She wanted to see if there was truly a deep bond between master and servant or if it was just superficial.
Before Consort Liu was about to leave, Consort Xu De pointed out a path with her long fingers, even kindly giving a clear direction: "No need to go elsewhere and toil. The person is in Canglan Court."
Consort Liu’s face turned ashen like a corpse in an instant, immediately thinking of the worst-case scenario: if Qing Ya acted against the one in Canglan Court, this matter might not end well, potentially threatening lives at any moment. But what exactly did Qing Ya do?
She did not move for a long time, finally resolved to push through her shattered body, stumbling as she was supported and walked out of Huafu Hall, heading for Canglan Court.
Consort Xu De watched her leave with a cold gaze.
The emperor’s furious rage had yet to erupt, but Consort Liu’s departure might serve as a delightful prelude for the Emperor. She also wanted to see how the Emperor would treat her fragile sister after she got into trouble; if possible, she wanted to act herself, never mind the Emperor?
She waved her grand hand and said, "No need to search further, withdraw."
From tonight onwards, Huafu Hall was abolished.
In the gazebo outside Canglan Court, Consort Liu weakly knelt on the ground, coughing and tearfully pleading:
"...Since that day of sickness, your servant has been sleeping away, oblivious to worldly matters. It was only when Consort De came to search the palace extensively that your servant knew something had happened... Your Majesty, though your servant does not know what wrongful act Qing Ya committed, you must have your reasons for keeping her in Canglan Court. Whatever punishment is deemed appropriate is fine, but I beseech you to have mercy on her life... Qing Ya is inherently kind-hearted and meticulous. You were aware of this back when she was in the Eastern Palace. If it weren’t for her, your servant, with my frail health over these years, wouldn’t have survived to this day..."
Under the dim palace lights, Consort Liu cried pitifully, speaking gently about Qing Ya’s character. She didn’t know what wrongdoing had occurred and insisted it was unintentional, willing to accept punishment as long as the Emperor spared Qing Ya’s life. She even subtly jabbed at Consort Xu De in her words.
During the journey, she wracked her brain trying to deduce what matter it involved. Considering the involvement with the one in Canglan Court, it must be related to the matter she once contemplated, intending to reveal Lian Hua’s background and use it as a weapon against others. But back then, Qing Ya even persuaded her to abandon such thoughts; she hadn’t issued the order, how could Qing Ya...?
This puzzled her deeply; she couldn’t fathom why.
While pleading at this moment, as she invoked her mind’s quick turn, she suddenly recalled the day she narrowly escaped death, just before drifting to sleep, she seemed to have uttered a sentence:
"I wish to see that day, then I could die peacefully..."
In an instant, she understood everything. Qing Ya never acted impulsively for anyone other than for her sake.
This sentence was a trigger; Qing Ya’s imminent departure from the palace was another, and yet another was her limited time left, Qing Ya’s desire to fulfill her heart’s wish!
In order to achieve the goal, Qing Ya’s actions must be to enable Beauty Lian to know her background, employing all means to make others see the Noble Consort as a mortal enemy!
Once this was clear to her, she felt much more confident. Qing Ya had always acted meticulously, surely leaving no major handle for herself, merely revealing the facts about Beauty Lian’s background, which wasn’t a great crime.
Nevertheless, she knew she must not leave an impression of sophistry before the Emperor. Whatever the matter, retreat first in order to advance.
After a fit of coughing, she said: "If my servant acted rashly and collided with Your Majesty and Beauty Lian, please forgive me. I am but a broken body, receiving Your Majesty’s favor over these years, yet failed to properly manage my followers in the hall. It is my fault. I am willing to bear the punishment on her behalf, only asking Your Majesty to calm down."
As she spoke, she slowly bowed, waiting a long time without any response from the person in front, her heart growing cold, not aligning with her anticipated reaction.
A strong sense of unease suddenly rose in her heart; pitifully, she raised her head slowly. Upon seeing the Emperor’s expression, she was startled and hurriedly lowered her head again, her heart pounding. Original content can be found at novᴇlfire.net
What kind of gaze was that, cold and piercing, as though brewing a tremendous storm, there being no expression on his face, eyes clear as fire seemingly able to see through everything, leaving no place to hide.
Consort Liu’s mind raced, covering her mouth coughing fiercely.
The Emperor looked at her with cold eyes: "Anything more to say?"
Retreat for progress, feigning weakness for sympathy, huh!
Consort Liu ceased her coughing, her face changing dramatically, this is...
Before she could react, the Emperor lost patience, directly saying: "Bring them up."
Consort Liu instinctively turned to look, only to see two palace maids with stuffed mouths and bound bodies being thrown outside the gazebo, neither moving, under the lantern’s light, one maid had an exceptionally hideous wound on her forehead.
Upon clearly seeing Qing Ya’s appearance, her pupils contracted, and she involuntarily called out, "Qing Ya, Qing Ya?" No response... her heart tightened instantly.
At this moment, an eunuch quickly stepped forward, directly tearing the cloth from the mouth of Qing Ya, making her kneel properly.
The kneeling person moved slightly, lifted her powerless head, and with cracked lips said with all her might: "Master... leave quickly, don’t mind your servant, it is your servant’s deserved punishment, acting impulsively..."
It was upon hearing Consort Liu’s arrival that she took the chance when unnoticed to attempt suicide by hitting a post, this way her master wouldn’t have to worry for her; it’s just unfortunate...
The Emperor glanced once and coldly said: "Don’t let her die."
Seeking death, not so easily.
"Yes." The eunuch obeyed, immediately gagging Qing Ya again to prevent suicide by biting her tongue.
This time Consort Liu saw clearly; she was still alive, allowing herself a sigh of relief, slumping weakly to the ground, never had she felt this tense before.
She gasped deeply, enough chill seeping into her lungs that she coughed involuntarily.
Alive was good, she could still think of a strategy, she forcefully suppressed the tickle in her throat; now wasn’t the time for illness.
She turned back intending to plead, but before she could speak, the next bone-chilling voice completely shattered her illusion.
The Emperor looked expressionless, observing both reactions meticulously.
Alright, keeping them here until now was meant to let them feel heart-piercing pain.
His eyes were filled with icy cruelty, his mouth coldly saying: "Take them down and execute by slow slicing."
Everyone’s hearts were shocked, the surroundings fell deathly silent.
Zhang Qing first reacted, suppressing the shock within, responding immediately: "Yes!" Quickly approached where the eunuch held them, waking them up, hauling them away.
His heart surged with waves of horror; slow slicing, even slow slicing!
Since the Emperor ascended the throne, such punishment had long been abolished, none had expected it to be for slow slicing, a punishment for those guilty of heinous, inexcusable crimes!
The other maid upon hearing fiercely struggled, desperately screaming inside, no matter what, she couldn’t let herself fearfully face such death; how could it be slow slicing, Qing Ya said they wouldn’t be in trouble, their plan was so thorough!
Her eyes turned hateful towards Qing Ya beside her, venomously cursing within, only regretting too late, her mouth gagged unable to make a sound...