Chapter 4: Prolong It, Then Execute by Beating

"Come in."

A young woman dressed in the attire of a palace maid pushed open the door and entered, kneeling timorously on the floor. "Your Majesty, I have been sent by Nanny Li to assist you with changing your clothes."

Feng Ruqing cast a faint glance at her. "Change clothes? There is no need. I am weary and wish to rest."

The maid dared not speak further and silently withdrew. Feng Ruqing understood that this was a test, as well as a challenge, from the inner palace.

The following morning, Feng Ruqing rose early, intending to stroll through the palace to familiarize herself with her surroundings. However, the moment she stepped out of the Fengluan Palace, she found the palace path covered in thick mud, clearly the result of someone's deliberate interference. Several maids were feigning the act of sweeping in the distance, yet they kept their distance.

A flash of cold light crossed Feng Ruqing’s eyes, but she did not erupt. Instead, she walked straight into the mud, stepping forward one stride at a time. She wanted to see exactly what kind of tricks these people intended to play.

She had not gone far when she encountered a group of ornately dressed concubines, led by Noble Consort Su.

"Oh my, isn't this Her Majesty the Empress?" Noble Consort Su said with a sharp, mocking tone. "Why are you out for a stroll so early in the morning? Are you not afraid of soiling your imperial robes?"

Feng Ruqing stopped in her tracks and swept a cold gaze over her. "I am taking a walk. What business is that of yours, Noble Consort?"

"Your Majesty, you wound me. I am merely concerned for you." Noble Consort Su covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes filled with derision. "After all, given your humble origins, it is understandable that you are unfamiliar with the rules of the palace."

The surrounding concubines chimed in, their words dripping with sarcasm and disdain.

"Indeed, Your Majesty. You should return to your palace and study the rules properly, lest you lose face for the Imperial family."

"Exactly! How can the daughter of a mere military general be the mother of the nation? It is truly laughable!"

Faced with the mockery of the crowd, Feng Ruqing did not weep or act aggrieved like a traditional woman. Instead, she began to laugh—a crisp, clear sound, yet laced with a biting chill that echoed down the palace path.

"Noble Consort, you are in such a hurry to mock me—could it be that you are jealous?" Her tone was calm, yet every word was like a blade, striking straight at Noble Consort Su’s weak spot.

Noble Consort Su was left speechless, her face turning a sickly shade of green and white. She had not expected Feng Ruqing to be so audacious as to humiliate her in public.

"You… you are insolent!" Noble Consort Su pointed at Feng Ruqing, breathless with rage, unable to conjure a retort.

Feng Ruqing smiled faintly. Her gaze swept over the trembling maids, and her tone suddenly turned frigid. "What is this? As Empress, am I not even allowed to take a walk? Who dirtied this path? Clean it up at once!" Her voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty, like a general commanding an army on the battlefield.

The maids, who had been dawdling, were terrified out of their wits. They dropped their brooms and knelt on the ground, shivering. They had never seen such a formidable Empress; it felt as if she might have them dragged out and beheaded at any moment.

"What are you standing there for? Get to it!" Seeing that Feng Ruqing ignored her and began issuing orders to the maids, Noble Consort Su grew even more incensed and barked a command.

The maids, as if granted a reprieve, scrambled to their feet and began frantically clearing the muddy path. Feng Ruqing stood with her hands behind her back, watching them quietly, her eyes devoid of ripples. Seeing Feng Ruqing acting so arrogantly, Noble Consort Su’s fury mounted, yet she dared not say more. She realized that Feng Ruqing was not as simple as she appeared. This woman possessed an aura that made her feel deeply uneasy.

The path was quickly cleared. Feng Ruqing then resumed her walk. As she brushed past Noble Consort Su, she paused slightly and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Noble Consort, the road in this inner palace is still very long."

Watching Feng Ruqing’s retreating back, Noble Consort Su dug her fingernails deep into her palms, a glimmer of malice flashing in her eyes.

"Your Highness..." the maid beside her called out cautiously.

Noble Consort Su turned sharply, her expression icy. "Go, have..."

Consumed by rage, Noble Consort Su found Feng Ruqing’s arrogance and fearlessness entirely intolerable. She gritted her teeth and whispered a few words into the ear of her personal maid, Cui’er. Cui’er nodded in understanding, a flash of cunning in her eyes.

Feng Ruqing continued on, admiring the scenery of the Imperial Garden, yet her vigilance remained high. She knew the perils of the inner palace well; Noble Consort Su’s provocation was only the beginning, and more challenges surely awaited her.

Suddenly, Cui’er, walking beside Feng Ruqing, cried out. Her body tilted, and the teacup in her hand flew out, the scalding tea splashing directly onto the hem of Feng Ruqing’s dress.

"Ah! Your Majesty, please forgive me! I did not mean it!" Cui’er knelt on the ground, shaking like a leaf, putting on a display of utter terror.

The surrounding concubines gathered around, pointing and whispering.

"Your Majesty, this maid has offended you; you must punish her severely!"

"Indeed, this is a sign of disrespect toward you—it must be handled strictly!"

Noble Consort Su also stepped forward with a hypocritical expression of concern. "Your Majesty, are you alright? This maid is truly careless to have offended you. She deserves to die for this!" Her eyes betrayed a hint of triumph, as if she could already see Feng Ruqing being scolded by the Emperor.

