frightfiction Chapter 63, 9 Lifetimes: The Mad Concubine's Harem Hunting Game
Chapter 63, 9 Lifetimes: The Mad Concubine's Harem Hunting Game
Chapter Sixty-Three: The Harem Hunting Game of a Concubine's Daughter: From Soft and Cute to a Madman's Path of Revenge
The once delicate Luo Qingci was an extremely fragile young girl. Seeing a chicken being slaughtered would trigger a piercing scream, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She'd then quickly hide under the covers and sob uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face like a fragile porcelain doll. She needed someone to protect her like a priceless treasure wherever she went, as if even the wind might blow her over.
But fate, that mischievous old man, kicked her into an endless abyss. The tragedy of her family's destruction and death, like a bolt of lightning, shattered her life in an instant, becoming a major turning point in her life. It transformed her from a simple, innocent, and adorable girl into a calm, rational, and somewhat mad heroine seeking revenge.
That day, Luo Qingci was alone in that gloomy, haunted-house-like secret room. A pungent, putrid stench permeated the air; it was utterly unbearable, like ten thousand rotten eggs left out for a month in the sweltering heat of summer, mixed with the smell of rotten fish and shrimp, making one want to vomit. The candlelight on the wall flickered, like a seizure, making one dizzy and casting her shadow distorted and twisted, making her look like a menacing monster.
In her mind, the image of her mother's tragic death was playing on a loop, cruelly replaying itself again and again. Each scene was like an incredibly sharp knife, stabbing straight into her heart, causing her excruciating pain that almost suffocated her.
"Consort Shu, Prime Minister, you two big villains, just you wait! I will make you pay back this blood debt with interest, tenfold, sooner or later!" She gritted her teeth and squeezed out these words viciously. Her eyes were so cold that they could freeze a person into an ice block in an instant, as if she was about to shoot out icicles at any second. Her hatred burned fiercely, as if she wanted to burn this secret room to ashes.
Driven by revenge, she and Juxiang acted like two secret agents, secretly and cautiously plotting their scheme. Upon hearing that the palace was holding a selection of concubines and learning about the sworn enemies, the Prime Minister and the Grand Secretary, Luo Qingci's eyes instantly lit up like two little suns, radiating light. She was overjoyed, feeling that even the heavens were on her side, presenting her with the perfect opportunity for revenge.
She moved as nimbly as a nimble little monkey to see the Grand Secretary. Standing there, her back was ramrod straight, like a telephone pole rising from the ground; her spirit and energy were simply breathtaking.
His eyes were as firm as steel, radiating an unwavering determination that was impossible to look directly at: "Your Excellency, my hatred for the Prime Minister's family runs deep, a blood feud that cannot be forgiven! I want to use your influence to infiltrate the palace. Rest assured, once I get in, I guarantee I will uproot the Prime Minister's entire power base, leaving not a single lackey behind, not a single one alive! I am a divine physician, I certainly have that skill, and more importantly, my resolve is harder than diamond!"
Her aura was so fierce, it seemed she could devour her enemy alive at any moment, and even chewing them up wouldn't be enough to satisfy her hatred. The Grand Secretary was moved by her ruthlessness and unwavering determination, and finally nodded in agreement, as if opening the first door to revenge for her.
And so, Luo Qingci transformed herself into the long-lost illegitimate daughter of the Grand Secretary. Using her disguise skills, she dressed herself up plainly, donning a simple white dress, looking like an innocent little angel, utterly harmless. She even added a few pimples to her face, making them look like small steamed buns, and donned a veil, successfully blending into the talent search.
She knew perfectly well that the imperial harem was a terrifying jungle that devoured people without spitting out their bones, full of dangers and traps. With no powerful backing or anything to rely on, she could only tread carefully, like a sneaky little mouse, taking every step with trepidation, barely daring to breathe, for fear that one careless step would landmine her and be shattered to pieces.
On the day of the imperial selection, the scene was as chaotic and noisy as a bustling market. The young women, all heavily made up and dressed in flamboyant attire, their faces covered in so much powder they could choke, were pulling out all the stops, using every trick in the book to attract the emperor's attention. The scene was like a flock of hens, starving for days, scrambling for a handful of rice.
One of the young ladies-in-waiting was so desperate for fame that she acted in an overly exaggerated manner. Her movements and expressions were so ridiculous that they were almost laughable. She was immediately punished by a concubine who picked her up like a chicken.
Luo Qingci watched this scene, a slight smirk playing on her lips, a smile full of disdain: "To be so high-profile in this palace, isn't that just suicide? Did they get their brains caught in a door, kicked by a donkey, or is it that walnuts caught in a door can't nourish the brain?"
