CH 17

At this moment, I really didn’t know what to say.

The Emperor must have understood that I was afraid, he turned and asked the Imperial Concubine Shu, “Imperial Concubine Shu, do you know who it was that hit my Managing Eunuch?”

What? Managing Eunuch? Has the Emperor forgotten, or did I get another promotion?!

The Imperial Concubine Shu revealed shock on her face, “Managing Eunuch? But he’s clearly just a Eunuch of the First Rank!”

“If I say he is, then he is!” The Emperor’s rage rose, he waved his sleeve, “You’re very bold, you’d even touch my person, didn’t the Consort Dowager teach you any etiquette?”

The Imperial Concubine Shu immediately kneeled on the ground in fright, she lowered her head and pleaded her innocence, “Your Majesty, I’ve been wrongly accused, I… I didn’t hit Liu-gonggong, if you don’t believe me, ask him.

Since she kneeled, all of the eunuchs and palacemaids in her palace followed in her stead, kowtowing.

I was vexed inside, the Imperial Concubine Shu was truly evil, she knew that I couldn’t say it out loud, but she still pushed the question back to me, however, if I turned around and said that it wasn’t true then wouldn’t I be lying to the Emperor?”

I sneaked a look towards the Emperor and only saw that his lips were curved upwards and he raised an eyebrow at me.

He was actually laughing! So was he just pretending to be furious?

I had even less of an idea now, stammering for a long time but I was still unable to speak.

“It’s fine, I have already asked someone to investigate. Liu Xiaoyu was called to your Yanxi Palace last night. When he left, he was already unconscious, do you still want to deflect the blame? Imperial Concubine Shu.”

“I’m wrongly accused, I never hit Liu-gonggong!”

The Imperial Concubine Shu refused to admit it, the Emperor suddenly picked up the teacup on the table and threw it at her feet, she was so frightened she jumped.

The sound of the smashing porcelain made me jump even though I was quite far away, let alone her.

“Bring the person out!”

Following the Emperor’s command, two imperial guards appeared at the door, holding a eunuch.

I looked carefully, wasn’t this the eunuch who had smacked my mouth last night? When did the Emperor find him, how did I not know? He’s truly a God.

“This servant, this servant, Xiao Shenzi greets Your Majesty.” The eunuch named Xiao Shenzi looked terrified, he kneeled on the ground, not daring to get up.

I saw the Imperial Concubine Shu’s hand shake.

And then, under the imposing might of the Emperor, Xiao Shenzi cried as he said, “Your Majesty, please spare me. This servant was only carrying out the Imperial Concubine Shu’s orders. This servant did not want to hit Liu-gonggong.”

“You… you are lying! I…. I, when did I ever tell you to hit Liu-gonggong!” The Imperial Concubine Shu quickly denied it.

But the Emperor just sneered, “Do I need to find more witnesses?!”

The Imperial Concubine Shu no longer had any more retorts and immediately stopped pleading for forgiveness.

I looked at the Emperor who was helping me seek justice and I felt my heart moved to the brim, that feeling of being protected was really addictive.

Just as I was staring stupidly at him, I was so engrossed that I didn’t even hear when he asked me how I wanted the people who hit me to be dealt with.

Until he came over and pinched my face, I finally came out of my daze from the pain.

“The Imperial Concubine Shu, take a look at what you have done, you’ve beaten my Managing Eunuch to the point where his brain is not even working probably. If I don’t punish you, how could I have any credit with my people?” The Emperor let go, he stared at me and asked, “Liu Xiaoyu, how about I cut off their arms and legs?”

Amongst the desperate pleas from the Imperial Concubine Shu and Xiao Shenzi, I quickly waved my hand, “No.”

Although it was very painful what they had done, it did not deserve such a cruel retribution.

The Emperor deflated his lip, “Okay, Xiao Shenzi, let me ask you, how many times did you hit Liu Xiaoyu that day?”

“Responding to the Emperor… ten… it was ten times.” Xiao Shenzi was trembling like a sieve at this moment.

“Okay, then I order you to smack the Imperial Concubine Shu in the mouth. Ten times!”

