CHAPTER 1785: CHAPTER 1792: ZHAO GUI GETS INJURED (5)

"Pa, pa, pa..."

The horse whip danced in the air, leaving Zhao Gui bleeding profusely, with his skin torn open, looking unbearably tragic as he lay unconscious.

"No, please—"

"Miss Hanna, please don’t!"

Xiao Man and Dong’er ran over and saw the bloody scene, their hearts shattered. They screamed with all their might, rushing to cover Zhao Gui with their bodies, shielding him from Hanna’s horse whip.

"Get out of the way!"

Hanna roared in anger, unwilling to stop her actions.

However, no matter how hard she struck with the whip, the two girls remained steadfast in their resistance. They grit their teeth, allowing Hanna’s whip to lash at them, refusing to leave even as they were beaten to the point of breaking skin, bleeding profusely.

Hanna whipped for a while until she grew tired. She tossed the whip aside, panting, and said to Xiao Man and Dong’er, "You two damn maids, be sure to tell your master that this time I’ve spared her a despicable life. If she dares seduce His Majesty again, I will certainly peel off her beauty and hang her on the city wall for all to see!"

After saying this, she spat fiercely before leaving with her entourage, brimming with anger.

After Hanna left, Xiao Man and Dong’er, despite the severe pain on their bodies, forced themselves to clean up Zhao Gui, finding him beaten to the point of broken skin. The two girls sobbed as they dressed Zhao Gui, lamenting all the while.

"Xiao Man, Our Princess is the Golden Branches and Jade Leaves of the Great Jin Nation. Why do they treat her so badly? They even stripped her naked and beat her. Shouldn’t we send a letter to the Empress to ask for her protection? Otherwise, our princess will surely be bullied to death by them!"

"It’s useless, Dong’er. The Empress Dowager no longer favors our princess. Even if we sent a letter, she wouldn’t pay attention. It would only embarrass the princess, bringing her shame!"

"But even if it brings shame, it’s better than being bullied like this. Perhaps the Empress Dowager might feel empathy upon hearing the princess’s plight. No matter what, the princess is part of Great Jin, and bullying her is disrespecting our Great Jin. I believe the Empress Dowager wouldn’t stand by idly. Moreover, what is Hanna but a lowly creature born of a nanny, similar to us? How can she exert authority over the princess?"

Listening to this, Xiao Man remembered Hanna’s arrogant demeanor and felt a surge of anger. She grit her teeth and said, "You’re right. Even if the Empress Dowager doesn’t help us, we have to try, even if it means losing face. Dong’er, let’s take the princess back and find a way to send news back to Great Jin!"

"Yes, the Empress Dowager is very kind-hearted. I believe she will certainly help the princess..."

The two talked as they finished helping Zhao Gui dress. At this point, the guards who came with them found their way over. These guards were Zhao Gui’s dowry, chosen by Empress Mu, incredibly loyal. Upon seeing the plight of the Queen Consort, Xiao Man, and Dong’er, they hurried to the palace to call for a carriage without needing a command...

Because they were all injured, the horse carriage moved slowly. By the time they returned to the palace, night had fully fallen.

Xiao Man instructed the palace staff to help Zhao Gui onto the couch, while sending someone to call for the Imperial Physician from Great Jin. Together with Dong’er, she helped remove his clothes and treat his wounds anew.

Many of Zhao Gui’s wounds had already become scabs. The dried blood glued his clothes to his flesh. Xiao Man and Dong’er carefully cut open his clothes and used fine cotton cloth dampened with water to wipe away the bloodstains. As they wiped, they wept mournfully.