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It seemed only a moment had passed, yet it felt as long as a lifetime. Her pupils focused sharply, and she instantly recognized the approaching figure, the very Noble Consort she had been longing for.

Suddenly, she was filled with boundless hope. Her soul, which was nearly frightened away, returned in an instant, and her astonishing will to survive burst forth with tremendous potential.

With nimble strength, she shook off the force holding her down, and burst out, screaming madly, "Murder! Consort De is murdering someone! Noble Consort, save me! Consort, save my life! Consort De is going to stain the harem with blood, she’s killing without reason!"

Her voice was extremely shrill, piercing through the eardrums, very grating.

The guards and the one trying to gag her were caught off-guard. They were knocked over, unable to prevent her from charging forward.

As Ming Jing was speaking about sending Granny Gan to the Laundry Bureau, he did not expect such fierce resistance, even more than the serviceman who was previously executed by caning. He was somewhat stunned and did not react immediately.

Everyone was stunned.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. Two flying darts tore through the air, striking Granny Gan directly in both kneecaps as she rushed forward. She immediately fell forward onto the ground, screaming like a slaughtered pig, blood gushing from her knees, unable to move any further.

The one who shot the darts, Consort Xu De, stood up and took a good look, recognizing this woman who looked familiar. After a moment, she remembered that this was the very Punishment Matron who had been the most troublesome at Driftfrost Hall at Huaqing Palace, framing Lian Hua.

Her brows raised in anger, "Ah, so originally I could not remember this person, but now she has come to me on her own," she thought. Originally, it was just a matter of sending her to the Laundry Bureau, but now, well, hmph!

This woman was one of Lady Xue’s vicious tools; over the years, she had helped facilitate many misdeeds, which were not just limited to what the records showed. She had brought this upon herself.

The thought of her sister Lian Hua being wrongfully killed was still vivid in her mind, igniting the fury in her heart. Merely sending this old woman to the Laundry Bureau was letting her off too easily!

Ignoring Noble Consort Xue approaching from afar, she took off the whip hanging at her waist, strode forward about ten steps, swung the long whip, and lashed out.

She coiled up the screaming Granny Gan and flung her in front of her.

From a high position, she coldly said, "You wretched servant, repeatedly causing trouble, no one can save you today. "

With that, she swung her whip violently towards Granny Gan.

Noble Consort Xue, who had been hurrying over from a distance, had already heard the screams. Hindered by not using a sedan chair and feeling weak from a recent head ailment and lack of appetite, she was being supported by two people and could not walk fast.

Seeing this scene, her eyes burst with anger, and disregarding her image, she shouted as loud as she could, "Consort Xu De, stop!"

She forcefully broke free from the two supporting her and quickened her pace. Feeling dizzy, she bit her tongue to endure the discomfort.

She was well aware that if Rong Ying managed to cleanse the harem today, her own influence would be trampled underfoot.

Her many years of maneuvering in the palace would collapse instantly, causing her power to decline irreversibly.

Who would then dare do her bidding? From then on, the harem would belong to Rong Ying.

Just as she was about to reach them, she did not expect two people to emerge and block her path.

The two bowed respectfully to the Noble Consort and politely said, "Noble Consort, a daring servant caused trouble and attempted to harm you. She has already been apprehended by our master personally. Please wait a moment to avoid any Confrontation."

These two were indeed Huaying Hall’s palace maids, skilled in martial arts!

Not far from there, Consort Xu De, as if having heard nothing, continued to whip Granny Gan, lashing directly onto her flesh as if the whip were her face, mercilessly striking at her own heart.

The Noble Consort watched this scene, fury rushing to her head, a bitter sweetness in her throat, and she barked harshly, "You dog servant, get out of my way!"

Yet, the two in front of her did not move, still offering the same excuses, still just as respectful.

Consort Xu De fiercely whipped four or five times, not holding back. Remembering how Lian Hua had been cunningly framed in the past, her explosive temper could not control the force, lashing until Granny Gan’s flesh burst open, finally releasing some of her pent-up rage.

Of course, it was only a little, for Granny Gan was merely a minion aiding tyranny, while the real culprits were still very much at ease.

Such a beating was hardly enough to avenge her sister Lian Hua!

When she had Granny Gan beaten to within an inch of her life, Consort Xu De threw the whip behind her, and someone quickly caught it.

She leisurely pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her hands, disgustedly tossed it aside, then stepped on a dart lodged halfway through Granny Gan’s kneecap penetrating the entire knee, and the nearly lifeless Granny Gan screamed out loud, her cries echoing to the skies.

Consort Xu De removed her foot, her murderous aura flaring as she looked at Granny Gan and said, "It has been many years since I personally acted, you should feel honored to be the first servant I dealt with. Today I have only crippled one of your legs. Killing you would dirty my hands. If you offend again, well, you won’t have the chance, or else I will certainly hang your dog’s head on the palace walls as a warning to others! "

Ming Jing, holding a book, came over and corrected helplessly, "My lord, the Harem is not a battlefield; hanging something on the palace walls might scare others, especially Master Lian."

The lord’s old habit had flared up again, alas.

It was rumored in the palace that the lord would whip someone at the slightest disagreement, which was not true. The lord was nothing if not meticulous about rules, except in front of this old woman and whipping only one other person in the palace, usually just to frighten others.

Yet from that one time, the story of the lord loving to whip spread and became increasingly fantastical.

But that time, the lord really did lose his temper and severely beat someone, a consort, in front of many other concubines, whipping her to a bloody pulp without heeding anyone trying to persuade or reason with him.

Consort Zhen was also present. It’s said that Consort Zhen had nightmares for days after that, and ever since, whenever Consort Zhen saw the lord, she would hide, very afraid of the lord, even secretly calling the lord a ’murderer’ behind his back.

That time was not without reason for the lord’s anger; it was indeed the consort’s fault. Her mouth was too foul. She dared to insult the lord’s own sister, claiming that after the lord’s sister was captured by rebels, she must have been defiled by them.

That consort had touched the lord’s sore spot. Upon hearing this, the lord flew into a rage, picked up a whip, and started whipping, leaving no room for the consort to dodge or plead for mercy.

Afterwards, the lord was demoted in rank as a punishment; otherwise, how could the daughter of Great General Xu hold such a low rank, living in a palace that begins with ’Hua,’ indicating a certain status?

And that consort was punished by His Majesty, sent to Hetai Temple to "reflect and purify herself." It’s said that His Majesty did not arrange for the Imperial Physician to treat the consort’s whip wounds, letting them fester and her body to rot, ultimately leading to her demise, now even her name barely remembered.