“Your Majesty?!” The Imperial Concubine Shu was shocked, “How could you let a servant hit me! I’m the niece of the Consort Dowager and General Wu!”

As soon as he heard these two names, the Emperor became evidently angry, he hurled, “I am the Son of Heaven, I said smack her so smack her! Come, hold the Imperial Concubine Shu, Xiao Shenzi, if you don’t smack her now, I’ll cut off your hands and legs!”

The Imperial Concubine Shu was held down by the imperial guards as Xiao Shenzi braced himself and smacked her across the face twice, the Imperial Concubine Shu let out a blood-curdling scream.

I tugged on the Emperor’s sleeve, I wanted to plead for the Imperial Concubine Shu but before I was able to speak, an announcement came from outside to say that the Consort Dowager Wu had arrived.

The Consort Dowager Wu arrived like torrential rain, her voice travelled in before she had even arrived in the room.

“Your Majesty, what exactly has happened that deserves such a fuss?”

As soon as the Imperial Concubine Shu heard Consort Dowager Wu arrive, she immediately cried harder, “Gumu2姑母 gūmǔ – auntie (father’s sis), Anyan doesn’t want to live anymore….”

But it seemed like the Emperor did not hear and calmly instructed, “Continue.”

Xiao Shenzi was stuck in a tight spot, but the Son of Heaven was on the apex, so he could only grit his teeth and continue to smack down on her.

“Stop!” The Consort Dowager Wu entered and saw the scene, her eyes opened up wide, “Your Majesty, what is happening here?”

The Emperor looked at her from the side, “Oh the Consort Dowager has arrived. I am just providing guidance to my own concubine, why must I explain to the Consort Dowager?”

The Consort Dowager advanced angrily, “Your Majesty, what crime has Anyan committed? Even if she has done something wrong, you can’t ask a eunuch to hit her? If this matter spreads, how can she possibly have a footing in the palace?!”

“Since she dared to touch someone besides me, she has already lost all footing in the palace.”

The Consort Dowager Wu’s two sharp eyes suddenly stared daggers at me, “Just for a Eunuch of the First Rank?”

I was so frightened I immediately hid behind the Emperor.

The Emperor patted my butt, “Even if he was a Eunuch of the Third Rank, he still works for me, without my permission, no one is allowed to touch him! Plus, I have already promoted him to Managing Eunuch!”

I secretly looked over, the Consort Dowager’s eyes were like knives, I thought that if eyes could kill, I’d already been chopped to pieces.

The Imperial Concubine Shu was still crying but the Emperor said, “Since the Consort Dowager has arrived, I will leave the Consort Dowager to deal with the rest, I’m tired, I’m going back to Yangxin Palace.”

Then he turned and glanced at me, “Let’s go, Xiao Jinyu3Little goldfish.”

I followed behind the Emperor, not daring to glance sideways, I repeated to myself, as long as I don’t look directly at the Consort Dowager, she won’t look at me.

When we got to the door, the Emperor suddenly stopped and turned his head, revealing a despicable expression, “Oh yeh Consort Dowager, the chess piece that is Imperial Concubine Shu has been deposed, next time, find one that’s smarter.”

Wow, the Emperor’s words were so imperious, I had no way of expressing my adoration for him.

After leaving, we heard the Consort Dowager scolding her, “You idiot! What use are you!”

I think the Imperial Concubine was probably truly going to be discarded…..

After returning to Yangxin Palace, it was already lunch time, but the Emperor first summoned the imperial physician to see to my injuries.

I was so moved, I was about to cry but the Emperor began to laugh.

“Liu Xiaoyu, you really look like a goldfish right now with your giant eyes, and your red and swollen face hahahha.” As soon as the Emperor laughed, even the little eunuchs and palace maids nearby couldn’t help sneakily laughing whilst covering their mouths.

What was even worse was that the imperial physician was biting his lip as if he was holding back his laughter with all his might.

But all I could do is keep all my feelings inside.

In the end, the imperial physician said it was not serious, he would prescribe me with some creams for the swelling and the pain, but I would be fine in a matter of days.

The Emperor suddenly pinched my face, and laughed wantonly, “From now on, protect this face for me, did you hear that, little goldfish, hahahaaha.”

“Your Majesty, that hurts…..”