The Malicious Woman

“Elder Sister, why is your robe missing a red gemstone? As a noble Imperial Consort, how can you be so careless with your attire? Moreover, palace garments are custom-made; clothes adorned with red gemstones are not easily acquired. You should re-examine the palace maids responsible for the palace attire!”
Huo Lian Xin was truly meticulous, noticing even the missing red gemstone on Dong Yun Ru’s crimson robe. That red gemstone was no larger than a green bean; if Huo Lian Xin hadn't pointed it out, Dong Yun Ru truly wouldn't have noticed.
“Then, Younger Sister, how do you think this should be handled?” Huo Lian Xin called out "Elder Sister" intimately, and Dong Yun Ru, in turn, affectionately called her "Younger Sister" as was proper. Dong Yun Ru secretly wished she could do something to Huo Lian Xin, who always sought her out to cause trouble, eager to find an excuse to strike at her.
“Naturally, summon the palace maids in charge of attire, question them thoroughly, and ensure they dare not repeat such an offense. Otherwise, how will Elder Sister command respect in the future?” Huo Lian Xin said softly, her tone utterly false.
“Then let us follow Younger Sister’s suggestion. Guards, summon the palace maid responsible for attire!” Dong Yun Ru also offered Huo Lian Xin a false smile. If you enjoy feigning sincerity, why should I not play along? It was merely a fallen gemstone; re-embedding it would suffice. Huo Lian Xin enjoyed making a mountain out of a molehill, surely wanting others to know that the new Noble Consort Dong was an unpleasant person? No matter how unpleasant this Consort may be, Huo Lian Xin, you are still not as favored as I, and remain a step below me, Dong Yun Ru thought with a cold snort.
“Reporting to Your Ladyship, the red gemstone on the robe did not fall off naturally; it was pried off.” The palace maid responsible for attire carefully inspected the garment before stating clearly, proving it was not their fault.
“If it wasn’t you, then someone must have deliberately stolen it. Thinking about it, such a small gemstone wouldn’t easily attract attention. How could such a servant appear in Elder Sister’s palace? Elder Sister should punish them severely, otherwise, Yun Fang Palace will surely be plagued by thieves in the future. Those unaware might think Elder Sister’s conduct is poor, leading to such servants. Do not let a thief ruin your reputation!” Huo Lian Xin took Dong Yun Ru’s hand, speaking with a concerned expression. Theft was no small matter; Huo Lian Xin had successfully exaggerated the situation, secretly pleased with herself.
Dong Yun Ru withdrew her hand, feeling as though she would need to wash it several times. Huo Lian Xin had finally found a weakness, and she could imagine how smug Huo Lian Xin must be. If she couldn't find the thief today, she feared Huo Lian Xin would mock her, and surely bring up this matter every day thereafter.
“Cui Luan, you are responsible for all of this Consort’s clothes. Quickly, give this Consort an explanation!” Dong Yun Ru’s tone remained gentle, but her enchanting eyes were exceptionally sharp.
“This matter has nothing to do with this servant. This servant wouldn’t dare to do such a thing even if I had a hundred guts. This robe was sent to the Huan Yi Bureau for washing, and they only returned it today. This servant truly did not steal it; it must have been a palace maid from the Huan Yi Bureau who stole it. When the Huan Yi Bureau collected the clothes, they were still intact… Your Ladyship, this servant truly did not steal…” Cui Luan collapsed to her knees, her body trembling uncontrollably. She was the Noble Consort’s personal maid; with Noble Consort Dong’s favor, she too enjoyed a share of benefits. Why would she risk it all for a tiny red gemstone? Perhaps she truly hadn’t stolen it!?
“Cui Luan is this Consort’s maid. This Consort has bestowed upon her more than just a small gemstone. She would not risk herself for a tiny red gemstone, so this Consort believes she did not do it.” Dong Yun Ru said. Even if Cui Luan had truly done it, she would still deny it, for Cui Luan was her personal maid. If Cui Luan committed a crime, as her mistress, she would naturally be blamed for lax discipline. She did not want Huo Lian Xin to gain an advantage from this, so she naturally cleared those close to her.