Just as she was thinking, her gaze suddenly froze, as if glued shut, because she saw the Consort Shu, whom she hated so much she wanted to tear her apart.
In an instant, a surge of hatred erupted within her, a fire more powerful than a volcanic eruption, nearly burning her reason to ashes. She instinctively clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms; the pain, like an electric shock, instantly brought her back to her senses.
She took a deep breath and mentally encouraged herself: "I can't be impulsive, impulsiveness is the devil! Now is not the time. I have to be like a patient top sniper, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to deliver a fatal blow to the enemy, a single, decisive strike!"
The Emperor's gaze fell upon her, and he inquired why she was wearing a veil. She remained calm and composed, her movements as graceful as a dancing fairy. She knelt and bowed, her voice clear and melodious like a silver bell, particularly pleasing to the ear in the noisy environment: "Your Majesty, I've recently been suffering from internal heat, and my face is covered in pimples, large and conspicuous like little hills. I was afraid of startling Your Majesty and the ladies, so I wore a veil. It was truly a last resort; please forgive me!" Her tone was so respectful that it was impossible to find fault with her; she practically wore "I'm extremely polite" on her sleeve.
The Emperor asked a few more questions and finally asked her to remove her veil. She slowly raised her hand, her movements as gentle as if she were unveiling a priceless treasure, afraid of making the slightest sound.
She revealed her stunningly beautiful face, though it was flawed. Even with acne, her innate beauty remained undiminished, like a pearl veiled in a thin layer of gauze, still radiating brilliance.
The emperor stared wide-eyed, as if frozen in place, his mouth agape. It took him a long time to recover, and he was practically drooling.
The Emperor, with a wave of his hand like a nouveau riche, decided to bestow upon her the title of Beauty and showered her with gifts. This infuriated Consort Shu and the others. Consort Shu, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristled and shrieked, "She's been made a Beauty as soon as she entered the palace, and she doesn't even have to bow to the other concubines! What kind of decorum is this? The harem will be in complete chaos, a scene of utter pandemonium, like a marketplace!"
The voice was shrill and thin, like fingernails scraping a blackboard, and it echoed, making people feel uncomfortable all over, giving them goosebumps, and making them wish they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into and never come out again. The concubines echoed it, like a swarm of buzzing flies, chattering and chattering around the matter, making people's heads feel like they were about to explode.
Luo Qingci inwardly cried out in alarm; this was not the rhythm she wanted. Her mind raced, as if turbocharged, but her face remained calm, like a still lake, without a ripple, as if all of this had nothing to do with her.
She knelt down decisively and said loudly, "Your Majesty's grace is boundless! Consort Shu is absolutely right! The rules of the harem cannot be broken. Please, Your Majesty, rescind your decree!" Her voice was firm and powerful, exuding an unquestionable aura, as if telling everyone that although she looked weak, she was tough at heart and not someone to be trifled with.
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a disdainful smile, as if to say, "You're smart enough to know your place. With your small frame, you think you can fight me? You're simply overestimating yourself, like an ant trying to shake a tree. How laughable and presumptuous!"
Seeing her smug face, Luo Qingci sneered inwardly: "Just you wait and see how long you can be so arrogant! Once I trample you under my feet, you'll have your day to cry. You'll cry so hard you won't even know where to begin, crying more pitifully than a stray dog!" A barely perceptible ruthlessness flashed in her eyes, as if she were about to tear Consort Shu to shreds in the next second.
Next came the talent show. Luo Qingci changed into a pure white, light dance costume, barefoot, like a fairy descended from heaven, both pure and alluring, her temperament was absolutely stunning.
Her dance moves were light and graceful, sometimes like a nimble fish playing happily in the water, sometimes like a soaring bird circling freely in the sky, and sometimes like a majestic war god, powerful and vigorous, with every movement full of strength.
As the music reached its climax, she spun wildly, like a rapidly spinning top. Suddenly, a swarm of butterflies, as if by magic, fluttered in and danced around her. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful. It was like a dreamlike fairyland, leaving everyone speechless, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground, their eyes wide as saucers, forgetting to breathe.
When the performance ended, the emperor was so excited that he jumped up from his chair like a child, clapping and shouting, "Great! Excellent! This dance is simply amazing! With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for! Reward him!" He was so excited, as if he had found a priceless treasure, that he felt like he was floating on air, as if he owned the whole world.
Consort Shu, however, curled her lip in disgust, looking as if she had swallowed a fly. Her expression was extremely unpleasant: "Tch! It's nothing but some seductive tricks. In this palace, you can't survive long by relying on these fancy things! You might get dealt with tomorrow and not even know how you died. You'll have nowhere to cry then."
