Chapter 16: Imperial Couch "I want a perfect and good Qingzan."...
Xiao Fang's voice was light yet deep: "Just saying it won't do."
The tone is light, the meaning is deep.
Qingzan's teeth chattered.
It's cold.
The rain that soaked my body was still dripping, falling on the flower tiles like weeping dewdrops. It seemed that the last dampness and coldness of May were trapped in the Tai Chi Hall today. I felt weak and powerless in my green hairpin and thin clothes.
Xiao Fang hugged the person in his arms a little tighter.
The emperor's arms were filled with warmth because of her.
Qingzan suddenly felt that perhaps she didn't value her body that much. Sometimes she would defend it with all her might, but other times she could easily give it up. After all, if people like them still had the pride to die in glory, they would have been completely shattered, even to the bone.
So she nestled quietly in his arms, her back softened, without any resistance, and was extremely obedient and quiet, like a snow rabbit in a golden cage.
She only raised her head and tried to negotiate with him: "Your Majesty, can you go and save the people first? Otherwise... I may, so there is no need to beg."
Now that the person is dead, there is of course no need to beg in a humble manner.
Besides, her friends and relatives are in danger, so should she be forced to pursue pleasure and beg for mercy on the bed?
Xiao Fang's smile suddenly became somewhat careless: "If I have already sent someone, then you don't have to ask for anything either?"
Qingzan's muddied mind began to work dully.
Have you sent someone there?
It's good that someone has been sent there.
Suo Ying had probably suffered a great deal by this time, but she shouldn't have lost her life. As long as we have our lives, we have nothing to fear.
Nothing is more important than being alive.
But...where is her mother?
A taut string loosened, and more sorrow came over like a cold wave and rain.
When she saw the Queen and the Marquis' wife reuniting today, she even temporarily put aside her previous resentment towards the Queen, and only thought that one day she would find her mother.
The relationship between mother and daughter is naturally the closest and warmest in the world, enough to make her forgive the hardships she has to endure along the way.
But what about her mother?
She had always known that the Marquis' Mansion was secretly watching her, and she rarely did anything out of the ordinary. The only time she had any hope and secretly planned something was when she heard that there was a traveling sorcerer who came to visit the mansion and traveled between Shangjing and the northwest all year round. She asked someone to inquire about her mother's news.
Because when she was still young, the queen, who was also a little girl, once threw fruit peels at her and said to her: "Your mother doesn't want you anymore. She ran away with a strange man and went to the northwest!"
The queen thought this would hurt her, but she didn't know that she would only be secretly happy that she actually knew a little about A Niang's whereabouts.
My mother once said that she liked the majestic and free scenery of the desert with sand like snow.
So Qingzan believed the half that he wanted to believe.
Later, she secretly found the traveling sorcerer and said that she only remembered her mother's name and knew nothing else. Fortunately, the next year, he actually brought her news about her mother, saying that her mother was indeed doing business in the northwestern border area.
Fifteen years, fifteen years in the Marquis' Mansion, she endured it all.
The father who never showed up, the inexplicable hostility of the queen, the red mole on the back of her waist, and the fact that the queen hated her so much but still brought her into the palace.
Therefore, Suoying's words hardly need any verification. Her fifteen years in the Duan Mansion are the most powerful evidence.
There was only one thing: her last name was never Duan, and it never would be.
Seeing her lower her head and pursed her lips, looking like an idiot, the emperor mercifully let her go for a while and asked someone to bring in a dry towel. He also laughed at himself. Why did he feel that this little water ghost was pitiful, cute, and even alluring just now?
But after just two wipes, he impatiently wrapped the person in a dry towel and said, "Wipe it yourself."
Then he walked past the entire wall of antique shelves that served as a partition and returned to the desk in the outer room.
Qingzan grabbed the falling towel with her fingertips, as if she was a little puzzled. "Your Majesty?"
Didn't he ask her to beg him with her own hands just now?
Xiao Fang's mood cooled down a bit: "If I were anxious to use this method to force you to submit, there would be no need to wait until the Queen takes action."
They are all forcing someone to die, so what difference does it make whether they are threatening someone with a favor or with power?
