Chapter 113 The Imperial Concubine Returns!
Ruan Huan is sick.
Since being suddenly demoted to the rank of Consort, and her family being exiled, she was exhausted by the double blow and developed a high fever that night.
However, despite her high fever and the obstruction of her maid Chi Xia, Consort Ruan moved step by step to the Qianqing Palace in the snow.
She knelt outside the Qianqing Palace, pleading desperately for the Emperor to spare the Ruan family.
The falling snow melted instantly upon touching her burning forehead, but it couldn't extinguish her despair!
Ruan Huan couldn't believe it... She couldn't believe that the emperor, who had spoken so gently to her just a few days ago, as if they were still on their wedding night, could turn so heartless in the blink of an eye!
They've had a relationship for so many years!
From the time she was born into the Prince's household until now, she has been married into this family for a full thirteen years!
How could the Emperor disregard her and punish the Ruan family so severely?! He even demoted her to the rank of Consort, a disgrace indeed!
However, the emperor did not appear.
All she got was Feng Shunxiang leading his guards out.
Upon hearing the news, Feng Shunxiang came out and looked at the woman in front of him, whose cheeks were flushed red and whose hair was disheveled.
Her former arrogance has vanished completely at this moment...
A hint of pity flashed in Feng Shunxiang's eyes, and his tone softened slightly:
“Consort Ruan, His Majesty is dealing with state affairs and will not see anyone. You should go back.”
He paused, then advised Ruan Huan, "His Majesty... ultimately still cherishes our past relationship."
"Although you are now implicated because of family matters, as long as you rest and reflect on your mistakes, you may have a chance to regain favor in the future."
Ruan Huan couldn't hear a single word of what these words said.
She felt a bone-chilling cold, more biting than the winter wind.
The emperor's ruthlessness was like the sharpest knife, deeply wounding her heart.
Chang Zai... When had Ruan Huan ever suffered such humiliation?!
Under Feng Shunxiang's forceful orders, she was half-supported and half-dragged back to the west side hall of Zhaoyang Palace.
As a result of this commotion, Ruan Huan's cold worsened, causing her to faint several times and suffer from a persistent high fever, almost losing half her life.
In a daze, she seemed to hear a palace servant say that the emperor had bestowed upon her precious medicinal herbs.
Ruan Huan suddenly opened her eyes, grabbed Chi Xia's hand by the bedside with all her might, and a faint hope ignited in her eyes.
"Your Majesty...has Your Majesty arrived? Has he come to see me?"
Looking into her expectant eyes, Chi Xia hesitated for a long time before finally shaking her head with difficulty.
The light in Ruan Huan's eyes went out instantly, her hand fell limply to her side, and she seemed to have lost all her soul.
She closed her eyes and fell back onto the bed.
A single tear slipped down the corner of her tightly closed eye...
......
A few days later, in the west side hall of Zhaoyang Palace.
After Ruan Huan's high fever subsided, he lay weakly on the bed all day, his thin body like an empty shell.
Unexpectedly, the Empress's carriage arrived.
The Empress still maintained her dignified and virtuous demeanor, befitting a mother of the nation.
Dressed in magnificent robes, she stepped into the desolate west wing of the palace, surrounded by palace servants.
The Empress sat on the embroidered stool by the bed, looking at the emaciated Ruan Huan on the bed, her tone extremely gentle.
"Consort Ruan, how did you become so ill? You must take good care of yourself."
A gentle smile played on her lips.
"It is heartbreaking for a family to fall into misfortune, but those who are alive must always look forward and never let it damage their very foundation."
Her words seemed comforting, but in reality, every sentence struck at Ruan Huan's most painful spot.
Ruan Huan turned her head away with difficulty, not wanting to see her hypocritical face, her voice hoarse from days of high fever.
"Is Your Majesty here to see me... make a fool of myself?"
The Empress's face showed a haughty pity: "What are you saying, sister?"
"We have been sisters for many years, serving the Emperor together. How could I possibly laugh at you? Of course, I hope you are doing well."
"Utterly hypocritical! Cough cough cough..."
Ruan Huan suddenly turned her head and glared at her hatefully.
Just then, Granny Sun, who served the Empress, came in from outside and dismissed all the maids except for Chi Xia.
Granny Sun approached the Empress and respectfully asked:
"Your Majesty, we have drafted a few preliminary plans for the banquet to welcome the Imperial Concubine back to the palace. Do you think it would be more appropriate to hold it in the Baohua Hall or the Warm Pavilion in the Imperial Garden? The Imperial Household Department is waiting for your reply."
Imperial Concubine?
Upon hearing those two words, Ruan Huan felt as if she had been struck by lightning!
When will there be any imperial concubines in the palace?
She was speechless for a moment, and her whole body froze.
The Empress frowned slightly, seemingly displeased that Granny Sun had brought this up at this moment, and said softly, "We'll discuss this later. Can't you see that Consort Ruan is ill?"
However, Ruan Huan suddenly found strength from somewhere and struggled to get up from the bed, grabbing the Empress's arm tightly.
Ruan Huan's eyes were bloodshot, and her voice was hoarse and distorted: "Who? What imperial concubine?!"
"Is it that bitch Narcissus? Is it her?!"
