Face-Slapping, Serena Feng Is No Soft Girl

She'd been waiting for this moment for a long time!

Before, whenever those two palace maids mocked her, Serena kept silent—because she understood that with no one else around, if she argued or fought back, she’d be the one to suffer for it.

But things are different now. She’s entered Radiant Hall—here, Noble Consort Helena Hsieh’s people are present, and so are other watching eyes.

These two maids must have Helena’s tacit approval. Helena summoned her for medical help, yet still lets her servants insult Serena? Then Helena shouldn’t blame her for being impolite.

“Ladies...” Serena’s voice was icy, drawn out, a smile on her face but not a trace of warmth in her eyes.

The two maids jolted, instinctively stepping back. "You—what are you going to do?"

In the palace, bold and reckless women aren’t the scariest—nor are the hot-tempered ones. The most dangerous are women like Serena Feng: quietly enduring, smiling on the surface, seeming easygoing and mild, but never truly showing their hand.

"Ladies, you must be joking. What could I possibly do? I only wanted to ask you—what’s the punishment for gossiping in the palace? And what’s the penalty for slandering an official’s daughter?" Serena’s voice suddenly rose at the last two questions, startling the maids. They rushed forward, trying to cover her mouth: "Keep your voice down! This is right outside Her Ladyship’s chambers—if you disturb Noble Consort Helena, don’t expect us to save you."

Their words were pure intimidation—truth was, they were already scared.

Helena had said to give Serena a taste of her status, to show her who was master and who was servant. But Serena Feng was no longer the orphan anyone could push around.

She was now the eldest young lady of House Feng of Loyalty, and the benefactor who’d saved the Wang clan’s Grand Heir. If things really got ugly, even if Noble Consort Helena wanted to shield her maids, others wouldn’t let it slide.

"Who’s making such a racket out here? Don’t you know Her Ladyship is resting? Have you no sense of palace rules? Is this your first day in the palace?" The head maid of Radiant Hall strode out, her sharp eyes sweeping over Serena Feng.

Her gaze held contempt, disdain, and a warning.

Serena stood calmly, letting the woman scrutinize her, neither nervous nor dazzled by the luxury around her.

Radiant Hall was indeed lavish, indeed grand—but what did any of that have to do with her?

Did Helena really think that just because she lived in Radiant Hall, it belonged to her?

In the palace, the halls were permanent but the women came and went. Helena might take pride in living here, but Serena Feng didn’t see it as anything worth flaunting.

Radiant Hall might be extravagant, but it could have many mistresses. Her own Feng Manor, though humble, would have only one master—her.

"Wenzhu, Auntie—it’s Miss Feng. Miss Feng doesn’t know palace rules, so she started shouting as soon as she entered Radiant Hall. We tried to remind her, but she wouldn’t listen." If you want a textbook example of lying through your teeth, this was it. One maid spoke, the other backed her up—they even had their witness lined up.

Wenzhu, hearing this, smiled faintly: "Miss Feng, this is the imperial palace, not some marketplace. Please put away your outside manners; when you enter the palace, you must follow palace rules."

They gave Serena Feng no chance to defend herself—just pronounced her guilty on the spot.

"So you’ve already decided I’m guilty? In that case, I have nothing more to say," Serena replied, not bothering to argue.

Why bother defending herself? That would only lower her own status.

Today, it was Helena who needed her—not the other way around. To put it bluntly, Serena Feng had no parents, no siblings, no ties; the odds she’d ever need to beg Noble Consort Helena were next to zero.

Besides, if she ever did need something, Helena wouldn’t be the woman she’d ask. No matter how favored Helena was, the harem had no say in state affairs. What power did she really have? She was only propped up by the Hsieh clan. Serena didn’t fear the Hsieh clan—why should she fear Helena?

Wenzhu was left speechless, inwardly fuming that Serena Feng refused to play by the rules. Normally, people would explain themselves, accuse the maids of slander, and then Wenzhu could press her advantage. But Serena had just tossed out that line, throwing everything off.

Wenzhu drew a breath and half-smiled: "Miss Feng, you must be joking. What do you mean, ‘nothing more to say’? If these two maids really spoke out of turn and offended you, just say the word—I’ll have them punished on your behalf."

"If that’s so, then go ahead—I’ll watch." Serena Feng didn’t bother with niceties, flicking her sleeve and stepping aside. When Wenzhu hesitated, Serena drawled, "Well? Why aren’t you doing it?"

"Auntie, spare us! We didn’t offend Miss Feng—we swear! It was Miss Feng who made a scene in the palace, asking questions about everything in Radiant Hall. We only tried to remind her, Auntie, please…" The two maids had no idea what was happening. One threatened punishment, the other took it seriously. Realizing things were bad, they burst into tears, reciting all of Serena’s supposed offenses.

Wenzhu didn’t stop them—she let the two maids talk, while Serena just stood aside, watching the show.

After dealing with Ninth Royal Uncle so often, Serena had mastered his trick: staying silent, keeping her face cold and unreadable, projecting an air of depth and mystery.

Serena was striking to begin with, but now, with her deliberate coolness and detachment, she seemed all the more noble—at a distance, she even resembled Ninth Royal Uncle himself.