Upon hearing this, Luo Qingci thought to herself, "Keep being stubborn. Wait until I expose all your shameful deeds, then let's see how smug you are! I'll make you cry your eyes out, beg for mercy on your knees, and cry your eyes out until you've cried all the tears you'll ever shed." Her eyes were full of mockery, as if she were saying that Consort Shu was nothing but a clown, jumping around and being utterly ridiculous.
At this moment, the Empress also cast a probing glance at her. She met her gaze without fear, knowing full well that in this palace, the Empress was the biggest boss, with power so great that she could cover the sky. She absolutely could not offend her and had to perform well in front of her, win her favor, and cling to this most powerful figure.
She smiled, a smile as warm as the spring sunshine that could melt away all ice and snow, and bowed respectfully to the Empress. The Empress nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in her eyes, as if to say, "This girl is quite interesting! She has potential; perhaps she will amount to something great in the future."
A concubine, seemingly speaking up for her, was actually putting her in a difficult position, hoping to make her the target of everyone's ire. Luo Qingci knew exactly what was going on, but her face remained impassive. She even smiled and thanked the concubine, saying, "Qingyan thanks Your Majesty! May Your Majesty remain forever young and forever receive Your Majesty's grace!" Her tone was as sweet as honey, making one's heart flutter and feel sweet to the core.
Consort Shu said sarcastically from the side, "To receive the Emperor's eternal favor? That's too early! With three thousand beauties in the harem, how can the Emperor possibly manage? Do you think the Emperor is made of iron and can take care of you? Don't dream about it." Her tone was sour, like she had drunk a jar of vinegar, so sour that it could make people faint, and you could smell the sourness from ten miles away.
Luo Qingci wasn't angry. She responded calmly and respectfully, "What you sisters say is true. I'm new here and don't know the rules. Please bear with me." Her attitude was so humble that no one could find fault with her. In her heart, however, she was cursing all of them: "Hmph, none of them are any good. Just wait and see, they'll see."
Seeing the situation getting out of control, the Empress, like a stern homeroom teacher, spoke up to stop it: "Alright, that's enough! Consort Yan is a newcomer, it's normal that she doesn't know the rules, don't bully her. There's plenty of time in the future, we should all support each other. Stop arguing, can't watching the performance shut you up? Anyone who's too idle, go to the Buddhist hall after the performance and copy Buddhist scriptures a hundred times to pray for the Emperor's well-being!"
The voice was steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority, as if saying, "You all better behave yourselves and stop causing trouble here, or you'll regret it."
Upon hearing this, everyone instantly fell silent as if struck by a silencing spell. Even those who were dissatisfied dared not show it and responded in unison, "We respectfully obey Her Majesty the Empress's decree! Long live Her Majesty!" Their voices were as orderly as those of well-trained soldiers.
Consort Shu outwardly agreed, but inwardly she was thinking about how to overthrow the Empress and take the highest position. Her ambition was so great that it could hardly contain itself.
Looking at her arrogant demeanor, Luo Qingci silently mourned for her in her heart: "Just keep acting like this, no zuo no die, let's see how long you can be so arrogant! When the Empress deals with you, you'll have your day to cry! Don't regret it then, begging and pleading won't help, you won't even know how to cry properly."
His eyes were filled with schadenfreude, as if he was looking forward to watching a grand spectacle, waiting to see the day when Consort Shu would fall from grace.
Just then, Consort Shu suddenly shivered, feeling a chill creep up her spine, making her shiver uncontrollably. She looked around and met Luo Qingci's fleeting, wicked smile.
When she looked again, Luo Qingci had returned to her respectful demeanor, as if nothing had happened. Consort Shu rubbed her eyes, thinking she was hallucinating: "I've been too tired lately, even hallucinating. How could this be? I must be overthinking it! Could I be being watched by a ghost?"
Seeing her like this, Luo Qingci secretly chuckled to herself: "Scared, aren't you? This is just an appetizer. You'll be in for a world of hurt later! Once I expose all your secrets, let's see how you'll survive in this palace! I'll make sure you're completely disgraced, with nowhere to cry, and become a laughingstock for the whole world."
The talent show was over, but Luo Qingci knew that her path to revenge had only just begun. Like a cheetah lurking in the shadows, she was poised to strike, waiting for the perfect moment to deliver a fatal blow to her enemy.
She believed that as long as she remained calm and rational enough, she would be able to successfully take revenge and bring those who had hurt her and her family to justice.
In this dark harem, she will shine with her own light, become a true powerhouse, firmly grasp her destiny in her own hands, and let everyone know that she is not a soft persimmon to be bullied, but a queen who can control life and death!