Chapter 744: Chapter 744: Yu Zhu, A Cup of Poisoned Wine!

"Oh, well then... let’s collaborate..."

The voice of the shadow floated eerily above the Cold Palace, Zhi Jin suddenly looked up, her venomous gaze fixed on the shadow.

"Who, who are you?"

Zhi Jin shouted harshly, wondering what this shadow was, what it could offer her. Even if she had to collaborate, she needed to know the background of the other party, whether it could bring her benefits!

Realizing she was indeed a prisoner, Zhi Jin saw the shadow’s silence and roared, "Speak, speak up!"

"You don’t need to know who I am, you just need to answer, do you want to collaborate? This is your only chance to change your life, just once!"

After speaking, the shadow gradually faded.

In no time, it would completely disappear.

And by then, Zhi Jin would lose the chance to collaborate.

The shadow didn’t elaborate, simply conveyed in the simplest way: you need to make a choice!

Zhi Jin bit her lip tightly, seeing the shadow about to vanish, she shouted loudly, "Wait, I agree, I agree! As long as I can take revenge, whatever the demand, I’ll agree!"

Collaboration naturally required a price, possibly even her life, Zhi Jin was aware of this, yet now she was truly cornered.

She could only take the risk!

The shadow chuckled softly and then disappeared completely.

"Don’t go, don’t go, I agreed, I agreed!"

"When needed, I’ll come to you; just stay put!"

Leaving these last words, the shadow was no longer visible.

Zhi Jin gazed at the empty palace, so eerily quiet, it was as if that person had never come, and she suddenly let out a sharp laugh: "Hahaha, hahahahaha..."

This laughter was highly penetrating, everyone outside heard it.

Zhaoming Palace.

Long Yue had been in a good mood lately.

Even though her belly hadn’t started to show, she could feel the small life bouncing around inside her.

To say it like this might be an exaggeration, but a pregnant woman’s nerves can’t be stopped by anyone.

"Mistress, news from the Cold Palace, the Deposed Consort Jin seems to have gone mad."

A little palace maid came to report.

Long Yue squinted her eyes, placed a small peeled walnut into her cherry-like mouth, smiling lightly, "Mad? How mad?"

"Just laughing, laughing hysterically, uncontrollably, laughing without end."

The palace maid described briefly.

Long Yue was undeterred, said faintly, "Is she really mad? Or pretending to be mad and dumb?"

"Ah?"

The little palace maid was startled, she didn’t know!

"Mistress, should we take a look at the Cold Palace?"

Yu Zhu whispered closely to Long Yue’s ear. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Her eyes moved slightly, feeling a bit tempted.

Seeing a concubine fall to wretchedness, that feeling could be quite exhilarating.

Long Yue glanced coldly at her: "Just a drowned rat, is there a need to beat it? Now that I’m in a delicate state, I don’t want to cause anything, cornered rats might retaliate, cornered rabbits might bite, why bother?"

"But, Mistress, they say to eliminate the root to prevent regrowth in spring?"

Yu Zhu continued to persuade, thinking it truly necessary to visit the last place of Consort Jinfu, conveniently completely eliminating her.

If you think she’s pretending to be mad, why not test her?"

"Yu Zhu, has my favor failed to restrain your vanity?"

Long Yue’s cold statement, Yu Zhu immediately knelt, hastily begged for forgiveness.

Long Yue slightly furrowed her brow, Yu Zhu’s mind was too agile, her vanity too strong, always wanting to stir things up unnecessarily.

For such a servant, as long as you’re favored, she’ll be incredibly flattering, but if you fall out of favor, she’s likely to cause trouble.

Reasonably, Long Yue should dismiss her, send her away, but one, having used her for a long time, they both know each other’s temperaments, easy to control, and two, can someone new be guaranteed to be truly loyal?

All those promises of unwavering loyalty to a master, they’re merely based on interests, who truly feels it deeply?

"Fine, stand up, don’t harbor such thoughts again, even if favored, one must restrain, only restraint allows longevity."

"Mistress benevolent, high in rank yet never bullies others, but they say Mistress is arrogant, infuriating!"

"Let them talk if they want, you can’t silence everyone, the more you try, the happier they’ll speak, what can you do? Well, who’s saying?"

Uh!

Yu Zhu and Liu Xiang both were surprised, thinking their Mistress was trying to be indifferent; turns out she’s merely speaking.

That’s the way! Being overly kind is not advisable!

"Mistress, it’s Xiu Pin from Palace Embroiderer."

"Xiu Pin?" Long Yue was truly surprised, "Has she truly lost her mind? Daring to slander me?"

"This servant doesn’t know, it’s just a message from over there, Xiu Pin’s people feel you’ve been too reckless and domineering, showing no mercy..."

Long Yue understood, after Lady Jinfu fell, as a concubine from the same palace, Xiu Pin somehow participated, so naturally she suffered, Li Qingmu and Rong Si wouldn’t show her any kindness.

It was said she was placed under house arrest.

Because of the house arrest, she harbored resentment, occasionally complaining in the bedchamber, naturally it was transmitted to her ears.

She chuckled, a slightly cold smile: "That Xiu Pin initially conspired with Lady Jinfu to harm the heir, considering her young and ignorant, I spared her, yet she showed no gratitude, instead she slanders me as domineering?

Fine, fine, as she thinks I’m domineering, then I’ll show her domineering! Someone, Xiu Pin has committed grave mistakes, refuses to repent, escalates slandering me, grant her a cup of poisoned wine! Go swiftly!"

Long Yue was a Consort, pregnant too, dealing with an offending and unfavored concubine couldn’t be simpler.

Just like that, a cup of poisoned wine was sent to Xiu Pin at Palace Embroiderer.

Without any background, utterly alone, once the poisoned wine arrived, Xiu Pin shouted and made a ruckus trying to resist, but how could she resist?

Thus, Xiu Pin perished!

In the harem, any murmurs about Long Yue were dispersed with the news of Xiu Pin’s death.

Suffering for speech has been known since ancient times, but a concubine being this assertive, killing someone outright without Emperor’s consent, yet remaining untouchable afterward, was still fear-inducing.

Just as everyone thought, the harem would be dominated by this Ming Fei, another news exploded.

Jingshu Palace’s mistress also became pregnant, already three months along.

This news shook the entire harem, left everyone confused.

Empress at Kunyue Palace let out a mocking laugh, watching the clash of two tigers, Fengming Palace’s Rong Si offered hopeful cheers, and at Zhaoming Palace...

Long Yue directly found Li Qingmu.

"Did you get Princess Consort Jing pregnant?"

Upon entering, Long Yue demanded answers from him.

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