Empress with no Virtue

9th September, clear skies.

Early in the morning, Ji Wu Jiu lead a group of people and headed towards the 3 main army camp. If anyone woke up early today, they would have seen the emperor. Wearing a gold robe and shoes, riding on a pure white horse, with a treasure sword on his waist.

Although his attire gifts of the royalty feel, but it seems that the citizens like it very much, that’s why there was a lot of ladies looked at him with gazes full of admiration, until the people standing next to them pulled their sleeves reminding them to greet the emperor. “Long Live the emperor”

The dragon embroidered robe and armor has long gave out Ji Wu Jiu’s identity.

He was in a good mood, even if there was people gawking at him, he did not feel offended. Carefully guiding his horse, in order to avoid any casualties with the citizens. In front opening a path, and guarding at the back was all well trained guards, then there were also some hidden armies around protecting him, that is why even blind people would know his identity, but still he needs to be protected.

Until they finally left the city gates did he flew with his horse towards the destination.

When the emperor was busy meeting the army outside, Ye Zhen Zhen was not shaking her legs in the palace.

Actually, it was the busiest day since she has entered the palace.

Reorganizing the inner palace would be; anyone that will harm Kun Ning Palace, thinking of how to get rid of them; anyone that will hinder her rivals; thinking of how to make them stay; everyone needs to be properly placed and no longer taking any chances.

She has to make sure everyone is well placed so that not all will aim at her only, as well as creating some rumors that there are people that reported the news to the empress so she has no choice to take action, sending Xi Consort’s people to Li Concubine and sending people from Li Concubine to Xian Concubine.

Anyway, after this “reorganization” Kun Ning Palace’s servants was left with only half, the rest were outside kneeling waiting for the decision of Ye Zhen Zhen, there were all sorts of mistakes and faults that were placed on to them. As the head of the inner palace, Ye Zhen Zhen’s place is full of spies from everywhere, this she knew right from the first day she entered this place. Those that were chased out however, she is also not 100% sure that they are spies, but anyone that she suspects even a little, will be best if they were kicked out. There are also some that were brought here from other palaces, all are those that acts snobbishly and creates trouble making people dislike them, therefore a lot of people agreed to her punishing them. This also counts as her pleasing the mass.

Today, would be the biggest palace punishment given in the hundreds of years of the Da Qi Empire.

Outside Kun Ning Palace, a floor full of kneeling servants, the atmosphere was really tense. A lot of people came to watch as well, there was eunuchs as well maid servants and also some concubines and consorts, but not daring to stand to near, afraid of getting the bad luck.

Wang You Cai was holding a list of names checking with the kneeling people there, and when he called their names, the person will reply “I admit my mistake”. All of them was kneeling in a very neat formation, almost like the army’s formation at the army camp. The last one to be called is Fan Chun, she was kneeling in front of the rest, almost like the leader amongst them.

After all the names have been called out, the punishment starts.

The punishment is separated into 3 stages, 20 hits, 40 hits and 60 hits. (The olden days punishment hitting the back with wooden logs) First the 20 hits, then the 40 hits receivers are made to get ready. Listening to the rest getting hit, those that were watching, some were afraid, looked away and even closed their ears, and was thinking why did they even come here in the first place.

As for those waiting for their turn, they took it even worst, most of them was in cold sweat, some were crying some screaming, some even wet their pants.

After 20 hits, most people will be left without energy to scream anymore, after this group of people are brought away, then it was the next group’s turn.

After the 40 hits turn finish it was the last groups turn, 60 hits, and only Fan Chun one person.

The mental torture she received from the earlier groups, made Fan Chun faint, but after 1 hit, she woke up again and screamed.

“Stop it, all stop it”

Li Concubine rushed over, Wang You Cai gestured, and 2 strong eunuch stopped her.

“Daring to ask your majesty, what did Fan Chun did wrong?”

“A! A! A!”

Ye Zhen Zhen smiled and reply in the midst of Fan Chun’s screams “A consort’s miscarriage case, Wu Zhao Yi poisoned case, Xi Consort’s palace arson case, Hui Consort falling in to the water case, all are related to her!” Ye Zhen Zhen just said a few. Actually she didn’t investigate this cases thoroughly, but thinking that Li Concubine aren’t really afraid of anything in the palace, anything bad that happen most of the time can’t not be related to her. Not to mention, even if you are not involve, I just wanted to put salt to your wounds.

“Xi Consort’s palace fire was not done by her!”

“Does that mean the rest of it is true?”

“…..”

“Li Concubine, I am fine……A….!!!!”

“You… are framing her!” Li Concubine said struggling, eyes nearly popping out with anger.

Ye Zhen Zhen smiled “You dare to speak to me with this manner!, Su Feng, slap”

“Yes”, Su Feng walked towards her, bringing up her hands, Li Concubine laughed coldly “ You Dare?”

