For a moment, the only sound Ye Ai Ning could perceive is the hard pounding in her chest. Like a needle prickling so painfully, demons were birthed in her heart.
Her eyes clouded, her pulse quicken, her mind run dark thoughts, and her breath shorten. Her palm sweats and her eyes looked intensely at her man.
But this man also have his own empress.
A small sound came out of her lips. Ye Ai Ning finally lowered her gaze. Everything slips out of her control already, aren't they? Her aunt was wrong, the strings snap so easily.
Deep breathes and worries not, for she'll knot it back tightly.
"There's a lot going on Sister Feng's mind. Come on, bengong will let you speak it out." Wei Yi Yi then turns to tease Feng Lei. This hot-headed woman. Her scar only added to her charms as a nice remembrance.
Feng Lei crossed her arms and eye Yuyang from head to toe. Clearly looking down at her. "That maid insulted me. And since the master won't tie her dog, I personally taught her that it's wrong to bark at her majesty's inner palace. Ah but, the master itself failed to learn etiquette and lost her mind."
Etiquette your face! What a sharply tongued lady! There's no sign of her edges breaking from the last encounter.
No wonder the emperor shout at you. I even want to flip a table for you.
One is so fierce, she seems like the initiator. The other spoke parts by parts, not saying clearly and almost drowning in her tears. As for the other two--- forget them. Wei Yi Yi doesn't know if they're the victim, playing it safe, pointing at Ye Ai Ning or just plain making it hard.
Wei Yi Yi does not care anymore. She involves everyone! Since it took some time, asking all the people present, she literary 'shoo' away her boss when he did not take any hints. Even then, he sat still on his spot and drank tea.
Maybe he's looking out for Ye Ai Ning. Or just plain watching a drama. Wei Yi Yi could only facepalm. That's her spot! Why did I even call you?! I demand a raise! A right compensation, ah!
Everything is very simple. It's just a kid who got jealous of other's new toy. Wei Yi Yi rolls her eyes.
After patching up all their incomplete story, what she got is that, after seeing Feng Lei's hair ornaments, Ye Ai Ning 'tried' to educate her and the maid Yunyang remind her that she's no longer an emperial consort but a concubine. Feng Lei was known for her fiery personality and it's inevitable that she won't take it laying down.
While it might be Ye Ai Ning who jump her first, it's only because Yunyang was the first one that Feng Lei punch. Yes, a lady, who came from a proper noble family, could send in a heavy punch.
Cold sweats run in Wei Yi Yi's back. Damn, out of all things that you could fight about, how could you end up picking on things that I sent! She thought long and hard, did she gave them things that against customs?! Is there also a rule on what kind of stone cannot be wear?! Aren't we only strick on embroidery, robes, and symbolism?!
Damn, it's better not to address them, it'll be bad if boss learns I gave gifts on his behalf that failed!
She's definitely not doing overtime just to check on those!
Shen Nian Zhen and Su Mei Fan are just pitiful passersby who tried to separate them. But they both end up as the sacrifice to the pond.
Thankful for the long and wide sleeves, Wei Yi Yi hides her face and cough. "Yuyang right? Since you talk back to an imperial concubine, the slap is well deserved no? Sister Ye is nice and softhearted and so she felt the need to protect you. But as her loyal servant, it's not good to push your mistress for slaughter."
She'll gloss things over and be done with it! Let's all return home and not see each other, alright?
After giving a few flowery words, Wei Yi Yi prepares to go home, but then Ye Ai Ning just needs to talk. "Empress, my Yunyang is small and delicate. She could never do such slanderous action. Please, your majesty, have mercy. Even if she's just a maidservant, she's been with me for a long time."
Implying that the empress is not magnanimous, implying that the empress purposely targets a low born, and then boosting up herself as someone caring even with someone of different status--- Ye Ai Ning words irked Su Mei Fan so much, she wanted to add some scratches on her snow white skin.
Ye Ai Ning might have the ability to twist logic, but her smarts have no effect on someone whose set in stone to bail out.
"Is sister Ye implying that you're the one slandering your own sister and your maid just took the brunt of it?"
"That's not---"
"Ok. Ok. I understand. Really." Wei Yi Yi blocks her with a wave of a hand.
Tang Mei: Language! Your majesty!
Picking out the two in fault, Wei Yi Yi announce. "Since this is all but silly banter, and as all of us are sisters, you two will receive the punishment as a pair. A few beating of a stick in the hand, kneel a few hours together and you're grounded."
Maybe then, you'll learn to live with each other!
The servants, wearily look at the empress and then at the emperor who is deep in thoughts. Seeing there are no movements intending to stop the empress from him, they could only bow in accordance.
"Oh and copy a few books on Buddhism while grounded." Wei Yi Yi then turns to Su Mei Fan and Shen Nian Zhen. "They'll receive injuries so give them a hand."
This time, Jiang Yu chocked on the tea.