Chapter 734.2: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
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Imperial Consort Wan's stipend was not small, but she had many places where she spent money. Without the contributions from the Mu Family, how could she have come up with three thousand taels of silver all at once?
Finally, Imperial Consort Wan confessed, “…This consort… did give Imperial Concubine Li the three thousand taels… but it was because she told me her father was sick… and urgently needed the money for treatment…”
The Emperor’s voice was cold as he asked, “What illness requires three thousand taels?”
Imperial Consort Wan looked aggrieved, "Just one bowl of bird’s nest soup costs a hundred taels. Is three thousand taels really that much?"
As the daughter of the Mu Family, Imperial Consort Wan had lived a life of luxury since childhood, eating only the finest golden bird’s nest soup. Outside the imperial palace, a single tael could buy an entire pot of it.
She had no understanding of the hardships of commoners. Three thousand taels would not only be more than enough to treat an illness in a small county like Jiangyang, but even in Shengdu, it would be more than sufficient!
The Emperor asked suspiciously, “Then why did you deny it just now?”
Imperial Consort Wan choked up, “Didn’t Imperial Concubine Li just get into trouble? This consort has been close to her, and thus was afraid of getting implicated, which is why this consort hurried to distance myself from her.”
The Emperor looked at her intently, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, “Imperial Consort Wan, Zhen doesn’t believe you.”
……
Before dawn the next day, the entire harem knew that Imperial Consort Wan had ordered Imperial Concubine Li to conspire in the assassination attempt on Shangguan Yan.
Imperial Consort Wan was thrown into the cold palace. The Emperor had originally intended to strip her of her imperial consort title and demote her to the rank of imperial lady, but Imperial Consort Wang stepped in to plead on her behalf, temporarily saving her status.
Shangguan Yan was no longer the Crown Princess, just a commoner, and since the attempted assassination had failed, such punishment for an imperial consort was already considered severe.
Imperial Consort Wan wailed and cried.
Imperial Consort Wang advised her to endure the hardship in the cold palace for a while, and once the Emperor's anger subsided, she would find a way to help her out.
"Even the Empress back then hadn't come out once she went in, how can I?" At the entrance of her palace, Imperial Consort Wan was crying so hard she could barely breathe.
Imperial Consort Wang patted her shoulder reassuringly, "His Majesty is furious right now. Give me some time."
Imperial Consort Wan tightly gripped Imperial Consort Wang’s hand, "It wasn’t me… it really wasn’t me… Imperial consort sister, you have to believe me…"
Imperial Consort Wang sighed helplessly, "It doesn’t matter if I believe you. It’s His Majesty who has to believe you."
Zhang Dequan urged, "Imperial Consort Wan, please."
Imperial Consort Wan glared fiercely at Zhang Dequan, "You dog!"
Normally, he would address her as 'Your Highness Imperial Consort Wan,' but now that she was being sent to the cold palace, he didn’t even call her that anymore!
A luxurious sedan chair carried by four men slowly passed the entrance of Imperial Consort Wan’s palace. Seated on it, the dignified and elegant Imperial Consort Han lightly raised her hand to signal the accompanying eunuch.
The sedan chair came to a stop.
Imperial Consort Han, like Imperial Consort Wang, had been one of the Emperor's early companions. Though she already had grandchildren, her well-maintained appearance made her look barely over forty.
She glanced at Imperial Consort Wan with a smirk, "Oh, is Imperial Consort Wan leaving?"
Back when Imperial Consort Wang’s beauty began to fade, she had brought the Mu Family’s legitimate daughter, Imperial Consort Wan, into the imperial palace to aid her. Now that Imperial Consort Wan was being sent to the cold palace, Imperial Consort Wang was losing a vital ally.
Imperial Consort Wan glared at her angrily, stepping forward and pointing at Imperial Consort Han, "It must have been you! You framed me! You killed Imperial Concubine Li! It was you! It was all you!"
