Chapter 447 - 225: Tearing a Piece of Flesh from the Qin Father and Daughter

Chapter 447: Chapter 225: Tearing a Piece of Flesh from the Qin Father and Daughter

Princess Consort Zhuang could no longer hold back when she heard this. "If Father hadn’t been constantly opposing Your Majesty in court, how could I still be childless?"

Mrs. Wang was stunned. "What do you mean by that?"

Princess Consort Zhuang covered her face.

Mrs. Wang turned her head to look at Rouge, suppressing the panic in her heart as she asked, "Rouge, what in the world is going on?"

After Mrs. Wang came in, Rouge had asked Yun Dai to guard the door. Hearing Mrs. Wang’s question now, she lowered her eyes slightly and spoke only after a long moment. "Ma’am, Her Highness... is still a virgin."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang’s vision went black, and she almost fainted. "What did you say?"

"Enough!" Princess Consort Zhuang shouted angrily. "Stop asking. You should go back for now."

With that, Princess Consort Zhuang stormed directly into her bedchamber, sending the beaded curtain flying.

Mrs. Wang’s face was as white as a sheet. She grabbed Rouge’s arm. "Is everything you said true?"

Rouge nodded lightly. "Ma’am, you should go home for now. Please don’t ask any more. Her Highness feels deeply wronged."

Mrs. Wang nearly collapsed to the floor. Rouge quickly reached out to support her. Seeing her mistress’s pale face and reddened eyes, she had no idea how to offer comfort.

’This wasn’t something a mere servant like her dared to speak or ask about. If the Master hadn’t spent the last few years following the Left Minister in opposition to the Emperor, how could the Emperor have given Her Highness the cold shoulder? Her Highness, for the sake of her own pride, had gritted her teeth and refused to speak the truth, and this was the result.’

Mrs. Wang stumbled out of the palace, her mind completely consumed by that one phrase: *still a virgin*...

Meanwhile, Consort Shu was also speaking with her mother.

Lady Lu was still lamenting, "That Song Zhaoyi has such a formidable personality. She’s only a Zhaoyi now, yet she’s already so audacious she pays you no mind. Once she gives birth, I’m afraid she won’t even deign to look at you three concubines."

Stung by her own mother’s words, Consort Shu retorted peevishly, "You should be content. I’m secure in my position as a concubine, Father maintains his dignity before His Majesty—what more could we ask for?"

Lady Lu: ...

’If this wasn’t the daughter she had given birth to and raised herself, she would have thought she’d been swapped at birth.’

’What could she have possibly gone through in the palace to say something like this?’

"Are you saying you’re not going to fight for it anymore?"

"Mother, your daughter wants to fight, but can I even win? That Song Yunzhao is adaptable and cunning, a master of acting and pretense. Her face is more beautiful than a siren’s, and look at how she dresses! Who in the entire palace can compare to her cleverness? Tell me, what do I have to compete with?"

"You do have a point." Lady Lu thought back carefully. Song Zhaoyi’s attire today had indeed outshone everyone. Especially her face—how could she look like someone several months pregnant? She was so beautiful she practically glowed. "However, they say the more beautiful a woman is during pregnancy, the more likely she is to have a daughter. A daughter loves her mother and can’t bear to cause her trouble."

Consort Shu’s face was expressionless. "Then who was it that said they were sick as a dog when they were pregnant with me?"

Lady Lu grew angry. "What nonsense are you spouting, child? That was ages ago."

Consort Shu was exasperated. "Please, just stay out of these matters. I’m doing just fine in the palace right now. If anyone on the outside tries to incite you to do something, you absolutely must not agree."

"Isn’t your mother just doing this for your own good?"

"I’m doing great right now. The moment you get involved, my life won’t be so great anymore."

Lady Lu was thoroughly incensed. ’What kind of daughter did I raise? All she knows is how to anger me.’