"Come over and grind the ink after you've wiped it dry."
At least, not here.
*
When Xu Delu arrived at Fengzao Palace, Suoying was only half dead.
Fortunately, no one dared to play tricks on him, and he found out where the person was being tortured as soon as he asked. Otherwise, if he had delayed it for a while longer, he would have had to bring the body back to report.
He said to the palace maids in the courtyard in a righteous manner: "The palace maid Suoying is involved in a palace secret case and needs to be taken back for investigation."
But in fact, this reason was very casual. The so-called secret case means that no one should ask about it.
This is how things work in this palace; power speaks louder than any excuse.
Xu Delu had Suoying put on a stretcher. "Be careful, slow down. If this person is killed, how can we investigate?"
After he had safely brought the person to the rescue, he sent a eunuch to inform the queen, and he took the person away.
There was no way. The queen was quite polite to him, so he had to show her some mercy.
The Queen was shocked: "What?"
Xu Delu represents the will of His Majesty. How did His Majesty know that she had punished the palace maid with a stick, and why did he rescue her?
The queen asked in bewilderment, "What on earth is going on?"
In fact, many people in Fengzao Palace saw Qingzan protecting someone in public, but most of those present were Lu Ma's subordinates. Lu Ma has always been good at managing her subordinates, so these people would certainly not say anything that was detrimental to her.
As for the remaining small number of people who knew——
Nowadays, Fu Cui is no longer the little palace maid who started crying because her forehead was hit and swollen not long ago. She just wants to stop the message and not disturb the queen. What's the difficulty?
So when the Queen asked, only Jin Yu vaguely remembered something and answered, "Your Majesty, I vaguely remember a rumor from the palace that Suoying seemed to have had something unclean on her hands."
"Could it be something unclean?" the Queen asked nonchalantly.
Jin Yu said cautiously, "Yes, she has killed people and has been involved in human deaths."
The Queen sneered: "If that's the case, how can she still be so fine——"
As soon as the words came out of her mouth, the queen remembered that this person had been taken away for investigation.
This is consistent with what Eunuch Xu said.
I couldn't help but feel scared: "How can these people do their job? They actually sent people like this to Fengzao Palace."
Xu Delu probably didn't expect that the excuse he made up out of thin air would actually hit the mark and coincide with the rumors about Suoying.
He brought the people back to Taiji Hall, but saw that the rest of the palace servants in the hall had been driven out. Suddenly, he became unsure whether he should go in to report at this time.
If I go in now, I won’t run into anything I shouldn’t see and offend the emperor, right?
Xu Delu walked to the palace veranda and peeked inside, then asked the palace servants outside, "Is there any movement inside?"
The palace maid just shook her head.
The Taiji Hall also had a front-chamber and rear-bedroom layout, with the front hall being used by the emperor for work. Xu Delu thought carefully, thinking that even if His Majesty finally got what he wanted and was suddenly moved, he would not do anything absurd in the front hall in broad daylight. He would definitely bring the person to the bedroom.
Xu Delu made up his mind and stepped in.
The scene in the hall was quite different from the charming scene he had feared. In the brightest candlelight, the emperor was diligently reviewing memorials, while the elegant and beautiful palace maids were standing quietly beside him, grinding ink and serving tea. It was a scene of beautiful women adding fragrance to the emperor's life, which was pleasing to the eyes and made one forget the world.
Xu Delu was reluctant to interrupt the scene, and after a few breaths he stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have brought the person back."
Qingzan immediately looked over sharply, feeling a little worried, and wanted to go see Suoying.
Xu Delu said with great understanding, "The injuries are too severe and the patient is still unconscious, but his life is not in danger. I have placed him in the courtyard where Dong'er and the others live and have asked the imperial physician to see him."
This was said specifically for Qingzan to hear, to teach her to be patient and focus on serving His Majesty.
"Yeah." Xiao Fang ignored Xu Delu's thoughts.
It was Xu Delu, because he was closer, who realized that most of Qingzan's clothes were soaked through. If this continued, she would definitely catch a cold.
"Your Majesty, how about I ask someone to find some dry clothes for Miss Qingzan?"