Imperial Consort Han lifted her chin and smiled mockingly, "Why don’t you take those words directly to His Majesty? If His Majesty also believes I did it, I won’t wait for his command——I’ll pack my things and move to the cold palace to keep you company."
"You!"
Imperial Consort Wang shook her head at Imperial Consort Wan, signaling her to calm down.
Imperial Consort Han dusted off her handkerchief and gazed ahead, speaking nonchalantly, "Be sure to bring a few extra blankets. I hear it gets quite cold in the cold palace."
Imperial Consort Wan was about to explode with rage, but getting angry wouldn’t help her now. This wretched woman surnamed Han had schemed to send her to the cold palace!
Zhang Dequan urged again.
"Please wait a moment, Eunuch Zhang." Imperial Consort Wang said politely, signaling for a palace maid to give Zhang Dequan a pouch of gold.
Zhang Dequan accepted it and quietly said, "Your Highness has a quarter of an hour, no more. This servant still needs to report back to His Majesty."
Imperial Consort Wang nodded and comforted Imperial Consort Wan for a while longer.
Tears streamed down Imperial Consort Wan's face as she wiped them with her handkerchief, her eyes red as she spoke, "Imperial consort sister, please look after the sixth prince for me. That vile woman is ruthless. If she could harm me like this, I’m worried she might do something against the sixth prince."
The sixth prince was the only imperial prince in the harem who hadn’t yet come of age, the Emperor’s youngest son.
Imperial Consort Wang took her hand, speaking earnestly, "I understand. I’ll bring him to Xianfu Palace and won’t let anyone harm him. Listen to me, when you go to the cold palace, don’t throw a tantrum."
Imperial Consort Wan was then taken away by Zhang Dequan.
Imperial Consort Wang sent her eunuch to fetch the sixth prince from the Imperial Academy after school.
On her way back to her own chambers, she encountered Imperial Consort Han admiring the flowers in the imperial garden.
Imperial Consort Wang coldly stared at Imperial Consort Han and said, "You’ve really gone too far this time."
Imperial Consort Han glanced at her deeply and sneered, "Heh."
……
At dawn, the Imperial Advisor's Hall received word of Imperial Consort Wan’s punishment.
Shangguan Yan had not yet woken again.
Inside the room, three people sat facing each other: Xiao Heng, Gu Jiao, and Gu Changqing.
"I didn’t expect Imperial Consort Wan to take the fall." Gu Jiao said, "It’s truly the Han Family’s way of doing things."
They always liked to have someone else take the blame.
"The opponent is very formidable." Gu Changqing said, though it wasn’t in terms of physical strength, but rather in terms of cunning and scheming.
One person like this in a family wasn’t too scary. But if everyone in the family was this sharp-minded, it was no wonder they could compete for the position of the top noble family.
This was a very troublesome and tricky family.
However, Xiao Heng didn’t feel the slightest bit of fear. Instead, a strange sense of competition and hunger for power quietly grew within his blood.
This was probably the same feeling Gu Jiao had when encountering a formidable opponent.
The only difference was that Gu Jiao sought a fair competition. Xiao Heng, on the other hand, was more black-bellied. He wanted to outwit the cunning, devouring them without even spitting out the bones.
The Han Family and the Wang Family were the two biggest fish. If the Han Family wanted to swallow all the other fishes, then let them go ahead and eat.
None of the top ten noble families were innocent. When the Xuanyuan Family was massacred and the Crown Princess was persecuted, every one of those families had delivered a stab.
He didn’t sympathize with Imperial Consort Wan.
Just like no one had ever sympathized with Xuanyuan Hanyan when she was thrown into the cold palace.
"The Han Family is a sharp blade." Xiao Heng said, lowering his gaze as he ran his fingers over the edge of the blade in his hand. "Next, let’s make that blade even sharper."
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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Description:
In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.
When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.
The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.
From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.
***
Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.
After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"
Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"
Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”
Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
He hasn't finished his lines yet though…