Chapter 34 A Miserable Death? She Tried It
The news of Narcissus's pregnancy caused a huge uproar in the imperial harem.
Overjoyed, Emperor Zhaoheng wished he could move the entire Imperial Household Department to Chengming Hall.
The number of servants more than doubled, and rare tonics, fine silks and satins were delivered in a continuous stream, filling Chengming Hall with all sorts of rewards.
According to palace rules, concubines and above could occupy a principal position in a palace and have their own independent palace.
Emperor Zhaoheng enthusiastically allowed Shuixian to choose a palace she liked, preparing for her to move there in grand style to match her current status as Consort Jin.
However, Narcissus unexpectedly declined.
In the warm chamber of Chengming Palace, she nestled in Emperor Zhaoheng's arms, her gentle voice revealing her worry about the war:
"Your Majesty's favor is deeply appreciated. However... the war in the north is still raging, and our soldiers are fighting valiantly on the battlefield. The national treasury must be strained. If I were to move the palace now, it would inevitably lead to large-scale construction projects, wasting money and resources. Moreover,"
She stroked her still flat stomach, a happy smile on her face. "I'm used to living in Chengming Palace, and I like the tranquility here. As long as Your Majesty comes to visit me and the child often, it doesn't matter where I live."
Isn't it just pretending to be virtuous? Yi Guichun was good at it, and now Shui Xian is even better at it.
These words of profound wisdom indeed pleased Emperor Zhaoheng greatly.
He held Narcissus tightly, feeling that she was perfect in every way, and that everything about her pleased him.
"Good fairy! My Consort Jin is indeed sensible and considerate of the big picture! I will grant your request! Chengming Palace it is, I will have the Imperial Household Department renovate and furnish it properly, so that you can live comfortably!"
These days, Emperor Zhaoheng has been staying at Chengming Palace almost every day, eating and sleeping with Shui Xian.
His expectations for the heir were almost overflowing.
The previous dynasty was also greatly shaken by this.
Those court officials who once remonstrated with the emperor because of his favoritism towards Narcissus have now tacitly kept their mouths shut.
When an emperor suddenly has a son, the country has a successor. What could be more stabilizing for the court and calming the people's hearts than this?
Of course, this may also be due to the fact that Yi Ming (Yi Guichun's father) was being relentlessly pursued by the Ruan family (Li Guifei's family) and that all the Yi faction officials were in a state of fear.
On the surface, the inner palace was peaceful, and congratulations to Consort Jin on her pregnancy were heard everywhere.
However, beneath the calm surface, the undercurrents are incredibly turbulent.
On this day, while Emperor Zhaoheng was at the front court meeting, Shui Xian changed into a simple palace dress, took silver beads with her, and stepped into the gate of Changxin Palace.
Just a few days ago, Changxin Palace was bustling and lively, but now it was eerily quiet, like an abandoned palace.
The courtyard was piled high with fallen leaves, untouched by anyone. The once bustling main hall gate was now tightly shut, even locked, making it appear all the more desolate and forlorn.
Narcissus turned her gaze to the east side hall.
There, another person lives... Consort Rong.
Just days before Yi Guichun's incident, Consort Rong had happily moved into the East Annex of Changxin Palace.
Although those of the rank of Consort or above can occupy the principal position, unless they have extremely high imperial favor or a powerful background, Consorts often choose to live under the patronage of high-ranking concubines, so as to form an alliance with them and also to gain their favor.
Consort Rong finally managed to board Yi Guichun's seemingly sturdy ship, thinking she had finally made it through, but she never expected that the ship would sink as soon as she got on!
Since the previous dynasty began its intensive investigation into the Yi family's forgery of rare stones, Rong Shunchang (the father of Consort Rong) was imprisoned in the Dali Temple, and Consort Rong was also ordered by the emperor to be confined to her quarters pending the final investigation results.
Two burly eunuchs with expressionless faces stood guard at the entrance of the East Annex Hall, clearly sent by Emperor Zhaoheng to watch over Consort Rong.
Upon seeing the arrival of the newly appointed Consort Jin, Shui Xian, the two quickly bowed and paid their respects.
Narcissus gestured for Silver Pearl to step forward.
Yinzhu understood, took out two heavy brocade pouches from her sleeve, and stuffed them into the hands of the two eunuchs with a gentle smile on her face: "You two have worked hard. Our Lady is very considerate. Please take these small tokens and have a cup of hot wine to warm yourselves up."
The two eunuchs weighed the brocade pouch in their hands, and then looked at Consort Jin, who was currently enjoying the Emperor's favor. How could they dare to refuse?
Moreover, Consort Rong was merely a concubine whose crime was not yet determined and who had lost power, so guarding her was not a particularly important task.
The two exchanged a glance, their faces plastered with obsequious smiles: "Thank you for your kindness, Consort Jin! Your Highness is so kind, we are deeply grateful! Please, Your Highness, we... will go take a walk to clear our heads."
After saying that, the two put away the brocade pouch and tactfully retreated to the distant corridor, turning their backs.
Shui Xian nodded slightly, signaling Yin Zhu to stand guard outside the hall, while she herself pushed open the tightly closed door of the East Annex Hall alone.
The hall was dimly lit, seemingly unventilated, and filled with a stifling atmosphere.
