pdf-ebookys Chapter 1787 In this round, the Imperial Noble Consort won beautifully.
Chapter 1787 In this round, the Imperial Noble Consort won beautifully.
"All of this was a trap set by that wicked Imperial Noble Consort. She deliberately dug a pit for Your Highness to fall into!"
"If it weren't for the Imperial Noble Consort's relentless pressure, why would Her Majesty be so anxious, why would she take action against the Third Prince? It's all her fault! She's the one who caused this!"
Seeing that he had hit the nail on the head regarding Consort Zhuang, Xiao Caizi continued, "And then there's Consort Kang, who usually pretends to be obedient and grateful to Your Highness, but today she actually dared to bite back!"
"If it weren't for Her Majesty's wisdom in arranging a backup plan, wouldn't we have been killed by her?!"
Consort Zhuang was gradually coming to her senses, and looked down at Xiao Caizi: "Tell me... how were those two witnesses brought into Yongshou Palace?"
Xiao Cai was taken aback: "This servant just led people in directly..."
Consort Zhuang asked, "What kind of place is Yongshou Palace?"
"The Imperial Noble Consort holds the Phoenix Seal and has managed Yongshou Palace like an iron fortress, not even a mosquito could fly in. Yet you managed to bring a witness before the Emperor at this crucial moment..."
Xiao Cai's expression changed: "Your Majesty, do you mean... the Imperial Noble Consort... she did it on purpose?!"
"But...why?"
"Doesn't the Imperial Noble Consort hate the Empress? She should have taken this opportunity to kill the Empress, why did she instead..."
He really couldn't understand it.
The Imperial Noble Consort set up such a grand scheme, luring the Empress into it, and then Consort Kang came out to accuse her. It seemed the Empress was about to be executed, so why did the Imperial Noble Consort release her at the last moment?
Isn't this like letting a tiger return to the mountains, leaving yourself with future troubles?
Consort Zhuang retorted sarcastically, "This is the brilliance of the Imperial Noble Consort."
If the Imperial Noble Consort presses her advantage in today's round and crushes her...
With her downfall, will the previous dynasty remain silent?
If the charges of plotting against the eldest prince and framing the Imperial Noble Consort were to actually fall on her, the court would surely be thrown into turmoil.
The memorials impeaching officials would fly into the Hall of Mental Cultivation like snowflakes.
Your Majesty will have no choice but to deal with the dealer.
But what good will it do Your Majesty if the dealer falls?
Cutting off one's own arm at this point is something only a fool would do.
Therefore, the Imperial Noble Consort cannot let her die at this time.
The one in Yongshou Palace may have lost this round, but she won in His Majesty's heart.
After today, how will His Majesty view her?
She was a woman who would harm even a young child for the sake of palace power, and who would make her cousin take the blame when things went wrong.
And what about the Imperial Noble Consort? She understood the bigger picture and considered the overall situation. Although she could have killed her opponent, she chose to let her go for the sake of His Majesty.
In His Majesty's heart, who is worthy of being the Empress?
Seeing Consort Zhuang's ashen expression, Xiao Caizi finally understood.
He finally understood why the Empress had said earlier that although she seemed to have escaped unscathed today, she had actually lost everything...
It wasn't that he lost to the Imperial Noble Consort's scheming, but rather that he lost to her "letting him go."
The Imperial Noble Consort ruined the last bit of good impression the Empress had in His Majesty's heart...
The Imperial Noble Consort won this round beautifully.
So beautiful it sends chills down your spine!
Xiao Cai opened his mouth, wanting to say something to comfort the Empress, but found that at this moment, any words seemed pale and inadequate...
After a long silence, he finally managed to stammer out, "Your Majesty, what should we do from now on?"
Consort Zhuang closed her eyes.
Having served in the palace for many years, she had always proceeded with extreme caution. Only today did she begin to feel a sense of unease about the future...
why? !
Back when she was a concubine in the Prince's mansion, she was certain that with her family background and intelligence, the position of Empress was definitely hers for the taking.
Why is it that the Zhuang family has invested so much in His Majesty, only to have a mere Shen woman steal the fruits of their labor?
Seeing that Consort Zhuang's expression was very unpleasant, and that she clearly did not want to continue discussing the matter, Xiao Caizi's eyes darted around, and he changed the subject.
"...Your Majesty, Consort Kang dared to spout nonsense before the Emperor today! If it weren't for her, Your Majesty wouldn't have been in this situation..."
"She's been lurking by Your Highness's side for so long, pretending to be the real thing, but today she suddenly jumped out and bit back. Even I, a servant, can't swallow this insult, let alone Your Highness!"
"With just one word from Your Highness, this servant will make arrangements immediately, so that Consort Kang will suffer and know the consequences of betraying Your Highness!"
Consort Zhuang looked down at Xiao Caizi: "What do you want to arrange?"
Xiao Cai felt a chill run down his spine under her gaze, and stammered, "This...this servant..."
Consort Zhuang sneered, "Consort Kang accused me one minute, and then this happened the next. Do you think anyone wouldn't know who did it?"
Xiao Caizi said unwillingly, "But Your Majesty... then, are we just going to let Consort Kang go like this?"
Consort Zhuang's eyes narrowed dangerously!
How could we possibly let Consort Kang go!
Zhuang Yumin has been in the palace for many years, and she has always been the one deceiving and using others.
Today, however, she was outmaneuvered by Consort Kang, whom she despised the most.
Can she swallow this insult?!
But to target Consort Kang now would be like protesting too much, only confirming the accusations against her.
Then everyone will say that she was indeed guilty and was retaliating against the person who exposed her.
Consort Zhuang could not allow anyone to seize this opportunity.
As for the future...
Consort Zhuang's eyes flickered slightly.
There's still a long way to go.
Did Consort Kang think that she could get away unscathed after saying those things in front of the Emperor?
Innocent!
Once the storm had passed, the incident was forgotten...
Consort Zhuang gently closed her eyes, concealing the fleeting coldness in them: "Little Cai, don't touch Consort Kang for now."
"You must be tired today, go and rest."
Xiao Cai opened his mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back: "Yes, this servant takes his leave."
Only Consort Zhuang and Ruoji remained in the inner room.
Ruoji bowed her head and said, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. This servant will help you to retire for the night."
Consort Zhuang suddenly spoke softly: "Ruoji, tell me, am I getting old?"
Ruoji lowered his eyes and said, "Your Majesty is in the prime of your life."
Consort Zhuang chuckled lightly and said self-deprecatingly, "If I weren't old, how could I lose to a woman who is several years younger than me?"
He dared not answer.
Consort Zhuang did not need her answer.
After a long while, she sighed softly, stood up, and walked towards the inner room.
……
Inside a palace.
Several candles were burning inside the hall.
The palace maid stood below, her face beaming with barely suppressed excitement: "...Your Highness, the play at Yongshou Palace today was absolutely wonderful!"
"Both of the Zhuang family's daughters were killed in one fell swoop!"
"Zhuang Yurou was banished to the Cold Palace. Although Consort Zhuang was not deposed, it was clear to everyone that she had completely lost the Emperor's favor after this incident."
"Your Majesty, don't you think this is a sign of divine intervention?"
Su Qing sat in the shadows, her face hidden in the darkness. Upon hearing this, she gently shook her head: "Do you really think that what happened today was divine intervention?"
The palace maid was taken aback: "Your Highness means..."
Su Qing slowly said, "Consort Zhuang did not lose to Heaven, but to the Imperial Noble Consort."
"Today's situation, from beginning to end, was probably all part of the Imperial Noble Consort's scheme."