Taking a few deep breaths to suppress her anger, Lady Lu changed the subject to more serious matters. "Today’s incident probably won’t end peacefully. I’m sure Mrs. Yao will report this to Yao Zongjing, and tomorrow, Prime Minister Yao will likely impeach Grand Tutor Qin."

"Isn’t that great news? Grand Tutor Qin doesn’t get along with my father. If he falls, it’ll save Father a lot of trouble," Consort Shu said with a smile.

"How could it be that simple?" Lady Lu found it hard to explain to her daughter. ’Forget it,’ she thought. She just instructed, "As for Song Zhaoyi, I think you should keep your distance from her. I’ll tell your father about what happened today. The court will certainly be a lively place tomorrow."

"Father won’t get involved, will he?" Consort Shu said worriedly. ’Whether it’s against Song Yunzhao or Qin Xiyue, I always feel like my luck is terrible.’ "I think it’s better to stay out of it. Wouldn’t it be better for Father to just watch the show?"

"When it comes to matters of the court, your father has his own plans."

Consort Shu: ...

"Just as long as I don’t get dragged into the mess here in the palace." Consort Shu couldn’t control her father or her mother; she might as well just look after herself.

Lady Lu left the palace in a huff. ’This daughter of mine... I raised her for nothing.’

***

Song Yunzhao was walking back from the tea banquet, her heart unusually calm. The summer wind caught the hem of her skirt, making it dance in the air. Palace Attendants cleared the path before her as she walked through the picturesque traveling palace. For a moment, it felt as if she didn’t belong in this time and space.

Feng Yi hurried over, standing a short distance away and watching Yun Zhao approach slowly. Her once-lively eyes were now cold and devoid of any emotion. Though she stood in the sunlight, he was struck by a sense of unfamiliarity.

His Zhaozhao was always playful and coquettish, her face constantly bright with a smile, her eyes sparkling with light. Before this, no matter what had happened, he had never seen her look so emotionless.

Prompted by Xiangxue, Song Yunzhao slowly raised her head and gazed at the figure in the distance. The light and shadows before her eyes gradually converged, and the world that had seemed so separate began to slowly return to normal.

She subconsciously stopped, her eyes fixed on the person before her.

It was hard to describe how she felt. Today, she had completely torn away all pretense with the female lead, ruthlessly trampling the Qin Family underfoot and pinning the crime of harming an heir and an Imperial Concubine on them. She knew she had left the Emperor no way out.

And she hadn’t wanted to.

It was true that Grand Tutor Qin was a veteran official who had served three reigns, and it was true that he had rendered meritorious service to the state. But it was also true that Qin Xiyue had schemed against her time and time again.

’Perhaps it’s because this is the female lead’s world, and it’s particularly hostile to a villainess like me. I failed to get a hold of any real leverage on her the last few times. This time, even if Chen Ran took all the blame, I was determined to tear a piece of flesh from Grand Tutor Qin and Qin Xiyue!’

She didn’t know if it was because she had been too ruthless toward the female lead, but the world before her eyes suddenly seemed to dissolve into a mosaic, overlaid with heavy shadows. In the distance, even Feng Yi’s features began to blur.

So, she didn’t move.

Feng Yi sensed that something was wrong with Yun Zhao. A sudden, inexplicable panic seized him, and he quickened his pace toward her. He stood before her, but her eyes, though looking at him, seemed to have no focus.

"Zhaozhao?"

Feng Yi suppressed the unease in his heart and called out to her, reaching out almost simultaneously to take both of Yun Zhao’s hands, holding them tightly in his own.

The moment she felt the warmth of Feng Yi’s body, the world snapped back into focus, like sunlight piercing through a thick fog. Even the sound of her own name seemed especially beautiful.

Song Yunzhao looked up and blinked hard. Feng Yi’s features slowly coalesced before her eyes. It was as if the world that had been on the verge of fading away had, in that instant, been restored to order.