Chapter 149 Killing with a Borrowed Knife

Chapter 149: Killing by Proxy

"If this edict was indeed ordered by Consort Li, then Consort Li must sleep really well. From the time the little eunuch delivered the message to when I arrived at Weiyang Palace, it was barely the time to finish a cup of tea, yet Her Highness had already fallen asleep. I'm really impressed."

"On the other hand, Consort Li summoned me but was unwilling to see me. Could it be that Consort Li just doesn't care about me and deliberately left me waiting like this? If that is the case, it really hurts my feelings."

As Ji Yuntang said this, she even pressed her hand to her heart dramatically, as if she had truly been hurt by Consort Li.

Just as Consort Li was about to speak, Ji Yuntang went on, "But if this edict was not ordered by Your Highness, then the little eunuch of Weiyang Palace is truly unruly. He actually dared to impersonate someone from Consort Li's side and pretended to deliver an imperial decree to me, the Princess, deceiving me into coming here. This little eunuch deserves to die for his treachery, Your Highness!"

"With such a servant in Weiyang Palace, Your Highness's safety could be at risk. This little eunuch is a traitor for his own benefit. He could be a spy someone planted here by someone else. Consort Li, you need to punish him hard today and make him rat out whoever's behind him!"

Consort Li: "..."

Consort Li: "!!!"

Ji Yuntang spoke a long passage in one breath. Consort Li tried to cut in several times but couldn't.

This bitch covered all the bases, good and bad, leaving her feeling as uncomfortable as if she'd swallowed a fly.

But unfortunately, facing Ji Yuntang's concerned expression, Consort Li couldn't get a single curse word out.

She felt that despite living so long and struggling in the palace for so many years, she'd never felt so wronged before.

Consort Li had two choices.

Either she admitted that she had Xiao Shunzi deliver the message summoning Ji Yuntang.

But if she did so, it would prove she deliberately snubbed Ji Yuntang and did not welcome her.

Or she could deny that Xiao Shunzi was acting for her.

Then she'd have to follow Ji Yuntang's lead and punish Xiao Shunzi severely.

Both options were traps.

But unfortunately, she had no choice but to fall into this trap!

Even though Consort Li was furious enough to spit blood, she still had to act gentle and virtuous. After a moment's thought, she decided.

"I haven't been feeling well lately. I was napping after lunch and didn't know you came to the palace. That eunuch who delivered the message isn't mine."

"Come, take this eunuch who falsely conveyed my edict and deceived Princess Ye, drag him out and beat him to death!"

As Consort Li said this, her face twitched with rage, and she even snapped her fingernail under her sleeve.

The person she'd painstakingly won over was lost in just a few words from Ji Yuntang!

Lost!

She hated Ji Yuntang even more now!

If she didn't kill him, it would confirm what Ji Yuntang said that there was someone behind Xiao Shunzi.

Ji Yuntang had already set her sights on Xiao Shunzi, and Consort Li feared that her dealings with him might come to light.

So, she decided to finish him off once and for all.

At this moment, Xiao Shunzi still didn't realize the danger coming his way.

He thought that as long as Princess Ye got punished and suffered at Consort Li's hands today, Consort Li would be happy and might promote him to serve her up close.

In Weiyang Palace, Consort Li was famously good-tempered and caused few problems. This was a sweet gig, much better than his position in the Bureau of Ceremonial.

Then he'd be a big shot in Weiyang Palace. Who would still dare to look down on him?

Xiao Shunzi was already picturing himself going to the Bureau of Ceremonial and showing those eunuchs who's boss.

Suddenly two guards grabbed him, pinned his arms, and forced him to the ground, questioning him coldly.

"Talk! Who do you work for? What are you plotting by lurking around Consort Li? Who is the master behind you?"

Xiao Shunzi listened in bewilderment, completely clueless about what they were talking about.

After coming to his senses, he was already pressed onto a bench. The smell of blood hit his nostrils, and Xiao Shunzi realized that the bench beneath him was stained with blood.

It was evident that many people had been beaten here.

Realizing something was wrong, Xiao Shunzi shouted, "How dare you! I serve Consort Li! Let me go!"

All he heard in reply were his own screams and the sound of the club hitting his body, tearing flesh and breaking skin.

The execution took place in the courtyard of Weiyang Palace.

Consort Li listened to the endless screams, frowned, and grew even more annoyed.

But unfortunately, Ji Yuntang's overly conscientious attitude only made her angrier.

Ji Yuntang walked out and asked the two guards administering the beating, "How is it? Has he confessed who sent him?"

One of the guards replied, "Reporting to Princess Ye, this little eunuch is stubborn. After thirty strokes of the rod, he still insists he is Consort Li's man."

Ji Yuntang sneered inwardly. Taking this opportunity, she also got back at Consort Li for the drum-passing incident at the last palace banquet.

For a person Consort Li used to hurt her, Ji Yuntang naturally had no sympathy. She clenched her fists.

"How could Consort Li have a traitor like you as a servant? This little eunuch must have been deliberately instructed by someone, planted in Weiyang Palace to frame Consort Li."

"Today, if this Princess were not clever enough to see through his scheme, I would have truly believed that Consort Li sent someone to summon me and then deliberately left me waiting. I think whoever's behind this wanted to drive a wedge between Consort Li and me, hoping to reap the benefits from behind."

"Don't stop! Keep going! Consort Li said to beat him to death!"

The two guards were furious too. How could such a malicious person have slipped into Weiyang Palace right under their noses?

Moreover, they had never seen this Xiao Shunzi before.

This showed that the man was definitely not from Weiyang Palace.

They beat him even harder!

Xiao Shunzi: "!!!"

He cried out in pain, drenched in sweat, feeling that his body was no longer his own.

But Ji Yuntang's words just now still rang in his ears, making Xiao Shunzi unable to believe it.

Clearly, Consort Li had told him to go and summon Princess Ye, insisting that he lead her before Consort Li.

But why did Princess Ye say that he had deliberately delivered the message?

Xiao Shunzi was beaten to the brink of death. He raised his head with effort and looked toward the resplendent Weiyang Palace, praying that Consort Li would come out to save him, even if only to confirm this matter.

But he waited for a long time and saw no sign of Consort Li.

How could she not know what was happening in her own palace? Of course she knew.

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