After Yu Jingchen left the morning court, he went to the Hall of Diligent Governance. The Noble Consort had sent someone to inform Yu Jingchen about the matter.
Upon hearing about it, Xing Lai quickly prepared to report the incident to Yu Jingchen. After the previous few incidents, Xing Lai no longer believed Yu Jingchen's attitude towards Nan Zhiyun remained the same. He had a sudden premonition that Consort Chen's fate this time... was likely sealed.
"Your Majesty," Xing Lai called out.
"Just now, someone from the Noble Consort's side came and said... Consort Chen punished some of the lower-ranked consorts," Xing Lai began hesitantly. He felt perhaps... it was best to proceed slowly, to observe?
"If she punished them, she punished them. Why do these minor matters need to be specifically reported to me?" Yu Jingchen said impatiently.
"Your Majesty... Consort Chen punished Consort Nan," Xing Lai lowered his head but still cautiously observed Yu Jingchen's expression.
As expected, the hand holding the memorial paused slightly.
"She went to Ya Jing Ju? Why punish her?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"Consort Chen did not go to Ya Jing Ju. It was today that Consort Nan left Ya Jing Ju and walked around nearby. Consort Chen and the others happened to encounter her. They said Consort Nan was disrespectful, defied her superiors, and was lax in her discipline, so Consort Chen took action and punished Consort Nan," Xing Lai replied.
"With her courage, she dared to defy her superiors? What did she punish her with?" Yu Jingchen frowned.
"...I heard she was slapped ten times and made to kneel for an hour. She might have almost finished kneeling by now," Xing Lai lowered his head even further.
"Presumptuous!" Yu Jingchen slammed his palm on the table. The force of the blow and the ferocity on his face were enough to express Yu Jingchen's current anger.
"Your Majesty, please quell your anger!" everyone knelt down.
Just then, someone from outside announced that Consort Chen had arrived.
"Let her in!" Yu Jingchen's anger had not subsided.
Xing Lai was already starting to mourn for Consort Chen.
When Consort Chen entered, she immediately sensed the unusual atmosphere in the hall and began to feel uneasy.
However, she suppressed her anxiety and performed a bow: "Your humble consort greets Your Majesty. What is wrong, Your Majesty? Your humble consort has specifically stewed chicken soup for Your Majesty. Would Your Majesty care to try some?"
Yu Jingchen looked at her without speaking and descended from his throne. Consort Chen's unease grew.
"Your Majesty!" As Yu Jingchen approached her, Consort Chen, caught off guard, knelt down.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your humble consort is actually here to confess her wrongdoing. Today, your humble consort and a few other sisters were feeling bored and were strolling around the palace. We happened to encounter Consort Nan. Seeing her sickly appearance, your humble consort gave her a few gentle reminders, but I never expected Consort Nan to use this as an excuse to be impertinent and disregard even your humble consort."
"Your humble consort merely said a few more words, and she and her maid dared to retort and contradict your humble consort, even saying they had the Empress Dowager's backing and threatened your humble consort. Your humble consort was personally enfeoffed as a Zhaoyuan by Your Majesty. Even with the Empress Dowager's support, she should not insult your humble consort like this?"
"Your humble consort was simply overcome with anger and thus punished Consort Nan. I regretted it afterward. Your Majesty, your humble consort knows she was wrong." Consort Chen began to explain herself, even bringing up the Empress Dowager. She clearly knew what Yu Jingchen detested the most.
Xing Lai thought to himself, this Consort Chen was truly courting death. In the past, perhaps His Majesty would have gone along with it, but now... it was hard to say.