015 The Art of Hitting People

Yun Feiyue smiled faintly, sensing from the Empress Dowager’s tone that there was no avoiding the martial contest today. Clearly, they had arranged everything in advance—unless she was thoroughly humiliated, they would not rest.

Gongsun Ziyan, seeing Yun Feiyue hesitate, curled her lips in a mocking smile and spoke with a hint of derision, “Sister Yue, surely you’re not about to slight the Empress Dowager’s honor, are you?”

Yun Feiyue pressed her lips together in a gentle smile. “What are you saying, Ziyan? Is such disrespectful talk fit for the presence of the Empress Dowager?”

With that, she raised her hand and delivered two crisp slaps to the unsuspecting Gongsun Ziyan’s face. She then took the handkerchief offered by Yun Dao, wiped her hands, and tossed the cloth aside with obvious distaste.

“I’m simply helping the Empress Dowager teach you a lesson. You ought to watch your tongue from now on! After all, you are to be a model for all women under heaven—who would dare slight the Empress Dowager’s dignity? Say such words to me if you must, but say them outside and you’ll become a laughingstock, shaming the honor of Chu!”

Gongsun Ziyan, her cheeks red and swollen, glared furiously at Yun Feiyue. She had been nearly disfigured before by Xiao Mumu, and now that she had finally healed, Yun Feiyue had struck her again. Rage consumed her as she clenched her teeth, and with all her strength, she swung a slap at Yun Feiyue’s face.

Yun Feiyue sidestepped the blow, but did not retaliate.

Ecstatic, Gongsun Ziyan noticed that although Yun Feiyue managed to dodge, her movements were sluggish—clearly her health was failing. So, Yun Feiyue, today you will die here!

She launched a relentless assault, blue-green martial light gathering in her hands, flaring suddenly like a phoenix swooping down upon Yun Feiyue.

“Phoenix’s Cry!” she shouted, and at once, the martial force transformed into a blue phoenix, viciously attacking Yun Feiyue.

“Gongsun Ziyan, stop!” Concubine Yun knew well that Yun Feiyue’s body was unwell, and that Gongsun Ziyan’s attack was deadly—she had to intervene.

But the Empress Dowager merely smiled, watching the drama unfold as Gongsun Ziyan pressed her attack and Yun Feiyue retreated step by step. She waved her hand dismissively, “Sister Yun, it’s only children sparring—it’s normal.”

“But at this rate, my Yue’er will be hurt!” Concubine Yun rose in anger. Yun Feiyue was her only daughter, the apple of her eye. Should anything happen to her in the palace, even the Empress Dowager would not be able to bear the consequences.

The Empress Dowager’s smile faded. “What are you so worried about? Sparring always results in a few minor injuries. Besides, your Yue’er isn’t hurt yet, is she?”

Caught in the palace, Concubine Yun dared not openly defy the Empress Dowager and could only restrain herself. She sat uneasily, eyes fixed on Yun Feiyue, ready to rush forward at the first sign of real danger.

Yun Feiyue was now at a disadvantage. Each of Gongsun Ziyan’s attacks was fierce and relentless, leaving her little room to defend. Though her reflexes remained, she could not summon her martial power, and her movements lagged behind her thoughts—each moment was a greater struggle.

Concubine Yun’s worry only deepened.

Meanwhile, Gongsun Ziyan grew more elated. “Sister, it seems you truly can’t go on!”

She drove her fist hard into Yun Feiyue’s abdomen; this time, Yun Feiyue could not evade and took the full force of the blow.

Xiao Mumu immediately shouted in distress, “Feiyue, if you lose, don’t bother coming back to see me!”

Damn it! Yun Feiyue shot Xiao Mumu an angry glare—clearly, it was time to stop holding back.

Another punch landed on Yun Feiyue’s face, leaving a large purple bruise.

Hell! Did they think she was Hello Kitty just because she hadn’t shown her claws?

Gongsun Ziyan was beside herself, throwing punch after punch at Yun Feiyue’s face. Though she longed to beat her to death, she knew that killing Yun Feiyue in the palace would mean her own end as well.

