"Vicious?" Zhao Shu looked at her with amusement, glanced around and saw that everyone around her was the Empress Dowager's confidant and her people, so she continued with peace of mind: "Living in this dark and gloomy Biyou Palace, your skin is still so fair and tender. You must care a lot about your appearance."
No one knew why Zhao Shu was rambling on about such useless things. The Dowager Consort Wang snorted coldly and arrogantly ignored Zhao Shu, saying, "Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you." She was extremely arrogant, unlike the timid and lifeless maids and eunuchs she had just seen. She was full of energy and seemed to be living a fulfilling life.
"How old were you when you entered the palace? Fourteen? Or even younger? My grandmother was wicked? So you thought my grandmother was the one who caused your current predicament? Wrong! It was the Wang family, your brothers and parents, and your clansmen who caused your lifelong misery! Knowing that the late emperor was old, they still sent you into the palace. I suppose you are just a concubine's daughter or a member of a collateral branch. Doesn't the Wang family have any legitimate daughters?"
Zhao Shu approached step by step, while the Dowager Consort retreated step by step. She shook her head. No, it wasn't like that. It was that vile Empress Dowager who killed her child, and that's why she was imprisoned in this godforsaken place. Dayong clearly revered Buddhism more, yet they imprisoned her in the place where the last emperor of the fallen dynasty hanged himself! For decades, she had been imprisoned here, staring at the sky and the high gray walls every day!
She hated it, hated the injustice of fate. She was a noble lady from a prestigious family that everyone envied. Her father was the patriarch of the Wang family. She could have found a good young man to marry and then become a wife and mother, and eventually become a noblewoman in her old age. A bright future clearly awaited her, but in the end, she was sent to the palace.
No, no, no, that's not how it is. She was a noblewoman from a prestigious family; her father was the head of the royal family. As soon as she entered the palace, she was made a concubine. The emperor said that if she gave birth to a prince, he would make her a Noble Consort, and eventually an Empress. It was that vile woman who killed her child! And she locked her up in this godforsaken place!
Zhao Shu watched her struggle, fighting against herself. How could she not hate and resent being imprisoned in Biyou Palace at such a young age?
She sneered, her voice carrying a seductive allure. "Do you know how well the Wang family's legitimate daughters live? They marry the most talented men in the capital, and their children's in-laws are also top-tier families. They are served by servants, adorned with gold and silver, and their food is always the finest. Their reputations are widespread, and even the most powerful families in Jiangnan travel thousands of miles to vie for their daughters. And you? You entered the palace, bringing them wealth and glory. Have they ever come to see you?"
"No! You mustn't bewitch me! It's that vile Empress! It's that vile woman who ruined me!" Having been imprisoned for too long, she was switching between the Empress and the Empress Dowager, and her mind was becoming confused.
"Is that so? Then do you envy those noble ladies? Today they hold a tea party, tomorrow a poetry banquet, and the day after, several noble ladies get together to admire the flowers. If they take a liking to each other, their children become in-laws. Aren't you even a little envious? Think about it, if you hadn't entered the palace in the first place, wouldn't you be just like them now? You have two outstanding children, and your husband is a perfect match for you. Think about it carefully. Was it the Empress Dowager who made you lose all of this? Was it she who made you enter the palace?"
"No! It was the Empress! That vile Empress ruined me!" Her eyes were bloodshot, almost bulging out of their sockets. Zhao Shu looked at her with a pitying smile. She was furious. She was a proud daughter of heaven. Why did she look at her with pity? She was unworthy. That woman's granddaughter was unworthy! She wanted to pounce on Zhao Shu and scratch her, but was stopped by Xiao Guozi.
Zhihai's eyes flickered, and he continued, "Your Highness, when the Fifth Miss Wang married into the Qian family of Xiliang, she made a grand entrance with a bridal procession of 180 stages. Now she is the matriarch of the Qian family. I've heard that she and you have a deep sisterly bond. Over the years, I imagine she has often written to inquire about your well-being."
"You wretch!" The Dowager Consort pointed at Zhihai, her eyes already cloudy, looking at Zhihai's face as if she were looking at Wang Wu Guniang. "You wretch! You ruined my marriage, made Qianlang misunderstand me, you wretch! I'll kill you, I'll kill you!"
Destroying a person's spirit is like killing them; Zhihai's words completely broke her down. She frantically waved her arms, trying to lunge at him, but Xiao Guozi held her down firmly.
At this point, Zhao Shu ignored her. This kind of person didn't even know the most basic enemy, and kept saying that her grandmother was a slut who deserved to suffer here for the rest of her life!
She exhaled a breath of stale air, turned around and smiled at Wang Jize, saying, "Shall I take you out? You won't have to be locked up here anymore." She stretched out her hand and beckoned gently.
Wang Jize looked at him in fear, his heart filled with anxiety and anguish. He desperately wanted to go out, day and night, but his aunt had said that if he dared to go out, she would beat him to death. The whip really hurt when it hit his body.
Zhao Shu could see his fear and anxiety, as well as the budding hope in his heart. She slowly walked over and said softly, "Come, I'll take you to find your family. They will treat you very, very well. They will never hit you again and will give you food to eat, enough to fill you up."
Wang Jize looked at him timidly and whispered, "But my aunt said that if I dare to go out, she will beat me to death."
"Don't be afraid of her, I've already subdued her. You're not afraid of her either, are you? You broke the lock on the gate, didn't you?" Zhao Shu turned back and removed the lock from the gate. The lock was rusty, but because it was rusty, you could see the new wire scratches, so it must have been broken recently. The Dowager Consort Wang wouldn't use the main gate to enter the Sanqing Temple, and this place was considered an ominous place, so no one discovered that the gate could be opened.
Wang Jize shrank back in embarrassment. His face was so thin that his eyes looked like grapes hanging on his face, which was quite eerie.
"Come on, come with me. No one will dare to hit you again. I'm very powerful, and they all listen to me." Zhao Shu pointed at Green Ivy and the others.
Zhihai and Zhang Chu were still kneeling on the ground, and Luoluo and the others followed suit. Only Xiao Guozi stopped the Dowager Princess from standing aside.
Wang Jize looked over, swallowed hard, and slowly walked out. He walked very slowly, but each step took a great deal of courage.
They walked and looked at the Dowager Princess, but she was being suppressed by Xiao Guozi and couldn't get past them no matter what.
After walking a few steps, he grew bolder and walked up to Zhao Shu in one go. He took her hand and secretly vowed never to let go again, never to be locked up here again, never to be whipped by his aunt again, and never to go hungry again!
"Green Ivy, go to Yipinju and buy some good food for Young Master Wang." Originally, I wanted Xinwei to go, but seeing that Xinwei was absent-minded, I changed my mind. Besides, Green Ivy is young and running around on the street won't attract much attention, so this way it will be faster.
Green Ivy was terrified by the mad Princess Consort Wang's audacity in calling the Empress Dowager a vile woman. It was simply... simply outrageous! Compared to her, she found Zhihai incredibly adorable.
Upon hearing Zhao Shu's instructions, he hurriedly stood up, curtsied, and immediately went to carry them out.
After Green Ivy left, Zhao Shu looked at Zhang Chu and said, "Lady Zhang, go and announce the imperial decree now. Immediately send someone to see the Dowager Consort. If they don't come, ask them if they have any regard for their family's reputation, given their cold-blooded and heartless nature."
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