Reborn into the palace, she seduces the emperor's heart, driving the chief minister to madness!

Chapter 233 The Visitor is Not Friendly

Qiao Qingling was dressed in a light pink brocade robe with a white fox fur coat on top. Her face was red from the cold, and at first glance, she looked like a pear blossom in the rain, pitiful and charming.

"Sister, I've finally found you." Qiao Qingling's voice was soft and sweet, with a smile on her face, but there was a hint of resentment hidden in her eyes.

"Hearing that my elder sister came here early in the morning, I thought there must be something elegant about it, so I came to join in the fun."

"It's just something I do to pass the time and relieve boredom."

Chu Qingyin put down her paintbrush and spoke slowly, but she felt a sense of frustration in her heart.

It's rare to find a moment of peace and quiet, and this person still insists on coming over, disturbing everyone's peace and quiet. It's really annoying.

Qiao Qingling, seemingly oblivious to Chu Qingyin's displeasure, walked to the table, looked at the unfinished ink plum blossom painting, and praised it, "Sister, your plum blossom painting is so good, so lifelike. I am ashamed of my own inferiority."

"How could my sister's painting skills have become so good that I didn't even know?"

Back in the Qiao family, her mother, in an effort to raise her into a good-for-nothing, forbade her from learning any of the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Qiao Qingling blinked and smiled meaningfully, "I've heard that the late Consort was most skilled at painting plum blossoms, and your painting skills are quite similar to hers, sister."

"Is that so?" Chu Qingyin's expression was indifferent, as cold as a plum blossom in ink.

"Yes."

Qiao Qingling curled her lips, her words tinged with sarcasm, "It seems that you've really gone to great lengths to associate yourself with the late Consort."

No matter how much favor you receive, in His Majesty's eyes you are nothing more than a substitute.

He has gained power entirely through his own abilities; how could he be inferior to a mere stand-in?

Those who come are not benevolent; the benevolent do not come.

Chu Qingyin naturally knew that Qiao Qingling hadn't really come all this way in the dead of winter to look at paintings with her.

Hearing this mockery, she remained unmoved, only saying calmly, "Sister, that's a strange thing to say. I was just painting as I pleased, so how did that become deliberately imitating the late Consort? Could it be that in your mind, I have to have a purpose in everything I do?"

Her tone was gentle, yet every word she spoke carried a sharp edge.

Qiao Qingling was speechless for a moment, her cheeks flushed slightly, and just as she was about to retort, she caught a glimpse of a dark-colored hem of clothing behind the plum tree out of the corner of her eye.

The next moment, she resumed her pitiful appearance, "Sister, please don't misunderstand. I was just saying it casually and had no other intention."

As he spoke, he leaned closer to the table, as if he wanted to appreciate the ink plum blossoms more closely, but suddenly his hand slipped and he knocked over the water bottle on the table.

Qiao Qingling cried out in alarm and fell to her knees, pleading loudly, "Please spare my life, sister! I didn't mean to!"

Chu Qingyin looked at the water-soaked drawing paper and ink, and the messy table, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

"Not intentional?"

She lowered her eyes, her gaze like an ice blade shooting at Qiao Qingling. "Consort Qiao's skill at making mistakes is becoming more and more exquisite. One moment you knocked over the inkstone, and the next you spilled the water. Anyone who didn't know better would think that you deliberately ruined my painting."

Qiao Qingling knelt on the ground, her eyes red and tears welling up, looking like she was about to cry.

"Sister, I really didn't mean it. I hope you will be magnanimous and forgive me this time."

As she spoke, she kowtowed repeatedly.

The sound of his forehead hitting the ground was particularly clear in the quiet pavilion, indicating that he must have used a lot of force, as a red mark appeared in no time.

Before Chu Qingyin could speak, the owner of the dark-colored robe strode over; it was Pei Yuanling.

He had heard that Chu Qingyin was here and wanted to come and appreciate the paintings with her, but he did not expect to witness this scene.

"How is this going?"

Pei Yuanling frowned, his gaze first falling on Chu Qingyin, then sweeping over Qiao Qingling kneeling on the ground, with a hint of scrutiny.

Seeing this, Qiao Qingling cried even more bitterly, "Your Majesty, I only came to admire the paintings with my sister, but I accidentally knocked over the water and soiled her painting. I know I deserve to die, so I beg Your Majesty and my sister to forgive me."

Pei Yuanling frowned slightly and looked at Chu Qingyin: "Are you alright?"

Chu Qingyin gently shook her head, "Your Majesty, I'm fine. It's just that I put a lot of thought into this painting. I wanted to surprise Your Majesty when it was finished, but now..."

