Emperor Mingxian stared at Consort Sun with a grim face. This Consort Sun had repeatedly caused him trouble, and each time her offenses were more serious than the last, making him lose face. And what kind of day was this? If word got out, it would be that the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty couldn't even protect his own flesh and blood. Where would he put his face? Now, Emperor Mingxian felt more resentment than pity for Consort Sun: "Guards, take all the servants of Mingxiang Palace away and interrogate them separately!"
Consort Sun's face turned deathly pale: "Your Majesty, I'm innocent!" She kept crying out her innocence, but in reality, her heart was clenching with fear. She thought she had done things very discreetly, but things had come to this point, and she dared not claim complete innocence. The physical evidence was overwhelming; if there were even one more witness, she would have no chance of escaping. Consort Sun was frantic, almost running around in circles. But everyone in her palace had been arrested; she could easily pull some strings now. She was truly burning with anxiety!
While being supported by Baili Chen, Ouyang Yue looked at Consort Sun with a cold smile. Consort Sun probably didn't know that all of this was part of her plan. Even Consort Sun's actions today were within Ouyang Yue's consideration. If she wanted to, Consort Sun would definitely not be able to escape a serious crime today.
Previously, Ouyang Yue discovered that the palace maid had switched her purse, so she deliberately switched it with Baili Jing's. No one knows how much effort she put in to figure out the color of the purse Baili Jing was using today, and she deliberately switched the two purses to incite the Empress and Consort Sun to confront each other. These two would fight to the death for their own safety, while she, in the eyes of others, was just an outsider, a spectator!
Today, she will make Consort Sun suffer the consequences of her actions and die without a doubt!
A moment later, when Fu Shun pulled Qi Mama and the four palace maids of Consort Sun along, Consort Sun's expression changed drastically. Fu Shun suddenly shouted at Qi Mama and the others, who knelt down in fright, their faces pale. They were terrified. No one knew that Fu Shun had treated these people like this before, but judging from their appearance, it was probably unimaginable. Fu Shun's expression remained as indifferent as ever, but there was a fierce glint in her eyes. Others might not care, but the palace maids led by Qi Mama trembled all over. Then they heard Fu Shun's shrill voice command: "Tell me everything you know!"
At the same time, several capable palace servants from Mingxiang Palace, led by Granny Qi, trembled with fright. Ouyang Yue noticed that the way these people were kneeling on the ground was a bit strange; they seemed unable to lift their waists. She couldn't help but glance at them thoughtfully.
Hongyu was the first to break out in a cold sweat, trembling as she said, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, it was Consort Gui who... instructed me to find someone to replace the harmful items we found. It was all Consort Gui's doing, and I dared not disobey..."
"Yes... the Imperial Concubine even... instructed me to switch Princess Chen's purse... and then frame Princess Chen, it was all the Imperial Concubine's fault..." Hongxiu, standing to the side, pressed her hands to the ground, trembling uncontrollably, utterly terrified. These old palace maids were used to all sorts of things in the palace, what could have frightened them so much, and why they knew but remained silent? It was truly puzzling. The only thing was certain: the methods of the Grand Eunuch Fushun were absolutely ruthless!
"This old servant, this old servant knows nothing." Even Granny Qi was pale with fear. Consort Sun suddenly turned ashen-faced and collapsed on the ground, still unable to understand what was going on, why there were so many variables, and why!
Upon hearing this, Emperor Mingxian was furious. He roared through gritted teeth, "Guards, seize Consort Sun!" His fierce appearance instantly made Consort Sun's scalp tingle, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her from head to toe. Her whole body was cold and trembling, and a chill rose from the soles of her feet, causing her to tremble with fear!
☆、206、Kill her!
"Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, spare my life... Your Majesty!" Seeing the expressionless guards approaching, Consort Sun was terrified and completely lost her composure. If before she had relied on Emperor Mingxian's favor over the years and selectively ignored the evidence found, now that her personal servants were all testifying against her, even if Emperor Mingxian loved her and wanted to let her go, he couldn't possibly risk being seen as immoral and unworthy to let her go in front of so many people. Only now was Consort Sun truly afraid.
