klisemfg Chapter 116 Trouble Comes from the Mouth
Chapter 116 Trouble Comes from the Mouth
"No one is allowed to spread this news! Otherwise, they will bear the consequences!"
Lin Qing's shrill voice echoed in the hall, and the palace servants responded in trembling voices, not daring to say anything more.
Empress Wang glanced at everyone present. She had never lost her composure like this since entering the palace. It seemed that these people could not be allowed to live.
"Your Majesty, what should I do now..." Lu Mingzhu's cheeks were streaked with tears, and her voice was very hoarse.
She was originally a woman of the Lu family, and had a cousin who was the Grand Secretary. If she had followed the rules and behaved herself in the palace, no matter how unfavored she was, she would not have ended up like this today.
But now, her path has come to an end. Her parents, who still hope she will bring glory to the family and surpass the eldest son's family, will eventually give up on their daughter.
"What else can we do but return to the palace to visit the emperor?" Empress Wang rubbed her temples, clearly exhausted.
Pei Yuanling didn't get enough rest yesterday, and neither did she.
"Sister Lu, don't be discouraged. His Majesty is still angry. You are beautiful. If you perform well when you return to the palace, you will still have a chance to win his favor." Empress Wang was afraid that she would cause any more trouble at this time, so she had to say a few words to comfort her.
Upon hearing this, Lu Mingzhu's eyes flashed with resentment, but she still obediently curtsied and said, "Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty. I will certainly obey your decree and repent sincerely after returning to the palace."
"Alas, if it weren't for that Consort Qiao, you wouldn't have suffered such a terrible fate." A dark glint flashed in Empress Wang's eyes, her words carrying a hidden meaning.
Upon hearing this, Lu Mingzhu's resentment became even more pronounced, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "She's just taking advantage of her resemblance to the late Consort to dare to monopolize His Majesty."
If it weren't for Qiao Qingyin yesterday, she would have already won His Majesty's heart; she was just a hair's breadth away...
She couldn't help but clench her sleeves. This Qiao Qingyin had been competing with her in every way before she even entered the palace. She would make Qiao Qingyin pay back a hundredfold for the humiliation she suffered today!
Empress Wang sat upright and noticed the jealousy on Lu Mingzhu's face. The corners of her rosy lips couldn't help but curl up slightly.
That evening, Lu Mingzhu was sent back to the palace in a dilapidated carriage.
Empress Wang returned to her palace wearily, pondering her next move.
In any case, that Rejuvenation Pill can no longer be used.
The inner palace appears calm on the surface, but in reality, it is fraught with hidden dangers. Consort Qiao is currently deeply favored by the Emperor and has repeatedly opposed her. If she is not eliminated soon, she will surely become a major threat.
As for Lu Mingzhu, she is now completely useless. It's better to spare her life for now, as she may be useful in the future and become a pawn in balancing the various forces.
Before that, we need to find a way to completely control her and prevent her from having any second thoughts.
Deep within the imperial palace, beside a secluded waterside pavilion.
A pretty woman was wearing a long-sleeved dress made of fragrant cloud gauze, which fluttered in the wind like waves, and looked very beautiful.
This person was Qin Rong'er. She was holding a dish of fish food in her slender hands and feeding the koi in the pond, which were plump and round from eating.
The fish in the pond leaped out of the water one by one to fight for the little food, resulting in them getting bloodied and bruised.
A maid dressed in a light green palace gown stood to one side, serving them; the two of them were the only ones in the pavilion.
"Your Majesty, Consort Lu has been sent back to the palace. According to the maid who came back to report, several basins of bloody water were brought out of Consort Lu's residence last night, and she almost couldn't be saved."
Consort Qin's personal maid was named Yun Shan. She had been by Consort Qin's side since she entered the palace and was extremely loyal.
At this moment, Yunshan recounted the information she had gathered in great detail.
The clearer the explanation, the more alarming it becomes.
If they obeyed Empress Wang's wishes, then Consort Lu's fate would be the same as their own.
Consort Qin did not have an elder brother who was the chief minister, and even her father was just a civil official in a remote border region with no powerful backing.
Qin Rong'er was able to get to this point entirely because she was extremely careful.
"His Majesty left Consort Qiao's residence early this morning to question her. He originally intended to execute Consort Lu, but the Empress pleaded for her life, which saved her life." Yun Shan said, still feeling lingering fear.
Qin Rong'er remained calm, as if she had known all along. She gently sprinkled a handful of fish food, watching the koi in the pond scramble for it, and a faint smile appeared on her lips: "In this harem, it has always been like this, it's either you die or I live."
She gazed wistfully into the distance, where the palace walls appeared even more solemn under the sunlight. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the strands of hair at her temples to sway softly, adding to her graceful beauty.
"Lu Mingzhu brought this upon herself, trying to win favor through such means. But His Majesty is not so easily fooled."
"Your Majesty is right." Yun Shan nodded: "That Consort Lu usually acted arrogantly in the palace because she had a cousin who was the Grand Secretary. Now she has ended up like this, which is her own fault."
Qin Rong'er nodded slightly, her fingers gently fiddling with the fish food dish in her hand. "It's a pity that I've shifted the blame this time, completely angering the Empress. I wonder how she will treat me in the future..."
Yun Shan looked at Qin Rong'er with concern, "Now that Consort Qiao is favored and the Empress's intentions are unpredictable, our lives will probably only become more and more difficult."
Upon hearing this, Qin Rong'er remained silent for a long time.
She was the only high-ranking concubine in the palace who wasn't from a prestigious family, making her life extremely difficult in this cutthroat world. But precisely because of her unremarkable background, the Emperor didn't have to be constantly on guard against her.
Right now, the most important thing is to have a child of her own so that she can truly stand on her own two feet.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but raise her hand to her lower abdomen. This time, the Empress used the imperial heir as bait to lure her in; what about next time?
Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, Yunshan quickly went to her side and gently massaged her shoulders. "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry too much. You are blessed with good fortune and will surely turn misfortune into good luck."
Blessed with abundant fortune?
Qin Rong'er's lips twitched slightly, and she glanced down at the koi in the pond. How was she any different from these creatures that needed to be fed?
Is it really a good thing to fight tooth and nail for some so-called divine favor?
Qin Rong'er closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, enjoying this moment of tranquility. "I hope so."
"But that Consort Lu is really stupid. She knew that Her Majesty the Empress was using her as a scapegoat, but she still blindly ran into it." Yun Shan couldn't help but speak her mind.
As expected, he received a glare from his own wife: "What did I tell you? You're not allowed to gossip about the other ladies in the palace. Have you forgotten the saying that trouble comes from the mouth?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Shan's expression flashed with a hint of annoyance, and she pleaded, "This servant knows she was wrong."
It was only because the place was open and deserted that she dared to speak so freely, but she was still afraid that someone might be overheard.
Qin Rong'er gently shook her head, stood up, and walked to the edge of the pool again: "Never mind, let's not talk about this."
The most urgent task is to figure out how to deal with Empress Wang.