Chapter 71 Slapping Meng Xi

“Take the mimic and the eunuch who helped Crown Prince Yun. Beat them to death.” Without giving Meng Xi time to think about the future, the Noble Consort suddenly began to speak. She wanted to teach her a lesson. Despite the cry of the mimic for mercy, he was dragged away. “Your Grace, didn’t you promise to let me go if I told you all I know? How can you break your words? You promised me...” yelled the mimic. His voice faded away as he was dragged outside. With a swollen face, the eunuch who was also taken away just screamed, “Your Highness, forgive me. I can’t serve you anymore.” He was still loyal, with no intention of begging. Hearing the dull sound of the heavy stick hitting their bodies and their waves of shouting, Crown Prince Yun kept struggling. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get rid of the servants restraining him. Crown Prince Yun was worried about the eunuch, who grew up with him like a close friend, but he could do nothing more than watching him being dragged away and listening to his shouts as the eunuch was beaten up. Soon, the eunuch stopped screaming. Crown Prince Yun felt miserable, yet he was going to feel even worse. As a kind and innocent girl, Meng Xi couldn’t bear the crying. “You...you have no respect for life,” said she. “I do have no respect for such cheap lives, so what? They deserve it.” “Do you have any respect for the law then?” “The law? How dare you talk about the law to me, you low-life girl?” “You are just a Noble Consort. How can you be so arrogant? Are human lives a joke to you?” “Give the bold girl a slap! You haven’t even married my son. How dare you curse me?” The Noble Consort didn’t want to punish her son, but she had long planned to teach Meng Xi a lesson, and it must be a hard one. At the same moment, the beating sound had stopped. Obviously, the two people outside had been killed. Two palace maids beside the Noble Consort immediately grabbed Meng Xi. Having learned some martial arts, she broke free. But soon, a few more palace maids who knew martial arts caught her and kept her from moving. Accompanying the Noble Consort for years like her mother, old Wet Nurse Liu went up and slapped Meng Xi. Quickly, a red mark was left on Meng Xi’s beautiful fair face. Slapped for the first time in her life, Meng Xi was so hurt both physically and mentally. She wanted to cry, but she held it back without making a sound. Wet Nurse Liu didn’t intend to stop. She slapped the other side of Meng Xi’s face. Hitting back and forth, she didn’t stop even when Meng Xi’s face became red and swollen. Crown Prince Yun felt terribly painful. With tears in her eyes, Meng Xi was still enduring the torture strongly. Seeing her like that, he was heartbroken. But no matter how he resisted, Crown Prince Yun couldn’t break away from the servants holding him, who were martial arts experts. Just at this moment when Meng Xi was suffering, old King Yun arrived as his servant announced loudly, “The king arrives.” It was like a life-saving charm, forcing Wet Nurse Liu to stop. Along with old King Yun was Master Meng. It wasn’t a coincidence. The minute Meng Xi and Crown Prince Yun were caught, spies of Master Meng went back to report what they saw. Knowing that his eldest daughter was taken away, Master Meng was in a hurry! Dropping whatever he was doing, he immediately went to ask his best friend, old King Yun, for help. Therefore, after the king ordered to investigate what happened, he found out the relationship between Crown Prince Yun and Meng Xi. Naturally, he also got to know what the Noble Consort had done. After all, she went too far this time. Seeing Meng Xi beaten in front of him, Master Meng couldn’t help crying, “Xier! I’m sorry that I’m late. My poor child! What happened to your face?” He pushed the palace maids away and hugged his baby girl. Stroking her swollen face, he felt terrible! “Does it hurt? Don’t cry, Xier. I’ll take you back to get treated right away.” Although she had held back her tears for the whole time, Meng Xi’s tough mind disappeared the moment she saw her dad, who spoiled her the most. Meng Xi cried like a kid in Master Meng’s arms. Since she was born, she had been pampered and couldn’t bear a scratch, let alone being slapped like this today. Wet Nurse Liu, who had just slapped Meng Xi nonstop, knelt on the ground trembling with fright. Following her, the rest of the servants there all knelt down. Frightened by the possible punishments, the palace maids who had pulled Meng Xi began to beg for mercy. And the servants around Crown Prince Yun let him go, too. Finally, Crown Prince Yun was able to break free and ran to Meng Xi, but with Master Meng there, he couldn’t go any closer. He’d love to hug the girl he loved, but he couldn’t snatch Meng Xi from her father! However, after his mother made a big scene, he had no idea how it would end. He didn’t want to hurt either his lover or his mother. “Bring a royal doctor over to treat Miss Meng’s face.” Seeing his best friend Master Meng shedding tears for Meng Xi’s red and swollen face, old King Yun immediately sent someone for a royal doctor. He then looked at Master Meng, “My friend, don’t worry. The doctor will be here soon. Xier will be fine.” “Of course, you are not worried since the one who got beaten is not your child,” complained Master Meng while comforting Meng Xi. “Well, I’ll bring justice to Xier,” said old King Yun. He then