vrcanaries Chapter 1786: Seemingly a clean getaway, but in reality, all has been lost.
Chapter 1786: Seemingly a clean getaway, but in reality, all has been lost.
"But the Imperial Noble Consort... the Imperial Noble Consort clearly knew, she knew!"
"After I joined forces with the Imperial Noble Consort to bring down Liu Ruyan, I told her that I suspected Zhuang Yumin was the one who killed my child!"
"Over the years, I have watched the Imperial Noble Consort rise to where she is today. She brought down Xiao Yueying, Liu Shiqing... and eliminated one rival after another."
"I thought...I thought the Imperial Noble Consort would help me."
"I thought she hated Zhuang Yumin just as much as I did! I thought she would press her advantage today and crush Zhuang Yumin completely!"
"But what about her?!"
It wasn't hard to detect the anger of betrayal in Consort Kang's tone: "When Consort Xuan pressed for answers, the Imperial Noble Consort stopped her..."
"The Imperial Noble Consort just stood by and watched as Xiao Caizi spouted nonsense and Zhuang Yumin got away with it!"
"Caiju, tell me, did the Imperial Noble Consort do this on purpose? Is she trying to get back at me because she can't stand seeing me have it easy?!"
Caiju said in a panic, "Your Majesty, be careful what you say!"
She pressed down hard on Consort Kang's hand, finally pulling her back from the brink of madness.
Consort Kang stared blankly at Caiju, then suddenly came to her senses.
What was I just saying...?
The Imperial Noble Consort, holding the Phoenix Seal and managing the affairs of the six palaces, is about to become Empress. She carries the destiny of a blessed star in her womb and is the Emperor's most beloved. With just a single word, she could be utterly destroyed…
And just now, she was actually speaking ill of the Imperial Noble Consort…
Consort Kang closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes again, she was much calmer: "Caiju, what I just said..."
"I didn't hear anything!"
Caiju immediately replied, "Your Majesty didn't say anything just now!"
Consort Kang looked at her, her eyes reddening again.
Perhaps only Caiju truly cared for her in this world.
"you're right."
"I shouldn't have said those things..."
"What the Imperial Noble Consort does is her business. What right do I have to blame her?"
Consort Kang's voice gradually lowered, but her eyes were filled with resentment...
Caiju shook her head: "Your Majesty, please don't say that. You're just too excited today."
Concubine Kang smiled bitterly.
Excited?
She's going crazy!
After enduring and scheming for so long, thinking that today I could finally get what I wanted, what happened?
Zhuang Yumin returned to Changchun Palace unharmed and resumed her status as a Noble Consort. Aside from being confined to her quarters, she received no other punishment.
Seeing that Consort Kang had gradually calmed down, Caiju said worriedly, "Your Highness, after this incident, Consort Zhuang knows that your past allegiance was all fake."
"Given her personality, she will surely retaliate against us for accusing us like that before the Emperor today..."
Consort Kang, in a fit of despair, said, "Let them take revenge then."
"Zhuang Yumin has been confined to Changchun Palace, and Zhuang Yurou has been banished to the Cold Palace. They are both in dire straits themselves, how could they possibly retaliate against me?"
Caiju cried out anxiously, "Your Majesty, you must not let your guard down!"
"Consort Zhuang wields considerable influence in the palace; even if she's confined to her quarters, she has plenty of ways to deal with it..."
Consort Kang said self-deprecatingly, "So what?"
"The worst outcome is simply going back to the old days."
……
Changchun Palace.
The inner room contained only Consort Zhuang, Xiao Caizi, and Ruoji.
Xiao Cai still feels a lingering sense of fear...
In today's situation, he was running around, coordinating testimonies, finding people, and passing on messages, walking a tightrope at every step.
If he's not careful, he could be the one in the Imperial Prison right now!
But it was done in the end!
"...Your Majesty, today was truly a close call."
Xiao Cai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "Fortunately, this servant has arranged everything properly according to Your Majesty's instructions."
"Although...although Consort Mei was sacrificed, in the end, it was a close call."
"Your Majesty, you are still the Imperial Concubine!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Cai looked at Consort Zhuang with a fawning expression, waiting for her praise.
Ruoji stood silently to the side, her eyes lowered.
Consort Zhuang's face was very ugly, and her eyes narrowed slightly: "Little Cai, do you really think I have won today?"
Xiao Cai was stunned: "This servant is foolish, Your Majesty means..."
Consort Zhuang offered no explanation.
On the surface, she seems to have had nothing to do today.
Zhuang Yurou took the blame for everything and was banished to the cold palace.
She remained calmly seated in her position as a concubine.
The lockdown is only temporary; once things calm down, you'll be able to go out one day.
But... is everything really alright?
Consort Zhuang closed her eyes.
She may appear to have escaped unscathed today, but in reality, she has lost everything...
How could the Imperial Noble Consort not want to fight?
How many old grudges and new feuds, how many life-or-death calculations lie between them?
The Imperial Noble Consort only knew when to fight and when to back down.
Consort Zhuang looked at Xiao Caizi and asked bitterly, "Do you think His Majesty believed those words today?"
Xiao Caizi was taken aback: "Your Majesty... Of course Your Majesty believes it."
"The imperial decree has been issued, and Consort Mei has confessed her guilt. This matter is now closed."
Consort Zhuang sneered: "Given the crimes Yu Rou committed, even death would not have been an exaggeration. Yet His Majesty merely deposed her and banished her to the Cold Palace."
Do you know why?
Xiao Cai's forehead began to sweat again: "Because...because His Majesty is benevolent?"
Consort Zhuang shook her head: "His Majesty is the least likely person in the world to be merciful."
Ruoji pursed her lips: "Because His Majesty knows that Zhuang Shuren is not the real culprit, but he is unwilling to investigate further."
"His Majesty spared Zhuang's life in order to bring this turmoil to a close."
Xiao Cai's face paled slightly: "Then...then will His Majesty...?"
Consort Zhuang's mood grew increasingly heavy.
His Majesty did not punish her today not because he trusted her, but because he was thinking of the Zhuang family and his father.
But from now on, how much weight will she hold in His Majesty's heart?
Consort Zhuang suddenly remembered many years ago.
She entered the palace as a concubine.
His Majesty was not particularly close to her, but he never neglected her either.
Every time he came to her room, he would bring a little something. Sometimes it was a box of pastries, sometimes a hairpin, and sometimes a book she liked to read.
On one occasion, she asked him, "Why is Your Highness so kind to me?"
He said, "The concubine is the daughter of the Grand Tutor. The Grand Tutor has been incredibly kind to me, so I should treat you well in return."
At that time, Consort Zhuang was still young and did not understand the weight of those words.
Now she understands.
In those years, His Majesty's kindness towards her was never because of her as a person, but simply because her surname was Zhuang.
Respect, dignity, and occasional tenderness are reserved for the Zhuang family, not for Zhuang Yumin.
What she did today has probably exhausted even the last bit of affection His Majesty had left...
Consort Zhuang closed her eyes.
Can she still hope for the empress position?
In His Majesty's heart, she may already be sentenced to death...
Seeing Consort Zhuang's state, Xiao Caizi was both anxious and panicked: "Your Majesty, please don't lose heart!"