With the Phoenix Empress Hairpin in hand, Serena could ignore everyone in the harem. Of course, the hairpin was only a symbol, not real power—it could, at best, make the Empress uncomfortable, but to actually get her punished because of it was impossible...
Still, if you can't hit the big target, there's always the small one. If the Empress insists on shielding Concubine Su, and Concubine Su uses her status as the Emperor's favorite to pick trouble with her—well, now the tables had turned, and it was Serena's turn to go after Concubine Su.
Serena called out to Concubine Su, then turned to the Empress and said, “Your Majesty, Concubine Su ignored the Phoenix Empress Hairpin bestowed by the late Emperor. If I hadn’t reacted quickly, her slap just now would’ve nearly damaged the hairpin.”
“I didn’t! You’re framing me!” Concubine Su knew how serious this was and immediately protested, but Serena wouldn’t let her escape. She retorted, “Framing you? When have I ever framed you? If I hadn’t reacted fast, your slap would’ve landed right on the Phoenix Hairpin in my hair. Don’t deny it—your wrist is still red from where you raised your hand.”
"I..." Concubine Su hurriedly hid her wrist, looking infinitely wronged as she turned to the Empress.
Clearly, she was the one who’d just been struck...
That trick might work on the Emperor, but it was useless on the Empress—and especially on Serena. Serena pressed on, asking the Empress, “Your Majesty, I wear the Phoenix Empress Hairpin personally bestowed by the late Emperor, yet Concubine Su greeted me with curses and tried to strike me. Doesn’t that count as disrespect?”
“It does...” The Empress took a deep breath and nodded. She hadn’t expected Serena to bring the Phoenix Hairpin into the palace; if Serena insisted on pursuing Concubine Su, there’d be no easy way out of this.
“Your Majesty...” With a thud, Concubine Su knelt at the Empress’s feet, her face pale and her eyes brimming with tears—a picture of misery.
Unfortunately, everyone present was cold and indifferent. Serena ignored Concubine Su’s pitiful display and continued, “Your Majesty, since Concubine Su is at fault, shouldn’t she be punished for disrespect?”
"Miss Feng is right. Concubine Su does deserve punishment. Concubine Su, I sentence you to copy the palace rules one hundred times and remain confined for a month." The Empress replied smoothly, not so much to protect Concubine Su as to save her own dignity.
Everyone in the palace knew that Concubine Su belonged to the Empress. For Serena to slap Concubine Su in front of the Empress was the same as slapping the Empress herself.
Concubine Su’s face lit up—she’d known the Empress would protect her. Just as she was about to accept her punishment, Serena cut her off, feigning confusion: "Your Majesty, is this punishment really appropriate? Just now Concubine Su accused me of disrespect and demanded I be beaten fifty times. Why is it that when Concubine Su disrespects an imperial gift from the late Emperor, it’s reduced to mere confinement?"
Serena was forcing the Empress to order a beating. Concubine Su dared not speak, only looked at the Empress with mournful eyes. The Empress, left with no other choice, countered, "So, Miss Feng, are you insisting Concubine Su be beaten?"
"Your Majesty, you put it that way... I’m speechless. How could I dare ask for Concubine Su to be beaten? I only ask that your judgment be fair. Is the late Empress not far above any concubine? If offending Concubine Su merits a beating, what about offending a sacred imperial token?"
This left the Empress in a bind, but after a moment’s thought, she remembered that Concubine Su was the Emperor’s favorite. If Concubine Su were ruined because of Serena, the Emperor would surely hold Serena accountable.
Thinking of Serena’s arrogance with the Phoenix Hairpin, the Empress set aside her pride and spoke coldly: "Miss Feng is right. Since Concubine Su offended an imperial gift from the late Emperor, she shall receive sixty strokes of the board."
"Your Majesty is fair and just. I admire you. Though I pity Concubine Su, I dare not break palace rules." Serena had already slapped her, yet she still played the part of the good subject. The Empress nearly choked with rage, but calmed herself, thinking that after this, Concubine Su would be finished, and Serena would not escape trouble either.
"Your Majesty..." Concubine Su stared at the Empress in disbelief, her beautiful eyes wide with shock.
"Why are you still standing there? Drag her out and begin the punishment." The Empress waved impatiently.
The Empress felt no pity for Concubine Su. She was now a discarded pawn—once a palace concubine was ruined, there was no future for her. Without Concubine Su, there would always be other favorites to use.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, have mercy!" Concubine Su pleaded desperately.
"Your Majesty, this humble concubine knows her mistake. Please, for all I've done to help you, spare me!" Concubine Su tried to appeal to the Empress’s past favors.
Concubine Su was held down by the eunuchs, crying and shouting without stop. The Empress, impatient, ordered them to gag her.
The eunuchs quickly set up the bench, pinned Concubine Su down, and began the beating without mercy. After ten strokes, blood was already visible on her back.
They weren’t holding back—Concubine Su was being treated as a discarded pawn.
Serena glanced thoughtfully at the Empress, then pretended not to notice and slid the Phoenix Hairpin back into her hair. Seeing where Serena placed the hairpin, the Empress was so furious she broke a fingernail.
Serena was far too cunning. She wore the late Empress’s Phoenix Hairpin, but kept it hidden in her hair; unless she revealed it herself, no one would ever see it.
Serena had planned this from the start. Concubine Su ran straight into her trap—such bad luck. A favored beauty, not yet done flaunting her status, was ruined at Serena’s hands.
Concubine Su was frail to begin with. After twenty strokes, she couldn’t move at all, lying limp and lifeless, her arms hanging weakly by her sides. It was then that Noble Consort Helena realized something was wrong, her expression changing.
Palace canings were a delicate matter—ten strokes under one order could cripple a person, while a hundred under another might leave only bruises.
Noble Consort Helena had assumed the Empress would only go through the motions; even with sixty strokes, Concubine Su should recover in ten days or half a month. But seeing this, she realized things were very different.
Helena looked anxiously at Serena. She knew Serena only wanted to give the Empress and Concubine Su a hard slap, so they’d think twice before provoking her. She hadn’t expected the Empress to be so ruthless.
If the Emperor learned that his beloved beauty had died because of Serena, he would surely despise her—and might even want her life in exchange.
What could she do?
Serena shook her head subtly at Helena, signaling her not to worry.
Though the Empress’s ruthlessness had exceeded her expectations, Serena knew that in this world, a woman’s survival depended on which man stood behind her. As long as Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan remained strong, the Emperor wouldn’t dare take her life.
If it came to a crisis, she could always use the Phoenix Hairpin to save herself—though she knew neither the Emperor nor the Empress would let her keep it for long.
Seeing Serena had a plan and wasn’t panicking, Helena relaxed. She was nearly due to give birth, and shouldn’t be exposed to such violence. Just as she opened her mouth to ask the Empress for leave, a eunuch’s shrill cry rang out: "His Majesty arrives!"
He came so quickly—he must have rushed over straight after court. Concubine Su truly was the apple of his eye.
At this moment, Serena didn’t dare flaunt the Phoenix Hairpin. She obediently knelt, while the Empress and Helena performed only half-kneels...