“If not her, then who could it be?” Huo Lian Xin refused to give up easily, having finally seized such a weakness; how could she let it go so easily?
“Summon everyone who had contact with my clothes that day. This Consort will interrogate each and every one of them.” Dong Yun Ru commanded.
Thus, a most unfortunate person appeared. The palace maid Xiao Hua was the one who went to Yun Fang Palace to collect the clothes and also the one who washed them. She was not originally responsible for handling the garments, but that day, the little palace maid who usually managed this fell ill for a few days, causing Xiao Hua, who always happily helped others, to take over her duties. As a result, she became the most suspected person.
Xiao Hua was still bewildered when she was escorted to Yun Fang Palace. This was, she reckoned, the second time she had seen Dong Yun Ru and Huo Lian Xin. They both sat above, while palace maids on either side and eunuchs stared at her with grim expressions, making Xiao Hua feel extremely uneasy.
“Are you the one who received Her Ladyship’s garments?” In the palace, the Head Eunuch held a very high position. He looked down at Xiao Hua and asked. This made Xiao Hua feel like an ant, ready to be trampled at any moment, making her even more timid. Clearly, the Head Eunuch was accustomed to such scenes of severe interrogation, his imposing aura continuously overwhelming Xiao Hua.
Xiao Hua didn’t know which "Your Ladyship" the Head Eunuch referred to. She tried to glance at the attire of Dong Yun Ru and Huo Lian Xin; the clothes of that foxy imperial consort looked familiar. She honestly couldn't remember. The Imperial Concubine’s clothes also looked somewhat familiar. She washed dozens of garments a day; how could she remember so clearly?
“I don’t remember.” Xiao Hua answered honestly. Had she not washed the clothes cleanly enough? She washed every garment meticulously; logically, they should have been too clean.
“Did you steal the red gemstone from the garment?” The Head Eunuch’s face darkened, looking as if he wanted to strike her. Xiao Hua instinctively covered her head, a habit formed from enduring abuse.
“I didn’t steal anything!” Xiao Hua cried out in fright, raising her voice to prove her innocence. She hated being falsely accused of theft more than anything. Before entering the palace, Xiao Hua had once been falsely accused of stealing, leading to her being paraded through the streets with a sign proclaiming "Thief," which left a deep scar on the young Xiao Hua’s heart. From then on, Xiao Hua resolved that she would rather die than be falsely accused.
Dong Yun Ru originally didn’t care much whether that frightened little mouse of a palace maid had stolen it or not. She only cared that it wasn't someone from her own palace. Finding just anyone to make a show for Huo Lian Xin would suffice. But the little palace maid's sudden shout piqued Dong Yun Ru's interest, bringing a smile to her face. She stood up and approached Xiao Hua, seeing the little mouse raise her head to look at her, her eyes truly sincere and earnest, appearing genuinely innocent. Dong Yun Ru’s smile deepened, a hint of cruelty flashing within it.
“Not admitting it? Slap her!” Dong Yun Ru smiled alluringly at Xiao Hua, as if the one issuing the cruel command was not her.
The Head Eunuch obeyed, fiercely slapping Xiao Hua’s small face. Each slap made her delicate face swell and redden further. It seemed the Head Eunuch was indeed using torture, showing no mercy.
Xiao Hua stared at Dong Yun Ru, her eyes unyielding. This was the spirit of one unwilling to be wronged, which made Dong Yun Ru’s smile even more captivating. Even Huo Lian Xin found Dong Yun Ru’s smile somewhat startling.
Xiao Hua suddenly thought that if it were the Empress, she would surely investigate to find clues instead of letting an innocent person suffer injustice and arbitrary torture. No wonder everyone said that women who looked like fox spirits were all vicious women.
