Hello dear readers, it's your author here. Thank you so much for your patience in waiting for each chapter. I know I've been a bit slow lately—it's because I have an upcoming exam and need time to study. I'll truly appreciate it if you can drop a comment or review to share your thoughts about the novel. Thank you always for your support!
The emperor couldn't help but recall how beautiful Mei Liang's face was. He just hoped it wouldn't end up disfigured.
"Eunuch Zhao, take a few men with you and escort Mei Wenyuan back to her palace. Then send someone to fetch Imperial Physician Luo to check on her." "Yes, Your Majesty."
Eunuch Zhao and three others quickly hurried toward Mei Liang's direction. Meanwhile, Cuìyù was already desperately trying to stop the bleeding from the back of Mei Liang's head.
When she saw Eunuch Zhao approaching, she burst into tears of relief. The last time he came, he had only taken a look and left, so she thought he didn't want to get involved. She rushed toward him, her face wet with tears and snot, grabbing his sleeve.
"Please, help my mistress! The back of her head won't stop bleeding. I tried everything I could but it just won't stop!"
"How can I help if you're clinging to me like this? Wipe your tears first," Eunuch Zhao said as he gave swift instructions.
The eunuchs behind him lifted Mei Liang from the ground and rushed off toward Yunlu Palace. Emperor Xiang Long Wei followed right after them.
Word spread quickly, and the empress, along with the entire harem, was startled upon hearing that the emperor had gone to Yunlu Palace. It was said that Xian Guifei had punished Mei Liang—but somehow ended up kicking herself in the foot. She ended up sending the emperor to someone else door . Some concubines even laughed at Xian Guifei's misfortune.
The empress and the rest of the concubines made their way to the side hall of Yunlu Palace. There, they saw the emperor seated outside Mei Wenyuan's room. Empress Qing stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said, "This humble one pays her respects to Your Majesty.""You may rise."
The emperor reached out, holding her hand and helping her up. The other concubines behind her also offered their greetings one after another.
Just then, a servant walked out of Mei Liang's room holding a bowl filled with blood. Gasps spread through the hall. Even the emperor and the empress looked visibly shocked.
At that very moment, Xian Guifei entered. The sight of the blood-filled bowl made her freeze in place. She quickly walked up and paid her respects to the emperor and empress.
"Xian Guifei," Empress Qing said, her tone cold, "I heard you punished Mei Wenyuan in the imperial garden. How did things turn out like this?"
The emperor didn't speak. He just stared at Xian Guifei in silence, his expression unreadable. Although he hadn't shown much favor to Mei Liang before, he hadn't forgotten that her family held significant military power—and her maternal side also had strong ties within the court.
Would her family not feel bitter upon hearing that their daughter had suffered so gravely in the palace? They might even begin to resent him the emperor himself.
Still, Emperor Xiang Long Wei said nothing. His gaze remained fixed on Xian Guifei. There was no anger in his face, yet Xian Guifei couldn't stop trembling under his eyes.
She knew better than anyone why the emperor had tolerated her again and again. It was because of that one moment—it was because she had once saved his life when a woman in the harem tried to assassinate him. Without that life-saving debt, the emperor wouldn't have favored her as he did now.
Everyone believed she was the most favored, but only she knew she never truly had his heart.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Xian Guifei turned toward the empress.
"Your Majesty, Mei Wenyuan disrespected this concubine in the imperial garden, that was why I punished her. I only told her to kneel—nothing more. This concubine has no idea how things ended up like this," she said.
"And how exactly did she disrespect you?" Empress Qing asked coldly. If she could use Mei Wenyuan's situation as an excuse to deal with Noble Consort Xian, it would be to her advantage.
Just as Xian Guifei was about to reply, Imperial Physician Luo stepped out from Mei Liang's room. He bowed respectfully to the empress and concubines before facing the emperor.
"Your Majesty, Mei Wenyuan is awake. She has a concussion, but it's not too serious. The back of her head is swollen. She may experience dizziness, nausea, or vomiting for a while, but she should recover in a week or two."
Xian Guifei quietly let out a breath of relief. Imperial Physician bowed to both the emperor and empress, then Imperial Physician Luo took his leave.
The emperor, the empress, and a few concubines walked into Mei Liang's room. The scent of medicine hung heavily in the air. Mei Liang tried to stand and greet them, but the emperor stepped forward and gently helped her sit back down. "No need for formalities. How is Mei Wenyuan feeling now?"
His gaze lingered on her face. Even injured, she was breathtaking. Her skin was pale, lips bloodless, her expression cold—but it was a kind of cold that only enhanced her beauty more. It was like she was born to be distant, untouchable, yet that coldness made one want to reach out to it, peel it away, and uncover the warmth hidden beneath.
As Mei Liang looked up at the emperor, she forced herself to hide the hatred burning deep in her eyes.
Although she tried to hide it, who was the emperor? He had been sitting on the throne since the age of fifteen. He had dealt with countless treacherous ministers and cunning enemies. Emperor Xiang Long Wei noticed the hatred in Mei Liang's eyes—and though it shocked him, he pretended not to see it.
It seemed this little concubine needed to be investigated. That look… he had only seen such hatred in one person's eyes before. But that woman was already dead.
Emperor Xiang Long Wei gently took Mei Liang's hand in his.
"My beloved concubine has suffered. Don't worry—Zhen will make it up to you. I won't let your suffering be in vain."
Hearing the emperor speak so tenderly to Mei Liang, Xian Guifei felt like vomiting. She had only wanted to punish a vain woman, but instead, she ended up humiliating herself.
Duan Guifei remained silent, her face expressionless, but her hands were clenched into fists. Meanwhile, De Fei narrowed her eyes at Mei Wenyuan, quietly sizing her up.
Her beauty was undeniable—but in this harem, beauty alone wasn't enough to win the emperor's favor. Unlike Xian Guifei, who had foolishly tried to punish someone and ended up injuring herself instead, but she was more calculating.
Right now, Mei Wenyuan wasn't a threat. But if the time came when she became one, it would be easy to deal with her. Hadn't she already removed that woman and her entire family before? Now no one even remembered that woman's name in the harem.
The real threat was Xian Guifei, the one who shamelessly clung to the emperor's affection.
Everyone was lost in their own thoughts.
After the others had left, Mei Liang finally lay down and closed her eyes. She was lucky today. Though injured, it wasn't serious. But next time, she might not be so fortunate.
She wanted the emperor's sympathy, yes—but not at the cost of her life. Mei Liang knew very well that the emperor wouldn't harshly punish Xian Guifei. After all, she was the only woman in the harem who had given birth to a prince.
But if the emperor at least placed her under house arrest, that would buy her time—time to gather strength and lay the foundation for her revenge.
First, she needed loyal servants planted throughout every corner of the harem. Only then could her true plan begin.