The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Injured

In the palace, within the Fengyi Hall.

The palace maids quietly lit the candles in the hall, and the dim candlelight illuminated the surrounding scenery.

The hall was majestic and solemn, and the Empress did not allow the palace maids to speak loudly. Therefore, no one dared to be unruly, and they all remained quiet, fearing that they would incur the Empress’s displeasure.

Tonight, the palace maid who lit the candles quietly lit the ones around the hall. The dark palace slowly revealed its shape. When she reached the last candle, she was suddenly startled.

“Ah!” The candlelight illuminated the middle area.

There was someone kneeling quietly in the dark palace, and it was unclear how long he had been kneeling there. The darkness had already fallen, but he hadn’t made a single sound.

His posture was upright, and even on his knees, he was as straight as a pine tree, exuding an aura of nobility.

The maid was startled, her heart pounding uncontrollably. Xiao Huaijin turned his head, his voice gentle, “Sorry, I scared you.”

The maid didn’t know how long he had been kneeling there. She only knew that the Crown Prince had arrived at noon today. Could it be that he had been kneeling here for an entire afternoon?!
She didn’t dare think further and quickly replied, “No, no, it’s my fault, disturbing the Crown Prince. I’ll leave right away.”

She quickly picked up the flint she had dropped to the ground and hurriedly left the hall. Only when she was out of sight did she dare to look back at the majestic Fengyi Palace.

She had unintentionally witnessed the discord between the Empress and the Crown Prince tonight. She had only been assigned to the Fengyi Palace recently.

In the past, she had only heard that the Empress was strict with the Crown Prince, but she never thought that, upon seeing it with her own eyes today, it was far more than just strict.

Just as she had collided with the Crown Prince, he didn’t blame her, but instead apologized to her. What kind of event could have made the Empress so unhappy with this refined and elegant gentleman?

The maidservant racked her brain but couldn’t figure it out, so she went about her own business.

In the Fengyi Palace.

Xiao Huaijin’s legs had gone numb from kneeling, but he had been accustomed to this since childhood, so his expression didn’t change.

“Jin’er, after kneeling for a whole day, have you thought things through?” A majestic female voice came from the darkness. Soon, a pair of shoes with golden embroidery appeared before Xiao Huaijin. Above them was a luxurious crimson court dress adorned with golden phoenixes, and Li E’s eyes were piercing. With the purple-gold phoenix coronet on her head, she exuded an aura of dignity and nobility.

At this moment, she walked slowly out of the darkness, and her presence as a superior for decades made one’s heart tremble.

“Answering Mother Empress, Huaijin believes I am not wrong. The one who is wrong is my cousin. My actions were entirely justified.”

Xiao Huaijin looked straight ahead, his tone neither servile nor overbearing. Even after kneeling for an afternoon, he still stood firm in his convictions.

“Ha… Jin’er has really grown up. He’s not listening to his mother’s words anymore. Truly, ‘when children grow up, they don’t obey their parents’.”

The Empress was now seated on the throne, supported by her attendants. She narrowed her eyes slightly, her voice languid but carrying a hint of danger.

“Fuchun, since the Crown Prince still refuses to repent, let’s proceed as usual.”

At this moment, there were only three people in the palace. Whenever the Empress got angry, her aunt would use a rattan stick to whip him severely on the back.

Xiao Huaijin had grown accustomed to this over time. Even though he knew his recent response would undoubtedly earn him a brutal beating.

Fuchun, as the Empress’s personal maidservant and her dowry maid, had learned the cruel ways of the palace. Upon the Empress’s order, she fetched a rattan stick from a hidden compartment.

The stick was thick and covered with dense thorns, looking terrifying. It was even more dreadful to think about being beaten with such an object.

Fuchun’s eyes showed no emotion, and her tone was cold. “Crown Prince, you’ve offended.”

Even though Xiao Huaijin’s back was straight, the pain from the rattan stick still made him tremble uncontrollably. He could only clench his teeth to prevent himself from making a sound.

“Pa!” The rattan stick cut through the air, landing on his back with a loud crack. It tore his clothes apart, leaving a bloody mess. Fresh blood seeped through his garments.

“Ugh…” Even though the man clenched his teeth, he couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan. His hands grasped the clothes beneath him tightly, and beads of sweat slid down his face.

The man’s face turned pale instantly, but this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened tonight. Although he was the Crown Prince, he was now subject to the whims of the Empress’s son.

Since he had become her son, he couldn’t defy her wishes. Even if he was innocent this time.

“Enough, stop now.” The woman’s voice was expressionless. It was unclear how many times the stick had struck, but Xiao Huaijin’s back was already covered in bloodstains, some of which were even turned over and stuck to his torn clothes. This punishment was no less severe than what prisoners in the dungeon would endure.

The man knelt in the center of the hall, but even so, his back remained straight. The hair on his forehead was stuck together with cold sweat, and his eyelashes drooped. The candlelight cast a faint shadow on his face, making it impossible to read his expression.

“Jin’er, it’s late at night, and Mother has already dismissed the servants. I’ve also notified Mo Chi to come and escort you back to the East Palace.”

“Let’s stop here for tonight. However, I hope you’ll think carefully about what happened. Miaozhu is my most beloved niece, and you, as a gentleman, offended her because of that Little Miss Pei.”

“I know you, and I’m sure you wouldn’t be swayed by beauty. But you need to understand that the National Duke Mansion is your greatest support.”

“Your position as Crown Prince is still unstable. The third prince is eyeing your position, and Consort Xian is still favored in the palace. I don’t want you to lose the hard-won position of Crown Prince… Do you understand?”

Li E sat high above, looking at Xiao Huaijin with a mixture of concern and warning, but her face showed no worry.

“Huaijin, remember Mother’s teachings.”

Xiao Huaijin’s voice was hoarse, and he could only stand up with great difficulty. The candlelight illuminated his smooth profile, highlighting his handsome features.

Li E nodded upon seeing his condition and instructed Fuchun, “Can’t you see that the Crown Prince can barely walk? Go support him.”

Before Fuchun could react, the man spoke in a hoarse voice, “I don’t need to trouble Fuchun. I can walk on my own.”

Thus, he limped and leaned against the wall, leaving the majestic Fengyi Palace.

Li E watched him go without saying another word. She instructed, “The palace maid who lit the candles just now… I don’t want any sound of discord with the Crown Prince to spread within the palace walls.”

Fuchun acknowledged the order, her face hidden in the darkness.

A few days later, a palace maid’s body was discovered in the lotus pond, her face disfigured beyond recognition.

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Translator note – Her name is really Li E, the ‘e’ is written (娥) meaning beautiful/good.