Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 867: Chapter 23: Lady Liang Is Punished

On the last day of the year, all concubines must go to Zhao Yang Palace to greet Empress Xie.

Lady Liang, accompanied by Talent Pan, headed to Zhao Yang Palace. On the way, Talent Pan was careless with her steps and accidentally slipped. Lady Liang reached out to pull her up, but both ended up falling to the ground together. Although neither of them was injured, their clothes got dirty. There was no time to go back to Kunde Hall to change into clean attire; they could only proceed to greet in their unclean clothes.

Talent Pan felt anxious and said to Lady Liang with guilt on her face, "Sister, it’s all my fault for being careless, causing us both to fall. If the Empress sees our dirty clothes later, she will surely seize the opportunity to punish us."

Gui Xing also shared this worry, thinking that Lady Liang had declined the Empress’s invitation the other day. Though the Empress hadn’t taken any action since then, today Lady Liang would be offering herself on a platter. Given the Empress’s disposition, she would definitely use Lady Liang’s unkempt appearance as an excuse for severe punishment.

"Sister, I’ve dragged you down with me." Talent Pan seemed on the verge of tears from fear.

Lady Liang comforted Talent Pan, "It’s alright." She knew very well that once they saw the Empress, punishment would be inevitable. However, even if her clothes weren’t dirty, the Empress would still find an excuse to discipline her.

"Sister, it’s all my fault," Talent Pan felt both terrified and guilty.

"Soon it will be New Year, the Empress might just scold us a few times and won’t do anything severe, so don’t worry too much." Lady Liang reassured Talent Pan verbally, but she knew they were doomed today. "Alright, let’s hurry to Zhao Yang Palace. If we’re late, it will only add to our offenses."

Talent Pan didn’t dare say anything else and obediently followed Lady Liang.

When the two arrived at Zhao Yang Palace, the other concubines had already gathered. However, Noble Princess Consort Rong and Noble Princess Consort Ying had not yet arrived.

Princess Consort Li noticed the mud marks on Lady Liang and Talent Pan’s skirt hems and slightly frowned before asking with concern, "Lady Liang, did you two fall just now?"

"In answer to Princess Li, we failed to watch our steps and accidentally fell," Lady Liang said with full self-reproach. "I thought of going back to Kunde Hall with Sister Pan to change into clean clothes, but realizing we’d be late, we could only come disrespectfully to greet the Empress."

"When the Empress arrives, kneel first for forgiveness," suggested Princess Consort Li, but she knew the Empress would make a point to punish Lady Liang and Talent Pan.

"Yes, Princess Li." Lady Liang held Talent Pan’s hand and knelt down.

Talent Pan knelt beside Lady Liang, eyes red and head lowered.

It’s all her fault, otherwise, her sister wouldn’t be kneeling.

Soon after, Noble Princess Consort Ying arrived. Noticing Lady Liang and Talent Pan kneeling, she quickly inquired about the situation with care.

Lady Liang explained their dirty clothes to Noble Princess Consort Ying. After listening, Noble Princess Consort Ying advised them to get up first, saying there was no need to plead guilty until the Empress arrived. Lady Liang insisted they had been at fault from the beginning and must kneel.

Noble Princess Consort Ying, aware of Empress Xie’s real intention behind inviting Lady Liang to view the plum blossoms in the snow a few days ago, stopped trying to convince them when she saw their determination to kneel.

Soon, Noble Princess Consort Rong came. She saw Lady Liang and Talent Pan kneeling and mocked them coldly.

After Noble Princess Consort Rong arrived, Empress Xie finally emerged. She saw Lady Liang and Talent Pan kneeling but said nothing, as if she hadn’t noticed them at all.

Noble Princess Consort Ying noticed Empress Xie ignoring Lady Liang and Talent Pan and slightly raised her eyebrows before interceding on their behalf.

Princess Consort Li followed suit, also pleading on behalf of Lady Liang and Talent Pan.

Empress Xie gave no face to Noble Princess Consort Ying and Princess Consort Li, coldly scolding Lady Liang and Talent Pan harshly, and then ordered them out to kneel in the courtyard as punishment.

Lady Liang escorted Talent Pan to the courtyard of Zhao Yang Palace for their punishment. Throughout the ordeal, both showed exemplary submission without uttering a single plea. If they pleaded, they knew Empress Xie’s punishment would only be harsher.

At this hour, the sun was not yet up, and the thin layer of ice on the ground in Zhao Yang Palace courtyard hadn’t melted. Though they were kneeling on the ground, it was more like kneeling on ice. Despite their thick clothes, the chill from the icy ground seeped through to their entire bodies.

Talent Pan, filled with guilt, started crying and repeatedly apologized to Lady Liang.