Chapter 35 A Pleasant Experience
The terror in He Miaoling's eyes could no longer be concealed. She gasped for breath, and when she spoke again, her voice was weak.
"You, you actually knew that."
"I know more than just that," Liu Xi laughed self-deprecatingly. "I witnessed my mother's death with my own eyes."
He Miaoling collapsed to the ground, and Liu Xi, who was sitting in front of her, seemed to have turned into a vengeful ghost, so frightening that she couldn't move.
"You've always known this, yet you still stay by my side, pretending to be obedient, hoping I'll take you and the Fifth Prince in and become your mother?"
Liu Xi did not deny it, "In order to survive in this deep palace, enemies and benefactors are nothing more than big trees on which we depend for survival."
"In the past, there were many reasons why I had to suppress my disgust and hatred and try to get close to you, pretending to be filial and sensible, just so that you could support the Fifth Prince and climb up the social ladder step by step."
"Unfortunately, I made a huge mistake: I forgot myself."
"You have never treated me like a daughter, and Liu Yan has shown me no respect whatsoever. I have served you both like a slave, working tirelessly and without complaint, only to be met with endless exploitation and betrayal!"
"So I'm tired and don't want to pretend anymore."
It is said that people often lose their rationality when they are afraid, but He Miaoling suddenly became clear-headed at this moment.
"So since returning from the hunting grounds, you have been scheming against me and the child in my womb."
Liu Xi stood up with a loud laugh, walked slowly to He Miaoling's side, and looked down at her.
"Your Majesty is overthinking it. I never scheme against innocent people."
"A child? When has Your Majesty ever had a child?"
These words struck He Miaoling like a blow to the head. She shook her head frantically, lay on the ground like a dog, and grabbed Liu Xi's ankles with both hands.
"What do you mean? Explain yourself. It's impossible. This is impossible. How could I not have had children?"
"Haven't I made myself clear enough?" Liu Xi kicked He Miaoling away, her tone sharp and scathing.
"Imperial Physician Zhu has always served only me. Your swollen belly is nothing more than a fake fetus that I induced with medicine to make you happy!"
He Miaoling burst into a shrill laugh, realizing that everything she had possessed from beginning to end had been a lie.
Liu Yan is a hopeless case. Her father, in order to protect the He family's power, never puts her first. His Majesty has never truly liked her. The child she finally managed to have is lifeless.
He Miaoling looked at the sky, her eyes almost overflowing with tears.
Whether it was a final struggle or something she didn't want to keep to herself, He Miaoling shouted sharply.
"Even without me, that vile woman wouldn't have survived in the harem!"
"Is living a life of ignominy necessarily a good thing? I gave that vile woman a quick death; you should be thanking me!"
"It is fate that Jiang is the one burdened with this calamity. She was born to be a menace. What does it matter to me whether she can save her lowly life?"
Liu Xi swung her arm and slapped He Miaoling across the face. He Miaoling fell to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Stop making excuses for the evil thoughts in your heart!
“You’re just worried that my mother is in your way, that she’ll rise to power because of her son, and that one day she’ll trample you underfoot.”
"You're the ones who unfairly pinned the blame for this demonic calamity on her! When you personally strangled her with that white silk ribbon, didn't you think about the retribution?"
Although He Miaoling was already somewhat insane or even delirious at this point, she still showed a clear look of surprise when she heard Liu Xi's words.
"The calamity was a prophecy calculated by the Imperial Astronomical Observatory; it was a celestial phenomenon..."
"Your Majesty has a terrible memory. Isn't it Your Majesty who bribed the Imperial Observatory's witness to try and frame me?"
He Miaoling seemed to suddenly see a glimmer of hope, and she crawled toward Liu Xi again, pleading.
"Your Highness, please believe me. The real culprit who framed your mother is someone else. It really wasn't me."
"I am still a concubine, and I am still the legitimate daughter of General Dingyuan's mansion. As long as the princess is willing to help me, I will definitely find out the real culprit and avenge the princess."
Whether out of pity or not, Liu Xi slowly squatted down and met He Miaoling's gaze.
"Your Majesty is unaware of this yet, but officials in the court have jointly submitted a memorial accusing He Qing of embezzling military funds and weapons, raising personal guards, and plotting a rebellion."
"The Dingyuan General's Mansion behind you can no longer be relied upon."
Even with He Miaoling's last breath, it eventually dissipated.
She fell to the ground and stopped struggling.
"I am tired. Consort He, you should return to the palace as soon as possible, lest you miss important news from the Fifth Prince."
After Liu Xi returned to the house, Zhi Xiang waved to the palace servants in the courtyard. Several people came forward and carried the unconscious He Miaoling out of Yi Huai Pavilion, and they walked towards Xing Yun Pavilion in such an undignified manner.
"Why did the princess let Lady He leave?"
“He will not die at my hands. I find her blood too dirty,” Liu Xi replied.
In Liu Xi's heart, He Miaoling's fate was already sealed, but in Liu Xi's view, the pain she had experienced was not even half as much as what He Miaoling had endured.
In her final moments, let those around He Miaoling who hate her torment her in her place.
A few days later, Liu Yu led the troops that Liu Yan had taken to Ningbei back to the capital.
