frightfiction Chapter 25: The Sequel to Consort Fucha (Part 25)
Chapter 25: The Sequel to Consort Fucha (Part 25)
The Empress secluded herself in the palace to recuperate from her injuries; the hidden reasons behind this were something that those clever people, with their keen insight, discovered.
They quickly understood and knew what was going on.
For those who already knew the Empress's true nature, their joy was indescribable.
Especially Consort Hua, who has always been arrogant and domineering, was openly overjoyed at this moment.
She made no attempt to hide her smugness, summoning Consort Cao and Consort Li to Yikun Palace.
They mocked the Empress's plight, their words filled with contempt and sarcasm, as if they wanted to trample the Empress's dignity underfoot.
After Su Peisheng publicly flogged a group of palace servants to death, the rumors about the Empress gradually subsided.
The bloody scene swept through the entire harem like a storm, silencing those who spread rumors.
Su Peisheng quickly investigated and found out which palace servants had spread the rumors.
At the same time, the Empress Dowager also sent Zhu Xi to investigate, as this rumor was targeting the Empress Dowager's niece, the Empress.
These rumors have already led to the Empress's imprisonment, and the Empress Dowager naturally cannot stand idly by.
However, to the utter surprise of both the chubby orange and the Empress Dowager,
The person who started this rumor was not actually a servant of Consort Hua's Yikun Palace.
The rumor began with an insignificant palace maid in the Empress Dowager's Shou Kang Palace.
She was usually cautious and worked quietly.
However, she had received a favor from Jixiang, the personal maid of Consort Duan, and kept it in mind.
This time, Jixiang asked this palace maid for help, asking her to pretend to be a palace maid from Yikun Palace and spread the word about what happened at Jingren Palace that night.
The palace maid disguised herself as Lingzhi from Yikun Palace and went to the Imperial Garden.
And so the palace maid embellished the story of what happened at Jingren Palace that night and spread it around.
Originally, the palace maid wanted to impersonate Songzhi, since Songzhi held a high position by Consort Hua's side.
If one could impersonate her, it might increase the credibility of the rumors.
But after much thought, she still felt that such a method was too obvious and easily discovered, so she could only use Lingzhi.
Unfortunately, after extensive investigation, it has been confirmed that Lingzhi never visited the Imperial Garden at that time.
Thus, the rumor, like a seed, once sown, began to spread throughout the palace.
The rumors spread unintentionally among the palace servants during casual conversations, and with the added instigation of some malicious individuals, the situation escalated.
Then Consort Hua and Consort Li believed the rumors and began to hate the Empress.
This added fuel to the fire of the rumors.
When Su Peisheng and Zhu Xi handed the results to Da Pang Ju and the Empress Dowager, their expressions were quite interesting.
In the eyes of the Empress Dowager, who was plump and fond of fighting, Consort Duan was a person who was indifferent to worldly affairs and disliked conflict.
Both the chubby orange and the Empress Dowager felt somewhat guilty about having Consort Duan deliver the harmful abortifacient to Consort Hua years ago.
That's why the fat orange cat showed special mercy and granted Consort Duan a rank of consort, in order to make up for the debt he felt in his heart.
However, this sudden rumor, like a thunderbolt, shattered their impression of Consort Duan.
This gave Da Pang Ju and the Empress Dowager a completely new understanding of Consort Duan.
Originally, the seemingly harmless Consort Duan, who only knew how to quietly spend her days, was in the eyes of the chubby orange cat.
They actually revealed their hideous side in this incident.
This time, Consort Duan had rumors spread about the Empress to frame Consort Hua, which clearly shows that she harbored resentment towards Consort Hua.
It must be said that the ability to hide one's true thoughts so well is truly remarkable.
For so many years, Consort Duan has always presented herself with an attitude of no complaint, which is truly admirable.
As the head of the harem, the Empress Dowager was naturally well-versed in the intrigues and power struggles within the palace.
She knew all too well that no one in the harem could truly remain completely uninvolved and refrain from vying for power.
Over the years, Consort Duan's frail health had made her subconsciously overlook the ambition that Consort Duan might be hiding in her heart.
But now it seems that she, Wuya Chengbi, who spent her days hunting geese, was pecked in the eye by one.
That Qi Yuebin was able to successfully plant spies in her Shou Kang Palace was undoubtedly a provocation to her.
It seems that Shou Kang Palace really needs a thorough cleaning.
Big Fat Orange even suspected that Su Peisheng might have made a mistake in his investigation.
But thinking about it, Su Peisheng couldn't be that useless, and then he would side with the Empress Dowager.
Big Fat Orange finally realized that Consort Duan was a scheming person.
Big Fat Orange felt deceived, and all the guilt he had felt towards Consort Duan vanished.
The thought that he had been so schemed against by Consort Duan made a ruthless glint in the eyes of the chubby orange cat.
He knew all too well that people in the harem were vying for power, but he never imagined that Consort Duan would be so cunning.
The gentle demeanor that Consort Duan had always displayed in front of him now seemed like a facade, filling him with immense anger and disappointment.
In the end, out of consideration for their past relationship, the chubby orange only demoted Consort Duan to the rank of Consort Duan and confined her to Yanqing Palace.
