As expected, the Emperor saw the corner of Lady Jing's skirt hidden under the quilt, and his eyes filled with even more compassion, "My dear concubine is so kind-hearted; how can I not be considerate of your feelings? However, since they failed to rescue the Empress Dowager in time, forcing you to save her instead, leading to your miscarriage, I can spare their lives but there must be punishment. I will punish them by withholding their palace allowances for a year and will have each flogged fifty times."
This time, the Emperor was considered lenient. Fifty lashes were merely flesh wounds; fifty strikes with a board could cripple someone. Immediately, Nanny Sun and the palace maids kneeled down to thank the Emperor's mercy and thank Lady Jing for pleading on their behalf.
The Emperor offered a few words of consolation to Lady Jing, then turned to the Imperial Physician who attended to her, inquiring, "How is Lady Jing's health? Will this injury cause her any lasting harm?"
