Chapter 3

　　Everyone says that I am gentle and I do not fight, but few people know that I am an extremely short-tempered person. 　　The little palace lady probably thought that I was as soft as a ripe persimmon and didn't expect that I would hit her, perhaps it was because of my identity. She didn't dare speak, she just covered her face and stared at me. 　　My slap was very powerful. 　　"Elisa Lin!" Lucille’s face changed, she pointed to my nose and looked at me with an incredible look, "You! How dare you hit the palace people in front of the Empress?" 　　I know that one shouldn’t beat a dog depending on the owner, but if the dog carelessly bites my people, then I wouldn’t just sit idly by. 　　I smiled, and blessed Lucille again, "A queen should teach her people well to be respectable and orderly. Unfortunately, the people of the Empress didn’t set an example. I just helped them remember, so that they wouldn’t go out doing and saying the wrong things that could damage the good reputation of the Empress." 　　I knew that I had said these words perfectly, so even if Lucille wanted to make a mean retort, she couldn't find an excuse to do so. As soon as I finished speaking, I heard a familiar voice behind me. 　　"Why haven't I noticed before that my Concubine Lisa was so passionate and eloquent?" 　　Everyone knelt down together, "Long live the Emperor!" 　　I stiffened and bent my knees toward him, looking a little embarrassed, I greeted, "See the Emperor." 　　Zach walked around me, then walked straight to Lucille and helped her up with his own hands, and spoke gently, "The Empress doesn't need to be respectable, she just needs to be fair." 　　Lucille took a step back and distanced herself from Zach, then bent her knees and said, "The Emperor, forgive me, I’m afraid the Empress may not be able to do it." 　　Zach was stunned, then spoke without even giving me a glance, "Why does the Empress say this?" 　　Lucille looked up, and said, "The concubines in the Imperial Palace are very fierce. Not only did she not salute the Empress, but also hurts her servant girls. The Concubine was so arrogant in front of me, it can be seen that she should really be subdued." 　　Such a "real grievance" that she couldn’t wait to tell the Emperor about it, huh? 　　I thought Zach knew that I was never an unreasonable person, so I didn’t intend to explain. I thought that even if he wanted to defend this newly promoted queen, he would only scold me at most. But I didn’t expect it, he turned his head and stared at me coldly. 　　"Kneel down!" he commanded in a cold tone. 　　My back stiffened and I looked up at him as if I didn't hear him clearly, "What?" 　　Zach looked into my eyes with a hint of impatience, "I don't want to say it a second time." 　　So in order to protect Lucille, he was determined to cut me off? If that was the case, then why did he leave her and came all the way to my palace last night? 　　Suddenly, my stubborn temper surged through me. Whether it was arrogance or fearlessness, I straightened my back and looked at him, "The Concubine's legs are ill, and the Emperor has allowed the Concubine to kneel to no one in this palace." 　　During my seven years in the palace, I have never knelt down to anyone, not even Zach. The other concubines in the palace couldn’t figure out who I really was in Zach’s heart because of this. So, even when he wasn’t around, no one dared to embarrass me. 　　"This Concubine Lisa really is something," Lucille scoffed. "She doesn't even listen to the Emperor's words." 　　Lucille then continued to act like a baby and addressed Zach, "Emperor, today is my first day as queen, but look..." 　　"Elisa Lin, it seems that I was too kind to you before," Zach said sharply as he looked at me with a cold expression in his eyes. 　　He didn't even need to give orders. With just this sentence, two Imperial guards came over immediately and held me on each arm. 　　I didn't want to resist at all, and so with little effort, I fell on my knees in the ice and snow. 　　The bone-chewing chill and the sudden pain instantly hit my body.