Chapter 159:

Consort De felt a chill seeing Consort Qi’s demeanor.

She was somewhat frightened at the sight of Consort Qi in such a state, but even so, she still mustered her courage, feigning composure with a mocking sneer.

“Even if there is punishment, it should come from the Emperor, not you, Consort Qi. If you harm me, what do you expect to gain? It will only invite suspicion. I suppose you no longer care about your position as Qi Consort?”

Consort Qi’s eyes were filled with venom. “Do you think I would leave any evidence behind? Forget about leaving evidence—even if I did, what of it? I must personally kill my enemy. You destroyed my child and made it impossible for me to bear another. Do you think it’s over just like that? Do you?”

As she spoke, Consort Qi swiftly moved closer to Consort De and wrapped a piece of white silk around her neck.

Caught off guard, Consort De had no time to react.

Grasping Consort Qi’s arms tightly, Consort De struggled desperately, but she could not break free.

Consort Qi’s voice was low yet filled with hatred. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? Do you think I came to this moment without preparation? I must kill my enemy with my own hands. I won’t let you die by anyone else’s. I must take revenge myself—myself! Everyone in the palace thinks I hate Shen Layue the most, but do you know? It’s all fake! In this palace, I only want you dead—only you. From the moment I learned you killed my child, from the moment I knew I could never have another, I’ve wanted you dead…”

Consort De did not expect Consort Qi to harbor such deep hatred.

Indeed, it was inevitable. Consort Qi had not only lost her child but also her ability to bear more children, a devastating blow.

As if recalling something painful, Consort Qi tightened her grip. At this moment, she was completely different from her usual demure self. Facing her enemy, she seemed to summon a strength she had never shown before.

Though Consort De resisted, she was gradually losing strength, her eyes rolling back.

“Die! Die! Go down there and apologize to my child. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of your beloved son. There’s no way your child should live while mine died. Rest assured, I’ll send him to join you soon enough.”

With that, Consort Qi pulled harder.

…

Consort Qi stood coldly, watching Consort De’s lifeless body on the floor, a cold sneer forming on her lips.

The Emperor might have spared you, but I won’t.

Consort De, go accompany my child.

Looking around cautiously, Consort Qi carefully tidied up everything that had been knocked over during Consort De’s struggle. After a thorough check, finding nothing unusual, she climbed onto a table and hanged Consort De from the beam. Even though Consort Qi was strong, she was still a woman, and after finishing all this, she was already out of breath.

Since the day she learned the truth, Consort Qi had dreamed of avenging her child. If even Shulan could betray Consort De, who could guarantee that her people could withstand the torture of the Court of Justice?

Perhaps she once had some faith in her own people, but after so many years in the palace, seeing so much, she realized—no one could resist. Therefore, only by doing it herself could she ensure everything went as planned.

Precisely for this reason, Consort Qi had been constantly strengthening her arm strength from the very beginning, hoping for the day she could strangle Consort De. Only by strangling could she stage a suicide.

And indeed, she had succeeded.

After another glance around, Consort Qi exhaled in relief.

Originally, she didn’t necessarily have to kill Consort De herself. But because of the Second Prince, the Emperor had many reservations. Last night, she secretly learned that the Emperor’s punishment for Consort De was to exile her to a convent.

Such an outcome was unacceptable to Consort Qi.

Though the possibility was low, it was still possible that the Second Prince might one day rise to prominence, and Consort De would be welcomed back into the palace.

Once she was sent to the convent, she would have no more chances.

So instead, now was not a bad opportunity.

But from another perspective, it was actually a great opportunity.

After all, she had committed a crime and could be seen as committing suicide out of guilt.

Even if someone suspected anything, it could be covered up.

This incident involving Consort De mainly implicated Consort Hui and Noble Consort Shen, while she herself was only a minor suspect.

Consort De’s spy was from Consort Hui’s faction, and the murder was an attempt to frame Noble Consort Shen. Thus, even if someone suspected anything, their suspicions would naturally fall more heavily on them.

Looking at it this way, she herself was safe.

After carefully reviewing everything, Consort Qi made sure she didn’t want any unexpected complications.

In her view, if she could use Consort De’s death to frame others, that would be even better.

Unfortunately, the event was too sudden, and she only had one night to prepare, so she couldn’t set everything up.

After these incidents, Consort Qi deeply felt that if she couldn’t do something perfectly, she shouldn’t do it at all, or it would easily involve herself. And this time, the situation was too sudden, and she had little time to prepare.