"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please have mercy! I will never dare to do it again, Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." Consort Sun collapsed to the ground, her beautiful face shimmering with endless pitiful grievances. Her jade-like face was filled with tears, like pear blossoms in the rain. Even though Consort Sun was no longer young, the fact that she had been favored by Emperor Mingxian for so many years, and the charm she possessed, was unmatched by most. It was hard for any man not to feel pity for her when he saw her like this.
A cold glint flashed in Emperor Mingxian's eyes, but he asked the Empress, "As the head of the palace, how do you think Consort Sun should be dealt with in this matter?"
The Empress stiffened, a hint of panic flashing across her face. It seemed Emperor Mingxian still harbored resentment about the spices he had found on Baili Jing and in her room. After all, these two spices could eventually trigger a nerve-stimulating substance. Given the Empress's personality and Baili Jing's caution, she wouldn't keep such harmful things by her side unless, for one reason, they harbored ill intentions. Even if they didn't succeed this time, they probably planned to harm others elsewhere. It's likely that the Empress and Baili Jing weren't entirely innocent either.
Emperor Mingxian's actions were a test of the Empress. Although he was not certain, as the emperor of a country, he would not allow me to harm his woman under his nose, and it was no different since this person was his wife!
The Empress was shocked, but her face remained solemn as she looked at Consort Sun kneeling on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Sun has served you diligently for many years, but this time she has gone too far. Not only has she harmed two royal heirs, but Consort Liu Wanyi has also… Consort Yun and I have known each other for many years. She is a kind woman who dislikes fighting and competing. I'm afraid she will never be able to conceive again after this incident. If we let Consort Sun go because of this, wouldn't that be unfair to them? I think that since Consort Sun's matter has been exposed, why not take this opportunity to investigate her? If Consort Sun is otherwise innocent, perhaps we can reduce her punishment in consideration of her years of dedication." Only reduce her punishment, not completely forgive her. And could Consort Sun possibly be innocent? Let alone her, anyone who enters the palace and becomes Emperor Mingxian's woman—what innocent person is there? Everyone harbors a devil in their heart; how could they possibly be innocent?
The Empress's move was clearly a roundabout tactic; she was not going to confront Emperor Mingxian directly, but she would certainly not let Consort Sun off the hook.
Consort Sun's expression changed: "Your Majesty, don't you understand me? How could I do such a thing? I'm afraid some people will take this opportunity to retaliate, Your Majesty. I'm afraid that after this incident, I will never have the chance to see Your Majesty again. Even as a ghost, I will be filled with resentment!"
The Empress looked coldly at Consort Sun. Consort Sun's words clearly indicated that if this matter fell into the Empress's hands, she would certainly not let her off easily. However, they had been fighting for many years and were mortal enemies. If the Empress were to do this, there must be some shady dealings involved, and Consort Sun would be wronged.
Emperor Mingxian looked at Consort Sun quietly, and finally said, "Very well, I will leave this matter to the Empress. I hope that the Empress will give me a satisfactory answer in the future."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in my mission." However, the Empress's expression was not relaxed at all. She was not sure how Emperor Mingxian intended to deal with Consort Sun. Was he going to let her go on purpose, or was he going to use this opportunity to get her killed? As the saying goes, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. The Empress's heart was pounding.
Neither Consort Liu nor Consort Yun were Emperor Mingxian's favorites. This time, Emperor Mingxian's new favorite, Consort Zhaoyan, was only slightly frightened but otherwise unaffected. If Emperor Mingxian was angry, it would only be because the child hadn't been born. Consort Liu and Consort Yun probably didn't care much. If that's the case, Emperor Mingxian's resentment shouldn't be too great. However, this was also a way to truly strike at Consort Sun. If Emperor Mingxian didn't want Consort Sun to die, would she really let her go? Was she foolish enough to wait for Consort Sun to rise again and become her enemy?!
The Empress's eyes gradually narrowed, her expression becoming cold and indifferent, making it impossible to discern her true feelings.
