Chapter 728: Chapter 728: Business is Business
Thinking this, her heart grew more urgent by a few degrees, and she couldn’t be bothered with further prattling and directly said to Kong Yinyin, "Xiao Yinyi, just now she insulted you, and you still go back, this matter will be considered settled. Let’s continue pitching pots."
Kong Yinyin was startled and finally lifted her drooping head, "Go back?"
"Yes." Lian Hua said righteously, urging with her mouth, "Hurry, hurry, hurry, the bag of golden melon seeds is waiting for us. Isn’t it better to avoid wasting words with these two people?"
Her words stabbed deeply. Cui Laner bit her lip, her eyes concealing a hint of resentment, while Daying Jia suddenly felt some regret for being instigated by Cui Laner to rush forward. It really wasn’t her concern...
Kong Yinyin was dazed, asking as she followed, "How do I go back?" She had never considered it.
Lian Hua was dying of impatience, "Gosh, she just insulted you, didn’t she? Insult her back, let off some steam, and when the anger subsides, we can continue pitching pots."
Kong Yinyin said blankly, "But I can’t..."
"Ah, you can’t." Lian Hua was at a loss; she couldn’t either.
Suddenly struck by an idea, "She just pushed you, didn’t she? Push her back a couple of times and let it be, how about that?"
Kong Yinyin subconsciously glanced at Cui Laner, thinking of the golden melon seeds, and gathered some courage.
But seeing Cui Laner’s face turn the color of pig’s liver, she dared not do anything to Lian Hua, but when she saw Kong Yinyin looking her way, she glared fiercely at her and squeezed out two vicious words through her teeth, "You dare!"
Scared, Kong Yinyin took a step back, her hard-earned courage was deflated, and she fearfully lowered her head again, looking pitiful indeed.
Cui Laner’s eyes flashed with disdain and disgust, and a sense of satisfaction rose in her heart.
Kong Yinyin dared not insult her nor push her; what could Beauty Lian do to her.
Lian Hua: "..."
This person’s courage is really too small...
She gazed at the bag of golden melon seeds on the other side, which was a huge temptation, then at the scene before her, someone with support cowering helplessly, someone with no support looking fierce as a devil, plus a flat-faced figure standing by the side, truly a complete mess.
Shaded Eyes was afraid of her, but she never felt any remorse for bullying Kong Yinyin, and Kong Yinyin always just suffered silently, never daring to resist.
She grew impatient, and since that was so, if this couldn’t be resolved privately, it should be handled officially to avoid further troubles, also aligning with the rules of the palace.
She dropped the child’s play, addressing someone nearby, "Xiao Linzi, go find Consort De, and relay what happened here, please ask her to send someone to deal with it. Mention that I know she is busy with palace duties, and I did not want to trouble her with such a trivial matter, but rules are significant, and I shouldn’t go over her head in discipline."
Xiao Linzi immediately responded, "Yes, this servant will go right away." With that, he began to trot, moving quickly.
Xiao Jizi and Xiao Qing quickly filled in for Xiao Linzi’s absence, one on each side, guarding the person, master and servants alike wearing extremely calm expressions.
Kong Yinyin slightly raised her head, suddenly feeling that the aura of the person in front of her had changed, possessing an assertive force that brooked no disagreement, completely different from the playful demeanor she exhibited earlier. Her words were steady, as if stating mere commonplaces, yet they were sharper and harder to withstand.
She had only felt such an aura in a few individuals, all of whom were towering figures in the palace.
Is this... is this the real Beauty Lian?
Cui Laner’s pupils constricted as she cried out in alarm, "Beauty Lian, don’t!"
Compared to Beauty Lian, she was more afraid of Consort Xu De, who was a ruthless killer who acted without hesitation.
Consort Xu De was fiercely protective, shielding Beauty Lian as if she were her own child. Even when she was merely Zhaoyi, the previous Consort Zhen dared not provoke her, and even the Noble Consort avoided her sharpness. If Consort Xu De were to handle this, how could she expect any good outcome?
It was only now that she truly felt afraid, bending her valuable knees for the first time to kneel down and beg for mercy: "Beauty Lian, please do not report this matter to Consort De; this concubine admits her wrongdoing, this concubine truly knows her error, please spare this concubine."
Lian Hua did not even glance her way again; she turned and walked a few steps, preparing to continue her game of pitching arrows into a pot as usual.
She had done what she needed to do; now the golden melon seeds were more important, and there was no need to trouble herself over these irrelevant people.
With a "plop," Daying Jia also knelt, bumping her head on the ground, "Beauty Lian, this concubine’s mind was clouded by lard. I’m sorry for offending you. Please forgive me. I did not know it was you just now, I thought they were just some servants slacking off and spoke rudely. Please be magnanimous and forgive this concubine, please spare this concubine."
Lian Hua picked up an arrow, and with a calm side glance, said, "I have not taken to heart what happened earlier, and we need not mention it again. Today’s matter is not about your disrespect towards me, but about the fact that each palace has its rules. The servants are bound by these rules in their conduct; they are also human and should not be treated as punching bags for you to strike or scold whenever something upsets you, finding faults to exploit."
She paused, caressing the arrow in her hand, "Similarly, this applies to those of a lower rank than you. Their lives are already harder than yours; I don’t ask that you take care of them, but I do hope that you will not add insult to injury."
Daying Jia stared blankly at the person before her, her complexion turning pale and then flushing red, muttering to herself, suddenly at a loss for words. She feared that Beauty Lian might seek to retaliate due to the previous incident, but Beauty Lian hadn’t taken her to heart at all.
Moreover, her words left her feeling conflicted. Now, she was the one of lowest status, experiencing the bitterness and suffering all by herself. She suddenly realized how hateful her former self had been, and now it was merely karma coming full circle. With this thought, she collapsed, no longer making excuses or begging for mercy...
Xiao Jizi and Xiao Qing listened with satisfaction; their mistress had always been exceptionally kind, truly treating them like real human beings, which is why they were willing to do everything in their power to protect her. Yet, the latter part of her words also brought them sadness, recalling their mistress’s past struggles.
The young eunuchs who managed the pitching game listened with solemn respect. Earlier, fearing trouble, they had stayed in place with their heads bowed, daring not to utter a word in Cui Laner’s presence.
Daying Jia and the palace maid by Cui Laner’s side, upon hearing this, felt their eyes moisten, and the wounds from being punished throbbed faintly.
Cui Laner knelt on the ground and forgot to plead for mercy. She was unable to believe that she could hear such righteousness from Lian Hua, and though her heart was unconvinced, she dared not argue loudly. She could only mutter, "But they... are servants... and those of lower status should naturally endure this..."
Lian Hua, expressionless, remained silent, just quietly watching her, a stark contrast to her earlier self.
Cui Laner felt an overwhelming pressure envelop her; fine beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and she dared not look directly. She had seen this kind of imposing aura and presence only in His Majesty before.
She bowed her head, shocked and thinking to herself how Beauty Lian, who seemed so tender and soft in appearance, could evoke such fear...