It was a great opportunity wasted.

She swept her gaze across the cold palace and looked at the pale Consort De, then sneered coldly.

“The one who laughs last is never you. As for your son, I will treat him well.”

Consort Qi’s smile was chilling, enough to send a chill down even those hiding in the shadows.

After Consort Qi left quietly, the one who had been hiding finally emerged.

He carefully examined Consort De’s body.

Then he glanced around the room and quickly slipped out the door.

Soon after, he entered Xuanning Palace.

Emperor Jing did not look up. “Was she dealt with?”

“Your Majesty, Consort Qi indeed went there.”

Emperor Jing remained expressionless.

He took out the imperial edict on the table and sneered.

“Laixi.”

“Your servant is here.”

“Take the edict and announce it at the cold palace.”

“Yes.”

No one could say for sure what had happened inside the palace. When Laixi arrived at the cold palace with others to read the edict, all they found was a cold corpse.

Such events were rare in the palace, so Laixi hurriedly ordered someone to report to the Emperor and summon the imperial physicians.

For a moment, everything was in chaos.

Laixi cried, “My Lady De, if only you had held on for an hour! If you had seen this edict, there would have been no need to take your own life!”

Everyone glanced at the imperial edict.

It was clear that Emperor Jing had not ordered Consort De’s execution.

Soon, the news spread.

Everyone said fate was ironic. Consort De’s end made people feel that justice had prevailed.

The Emperor’s edict had ordered her to go to the convent to repent for her sins, but she, thinking the situation hopeless, chose to end her life with a piece of white silk.

Even her own family felt she had made a grave mistake.

Indeed, a palace consort’s suicide would implicate her family, yet she ignored that. And even if she ignored them, what about the Second Prince? Her actions placed him in an extremely awkward position.

Moreover, the Emperor had already shown leniency by sending her to the convent, which made people feel it was the will of heaven.

Seeing that everything went smoothly without being discovered, Consort Qi felt relieved. Looking at a wound on her hand, she did not summon anyone but secretly applied medicine herself.

Consort De is dead. How wonderful!

When others suddenly heard the news, they also felt a sense of loss.

The once powerful Consort De had finally walked down this irreversible path.

This month had been somewhat uncomfortable for Layue, and with the New Year approaching, she was quite busy and tired, so she did not receive many visitors or get involved in this matter.

But upon hearing the news, Layue also felt that life was indeed unpredictable.

If she had not committed evil deeds, Consort De would have taken a completely different path.

Even Prince Yanjia might have had a chance at succession, but because of Consort De’s actions, everything had gone in a different direction. She schemed too cleverly, and in the end, it cost her life.

“My Lady, do you really think Consort De committed suicide?” Jin Xin, who had been with Layue for a long time, asked thoughtfully.

Layue raised her eyebrows noncommittally.

“Regardless, now that the Emperor has declared it a suicide, it must be so. If the Imperial Physicians can’t find anything, how can we know?”

Jin Xin thought for a moment and agreed.

If the Emperor did not want to make a big deal of it, why should they get involved?

“Has Prince Jia heard of this?” Layue thought of the child and asked.

Jin Xin’s expression changed as she sighed, “It is said he already knows. He cried very bitterly. But it has already happened. What can be done? Surprisingly, the Eldest Prince comforted the Second Prince like a grown-up.”

The news had already spread throughout the palace, and there was no way to keep it hidden.

“This inner palace is a place where one misstep can cause irreparable harm—not only to oneself but also to one’s family and children,” Layue mused.

Life often turned out this way.

In fact, deep down, Layue did not believe Consort De’s death was a suicide. Though she wasn’t extremely clever, she had her own thoughts.

Consort De wasn’t stupid. Her child was still young, and her family was strong. Most importantly, the one who died was just a lowly maid. In the palace, lives were as insignificant as ants.

The Emperor would never sentence her to death for that, yet she still chose suicide.

A palace consort’s suicide would implicate her family.

Would Consort De really be so foolish?

Though Consort De wasn’t the wisest, it was impossible for her not to realize this.

Therefore, Consort De’s death was suspicious.

Moreover, Layue always felt that something was off about this incident, just like the Chen family’s downfall. It seemed the Emperor played a very important role in it.

Others might not see it, but Layue had this feeling.

After silently watching him for ten years in a previous life, Layue believed she could see through him a little.