Baili Chen stroked Ouyang Yue, sitting beside her and observing coldly. It seemed that there was going to be a fierce battle in the palace soon, so they would just have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, Emperor Mingxian was about to order the suppression of Consort Sun, who was arguing and begging for mercy. Then, news came that the Holy King of Miaojiang had gone to the main hall. Emperor Mingxian naturally went there with the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and others. Among the crowd were Princess Shuangxia, Xuanyuan Chaohua, and others. Cheng Shi from the Ministry of War's residence and Li Rushuang also rushed over, and Liu Shi also joined in.
"Yue'er, you didn't even know you were pregnant. You're being too reckless. What if something goes wrong? You should have consulted the imperial physician at Prince Chen's residence as soon as you felt any discomfort," Princess Shuangxia said disapprovingly.
Ouyang Yue had only felt occasional discomfort in her stomach these past few days, and it was hard for her to connect this to pregnancy. When she was pregnant with Ouyang Su, the feeling was completely different from now, so she couldn't have imagined these things. Xuan Yuan Chaohua, holding Ouyang Yue's hand, quickly looked her over and said, "Yue'er, you don't look well. Were you frightened earlier? Why don't you ask the Emperor for permission to go back to the Chen Prince's residence to rest?"
Upon hearing this, Baili Chen nodded repeatedly: "Brother-in-law is right. It's really not good for my wife to stay here. Let's go and see her."
Princess Shuangxia naturally did not object: "Alright, I will go and ask the Emperor for permission."
Ouyang Yue watched these people talking one after another, somewhat speechless, and couldn't help but chime in, "Grandmother, brother, Your Highness, do you think I'm as weak as a paper doll, that I'd collapse with a single breath? I know my own body very well. Right now, Father is probably still angry about Consort Sun, Consort Liu, and Consort Yun. If we go to ask for permission now, who knows what Father will think? Besides, I'm very strong, and I even know some martial arts. Most people are no match for me, so don't worry."
Princess Shuangxia wanted to persuade her further, but seeing Ouyang Yue's pleading eyes, she could only sigh helplessly: "You promised your grandmother that you wouldn't be reckless, and if you feel unwell anywhere, you must tell her immediately. You absolutely cannot let yourself have any problems."
Ouyang Yue smiled and nodded, "Grandmother is the best. Don't worry, Grandmother. I'm not stupid. I know what's best for me and I won't let anything happen to me."
Princess Shuangxia glanced helplessly at Ouyang Yue. The group chatted and laughed as they walked towards the banquet hall. Li Rushuang and the others were speechless, but genuinely worried for Ouyang Yue. A married woman's best support is a child. Ouyang Yue hadn't conceived in so long, and although no one had brought it up, they were quite concerned. Royal family ties were often weak; without a powerful backer, even if Baili Chen was behaving well, what would others know? They would still worry about Ouyang Yue's future position. Besides, Consort Sun and Baili Lianxiang had already caused such a disturbance; if someone else were to quietly produce a boy, it would be extremely troublesome.
Not far away, by the shade of a willow tree, a man dressed in a pink shirt leaned against the tree, quietly watching Ouyang Yue leave, surrounded by admirers.
"Why don't you go and congratulate me?" A male voice suddenly rang out. Leng Caiwen knew who it was without turning around: "The scenery here is nice. I'd like to stay a little longer."
Dai Yu was the Minister of Rites, so he naturally wore court robes when he entered the palace to attend the banquet. Seeing Leng Caiwen's somewhat dejected face, he couldn't help but reach out and pat him on the shoulder: "Go on over quickly, or people will become suspicious."
Leng Caiwen smiled, but to Dai Yu, the smile seemed bitter: "Dai Yu, you gave yourself a woman's name, so why are you a man? Otherwise, wouldn't we be a perfect pair?"
Dai Yu's sympathy suddenly shifted, and she looked coldly at Leng Caiwen. Seeing that the latter was smiling on the surface, but there was no smile in his eyes, Dai Yu couldn't vent her anger for a moment. Dai Yu was never a difficult person to talk to, so she could only remain silent.
Leng Caiwen's somber voice drifted over: "Dai Yu, have you ever regretted it? I regret it terribly now!"