Xiao Fang glanced at her and said, "She likes getting wet in the rain, so why bother with that?"
Xu Delu didn't dare to say anything anymore. He just laughed dryly and stood aside.
Qingzan clearly heard that the emperor was mocking her. Once in Lianbi Palace, once in Taiji Palace, she always appeared in front of him in a cloak in the rain, all wet.
But why was he suddenly angry about this?
Was it because she had just suspected that he would take advantage of her misfortune and kill her on the spot, which made him feel offended?
In the past, she might have hoped that the emperor would be angry and distant from her, but it was different now.
The emperor was always focused on government affairs. This was the battlefield where he could display his talents and the countryside where he could wander. He was fond of immersing himself in the political arena where troops were deployed and every detail was taken into consideration, in order to find the ambition in his life that was bound by his status.
But at the moment, he was so disturbed by the woman's repeated gazes that he almost couldn't recognize the words.
How can we talk about government affairs?
Xiao Fang said coldly: "If you feel uncomfortable, go change."
The palace dress had indeed become so cloying to her that Qingzan felt disgusted and as if she were about to rot away.
It started to rot fifteen years ago and is now in a complete state of disrepair.
She lowered her misty eyes: "Yes."
Xiao Fang raised his eyes and silently watched the person follow Xu Delu away quietly. In the past, he always thought that she was slender and well-proportioned, with a perfect figure, but now looking at her, he felt that she was so thin and frail.
The tip of the brush left a heavy, thick cinnabar ink dot on the paper.
What on earth did she go through today?
The one weighing on her heart was definitely not just a palace maid who had been rescued.
*
Perhaps in order to make Qingzan feel less restrained, Xu Delu asked Dong'er, the only person she had ever been with, to bring her clothes.
Dong'er had never actually served the ladies with grooming. Her handwriting was so beautiful that even when she was little, her family had always said she could become a junior minister. Later, upon entering the palace, her handwriting was appreciated and she was assigned to the Taiji Hall. While the emperor's daily chores were meticulous, they were mostly handled by the Palace Department, so Dong'er was only responsible for serving tea and water.
Dong'er was slightly disappointed to hear that Qingzan didn't need her to serve her. That day, she knew that this girl would soon become a new mistress in the harem. This new mistress was not only favored by His Majesty, but also shared the same background as them. She wouldn't look down on them. If she could establish a good relationship with her, it would only benefit her.
But although Xu Dajian gave him this opportunity, he couldn't grasp it.
While Dong'er was daydreaming outside the screen, Qingzan had quickly changed her clothes and came out.
The originally plain and uniform clothes of the palace ladies have been replaced by a set of green casual clothes that are only worn by high-ranking female officials in front of the emperor. These clothes are different from those of the concubines, and are particularly elegant and noble. Usually, they can only be worn by female officials in front of the emperor who are trusted by the emperor.
Dong'er pushed the green hairpin into the front hall as if she were presenting a treasure. Before the emperor had time to look at her, a palace maid came to report that Chen Xiuzhuan had arrived.
The emperor had sent someone to the palace early in the morning. This person was the top scorer in the current imperial examination and a colleague of the Prince of Qi, who had changed his surname and name and achieved the third place in the imperial examination. Xiao Fang had asked him to look after his unruly nephew, and after a few visits, he began to think more highly of him because of his character.
Xiao Fang was not yet ready to neglect his duties for a woman, so he said to Qing Zan, "You go back first."
go back?
Qing Zan bit her lip slightly and said with determination: "...but I still have charges to present."
Xiao Fang became interested. Is he going to tell it?
"Then go and wait for me."
Qingzan still didn't move, and asked stiffly: "Where are we going to wait?"
Just as she thought, the emperor uttered two words: "Back Palace."
Because of this delay, when Qingzan went out, she happened to pass by the top scholar. She just nodded lightly to him, but Chen Shaoling couldn't help but look at him twice.
Xiao Fang narrowed his eyes and reminded: "Shaoling."
Chen Xiuzhuan realized his mistake and quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty's palace maid bears a striking resemblance to an old friend of mine."