Disfigurement would suffice. Gongsun Ziyan pressed on toward her goal with zeal.

Suddenly, an eerie ringing of bells filled the hall—a mesmerizing sound, as if from another world, calling lost souls to another realm.

The sound sent Gongsun Ziyan’s mind reeling. In that moment, Yun Feiyue lashed out with a slap across her face.

“Did you think you could mar my beauty, hm?”

“Let me show you how to turn a beating into an art form…”

Yun Feiyue leapt up, her flowing robes ethereal as a celestial being, her foot landing gracefully on Gongsun Ziyan’s face, followed by a spinning kick. If there was one thing she excelled at, it was fighting—especially targeting the face!

Gongsun Ziyan was fully aware she was being struck, yet her body would not obey her will; she could not muster any strength to resist. She struggled even to speak.

The bell at Yun Feiyue’s waist chimed with her every movement—a soul-stealing melody that dulled Gongsun Ziyan’s consciousness, ensnaring her spirit.

In the end, Gongsun Ziyan was utterly powerless to resist.

“Yue’er, that’s enough!” The Empress Dowager, now anxious, called out sharply.

But simply knocking her to the ground—was that enough? No! Yun Feiyue’s principle was simple: whoever provoked her would pay dearly.

With a sweet smile, Yun Feiyue replied, “Your Majesty, we’re not done yet! By the rules, Gongsun Ziyan must either beg for mercy on her knees or faint or die before it’s over!”

The Empress Dowager’s face was ashen. “But Ziyan is already down!”

Concubine Yun could not help but laugh. “Didn’t Your Majesty just say that a little injury is normal in a sparring match? Ziyan and Yue’er are only exchanging pointers—does that mean Ziyan can hit my Yue’er, but my Yue’er can’t hit Ziyan? That hardly seems fair, does it?”

The Empress Dowager’s expression darkened. “This…”

Concubine Yun chuckled, covering her mouth. “I think it’s just child’s play—see how harmonious they are? Children form bonds by fighting each other like this.”

The Empress Dowager’s lips twitched—harmonious? This was clearly a one-sided beating!

“Sister, let’s put a stop to this. The match is decided; there’s nothing more to see. Let’s have the palace maids dance for us instead.”

Concubine Yun glanced at Gongsun Ziyan and decided it was enough. “Yue’er, let’s call it a day. Ziyan is still young and doesn’t understand. We, as adults, should be magnanimous.”

At her words, Yun Feiyue lifted her leg and kicked Gongsun Ziyan to the Empress Dowager’s feet, startling her so badly that her heart raced. Two maids hurried to help Gongsun Ziyan up, while two others attended anxiously to the Empress Dowager.

Yun Feiyue clapped her hands. “Bring me some water—I need to wash up. Too filthy!”

The Empress Dowager was so furious her face trembled, her features contorted, but she could find no fault with Yun Feiyue. After all, the match had been her idea. She forced a stiff smile, which looked utterly unnatural. “Yue’er, you are as formidable as ever! Truly admirable! To defeat Ziyan without even using martial force—surely you must participate in the upcoming Tianwu Rankings!”

Yun Feiyue’s face darkened. With her current state, going to the Tianwu Rankings? This was nothing less than sending her into the fire.

“Your Majesty, perhaps we can discuss this another time. We—”

Before she could finish, a harsh voice cut her off. “I have not left my chambers of late, and to think my niece has been bullied in my absence! Yun Feiyue, how dare you!”

Yun Feiyue turned slowly, regarding the pale, frail-looking Consort Gongsun with a slight, crooked smile. “So it’s Consort Gongsun. If your health is poor, you shouldn’t come out. The affairs of the young are not for the old to meddle in. Your wrinkles deepen by the day, your eyes lined by illness, and with no prince to protect you, life in the turbulent harem must be hard. You’d be better off resting in the Cold Palace.”

With a sharp crack, Consort Gongsun swung a slap at Yun Feiyue’s face.