A thought flashed through Dai Yu's mind: regret. Regret what? He had always prioritized his career, and had no time for such personal matters. But Leng Caiwen's words suddenly conjured up a beautiful figure in his mind, fleeting and elusive, even he couldn't grasp it. Leng Caiwen clenched her fist: "Why couldn't I have been more serious back then? If I hadn't just watched with interest, things would definitely be different now. My cousin might even be carrying my child!"
Dai Yu's expression suddenly changed: "Caiwen, shut up!" This is the imperial palace, and one must be very careful with what one says. If Leng Caiwen's words were to spread, it would not only damage his own reputation but also put Ouyang Yue in danger. If someone with ulterior motives were to spread them, no one would be able to escape unscathed.
Leng Caiwen's face was grim, and he naturally knew that he had said something wrong, but he closed his eyes and remained silent. Dai Yu pulled him and said, "Don't look so dead. Cheer up and go to the main hall, or someone will really suspect you." Then Dai Yu pulled Leng Caiwen away.
After the two had completely disappeared into the distance, a person suddenly appeared behind them. This person was dressed in purple. She looked at Leng Caiwen and Dai Yu's departing figures thoughtfully, and then disappeared again in a few flashes.
In the banquet hall, the Miao King was on a tour, and Emperor Mingxian showed great enthusiasm. The Miao King sat in the first position on the left, not in his usual red robe, but in an elaborate and luxurious black brocade robe, which complemented the enchanting patterns on his face even more. The unmarried young ladies were captivated and unable to extricate themselves.
The most noble man in the Great Zhou Dynasty was undoubtedly Emperor Mingxian, but he was already old, and the other princes were also getting on in years. Even if any of them entered the palace and bore a son, they would likely struggle to compete with the other princes, and their chances of gaining favor would be slim. Without any benefit, who would waste their prime years in the palace with an old man? All the princes had now left the palace to establish their own residences. The Crown Prince, the future heir apparent, was undoubtedly the best candidate, but the deaths of two of his consorts made people wonder if there was something fishy about his residence, or if the Crown Prince was somehow destined to lose his wives. The other princes had also been betrothed. The fifth prince, Prince Baili Jian, who was initially considered the most promising, was dead, and Consort Sun had committed a crime, so he was largely ignored. Baili Chen had the most prominent reputation, but unfortunately, Princess Ouyang Yue, of high birth and now pregnant, would only cause trouble if she sought it out.
Thinking about it this way, the most esteemed person in this hall must be the Holy King of Miao. Miao, in terms of both national strength and area, is far inferior to the Great Zhou Dynasty, yet this Holy King is the most powerful person in Miao. Even if his country is weak, he is still a king above kings. Moreover, this Holy King always possesses an enigmatic quality that is utterly captivating. The young ladies from noble families, abandoning all restraint, constantly flirted and posed, hoping to attract the Holy King's attention.
Meanwhile, the Miao King was slowly swirling the wine in his white jade cup, a faint smile playing on his lips. His eyes swept across Ouyang Yue's body, then down to her stomach, his smile surprisingly pleased!
Ouyang Yue suddenly felt as if she were being stared at by a wolf. She looked up and saw the Miao Jiang Holy King looking at her with a meaningful smile. Ouyang Yue's heart tightened, and she lowered her eyes slightly, ignoring him.
The banquet didn't last long. The Miao King left under the pretext of resting, and Emperor Mingxian naturally had no desire to stay any longer. Before leaving, he simply said to the Empress, "I'll leave Consort Sun's affairs to you."
The Empress responded repeatedly, watching the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the others leave, but her eyes grew serious.
Since no one had expected Ouyang Yue to be pregnant when they arrived, Princess Shuangxia was worried that the carriage would be uncomfortable for her as they were leaving the palace. The first three months were a time when one had to be extremely careful and could not afford any mistakes. So she sent people to prepare the carriage. Baili Chen was also very worried and wanted to accompany her, but Li Rushuang volunteered to go with her, and Baili Chen also went to make arrangements.