Xiao Fang would not believe this poor excuse, he is also a man.
But he didn't mention it any further and just let it go. For some reason, even the thought of talking about her with other men made him feel a little uncomfortable.
After that, the emperor and his minister discussed state affairs, and before they knew it, nearly an hour had passed.
Before dinner, as soon as Chen Xiuzhuan left, someone from the Shangqin Bureau came to ask the emperor who would sleep with him tonight.
"I'm not going to the harem tonight." The emperor laughed meaningfully, "I want to interrogate someone."
*
The people in the imperial court prepared some fruit drinks and pastries for Qingzan to fill her stomach. Qingzan took a few bites, folded his arms, and leaned against the windowsill, waiting for the rain to stop.
But this rain will never stop.
At that time, Suoying said her last name was Duan, and Qingzan knew it was because time was tight and Suoying was afraid she would not have enough strength, so she could only use the fewest words to express her meaning clearly. In fact, what she wanted to tell her was that she also had the blood of the Yongning Marquisate.
So it all makes sense.
While waiting for someone, she went to see Suoying. Suoying had already woken up. The imperial physician said she would need to rest for ten days or half a month and not be able to walk. Fortunately, her condition was still good, so she could recover.
Suoying then told her everything she knew in detail.
When Xiao Fang came in, he saw Qingzan tilting her head and staring blankly at the courtyard outside the window.
He cleared his cough.
Qing Zan then noticed the person and turned around to look: "Your Majesty."
Xiao Fang sat down on the couch: "Come here."
In order to dry her hair as quickly as possible, she wore a green hairpin and let her black hair hang half down. Her clothes were also made of spring silk, light and simple. She walked slowly towards him, the mist in her eyes had turned cold, leaving only emptiness and loneliness, making her look more like a fairy and enchanting.
Xiao Fang couldn't help but think of Chen Shaoling's attention to her just now.
Not surprising at all.
During these few steps, Qingzan went over the Duan family's plans and plots that she had just thought about over and over again. Then she stopped not far from him, knelt straight down, and said with her head lowered: "I am guilty and dare not face you, my Lord."
Xiao Fang didn't mind and took a few steps towards her.
He looked down at her with his hands behind his back: "What crime have you committed?"
Qingzan told everyone the truth about the Queen's infertility and her plan to use a surrogate mother to bear a child, but she did not reveal her own identity.
That’s it?
The emperor was even more calm than she had imagined.
He knew it a long time ago.
From the moment he learned that she was a maid brought into the palace by the Queen, he knew that with the Queen's magnanimity, she would never allow such a beautiful maid to enter the palace with her unless she had some other plan.
Even when he was most concerned about her, he thought about whether he should ask her directly: "Your master intends to give you to me, do you know?"
So that she would suddenly realize how ridiculous all her resistance, opposition and struggle were.
However, he is not yet so despicable as to say so.
He didn't want to destroy such a rare treasure with his own hands.
When Qingzan saw the emperor's reaction, she knew that her original plan must have failed.
The Duan family had been indebted to the late emperor, and it was only because of this that the Duan daughter ascended to the throne. Therefore, the emperor didn't care whether the empress could bear children; he hadn't married her to continue his lineage. Therefore, even if a criminal had committed deceit, as long as he didn't intend to make a fuss, he wouldn't be able to bring any harm to the Duan family.
But it doesn't matter. Revenge must be taken personally. Only then will it be more satisfying and thorough. Only then can the person be crushed to ashes, leaving no chance of survival.
At this moment, Qingzan pretended not to notice his calm and indifferent attitude. Her eyelashes trembled and then drooped slowly: "Your Majesty, how do you intend to deal with this servant?"
How could Xiao Fang not see that she was being somewhat pretentious? But weren't all the women in the harem like that? He never really cared about how much was real or fake.
Just don't act in a way that makes him disgusted and hate you.
He clamped her jaw with his thumb, which was as beautiful as snow and spring, forcing her to raise her face and her pair of pleasing eyes that were used to lying.
He looked at me with disdain and said, "There's more. Go on."
Qingzan didn't care whether he saw through her or not.
