Xiao Yi, initially wanting to rush forward and interfere, was restrained tightly by the imperial guards. Rong Liǔ immediately struck Yan Si fiercely across the face, numerous times in quick succession... Not content with striking him herself, she even commanded the maids behind her to take turns continuing the assault. Even when his face was swollen and bruised, she refused to instruct them to stop.
The rapid succession of pain left Yan Si dizzy; he neither understood what was happening nor why he was being beaten... Indeed, all women were cruel, truly terrifying... they were no different from vengeful spirits...
Yan Si was unaware that Rong Liǔ had harbored resentment toward him for a long time, only waiting for an opportunity to vent her anger.
In the midst of the crisis, The Eldest Imperial Prince RongCheng unexpectedly passed by and witnessed the scene... he seemed utterly unable to believe what he was seeing...
Immediately, he rushed forward in alarm, pushing away all those who were restraining and striking Yan Si, and helped the boy up. He asked through gritted teeth: "How dare you do this to him?"
Upon seeing RongCheng, the maids, eunuchs, and guards instantly turned pale, hurriedly kneeling and simultaneously shouting: "Greetings to Your Highness!"
Witnessing RongCheng's fury almost reaching the heavens, Rong Liǔ began to feel slightly uneasy yet still spoke forcefully: "So... so what! Who... who told him to be disrespectful to me!"
Hearing this, RongCheng's rage intensified fiercely. Meanwhile, Yan Si was now on the verge of fainting, his face so swollen that he was barely recognizable.
"Disrespectful? What did he do that was disrespectful to you?" RongCheng immediately glared at Xiao Yi, but the latter only lowered his head, not daring to utter a word.
Rong Liǔ stammered in reply: "He... he saw me yet failed to perform the courtesy."
"Perform the courtesy?" RongCheng was furious to the point of madness yet managed to suppress it, ordering Xiao Yi to take Yan Si into his arms. He then strode before Rong Liǔ and demanded in a low, severe voice: "He is, in any case, considered a sworn brother in our family. For such a trivial reason, did you mercilessly strike him to this extent?"
Seeing RongCheng pressing her so intensely, Rong Liǔ grew even more indignant, saying: "So what! Sworn brother? What sworn brother? How could we have such a wretched, low-born sworn brother? Elder Brother, you are truly skilled at forming sworn bonds, bringing such worthless filth back to the palace..."
Upon hearing this, RongCheng truly could not restrain himself any longer. He immediately struck Rong Liǔ across the face, scolding: "Silence at once! Did your Grand Tutor instruct you to speak with such disrespect and disdain?"
"You... you... you struck me?" Even now, Rong Liǔ seemed unable to believe it: I am your younger sister, whilst he is but an outsider. For the sake of an outsider, you dared to strike me!?"
RongCheng offered no reply but immediately struck Rong Liǔ across the face yet again.
Seeing the tense confrontation between the two, the faces of the surrounding palace servants instantly drained of all color; no one dared to step forward and intervene.
Unexpectedly receiving two stinging slaps, especially in front of all the palace servants, filled Rong Liǔ with intense indignation. Tears of distress streamed down her face: "You dared to strike me...? I... I shall inform the Empress Dowager... you... you just wait!"
Saying this, she immediately ran off, weeping loudly and hysterically.
RongCheng truly had nothing left to say. Though he knew he might have acted rashly, comparing his actions to Yan Si's condition, he suddenly felt his punishment was insufficient... He immediately took Yan Si in his arms and departed.
Gazing silently at the unconscious boy, RongCheng felt deep remorse. Today it was Rong Liǔ; encountering someone else tomorrow, he knew not what might befall him.
"This cannot be... this cannot continue." RongCheng immediately stood up and instructed Xiao Yi to care for Yan Si well, asking him to frequently roll hot eggs over the boy's cheeks to reduce the swelling. He then quickly departed.
Meanwhile, Rong Liǔ had already caused an uproar at the Palace of Grand Tranquility. She ran in, embraced her mother, and, weeping, complained: "Empress Mother, Empress Mother, please uphold justice for me! Elder Brother struck me... he repeatedly struck my face in front of the palace servants!"
The Empress felt both pity for her daughter and disbelief. RongCheng had always treated his younger sister well and acted with caution... Unless the girl had done something truly outrageous, he would never act thus: "Liǔ-er, did you provoke your Elder Brother in some way?"
Rong Liǔ immediately shook her head: "No! I did nothing to him! I merely taught his sworn brother some manners, yet he harshly struck me, Empress Mother, please rule justly for me!!!"
"Who says you did nothing!?"
At this moment, a voice suddenly transmitted from outside. Rong Liǔ was slightly startled: "Imperial Father?"
Immediately afterward, the Emperor and RongCheng quickly entered. The Prince had thought: If she dares inform the Empress Mother, should I not call the Imperial Father?
He hoped that this time the Emperor would side with him, so he could definitively prevent this matter from recurring in the future.
After listening to both sides explain the matter, the Emperor merely shook his head and said: "Liǔ-er, you are truly in the wrong. That person is, after all, your Elder Brother's sworn brother, and moreover, he has saved your brother's life many times... You should not have acted thus!"
"Imperial Father..." Rong Liǔ was naturally unwilling to accept this. What life-saving grace? Had not the Prince saved him many times since his arrival? All debts of gratitude had been repaid; he should be driven away!
Seeing that he could not reason with his daughter, the Emperor turned to RongCheng, gently chiding: "You, too. Even if your sister erred, you should not have struck her in front of so many palace servants. What kind of dignity is that?"
RongCheng quickly bowed his head and admitted his fault: "It was this son's momentary folly."
The Emperor suddenly patted RongCheng's shoulder several times, as if saying the Prince was not entirely to blame. He continued: "It is good that you acknowledge your fault. In the future, brother and sister must live in harmony. Do not cause chaos and disturb the Imperial Family. Furthermore..."
He looked toward Rong Liǔ, shaking his head and showing severe warning: "Let this serve as a lesson. You should also learn self-control in the future. You must not presume upon your authority to bully your Elder Brother's sworn brother. Let this matter be put to rest..."
After all, RongCheng had already punished her. Though it was not entirely satisfactory, pursuing the matter further was fruitless. RongCheng cupped his hands and said: "Imperial Father, this son has one more request."
"Speak, Cheng-er."
Seizing this opportunity, RongCheng was determined to eradicate all future troubles. He thus proposed several matters. The Emperor listened, deeply pondered for a long time, and then nodded: "That is also acceptable. The palace rules may be excused in some regards, but the rules of decorum and courtesy must be known, to prevent further incidents in the future."
"Yes, Imperial Father! This son shall certainly arrange for him to be properly instructed."
This was excellent. RongCheng had no further objections and immediately withdrew. Afterward, he instructed Xiao Yi that he must, from the morrow, ensure Yan Si thoroughly learned some rules of courtesy and decorum, to avoid bringing disaster upon himself.