Li Rushuang held Ouyang Yue's hand, her face beaming with excitement: "That's wonderful, Yue'er! You're pregnant now, no one dares to mess with you easily. You can finally have some peace and quiet for a while." In Li Rushuang's mind, Ouyang Yue's pregnancy meant she had a huge support system. Anyone who messed with her now would be asking for trouble. Ouyang Yue smiled faintly, but in reality, she was the one who was most intimidated at this time. This was Emperor Mingxian's first grandson. If it was a girl, it would be fine, but if it was a boy, the significance would be extraordinary.
Ouyang Yue knew perfectly well that there was a 99% chance the baby in her belly was Su'er, a boy. Although the two of them no longer had their former telepathic connection, it was probably because the baby hadn't fully formed yet. But she would never lose Su'er again. Ouyang Yue gently stroked her belly. Li Rushuang stared wide-eyed at Ouyang Yue, who was dressed in a royal robe, luxurious, elegant, and dignified. Her beautiful face now possessed a gentleness that emanated from within, even her usually cold and sharp eyes were softened, as if she were a radiant being. Li Rushuang had heard that pregnant women possessed a unique charm—a maternal love. Now, Li Rushuang seemed to understand, and suddenly felt a pang of envy for Ouyang Yue.
"Ouch! That hurts!" Just then, a strange sound suddenly rang out in the small garden where Ouyang Yue and Li Rushuang were. Li Rushuang, Dongxue, and several other servants all looked a little nervous. Li Rushuang clenched her fists: "Who! Who's there! Come out!"
There was silence for a while. Li Rushuang frowned, turned around, and said to her two maids, "Yue'er, you stay here and don't run around. I'll go take a look."
Before long, Li Rushuang left. The other maids, sent by Princess Shuangxia and Baili Chen, surrounded Ouyang Yue, fearing something might happen. Just then, a dark shadow flashed before their eyes, and the maids' eyes glazed over. Dongxue was startled and quickly flew to block it, but the dark shadow deliberately entangled Dongxue. After a few rounds, the two were thrown ten meters away.
Ouyang Yue covered her stomach with both hands, her eyes turning cold: "Who is it? Stop playing tricks and come out." At this moment, the maids protecting Ouyang Yue were all stunned and had no ability to protect her at all.
A black figure slowly approached. A gentle breeze was blowing, and the man's black robe and hair formed two elegant, flowing arcs, making him truly handsome. However, to Ouyang Yue, he seemed inexplicably ghostly. She coldly looked at the man in black and said, "The Holy King of Miao Jiang deliberately lured everyone away. What do you want to say?"
The Miao King walked leisurely, but his speed was strangely fast. In no time, he stood in front of Ouyang Yue. His bewitching face had an indescribable charm, but Ouyang Yue found him extremely dangerous. She looked at the Miao King warily, and there seemed to be a hint of a smile in his wicked eyes. He said, "I haven't congratulated Princess Chen on her pregnancy yet."
"You're too kind, Holy King." Ouyang Yue's expression became even more indifferent as she coldly looked at the Holy King of Miao Jiang.
The Miao King was not angry. He looked at Ouyang Yue with a strange and meaningful look in his eyes: "In the blink of an eye, you have become such a beauty. You are even more beautiful than your mother was back then."
Ouyang Yue's expression changed, and she squinted at the Miao Jiang Holy King, hesitating to speak for a moment. However, the Miao Jiang Holy King said in a very approachable manner, "Princess Consort Chen probably doesn't know my real name." Ouyang Yue's expression became even more suspicious, and then she heard the Miao Jiang Holy King slowly speak, his voice carrying a distant tone, "My name is Yu Xiaoyao!"
Ouyang Yuexin's heart tightened suddenly, and a blurry thought flashed through her mind. However, the thought vanished in an instant, and she couldn't even grasp it herself. She even doubted whether the thought had ever really existed.
The Miao King smiled and said, "Princess Consort Chen, there are no more than three people in the world who know my name. This is our destiny!" After saying that, the Miao King turned and left. Ouyang Yue's heart stirred, and she hurriedly asked, "May I ask how old the Holy King is?"
The Miao Jiang Holy King's voice was somewhat distant: "Twenty-five!" Then the voice disappeared. As soon as the Miao Jiang Holy King left, Li Rushuang, along with her servants and Dongxue, rushed over.