She simply raised her eyes innocently, tears welling up in her eyes as she spoke, "You saved my most important friend, yet I, feeling inferior and ungrateful, have repeatedly rejected you. Now, I've become a pawn in your scheme against you. This is compounding my sins, and my crimes are unforgivable."
As long as he's still interested in her...
She weakly climbed up the wide sleeve of his court robe and grasped the corner with the sun and moon emblem.
Xiao Fang glanced at the delicate, pale, and pitiful hand, but suddenly pulled away in a distant manner.
He sat down on the edge of the imperial couch again and said nonchalantly, "Is this the reason why you're feeling distracted and lonely today?"
Qingzan nodded.
"You lie again." The emperor laughed. "This is not a good habit."
Qingzan said stubbornly: "I don't have any."
Although Xiao Fang didn't know what she was hiding, he suddenly wanted to see how far she could go. He looked at her calmly and said, "Then, shall I show you a clear path?"
Then, his voice became hoarse: "Come here."
This time, Qingzan saw that his hand lightly tapped his side, on the imperial couch covered with brocade and embroidery.
The meaning behind this is self-evident.
Without much hesitation, she stood up and walked over slowly and gently.
Just as she approached, the emperor suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms, letting her sit right on his lap.
The person is suddenly trapped in the palm of your hand like a pitiful bird, allowing him to be manipulated at will.
The emperor took control of the situation with both strength and composure, and kindly asked, "Would you like to have dinner?"
Qingzan had no appetite and replied in a low voice: "I have already eaten."
"But, I haven't eaten yet." He said hoarsely.
Qingzan was just about to ask if they wanted to have dinner first when she saw Xiao Fang pressing her deeper into his arms, his eyes much darker than usual.
Make her feel like she is the dish on the plate.
The emperor's aura of predatory possession spread softly against her neck, his passion growing, and he smiled, not quite smiling: "I should have held you like this a long time ago. Why are we playing these childish games of chase and escape?"
Qingzan trembled a little, and hugged the person, but his expression became more and more frowning and restrained.
Just when Xiao Fang became aware of this forbearance, the woman in his arms suddenly grabbed his collar and buried her face in his shoulder, and big, round tears fell one after another.
"pain……"
Xiao Fang finally realized something was wrong: "What's wrong?"
Qing Zan just sobbed. Taking advantage of this moment, this place, and this scene, she could finally cry unrestrainedly.
She cried until the emperor's court robes were all stained with tears, some darker than others. Then she raised her palm-sized face and explained, "Today, today, I took the beating for Suoying."
So, she had a wound on her hip.
It was only because the blow from the board was not strong enough to tear the skin, that it could not be seen through the clothing.
Now that he pressed me down, the pain was even worse.
Xiao Fang's expression changed slightly, and he suddenly let go and let the person get up.
"Let me see."
Qing Zan was unwilling: "I beg Your Majesty to spare this servant some face."
Although the pain was unbearable, she did not get up, but just hung on him limply. The emperor simply picked her up and laid her on the couch.
Qingzan let him do what he wanted and lay down on the couch obediently. The emperor's tall shadow then fell over her domineeringly.
He supported himself on her side with one hand, and with the other hand he brushed aside her hair, staring at her for a long time.
Suddenly, he patted her face as if warning: "Next time, don't get wet in the rain, and don't get hurt. I want Qingzan to be intact. Do you understand?"
After all this trouble, the emperor's amorous thoughts had mostly faded, and he went out to call someone in to apply medicine to her.
He did not stay in the back hall, but went to the small courtyard behind the Taiji Hall. He leaned against the railing and threw a piece of raw meat to the snow lion in the fence.
I can't help but wonder, what on earth did she go through today?
A hint of deep mockery and sinister desire flashed across the emperor's clear and proud brows.
No matter what it is, if it arouses his anger again next time and he has to extinguish it with his own hands, he might as well just throw her to the lions.
*
Qingzan spent the night in Taiji Hall, but the emperor did not come to the back hall to sleep all night. The next morning, her old clothes had been washed and dried, but Qingzan did not change into them.
Dong'er poked her head out from behind the curved screen and said, "His Majesty told you to pack up your things in Fengzao Palace for the next few days."
