Chapter 269 Humiliation

Consort Yu stood before the carved window of her bedchamber, seemingly calm as she gazed at the scenery outside, but in reality, she was filled with anxiety.

Many of the decorative items in the room had been smashed and replaced with new ones. The broken porcelain on the floor had been cleaned up, but the wet wipe marks were still visible.

The palace servants stood in the corner like quails, not daring to breathe.

Has Qingdai returned?

In the silent hall, Consort Yu's voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, Qingdai has not returned yet," the palace maid replied softly, suppressing her fear.

Consort Yu strode to the chaise lounge, flicked her long sleeves, and sat down: "Bring me a cup of honey water."

Soon the honey water, served in a glass cup, was presented.

Consort Yu picked up the glass cup, took a sip, and then dropped it on the ground.

The expensive glass cup shattered instantly, and the honey water spilled out.

"I wanted lychee honey, what have you served me?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me!" The palace maid immediately begged for forgiveness, not daring to argue that Consort Yu had recently said that the lychee honey was too sweet.

"Lick up the honey water on the ground."

The palace maid stiffly raised her eyes, then quickly lowered them again: "Yes..."

As the palace maid lay on the ground licking the honey water directly with her mouth, a palace servant came to report: "Your Highness, Qingdai has returned."

Consort Yu rose and walked towards the inner room: "Let her in to see me."

Qingdai walked in, glanced at the palace maid who was still lying on the ground, and silently went into the inner room.

"Your Majesty, your servant has returned."

Upon returning to Yuchen Palace from outside the palace, when Qingdai bowed to Consort Yu, her calm and composed demeanor vanished, replaced by submissiveness.

Even though she knew that the person in front of her was a pawn controlled by her brother, after spending so much time in this magnificent palace and getting used to Consort Yu's domineering and arrogant attitude of treating people like ants, she often felt uneasy.

Can this piece really be held firmly indefinitely without backfiring?

This unease made it difficult for her to treat Consort Yu with the attitude of a player in a game of chess; her outward submissiveness was not entirely a pretense.

"Did you get it?" Consort Yu asked directly.

"Got it."

Consort Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, saying, "Thank you for your hard work."

She didn't ask Qingfeng if he had any message to pass on, but reached out and took the medicine bottle, caressing it tenderly.

Qingdai then said, "My brother is investigating the matter of the roasted duck from yesterday."

"Hmm," Consort Yu replied perfunctorily.

Qingdai moved her lips slightly.

Isn't Consort Yu worried that yesterday's events weren't an accident?

Consort Yu glanced at Qingdai and sneered inwardly.

What does she have to worry about? If something happens outside the palace, Qingfeng will be more anxious than anyone else.

"Step down."

Qingdai curtsied and withdrew.

Consort Yu carefully stored the antidote in a secret compartment, lay down on her bed and fell asleep, sleeping until nearly dusk.

"Go ask if Qiuheng has confessed."

The eunuch who went to the inner prison to inquire soon returned and reported: "Your Majesty, Eunuch Xue said that Qiu Heng has not yet confessed."

"Is Xue Quan perhaps afraid that his adopted son will blame him, so he went easy on him during the interrogation?" Consort Yu blew on her long fingernails.

Naturally, no one dared to respond to that.

Emperor Jingping arrived at Yuchen Palace and dined with Consort Yu.

"My beloved concubine seems to be in a bad mood. Has someone upset her?"

"I've heard that Qiu Heng has never confessed."

"I will not easily admit to the crime of murder. My dear consort, do not worry. Tomorrow I will have Xue Quan keep a close eye on things." Emperor Jingping's mood was completely unaffected by this matter.

Xijiang is embroiled in internal strife, but today another report arrived that the situation in the southeast has improved somewhat. Compared to these matters of great importance concerning the fate of the nation, the murder of a palace maid by a young girl is insignificant. Once the trial is over, she will be punished or executed as appropriate.

