Read Novel Full Chapter 1141 - 152: Princess Consort De’s Terror
Chapter 1141: Chapter 152: Princess Consort De’s Terror
Just as Zhao Yao expected, after the news spread that he was to perform the sacrifice to Heaven and Earth on behalf of the Emperor, many people said he was unworthy. Quite a few ministers felt that the Emperor was muddled from illness, allowing the low-status Prince Han to perform the sacrifice.
The ministers in the court and the concubines in the harem could not accept Zhao Yao performing the Emperor’s sacrifice. Although the Emperor was clearly recuperating, many ministers and concubines still requested an audience.
In the harem, the most dissatisfied with this matter were Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong. They both felt that Zhao Yao was unworthy to replace the Emperor in performing the sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, unless all the princes were dead. In their view, their sons were the most suitable candidates.
The Emperor had long anticipated that Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong would confront him about this, and he refused to see them. Unexpectedly, they knelt at the door, pleading with the Emperor to retract his order.
Sun Kui came forward to persuade them, saying that if they did not allow the Emperor proper rest, leading to a worsening of his illness, they would be guilty of an unforgivable crime.
Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong could not bear such a heavy crime and dared not trouble the Emperor again, obediently returning to their own palaces, but they couldn’t swallow this indignation. They thought of bullying Lady Liang to vent their anger. Unexpectedly, the Emperor decreed that if anyone in the harem deliberately made things difficult for Lady Liang, they should not blame him for being unkind.
Seeing the Emperor protect Lady Liang so much, Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong smashed quite a few objects in anger.
At this time, Noble Princess Consort Ying stepped forward to defend Lady Liang, openly telling everyone that Lady Liang was under her protection, and no one should try any underhanded tricks.
As for Princess Consort De, a few days ago, she was caught trying to harm Lady Liang and subsequently fell ill, now confined to the palace.
Princess Consort De knew her illness was unusual, but she was helpless. She wanted to send a message out, but she was being watched and had no way to send a message to her family. She could only lie in bed, watching helplessly as her son and family encountered problems.
Having just taken her medicine, Princess Consort De leaned weakly against the bed. She wanted to speak, but those serving her were no longer her former attendants. Since she had fallen ill, all the people in her palace had been replaced. Those who used to be by her side had all disappeared, and she did not need to imagine what fate had befallen them.
There was no conversation in the entire Yishou Palace, the silence was terrifying.
Just then, footsteps were heard, followed by a voice from outside greeting Noble Princess Consort Ying.
Hearing that Noble Princess Consort Ying had arrived, a flicker of light appeared in the dim eyes of Princess Consort De. Since her illness, only Noble Princess Consort Ying occasionally came to see her and talk to her.
Previously, she had hated Noble Princess Consort Ying the most, but unexpectedly, after her downfall, only Noble Princess Consort Ying came to visit her.
Princess Consort De knew in her heart that Noble Princess Consort Ying was not visiting out of genuine concern, but to mock her, yet she did not mind. Only when Noble Princess Consort Ying came would anyone talk to her in the entire Yishou Palace.
Noble Princess Consort Ying entered Princess Consort De’s chamber and saw her pale face, weakly leaning against the bed, and let out a scoff: "Looking at you like this, I’m afraid you won’t hold out for long."
"In such cold weather, you’re actually here to see me."
"I’m really just bored, so I’ve come to mock you." Noble Princess Consort Ying found amusement in ridiculing Princess Consort De, "I wonder if you’ll hold on until the day you reunite with your son."
Upon hearing this, Princess Consort De’s gaze sharpened, and she asked urgently, "What do you mean?"
"What do I mean, don’t you understand? Haven’t you been waiting all this time for your son to succeed in his rebellion and come save you?" Noble Princess Consort Ying said nonchalantly while sipping tea.
At these words, Princess Consort De’s complexion changed drastically, her eyes filled with shock and fear.
"You..."
"How do I know?" Noble Princess Consort Ying chuckled, "Do you think your son’s actions have escaped the Emperor’s notice?"
Princess Consort De looked horrified, her body trembling slightly: "The Emperor, he..."
"The Emperor is waiting for your son to throw himself into the net." Noble Princess Consort Ying laughed, "You should strive to hang on until the day you reunite with your son. I think you two will meet soon."
Princess Consort De’s breathing became rapid, and then her vision turned black.
Seeing this, Noble Princess Consort Ying instructed the palace maid serving Princess Consort De to pinch her under the nose to stop her from fainting.
The palace maid, skilled in her movements, pinched Princess Consort De under the nose hard, bringing her back from the brink of unconsciousness.
Princess Consort De gasped for air: "You... the Emperor..."
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you one more thing. It was I who exposed your actions against Lady Liang." Noble Princess Consort Ying smiled gently at Princess Consort De, "I’ve been watching you closely, and you didn’t disappoint me."
Princess Consort De’s pupils widened suddenly, a horrified expression on her face. She pointed at Noble Princess Consort Ying and said: "You... you are... the Emperor’s..."
Noble Princess Consort Ying kindly finished Princess Consort De’s statement for her: "That’s right, I am the Emperor’s spy in the harem."
Princess Consort De: "!!!!!」
Noble Princess Consort Ying, pleased with Princess Consort De’s reaction, said with a cheerful smile: "Unexpected, isn’t it?"
Princess Consort De, usually clever, now that she knew Noble Princess Consort Ying’s identity, was terrified and didn’t dare to think further, for... it was too frightening, the Emperor was truly too frightening.
"Oh, right, in light of your impending death, I’ll kindly tell you one more thing." Noble Princess Consort Ying supported her chin with her hand, smiling, "Lady Liang is the person the Emperor loves most. You chose to harm her out of everyone, do you think the Emperor would spare you?"
