vrcanaries Chapter 1235 What can I do if I am unwilling?
Chapter 1235 What can I do if I am unwilling?
Changchun Palace.
In the main hall's warm room, the scent of sandalwood curls in the air, and the silver charcoal basin silently emits warmth.
Concubine Liang sat upright on the warm kang by the window, her posture still calm and dignified, twisting a string of warm Bodhi Buddhist beads in her hand.
Her fingertips moved slowly, and the beads rolled around, making a very rhythmic rustling sound, as if it could soothe all the restlessness in the world.
Ruoli stood aside with his head down, his face slightly pale, his fingers unconsciously twisting the handkerchief.
She observed Concubine Liang's expression and reported cautiously in a low voice, "Your Majesty, over at the Yikun Palace... His Majesty not only generously rewarded us with many precious medicinal herbs, but also... personally restored Concubine Dun's title..."
There was a subtle hint of confusion and fear in Ruoli's voice.
Concubine Liang twisted the Buddhist beads with her fingers and paused for a very slight moment.
This pause was so brief that it seemed like an illusion, and so fast that it was impossible to catch.
Then, the movements of her fingertips returned to normal, still unhurried, steady and calm.
Concubine Liang slowly raised her eyes, her gaze resting calmly on Ruoli. Her eyes were gentle and filled with sorrow, without a trace of anger, like a Bodhisattva showing compassion for all living beings: "Oh?"
"Sister Dunpin...it's a blessing in disguise."
Her tone was calm, without any emotion, as if she was just stating an ordinary matter.
Ruoli's heart suddenly tightened and his knees felt a little weak.
She forced herself to remain calm, her voice filled with apology: "It is this servant... This servant has failed to do her job well, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
"Although I followed your Majesty's wishes and made the Third Prince 'sick', he is, after all, your Majesty's eldest son and holds a very high status."
"This servant... This servant dares not be cruel to the Third Prince... I only hope that his illness will linger and cause trouble..."
"Who would have thought..."
Ruoli paused, a look of genuine shock and fear emerging on her face. "Who would have thought that after these days of treatment by the imperial doctors, the Third Prince would have recovered..."
"I never expected that Concubine Dun would be so cruel as to sacrifice her own flesh as bait!"
"This credit and reputation as a loving mother must belong to her!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty's mercy on me is understandable..."
Concubine Liang listened quietly, her face still showing that look of compassion.
She turned her gaze out the window, looking at the withered branches in the courtyard covered with a thin layer of snow, and said in a voice with a hint of sadness that came from a person's insight into the world: "Cutting flesh to cure an illness is truly moving!"
"It's just that... the Third Prince isn't actually Concubine Dun's blood relative. Her 'motherly love,' to the point of being so cruel, is a bit... a bit too deliberate."
Ruoli immediately understood what she meant and followed Concubine Liang's words, her tone filled with anger and disdain: "Your Majesty is right!"
"I also think that Concubine Dun has overacted!"
"The Third Prince isn't her biological son, so why would she be so cruel to him? Isn't it just... isn't it just for His Majesty to see?"
Ruoli curled her lips, her voice filled with disdain: "Look at this, what a great effect! Pearls, jade, treasures, noble titles... haven't they all been obtained!"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Liang sighed softly.
This sigh was long and heavy, as if carrying endless disappointment in the hypocritical world: "Yes..."
"For the sake of fame and His Majesty's favor, she's even willing to use her own flesh and blood as a bargaining chip. Concubine Dun... she's truly painstakingly scheming and incredibly hypocritical."
Ruoli's fingertips dug deep into her palms, her voice filled with reluctance and urgency: "My Lady, then... then are we just going to let this go?"
"Empress Dun has now gained His Majesty's compassion, but her hatred for Concubine Chen is at its peak!"
"How about I add more fuel to the fire and let her..."
Liang Fei sat still, her eyes fixed on the open scroll of the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra on the table. Her fingertips unconsciously brushed the edge of the paper. Her movements were still gentle, but there was an indescribable sluggishness.
“Remember, everything is excessive.”
Her voice was flat, emotionless, as if she were stating a truth that had nothing to do with her: "This was only possible because Concubine Chen was tied up by the New Year's Eve celebrations and had no time to spare."
"If you move now, wait until she has some free time..."
Concubine Liang's gaze finally shifted from the scriptures to Ruoli's face, which was slightly twisted with resentment.
Her eyes were calm, yet Ruoli instantly felt a chilling pressure: "With Concubine Chen's character and methods, how could she not investigate?"
Concubine Liang leaned back slightly, the intricate lotus pattern on the pillow framing her calm profile. "The feud between Concubine Dun and Concubine Chen has long been a deadlock. It's deeply rooted and no one is going to let it go at this moment."
"But the empress..."
Ruoli almost stamped her feet, her voice extremely anxious: "The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve!"
"Are we...are we just going to watch...watch Noble Consort Chen ascend to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort?"
Concubine Liang's fingers, which were resting on the edge of the sutra, curled up slightly, and her fingertips sank slightly into the soft rice paper.
The warm room was eerily quiet for a moment.
"Not reconciled?"
Her voice remained flat, even tinged with a self-deprecating sigh: "So what if I'm unwilling?"
Concubine Liang slowly raised her eyes, her gaze seemingly piercing through the thick palace walls as she gazed towards the Zhongcui Palace, a symbol of supreme honor and favor. A hint of forcibly suppressed coldness finally emanated from the depths of her eyes.
"Noble Concubine Chen has the Fourth Prince by her side, and he is the prince that His Majesty values the most."
"She assisted His Majesty in overthrowing the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion and eliminated a major threat to the Great Zhou. This is a great achievement."
"Everything is set in stone. Even the old stubborn people in the court can't say a word about it."
Every word that hit Ruoli also hit Concubine Liang's heart.
These words she said were not excuses, but cold facts.
The rise of Concubine Chen was no mere petty scramble for favor within the harem. Every step she took rested on the foundation of her achievements for the nation, a foundation so solid as to be despairing...
Liang Fei took a deep breath and forced herself to lower her eyes again, her gaze returning to the scroll of the Ksitigarbha Sutra, as if trying to draw a trace of false peace from the scriptures that saved people from suffering.
"Clean up your tail."
Her voice had returned to its usual calmness, yet it was colder than ice: "No trace of anything or anyone the Third Prince touched while he was ill... remain!"
Ruoli looked at Concubine Liang's calm silhouette and knew that it was too late. A huge sense of loss and resentment filled her heart.
She lowered her head deeply, her shoulders trembling slightly with unwillingness, and squeezed out a voice with difficulty: "...Yes. Your servant... obeys your command."
Ruoli retreated step by step and left the warm room with a heavy heart.
Only Concubine Liang was left inside.
She still maintained an upright sitting posture, her eyes fixed on the scriptures, as if she was reciting them devoutly.