Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C087 extra pt2

Fengqi Palace.

The Empress raised an eyebrow and said, "Has the person arrived?"

"She has, Your Majesty. She was led to Chenhui Hall by Consort Chang's people."

The Empress chuckled softly. "She truly dares; she even dares to bring someone into Chenhui Hall."

Emperor Qianwu was diligent in his government affairs and mostly resided in Zichen Hall, but Zichen Hall was not his sleeping quarters. His proper sleeping quarters should be this Chenhui Hall.

In fact, the Emperor's sleeping quarters should have been set in Penglai Hall, but because Penglai Hall was the residence of the late Emperor Taihe, Emperor Qianwu did not move in after ascending the throne. Instead, he left it vacant and established another sleeping quarters, which was Chenhui Hall.

For Consort Chang to dare bring someone to Chenhui Hall was truly audacious.

"Relying on raising that sickly First Prince, she has always been bold and reckless, even presumptuously attempting to oppose Your Majesty and provoke you, without even looking to see if she has the qualifications."

The Empress waved her hand slightly and said, "Enough. She is, after all, the Kind Consort Chang, and she is raising His Majesty's eldest son. Her status is naturally not ordinary; otherwise, she wouldn't be constantly eyeing this Majesty's position."

"Then what should Your Majesty do now?"

The Empress's gaze shifted, and she said, "Have someone lead her to Rouyi Hall."

Chenhui Hall and Rouyi Hall were adjacent; those in the palace knew this, but those outside the palace did not.

The palace maid was startled and blurted out, "But Your Majesty, that Rouyi Hall is not only the former residence of Empress Dowager Zhanghui, but it is said... it is said to be haunted..."

Haunted?

What ghosts are there in this world? It's just...

The Empress's expression hardened. "I told you to go, so go. Why so much nonsense!"

"Yes."

***

Mei shi stood in the hall for a while, but seeing that no one came, she didn't dare to wander around.

She was truly tired of standing, and seeing a chair nearby, she went to sit down.

A palace maid hurried in from outside, but it wasn't the same one as before.

Mei shi quickly stood up, fearing that she would be reprimanded for sitting down randomly.

"Come with me."

The palace maid said this as soon as she arrived, and Mei shi subconsciously followed her, asking, "This Miss, where are you taking me?"

"Naturally, I'm taking you where you should be." This palace maid had a stern face and spoke very impolitely. "Don't talk, and don't look around. This is not a place where you can be presumptuous. Keep your mouth shut and follow me."

Despite what was said, Mei shi still observed the surroundings along the way, due to this sudden turn of events.

The palace maid didn't take her far. Instead, she exited the hall, passed through a door, and arrived at another palace courtyard. The two courtyards were connected, and this courtyard was just as silent as the previous one, so quiet it was unsettling.

A hint of fear appeared on the palace maid's face, but Mei shi, walking behind her, didn't see it.

The two walked all the way inside, and after arriving at a spacious hall, the palace maid hurriedly said to Mei shi, "Stand here and don't move."

After saying that, she left in a hurry.

One was like this, and now two were like this.

Even though Mei shi had always been timid and cowardly, she realized that something was wrong.

What exactly was this place? If she was here to see Consort Chang, it wouldn't be like this. So why did they lead her here?

Only now did Mei shi realize that the light in this hall was very dim. Even though it was daytime outside, lamps were lit inside.

Countless curtains surrounded her, making the hall feel even more eerie and ghostly. She was truly panicked and wanted to go back the way she came, but the hall was too deep, and there were curtains everywhere. As she walked, she lost her way.

Suddenly, she saw a person lying on the ground ahead.

The person was lying face down on the ground, their back to her. Judging by the clothes they wore, it seemed to be the palace maid who had led her here.

She called out to the person, but there was no response.

She stepped forward and nudged the person. Unexpectedly, the palace maid rolled over, revealing a pale, terrified face and a bloodied gash across her neck.

It was then that Mei shi realized blood was pooling on the ground, hidden beneath the maid's body, which was why she hadn't seen it.

She recoiled in terror, wanting to scream but unable to.

