Ye Qianning flicked her finger again.

Sang Zhen cried out and stumbled. As she fell, her hand instinctively shot out and grabbed onto Sang Shu beside her.

"Aaaah..."

Sang Shu shrieked. One after the other, they both fell flat on their faces.

"Hahahahaha," Nanxiang laughed even louder.

A smile played on Ye Qianning’s lips. ’They insulted my father. I have no intention of letting them off.’ She scampered over on her short legs and, before Sang Shu could get up, plopped down right on her back.

She then generously placed her little foot on the back of Sang Zhen’s hand and applied a bit of pressure. A series of unending screams immediately followed.

"Ah... My hand! My hand is going to break!" Sang Zhen tried to pull her hand away but couldn’t, nor could she push Ye Qianning off.

Sang Shu was in a worse state. The sudden weight on her back nearly knocked the wind out of her. She gasped for a few breaths. "COUGH, COUGH, COUGH... Ye Qianning, get off this princess!"

Ye Qianning grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked it hard. "I’ll teach you to bully me! If I don’t give you a proper lesson today, I’ll write my name backward!"

"Aaaah..." Sang Shu clutched her head with both hands and leaned back, feeling like her hair was being ripped right out of her scalp.

"Let go of my hand! My hand, WAHHH... Someone, help! My hand!" Sang Zhen was on her hands and knees by Ye Qianning’s feet, unable to pull her hand free no matter how she tried.

A searing pain shot through her hand; it felt like it was about to be crippled.

Nanxiang’s smile froze on her face, her eyes wide with amazement. ’Wow, she’s so strong! So this is the advantage of being chubby in a fight. I need to get fat. When I get back, I’m definitely going to eat until I’m nice and plump.’

"Someone! Help! ... Get this little bitch off me! ... Mother Consort, Father Emperor..." Sang Shu wailed, but she couldn’t break free at all.

The palace maids were scared to death. The cries finally snapped them out of their stupor, and they all rushed forward to pull Ye Qianning away.

Ye Qianning’s grip was strong, and she held onto Sang Shu’s hair for dear life.

"Ah... It hurts, it hurts..."

"My hand..."

When the palace maids pulled, Ye Qianning’s body was lifted, but she didn’t let go, causing Sang Shu to scream repeatedly. Sang Zhen wasn’t faring any better; Ye Qianning would release her foot for a moment only to stomp down hard again.

Ye Qianning was being methodical, inflicting a pain worse than death without breaking any bones so no injuries could be found later.

"Let go! You’re not allowed to touch Pangtuan! Let her go!" Nanxiang saw the palace maids surround them and lunged forward, pulling at them.

For a moment, the area by the rockery was filled with a cacophony of wails and cries, attracting a lot of attention.

"What are you all doing? Stop this at once," a voice called out.

The palace maids turned and froze. Seeing those gray eyes staring at them, their hearts skipped a beat.

Ye Qianning recognized the voice instantly. It was Sang Zhi. She didn’t look up, nor did she let go.

"Eighth Brother, they were bullying me and Pangtuan! Eighth Brother, they even hit Pangtuan!" Nanxiang turned her head, and upon seeing the newcomer, cried out as if she’d seen her savior.

"Let go... WAHHH, you little bitch, WAHHH..."

"Mother Consort, help me, my hand..."

Sang Shu and Sang Zhen were a blubbering mess.

Sang Zhi stood with his little hands clasped behind his back. Upon seeing the scene, he actually let out a sigh of relief. "All of you, stop."

The palace maids hesitated.

"Pull her off! WAHHH... You’re all useless!" Sang Shu’s scalp felt tight, her face pulled taut as if in a facelift.

The palace maids had just been about to loosen their grip, but at Sang Shu’s wail, they tensed and resumed pulling.

Ye Qianning decided that was enough. Just as the palace maids pulled their hardest, she gave a final tug with her little hands and a slight shift of her foot. Following two more screams...

A tuft of Sang Shu’s hair was ripped right out. The palace maid pulling Ye Qianning was thrown off balance, and they both went crashing backward together.

"Pangtuan!" Nanxiang cried out in alarm.