Li Rushuang hurriedly said, "Yue'er, are you alright? It's strange, I heard a sound just now, and when I ran to see, there was no one there. I don't know who was playing a prank."
Dongxue looked at Ouyang Yue with a nervous expression. Ouyang Yue gave her a reassuring look, and Dongxue took a slight breath, but her expression became even more serious. Ouyang Yue couldn't help but think of the name Yu Xiaoyao. For some reason, whenever she thought of this name, she felt a tremor in her heart. Could this Yu Xiaoyao have some kind of relationship with her mother, Leng Yuyan? But if he wasn't lying, he was only twenty-five years old. How could he, who was only a few years old at the time, have any relationship with Leng Yuyan? And judging from the way he spoke, he seemed to know her very well?!
A growing sense of unease settled in Ouyang Yue's mind. She remained quiet throughout the journey back to the Chen Prince's residence. Baili Chen, having heard about it from Dongxue, wore a somewhat stern expression but refrained from asking outside. As soon as they entered the house, Baili Chen embraced Ouyang Yue, asking, "Yue'er, who did you see earlier? Were you in any danger?"
Ouyang Yue looked at Baili Chen, but for a moment she didn't know where to begin...
Meanwhile, on the other side, as soon as the palace banquet ended, the Empress, with her men, imprisoned Consort Sun in a small courtyard near the Cold Palace. The Cold Palace was the most eerie and resentful place in the palace, where many concubines and maids died throughout the year, and it was always rumored to be haunted. The surrounding area had long been designated with protective stone statues, and only those who had committed offenses were allowed to enter. Consort Sun had not yet been punished, so entering the Cold Palace was against the rules, and the Empress had her brought there.
The courtyard was completely bare, devoid of any flowers or plants. It was just a small, cramped courtyard, usually used as a resting place for those passing through the Cold Palace who brought food or vegetables and stopped during rain. However, none of the palace maids or eunuchs wanted to linger near the Cold Palace, so over time, no one paid any attention to it. It was clear that the Empress had ordered some cleaning before she arrived, as there was no dust on the surface. However, inside the house, there was nothing but a table and two chairs. At this moment, the Empress sat arrogantly in her chair, looking at Consort Sun, who was being heavily pressed to the ground and whose face was pale with pain. She felt a surge of anger and satisfaction.
When Consort Sun first entered the palace, she gained the favor of Emperor Mingxian and rose through the ranks rapidly. Before long, she was almost on par with Consort Sun. Relying on the Sun family's backing and Emperor Mingxian's affection, she didn't even put Consort Sun in her eyes. Baili Jian even wanted to compete with Baili Cheng for the throne. The Empress had dreamed countless times about how Consort Sun would be punished in this way. And now, this day had actually come. She was so interested that she didn't know where to start!
Seeing the excitement flashing across the Empress's face, Consort Sun gritted her teeth and said, "Lin Wan, don't be too happy yet. The Emperor sent you to interrogate me because he doesn't trust you. What kind of good person do you think you are? All these years you've been unable to win the Emperor's favor, so you're incredibly jealous of me. Don't you even know who among you is my match? If you act recklessly today, the Emperor will surely get justice for me in the future."
The Empress's face darkened, and she looked at Consort Sun with a cold smile: "Sun Qu, don't try to scare me. You're about to die, and you think you can intimidate me just because of the Emperor? Do you really think the Emperor truly dotes on you? If he truly did, would he let us fight without caring? Sun Qu, Sun Qu, you're so naive. Do you really think that just because you have a seductive and alluring face, all the men in the world will go crazy for you? Who do you think he is? The palace is never short of beauties. Even if you die, there's still Fen Yan, isn't there?"
Consort Sun sneered: "That Fenyan is my person. If you harm me today, your fate will be the same as mine in the future."
The Empress looked at Consort Sun with a mocking expression: "Sun Qu, do you think you've kept your actions so secret? Do you think I don't know who Fen Yan is? She's someone who killed your father. Do you think she would turn against me for your sake?"
Consort Sun's eyes flashed, but her expression remained unchanged: "Lin Wan, don't try to intimidate me with your words. You just want to pile up charges against me, right? But don't think too simply. I am Consort Sun, a major backer of the Sun family. They will find a way to rescue me now. The Sun family is mainly composed of military officials, and the Emperor needs one of the most assistance right now. The Emperor will not offend them casually."
