"Daughter, don't worry, Her Majesty the Empress will protect you."
"Besides, even if Prince Zhen becomes the crown prince, he won't do anything to you."
The Prince of Zhen had just become the Crown Prince when his posthumous child was involved in an accident. What would outsiders think if word got out?
"But I'm still not reconciled."
Mengqing was heartbroken when suddenly a voice pleading for mercy came from the courtyard:
"Your Majesty, spare me! Spare me... Ah..."
The two peeked through the crack in the door and saw two palace maids being held down on the ground in the courtyard, while several eunuchs were slamming them down with boards.
At first, the two were begging for mercy, but soon their voices grew softer and eventually fell silent.
Meng Qing was terrified. Had the Empress killed someone with a cane again?
This wasn't the first time, but it was the first time two people had been beaten to death together.
"If you don't have to go out, then don't go out. If you don't have to talk, then don't talk. Understand?"
The Fifth Madam was also terrified; she felt once again how close death was to her.
Back when I lived with the Meng family, I was always on edge, but they never killed anyone.
Two palace maids were dragged away, leaving a long trail of blood on the ground.
Then someone else came over, carrying a bucket, and carefully wiped away the bloodstains on the ground.
Soon, the bloodstains disappeared, and the ground returned to its previous clean state.
Who could have imagined that just now, two vibrant lives were brutally killed?
...
"Crown Princess..."
When Yingchun saw Mengyao coming over, she flinched in fright.
She was afraid of being discovered by Mengyao, but she was still discovered.
She thought Mengyao would kill her, but in the end, she didn't die.
Her body was covered in wounds; her fingernails and toenails had been pulled out one by one, causing her excruciating pain.
She wanted to die, but Mengyao said that if she died, her family would suffer in her place.
All my family members.
Meanwhile, her family members watched from the next room, kneeling and begging her not to die, coldly watching her being tortured by Mengyao's people.
"Tell me, Yingchun, haven't I treated you well?"
Why did you betray me?
This wasn't the first time Mengyao had asked her this question, and she had told her the truth, but unfortunately, Mengyao wasn't satisfied.
Before tormenting her each day, she would ask the same question again. Yingchun wanted to cry but had no tears.
Today, Mengyao is holding a small, exquisite dagger. Yingchun remembers this dagger, or...
"Huh?" A sharp pain shot through his face as a dagger was pressed against it, drawing blood.
"Your Highness, I was truly confused for a moment..."
"Yeah?"
The dagger moved an inch closer, and the pain nearly made Yingchun faint.
She is in pain all over her body now, and she doesn't know what medicine the Crown Princess gave her.
"I……"
"Think it over before you speak."
The Crown Princess simply didn't believe that reason.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened."
The sudden noise outside startled Mengyao. She frowned, turned around, and asked with displeasure:
"What is it?"
"It's the Emperor! The Emperor has just issued an imperial edict: the new Crown Prince is Prince Zhen..."
Boom... Mengyao felt her vision go black. She knew that the crown prince was not usually replaced.
The Emperor's decree suggests that there is already definite news that the Crown Prince is dead.
"really?"
She still couldn't believe it.
"King Zhen?"
With a snap, the dagger fell to the ground, and Mengyao found it somewhat amusing. Who would have thought that, after all the twists and turns, the Crown Prince would become the Prince of Zhen?
If she hadn't... then the Princess Consort of Zhen would be mine now!
"Princess Consort Zhen is about to enter the capital. This is a rumor circulating outside. I have already sent people to inquire, and I heard that it was said by Prince Zhen himself."
Chu Xia knew what her mistress was thinking, but she also knew it was impossible. Prince Zhen would never marry their mistress.
"He really got married?" Mengyao still couldn't believe it.
"Your Majesty, Prince Zhen himself admitted it, so it shouldn't be false."
Who? Mengyao suddenly wanted to know who that person was. Who was so honored to have his approval?
"Keep inquiring! I need to know who that woman is!"
Mengyao's eyes were cold and gloomy; what she couldn't have, she wouldn't allow anyone else to have either.
Hmph, Prince Zhen, are you rejecting me because of that woman? No, I won't allow it.
Mengyao couldn't care less about tormenting Yingchun anymore. Before leaving, she said one last thing:
"I'm not playing with you today, I'm going to sever your tendons."
No sooner had she finished speaking than a servant stepped forward, pinned Yingchun down, and cruelly severed her tendons in her hands and feet.
"ah……"
Hearing the pitiful screams, Mengyao didn't stop walking away for a moment.
...
You bastard, you dared to betray me, this is what you get.
Chu Xia trembled beside Meng Yao. Ying Chun had been there even earlier than her. How much the Crown Princess used to dote on her, but now…
By the way, we need to change how we address her from now on; she's no longer the Crown Princess.
Mengyao went straight back to the Meng family home, where everyone was extremely anxious. Upon seeing Mengyao arrive, General Meng first led her to the study.
"Yaoyao, what do we do now? Do you have any plans?"
Now that Prince Zhen has become the crown prince, he certainly won't let the Meng family off the hook. They made their decision too quickly back then.
"Father, I disagreed from the start, but you insisted..."
Not long after Prince Zhen disappeared, the Crown Prince extended an olive branch, saying he wanted to marry her and make her his Crown Princess.
At that time, Mengyao was in a very bad mood, but the Crown Prince was gentle and considerate, constantly coaxing her. She thought the Crown Prince truly loved her, little did she know...
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