Chapter 7: Did You Hit Him?

Chapter 7: Was It You Who Hit Him?

Ye Wanwan knelt before Zhao Yi. Despite being in a disadvantageous position, she still found the composure to smooth out her wrinkled clothes.

Half of Zhao Yi's face was swollen and bruised. A court eunuch was applying a cold compress, and every time the cloth touched his skin, Zhao Yi winced in agony. Ye Wanwan had struck with the intent to harm; it would surely take a layer of skin off. Although her own neck was throbbing, making even the simple act of swallowing painful, it did not dampen her spirits. She wished she could kill him, and though she could not, she took satisfaction in making him suffer.

Zhao Yi’s expression was ferocious, his eyes fixed on Ye Wanwan with intense malice. His fleeting desire for her beauty had been suppressed, replaced by undisguised hatred and cruelty—this was his true face. All that pretense of gentleness, kindness, and broad-mindedness was nothing but a facade. While Zhao Yi was skilled at masking his nature, he was, after all, an emperor. Being slapped by a woman—and so violently at that—it was no wonder he had broken his composure.

She was certain that Zhao Yi was currently cycling through countless ways to kill her, but he wouldn't. He had only recently wrested power from the old Regent. Though his throne was stable, there were many waiting in the shadows, and he still relied on the Ye family. He needed them, yet he feared their influence; that was precisely why he had used the Empress Dowager to force her to drink the barrenness-inducing decoction. But this did not mean the Ye family was something he could manipulate at will—at least, not yet. An emperor with fully grown wings was powerful, but he was still not seasoned enough.

At this thought, Ye Wanwan let out a scoff. It was laughable; she was merely a sheltered young woman who had never encountered such imperial schemes, yet she had been forced to learn them all. Every lesson, every shred of understanding she possessed regarding Zhao Yi, had been bought with blood and tears. It was precisely because she knew he dared not kill her that she remained so fearless.

"Ye Wanwan, give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you."

See? Even though he could not kill her, he still acted as if her fate were sealed.

Ye Wanwan lowered her eyes and said indifferently, "Your subject is guilty and awaits your disposal, Your Majesty—provided it is not that decoction."

She would hold onto that point and twist the knife as deep as it would go.

Zhao Yi’s face darkened. If he could not kill her and could not let her go, a beating would have to suffice. "Guards! Drag her out and give her thirty heavy strikes with the rod."

Nanny Lin, who had been kneeling not far behind Ye Wanwan, scrambled forward in terror to shield her. "Your Majesty, I beg of you! The Empress has already suffered greatly from that medicine and has only just begun to recover. Thirty strikes will surely take her life!"

"I beg for your mercy, Your Majesty!" The other servants joined in the plea.

Nanny Lin tugged at Ye Wanwan’s sleeve, whispering, "Your Highness, please just humble yourself and appease the Emperor. Don't be so stubborn."

Appease Zhao Yi? Would using a knife to do it suffice?

Ye Wanwan said nothing. She simply stood up and walked outside, lying down to receive the punishment. She wanted to see if she would truly die from this beating.

Alas, just as the rods were raised, a voice rang out: "The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

"Stop! Everyone, stop at once!"

Seeing the rods, Empress Dowager Ye was horrified. She rushed forward to scatter the guards and helped Ye Wanwan up. "Wan'er, how did you manage to anger the Emperor so?"

Ye Wanwan remained silent, head bowed. The Empress Dowager was shocked to see the bruises on her neck. Had the Emperor truly treated her with such violence? She led Ye Wanwan inside, but just as she was about to question her, she saw the state of Zhao Yi’s face.

She was struck with disbelief, turning to look at Ye Wanwan. "Was it you who hit him?"

Ye Wanwan still did not speak. The Empress Dowager felt a weary ache in her heart. Striking an emperor—had she lost her mind? Who had given her such audacity?

"Why haven't you apologized to the Emperor?" the Empress Dowager chided, before turning to Zhao Yi with a pained expression. "This child... her hand is truly heavy."

Zhao Yi sat there with a cold, unresponsive face.

The Empress Dowager sighed in self-reproach, "It is my fault for failing to teach Wan'er well. I beg the Emperor to suppress his anger. For my sake, please spare her this beating. If she is struck, she will not survive."

"However, since she dared to lay hands on Your Majesty, she must be punished. How about confining her to the palace for three months and having her transcribe the palace rules a hundred times? I will surely teach her better in the future."

Zhao Yi did not answer, merely sitting there with a grim expression. Finally, he glared fiercely at Ye Wanwan, rose, and led his entourage away. This was as good as an agreement.

The Empress Dowager exhaled a long sigh of relief. She looked back at Ye Wanwan, wanting to say something, but could only shake her head before leaving.

The Guanju Palace was sealed off, and Ye Wanwan began her three-month confinement. Being unable to leave the palace was difficult, but three months was a wait she could endure. The palace rules were a thick, tedious volume filled with endless drivel—so monotonous that one wouldn't even want to glance at it, let alone copy it. It was, by all accounts, a form of torture.

Yet, Ye Wanwan copied them, and she did so with great care. Every character was written upright, each stroke clear and distinct. If one were to look closely, they would see that while her seemingly rigid, soulless handwriting appeared ordinary, the tip of every stroke held a hidden blade.

It was not that she enjoyed copying; rather, she needed something to keep her calm and restrained. Striking Zhao Yi had been satisfying, but such an act could not be repeated. If she did it again, even if Zhao Yi didn't kill her, he would surely make her pay a devastating price. She wanted revenge, but she could not be so foolish as to sacrifice herself without even managing to hurt him—that would be utterly stupid.

She was currently just a Consort in the deep palace, and those around her were either loyal to Consort Ye or the Prime Minister; none of them would ever truly serve her.