Chapter 108 Hollow
Zeng was forced to kneel down. When she raised her head, she stared intently at the doorway, as if everything could return to normal once she stepped out of that door.
But the door was already closed.
Looking at her like this, Consort Wen felt sorry for her, but also felt that she deserved it.
Although Zeng Shi never harmed her, it was still worrying to have such a wicked person in the harem.
"You're not even bowing to Her Majesty?" A palace maid grabbed Zeng's head, about to slam her to the ground, and Consort Wen frowned at the sight.
She took a half step back, covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, glanced around, and said, "Alright, don't make a big commotion."
The palace maids then gave up upon hearing this, but still prevented Zeng from having any opportunity to contact Consort Wen.
"I've come to see you today for no other reason than that Consort Shu asked me to come and see you, since Consort Shu has received a lot of help from you in the past."
When she said she would help, she was not referring to the literal meaning. Although Zeng had committed many evils, Consort Shu had also used some tricks to get to her current position. However, now that there was no other consort in the harem besides her, the concubines who had chosen the right side and bet on the right horse were naturally more content.
Thinking of this, Consort Wen slowly said to Lady Zeng, "You're locked up here, so you shouldn't know what's going on in the palace."
"There is no longer a Consort Li in the palace, only a Noble Consort Li."
"She's the one who brought you to this state. Now I'll tell you the story, and I wonder if you'll be satisfied."
Seeing that Zeng Shi had stopped moving, and that she had been making a big fuss just now but was now completely still, it seemed that she had resigned herself to fate.
But she remained silent, which seemed a bit strange.
"And then there's Consort Zhen. She's already a Consort, and His Majesty is particularly fond of her, so he promoted her rank."
Seeing that Lady Zeng still didn't react, Consort Wen gave a look to the palace servants.
So Zeng's hair was grabbed and pulled down, forcing her face up. Zeng's eyes were full of resentment, but she kept her mouth tightly shut.
Consort Wen sensed something was wrong and ordered someone to pry her mouth open.
Seeing the empty, dark interior, she screamed in fright and turned her head away, gasping for breath.
When he came to his senses, he realized that Zeng's tongue had been cut off.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty—" A palace maid gently supported her from the side, her voice a little unsteady, also frightened by Zeng's appearance.
Consort Wen clenched her fists, thinking to herself: Even if Lady Zeng has entered the Cold Palace, it is not easy for ordinary people to see her. Just these two doors alone are difficult, not to mention the guards guarding outside.
That tongue... I wonder if His Majesty ordered it to be cut off?
Wen Zhaoyi patted her chest, unsure if she was right.
"You, let her go."
The palace servants hesitated for a moment, but when Consort Wen insisted, they stopped restraining Zeng.
Is Your Majesty ordering the cutting out of Zeng's tongue because she said something she shouldn't have?
The moment the palace maid released Zeng, she stood up and walked towards Consort Wen.
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but couldn't utter a single word. Her face was haggard, pale, dirty, and disheveled.
Suddenly, she grabbed Wen Zhaoyi's hand.
Consort Wen shuddered and instinctively tried to push her away, but Zhuzhi quickly stepped forward and pulled Zeng away.
But Zeng seemed to have boundless energy, holding onto Consort Wen's hand tightly and refusing to let go.
At this moment, the guards outside the door rushed over and, seeing the situation, stepped forward to pull the people apart. After a difficult separation, Zeng was still trying to go forward and say something.
Consort Wen was truly terrified. Seeing Zeng's crazed state, she dared not ask any more questions she wanted to ask.
The guards were also asking her to leave.
Consort Wen clenched her fists, turned around, and left the Cold Palace.
Sitting back down on the ceremonial regalia, she was still stunned, thinking about Zeng's appearance just now. She had been holding her hand the whole time, it seemed...
It seems like there are words written in her palm.
Consort Wen frowned in surprise, opened her palm to ponder, and then stretched out her other hand to trace strokes on her palm.
It was too chaotic at the time, and she could hardly remember what Zeng had written. What she wrote now was not a single word at all.
What did Zeng want to tell her?
Unfortunately, now that I've been there once, it will be difficult to get in again next time.
"Your Majesty, if Consort Shu finds out that you went to the Cold Palace..." Zhu Zhi spoke cautiously, afraid that others would overhear.
Consort Wen didn't take it seriously: "It's not a big deal. Perhaps Consort Shu also wants to see what happens to this down-on-his-luck person."
"By the way, go and find out if anyone from Taichen Palace went out today, and also about Yilan Palace." Although she already thought the person in the sedan chair was Lan Wu, if it wasn't Lan Wu, and someone else suddenly appeared to compete for Lan Wu's favor, they would be happy to see it.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
-
At this moment, the emperor's carriage had already arrived outside the palace.
Lan Wu didn't know where Chu Mingheng was taking her, but she felt at ease with Chu Mingheng by her side. After leaving the palace, she walked along quiet, sparsely populated roads, gradually heading towards the outskirts of the capital.
Unlike the bustling city Lan Wu had visited in her previous life, this was her first time in the outskirts of the imperial city.
The carriage gradually moved uphill, and soon came to flat ground again.
It stopped immediately.
There was a sound outside the carriage, an announcement had been made.
Lan Wu propped herself up, looked up at the curtain, and was about to go out when Chu Mingheng grabbed her waist and pulled her back.
"Put your cloak on, or you won't be able to go out if you catch a cold."
Lan Wu didn't mind and obediently put on the cloak, with Chu Mingheng even tying the sash for her.
She lifted the curtain first and glanced outside. Just then, a gust of wind blew in, almost blinding her.
Mu Jin helped her down from the carriage.
This is an open space, located on a mountain, yet it is also a flat area, so even the wind is stronger than usual.
As Lan Wu stepped off the carriage, a gust of wind blew her away, making her feel as if she were about to be blown away.
She was just being playful, lifting her foot and lowering her head to try walking forward.
But the wind comes in gusts, stopping for a while before starting again.
Chu Mingheng pulled her toward the pavilion that was sheltered from the wind.
Upon seeing the pavilion, Lan Wu realized that this was not some wild land, but rather royal territory.
The palace servants prepared a stove and hot tea in the pavilion, and also prepared various fruits and snacks on the side.
Lan Wu noticed the chestnuts and sweet potatoes on the plate.
"This should taste great when grilled."
Chu Mingheng glanced down.
A palace maid standing nearby laughed and said, "Your Majesty is right. These sweet potatoes are the sweetest. It would be quite fun if Your Majesty roasted them."
"Then put them all out." She picked out the roundest one, which wasn't very big, and placed it in the middle of the stove.
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