Qingzan knew what this meant.
Just smiled softly: "Okay."
I was a little dazed all the way back.
The emperor seemed to be too patient with her, which was not acceptable.
Besides, how could she just leave Fengzao Palace without doing anything?
There is so much dark bullying and killing hidden under elegant clothes, it’s time to bring it out into the sun.
*
On the other hand, Concubine Xue only found out the next day that Suoying almost died in Fengzao Palace.
She hadn't rescued Suo Ying from the palace with the intention of exploiting her. Suo Ying was so hungry that she had to compete with wild cats for food, and she ran out in a filthy mess, chasing a civet cat. Although Concubine Xue grew up in the common people, she was from a wealthy family and had more than enough to live up to, so she rarely witnessed such a tragic scene.
Later she found out that because Suoying had extraordinary hearing, she knew many of other people's secrets, so she was naturally not tolerated, isolated and hated.
Fortunately, those people didn't know that her ability to learn those secrets came from her sharp ears. Otherwise, her ears would have been lost long ago.
Later, she asked Zhaoyi to place someone in Fengzao Palace.
Now that her scheme had been futile, Concubine Xue no longer deliberately maintained a distance from Ming Zhaoyi. In a moment of desperation, she went straight to Guanju Palace. "When she came to see me the night before yesterday, I clearly told her that there was no need to risk eavesdropping again. I don't know why she took the risk again yesterday."
"I've secretly sent someone to the Imperial Court to inquire. He's recovering from his injuries, not imprisoned, and out of danger." Although Ming Zhaoyi wasn't entirely clear on the details of the incident, she guessed, "Perhaps she has something she must do without orders, or someone she wants to help regardless of the consequences."
"yes……"
The eldest prince was only three years old, at the age when he could crawl around on the ground. Zhaoyi said that she was going to catch him with a smile.
Concubine Xue also put aside her worries for the moment and smiled gently.
*
Upon returning to Fengzao Palace, Qingzan discovered that someone had even prepared an excuse for her absence the previous night. Once the Queen inquired, she would learn that Suoying was implicated in a murder-related case, and since Qingzan was her closest companion, she would also be brought in for questioning.
But because Fu Cui covered up for her, even the fact that she did not return home at night did not reach the Queen's ears.
With the harsh ruler in charge of the palace, it is inevitable that people in Fengzao Palace will be divided.
Qingzan was still carrying the palace maid's clothes she had changed out of in her arms. She walked to the front of the main hall and asked the little palace maid who had talked to her yesterday to go find Fu Cui.
"Sister Qingzan." Fu Cui came out quickly.
The queen was still asleep at this time. On days when the concubines did not have to pay their respects to her, the queen always got up very late, otherwise she might not be able to get away.
Although Fu Cui knew that Qingzan was closely related to Suoying's being taken away, she was not very clear about Qingzan's whereabouts last night, and she knew even less about Qingzan's involvement with the emperor.
Seeing Qing Zan, he couldn't help but wonder: "Sister, why are you dressed like this?"
Qingzan's face was devoid of a smile. Thinking of the Queen sleeping soundly in the palace, she tired of pretending to be aloof and indifferent. She simply said, "You've been with the Queen for so long. It's time you showed your loyalty and didn't arouse her suspicion."
Fu Cui was confused: "...What do you mean, sister?"
Fu Cui knew that the more she spoke up for Qing Zan, the more doubts the Empress would have about her. But all she could do was carefully choose her words each time she spoke, trying her best to prevent the Empress from doubting her loyalty.
I can't really sell Sister Qingzan out.
Qingzan lowered her eyes, not wanting the coldness in her eyes to scare the little palace maid who was kind to her.
The world is difficult, but there are actually many warm and kind people. However, I am afraid that these warm and kind people can no longer bring her comfort.
Qing Zan said, "Please tell Her Majesty the truth in an hour. Tell Her Majesty that I went to Taiji Palace to seek help because Suoying was saved yesterday. Also, let Her Majesty know that I stayed in Taiji Palace all night."
His Majesty asked her not to get hurt again, but she was destined to break his orders.
