Palace Fighting: Naive Concubines' Ascent to Power-Chapter 612: Delighting in Others’ Misfortune

When she heard this news from Consort Liu, she still couldn’t believe it, until she saw the clothes her brother had been wearing before he disappeared, covered in blood.

If Miss Xue from the Xue Family intended to take her life, she would have no complaints, but why preach benevolence and morality only to kill her brother for her own selfish needs...

Cai Qin tightly clenched her hand hidden in her sleeve, digging her fingernails into her flesh to calm herself down.

Upon hearing the answer, the Noble Consort was reassured. She was aware of Cai Qin’s capabilities, otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone to great lengths to bring her into the palace years ago.

No longer focusing on these trivial matters, she slowly sat back down and asked, "When did this message start spreading in the palace?"

She needed to think of a strategy to respond, as it was not her doing. Even if Consort Zhen implicated her, she was confident that she could clear her name.

In this matter, she had never instructed Cai Hua and Nanny Wen to delay the Imperial Physician and had not contacted them for a long time. Such a clumsy lie would easily be exposed.

Her father was right. Fortunately, she had not involved herself, leaving no trace of her interference. No matter how much they investigated, they would find nothing.

The thing His Majesty hated most was innocent slander, and this was the perfect opportunity to put Consort Zhen in a deadly quandary.

Cai Qin responded, "This servant noticed it at noon. By then, it had already spread throughout the entire Harem."

The Noble Consort suddenly looked at her, her piercing gaze as if seeing through her, "Then why only report it to this palace now?"

Cai Qin’s voice remained calm, "Replying to Your Highness, this servant knew something was odd as the message spread too quickly. Thus, I specially checked the source of the information to look for any discrepancies and also checked other matters so that Your Highness could be prepared. Hence, I returned late."

"From where did the message originate?" The Noble Consort was shocked, having overlooked this peculiar point amid her prior anger.

Indeed, everything was fine yesterday, but by this morning, unfavorable messages about her had spread throughout the Harem, which was too bizarre. Usually, it wouldn’t be a problem, but with the current strict management in the Harem, even if there were rumors, they wouldn’t dare to spread so recklessly. It all seemed wrong.

Unless...

She suddenly widened her phoenix eyes, yet dared not contemplate further. She really did not want to entertain that possibility.

Cai Qin answered, "The message came from the Punishment Bureau. Consort Zhen was escorted from Star Palace to the Imperial Prison, and many saw it. They all inquired, and the message circulating in the palace was pieced together from what these people learned."

She muttered to herself, "People of the Punishment Bureau are tighter-lipped than clams. How could they..."

Previously, no one could glean information from the Punishment Bureau, it was the same when Consort De was detained...

Cai Qin remained silent.

Cai Xia’s heart throbbed. She couldn’t understand some of the conversation between the Consort and Cai Qin, but she felt inexplicably terrified.

A trace of sorrow crossed the Noble Consort’s eyes, and with a strained voice, she asked what she most wanted to know, "Does His Majesty believe it?"

Nowadays, aside from His Majesty, no one could intervene with the Punishment Bureau and Imperial Prison. If the message came from within, it must have been with His Majesty’s consent...

Eliminating all other possibilities, what remained must be the truth.

Cai Qin gently said, "I do not know."

The Noble Consort clutched her chest, the more she thought, the more her heart ached, and her eyes slowly filled with tears.

Sorrowfully, she thought that perhaps His Majesty really did believe Consort Zhen’s words; otherwise, why would such damaging rumors about her spread in the palace?

With that thought, she suddenly stood up, "Someone, change my clothes. I must go to see His Majesty."

She could no longer wait, to allow Consort Zhen, that vile woman, to continue slandering her. She had to tell him that it was not her doing, that her conscience was clear!

Cai Xia and Cai Qin said in unison, "Yes."

Noble Consort Xue lifted her head, her eyes no longer reflecting sorrow but filled with a harsh coldness and blazing with fighting spirit, she said word by word, "I shall personally confront that vile woman and teach her what respect and hierarchy mean!"

At that moment, a loud and hearty laugh echoed through Huafu Hall.

"Haha... Hahaha... Cough cough..."

Consort Liu laughed heartily, rocking forward and backward. Even as she laughed so hard that she started coughing, she didn’t mind and continued laughing after the coughs.

She had never felt so delightfully vindicated in many years.

As she laughed, tears even began to run down her cheeks, as she wiped the corners of her eyes and laughed, "It’s like getting lost in mountains and rivers and finding a bright and beautiful patch unexpectedly, what a joy! Xue Wanjun, Xue Wanjun, too smart for your own good, manipulating hearts and now it’s backfired, hahaha..."

Qing Ya approached with a gentle smile and lightly patted her back, "My lady, it’s time to take your medicine."

Consort Liu was in a very good mood, a strange flush on her face as she gently said, "Let’s take it now. I must stay alive and see how Xue Wanjun ends up."

She started laughing again.

Was this not the day she had been longing for all these years?

As she calmed down slightly, Qing Ya fed her warm soup, spoonful by spoonful, drinking it as if it was Jadescent Nectar, very tastefully.

After feeding her, Qing Ya said with a hint of joy, "My lady, last night someone from Star Palace came and brought a Thousand-Year Ganoderma, which the master presented to His Majesty. From now on, we will use it daily in soup to strengthen your body, easing your suffering. Today, the kitchen also prepared a Ganoderma tonic soup; once it’s ready, you can have some."

"Hmm," Consort Liu’s expression grew calmer, and she nodded once in response.

"My lady, the master cares deeply about you..."

A feeling of irritation rose in Consort Liu’s heart, she said impatiently, "I know."

Qing Ya sighed softly and continued, "My lady, I noticed that the brocade box containing the Thousand-Year Ganoderma was embroidered with a pattern of an Immortal providing winter nourishment. I guess the master has received the news that was sent earlier, and this pattern is a reply to us, signaling us to keep our troops at bay for now. With the current situation so favorable, the matter you previously wanted—"

Consort Liu wiped her mouth indifferently, "We’ll talk about it later."

Putting down her handkerchief, her gaze once again sparkled with a sinister light, "Haha, Shi Zhener and Xue Wanjun, like dogs biting each other, is there anything more delightful than this? This time, no matter which vile woman dies, it’ll be cause for celebration for me."

Of course, it would be best if both died.

Qing Ya wanted to laugh along but seeing her mistress caught up in such a frenzied state, she couldn’t bring herself to smile.

She bowed her head, silently tidied up the medicine bowls, cleaned the table, and carried the bowl out.

Like Consort Liu reveling in others’ misfortunes, there was at least one more person in the palace who felt the same—that was Attendant Zhou.

Upon hearing the news, she gave a mischievous laugh, then quickly returned to normal, causing the palace maid attending to her to think it might have been her imagination.

As Consort Liu and Attendant Zhou reveled in others’ misfortunes, in Huaqing Palace, Noble Consort Xue had changed into fresh clothes and was getting all dolled up.

She was dressed in a formal palace outfit, her head adorned with a white magnolia flower crown, emanating an aura of dignity and purity. Her fiery phoenix eyes carried an unspoken authority when not smiling, and if she appeared sorrowful, she seemed irresistibly pitiable, stirring one’s sympathy.

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