bayedsolid Chapter 62 Inescapable Fate
Chapter 62 Inescapable Fate
In the warm spring of April, the Imperial Garden was filled with tall locust trees and deep bamboo groves, their shadows forming layers of dark shade, and clusters of flowers creating a lively and bustling scene.
The concubines waited in the garden for quite a while before Chu Qingyin finally arrived.
She wore a moon-white long dress with bamboo patterns, her black hair styled in a flying crescent bun, revealing her slender, fair neck. A pair of rouge stone earrings dangled from her earlobes, swaying gently with her movements, adding a touch of spring to her delicate and bright face.
Her movements were elegant, and her demeanor carried an indescribable air of nobility.
Consort Shu's gaze fell quietly on her, and for a moment she seemed to recall the face of the old woman.
The Chu Qingyin of the past was just as arrogant, as if she didn't care about anything in this world and that others were just meant to be delivered to her.
Indeed, that was the case; whatever she wanted, His Majesty would bring to her for her to choose from.
If it weren't for the later betrayal of the Chu family, Chu Qingyin would probably have lived such a noble and proud life.
Chu Qingyin was unaware of the envy, jealousy, and hatred in Consort Shu's eyes. She bowed to the other high-ranking concubines before sitting down on the stone bench beside her.
Seeing her calm and composed demeanor, the other concubines recalled how the Emperor had publicly abandoned Empress Wang for her sake at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet the previous day, and their gazes toward her became even more envious.
The most resentful of them all was Lu Mingzhu, who was reprimanded by Pei Yuanling for being too cautious in her words and actions.
"Consort Qiao really has quite the airs, making us concubines wait here for so long!"
Lu Mingzhu snorted coldly. Everyone else was wary of Chu Qingyin's current favor and dared not offend her easily, but she was backed by the Lu family. As long as Lu Zhiheng was still in the court, His Majesty would be more cautious.
Just like last time, even though she offended His Majesty, she only received a few words of reprimand, so she would not indulge Qiao Qingyin.
Chu Qingyin slowly glanced at Lu Mingzhu in front of her, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
How could someone as cunning as Lu Zhiheng tolerate such a cousin all these years?
She should have asked that question last night when they were arguing at the rockery.
"Consort Lu is quite arrogant. Even Consort Shu hasn't said anything, so why are you the one to complain?"
Chu Qingyin replied calmly, then gave Consort Shu an apologetic smile: "Please forgive me, Consort Shu, I'm on my period and feeling a little unwell, which is why I was a little delayed when I went out."
Upon hearing this, the concubines present had a glint in their eyes.
The little day has arrived.
In other words, His Majesty did not have sex with her last night?
Realizing this, Consort Shu's smile became more genuine, and she said gently, "It's alright, it's alright."
He then gestured for Chu Qingyin to sit down and said, "Sister Qiao, this is freshly delivered jasmine buds. Please try some."
Chu Qingyin glanced at the tea stove set up beside her and smiled gently: "Thank you, Consort Shu."
She took the teacup from Zijuan, smelled it, and took a sip. A delicate jasmine fragrance wafted into her nostrils.
"Your Highness, this tea is sweet but not cloying; it is indeed of the highest quality."
Seeing that Chu Qingyin recognized the quality, Consort Shu smiled with satisfaction, "It seems that Consort Qiao is also a connoisseur of tea."
"This tea, Consort Shu, was bought from a foreign land by General Huwei. Consort Qiao has been confined to her chambers for many years. How could she possibly have such knowledge? Perhaps she is just making things up to save face," Consort Ning sneered from the side.
Chu Qingyin was not angry upon hearing this, and remained dignified: "This concubine is naturally no match for Sister Ning, who has served Consort Shu for many years and is very knowledgeable."
Everyone knows that Consort Ning always follows Consort Shu's lead. It can be said that she has reached the position of Consort Ning, a fourth-rank official, only because of Consort Shu's protection. Those concubines from noble families have always looked down on her peasant behavior.
The only ones who dared to cricket in front of her were the former Consort Chu and this Consort Qiao.
Seeing the other concubines either silent or filled with unbearable mockery, Consort Ning became furious and embarrassed: "Qiao Qingyin, how dare you mock me—" With that, she stood up from the stone bench and pounced towards Chu Qingyin.
Zijuan, who was originally refilling Chu Qingyin's teapot, happened to block Consort Ning's movements. Startled by Consort Ning's sudden lunge, she naturally splashed the hot water from the teapot towards Chu Qingyin.
Chu Qingyin instinctively tried to dodge, but someone grabbed her clothes and she couldn't move.
As soon as she turned around, she saw the smug look on Lu Mingzhu's face.
It was all part of their plan!
However, she realized the situation too late to retaliate.
Seeing that the hot water was about to be splashed on her face, Chu Qingyin closed her eyes reluctantly.
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
A figure suddenly appeared in front of her, and before Chu Qingyin could even open her eyes, a sharp scream rang in her ears—
"what!"
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Xianglan standing in front of her, her face pale, actually using her back to block the hot water for her.
