CH 46

Seeing her being humiliated like this people would only say that she got what she reaped, that she deserved it and that it was natural that she should bear it. Besides, the junzhu was not wrong, her mother was indeed a prostitute.

Ming Yuan was in a happy mood and started laughing, fueling the fire, “Fifth sister, don’t be modest, you have learned a lot from your mother-concubine, dancing is nothing difficult for you.”

Sheng Ling’s eyes curved, “It seems that this junzhu‘s face isn’t sufficient, miss Ming Zhu isn’t willing.”

“Miss Ming Zhu, the junzhu is telling you to dance, that means she is favoring you.”

“Yes ah, if dancing isn’t possible, singing a song is also okay.”

“If that still isn’t okay, I can order those trained girls from private houses to accompany you to dance.” Sheng Ling stared at her without moving a muscle.

The sun was high up in the sky, but Ming Zhu’s back was soaked in cold sweat. She knew that going into the palace to participate in the banquet would be an ordeal similar to the Hongmen banquet, but she didn’t expect the junzhu to aggressively humiliate her to such an extent.

(TL’s note : the Hongmen banquet is an historical reference, it means a trap, inviting someone to a joyous occasion which is actually a trap.)

Ming Zhu’s body trembled lightly, if it was before, she probably would have started to cry already.

She raised her head and confronted her face to face, “Junzhu, His Highness the crown prince said that I’m only allowed to dance for him alone.”

Sheng Ling’s smile slowly turned stiff and the corners of her curved mouth slowly dropped. She took a deep breath of cool air, staring at Ming Zhu with eyes sharper than a needle, she asked, “The crown prince really said that?”

Ming Zhu didn’t hold back, “Yes, His Highness said that no one else is worthy.”

As Sheng Ling became enraged because of her, the fire in her eyes flared up, the back of her head seemed to be on the verge of emitting smoke and the handkerchief in her hand was crushed beyond recognition.

The others all fell silent. The gaze they used to look at Ming Zhu also changed, why wasn’t she a soft dough? Wasn’t it that they could crush her however they wanted to ?

She was dressed up so beautifully, wearing fancy clothes and beautiful accessories, talking and conducting herself with such confidence, it really made people envious and jealous.

She dared to say such words, was she really sure that she could rely on the crown prince to back her up ?

Sheng Ling didn’t hold back and smashed her teacup, “How dare you!”

She stood up in anger and pointed a finger at her, “What type of thing do you think you are? How dare you talk to this junzhu like that?!”

Sheng Ling never had to restrain her anger. Even in the capital, she was still that most arrogant and unrestrained young junzhu. In Xiangyang City, if a maidservant wasn’t to her liking, she would have people sink the maidservant in a pond and have her killed.

After entering the capital, she had already restrained herself a lot. Could it be that she couldn’t teach a small lesson to a cheap concubine ?!

Could it be that taizi gege would punish her for such a lowly object?

Sheng Ling got furious, “The daughter born of a prostitute indeed doesn’t have any upbringing, today I will teach you properly what rules are. You kneel here for a few hours and let everyone see what happens when one doesn’t respect the rules.”

But just letting her kneel for a few hours wasn’t enough to relieve Sheng Ling’s anger, thus she ordered a palace maid to go and get the punishment kneeling board. After a few hours kneeling on this, Ming Zhu’s knees would be as good as crippled.

At this point, Ming Zhu said something unexpected by everyone, “I won’t kneel.”

“You say that again?”

“His Highness the crown prince has said that my body belongs to him alone, no one else can make a decision, including myself.” Ming Zhu pursed her lips, “If His Highness learns of it afterwards, he’s going to be angry.”

Sheng Ling was about to faint from anger. Was she showing off? Was she telling her on purpose how much taizi gege liked her?!

Ming Zhu wasn’t lying, those were the exact same words that Zhao Zhi, as he was nibbling on her ear, had once said in her ear.

Sheng Ling couldn’t stand her defiance, with a stern face she ordered the palace maid to press down her shoulders, while she kicked on the back of Ming Zhu’s legs, forcing her to kneel down.

Ming Zhu’s knees knocked on the ground, it was so painful tears started to fall from her eyes.

Sheng Ling ordered two rough old maidservants to keep an eye on her, “You kneel and reflect properly on your actions.”

Like this, Sheng Ling was barely able to release some of her anger.

Ming Zhu’s back and shoulders were thin, her posture as she was kneeling on the ground looked small and frail, she looked very pitiful.

When Zhao Zhi learned of the matter, Ming Zhu was already on board of the carriage leading her inside the palace.

Biying had hurried back to the crown prince’s residence to report the whole story from start to finish. Gulping, she then said, “Your Highness, nothing will happen to the miss in the palace, right?”

Zhao Zhi held back his overwhelming anger, “Why are you only telling me now? Didn’t I tell you that her every move should be reported to me?”

“This slave also ……”

Zhao Zhi was out of patience, ” Scram!”

He ordered that his horse be prepared, took the whip handed to him by his attendant, and hurriedly mounted his horse, hurrying towards the palace.