Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 72 - How did Noble Lady Hui’s face become ulcerated?
Chapter 72: Chapter 72 How did Noble Lady Hui’s face become ulcerated?
Noble Lady Hui swayed seductively towards the Emperor and leaned into his embrace with a frail and boneless grace.
Her beauty was not outstanding among the host of beauties in the imperial harem, but her provocative attire, reminiscent of a dancing girl, combined with waves of fragrance emanating from her, left even the eunuchs present feeling bewildered and entranced.
Even the Second Prince couldn’t help but steal several glances at Noble Lady Hui.
Noble Consort Qi covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief, a look of disgust flashing in her eyes. The properly maintained harem had been turned into a den of foulness by Noble Lady Hui. She forced herself to remain calm to avoid being targeted by the Empress and others when the Emperor was addicted to the bewitching fragrance.
She had already collected much evidence of Noble Lady Hui’s seduction of the Emperor but was also aware that the time to expose Noble Lady Hui was not yet ripe.
The key lay with the Emperor himself; she had to make him realize that his health was deteriorating, and it was Noble Lady Hui’s doing.
...
Yet now, she felt that the Emperor’s condition was worse than it had been a few days ago.
Could it be that the Empress planned to directly have the Emperor killed to quickly have her son, the Second Prince, ascend the throne for good?
With this thought, Noble Consort Qi grew anxious.
As she watched the Emperor, seemingly entranced, sniffing Noble Lady Hui’s body fragrance, his eyes glazing over, she had a bad premonition.
“Your Majesty, come, have a drink~”
Noble Lady Hui, with a seductive posture, brought a cup of wine to the Emperor’s lips.
The Emperor, with a smile, touched Noble Lady Hui’s hand and drank it down in one gulp.
Noble Lady Hui continued to serve him wine, cup after cup.
No one among the concubines present dared to advise against it.
Just two days ago, Consort Lan Pin, having advised a little too much, was thrown into the Cold Palace at Noble Lady Hui’s instigation, and that very night, a white silk rope was granted to her to take her life to the west.
Although Consort Lan Pin was no longer favored, she had been with the Emperor since his days as the Crown Prince and had shared decades of affection; yet, she was killed without hesitation.
It was clear to everyone that Noble Lady Hui was making an example of her to show how obedient the Emperor was to her.
Soon, the Emperor had drunk half a pot, his eyes growing increasingly unfocused.
By the time Jun Yuyan arrived, supporting Murong Jiu, the Emperor was already leaning on Noble Lady Hui, calling her his beloved consort with every other word.
“How is Princess Consort Ling feeling?”
Noble Lady Hui lifted her head, her exquisite red lips parting as she looked down from above with a hint of triumph in her eyes.
She, an insignificant imperial maiden once overlooked upon entering the palace and unheeded by all, had been walking on thin ice, cautious in her every step.
Yet now, she was seated atop the most revered man in the sky, a man who was now bowing to her every wish, granting her whatever she desired.
How could she not feel triumphant?
Jun Yuyan said, “Thank you for your concern, Noble Lady Hui, the Princess Consort is much better.”
Noble Lady Hui curled her lips and smiled at the Emperor, saying, “Your Majesty, the way Princess Consort Ling vomited earlier, it was so similar to Consort Yun Pin. But Consort Yun Pin has already been pregnant for almost three months. Is Princess Consort Ling really just newly pregnant?”
The Emperor, already tipsy and somewhat muddled by Noble Lady Hui’s bewitching fragrance, asked, “What are you implying, my beloved consort?”
“This concubine feels that Princess Consort Ling intentionally bribed Imperial Doctor Chen and Imperial Doctor Xiao Sun. Imperial Doctor Xu spoke the truth; surely she is more than one month pregnant. This concubine has been caring for Consort Yun Pin for such a long time; I certainly have the eye for these things.”
“Noble Lady Hui! You’re slandering me! Making up lies out of nothing!”
Unable to contain her anger, Noble Consort Qi stood up and rebuked her in a heavy tone.