The Empress laughed heartily: "Won't offend them? Would the Emperor be afraid? He sent me to interrogate you just to make the two palaces fight to the death so he can reap the benefits!"
Consort Sun's expression changed, and she shook her head, saying, "No, His Majesty's favor over the years is not fake. I can see it clearly. His Majesty will not give up on me like this."
The Empress continued to provoke: "Consort Sun, do you think the Sun family, which is one of the five great families of the Great Zhou, is composed of fools? You committed the crime of harming a royal heir. Even if the Emperor dotes on you to the heavens, he will never forgive you if he doesn't want to be condemned as a tyrant. However, he doesn't want to directly offend the Sun family, so he has brought me, his mortal enemy, to interrogate you. Oh, let me think, what might the Sun family be doing now? If it were me, what they would do is quickly find someone talented and beautiful to enter the palace and win the Emperor's favor. Perhaps the Emperor feels guilty because of your death and will transfer his affection to that newcomer. Sun Qu, tell me, who will the Sun family send to the palace next?"
Consort Sun turned pale, because she knew that everything the Empress said was true.
Having grown up in such a family, Consort Sun knew very well that the imperial family was the most ruthless place, and these wealthy and powerful families were hardly places of deep kinship. When they brought her into the palace, the Sun family had already taught her, both openly and secretly, how to compete for favor and how to be cold and ruthless. She was nothing more than a pawn in the Sun family's game. It was just that no one dared to offend her because she was in that position, not even her own parents dared to be disrespectful to her. She had forgotten that what they truly feared was not necessarily her, but rather the pawn favored by the emperor.
Consort Sun suddenly felt an overwhelming desolation. She suddenly recalled her youth, when she was brought into the palace by a carriage through a side gate. Embarrassed and bewildered, she sat stiffly inside, too afraid to lift the curtain due to protocol. At that time, she felt the palace was truly vast, so vast that she had no idea where it ended. She didn't know how long it had been before it finally stopped, and she was led away by the chief eunuch. She only dared to keep her head down, staring at her toes. Back then, she was just an innocent young girl. Then she saw the sky of her life: the young and handsome Emperor, radiating an aura of nobility. This was the man she would serve. From that moment on, she was no longer afraid.
This man did not disappoint her. He doted on her, treating her with the utmost care and affection, which gradually made her lose herself in his love. Later, she became pregnant with Baili Jian and then Baili Le. For a time, she was the most popular woman in the palace. Even the Empress, who had given birth to the Crown Prince, did not dare to treat her too badly in public. She always thought she was the most favored woman in the harem.
Was all of this just a ploy in the end? She couldn't believe it!
"Lin Wan, do you think I don't know what you're thinking? You're old and faded, you can no longer win the Emperor's favor, and your methods of pleasing men are far inferior to mine. You've always been jealous of me. The Emperor may have other intentions, but so what? You're still being used obediently. You want to settle personal scores, so why say all this useless stuff? Just do what you want. I don't believe the Emperor has no feelings for me at all, and I don't believe you can gain his complete trust after today. Lin Wan, you know better than anyone how you entered the palace. You've always thought yourself dignified and virtuous, haha, that was just deceiving those who didn't know the truth." Consort Sun looked at the Empress, whose face had changed drastically, with a mocking expression. "Lin Wan, you are the person I find most disgusting. All these years you've wanted to compete with the deceased Empress Bai. You think you're worthy! Although I don't like Empress Bai either, if it comes to competing, I'm determined to compete with you to the death." "I wouldn't do that if it were Empress Bai, and I know why. You're like mud that can't be plastered on a wall, or an old dog that can't guard a door. Your imitation is utterly incomparable. That was the true mother of the nation, a woman of unparalleled virtue, not someone like you, petty and scheming, plotting and harming others to win the Emperor's favor. Haha, tell me, how many women have you secretly dealt with over the years who wanted to sleep with the Emperor? The more you do it, the more ridiculous you become. Who was it that shamelessly stripped naked and offered themselves to the Emperor while he was drunk? Hahaha, they were just imitating your shamelessness! You, the Empress, can do such things, so why are you afraid of others? Lin Wan, you are the most despicable woman I've ever seen. I, Sun Qu, do everything with integrity. I even openly express my jealousy. I'm a hundred times better than you, this hypocritical, shameless, and vile wretch! Lin Wan, don't even mention Empress Bai, you can't compare to her. You'll never be able to compare to me!"
