Emperor And I ✔️

Entering Hougong

Chapter 23

Wei Li Lian
Princess Le-anne
The Punishment Bureau

"How dare a lowly servant talk to me so informally?" The woman's chest was heaving with anger. "Do you know who I am?"

Mo stared at her blankly.

"I'm Grand Consort Shu's court lady!"

At the mention of her ranking title, he quickly fell to the ground. Even through her pain, Le-anne couldn't help registering this with surprise. She never thought it would be possible for such a huge man to bow down to anyone.

"My Lady, please forgive me!" He was the one that was now shaking, "This servant had no idea. Please forgive me..."

"I do not care what grand woman you belong to but this decree states that this maid must be punished." The official stepped forward arrogantly and looked down his nose at her. "Do you dare go against his majesty's orders for a worthless servant?"

The court lady did not reply but angrily snatched the scroll from his hand. Her eyes ran down the wooden scroll. Then, without warning, she forcefully threw the scroll to the ground.

Clank. It tumbled on the concrete floor.

"I believe that this servant is now pertinent," she said coldly. She clapped her hands and her assistant palace maids rushed to help her free the princess.

Le-anne's body ached, but her pride chose not to show it. She was going to grace herself through the pain.

"This bureau considers two lashes to be no real punishment!" the official raged. He was now losing it.

"Are you feeling any pain?" The court lady ignored him, giving all her attention to the princess.

'Yes, maybe because I was just being scourged?'

"No, my lady must not worry about me," Le-anne gritted out.

The woman narrowed her eyes. She had colossal owl like eyes that made her seem a little intimidating. "Good. Because this cannot be mentioned to her highness."

'Why?' Le-anne was curious to find out, but decided not to ask out loud.

"Of course, my lady." She then nodded respectfully.

The court lady instructed Le-anne to follow her, and they left her punisher still kneeling on the ground while the unhappy official uttered some curses and turned to his next victim.

The court lady first had Le-anne sent to the Fashion Bureau for some measurements because she had been summoned to give audience to the Grand Consort, and appearing before royalty in servants clothes was a crime worth being tattooed on your forehead. After taking her measurements, they gave her a pale blue hanfu before sending her off to bathe herself, which was a chore in itself because of the bruises she gained from the beating. On top of that, she could barely hold anything with her red swollen fingers being so sensitive.

The Hougong was a remarkably beautiful place situated at the south of the Imperial palace, fenced around by long cedar staves to separate itself from the rest of the grand palace. This was where all the concubines and consorts of the emperor lived.

To Le-anne's knowledge, the previous emperor had not possessed any concubines but instead took in most women for the crown prince, the current emperor, to strengthen his throne as he was looked down upon for being the child of a low-born woman. It was tradition to have consorts and concubines of the late emperor sent away to serve at the temple but probably since Grand Consort Shu was said to be the real mother of the sitting emperor, rules had been bent a little.