She bit her lip, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated: "I never thought that my sister could accidentally knock over this stone brush washer. She must have a lot of strength."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yuanling's dissatisfaction with Qiao Qingling intensified.

He looked coldly at Qiao Qingling and said in a deep voice, "Since you know that you deserve to die, then strip him of his title and stay in Baohua Temple to atone for your sins."

Hearing his words, Qiao Qingling felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, and she cried even more bitterly, "Your Majesty, spare me! I really didn't mean it. I will be careful in the future and never do it again. Please forgive me this time."

She begged for mercy while kowtowing repeatedly, and soon the red mark on her forehead revealed traces of blood.

"Although Consort Qiao made a mistake, she did not deserve such a severe punishment."

Chu Qingyin sighed softly: "If we really leave Consort Qiao in Baohua Temple, others might say that I can't tolerate people. How about we punish Consort Qiao by confining her to her quarters for three months and making her copy Buddhist scriptures a hundred times? This will allow her to cultivate her character and sincerely repent. What does Your Majesty think?"

Stay at Baohua Temple?

Baohua Temple is a national temple, so she won't have a bad life if she stays here. Chu Qingyin won't let her have it so easy.

The most torturous place in the world is the imperial palace. Once you fall out of favor, there are plenty of people who will kick you while you're down. Isn't Qiao Qingling just trying to do whatever she wants because of His Majesty's favor?

Let her try the tormenting methods of the Cold Palace then.

This can be considered as avenging the original owner of the body before she left the palace.

Recalling the past that Chu Qingyin had mentioned to him last night, Pei Yuanling felt even more disgusted with the woman kneeling and begging for mercy in front of him. He said coldly, "Then do as Yinyin said, send her back to the palace immediately, and do not allow her to ride in a carriage."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhongliang, who was following behind Pei Yuanling, immediately gave the order.

Soon, several tall and burly guards came forward, surrounded her, and were about to take her away.

Qiao Qingling's face instantly turned pale.

In this freezing weather, forbidding her from taking a carriage and forcing her to walk back to the palace would be tantamount to killing her.

Qiao Qingling collapsed to the ground, her eyes vacant, filled with despair.

She never imagined that what seemed like an unintentional slip would lead to such cruel consequences.

The cold wind howled and blew into her collar, making her shiver. At this moment, she could no longer care about her usual dignity. Tears streaming down her face, she pleaded, "Your Majesty, I really know I was wrong. If I walk back to the palace in this freezing weather, I'm afraid I'll freeze to death on the way before I even reach the palace gate. Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!"

Pei Yuanling seemed not to hear him, and simply put his arm around Chu Qingyin: "Yinyin, it's windy on the back mountain, let's go back."

Having said that, he turned and left with everyone.

Nestled in Pei Yuanling's arms, Chu Qingyin caught a glimpse of Qiao Qingling's pitiful, pleading expression out of the corner of her eye, and a surge of pleasure welled up within her. However, she maintained her gentle demeanor and said softly, "Your Majesty, I am delighted that you have stood up for me. But Consort Qiao is, after all, a daughter of the Qiao family. This punishment... what about Minister Qiao's side..."

"I will give an explanation to the Qiao family."

Pei Yuanling remained indifferent. If Qiao Gongquan knew the gravity of the situation, he wouldn't have pleaded for a concubine's daughter who had made a mistake.

Chu Qingyin nodded. "Yes."

She hadn't expected him to do what he promised so quickly, but the sooner the better, and she didn't want to delay any longer.

Just as Pei Yuanling said, Qiao Gongquan didn't say much after learning about this.

As for Madam Jiang, she caused quite a scene at the mansion, vehemently denouncing Chu Qingyin for bewitching the emperor and disregarding familial ties. Fortunately, Qiao Gongquan forcibly pulled her back and confined her.

The matter was thus covered up and no one mentioned it again.

In the blink of an eye, the snow melted away, and the prayer ceremony was completed. Pei Yuanling also ordered that preparations be made to return to the palace the next day.

On the eve of his departure, Pei Yuanling was tied up with official business, so Chu Qingyin stayed alone in the meditation room, tending to the clay stove and brewing tea.

By this time, it was completely dark.

Outside the window, the moon and stars were few and far between. The white snow reflected the moonlight, and the shapes of distant mountains could be vaguely seen.

Suddenly, the candlelight on the small table flickered gently, and a figure leaped in from outside the window.

Chu Qingyin was startled, and the teaspoon she was holding fell to the ground.

"Who?"

The figure stood nimbly inside the room. Chu Qingyin stared at him, her expression slightly stiffening.

That aloof man in black, standing with his hands behind his back, who else could it be but Lu Zhiheng?