Since he didn't want her to get hurt, this was where she could take advantage the most.
The emperor is in the highest position in the sky. Even if he cares about others, how can he understand the suffering of tiny ants?
Whether for the stability of the country, for the overall situation, or for the life-saving grace of the late emperor, the status of the queen is unshakable.
Qing Zan didn't think that her few words would bring the Empress and the Duan family to justice and make them suffer the consequences. Otherwise, the Emperor would have held them accountable long before he knew that the Empress had concealed her true health condition. This wouldn't be the case today.
So, she had to first let him see something he didn't want to see happen.
Fu Cui was quite surprised. Although she didn't understand the other person's intention, she still agreed: "Okay..."
When the Queen woke up and heard about this, she immediately questioned Jin Yu in anger: "Didn't you say that Suoying was taken away because she was carrying a life?!"
Jin Yu wanted to argue, but was kicked in the heart and was in so much pain that she couldn't speak.
With the comparison, the Queen praised Fu Cui even more: "Good girl, you still need it. Go, call Qing Zan."
I originally wanted to give him a few more days to live, but I didn't expect that this bitch would really dare to try to curry favor with the rich and powerful!
Although she had been wary of her before, she actually never thought that anyone had such great ability to be noticed by the emperor.
Now it seems that she underestimated her in the past.
A moment of kindness almost led to disaster, but it doesn't matter. She is just a small palace maid. Does she really think that if she gets close to His Majesty, His Majesty will protect her?
If he really favored him so much, he would not have allowed anyone to return to Fengzao Palace.
Such people who betray their masters for personal gain should be fried in fire and boiled in oil, or cut into pieces.
Qingzan had just packed her bag when she was pushed and escorted into the main hall by several burly old women.
The whole person and the bundle were thrown to the ground.
Looking at the woman curled up on the ground, struggling to kneel straight, the queen smiled grimly. This person was not an insignificant person like Suoying, so of course she had to supervise the execution herself.
But she wouldn't let her die so easily.
Qing Zan pretended to be panicked and said, "My Lady?"
The queen slowly admired her long, beautiful nails, which were painted with rich nail polish. "Don't be impatient."
She smiled carefreely, "Come here, someone, first pluck out all ten of her nails for me."
The back of Qingzan's hand was immediately stepped on by one of the maids.
The pain spread into every inch of the bone joints.
One can’t help but wonder, was it also painful when A Niang died?
She had cried more in the past two days than in her entire life. Before the torture ended, Qingzan turned her head to look outside the hall, her eyes already full of tears.
The queen hated her innocent and pitiful appearance the most. Seeing that she was still looking out of the palace eagerly, as if waiting for someone to rescue her, she simply picked up the sharp pliers herself.
A smile of satisfaction, a look of revenge, appeared on his face: "Don't be delusional. No one can save you."
Little did she know that Qingzan just wanted to urge her to act quickly at this moment.
Because an hour had passed, the emperor must have left the court.
The nail was finally pulled out a little due to the force, and blood oozed out from the root. Qingzan groaned in pain, his whole body turned pale and trembled, and his breath became cold.
At this moment, she finally saw the supreme and noble imperial crown, and it was exactly at the time she had estimated, that she hurried in, neither too early nor too late.
Following behind him was Luxiu, who had rushed to report the news.
The emperor's voice was filled with lingering anger, cold and majestic, cutting through people like a blade: "Empress, what are you doing?"
The Queen was suddenly confronted and horrified. She quickly dropped the knife in her hand and said, "Your Majesty?"
I wanted to explain, but found that I had no way to explain.
Qingzan's face was bleak and mournful, her back drenched in cold sweat. Her fingers were connected to her heart, the pain was so deep that she could hardly speak.
For the last time, I was bullied for the last time.
Qingzan curled up the bloody finger and lay on the ground like a dying bird, calling out, "Your Majesty..."
The voice was weak, but it was enough to drown out the Queen's call for help.
"Don't talk yet, I'll take you away."
Qingzan fainted.
In the last glance, she only saw the blurry figure of the emperor bending down to pick her up.
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The author has something to say: Sorry for being late, let me draw a prize~[Let me see]
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