Consort Duan's personal maid was also beaten to death. No one knows what will happen to Consort Duan after losing her only confidante.
Consort Hua, Consort Jing, Consort Li, Noble Lady Cao, and Consort Xin were also confined to their quarters and punished according to palace rules.
Their confinement plunged the entire harem into a deathly silence.
The usual scenes of them bickering and vying for attention are gone, replaced by a dull atmosphere.
Everyone was secretly trying to figure out what the chubby orange was thinking, fearing they would be the next target of punishment.
Empress Fucha Peiyun, Zhen Huan, Shen Meizhuang, and others who did not participate in spreading the rumors all received a reward from the chubby orange.
This brought a sudden calm to the palace.
Fucha Peiyun was enjoying her pregnancy with great peace of mind, and was very satisfied with her actions this time.
The most inexplicable one had to be Qi Yuebin. She was peacefully hiding in Yanqing Palace when disaster struck unexpectedly.
She knew nothing about what happened at Gyeongin Palace that night, nor did she spread any rumors, but she was still caught up in the turmoil.
She simply couldn't understand who was behind this. If it was the Empress, she wouldn't have suffered such a double loss, harming the enemy as much as herself.
After all, she had never threatened her position, so the Empress had no reason to target this sickly woman.
Consort Hua hated her to the core, but she didn't have the means to do so; Consort Cao, who stood behind her, was far more cunning.
Could it be that Consort Cao instructed Consort Hua to do it? Consort Hua shouldn't be able to fool the Emperor and Empress Dowager.
As for the newcomers to the harem, some are not smart, some are not resourceful, and some are too naive.
Who else in the harem harbors ill will towards Qi Yuebin?
A chill seemed to spread from her heart to her whole body. Could there really be an enemy hiding in the shadows, unnoticed by her?
Moreover, the other party targeted her, while she knew nothing about this person.
Qi Yuebin had always believed that by staying in the shadows while the other concubines were exposed, she could secretly control the situation.
She could seize the opportunity to take revenge on Consort Hua.
However, it now seems that her previous revenge plans may never have a chance to come to fruition.
This adversary, lurking in endless darkness, is like a demon lying in wait beneath the abyss.
That person could suddenly appear at any moment and deliver a fatal blow, leaving her defenseless.
Qi Yuebin gazed silently at the Yanqing Hall, which was already showing signs of decay, his heart filled with desolation and bitterness.
The auspicious symbol that had accompanied her through countless years was no longer there.
It was as if she had taken away the last vestige of warmth and hope from her life.
At this moment, Qi Yuebin wondered in bewilderment how much longer he could live.
Consort Hua, Nian Shilan, was furious when she heard that she had been confined to her quarters for a month and required to copy palace rules a hundred times.
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms, but she was completely unaware of it.
No sooner had Su Peisheng left to deliver the imperial decree than Nian Shilan suddenly smashed a set of teacups, which she usually treasured, onto the ground.
The crisp cracking sound seemed to explode in the silent palace.
Each sound seemed to strike the hearts of the servants of Yikun Palace.
Seeing this, Songyi hurriedly stepped forward, anxiously trying to persuade her:
"Your Majesty, this month will pass quickly. Please don't upset yourself."
Think about it, it's better than that guy at Jingren Palace. He's supposed to be recuperating, but he's actually under house arrest, and we don't even know if he'll ever be able to get out.
Perhaps this is just the Emperor's temporary anger, and he will release Your Majesty soon.
"You still have Lord Nian, Lord Nian won't let Your Majesty suffer any injustice."
As Nian Shilan listened to Song Yi's words, her face, which had been contorted with anger, gradually softened.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, and the image of the Empress being imprisoned under the guise of recuperation involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
A sense of schadenfreude welled up inside me.
After all, the Empress, that old woman, was once the head of the six palaces, yet she has now fallen into such a state.
Although Nian Shilan suffered this punishment, it seemed less unacceptable compared to other punishments.
Thinking of this, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a smug smile, and she said softly:
"Yes, you're right. Compared to the old woman Empress who is imprisoned, I'm much better off."
The Emperor still values me the most, and besides, I have my brother.
Unlike the Empress's family, whose members are all useless good-for-nothings.
Upon seeing this, Songzhi hurriedly praised, "No one in the harem can compare to our Lady."
Nian Shilan proudly raised her head, her eyes gleaming with confidence, and replied haughtily, "That's right."
Songyi took out a bottle of ointment and carefully held the bottle. She lowered her eyes slightly, her gaze revealing a hint of concern and tenderness.
She gently dabbed a suitable amount of ointment with her finger and then slowly applied it to Nian Shilan's hand, every movement so meticulous and careful.
Her hand brushed against Nian Shilan's skin as gently as a feather, as if afraid of hurting her.
Songzhi continued, "Your Majesty, Consort Duan has been demoted to Consort Duan, and her personal maid, Jixiang, has been beaten to death."
The moment Songzhi said those words, all the unpleasant feelings she had felt earlier vanished like clouds scattered by a strong wind.
She secretly rejoiced, feeling that she had finally waited for this day.
"Is this news really true? Qi Yuebin has finally gotten what she deserved!"
The Emperor finally saw through that vile woman's true colors and was no longer deceived by her.
Haha, I am absolutely overjoyed right now!