Princess Consort De was full of disbelief: "Lady Liang?! How could it be her?" She had always thought that the woman the Emperor loved most was Miss Si, who looked identical to Noble Princess Consort Ying, not Noble Princess Consort Rong. But unexpectedly, it was Lady Liang.
She suddenly recalled how when Lady Liang first entered the palace, the Emperor frequently favored her. Realizing this, Princess Consort De found it amusing and laughed out loud.
"The Emperor has deceived everyone, isn’t he amazing?"
"The Emperor indeed really loves Lady Liang." When Princess Consort De said this, her expression was filled with hatred, jealousy, and anger.
"Unexpected, isn’t it?"
"The emperor has made us all a joke." The biggest joke is Noble Princess Consort Rong. Just thinking about how Noble Princess Consort Rong still doesn’t know about this, and even thinks she’s the emperor’s favorite woman, makes Princess Consort De feel delighted.
"How does it feel to be a joke in the eyes of the man you deeply love?" Although Princess Consort De hid it well, Noble Princess Consort Ying could see that Princess Consort De loved the emperor, but she knew the emperor didn’t love her, so she pretended not to love him.
Having her deep-seated love seen through, Princess Consort De looked shocked, "You... how do you know?"
"Which woman in this harem doesn’t love the emperor? You’re no exception." The emperor is handsome, capable, and the supreme of the world. How many women can resist a man like that?
"What about you, don’t you love the emperor?"
"Whether I love him or not doesn’t matter." Noble Princess Consort Ying was too lazy to discuss whether she loved the emperor with Princess Consort De, "Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you one more thing."
Princess Consort De suddenly had a bad premonition.
Noble Princess Consort Ying spoke very slowly, "Your son’s trip to Youzhou wasn’t something you requested on your own."
Princess Consort De’s heart instantly fell into an icehouse, a bone-chilling cold spreading to her limbs. She looked terrified, "You... what... do you mean..."
Noble Princess Consort Ying playfully winked at Princess Consort De, saying, "It was the emperor who had you request to go to Youzhou."
Princess Consort De’s pupils contracted suddenly; then everything went black, and she lost consciousness.
Seeing Princess Consort De faint, Noble Princess Consort Ying disdainfully curled her lips and said, "Useless."
"Noble Consort, should I wake her up?"
"Forget it, let her remain unconscious." Noble Princess Consort Ying walked to the bed, looking down at the fainted Princess Consort De, "How much longer can she hold on physically?"
"Your Highness, rest assured, she can hold on for another month or two."
"That’s good, otherwise, it would be a pity if they couldn’t reunite." Noble Princess Consort Ying instructed a few things to the palace maid and then left Yishou Palace.
Upon leaving Yishou Palace, the palace maid beside her asked, "Your Highness, why did you want to visit Princess Consort De?" The palace maid hadn’t entered Princess Consort De’s chamber with her.
"I was bored." Noble Princess Consort Ying said, "Princess Consort De has always been arrogant, thinking she’s smart, looking down on everyone. Now that she’s fallen to this point, how could I not take a look at her, make a joke of her."
"You’re right, Your Highness."
"It’s almost New Year, and there’ll be more good shows to watch."
"Your Highness, be careful; the road is slippery."
At this moment, in the Prince Han’s Mansion, Zhao Yao was learning the rules and etiquettes of sacrifice. As he learned, he regretted returning to the capital.
Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and early in the morning, he has to perform the sacrificial rites on behalf of the emperor. Fortunately, after the rites, there’s nothing more for him to do. The New Year’s Eve banquet doesn’t need him to host; Prince Dai and Prince Chu will handle it.
If he had to host the New Year’s Eve banquet, he would definitely run back to Swamp Prefecture overnight.
After finishing learning the sacrificial rules and etiquettes, Zhao Yao collapsed on the bed, motionless.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Tong Xi asked with concern while massaging Zhao Yao.
"Do I look alright?" Zhao Yao complained, "So many rules and etiquettes for the sacrifice, it’s really..." He sighed again, feeling that being an emperor is truly not a human task. He was absolutely right in deciding not to become emperor.
"Your Highness, just get through tomorrow and the day after; it’ll be fine."
Just as he was speaking, Prince Chu walked in, signaling Tong Xi to leave, and began massaging Zhao Yao himself.
"Fourth brother, how are you so full of energy?" His fourth brother is in charge of all the banquets during the New Year, and that’s not an easy task. "Aren’t you tired?"
"Not tired, I’m used to it." These years, Prince Chu has hosted all sorts of New Year banquets every year and is already accustomed to it.
Zhao Yao gave Prince Chu a thumbs up, saying admiringly, "Impressive!"
"How’s your learning going? You won’t make any mistakes during the sacrifice, will you?"
"Even if I have ten heads, I wouldn’t dare make a mistake during the sacrifice." If he made a mistake during the sacrifice, his life might not be spared.
"That’s good." Prince Chu didn’t say much else. He still had things to do, so after chatting with Zhao Yao for a while, he left.
Watching Prince Chu’s departing figure, Zhao Yao sighed lightly and said, "Fourth brother should have figured it out."
Tong Xi quickly asked, "What has Prince Chu figured out?"
"He’s figured out that I’m hiding from the situation between him and the eighth brother."
"Your Highness, it’s good that Prince Chu knows."
"Yes, it’s good that fourth brother knows; this way, I won’t be caught in the middle." Zhao Yao finished speaking, and for some reason, his brows furrowed, and his expression became solemn.
Eighth brother... I hope I’m overthinking things.