Since Quirra was the only one sitting down, she went to stand up so she can bow in respect to the King, as he entered the room. Instead of following the palace rules, Chonglin Mei ran towards Liwei with tears streaming down her face.
When she neared Liwei, she frowned confused. Instead of Liwei opening his arms out to hug and comfort her, like she expected he would do, Liwei just stared sternly at her. Making her halt in her tracks.
- What happened to her Liwei? Why did he look at her that way? He never looked at her like that before, why is it that he did today and in front of everyone?? Why!? - Chonglin thought to herself.
What hurt her feelings the most was that Liwei didn't even acknowledge her. He just passed her by as he went to take Queen Iwa's hand and helped her up.
Chonglin cried silent tears as the scene unfolds in front of her. At this moment, Liwei was helping Iwa sit down.
He let the queen sit first before allowing the rest to sit down as well.
"Liwei!" Chonglin cried out in desperation.
Just seeing Liwei sitting down with someone that wasn't her, made her heart hurt so much. It felt as if there was a stone stuck inside of it. It weighed her shoulders down. Her lips pouted as her tears couldn't stop falling.
Liwei just ignored her. It's as if he couldn't see her sadness towards his actions with the Queen.
"Liwei....." Chonglin whispered.
Quirra looked at the two-faced woman who's clearly begging to be noticed and comforted. Begging for Liwei to spoil her and love her. As she looked at her right, she saw the King's angry expression. His fists were tightened so much that his veins are visibly popping out.
"Kneel" Liwei ordered Chonglin.
Chonglin felt as if her world shattered by that order. Her eyes looked down for a moment as her tears fell faster, she bit her lip before she kneeled. Her shoulders shook and her body shivered as she silenlty cried harder.
"L-Liw-Liwei *sniff* y-you must *sniff* bring j-justice to *sniff* Mei." Chonglin mewled out thru her crying.
"SiLENCE!" in a loud voice, Liwei commanded icily. His stare on her tightened and he frowned even deeper.
Chonglin was a commoner and did not grow up knowing the rules to become a noble lady, because of that she didn't know what she did wrong and why Liwei was treating her badly today.
Quirra's face remained calm. Her features held no emotions as Liwei looked at her briefly before looking back at his childhood sweetheart. Truth be told, his heart hurt to see Chonglin Mei crying. However what he hated the most was when people, especially those who he cared about most, make him look bad in front of others.
And Chonglin did just that. Not only did she not act as a Noble Consort, she made so many offenses in front of everyone. By not bowing to him when she saw him, not calling him 'King' and instead addressing him with his name, showing disrespect to the Queen and what's worse was that she showed her insolence by talking back to Queen Iwa in front of all the concubines. She also threatened the Queen by using his power and authority as King. But what angered him the most was the fact that Chonglin outright lied to him so he could protect her from Queen Iwa.
Everything that Chonglin did made him lose face in front of everyone. Especially since she is his favorite woman.