Consort Rong sat listlessly in a round-backed chair, looking haggard with red and swollen eyes, clearly having had a very unpleasant time.
Hearing the door open, she suddenly looked up, her eyes blazing with hope... Could it be that the Emperor had sent someone to let her out? Or had her father smoothed things over?
However, when she saw that the person walking in against the light was none other than Narcissus's exquisitely beautiful face, her hope instantly turned into utter resentment!
"It's you?!" Consort Rong stood up abruptly, shouting hatefully, "Narcissus! You treacherous, ungrateful wretch! It was you! You must have framed Consort Qi! You vicious, venomous woman! You'll die a horrible death!"
May they die a horrible death?
Shui Xian stood quietly at the door, listening to Rong Pin's insults. She felt no ripples in her heart, and even wanted to laugh a little.
In her previous life, she was completely devoted and loyal, but what she received in return was Yi Guichun's betrayal, the humiliation in the brothel, and her tragic death.
Ah, in this life, no matter what her ultimate fate is, she must make sure that Yi Guichun goes before her!
Go and scout out the way for her in the underworld!
Seeing that Narcissus had no reaction, Consort Rong's resentment was overwhelming, and she spoke even more recklessly: "You think you've won?! You think you're safe just because you're pregnant with the emperor's child?!"
She sneered, pointing at Narcissus's belly: "Who knows whose bastard is you carrying?! The Emperor... how could he... You must have used some despicable means! You must have been having an affair with some wild man..."
Consort Rong was unaware of Narcissus's fertility.
A knowing, cold smile appeared in Narcissus's eyes.
Just as I expected.
How could Yi Guichun, that selfish and self-serving person who viewed her constitution as a tool, possibly tell such a secret to a pawn like Consort Rong?
Consort Rong's suspicions are probably also the doubts in the hearts of many people in the harem and even the court.
She had anticipated this basin of dirty water.
“Ha,” Narcissus finally spoke, her tone laced with undisguised sarcasm, “So… she didn’t tell you anything.”
She tilted her head slightly, observing Consort Rong's face, which had instantly frozen in place.
What Rongpin couldn't stand the most was that Shuixian's eyes actually showed pity for her!
She actually felt sorry for this lowly servant girl!
A strong sense of unease suddenly rose in Consort Rong's heart: "What...what do you mean? What didn't you tell me? What do you know?!"
Narcissus did not continue in the same vein.
She came today not to discuss her secrets with Consort Rong, but to completely extinguish Yi Guichun's last hope of turning the tables!
She slowly stepped forward, approaching Consort Rong, her voice extremely low: "What do I know? I know how your father, Rong Shunchang, a mere junior official in the Ministry of Works,... happened to discover that strange stone during the dredging of the Chuncheng River!"
Consort Rong's expression changed drastically, and her body involuntarily took a step back, crashing into a chair with a loud bang.
Shui Xian pressed on: "I also know that the stone was not a lucky omen from heaven at all! It was a carefully crafted forgery by your father on Yi Ming's orders! His purpose was to curry favor and help Yi Guichun consolidate his position, and even... plot to become empress!"
"No...no! You're lying! You're making baseless accusations!"
Consort Rong offered a frantic explanation, her outward appearance fierce but inwardly weak.
"Whether it's nonsense or not, you know best in your heart!"
Narcissus's voice was cool, full of warning: "The Yi family is on the verge of collapse, and Yi Ming is in dire straits! To escape punishment and to save the entire Yi family, what do you think he will do? He will shift all the blame onto your father! He will shift it onto your Rong family!"
Shui Xian stared intently at Consort Rong's wide, fear-filled eyes, relentlessly breaking down her psychological defenses:
"Deceiving the emperor and fabricating auspicious omens! Which of these isn't a capital offense punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the entire clan?! Consort Rong, guess what will happen to your Rong family when Yi Ming throws all the blame on them?"
"No...impossible! Lord Yi...Lord Yi wouldn't do that! He promised..."
Consort Rong's voice trembled uncontrollably. She denied it verbally, but the fear in her eyes betrayed her.
Who is Yi Ming? He's the kind of person who can climb to the high position of Inspector General. He's ruthless and heartless, and she knows him better than anyone!
The scene depicted by Narcissus is by no means an exaggeration!
Shui Xian scoffed, her eyes full of mockery. "Didn't Yi Guichun make enough promises to me back then? And what was the result? Consort Rong, stop deceiving yourself! The Yi family father and daughter have always treated your Rong family as pawns that can be discarded at any time!"
She watched as the last glimmer of light in Consort Rong's eyes was completely extinguished, leaving only boundless despair, and knew that the time had come.
Shui Xian softened her tone, even carrying an almost seductive quality: "I'm not here today to laugh at you. I'm here to show you, and the Rong family, a way out."
Consort Rong suddenly raised her head, as if a drowning person had grabbed onto the last piece of driftwood: "A way out? What way out?!"
Narcissus's gaze was unfathomable:
"It's very simple. Tell me everything you know about how Yi Ming instructed your father to forge auspicious stones, how the scheme was orchestrated, how he deceived the Emperor... everything, word for word!"
As long as the Rong family keeps pressing the Yi family, the Yi family will inevitably be destroyed, and then Yi Guichun will no longer be a threat!
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