Chapter 195 The Truth About the Harem (Part 2)

Upon hearing that Fang Jiayichun could swim, Mei Qiyue could no longer hold on and slumped into her chair. She wasn't a particularly scheming or calculating person to begin with, and Fang Jiayichun was the first person she had truly killed. In the dead of night, she was filled with unease and fear.

Yuan Yuxiu looked at her and smiled slightly: "I have to thank you for your gentle but ruthless ways, sister, for bringing me to where I am today. You used to brag to me about how favored the Second Prince was, how much Consort Duan valued you, and how much you cared about our past friendship."

"Your kindness is nothing more than standing by and watching me when I'm in trouble, and treating me like a speechless wooden doll when I need to vent my frustrations. You say you're good to me, but it's all just talk."

"I truly care about you..." Mei Qiyue's lips were pale as she tried to explain.

"Sincere? If I hadn't witnessed how Consort Hui treated Noble Lady Zhuang when she was down on her luck, I might have believed you were even slightly sincere. It's one thing to fool others, but don't fool yourself too."

If anyone had a grudge, it was Mei Qiyue. She resented Mei Qiyue the most, because Mei Qiyue pretended to treat her as a good sister, but in reality, she only used her as a way to pass the time and build an image.

"Actually, even though Consort Tongjia didn't ask me to sow discord between you and Consort Duan, you've been dissatisfied for a while now, haven't you? I wasn't really good at pretending, but you seemed oblivious and started complaining about Consort Duan along with what I said."

Yuan Yuxiu's gaze shifted to Consort Duan, Qi Yuebin, who was observing coldly: "Actually, Consort Duan is the smart one in the palace, isn't she? Do you really not know that it was Consort Ning who spread the news that you wanted to adopt the little princess? Or are you pretending not to know, taking the opportunity to distance yourself from this fool?"

"Your Majesty must have realized the hidden dangers in the harem. Otherwise, why would you suddenly fall into seclusion after getting the little princess, with your old illness recurring?"

Looking at the still calm Qi Yuebin, Yuan Yuxiu looked at Mei Qiyue with sarcasm: "So, from beginning to end, it was Consort Duan who abandoned you, sister. She thought that by clinging to the thigh of Consort Tongjia, she could rest easy and reach that supreme position. She thought she hid her ambition very well. Mei Qiyue, Mei Qiyue, who in this palace doesn't think of you as a joke!"

"you!"

Mei Qiyue was furious, but seeing Qi Yuebin's unchanging expression, her expression suddenly turned dejected.

"Don't rush, it's not just you. In the eyes of the Dowager Consort, I, Yuan Yuxiu, am also a joke."

Yuan Yuxiu chuckled self-deprecatingly: "This feeling of secretly scheming against people is so fascinating that I've lost sight of my own limitations. I forgot that only the dead can keep secrets. From the moment I used that so-called secret formula for conceiving a child, I was destined not to survive."

"The first two pregnancies were to create turmoil in the palace, while my pregnancy is the key for the Dowager to completely clean up the mess, uproot all of Ulanara's connections, smear the Empress, and reap the benefits."

"I thought she just wanted to follow Consort Wan's plan to harm me, scheme against Zhen Huan, seize Ulanara's weakness, and frame the Empress. Who knew that I thought I was the oriole, but in reality I was just a cicada released by Consort Tongjia. She wanted to use my death to solidify the Empress's crimes."

"But the Dowager Consort didn't expect that everything would be seen through by the Emperor, that my life would be saved, and that all your schemes would be in vain."

Yuan Yuxiu smiled as she looked at Consort Tongjia. In reality, no matter how hard she tried to save her, she wouldn't live much longer. The medicine was meant to nourish the child with the mother's blood and flesh. Once the child was born, the mother would reach the end of her life. One person was born and the other died; it was a predetermined ending.

She's only managing to stand here because of the rare treasures that keep her alive; she won't last much longer.

Consort Tongjia closed her eyes and said nothing.

"The Dowager Consort is so calm. Despite scheming so much and having so much blood on her hands, she seems unconcerned about anything. The Fourth and Fifth Princes' colds, the Second Princess's cough, the turmoil in the palace, the fire at the Imperial Hospital—aren't all these things things the Dowager Consort did to seize power?"

Consort Tongjia remained expressionless, but when she heard Yuan Yuxiu say that Consort Tongjia had also caused Garuda's cough, Nian Shilan's eyes turned sharp as knives, staring intently at her as if she wanted to skin her alive.

"Your Majesty, news has come from the Hall of Mental Cultivation that all the rebels have been executed, and the leader of the rebels, Tong Guowei, has been captured."

Upon hearing the news from the eunuch who rushed up, everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, and Yixiu even smiled. Only the Dowager Consort Tongjia, standing still, sighed softly, completely giving up hope.

"It's all about timing and fate."

After saying that, she bit open the poison sac hidden in her mouth in full view of everyone.

"Take her down!"

Seeing the blood flowing from the corner of Consort Tongjia's mouth, Yixiu stood up in shock. Before Jianqiu could get close, Consort Tongjia collapsed softly to the ground.

Gazing at the colorful glazed tile roof, Consort Tongjia's thoughts drifted away. It seemed that she had lived her whole life for the Tongjia clan. For the sake of the Tongjia clan, she entered the palace as Consort Tongjia, then became Consort Tongjia, and now she had become one of the rebels.

She had almost forgotten that she had a name. She wasn't called Tongjia Shi; she was called Hewan, Tongjia Hewan.

Tong Jia and Wan dedicated their lives to their families, so in the end, let her decide her own death...

“Your Majesty…” Jianqiu checked her breathing with a grim expression and shook her head at Yixiu.

Yixiu frowned, clearly not expecting the Dowager Consort Tongjia to be such a ruthless person, committing suicide so readily. Fortunately, it was all over; if it weren't for eliminating the trouble in the harem, she wouldn't have summoned them.

"Take him away. We'll deal with him after we've consulted the Emperor."

"Yes." Jianqiu accepted the order and directed several eunuchs to drag the body of Consort Tongjia away.

Yixiu looked at the concubines whose faces were all grim, sighed, and instructed, "My sisters now know the truth and should know what to say and what not to say. You may all go back now. Consort Ning will be temporarily confined to the side hall of Qixiang Palace and will be under the supervision of Consort Duan."

"Your Majesty the Empress..." Mei Qiyue was shocked, but no one cared about her thoughts.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey." Meeting Yi Xiu's stern gaze, knowing there was no way to escape, Qi Yuebin obediently agreed. Before, she didn't want to get involved, but now that things were serious, Mei Qiyue naturally had no choice but to stay obediently in the side hall.

"You may all leave. There has been unrest in the palace recently. If it is not necessary, please do not go out."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."

Everyone had left. Yixiu walked outside the palace, looked at the sky after the snow had cleared, and let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, it was all over...