Chapter 379: Concealment

Chapter 379: Concealment

The corners of her eyes were bloodshot, glistening with tears, and at this moment she didn't even have the strength to utter a word.

It hurt—her whole body ached.

But that pain was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.

She'd fought back like a woman possessed, only for Emperor Jingyang to treat her even more brutally.

He was a beast, tearing into her flesh and bone, piece by piece, leaving her to endure endless humiliation in the Yangxin Hall.

"Lunatic... lunatic..."

Consort Li clenched her fists, wanting to scream curses, but knowing Emperor Jingyang's men were still guarding outside, she could only choke back the hatred burning inside her.

She'd been used and tossed aside like a rag, left to rot in misery.

Jian Lan walked in with a pot of tea, and when she saw the look of utter despair on Consort Li's face, she froze.

"My Lady, you..." Her lips moved, but the rest of the words wouldn't come out, so she could only say: "This servant will go fetch you a fresh set of clothes, My Lady."

When the clothes were brought, Jian Lan helped Consort Li wash up. Staring at the white feathered robe shredded on the floor, she felt like her own heart had been ripped to shreds too.

She'd entered the palace for love, staying pure for Prince Nanxiao. She'd gritted her teeth through all these twenty-some years, and just when she was so close to getting out, Emperor Jingyang had defiled her!

Consort Li just felt dirty. She stood up stiffly, her voice flat and hollow.

"Back to the palace. Get hot water ready. I need to bathe."

She couldn't stand to stay in this Yangxin Hall another second!

As long as she stayed here, she'd be haunted by those nightmare scenes nonstop.

Weiyang Palace, the bathhouse.

Consort Li sat inside the bathtub, scrubbing wildly at the marks on her skin until it was raw and bleeding.

Jian Lan rushed over to stop her. "Consort Li, please stop scrubbing. Keep going and you'll tear your skin open!"

Tears flooded Consort Li's eyes, big drops spilling down her cheeks and silently splashing into the tub.

She couldn't hold it in anymore and broke down, sobbing. "I'm so dirty, so dirty. I've failed Zhenglang."

When she finished crying, she lifted her head, gripping the tub's edge, and shot a sharp look at Jian Lan.

"Jian Lan, if Zhenglang ever found out, do you think he'd hate me? Would he think I betrayed him and not want me anymore?"

Jian Lan's eyes darkened for a moment, then she turned and walked over to the window. She picked up a candle, lit the incense burner, and spoke in a calm, detached voice.

"He wouldn't. Prince Nanxiao loves you too much to ever hate you, My Lady."

"Besides, you had no control over what happened. It wasn't your choice. I'm sure even if the Prince found out, he'd understand your suffering, My Lady."

But Consort Li didn't believe that for a second. If Prince Nanxiao found out, he'd only blame her for being unchaste and throwing herself at the Emperor. She stared at the drifting white steam, then suddenly, as if a thought hit her, a shadow clouded her eyes.

She murmured: "That bottle of Drunken Dream Life-Death Elixir—Brother Zheng gave it to me. I even used it on Emperor Jingyang ages ago. So why did it turn into a strong aphrodisiac?"

"That doesn't make sense. Where did it go wrong?"

Jian Lan's hands froze. She quickly dropped her gaze, hiding the dark glint in her eyes, then picked up some flower petals and walked over, gently sprinkling them into the bath one by one.

"My Lady, this servant once read in a medical book that some medicines, if left sealed in a bottle for too long, lose their original potency."

"The Drunken Dream Life-Death Elixir the Prince gave you has been sitting around for over ten years now. It might have gone bad or lost its effect."

That explanation sounded reasonable enough.

But a knot of unease tightened in Consort Li's chest. She knew Prince Nanxiao too well. He would never tolerate her betraying him.

No excuse changes the fact that it's betrayal!

If he ever found out, their relationship would be over.

At that thought, Consort Li steeled herself and said: "Zhenglang must never find out about me losing my chastity. Everyone in Weiyang Palace is forbidden from spreading this matter outside."

Jian Lan was taken aback. "But My Lady, our people can keep the secret, but what about the Emperor's side?"

"Never mind that side. He has so many consorts; it's not as if he'd announce it every time he sleeps with someone. Sharing the bed is an utterly ordinary matter. As long as we keep our own mouths shut, that's enough!"

Consort Li's words left Jian Lan in silence.

She always felt that Consort Li was thinking too simply!

Now that Emperor Jingyang had tasted sweetness at her side, would he really come only this once?

The answer was certainly no.

Consort Li then said: "By the way, prepare a bowl of contraceptive soup and bring it to me."

"What's done is done. No matter what, I absolutely cannot bear his child."

Jian Lan lowered her head in acknowledgment. "Yes, Consort Li."

After drinking the medicine, Consort Li bathed a full three times and rinsed her mouth five times before she could barely feel that the repulsive sensation had been washed away.

She dressed and walked out the door, only to see Eunuch Zhang leading a group of maidservants walking in from outside Weiyang Palace.

His voice arrived before he did.

"Congratulations, Consort Li. Congratulations, Consort Li."

Consort Li looked at him with deep, somber eyes. "Eunuch Zhang, what congratulations do I have?"

"Congratulations to Your Ladyship for being reinstated to the rank of Consort by His Majesty and regaining imperial favor."

Consort Li: "..."

Consort Li: "!!!"

She felt that Eunuch Zhang was deliberately humiliating her.

Before she had gained imperial favor, was she not already a Consort?

So why, after gaining imperial favor, was someone coming to congratulate her again?

Was this not a way of making sure everyone knew she had been bedded by Emperor Jingyang?

Eunuch Zhang noticed that Consort Li's expression was not good and guessed that she might not have seen the gifts.

He clapped his hands, and immediately a row of palace maids stepped forward.

Eunuch Zhang pointed to the trays they were holding and said, "His Majesty, in recognition of Consort Li's diligent service today, has specially ordered us to deliver these rewards. Please accept them, Consort Li."

Consort Li glanced at the jewelry and silk on the trays, a flicker of disgust flashing through her eyes.

All of it was nothing but flashy, impractical junk—she'd rather not accept these rewards at all!

Eunuch Zhang set the items down and said, "The rewards have been delivered as His Majesty instructed. I still need to head to Duke Rong's residence to deliver an imperial edict. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."

Hearing the words "imperial edict," Consort Li froze and quickly called out to stop Eunuch Zhang.

"Eunuch Zhang, what edict is His Majesty having you deliver at Duke Rong's residence?"

Eunuch Zhang beamed and said, "Naturally, it's a joyous occasion. His Majesty plans to betroth Princess Jiu to Heir Xie—the imperial decree's already been drafted!"

"If there's nothing else, Your Ladyship, I'll be taking my leave."

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Zhang!" Consort Li's heart leaped with joy as she watched Eunuch Zhang leave.

Jian Lan grabbed a fox-fur cloak and draped it over Consort Li's shoulders.

She murmured, "Your Ladyship, His Majesty has agreed to the betrothal. That's a good thing, for sure."

A faint, scornful smile curled at the corner of Consort Li's lips. "Yeah, a good thing bought with my lost chastity. Thank God this dog emperor kept his word this time—otherwise, I really would've gone down with him without a second thought."

Thinking about it afterward, she found it ironic.

She'd slept with the emperor just to beg for a betrothal for someone else's daughter—wasn't that just plain stupid?

At present, the only comfort in her heart was that after Luo Qingge married Xie Liuzheng, she would be able to help the Crown Prince.

With that thought, Consort Li felt somewhat better.

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