Su Feng is still only a maid servant, her hand stopped in midair, contemplating to continue or not.

“She don’t dare, I dare!” Ye Zhen Zhen walked towards her, raised her hand and slapped. The slap’s sound was covered by Fan Chun’s scream, so there was no dramatic effect, but Li Concubine’s face was starting to swell, and 5 fingerprints was forming.

“If you dare, try to hit me one more time!”

“Alright” Another slap was given.

A lot of people saw Ye Zhen Zhen slapped Li Concubine twice, most of them feel better.

“You, You, You,.. Very good, wait for the emperor to come back, after he comes back….”

“The emperor will be returning shortly” Ye Zhen Zhen waved her hand “Li Concubine is not feeling well, someone please send her back to Lu Hua Palace”.

After Li Concubine is sent back, Ye Zhen Zhen turned and faced Fan Chun “Just now the 2 slaps for your master was because of you, I will deduct 20 hits for you”. IF she really get hit 60 times, it might take her life, Ye Zhen Zhen still need this person to help advise Li Concubine, still does not need her to die.

After the punishment was over, Fan Chun got carried back to Lu Hua Palace, and the people see that it is over they also left. Ye Zhen Zhen returned into her palace drank some tea to rest, and also ordered Wang You Cai to bring over the new eunuch that just entered the palace she wants to personally choose some new ones.

“NIang NIang” Su Feng suddenly kneeled and looked sad.

“What’s the matter?” Ye Zhen Zhen asked placing her cup down and asked.

“I am useless”, Su Feng thought about her actions just now, that she got scared by Li Concubine and did not hit her.

“Stand up, you did not do anything wrong, I didn’t think properly, if you really hit her, she will definitely hate you, next time she will definitely revenge, what happened to Su Yue, I don’t want it to happen to you as well.” After what she said, both Su Yue and Su Feng looked at her touched.

Su Yue suddenly thought of another thing and frowned “Niang Niang, today you slapped Li Concubine, really made alot of people happy, and making it to such a big fuss, if Li Concubine were to report it to the emperor…”

Ye Zhen Zhen replied bravely “she will confirm report to him, but i dare say he confirm would not help her do anything”

JI Wu Jiu this person, she does not dare to say she understands him fully, but can guess his temperament. He can punish Ye Zhen Zhen with alot of reasons, but definitely would not include this type of things. To dote on concubine is one thing, facing the ministers is another thing. Li Concubine was rude to the empress in public, shouting and not minding her usage of words, therefore is the one at fault and to be punished by the empress, there is truly nothing wrong. If the emperor were to reprimand the empress because of a few cries from Li Concubine, then the emperor would be facing a title of “lusting towards woman and ignoring the country”, a whole bunch of ministers is still waiting for him.

That is why today Ye Zhen Zhen dared to embarass Li Concubine in public. Although the method was a bit simple and crude, but it feels awesome!

***

When Ji Wu Jiu returned from the army camp, he felt that the palace felt abit different from normal, it seems like some people are weak and floaty.?

Not understanding why, changed his clothes and wanted to take a scroll in the palace, but saw Li Concubine coming over while crying.

Accordingly, today the empress did such a big act, the people that wants to report should be many, but all also knew that Li Concubine got embarrassed by the empress as well as the 2 slaps, thinking that they did not receive any worst than her, they just thought of standing back and wait to see the tattle tale from Li Concubine. She also, not bothered to think how others think, her palace both masters and servants also got hit, and by the person who is the not doted empress, she can’ stand it anymore. Once she heard that the emperor is back, she immediately rushed over.

Ji Wu Jiu listened to Li Concubine’s report, consoled a few sentences and asked her to return to her palace. Then asked Feng You De to investigate what really happened.

Feng You De returned quickly, bringing a few witness with him, to report what happened today to Ji Wu Jiu in detail about what Ye Zhen Zhen did, including who got changed from which palace to another, punished who, and what Li Concubine said to get slapped, etc etc..

Hearing it Ji Wu Jiu thought that Ye Zhen Zhen’s punishment was for those that could not be trusted, or arrogant normally, it was hard on her to find so many people, to create such a big show, looks like his orders to “reorganize the inner palace” tasks has been completed by her.

That woman is clever, although she created such a big fuss, in actual she didnt really offend that many people.

But.. Ji Wu Jiu suddenly realised and asked “What about the 3 eunuchs i placed in Kun Ning Palace?”

Feng You De answered ” There was 2 that got 20 hits and sent to other place, and the other….

“So..?”

“the other one, because he looks too ugly according to Ye Zhen Zhen and since she didnt want to see him often, he was sent to guard the doors outside her palace and also to order the eunuch if the empress were to make any mistake, he must immediately report to the emperor”.