Chapter 63 - 62 Who Outsmarts Whom?

For some reason, Xia Ruqing felt that the brilliant sunlight shining on her face had become piercing. Seeing that Xia Ruqing did not respond, Hu Liyi grew even more smug. She scrutinized Xia Ruqing from head to toe before disdainfully saying, "Lady Xia seems to have gained a bit of fullness, looking much rounder than at the beginning of the year." And then she added, "The looks aren’t bad, it’s just a pity about the clothes!" Hadn’t you shown off enough just a moment ago? Bad clothes? When you were an Honored Lady, were you running around bare-bottomed? You’ve only just climbed up the ranks for a few days; aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock? Xia Ruqing sneered internally. After Hu Liyi finished speaking, she shook her head and sighed as if it were such a pity. "Such a waste of Lady Xia’s good looks, just a shame about her low birth... Otherwise, it would be me receiving salutations today..." If her previous words had only been showing off, then her current words were bordering on bullying. In the palace, even when women fiercely competed and got jealous, they rarely involved each other’s families. All of them came from official families; dragging families into it was tantamount to political interference. Throwing your weight around because of your family’s power? Consort Yun was a living example of that. You mock someone else’s family for being inferior, but do you realize that one day, your own family might not be so well-off? If one were to say Hu Liyi had no brains, she certainly didn’t disappoint this time. Is she actually looking for trouble? Xia Ruqing thought to herself. There’s no need to endure the unbearable. It was clear Hu Liyi wasn’t planning on letting her have an easy time. If she continued to cower, that would just be cowardice. Back then, at the Hexagonal Plum Pavilion, when Consort Yun had ruined the plum blossoms she had picked, she had dared to snap back. Why not against a Liyi? She did not quarrel with her out of respect for her own dignity, but that did not mean she was really afraid of her. Thereupon, Xia Ruqing gave a cold smile, "I haven’t yet congratulated Liyi on her promotion. After so long, I wonder if Hu Liyi has gloated enough?" Hearing this, Hu Liyi’s face was struck with shock, quickly turning to anger as she pointed at her. "Lady Xia, you...! You dare to confront me! Hmph!" "Oh my, what words from Hu Liyi. As if a humble Honored Lady like myself would dare to confront a Liyi," Xia Ruqing retorted, covering her mouth with a laugh. For some reason, she just found Hu Liyi’s angry look quite amusing! Infuriated, Honored Lady Hu pointed at her. "Ever since you became an Honored Lady, you’ve been competing with me for tribute rouge. I’ve always found you disagreeable and wanted to make things difficult for you... Now... Heaven has opened its eyes, making me a Liyi, superior to you! Haha, Lady Xia, you must be dying of jealousy!" Xia Ruqing’s beautiful eyes lowered in thought for a moment, then she shook her head helplessly. "Unfortunately, that’s not the case!" Jealous? We’re all just minor wives of the Emperor; what’s there to be jealous of? Besides, he has so many minor wives, could one even keep up with all that jealousy? Why make life difficult for oneself when things are going well? So, Xia Ruqing was indeed telling the truth—she felt no jealousy at all. However, Hu Liyi didn’t believe it, assuming that Xia Ruqing was just being stubborn. Just as she was about to dish out more sarcasm, Zi Yue, who couldn’t stand it any longer, stepped in. She respectfully intervened, "Honored Lady, you should take your medicine! The Imperial Physician said you are frail and should avoid the wind. Let’s go back early!" This one sentence choked off the words that were on the tip of Hu Liyi’s tongue. For a moment, she was left speechless. Everyone in the palace knew the two did not get along; if Lady Xia fell ill upon returning, it would spread that Hu Liyi was bullying her by taking advantage of her position. Yet, to just let her go back like this wasn’t something she was prepared to accept! She was not willing, oh how she was not willing! Enraged, Hu Liyi glared fiercely, eyes fixed on Zi Yue. "Such audacity! How can a servant interrupt while the masters are talking!" Startled, Zi Yue quickly knelt down. "This servant dares not. It’s truly because our master’s health is frail. Please forgive me, Hu Liyi!" Hu Liyi saw Zi Yue kneeling, her face filled with fear. Her eyes glinted, and she smiled triumphantly. I can’t do anything about your master, but surely I can deal with a mere servant like you? Zi Yue was Lady Xia’s most capable aide. If Zi Yue were punished, it would be like slapping Lady Xia directly in the face! With this thought, Hu Liyi sneered maliciously and said to Xia Ruqing, "Lady Xia really has a good temper, not even able to discipline your servant, allowing such arrogance!" Xia Ruqing pulled the corners of her mouth into a cold smile, "Hu Liyi herself said she’s my servant. So if she’s being arrogant, surely there’s no need for Hu Liyi to intervene!" She retorted immediately. She might not like causing trouble, but that didn’t mean she was afraid of it! "There’s no need for Hu Liyi to concern herself with the affairs of my servant." Saying so, escorting Zi Yue, she was about to take her leave when Hu Liyi stopped her again. "Dear sister, don’t leave!" "Who’s your sister? My mother only had one daughter," Xia Ruqing felt sick once again. Hu Liyi did not take offense. She merely blocked the way, saying with a grin that was anything but kind, "Since you, little sister, are too soft-hearted to act, then I, as the elder sister, must help you out! Rong Qiu, take people to slap her across the face! Hit her hard, to prevent this lowly servant from climbing atop Little Sister Xia’s head in the future, acting all high and mighty!" Right after Hu Liyi gave the order, Zi Yue was pinned down by two Little Eunuchs. Rong Qiu stepped forward, his face expressionless, "Lady Zi Yue, my apologies!" Saying so, he raised his hand to strike! Lady Xia, with a grave expression, stepped directly in front of Zi Yue. Narrowing her eyes, she slowly uttered a few words. "Dare to hit her even once and see what happens!" Her gaze was filled with chilling light. Hu Liyi shivered involuntarily. Then she thought, She’s just a lowly Honored Lady; why should I be afraid? Gathering her courage, Hu Liyi angrily gave another command. "Get on with it!" Rong Qiu was in a difficult position; to strike Zi Yue, he first had to get past Lady Xia. But he was merely a servant; how could he dare? Seeing him hesitate, Hu Liyi became irritated and stepped forward to shout. "Rong Qiu, what are you waiting for, do it now!" "But, my lady..." "Do it!" She refused to believe that she, a Fifth Rank Liyi, couldn’t even claim the right to strike a servant. Rong Qiu, feeling helpless, gritted his teeth and raised his arm to push past Lady Xia. Unexpectedly, before he could touch her, Xia Ruqing suddenly stepped aside. Rong Qiu, delighted, wasted no time and began swinging his hand for slaps. The SMACK! SMACK! sounds were brutally loud, clearly delivered with full force! "Well done! Hit her hard for me!" Hu Liyi was so pleased she almost burst into applause. Tribute rouge, poisoned cheese. Xia Ruqing, whether or not you did the poisoning, I will trample you, crush you to death! The more Rong Qiu hit, the heavier his blows became; the SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! sounds echoed loudly, audible from a great distance. All of a sudden, Xia Ruqing fell to the ground, then got up with tears streaming down her face, begging piteously. "Hu Liyi, this servant knows her faults, I beg you to stop the beating!" She tried to grasp Rong Qiu with one hand while protectively covering Zi Yue with the other, panicking and completely flustered. Plus, her pale complexion made her look extremely pitiful. "The Empress has arrived! Consort Hui Pin has arrived!" A loud shout pulled Hu Liyi’s senses, which had been ’castaway to Java,’ back to reality.