"I'm not in a hurry to get the results of the interrogation, but I'm a little unaccustomed to not having Fang Rui serving me all of a sudden. The thought of Fang Rui being killed by Qiu Heng makes me feel sad."

"Then what can be done to make my beloved concubine feel better?" Emperor Jingping asked affectionately, embracing Consort Yu.

"If Qiu Heng could serve me instead of Fang Rui, I could finally vent my anger." Consort Yu rested her chin on Emperor Jingping's shoulder, her eyes full of seductive charm. "Qiu Heng doesn't respect me at all, that's why she dared to commit such a thing in Yu Chen Palace."

"It's her good fortune that she, a prisoner, can serve my beloved concubine," Emperor Jingping said casually.

With Emperor Jingping's words, as soon as he left, Consort Yu confidently ordered, "Go to the inner prison and bring Qiu Heng to me."

"The Imperial Concubine wishes to see Qiu Heng?" Xue Quan was taken aback upon hearing the eunuch's message.

Why are people who have already been locked up in the inner prison suddenly being taken away again?

"Her Majesty said that the person will be sent back in less than an hour."

Xue Quan couldn't refuse, so he went to the inner prison to see Qiu Heng in person.

"The Imperial Concubine wishes to see you; you'd better pray for good fortune."

"Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Xue."

Xue Quan curled his lip.

He had no intention of giving a kind reminder; he was just making a special trip so that if Qiu Heng was killed by Consort Yu tonight, he could tell his adopted son that he hadn't turned a blind eye, thus avoiding damaging their father-son relationship.

The night was deep, the palaces were numerous, and the stars were sparse and the moon was cold in the mid-spring night sky. Dawn was still a long way off.

The fragrance permeated the Jade Palace; it was a plum blossom scent that Qiu Heng had taught Consort Yu to blend, named "Spring Tidings in Snow."

The winter snow has melted, and spring has arrived.

Despite the fragrant aroma filling the room, Qiu Heng's heart was heavy with frost and snow.

At this moment, Consort Yu summoned her from the inner prison, where a trap was clearly set for her.

"Your Majesty, Qiu Heng has arrived."

The eunuch who brought Qiu Heng gave her a push: "Why haven't you paid your respects to the Imperial Concubine yet?"

Qiu Heng did not resist, but knelt down and bowed, saying, "Qiu Heng greets Your Highness, the Noble Consort."

Consort Yu leaned languidly against the chaise longue, a faint smile playing on her lips, but her eyes were colder than the crisp fragrance of plum blossoms.

"Miss Qiu spent the night in prison, and she still looks radiant. No wonder she just spent time in Dali Temple prison."

Hearing Consort Yu's sarcasm, Qiu Heng remained calm: "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness."

A compliment?

Consort Yu's anxiety about the antidote and her sleepless night made her particularly dislike Qiu Heng's calm and composed demeanor.

Given all this, how can you remain so calm and composed?

Do you know why I summoned you here?

"This humble woman does not know."

"You killed Fang Rui. I have the patience to wait for you to confess and submit to the law. But in the meantime, you will have to take over Fang Rui's job."

Before Qiu Heng could speak, Consort Yu raised a finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture, her tone carrying a warning: "Don't try to use clever words to shirk responsibility. I'm already annoyed. If I'm unhappy, it won't be as simple as just taking over Fang Rui's work."

"This subject understands."

"Since you know that, let's get to work."

As soon as Consort Yu finished speaking, four palace maids entered.

The first palace maid carried a basin of water, the second carried a tray containing bath beans, perfume, and scented cream, and the third carried a tray with several hand towels stacked on it.

The last palace maid, empty-handed, knelt beside Consort Yu and gently rolled up her trouser leg.

Consort Yu lifted her foot and placed it into the basin of water, looking at Qiu Heng with a half-smile: "Sixth Miss Qiu, do you know what you're about to do?"

(End of this chapter)