However, Feng Ruqing merely cast a faint glance at Cui’er, the corners of her mouth curling into a cold sneer. Having spent years in the army, she had long ago honed a keen sense of observation. Cui’er’s clumsy acting could not deceive her. She had noticed that when Cui’er fell, she had deliberately tripped herself, and the teacup had been intentionally aimed at her.

"Oh? An offense?" Feng Ruqing’s tone was frigid, her gaze piercing as she looked straight into Cui’er’s eyes. "Why is it that I feel you did this on purpose?"

Cui’er shuddered, her eyes darting about, not daring to meet Feng Ruqing’s gaze.

"I... I truly did not mean it..."

"Not on purpose?" Feng Ruqing let out a cold laugh. "Then tell me, why did you fall so easily? The ground in the Imperial Garden is flat and free of obstacles. Are your legs perhaps infirm?"

Cui’er stammered, unable to form a coherent response.

Feng Ruqing turned her gaze to Noble Consort Su, her tone chilling further. "Noble Consort, your maid is so ignorant of the rules and has offended me. How do you propose she be dealt with?"

Noble Consort Su’s expression shifted. She had not expected Feng Ruqing to see through their scheme so easily. She suppressed her anger and forced a smile. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This girl is ignorant and has offended you; I shall certainly discipline her well."

"Discipline?" Feng Ruqing sneered. "I think not." She reached into her sleeve, pulled out a handkerchief, and gently wiped the tea stain from her dress. Her tone was calm but carried a hint of murderous intent. "I shall handle it myself." She raised her head abruptly, her gaze striking Cui’er like a blade. "Drag her away and beat her to death."

Noble Consort Su’s face drained of color. She had not expected Feng Ruqing to be so ruthless—deciding to execute a maid over a mere disagreement.

"Your Majesty, this... is this punishment not too severe?"

Feng Ruqing looked at her coldly. "Severe? Offending the Empress is a capital offense by law; I have already been lenient. Tell me, Noble Consort, do you have an objection to my judgment?"

Noble Consort Su was left speechless, daring not to utter another word. She knew that if she continued to obstruct, Feng Ruqing might very well hold her accountable as well.

As Cui’er was dragged away, she glared at Feng Ruqing with venomous hatred, muttering malicious curses. Feng Ruqing, however, remained completely unmoved, as if none of this had anything to do with her.

She turned slowly and swept her gaze over the surrounding concubines, her tone icy. "Is there anyone else dissatisfied with me?"

Silence reigned. The concubines exchanged looks, all of them seeing a chilling murderous intent in Feng Ruqing’s eyes. They had never seen an Empress like this—not one who cried or acted weak, but one who was decisive in her killing and exceptionally ruthless.

Noble Consort Su’s expression was ghastly. She had originally assumed Feng Ruqing was merely a hollow beauty, but she had not expected her to be such a difficult opponent.

Feng Ruqing let out a cold laugh and swept her sleeves as she departed, leaving the others in disarray. She knew that Cui’er’s death was merely the beginning; the waters of the inner palace were far more treacherous than any battlefield. She had to move with calculated caution to protect herself and avenge her sister.

Returning to Fengluan Palace, Feng Ruqing dismissed her attendants and sat alone by the window, gazing at the blooming peonies while lost in thought. Noble Consort Su’s provocations were trivial matters; the true enemy remained hidden in the shadows. She had to identify the mastermind behind the scenes as quickly as possible to eradicate the threat once and for all.

"Your Majesty," her personal maid, Hongxiu, said as she entered with a cup of tea. "You have not eaten all day. Please, have something."

Feng Ruqing took the cup and sipped it lightly. "Hongxiu, who in this inner palace do you think is most likely to have caused my sister’s death?"

Hongxiu hesitated for a moment before whispering, "I dare not speak idly, but... it is rumored throughout the palace that Consort Shu has always been deeply embittered by the Emperor’s favor..."

A flash of cold light crossed Feng Ruqing’s eyes. Consort Shu—it seemed it was time to pay her a visit.

Over the next few days, Feng Ruqing stayed within her quarters, rarely appearing before others except for her daily morning greetings. On the surface, she was recuperating, but in reality, she was secretly investigating the cause of her sister’s death.

One day, while Feng Ruqing was reviewing the palace account books, she suddenly discovered a massive expenditure with an unknown purpose. Her heart skipped a beat. Could this sum of money be related to her sister’s death?

"Hongxiu," Feng Ruqing called out, "go and summon the Chief of the Imperial Household Department. I have questions for him."

Hongxiu departed to carry out the order, and before long, the Chief of the Imperial Household Department arrived at Fengluan Palace, trembling with fear.

"This servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress." The Chief knelt on the ground, shivering.

"Rise and answer me," Feng Ruqing said, pointing to the expenditure in the account book. "What is this money for?"

The Chief’s expression changed, and he stammered, "This... this is... it is..."

"Speak!" Feng Ruqing’s tone was icy, her eyes flashing with cold light.

The Chief trembled violently and threw himself onto the ground. "Your Majesty, please spare my life! This servant... this servant knows nothing!"

Feng Ruqing sneered. "Knows nothing? It seems I shall have to investigate this thoroughly." She picked up the account book, her gaze falling on another entry, which clearly read: "Reward for Consort Shu"...

Feng Ruqing slammed the account book shut, a look of fierce determination in her eyes. "Someone, come here!"