Chu Qingyin's expression changed drastically, and she turned around and shouted, "Someone, call the imperial physician!"
Startled by what she saw, Qiu Zhu quickly came to her senses and hurriedly ran towards the Imperial Medical Bureau.
"Your Majesty, I'm alright, don't worry." Xianglan endured the sharp pain in her back and managed to stand up, large beads of sweat dripping from her forehead.
Seeing that the girl was clearly in excruciating pain but was still trying to comfort herself, Chu Qingyin felt both pain and anger.
Consort Shu, who had been observing all of this with a cold eye, saw that Chu Qingyin was unharmed, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her beautiful eyes.
But she still had to maintain appearances. She looked at Zijuan and snapped, "What's wrong? You can't even hold a teapot steady?"
Zijuan immediately knelt on the ground, crying and begging for forgiveness: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did not do it on purpose. If Consort Ning had not bumped into me, I would not have made a mistake."
Seeing this, Consort Ning immediately apologized as well: "Your Majesty, it was Consort Qiao who provoked me first. I was so angry that I took action. Who would have thought that the hot water would be thrown at me?"
"I know you have a quick temper, but I didn't know you were so impatient. Fortunately, Consort Qiao is unharmed, otherwise how would I explain this to His Majesty?"
Consort Shu frowned, then looked at Chu Qingyin with a reassuring look in her eyes: "Sister Qiao, I don't think Sister Ning did it on purpose, and you're unharmed. How about we have her apologize to you and let this matter go?"
Chu Qingyin watched the play with a cold eye, secretly sneering to herself: It was clearly a deliberate setup to frame someone, but now they're trying to twist the truth into an accident. They're really good at turning black into white!
She never expected that Consort Shu hated her so much that she not only wanted her to fall out of favor but also to disfigure her.
If Xianglan hadn't risked her life to save her master, she feared—
Chu Qingyin glanced at Consort Shu, Consort Ning, Lu Mingzhu, and Qiao Qingling present without making a sound, her fingers hidden under her clothes slowly clenching into a fist.
She will definitely settle this score with them one by one in the future.
It's just a pity that now is not the time to turn against Consort Shu.
"Your Highness, Consort Shu, you flatter me. It was my slip of the tongue that caused Consort Ning to behave improperly. There is no need for her to apologize."
Chu Qingyin lowered her eyes and said slowly, "Besides, I wasn't the one who was injured today. Even if Consort Ning feels uneasy, she should apologize to Xianglan."
"You actually want me to apologize to a palace maid?" Consort Ning's face immediately turned cold.
Lu Mingzhu immediately chimed in, "Ha, Consort Qiao really has quite the airs, actually expecting a fourth-rank consort to apologize to a mere palace maid?"
Seeing the two of them singing in unison, Chu Qingyin took a deep breath and turned to Consort Shu: "Your Highness, what do you say?"
Consort Shu asked doubtfully, "If Sister Ning apologizes, you will not pursue the matter?"
Chu Qingyin nodded, "Of course, I am not the kind of person who is petty."
Consort Shu looked at Chu Qingyin and saw that she did not seem to be faking it, and a hint of disdain crossed her mind.
She had thought Qiao Qingyin was very capable, but it seems she's nothing special.
"Since this was an accident, let it go." Consort Shu said, looking at Xianglan beside her. "This palace maid sacrificed herself for her mistress, and her courage is truly commendable. Consort Ning, to express your apology, will send her some good wound medicine."
Since Consort Shu had given the order, Consort Ning naturally complied: "I will have someone send it to Feixue Palace as soon as I get back."
Chu Qingyin was too lazy to watch their act anymore, and secretly made a mental note of everything that had happened today, vowing to make them pay back tenfold in the future.
"Your Highness, I'll take Xianglan back to get medical treatment first."
After she finished speaking, she instructed Yulian, who was standing beside her, to help Xianglan up, and then turned and left.
Seeing Chu Qingyin leave in such a disheveled state, everyone's faces revealed a hint of schadenfreude.
Only Qiao Qingling stared blankly in the direction Chu Qingyin had left.
She had been secretly observing her elder sister ever since. After Aunt Jiang was sent to the villa, she had also secretly sent her letters through connections.
The letter specifically instructed her that Qiao Qingyin's personality had changed after she woke up from the water, which was really strange, and that she should be very careful in dealing with her.
She hadn't taken it seriously before. After all, how could a fool who had been manipulated by the mother and daughter for so many years suddenly become so cunning?
But seeing how Qiao Qingyin was able to calmly and composedly deal with those who plotted against her in such a short time, she realized for the first time that Qiao Qingyin was truly extraordinary.
After all, being able to endure what ordinary people cannot is already something that an ordinary person cannot do.
But how did Qiao Qingyin become like this? Could it be that she has really been possessed by Consort Chu?
Amidst her racing thoughts, a cruel smile crept onto Qiao Qingling's lips.
Regardless of whether Qiao Qingyin is truly stupid or feigning stupidity, or who she is involved with, she has offended Consort Shu, and she is doomed.