The Empress's face darkened at Consort Sun's words, her eyes blazing like wildfire, her chest heaving with anger: "Sun Qu, you vile woman, shut your mouth!"
Consort Sun, however, burst into laughter: "Lin Wan, you can silence me, but can you silence everyone else here? Can you silence all the gossips in the harem? You filthy, shameless empress, you are secretly mocked by countless people for your despicable nature. Even if you silence others, you cannot stop them from cursing you in their hearts! You slut, you are despicable, even worse than a prostitute!"
The Empress suddenly laughed coldly: "Yes, despicable. The woman born of you, a despicable woman, is also despicable and shameless. You don't need to provoke me. If I couldn't even see through this little trick, wouldn't I have lived in vain? What right do you have to talk about me? Anyway, you're going to die today, so I might as well tell you some news." Consort Sun sneered, but when she saw the Empress reveal a strange smile, her heart skipped a beat. "Sun Qu, what good are you? Those who came from the Sun family early on are all extremely cold-blooded and indifferent. When the Emperor sent someone to escort Baili Le out of the capital, you didn't seriously look for her afterward. Wasn't it because you felt that Baili Le had no use anymore? You were also afraid that if you went to look for her, the Emperor would be displeased. You don't even care about the life or death of your own daughter. You are truly a competent consort!"
Consort Sun's face suddenly turned pale: "What do you mean by that? What have you done to Le'er?!"
The Empress's lips curled into a cold smile: "What's wrong? How could I do anything excessive to my own daughter? It's just that our Fifth Princess is lonely and bored, and now she spends her days indulging in pleasure with men, having too much fun to remember her homeland."
Consort Sun was shocked: "What do you mean? Where is Le'er? What have you done to her? Tell me quickly!"
The Empress said viciously, "Didn't I make myself clear? I never imagined that Princess Le was just as despicable as you, thinking only about how to seduce men every day, and willingly falling into prostitution to become a whore whom thousands of men would ride and thousands of men would avoid!"
Consort Sun trembled, her voice filled with shock and rage: "Lin Wan, you vile woman! How dare you harm Le'er like this! I'll kill you!" Consort Sun leaped high into the air, shouting as she reached out her sharp nails to scratch Lin Wan. The Empress waved her sleeve, and the men who had been holding Consort Sun down pounced on her and pinned her back down. Consort Sun was furious. "Lin Wan, you deserve a terrible death! You deserve to be struck by lightning! You deserve a terrible death! I wish I could tear you to pieces!" Baili Le was Consort Sun's child, born after ten months of her pregnancy. When Baili Le committed a grave crime, Consort Sun had been somewhat annoyed by her lack of restraint and had even considered keeping her under wraps for a while until things calmed down before seeing her again. She never imagined the Empress would dare to harm someone sent by the Emperor, and even dare to throw Baili Le into a brothel, making her the lowest of prostitutes!
Consort Sun was so angry that she felt every organ in her body tremble with rage. Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with an incomparably ferocious fury, as if she could bite someone to death with a single bite.
The Empress was startled by her appearance, but she suppressed her fear, her eyes filled with even greater madness and malice: "Sun Qu, you hate her, you have every right to hate her. If she hadn't been born from your womb, she would never have lived such a miserable life. She would still be a high and mighty princess, showered with love and affection. But now she's not even as good as an ordinary courtesan. Tsk tsk tsk, she was raised in luxury from childhood, and she was so beautiful. You should know how popular she would be in a brothel. She probably wouldn't be able to rest without twenty or thirty men a day. Tsk tsk tsk, and she looks very much like you, Sun Qu. Think about your childhood self, being touched by those filthy men's heads. Are you excited or disgusted now?"