly try to distinguish the real from the fake?"
Soon, the news of the Empress indulging in her pleasures spread throughout the entire harem.
During the morning court, the Empress uncharacteristically dozed off on the throne.
Below, some officials were disappointed, as they had hoped for the day when the Empress would personally govern. Now, it seemed like a joke.
Others rejoiced, believing that if this continued, the Empress's position would be precarious.
"Your Majesty..."
Xue Zining looked up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Is court adjourned? I need to go back and get some sleep."
Xue Wenjie's expression turned cold. He said sternly, "The court has not yet adjourned, and there are matters that require your..."
"Imperial Uncle, you are the regent. These matters are for you to decide. I am tired and need rest!"
Without waiting for Xue Wenjie to speak, she stood up and walked outside.
Seeing this, Xue Wenjie narrowed his eyes, a hint of confusion in them.
What was wrong with the Empress today?
Zhaoyuan Palace
The moment Yan Zhao stepped into Zhaoyuan Palace, he was greeted by the strong smell of alcohol.
The second step brought the scent of fragrant cosmetics and powders.
The third step revealed figures of young men behind the curtains.
A clear voice also reached him, "Don't you all want to see the person I favor the most? Yan Zhao, come here."
Yan Zhao frowned slightly. In the past, he would have left in a huff. But for some reason today, he did not believe the Empress would openly indulge in debauchery without restraint for no reason. There must be a hidden agenda.
He lifted the curtain and saw about seven or eight young men seated around a maiden.
The maiden was dressed in a dark purple gown, her collar slightly disheveled, and her skirt somewhat creased.
What had happened was all too obvious.
Yan Zhao frowned slightly.
The maiden parted her lips, chuckling lightly, "How is it? Better than them?"
One of the youths looked at Yan Zhao, his eyes filled with jealousy. "Indeed, he has a fine appearance. No wonder the Empress never summoned you before; it was because she had someone with such a beautiful face."
The maiden nodded at his words. "He has a good appearance, but he's very boring."
The youth giggled. "Your Majesty, you are truly a bit wicked. You like someone's good looks, but you also want them to be interesting."
The maiden chuckled. "I am the Empress of Huangze. Is there anything I cannot have?"
"Your Majesty speaks the truth. This Huangze, this entire realm, belongs to Your Majesty. We belong to you as well." As the youth spoke, he leaned his head closer.
Yan Zhao watched the youth's actions and the maiden's unmoving posture, feeling a strange sense of displeasure, an unexplainable feeling.
"Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave!" Yan Zhao said indifferently.