Chapter 78

Chapter 78

The Song family had fallen, and their case was handed over to the Ministry of Justice. Zhao Heng couldn't bear to have Song Qingying lying down any longer. Not many days later, he staged a drama of offering a miraculous cure with his confidants, curing Song Qingying of her "poison."

Song Qingying could finally get up and walk around openly, no, she could now strut around the palace. Empress Song was sent to the cold palace, and the Empress, having learned her lesson over these days, started to act more discreetly.

The first thing Song Qingying did upon waking was to deal with Shenbi, her own maid. Zhao Heng had said that she should deal with Shenbi herself. Song Qingying looked at Shenbi kneeling on the ground, her face expressionless: "Shenbi, do you realize your mistake?"

Shenbi hurriedly kowtowed: "This servant knows! My lady, spare my life!"

Song Qingying sneered: "Spare your life? Did you ever think of sparing mine?"

Shenbi was shocked to hear Song Qingying say this, her face turning pale. She had always thought of Song Qingying as gentle and never harsh to her servants; she thought she could bluff her way through this time.

"My lady! It was Empress Song who forced this servant! This servant dared not disobey! My lady, please spare this servant, this servant dares not anymore." Shenbi kowtowed desperately.

Song Qingying sighed: "Since you wish to serve Empress Song, you shall go to the cold palace to serve Empress Song, oh, I was mistaken, she is now known as Lady Song."

"No!" Shenbi screamed, "No, my lady, this servant dares not anymore! Please spare this servant!"

Song Qingying glanced at Qinghong, who nodded: "Someone come and take this traitor away, to the cold palace!"

As soon as Qinghong's words fell, two eunuchs came and dragged Shenbi away. Shenbi kept begging for mercy. Song Qingying sighed: "Why bother? I was not unkind to her."

"My lady, don't stress yourself over those who betray for glory. Your health has just recovered and can't withstand it," Qinghong said.

Song Qingying smiled, "After all, she followed me through thick and thin. Had she not taken such extreme measures, I wouldn't have been so harsh."

Qinghong nodded in agreement, "Your actions are justified, my lady. Now that our Qi Garden has new additions, it serves as a warning to those who betray their masters—there's no good ending for them!"

Song Qingying remained silent, knowing that once Shenbi was sent to the cold palace, her chances of survival were slim, and not just for Shenbi, but for Consort Song as well.

Shenbi, escorted by two eunuchs, was sent to Consort Song in the cold palace. Consort Song still had a maid, who, seeing people arrive, quickly tugged at a eunuch, "Eunuch, now that you've brought someone, can I leave? After all, she doesn't need that many attendants anymore."

Naturally, the maid referred to Consort Song, who, upon arriving at the cold palace, remained silent, refusing to eat or drink, as if seeking death.

"We're here under the orders of Consort Xiu Yuan. How you manage things here is not our concern." This was a clear case of using one's position to bully others. With Song Qingying in power, the eunuchs from Qi Garden walked taller and spoke louder than other eunuchs.

The maid immediately nodded, "Then I'll report back to the managing eunuch, and you can bring the person in."

By this time, Shenbi had quieted down, having been threatened by the two eunuchs on their way to the cold palace: any screaming or running would be reported back to Consort Xiu Yuan.

After the maid left, one eunuch said to Shenbi, "Sister, it's best to diligently serve here. Consort Xiu Yuan is merciful. Had it been any other consort, you might already have been thrown into a mass grave to feed the wild dogs."

Terrified, Shenbi trembled and dared not utter a word.

The managing eunuch quickly arrived upon hearing that someone was sent by Consort Xiu Yuan and promptly took charge of Shenbi.

Upon seeing Consort Song, Shenbi was struck by her appearance—gone was her former grace and elegance. Dressed in dingy clothes, with unkempt hair and a lifeless expression, Shenbi was no longer afraid.

Shenbi immediately accused, "This is all your fault!"

Consort Song, who had been lying on a hard bed with her eyes closed, instantly opened her eyes and leaped up upon hearing Shenbi's voice, "You dare blame me, when it was you who conspired with that wretch to harm me!"

"Bah! Still acting like a consort? Do you even realize your current status? Go tell Consort Xiu Yuan what you just said! Maybe she'll release me for it. Then I wouldn't have had to come here!" Shenbi retorted.