Upon hearing that the disaster victims in Ningbei were finally able to have enough to eat, the emperor breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile finally appeared on his long-stern face.
This was the best news the emperor had heard in nearly half a month.
Moreover, the prefect of Ningbei frequently submitted memorials, expressing how grateful the local people were to His Majesty and how much they thanked the Seventh Prince.
Liu Xi eagerly awaited at Yi Huai Pavilion, but before seeing anyone, she heard their voice.
"Sister!"
Liu Yu's loud voice rang out, and then Liu Xi saw Liu Yu, dressed in court attire, rushing towards her, picking her up, and spinning her around twice in the air.
“I came straight here after leaving Father’s place. I hope you weren’t too impatient, sister.”
Liu Xi flailed in mid-air for a moment, then patted Liu Yu's shoulder to make him put her down.
Once her feet were on the ground, Liu Xi gently tapped Liu Yu on the head.
"You have no manners!"
The Yihuai Pavilion was bustling with activity again after a long time. Liu Xi had the small kitchen prepare a table full of delicious dishes as a welcome feast for Liu Yu.
Liu Yu recounted all his experiences on the trip to Liu Xi. When he mentioned that he had passed through Yinzhou with provisions, Liu Xi interrupted him curiously and inquired about the current situation in Yinzhou.
Liu Yu's smile faded. "Is Sister so concerned about Yinzhou because General Huo is there now?"
There's nothing wrong with saying it that way, but it sounds a bit strange coming from Liu Yu's mouth.
"Since this involves He Qing's serious crime of plotting a rebellion, I will naturally pay more attention to Yinzhou."
Liu Xi found a reasonable explanation for her question, and Liu Yu listened, his tense mood was somewhat relieved.
Liu Xi was somewhat puzzled by Liu Yu's resistance to Huo Lin.
Could it be that Huo Lin's teachings caused Liu Yu to subconsciously develop a sense of aversion towards his teacher?
Left with no other choice, Liu Xi had to give up on the topic of Yinzhou and instead talk to Liu Yu about other things.
Liu Xi didn't notice that Liu Yu had now learned to avoid the main issues with her and to hide his intentions from her.
Even after Liu Yu left Yihuai Pavilion, Liu Xi stared at his back, still thinking to herself that her seventh brother had a childish temper.
Little did they know, all of this was merely a facade put on by Liu Yu.
Within Yinzhou, Huo Lin heard about the large number of refugees gathering in the northern suburbs and felt slightly uneasy.
Border uprisings are never a good thing, no matter how you look at it.
If neighboring countries seize this opportunity to launch an attack on the Celestial Empire, Huo Lin's elder brother, who has been stationed on the frontier for many years, will surely be in deep danger.
Huo Lin took out paper and pen and wrote down his concerns in the letter, informing Liu Xi that he planned to temporarily leave Yinzhou and secretly go to the northern suburbs to investigate the truth behind the gathering of refugees.
Unfortunately, Huo Lin doesn't have a nimble servant like Xia Xia by his side now.
The letter was placed on Liu Xi's desk three days later.
At that moment, Liu Xi was examining the belt that Zhi Xiang had embroidered.
"Princess, you still haven't told me what you want this man's belt for."
Liu Xi had a wicked grin on her face, clearly planning to do something bad, which made Zhi Xiang even more uneasy.
"I will use this belt to catch a big fish."
With that, Liu Xi hurriedly left Yi Huai Pavilion with the belt in her hand.
Inside Shou'an Palace, the Empress Dowager was in high spirits, presumably because the news of Liu Yu's safe return to the palace had made her very happy.
Liu Xi looked troubled and presented the belt in her hand to the Empress Dowager.
“Grandmother, the Imperial Censor is different from other court officials. In order to observe the celestial phenomena and convey the will of Heaven to His Majesty, you must stay in the inner palace for a long time.”
"The belt on your body is clearly made by a woman. The needlework and fabric on it are all materials that were used by the concubines in the palace on a daily basis."
"Grandson is worried that perhaps one of the concubines in the harem has harbored improper thoughts, which is why..."
The Empress Dowager naturally understood what Liu Xi meant by the unspoken half-sentence.
"I will have Consort Xian investigate this matter carefully. The Emperor is busy with court affairs, yet trouble is brewing in the harem. It is truly worrying."
After saying this, the Empress Dowager immediately sent someone to invite Consort Xian to Shou'an Palace without stopping for a moment.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager had no intention of letting him leave, Liu Xi naturally took the Buddhist scriptures from the Empress Dowager's hands and began to recite them with her.
A short while later, Aunt Wen came in to deliver the news.
"Your Majesty, Consort Xian has arrived."
With Liu Xi by her side, Aunt Wen did not go to the main hall to receive guests, which made it seem less deliberate for Liu Xi to accompany the Empress Dowager.
Consort Xian did not know why the Empress Dowager had suddenly summoned her, but seeing Liu Xi by her side, she felt inexplicably uneasy.
As expected, the Empress Dowager had barely sat down when she began to reprimand the Empress Dowager in an unfriendly tone.
"How exactly do you manage the affairs of the harem? Ever since the power to assist in managing the six palaces fell into your hands, the harem has been in constant turmoil."
After saying this, the Empress Dowager threw the belt in her hand heavily onto her, and it fell to the feet of Consort Xian and spread out.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
