无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

Concubine Xian was terrified to the core and, using the last of her strength, she trembled, “If you hurt me, the Emperor will not let you go… Don’t think I’m relying solely on the favor of the Prince of Huai and His Majesty…”

“How ridiculous, do you really have their favor? Do you really expect a man who has had hundreds of women to be deeply devoted to you?” Jiang Ning mocked, “Do you know why the Emperor has been ignoring you for these past few months?”

“It was you?”

“Of course, I was the one who made mischief behind the scenes. Let me guess, that night, when the Emperor returned, you were already asleep? The Emperor is a lustful man who loves tender young girls. When he saw your wrinkled and pale face while you were asleep, along with your white hair, what do you think he felt?”

Concubine Xian was dumbfounded.

She subconsciously looked down at herself, forgetting that the knife was still on her face.

During these months, she hadn’t thought about those things at all.

Though she always knew her own age and often made jokes about it, as a woman – especially one who had once been beautiful – how could she willingly resign herself to growing old and unattractive?

In her subconscious mind, she still believed that she was beautiful.

She had never considered what she looked like when she slept.

In this moment, reminded by Jiang Ning, she recalled the remaining shock in the Emperor’s eyes when she woke up that night, and her heart gradually understood.

It turned out that the Emperor wasn’t angry with her for her thoughtless words.

He simply disliked her for her age and ugliness.

So much so that he couldn’t even bear to look at her during the day.

How sad was this for a woman?

Concubine Xian was lost in thought for a while before she sputtered out a mouthful of blood, her face pale as paper, gritting her teeth and speaking softly, “Jiang Ning… how poisonous your heart is!”

“How terrifying, only Concubine Xian and her family can harm others, but others fighting back is cruel?”

“You just wait…”

“No need to wait, I’ll teach you a lesson now.” Jiang Ning gripped the handle of the knife, holding it up vertically, aiming it at Concubine Xian’s nose and cutting down, “I will cut off your nose and turn you into a real monster, see how you go out and cause trouble then!”

Concubine Xian let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered, “No, please… don’t…”

“Stop.”

A faint voice rang out not far away.

Jiang Ning raised her head and saw Li Hongyuan standing at the entrance of the courtyard, wrapped in a cloak, watching her.

At this moment, her knife had already pierced the skin on Concubine Xian’s nose, and she didn’t plan to pay attention to Li Hongyuan. She pushed down hard, intending to cut off Concubine Xian’s nose in one stroke.

Concubine Xian screamed in pain and fear, her shrill voice echoing through the air.

Jiang Ning found it annoying and slapped her across the face, “Shut up!”

Concubine Xian’s head tilted, and whether it was from the force of the slap or fear, she fainted.

With no more interference, Jiang Ning continued to cut—

Her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Li Hongyuan pulled her up, “Didn’t I tell you to stop? Why won’t you listen?”

Jiang Ning knew that he was back, and she wouldn’t be able to continue.

She didn’t waste any energy struggling, allowing him to hold her wrist and take the knife, throwing it to a follower behind her.

The East Palace steward, Ding Wujin, waved his hand, separating the fighting factions.