Chapter 811: Chapter 811: Dying with Eyes Open
After the Emperor ascended to the throne, he was left with a mess from the former court by the Late Emperor, with aristocratic clans led by Xue Ping causing chaos in the Imperial Court, hindering him at every turn. The Emperor exhausted his efforts, each step requiring immense thought.
The harem was plagued with residual toxins from the time of the Late Emperor, with the Late Empress wielding power, resulting in rampant disorder. The servants became restless, with imperial consorts and concubines vying for power, creating great confusion.
Before the Emperor could free his hands from the former court, Xue Wanjun ran into trouble; her pregnancy ended prematurely, causing bodily harm that made it difficult to conceive, eliciting sympathy from the Former Empress Dowager, who took it upon herself to punish a large group of people. Upon seeing this, the Emperor simply allowed the Former Empress Dowager to decide on the matter.
Some time later, Consort Liu was poisoned, causing irreparable damage, and her health deteriorated.
It was at this time that the Emperor noticed something amiss between the two and upon investigation uncovered the truth. Consort Liu had secretly colluded with the consorts of the former emperor to make the first move, and Xue Wanjun, who was still Consort Xue at the time, outwardly complied with the Former Empress Dowager’s judgment but was inwardly defiant, later seizing the chance to attempt to kill Consort Liu.
One crime reciprocates another; both were equally ruthless, akin to the consorts who openly and covertly battled the Late Emperor. The Emperor despised both greatly but was forced to endure for the sake of imperial balance.
It was from that point that the Emperor had no more thoughts for Noble Consort Xue.
After Consort Liu was injured, Liu Xianzhang fell seriously ill, but later forced himself to enter the palace to petition the Emperor to punish Xue Wanjun. Having served as Libationer of the Imperial Academy for many years, his disciples and former officials were widespread. If the true culprit was not punished, it’s likely the Literati would raise an outcry for him, causing unrest.
His words sounded grandiose, at a time when Xue Ping’s faction was exceedingly strong, coinciding with the Rebel Prince becoming restless. If Noble Consort Xue was punished, how could Xue Ping stay indifferent? Chaos would inevitably ensue in the Imperial Court, sparking a greater crisis.
The Emperor revealed Consort Liu’s collusion with others to conspire against the noble consort’s heir, leaving Liu Xianzhang speechless. Harm against the Imperial Heir was an abominable crime against morality, akin to treason. If the Xue Family seized upon this handle to attack, Consort Liu would be utterly destroyed, and the Liu Family would face eternal ruin.
Considering the situation, and after illness left his body weak, Liu Xianzhang decisively resigned from his position as Libationer of the Imperial Academy to favor the Emperor. Further, he openly supported the Emperor’s selections.
The Emperor also reciprocated, allowing Huafu Hall in the harem to become a unique entity, employing palace attendants to make decisions independently without passing through Noble Consort Xue. Food, medicine, and all daily affairs were managed by Huafu Hall, preventing Noble Consort Xue from intervening, and later he lavishly bestowed precious herbal medicines upon Huafu Hall.
Consort Liu’s eyes were vacant, her body cold and speechless. She couldn’t fathom such an event had happened, wasting years of accumulated depression with no relief, harboring immense resentment, even against her father.
With things as they were, how had she let her father down...
The Emperor’s gaze was contemptuous. Liu Xianzhang was intelligent his whole life but had birthed such a narrow-minded daughter, repeatedly stirring up trouble in the harem. The demotion of Xu Rongying from Consort Xu to Zhaoyi was linked to her. These minor schemes, countless, don’t think he was ignorant.
Since Liu Xianzhang dared meddle in the harem, let him prepare to endure his wrath. He wanted Liu Xianzhang to send a white-haired elder to bury a black-haired youth; this was the greatest punishment!
Not wishing to entangle further, he coldly said, "I spare his life, without implicating your Liu Family’s nine clans. This is the ultimate mercy."
Saying this, the Emperor flicked his sleeve and strode away, followed swiftly by the young eunuch from Star Palace.
Leaving Zhang Qing to manage the aftermath, his expression was frigid. The palace attendants from Huafu Hall who came to attend Consort Liu had already been driven to one side, now trembling on their knees, while their master seemed soulless, collapsed and pitiable.
Yet pitiful people invariably have despicable aspects, His Majesty’s wrath is like thunder when provoked. Consort Liu and her palace maid were insidious and cruel, implicating innocents for their own gain. Poor Master Lian, still in...
Thinking of Lian Hua, Zhang Qing sighed incessantly. He cast a chilly glance around and gestured for someone to immediately drag away those two palace maids under Qing Ya.
Addressing those in the pavilion, he said with a fake smile, "Consort Liu, please, either rise yourself, or shall I summon someone to assist?" It was just a matter of whether to retain dignity till the end.
Consort Liu’s eyes moved sluggishly, looked at Zhang Qing, then saw Qing Ya crying endlessly not far away, struggling mightily but in vain, ultimately forcibly taken away.
"Hahaha..." She suddenly laughed wildly, then abruptly ceased, her eyes full of malice. Gasping for breath, straining with her remaining strength, she screamed, "Heaven is unjust, I’m unwilling, I’m unwilling, even in death I’ll find no peace. If I become a vengeful ghost, I won’t spare any of you, Xue Wanjun, Xue Wanjun, I’ll await you in the Netherworld..."
Her appearance was fierce like an evil spirit, very frightening, and until the last moment, she didn’t forget her curses, nor her "good sisters."
Zhang Qing was startled, hurriedly ran to the pavilion, and shouted sternly, "Come, gag her mouth!" Lest her ominous words taint others’ ears.
But it was too late. Before they reached her, Consort Liu bloodily vomited, her entire face pale, slowly collapsing to the ground, a sight of a flame extinguished, eyes wide open losing their shine, gazing towards Huaqing Palace.
Removed to the distance, Qing Ya fainted instantly, suddenly understanding why the Emperor intervened during her removal; it was to let her witness her master’s downfall, leaving her full of regret, ensuring she wouldn’t find peace even if executed.
Zhang Qing approached the pavilion, coldly observing those present, involuntarily letting out continuous cold laughs. Well, spared a poisoned wine.
Once dead, curses are useless. The Late Emperor’s consorts failed in their power struggles and hated His Majesty deeply. But posthumously, they were just dust, unable to harm anyone in the slightest?
Heaven’s malice caused Consort Liu’s insatiable greed. Born to good conditions, her father treated her like a jewel, yet she was narrow-minded, living a life of contest and strife — how obstinate!
Self-inflicted, how pitiful, how lamentable!
"Clean up the place and have the Liu corpse taken out of the palace by night, returning it to the Liu Family tomorrow."
"Yes."
Countless schemes amounted to emptiness. Who would be next?
Inside Canglan Court.
The Emperor walked alone, burdened with a cold, frosty temperament, his figure desolate and bleak.
He heard Consort Liu’s last fierce curses. In this world, those who hated him and wished him dead were countless; such petty curses were insignificant to him.
With anxiety, he briskly approached the Main Hall, finding the east side chamber door still tightly shut. Outside, Xiao Linzi and Pang Ya, along with two young eunuchs from Star Palace patrolled back and forth, vigilantly eyeing the surroundings.
It was evident that this door remained closed since his departure.