Chapter 129: Powerless

With Noble Consort Wen leading the charge, and each of the other concubines backed by their own powerful families, Jun Yeli knew that if he insisted on his course of action today, the court officials would certainly not let the matter rest easily.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at these women who appeared gentle and graceful on the surface but were as fierce as wolves and tigers underneath. A cold sneer escaped him. "Very well. I will find the evidence to prove her innocence. I only hope that when the time comes, you will be prepared to pay the price for your impulsiveness!"

With that, he swept his wide sleeves and turned to leave. His resolute and dashing departure left Noble Consort Wen feeling a sudden, inexplicable sense of desolation.

"Is that woman really so important to you? Why can you not see the virtues of anyone else?"

However, the other women did not share her sentiment. As they watched Jun Yeli’s receding figure, their behavior became increasingly brazen. "The Emperor is certainly obsessed with her. But it is a pity—once she is gone, he will have no choice but to turn his affections toward us."

These words resonated deeply with the others. Noble Consort Wen managed to swallow the bile rising in her throat, her lips curling into a triumphant, if forced, smile. "Indeed. A man’s heart is fickle by nature, especially for an Emperor surrounded by a harem filled with beauties."

She was still young and held a high position; as long as Hua Rong was out of the way, she was confident she could reign supreme.

In a blink, Jun Yeli arrived at the imperial dungeon.

As he stepped inside, a stifling stench of decay assaulted him. Even Jun Yeli found it difficult to endure, let alone a delicate woman. The thought of Hua Rong suffering in such a place caused his pace to quicken, his heart heavy with frantic concern.

Reaching her cell, he saw her curled up in a corner, looking utterly dejected. The straw mat she lay on was damp and rotting, a sight that pained his heart.

"What are you standing there for? Open the cell door at once!" Jun Yeli roared. The guards, not daring to delay, nodded hastily and scrambled to comply.

As the door swung open, Hua Rong was startled by the commotion. She turned her head just as the man rushed toward her with desperate intensity.

"Hey, what are you doing? I’m covered in filth—don't suffocate yourself!" Hua Rong tried to push him away, but he held her tightly. "I am sorry. It is all my fault for failing to protect you!"

"Stop this. Let me go, I can't breathe!" Hua Rong said, feeling a touch of helplessness. Only after she managed to push him away did she manage to catch her breath. She looked at the visibly anxious Jun Yeli, at a loss for words. Turning her head away, she found it impossible to muster any warmth toward him, given her wretched circumstances.

"Are you angry with me?" Jun Yeli asked, his eyes lowered as he sat gently beside her. He had completely set aside his status as Emperor, a sight that caused the watching guards to gape in astonishment.

For a brief moment, the guards felt a pang of regret for their earlier insolence. Treating the Emperor's favorite concubine with such cruelty—was that not just asking for trouble?

Seeing this, Hua Rong was slightly surprised. "What exactly do you want? Either help me prove my innocence or let me out. I have no interest in flirting with you in a prison cell."

She couldn't be blamed for her harsh tone; she had been thrown into this dungeon only days after arriving, forced to live among rats and snakes. It was far less free than her life in the Ghost Domain Forest. The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became, and she clawed at her hair, struggling to suppress her turbulent emotions.

Jun Yeli did not argue with her attitude. He simply sighed deeply, his gaze lingering on her with a hint of remorse in his eyes.

"It does not matter if you refuse to forgive me for now, but you must believe that I will get you out of here as soon as possible!"

With that, he turned and left. As the door clanged shut, the cell returned to its cold, desolate silence.

"He really just left..." Hua Rong pursed her lips, suddenly regretting her harsh words. She turned her head to look, but Jun Yeli’s figure had already vanished.

Only his distant, authoritative voice drifted back: "Take good care of Consort Rong. If there is the slightest mistake or if she suffers in any way, your lives will be the price!"

Faced with such an order, the guards dared not slacken. They bobbed their heads like chickens pecking at grain. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

After leaving, Jun Yeli immediately ordered a thorough investigation. Yet, within a single day, news of Hua Rong's alleged crime had spread everywhere. Everyone who spoke of it changed their expression in disgust.

"Heavens, who would have thought that the lively and graceful Consort Rong was such a venomous woman? Thank goodness I didn't offend her before!"

"No wonder she won the Emperor’s favor; she must have her own devious methods. It’s truly sickening."

A group of palace maids huddled together, holding gardening tools, their words dripping with malice. They were so absorbed in their heated discussion that they failed to notice the man standing by the flowerbed in the distance, taking in every word.

"Your Highness, is something wrong?" The young eunuch beside Jun Yechen felt that the usually amiable man seemed different today, his tone growing cautious.

Jun Yechen’s eyes narrowed slightly, a cold aura radiating from him. "Do you not see? These maids are neglecting their duties. Do they not deserve to be punished?"

"This... you usually never concern yourself with such trifles."

In the eyes of everyone, the Second Prince was supposed to be refined and elegant, someone who would never take such trivialities to heart. But today was different. Since when had Jun Yechen cared about matters that had nothing to do with him?

A cold glare from Jun Yechen made the eunuch’s neck shrink. He hurriedly bowed and agreed, "Indeed, these maids are taking pay while neglecting their work. It is truly outrageous! I shall go and teach them a lesson at once!"

As the eunuch moved forward, Jun Yechen ordered coldly, "Slap their mouths for half an hour!"

The eunuch froze for a moment, but dared not hesitate. He followed Jun Yechen’s command and rounded up the maids. After a stern reprimand, the sound of rhythmic slapping began to fill the air, each strike louder than the last.

Jun Yechen stood nearby with his hands behind his back, watching as the punishment continued for the full half hour.

When it finally ended, the eunuch felt as though his hands were about to break. He snapped, "If you are ever caught slacking off or gossiping again, it won’t be as simple as just a few slaps!"