looked at the Noble Consort. Since old King Yun appeared, Noble Consort had already been surprised. Yet only until Master Meng showed up and hugged Meng Xi did she know she was in trouble this time. She didn’t expect Meng Xi to be the daughter of the Mengs. If she had known it earlier, she would have secretly killed her instead of using such a straightforward way. Master Meng was the old King Yun’s confidant and also the biggest obstacle in her son’s path to the throne. How incautious of her to let Meng Xi seduce her son! However, as an expert in scheming, she wouldn’t expose her emotions easily. The Noble Consort quickly calmed down and knelt down to confess her mistake to old King Yun. “Your Majesty, I didn’t know she was Miss Meng. It is my fault.” “My dear, I’m so disappointed.” “I was ignorant, but it is all because I care about our son too much. Master Meng, Miss Meng, please forgive me. Your Majesty, punish me as you wish, as long as Master Meng and Miss Meng can feel better.” “You can’t be accused of something you don’t know, but this time you went way too far! You detained Crown Prince Yun, killed his servants, and even tortured a girl. Even a commoner’s daughter doesn’t deserve that.” “I know I’ve made so many mistakes. Your Majesty, I’m willing to be punished.” The Noble Consort seemed to be extremely regretful. “Now that you’ve realized your fault, you will be locked in your palace! Remember, think twice before doing anything. As for the wet nurse who beat Miss Meng, these palace maids, and the servants here, slap them and beat them to death with a heavy stick.” Old King Yun was planning to make a great deal of it, but he didn’t expect the Noble Consort to behave so well. Moreover, as long as the Prime Minister was still in power, he couldn’t do anything more than just locking her in her palace. However, he wouldn’t let these confidants of the Noble Consort, especially Wet Nurse Liu, get away with it. Taking care of the Noble Consort since she was a child, Wet Nurse Liu was like her mother. The Noble Consort didn’t care if others were executed because of her, but she could not watch her wet nurse die. She hastily moved closer to old King Yun. “Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I really do. Please spare Wet Nurse Liu’s life.” “My dear, don’t I even have the right to punish a servant?” “You do, Your Majesty, but Wet Nurse Liu is different. You can beat me and scold me however you want as long as you spare her life.” “My dear! How can I beat you or scold you? You are my soulmate! I can’t even spoil you enough,” said old King Yun. He helped the Noble Consort up and looked at her with his loving eyes, but he insisted, “Look what the wet nurse makes you do. I must kill such a wicked servant.” Kneeling on the ground, Wet Nurse Liu saw that the Noble Consort, who always acted decently, had been driven mad for her. She was unwilling to leave her, the child she raised up. But suddenly, the wet nurse bowed her head on the ground towards the Noble Consort three times. “Your Grace, I can’t be by your side anymore. Please take care of yourself. Be careful not to catch a cold at night. Remember to tuck yourself in, drink more hot water, and not overeat cold food. Crown Prince Yun had grown up. You should think more about your own happiness. As for me, don’t worry. I’m willing to give you a peaceful life at the cost of my life.” “No! Please, Your Majesty, please spare her life. I’m begging you,” the Noble Consort pulled old King Yun’s sleeve and begged him. She wanted to kneel down again but was lifted by the king. After years of disappointment, it was the first time she tried to believe there was some humanity left in him. Yet, old King Yun had nothing but determination in his eyes. Meng Xi, who had stopped crying a long time ago, couldn’t bear it, but she was dragged by her father. He covered her mouth, forbidding her to make a sound. Master Meng knew his daughter well. She was too kind. Even though Wet Nurse Liu just hit her, she would still want to give her a hand. But Master Meng wouldn’t do the same. He hadn’t even given his daughter a scratch. How could the wet nurse bully her like that? What’s more, it was the worst time to speak for the wet nurse. Apparently, old King Yun was taking advantage of the chance to weaken the power of the Noble Consort. Still kneeling on the ground, Wet Nurse Liu did not get up. She looked at old King Yun and bowed her head on the ground to him, “Your Majesty, it was all my fault. It has nothing to do with the innocent and kind Noble Consort. I was the one who stirred things up so that Crown Prince Yun was captured and Miss Meng was slapped. I beg you to spare others’ lives after my death, Your Majesty. The Noble Consort treats you with all her heart. Please remember how thoughtful she has been to you and be nice to her.” As soon as she finished her words, Wet Nurse Liu stood up and knocked herself directly into a pillar in the Crown Prince Palace. After only hearing a loud sound, people saw her falling to the ground with blood flowing from her head. Her blood stained the ground and splattered on the pillars. How brave she was! The Noble Consort held Wet Nurse Liu’s body in her arms, which was slowly becoming cold. “Wet Nurse Liu, Wet Nurse Liu...” cried she loudly. Gradually, she stopped dropping tears. Instead, she had got a hint of coldness in her eyes. “Wet Nurse Liu, rest in peace!” whispered she to the body.