After a few breaths, she scrambled to her feet, desperate to leave. But her legs were too weak, and she stumbled and fell again after only a few steps. As she hurriedly tried to rise, she noticed a pair of feet appearing before her.

It was a pair of black boots embroidered with golden five-clawed dragons amidst clouds.

Besides the boots, there was also the tip of a sword, from which blood was dripping.

Drip, drip…

Slowly, she raised her head, taking in the elaborately patterned hem of a robe, and then she was enveloped by a looming figure.

Because the figure was backlit, she couldn't make out their features, only that they had long, disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes.

The next moment, someone's hand was clamped around her throat.

Mei shi was consumed by overwhelming fear and began to weep.

But she dared not cry loudly, fearing she would enrage the person. She merely sobbed silently.

"Don't kill me…"

Her neck throbbed with pain. She was certain this madman would snap her neck, but after weeping for some time, she realized her neck remained intact.

"Please don't kill me. I didn't come here intentionally. I was led here. I am the wife of the Second Young Master of Duke Zhao's Mansion…"

She murmured her identity, hoping the person would spare her.

Tears streamed down her face, dripping onto the man's hand.

She waited for death, but realized the person wasn't tightening their grip. They were merely staring intently at her, as if weighing something. She quickly reached up to pry at the hand that was strangling her.

"It wasn't my intention to barge in, I truly apologize for the intrusion…"

With great difficulty, she pried his hand loose, and Mei shi was just about to flee when that large hand changed direction.

It actually caressed her cheek.

Mei shi was instantly so frightened that she didn't dare to move a muscle.

The man drew closer, his face gradually reflected in Mei shi's eyes, a handsome yet sinister countenance. His face was handsome, but his eyes were exceedingly frightening.

What kind of eyes were those?

They were filled with violence, madness, and bloodlust, like a wild beast, utterly devoid of reason.

Mei shi remained frozen, not daring to move at all.

The man drew closer and closer, so close that she could feel his breath, and then she watched, wide-eyed, as the man moved towards her neck.

She was terrified out of her wits, thinking he was going to bite her neck off.

But that was not the case; he merely buried his face in her neck and took a deep breath.

The next moment, the world spun, and she was swept away, her waist held in a vise-like grip.

She fell into a soft place, and then a body pressed down upon her.

He was still buried in the hollow of her neck, but seemingly annoyed by her hands, he took them away and pinned them beneath her waist, forcing her to arch her head and chest. The man then buried himself again, this time against her chest, rubbing his face against the soft, prominent mounds before heavily burying his face there and falling asleep.

***

In Fengqi Palace, the Empress, seated upon her phoenix throne, felt a slight unease.

She recalled a secret she had inadvertently stumbled upon years ago.

The cause of death of Empress Dowager Zhanghui, though no one had dared to mention it for many years, was known to those who sought to discover it: Empress Dowager Zhanghui had died of madness.

Who could have imagined that the former Prince Wei, now Emperor Qianwu, would also suffer from madness?

Not a single person in the entire court, from the civil and military officials to all within the palace, knew! The Empress had once thought she would die after learning this secret, but who would have thought that Prince Wei would spare her?

From then on, she acted as if she knew nothing at all, as if she had never known.

No wonder, no wonder he rarely came to her chambers after their wedding. No wonder even after the Secondary Consort entered the household, she received no favor. No wonder despite the palace being filled with concubines, he seldom set foot in the harem. What rain and dew equally distributed? The women of this entire palace were practically dying of drought.

No one knew that she was actually afraid of that man...

If she, if she could only have a prince, she would no longer compete with Consort Chang, and would peacefully raise her own prince. Then, when His Majesty fell ill and passed away, she would be the Empress Dowager without a doubt.

But Consort Chang was a fool, always causing her trouble, always opposing her.

That's right, and her...

Why did you have to enter the palace, Mei Wushuang?!

You could have lived your days in the Zhao family, meekly and cautiously. Why did you have to enter the palace? Since it is difficult for me to kill you myself, I will let you die by his hand, die in that 'haunted' palace.

She wondered if the person was already dead at this moment. The Empress revealed an expression of sorrowful compassion.