Slapping Herself
Queen Lily of Qin's words were unmistakable—she was detaining them, amounting to house arrest!
Mia Qian knew all too well—after executing the Qian family members in Kingston, placing them under house arrest was basically tearing away all pretenses.
Chloe Qian and Vivian Qian were lucky—they’d never confronted Queen Lily of Qin directly. But Mia was different. Just a few months ago, she’d been at odds with the queen, nearly jumping up to slap her in the face.
Now that Queen Lily of Qin was placing the Qian family under house arrest, it was Mia Qian who would bear the brunt of it.
Mia Qian could already envision the kind of days awaiting her in the Palace of Qin.
Mia Qian was genuinely terrified now—afraid Queen Lily of Qin would imprison her, then end her life.
"Queen Lily of Qin, I really know I was wrong! Please, Your Majesty, spare me! I was blind, arrogant, and even dared to compete with you for a man. It’s all my fault—I’m worthless, shameless!" Mia Qian was so scared she started crying, kneeling on the ground and begging.
"Is that so? Miss Mia, is this your idea of a sincere apology?" Queen Lily of Qin looked at Mia Qian.
"My—my sincerity..." Mia Qian suddenly realized. She straightened while kneeling, slapped herself hard across the face, and said, "Queen Lily of Qin, I’m shameless, trying to steal your husband. I’m worthless…"
Queen Lily of Qin watched Mia Qian slap herself, and for some reason, felt much better. She raised an eyebrow at her.
Mia Qian noticed the change in Lily Evans's mood. It was as if she had grabbed onto a lifeline. She raised both hands, slapping herself repeatedly while cursing herself.
Desperate to survive, Mia Qian didn't hold back—her slaps were loud and real.
She didn't hold back when insulting herself either, choosing the harshest, most humiliating words.
Lily Evans watched Mia Qian and said, "Miss Mia, if you keep this up, how am I supposed to get any work done? Why don't you go over there if you want to prove your sincerity and repent?"
Lily Evans pointed to the small square outside, busy with people coming and going.
Mia Qian saw that the square was a main thoroughfare, crowded with people. She gritted her teeth—was Lily Evans really going to make her slap and insult herself in public?
If she went, Mia Qian would lose all her dignity.
If she didn't go... she might lose her life!
Faced with a choice between dignity and life, Mia Qian decisively chose to sacrifice her pride in order to survive.
She hurriedly kowtowed. "Chancellor Evans, I understand. I'll go prove my sincerity and repentance now. I shouldn't have harbored thoughts of stealing King Alexander away. I'll go! Please forgive me and spare me!"
After speaking, Mia Qian lifted her skirt and rushed outside. Desperate to survive, she knelt in the square and began slapping herself and cursing herself.
The passing palace maids and guards were startled. "Hey, isn't that the Qian family's eldest miss? Has she gone mad, slapping herself like that?"
People gathered around, watching Mia Qian slap and insult herself.
As soon as they heard what she was yelling, everyone understood—Mia Qian had wanted to steal King Alexander and dreamed of becoming queen!
The palace maids and attendants immediately made their feelings clear:
No wonder the queen consort is punishing her—she tried to steal someone else's husband!
Exactly! She tried to steal King Alexander—she must have a death wish!
These shameless women don't understand the deep love between King Alexander and the queen consort. King Alexander would never take another consort.
That's right! Back when they lived at the Palace of Qin, their love was obvious. What does Mia Qian know? She thinks she can compare to our queen consort.
King Alexander and the queen consort have weathered countless storms together. How could a vixen like her come between them? She brought this on herself—shameless!