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Noble Consort was utterly speechless. Xu Zhaoyi had been trained in martial arts by her father since she was young, so it was expected that the group of fools watching outside the hall couldn’t stop her.

Moreover, Xu Zhaoyi was not someone she could easily handle, nor would she obey her orders, not even the title of Noble Consort could suppress her.

This person indeed had always enjoyed doing things in her own way, an existence in the Harem that she couldn’t control. Usually, she had been very tolerant towards this person, but now that she had come to stir up trouble, the situation was likely to become more difficult.

Thinking of this, Noble Consort felt a headache coming on.

Seeing that Noble Consort remained silent, Xu Zhaoyi casually glanced around the hall and figured out what was happening.

Just as she was about to turn her head, she saw a pair of almond-shaped eyes staring brightly at her.

She smiled at the owner of those eyes, then turned to Noble Consort and asked, "Wasn’t it said that Beauty Li had an accident?

Is she dead or not? If she’s not dead, why not bring her out to wake her up?

If you need someone to testify, how could only the servant from Driftfrost Hall be enough? "

"..." Xu Zhaoyi still spoke so bluntly—what kind of way was this to talk?

What does she mean, ’is she dead or not’? If she’s not dead, you should bring her out? Is this the kind of arrogance expected from a daughter of a military general?

She didn’t even bother with basic courtesies, leaving no room for face!

Noble Consort felt extremely annoyed inside but forced a smile and said, "Younger Sister Li is severely injured and unconscious, the Imperial Physician is treating her. As things stand, whether she is here or not doesn’t matter.

If Sister Xu has nothing else, please leave, as this palace has official matters to attend to. "

"It’s alright, Consort may handle her affairs. You don’t need to mind this concubine." Xu Zhaoyi said indifferently, and then found a chair to sit down on her own accord.

Noble Consort felt her head throbbing with rage. Couldn’t this barbarian tell that she was being asked to leave?

She secretly composed herself, reminding herself to stay calm, and gave a meaningful glance to the Punishment Matron down below.

The Punishment Matron understood the hint, glanced covertly at Xu Zhaoyi, and realized this master was unreasonable; she always lashed out with her whip at the slightest provocation, and her presence put significant pressure on her.

But as Noble Consort signalled her again, the Punishment Matron had no choice but to muster her courage and said, "Daying Lian has committed a grave sin of insubordination by plotting against Beauty Li, an act of utter defiance—"

Xu Zhaoyi interrupted in a cool tone, "Hmm? How was this charge determined? Do you only have witnesses from Driftfrost Hall?"

She then coldly laughed and sarcastically said, "I wouldn’t have expected it, Noble Consort handling a case so rashly!"

...

The Emperor, at that time, was not as Zhang Sancai had said, meeting with ministers to discuss state affairs, but was in the Training Room practicing boxing with someone, accompanied by Zhang Qing.

Every few days, he made it a point to spar with someone, a habit he had developed while he was Crown Prince.

Practicing boxing not only strengthened his body but also provided a sense of crisis with each physical hit—an important feeling even in times of stable governance and national peace, reminding him always to remain vigilant.

As the Emperor was concentrating on sparring with his boxing master, a commotion from outside the hall caught his attention, and he looked at Zhang Qing displeasedly.

Zhang Qing understood, and with quick steps, he rushed out to check the noise.

Once outside the Training Room, he saw a group of guards stopping a man dressed like a eunuch, who was in ragged clothes, missing a shoe, and his face was bruised and dusty, looking utterly disheveled.

Zhang Qing hurried over and shouted, "Who dares to cause such a disturbance here? Are you tired of living?"

The person heard Zhang Qing’s voice and yelled with all his might, "Steward Zhang, save me, it’s your servant, it’s your servant!"

Upon hearing the voice, Zhang Qing was greatly startled. Wasn’t Feng Ji serving in Canglan Court? How did he end up here, and in such a state?

He quickly ordered the guards to let him go and allow him to come over.

Xiao Jizi staggered to Zhang Qing, fell to his knees with a thud, and kowtowed, "Steward Zhang, something has happened to Young Master, please allow your servant to see His Majesty, your servant here thanks you for your great kindness..." As he spoke, he began to kowtow earnestly.

Zhang Qing turned pale with shock, hurriedly bent down, and grabbed his shoulders, asking, "What did you say? Young Master Lian is in trouble? What happened?" Wasn’t everything fine just a few days ago? How could it suddenly...

He knew how anxious His Majesty was about Young Master Lian. This was bad, he had to inform His Majesty immediately.

Without waiting for Xiao Jizi’s reply, Zhang Qing grabbed him and headed straight to the Training Room.

Once inside the Training Room, Zhang Qing set him down and hurried over, bending down and softly calling out, "Your Majesty."

The Emperor was finishing the last move in a sparring session with his martial arts master. He stopped, took a towel handed to him by a young eunuch, wiped his sweat, and looked at Zhang Qing, asking, "What’s the matter?"

Zhang Qing said, "Your Majesty, Feng Ji from Canglan Court has come and said, said that Young Master Lian is in trouble..."

"What?" The Emperor was taken aback. What could possibly have happened to Little Concubine, who was supposed to be in Canglan Court? Could it be that she stirred up trouble and caused another incident?

Remembering an instance where she nearly had an accident while swinging, the Emperor became anxious and asked, "What happened, and where is she now? How is she now?"

Xiao Jizi hurriedly crawled over, knelt, and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, your servant isn’t clear about the specifics, only that Beauty Li is in trouble, and Young Master was also present, and now, now—"

The Emperor was frantic; this eunuch couldn’t even speak clearly, "In the end, is it Beauty Li in trouble, or is it her?"

Seeing Xiao Jizi’s disheveled appearance, the Emperor was shocked. This servant usually looked so neat and tidy; could it be that Little Concubine had truly caused some grave trouble?

Xiao Jizi hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, it was Beauty Li who lost her footing and fell down the steps.

Young Master was also there, and now the servants from Driftfrost Hall are adamant that it was Young Master who pushed her, and Young Master might.

.. might already be under arrest and facing trial.

.." As he spoke, Xiao Jizi couldn’t help but sob.

Harming a Palace Concubine, an act of rebellion, was a grievous crime. If convicted, Young Master might not survive...

Upon hearing it was Beauty Li who fell, the Emperor breathed a sigh of relief, as long as it wasn’t her who was in trouble, and asked again, "Where is she now? And what happened to your injuries?"

Xiao Jizi glanced at Zhang Qing, his eyes flickering, and said, "Your servant had just left the scene of the incident, she was still in the Imperial Garden, but your servant was delayed quite a bit on the way here, so I assume she might have already been taken to Noble Consort. My injuries were caused by this servant’s ignorance of the rules, having trespassed into Star Palace, and for this, I ask Your Majesty to punish me.

However, the current situation of Young Master is unclear, so may Your Majesty defer the punishment—she might. .." perhaps be subjected to torture...

The Emperor felt a pang in his heart, thinking of the Driftfrost Hall servants asserting that it was Little Concubine who pushed the person. Although he was not aware of the details, he could never believe such an account.

Little Concubine was usually so timid, how could she dare to harm someone, and what reason would she have?

Scheming against a Palace Concubine was a serious matter, and Noble Consort was usually cautious and deliberate; she wouldn’t rush to a judgment, would she?

But if Little Concubine had acted rashly and offended someone, could she possibly be tortured?

Thinking this, the Emperor became agitated, not even changing his clothes, and hurried out in his training robes with rapid, meteor-like strides.