"Your Majesty, please spare my life! I truly knew nothing!" Xiao Zhangzi pleaded desperately.
Mingyue ignored him and continued to press hard on his wound. When the salt melted, she sprinkled salt on the cotton cloth again. The salt seeped into the flesh, and his screams became even more shrill.
In the end, Xiao Zhangzi couldn't bear the pain and fainted.
Mingyue threw the cotton cloth on the ground, then clapped her hands, striking a victorious pose, "Let's see how long you can keep up this stubbornness."
Looking at the unconscious Xiao Zhangzi, Green Sleeves angrily picked up a basin of cold water and splashed it on Xiao Zhangzi. Xiao Zhangzi suddenly woke up, "Ah..." he shouted while coughing violently.
Seeing that he was awake, Mingyue asked, "Will you talk or not?"
"Well…"
Seeing that Xiao Zhangzi was still hesitating, Mingyue said coldly, "You must have seen my methods. If you really don't talk, I have more punishments for you to suffer."
Recalling the pain he had just experienced, Xiao Zhangzi felt a chill run down his spine. His lips trembled as he stammered, "This servant will tell you everything... This servant will tell you everything..."
"Very well, speak." Mingyue glanced at him contemptuously. If the tiger doesn't show its power, people will really think it's a sick cat. Only when you feel the pain will you know how powerful I am.
Xiao Zhangzi swallowed hard. "It was Huanzhu, who served Consort Hui, who gave me a hundred taels of silver to trick you into going to a secluded palace."
"What are you trying to do by tricking me into going there?"
“This…” Xiao Zhangzi hesitated again.
"Speak quickly, or I'll make you experience the power of promotion and wealth!" Mingyue said sternly.
What does it mean to get promoted and make a fortune? It's a form of punishment where wet paper is placed over a person's face, layer upon layer, until the person suffocates and dies.
Xiao Zhangzi, trembling, knew all about this punishment and said, "As long as Her Majesty the Empress goes there, she will pretend to be a ghost to scare you, so that you and your child will both die."
"What a cruel heart!" Green Sleeve trembled with anger upon hearing this. She wished she could tear Huanzhu to pieces, but Huanzhu was not in the hall at the moment. She could only vent her anger on Xiao Zhangzi. "You are also a heartless person, acting as an accomplice to evil for a mere hundred taels of silver."
After saying that, she raised her foot and kicked him hard. Xiao Zhangzi cried out in pain until Mingyue told her to stop, and she stopped kicking him.
"Your Majesty, you must not be soft-hearted." Green Sleeve was afraid that Mingyue would release Xiao Zhangzi.
Mingyue smiled faintly, "Sparing his life means he'll still be of use."
Upon hearing that he might still be of use, Xiao Zhangzi's eyes immediately lit up with hope. "Your Majesty, if you can spare my life, I am willing to serve you like a slave." After saying this, he looked at Lüxiu with a defiant gaze.
Seeing how afraid of death he was, Mingyue smiled and said, "Fine, you said it yourself, so you must obey me."
Xiao Zhangzi nodded repeatedly.
"Very well, then proceed according to the previous plan and pretend I know nothing about it," Mingyue said leisurely.
"Does Your Highness intend to turn the tables on me?" Green Sleeve whispered in Bright Moon's ear.
Mingyue nodded and told him her plan.
“Alright…” Green Sleeve nodded in agreement. “Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will definitely not let you down. Just please be careful.”
"Yes, I will."
Green Sleeves responded emphatically, "Okay!"
"Then I'll take my leave first."
"Respectfully seeing off Her Majesty the Empress!"
Immediately, Mingyue left the palace and headed towards the palace where Chengbi lived.
When they arrived at Chengbi Palace, it was already getting dark. Upon hearing Mingyue's words, Chengbi immediately informed the Imperial Household Department that she was not feeling well that day and there was no need to wear the green plaque.
Seeing this, Mingyue felt a warmth rise in her heart. In the deep palace, Xuan Ye's favor was unparalleled. Many concubines would not see Xuan Ye for months at a time. Especially unfavored concubines like Cheng Bi, who longed for his favor.
But now she's giving up this opportunity for her own sake.
Cheng Bi seemed to understand her meaning and quickly explained, "It's just a green-headed plaque, it's not like I'm going to be favored by someone."
“Hmm…” Mingyue nodded with tears in her eyes, and then, supported by Chengbi, led several strong eunuchs toward the abandoned palace that Xiao Zhangzi had mentioned.
When they arrived, Xiao Zhangzi and Lüxiu were already there. Lüxiu was wearing Mingyue's clothes and stroking her big belly as she stood in the dilapidated courtyard.
Xiao Zhangzi also left as planned, citing the need to relieve himself.
But as soon as he left, he was seized by those burly eunuchs.
Just then, a strange female laugh rose into the air. Everyone who heard it felt their hair stand on end and held their breath, not daring to speak.
It wasn't until the white shadow hovered in front of Green Sleeves that they realized the sound was coming from this thing.
With the system's help, Mingyue discovered that Baiying was wearing roller skates. Upon seeing this, she smiled and thought to herself: "You like playing tricks so much, I'll make you a real ghost later."
Just then, she suddenly heard a scream. Mingyue looked over and saw that Lvxiu had fallen to the ground.
Seeing this, Bai Ying burst into laughter, seemingly quite satisfied with her actions. Just as she was about to turn and leave, she was caught by the eunuch hiding nearby.
She was stunned on the spot, and even forgot to resist.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Mingyue quickly woke up Lvxiu, who was lying on the ground. As soon as Lvxiu got up, Mingyue lay down again.
The moment Green Sleeve stood up, Mingyue saw the deathly paleness on her face. Even though she had prepared herself mentally, she was still like that, which showed how terrible the situation had just been.
If it had been me, I certainly wouldn't have escaped that scare either.
After Green Sleeves had gone far away, White Shadow came to her senses. She struggled frantically, but it was too late.
Cheng Bi stood in the moonlight, pointing at the white figure and said, "Which ungrateful palace servant dares to pretend to be a ghost and scare people here?"
She pretended not to know who it was, but when she got closer and saw that it was Huanzhu, she showed a surprised expression.
Upon seeing that it was Cheng Bi, Huan Zhu immediately felt relieved and then revealed a disdainful smile. She threatened, "Noble Lady De, hurry up and release me. If Consort Hui finds out how you treat me, don't blame her for making things difficult for you."
"This..." Cheng Bi still looked timid and hesitant. She asked softly, "May I ask, Miss Huanzhu, why are you dressed like this?"
Huanzhu snorted coldly and said, "This is Consort Hui's decree. Noble Lady De, don't ask too many questions. Now that you've released me, I will definitely stay by Consort Hui's side and speak well of you."
"But...but..."
Seeing that Cheng Bi was hesitant and not very willing, Huan Zhu instantly became annoyed.
"Noble Lady De, don't forget, you're just a lowly noble lady. If you anger Consort Hui, you won't even know how you died!"
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