“Stop.” After about five or six slaps, Xiao Hua’s face was swollen beyond endurance, and only then did Dong Yun Ru order the Head Eunuch to stop.
It hurt, a burning pain on both cheeks, but Xiao Hua forced herself to hold back her tears.
“If you admit to stealing it, this Consort can temporarily spare you. Just admit it, and this Consort will not let anyone hit you again. Just admit it, and this Consort will keep her word.” Dong Yun Ru used her slender, seductive finger to lift Xiao Hua’s chin, speaking with a gentle smile. Her tone was like a lure, filling Xiao Hua’s heart with fear. To others, it might have been an enchanting smile, but in Xiao Hua’s eyes, it was exceptionally malicious. Xiao Hua stiffened her back. If she didn’t do it, why should she admit it? A Buddha fights for a stick of incense, a person fights for a breath of air. She would absolutely not admit it.
“It wasn’t me, I didn’t steal it! You can beat me to death, but I won’t admit it!” Xiao Hua shook her head, disliking the viper-like beauty before her. She shook her head with too much force, causing Dong Yun Ru’s long fingernail to scratch her face, leaving a small, bleeding mark.
“You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Continue to beat her!” Dong Yun Ru looked at Xiao Hua’s unusually resolute expression, her smile growing brighter, filled with mockery. She wanted to see how long this impertinent palace maid could last.
The Head Eunuch obeyed, immediately resuming his task. Soon, a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of Xiao Hua’s mouth. Those who had been in the imperial palace for many years had grown cold and hardened, with only a few newly arrived palace maids showing a flicker of emotion at the sight.
Huo Lian Xin snorted coldly. She hadn’t expected Dong Yun Ru to find an innocent scapegoat. It seemed this woman was even more difficult to deal with than she had imagined.
“Elder Sister, that should be enough. I believe she has learned her lesson and will not dare to repeat it.” Huo Lian Xin said, feigning extreme kindness. Dong Yun Ru scoffed inwardly. Still pretending to be a good person; this woman was utterly deceitful.
“Younger Sister was right just now. She should be properly disciplined and warned to prevent others from repeating the offense in the future, lest some say this Consort’s management is lax. You need not worry about the affairs of Yun Fang Palace.” Dong Yun Ru smiled at Huo Lian Xin. For some reason, that smile sent a chill through Huo Lian Xin’s heart. Dong Yun Ru had already targeted her; she must be eliminated soon, Huo Lian Xin thought to herself.
“Then Younger Sister shall not disturb Elder Sister’s interrogation. Younger Sister requests to return to Lian Xin Palace.” Huo Lian Xin bowed to Dong Yun Ru, then took her palace maids and left.
After Huo Lian Xin departed, Dong Yun Ru glanced at the tottering Xiao Hua, a hint of emotion in her eyes. She knew Xiao Hua hadn’t stolen it; she was simply unlucky.
“If you had admitted it just now, I wouldn’t have hit you. What good did arguing back do you? In the end, didn’t you just bring suffering upon yourself? Truly foolish!” Dong Yun Ru looked at Xiao Hua, speaking mockingly.
“I… didn’t… steal…” Xiao Hua remained resolute. She could barely hear what this vicious woman was saying. Her ears were ringing, her face burned with pain, and her head was dizzy to the point of delirium.
Dong Yun Ru heard this and still offered a mocking smile. She too had once been so stubborn.
“Give her the medicine and send her back to the Huan Yi Bureau.” Dong Yun Ru said to the palace maid beside her, her face expressionless.
Long ago, she had learned that this world had no place for the weak and righteous. Righteousness was for the powerful. Therefore, even though she knew Xiao Hua hadn’t stolen it, she wouldn’t help her find the culprit, nor would she feel any guilt about Xiao Hua’s innocence, Dong Yun Ru thought coldly.
If there was no guilt, then there should be no medicine either, to make it more convincing.