The Princess Wei Yang

95.2.No Mercy

Chen nu - what female subjects refer to themselves as when speaking to the Emperor or members of the Imperial family

Chen qie - lit. concubine subject, essentially a form of "I" that concubines and even the Empress use in presence of higher authority, ex. Empress Dowager > concubine, Emperor > Empress

One of Cao Cao's most iconic quotes, adapted from Romance of the Three Kingdoms

This time, it was not the Imperial Garden but theEmpress Dowager's palace. The Empress Dowager sat in the center of the hall,her facial expressions unreadable. Xian Fei seemed as if she was lookingforward to an interesting play, and De Fei niang niang was absolutely furious:"Someone thoroughly search her!"

Several palace maids flocked to her. Li Wei Yangcoldly interrupted: "De Fei niang niang, what is the meaning of this!"

Zhang De Fei harshly retorted: "Li Wei Yang, where isthe gold hairpin Bixia gave me; you were the only person to touch this hairpin,so now I want to search you!"

Although Li Wei Yang was a subject and daughter of thePrime Minister, she was still not married yet. If Zhang De Fei was to searchher body, whether or not anything was found, if this became known, herreputation would be destroyed! Wu Xian Fei had a simple, leisurely smile likethat of someone watching a play on stage.

The Empress Dowager said: "De Fei, a conclusion hasnot been reached yet, so do not blindly accuse anyone. If you search her, thiswill create trouble for this child in the future."

Zhang De Fei eyed Li Wei Yang in disdain: "She couldhave stolen it despite claiming that she doesn't need it. Once you are a thief,you no longer care for honor. Unless she can prove she is innocent, I will notforgive this act of thievery!"

Undeterred, Li Wei Yang indifferently began: "De Feiniang niang, you took the hairpin out and also put it back into the boxyourself. Chen nu has never laid hands on it. What makes you say chen nu stolethe gold hairpin?"

Zhang De Fei scoffed: "Whether or not you stole it, itwill be known once you have been searched!"

Li Wei Yang gave her a cold stare. An Imperial consortwould actually use such despicable means. Of course, this scheme seemedordinary, but it was could take a life. If she could prove the Li Wei Yang wasresponsible and even stole a hairpin the Emperor gifted to a consort, death wasunavoidable!

She firmly said: "Wei Yang would never steal, nomatter how poor or desperate. If niang niang wants to search, why not searchyour palace maids?! Or Xian Fei niang niang's palace maids and eunuchs, whoknows if they stole it! By focusing on Wei Yang, did you somehow knowbeforehand that Wei Yang must be the thief?!"

Enraged, Zhang De Fei sneered: "Who in the palace doesnot know my attendants are innocent? I have never lost anything. The same goesfor Xian Fei jiejie. By saying this, you clearly want to make our relationshiptense, you are still young yet so malicious! Someone drag her outside and beather twenty times as punishment for saying such nonsense!" As soon Zhang De Feihad given the order, the eunuchs brought out sticks and announced "committed acrime" and proceeded to carry out her order.

The sticks used for punishment in the palace were twofinger-widths wide and barbed. If beaten twenty times, it would no differentfrom being skinned alive! Li Wei Yang smiled thinly and raised a hand, stoppingthe eunuchs as she cried out: "Wait!"

Zhang De Fei's elegant eyebrows rose, she shouted:"You dare to object—"

Li Wei Yang neutrally responded: "How could niangniang say that? Wei Yang does not dare. Wei Yang is of low status, so niangniang can simply ignore Wei Yang, but the Empress Dowager niang niang is stillhere. Even if this is to be investigated, the Empress Dowager will investigateor the Empress will. Niang niang wants to personally investigate, oversteppingthese bounds is ill-advised!"