"Hmph! A lowly woman, climbing atop the entire Song family! What makes her think she's a daughter of the Song family!" Consort Song spat venomously.

"Blaming others for your own incompetence! I was a fool to believe you! It was clear as day how much the Emperor adored Consort Xiu Yuan, and yet I was too naive!" Deep Green cried bitterly, filled with regret. She shouldnized't have been swayed by silver and jewels, she shouldnized't have betrayed Consort Xiu Yuan, who had always been so kind to her!

Enraged by Deep Green's words, Consort Song lunged forward, gripping Deep Green's throat tightly while shouting vehemently, "Wretched girl! Wretched girl!"

Gasping for air under Consort Song's grip, Deep Green struggled fiercely. Consort Song, weakened by days without proper food or drink, didn't have much strength. Seizing the moment when Consort Song's grip loosened, Deep Green pushed her away forcefully. Consort Song fell to the ground, her head striking the corner of the bed, blood gushing over her face instantly.

Terrified, Deep Green screamed and fled. Her frantic escape through the Cold Palace was bound to attract pursuit. Cornered with no way out, Deep Green chose death over capture, throwing herself into the lotus pond. In the cold of early October, survival was impossible. By the time she was retrieved from the icy waters, life had fled her body.

The news reached Consort Xiu Yuan as she was about to visit the Imperial Garden.

Consort Xiu Yuan paused briefly, saying nothing, while Light Red commented, "Such misfortune, and Her Highness was just about to visit the Imperial Garden!"

"Let it be, we shall not go," Consort Xiu Yuan decided.

No one mourned the deaths of Consort Song and Deep Green. Consort Xiu Yuan ordered a decent burial for them after a brief instruction.

During dinner, the imperial kitchen surprisingly included cake with the meal. Consort Xiu Yuan then remembered that her box of paper had been taken by Emperor Zhao. Enjoying a piece of cake, she marveled at the culinary skills of the imperial chefs, consuming the entire stack of cakes despite Light Red's attempts to intervene.

Light Red reproached, "Even if it's a novelty, Your Highness shouldn't indulge so recklessly."

Sipping tea, Consort Xiu Yuan replied, "But it's delicious."

"What's this deliciousness about?" Emperor Zhao entered.

Upon seeing Emperor Zhao, Consort Xiu Yuan quickly rose with a beaming smile, bending her knees in a respectful greeting, "The imperial kitchen delivered cake today, surely at the Emperor's command!"

Approaching, Emperor Zhao inquired, "How is it? To your liking?"

Consort Xiu Yuan nodded emphatically, "Delicious. Light Red even scolded me for eating too much. Have you had some, Your Majesty? I didn't save any for you because you didn't mention you were coming."

"I've already eaten," Emperor Zhao said, reaching out to wipe a crumb from Consort Xiu Yuan's mouth, "Whatever you've written that can be made, I will make it happen for you."

"Ah, you've read them? How about it? Am I not impressive?" Consort Xiu Yuan said with pride.

Emperor Zhao signaled to Light Red, who then led the attending maids and eunuchs out. Alone, Emperor Zhao pulled her into his embrace, "Indeed, extraordinarily so."

"Hehe, it's really nothing. In our world, these are just common knowledge. I wasn't sure what would be useful to you, so I ended up thinking a lot about food," Consort Xiu Yuan said, nuzzling against the emperor's chest.

"Useful, of course, it's useful. Very useful. I've already ordered the Ministry of Revenue and Works to start on many of those projects. Next spring, I'm planning to send envoys overseas and to the Western Regions to seek the places and items you mentioned," Emperor Zhao explained.

Consort Xiu Yuan nodded, "Though I know some things unfamiliar here, making good use of them in this realm still depends on you."

Emperor Zhao lifted her in his arms, "Changing the world can wait. Tonight, we shall only pursue joy."

Consort Xiu Yuan, wrapping her arms around his neck with affectionate eyes, laughed softly, "Alright."

They rolled onto the bed, embracing tightly, their kisses intertwining passionately. Having restrained themselves for days, they were unable to hold back, soon becoming lost in fervent love, the bed curtains swaying with their movements...

They reached the peak of passion several times until dawn, when they finally fell asleep in each other's arms, still intimately connected...