The empress seemed startled by her sudden outburst of madness and tried to break free, but was held tightly.
She looked at Ruan Huan's contorted face and sighed helplessly, as if she were forced to tell the truth: "Sigh... I wanted to wait until you were better before telling you."
"Yes, His Majesty has already investigated and found that Wu Xuan, the head of the Imperial Observatory, framed Consort Jin and slandered the imperial heir because he was... was instructed and bribed by your Ruan family."
"Now that the truth has come to light, His Majesty will naturally bring Consort Jin out of the Cold Palace and restore her to the rank of Consort, as compensation..."
"Nonsense!!!"
Ruan Huan was so angry that she trembled all over, her breathing became rapid, and her vision blurred.
She was pushed off the bed by Granny Sun, who came forward and twisted her hand.
Ruan Huan pointed at the Empress with trembling hands, "It was you who wanted to deal with her! It was you!"
"You sent that little palace maid to tell me to lure the Emperor to Tingyu Pavilion! It was your scheme!"
Ruan Huan's expression was a mixture of crying and laughing, distorted by her immense grief.
"How could it be the Ruan family! Why would the Ruan family instruct the Imperial Observatory to harm her?!"
"You vile woman! You'll die a horrible death!"
She spoke incoherently and made accusations in a hoarse voice.
However, besides the Empress's people, only Chi Xia was by the bedside.
Chi Xia seemed frightened and stood trembling at the foot of the bed.
Ruan Huan's accusations were destined to remain unheard by outsiders.
The Empress's face darkened slightly, but she quickly regained her helpless expression.
She stood up, straightened her torn sleeves, and said calmly, "Consort Ruan is delirious and has started talking nonsense."
"I will not hold it against you because you are seriously ill. You should rest well. Perhaps... once you recover, you can still make it to the grand banquet for Consort Jin's return."
After saying that, she stopped looking at Ruan Huan, who was lying on the bed like a madwoman, and turned to leave with her people.
"ah!!!"
Ruan Huan let out a shrill scream, frantically pounding the bed, her chest heaving violently, and then coughing up another mouthful of blood.
Chi Xia seemed to be frightened by her and had already run away to who knows where.
In the cold and indifferent west wing, she was left all alone, staring hatefully at the bloodstains blooming on the bedding.
She hates it!
She hated the Emperor's ruthlessness! She hated the Empress's malice even more! But the person she hated most was Narcissus!
That wretched maid who ruined everything for her!
If it weren't for the appearance of Narcissus, how could the Emperor have gradually grown tired of her?!
If it weren't for dealing with the narcissus, why would Fangfei have gotten herself involved?!
If it weren't for Narcissus, how could she have gradually fallen out of favor, ultimately leading to the destruction of her family and such a tragic end?!
If it weren't for that lowly maid... she would still be the favored Consort Li, reigning supreme in the harem!
She... damn it!
A deep-seated hatred flashed in Ruan Huan's eyes. She suddenly looked up, her gaze, so intense it seemed to pierce through the high palace walls...
......
The day after Ruan Chen and others were exiled and it was discovered that the Imperial Observatory had framed them, Shui Xian was personally escorted out of the Cold Palace by Emperor Zhaoheng.
Returning to Yongle Palace, its former glory remains unchanged.
Even out of the emperor's guilt, the decorations and furnishings were made even more exquisite and luxurious.
However, also out of the emperor's guilt, he wanted to make up for it by holding a grand ceremony to confer her the title of Imperial Concubine.
While Emperor Zhaoheng was personally preparing for the investiture ceremony, the narcissus was quietly kept in Yongle Palace.
On this day, she was surprised to receive a visit from Ruan Changzai.
When Shui Xian heard Xiao Lizi announce that "Consort Ruan" had arrived, she was slightly dazed before realizing that the current Consort Ruan was none other than the once favored Consort Li.
"Please let her in."
Shui Xian arrived at the main seat in the main hall and waited quietly for Ruan Changzai to enter.
When she saw Ruan Huan being helped by Chi Xia and walking unsteadily, a faint, complex emotion flashed across Shui Xian's eyes.
The Ruan Huan before me was almost emaciated.
Her face was sallow, her eyes were sunken, and her former bright and imposing aura was completely gone.
Instead, all that remained was a shell hollowed out by illness, dressed in plain palace attire, looking utterly empty.
Narcissus did not feel sorry for her.
Ruan Huan's past actions all deserved her death.
Having grown accustomed to Ruan Huan's haughty and arrogant demeanor, seeing her now in such a miserable and destitute state evoked a sense of melancholy at the impermanence of life.
With her head bowed, Ruan Huan, supported by Chi Xia, slowly bent her knees and knelt down.
"Lady Ruan...pays her respects to Consort Jin..."
She knelt there, not getting up for a long time, her body trembling slightly, as if she had used up all her strength just to maintain the kneeling position.
Shui Xian raised an eyebrow, about to signal Ting Lu beside her to step forward and help her up.
Unexpectedly, at this very moment, a sudden change occurred!
Ruan Huan, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly raised her head, and her sunken eyes shot out a venomous light!
She pulled out a gleaming dagger from somewhere and, with the last of her strength, lunged at Narcissus, who was sitting in the main seat!
"You bitch! Die!!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com