Noble Lady Hui shrank into the Emperor’s embrace and whimpered, “Your Majesty, the Noble Consort is so fierce. I’m so afraid!”
The Emperor glared and said sternly, “Noble Consort Qi, why are you intimidating my beloved consort!”
Noble Consort Qi replied urgently, “I’m not, Your Majesty. It’s Noble Lady Hui, she’s deliberately framing Murong Jiu and making up lies from nothing. It’s wonderful that Yu Yan has an heir on the way. Noble Lady Hui wants to harm Murong Jiu, to kill the child of Yu Yan!”
Noble Lady Hui immediately started to sob:
“Your Majesty, everything your concubine has said is the truth. Your concubine has no grievances with Princess Consort Ling—why would I harm her? Noble Concubine must have looked down upon your concubine for a long time. Your Majesty, please cast me into the Cold Palace, then I will no longer be in anyone’s way.”
The Emperor tenderly pulled her into his embrace, his gaze towards Noble Consort Qi turned a few degrees more severe.
The Empress then spoke, “Noble Consort Qi, aren’t you going to apologize to His Majesty and Noble Lady Hui quickly? I am aware that you are jealous of Noble Lady Hui, but in this harem, His Majesty is the law. Whoever His Majesty wishes to favor is the grace of His Majesty’s award. Do not let your jealousy cause trouble. We are all sisters here and should live in harmony.”
“The Empress is right. I will favor whomever I wish,” the Emperor said. “Noble Consort Qi, I command you to apologize to Noble Lady Hui immediately.”
How could Noble Consort Qi swallow such an insult? Once she apologized, her status in the palace would be at stake, and how would those servants look at her then?
She couldn’t suppress her anger any longer, speaking sternly, “Your Majesty, you are now beguiled by Noble Lady Hui! Your so-called favoritism towards her is all because she bears the Western Regions Enchanted Incense! Noble Lady Hui is harming you!”
The Empress narrowed her eyes fiercely.
The Second Prince subconsciously looked towards Jun Yuyan.
Noble Consort Qi was all show with no substance; it wasn’t possible for her to know about Noble Lady Hui’s affairs—there was only one possibility: Jun Yuyan had told her.
And how did Jun Yuyan find out?
Was it because of Murong Jiu?
Murong Jiu was always spoiling his plans.
But he was not at all panicked.
Noble Consort Qi’s exposure couldn’t have come at a worse time—it would lead her down a path of self-destruction.
Sure enough, the Emperor didn’t just disbelieve her, but felt that Noble Consort Qi, blinded by jealousy, was making up stories.
Under Noble Lady Hui’s tearful manipulation, the Emperor became even angrier and ordered on the spot for Noble Consort Qi to be dragged out for thirty strokes of the cane.
“Your Majesty!”
Noble Consort Qi could hardly believe it. For so many years, the Emperor had cherished her immensely, and yet now, he was willing to give her a severe punishment for Noble Lady Hui!
“Father Emperor.”
At that moment, Jun Yuyan, who had been quiet, spoke softly.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
His voice, clear and cold, quieted the commotion in the Imperial Garden.
The Emperor spoke sternly, “You, too, wish to anger me like your mother Noble Consort?”
“Your son wouldn’t dare.”
Jun Yuyan spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, “Your son merely wishes to remind you, Father Emperor, to take a look at Noble Lady Hui. What’s happened to her face? Should we call for Imperial Doctor Xu to check on her?”
As soon as he said this, everyone’s gaze turned towards Noble Lady Hui.
Indeed!
Pus-filled blisters emerged one after another on Noble Lady Hui’s delicately made-up face, a sight so revolting it could make one nauseous.
The Emperor glanced at her for just a moment before suddenly snapping to lucidity, especially after detecting the faint, rotten stench, his previously agitated mind felt as if it had been doused with cold water.
“What, what?”
When Noble Lady Hui met the Emperor’s disgusted look, she instinctively touched her own face, only to feel pus on her hands.
“Ah!!” Noble Lady Hui let out an incredulous scream.
As the stench from her body grew stronger, the Emperor’s mind cleared even more, and he pushed her to the ground with a shove.
