The Night Before Leaving the Palace, Reduced to the Tyrant's Plaything - Chapter 31

Consort Shu was being supported to go and greet the emperor, but before she reached the door, Qi Rang had already strode in.

He was still wearing the same dark dragon-patterned cloak from last night. His already tall and upright figure, accentuated by the magnificent and imposing cloak, looked even more commanding and dignified, like a mountain or a towering peak. The aura of a sovereign filled the entire palace, making everyone kneel to the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Behind him followed not only Hu Jinzhong, but also Xu Qingzhan.

Xu Qingzhan was dressed in the bright red official attire of the Seal Holder eunuch, embroidered with colorful cloud and python patterns. The python bared its fangs and brandished its claws; paired with Xu Qingzhan’s bewitching and handsome face, it radiated both arrogance and a hint of gentleness, the contrast stark yet complementary.

With the monarch and his minister standing in the grand hall, it felt as if the vast palace was instantly filled to the brim.

Consort Shu stepped forward, crouched in greeting, her gaze sweeping over both men. With a charming laugh, she said, “Chief Xu’s face makes even me envious. Your Majesty, if you come to Yongshou Palace again, you mustn’t bring him along-otherwise, I’ll be jealous.”

Qi Rang reached out to help her up, feigning reproach: “Only you dare say such things before me. Were it anyone else, I would have had their tongue cut out.”

Xu Qingzhan protested, “Your Ladyship, you’re envious of me? Well, I’m envious of you! You don’t have to do anything; every day, you hold a cat by the fire, listen to tunes, sip tea, and enjoy the snow.

Unlike me, braving wind and rain, risking my life to serve His Majesty. Not only do I suffer hardship, but I’m also resented by the other ladies, accused of bewitching the ruler. I’ve truly been wronged.”

Consort Shu was so amused by him that she giggled, flowers trembling as she clung to Qi Rang’s arm and shook it: “Your Majesty, listen to this nonsense he spouts! If you don’t punish him severely, his reputation as your favorite will be confirmed.”

“All right, that’s enough mischief.”

Qi Rang put on a stern face to stop their banter, his cold gaze landing on Jiang Wanyu, who was kneeling.

The style of Yeti Court’s clothing was the most old-fashioned: gray and lacking any sense of beauty, designed purely for practicality and dirt resistance.

Yet, even such ugly clothes could not conceal her natural beauty. She just knelt there quietly, already looking like a painting.

Qi Rang’s fingers twitched within his sleeve. He said coolly, “What’s the matter with this person? Didn’t I order her to serve in Yeti Court? Has she caused trouble again?”

Xu Qingzhan’s smile instantly vanished as he silently looked toward Wanyu.

Consort Shu, feigning anger, began to complain: “Your Majesty, this lowly maid ruined my most beloved garment-I’m so angry I could die! I’m sure she did it on purpose, she’s just making things difficult for me.”

Qi Rang patted her hand and led her to the main seat, but his gaze never left Wanyu for a moment. “You’re already in Yeti Court and still can’t behave? You ruined your mistress’s clothes. What punishment do you deserve?”

Wanyu had been kneeling for a long time, and pain was drilling through her knees.

She understood in her heart: no matter what she said, Qi Rang would not believe her. This line of questioning was only for his own amusement, and he would never truly clear her name.

But if she didn’t answer, Qi Rang would accuse her of disrespect and use it as an excuse to vent his anger and torment her.

She did not want to provoke this madman, so she kowtowed, straightened her back, and gestured with her hands: “It was not this servant who ruined the garment. I checked it carefully before handing it in.”

“Oh? So you’re saying someone deliberately ruined Consort Shu’s clothes to frame you?” Qi Rang said indifferently. “With your current status, is it worth anyone taking such a risk?”

Wanyu knew her own lowly status, but she was certain she had been framed.

She also believed Xiang Rui’s words: the one who framed her was Hu Jinzhong.

Hu Jinzhong was Qi Rang’s dog. Ultimately, he acted on Qi Rang’s orders, trying to force her to submit.

Qi Rang was the thief crying ‘stop thief’.

She hated him bitterly; if she were not so weak, she would have pounced on him and perished together with him right then.

Qi Rang looked into her reddened eyes and read the hatred within them.

Did she think he had ordered someone to do this?

Absurd!

He was the emperor; was there any need to stoop so low?

His anger surged, but when he saw Wanyu’s hands, he forcibly suppressed his rage.

Last night, the lighting was dim and he hadn’t seen clearly. Now, looking again, he saw her ten fingers, red and swollen like carrots, and the patch of skinless, bleeding wound on the back of her hand, soaking in water and unable to scab. The sight was truly shocking.
His heart trembled involuntarily as he remembered, beneath the plum blossom tree, the brief moment the girl cried in his arms.

She had cried so sorrowfully, so lost, like a lamb fallen into a trap with no escape, desperate tears soaking a large patch of his chest…

Qi Rang took a deep breath, his arm gently touching his chest.

He had forgotten to change clothes today; it seemed that woman’s scent and tear stains still lingered on his robe.

He steadied himself, tightened his grip on the Bodhi Bead Bracelet in his hand, and spoke in a cold, indifferent voice: “Then tell me, who exactly framed you?”

Wanyu naturally could not say it was Qi Rang himself. She reached out and pointed at Xiang Rui and Hu Jinzhong.

Qi Rang looked sternly at Hu Jinzhong: “How are you involved in this matter?”

Hu Jinzhong knelt down, pretending ignorance and crying out his innocence: “Yes, how could I be involved? I’ve been busy serving Your Majesty in Qianqing Palace, I haven’t left for a moment, I know nothing!”

Xiang Rui was stunned and just about to speak when Consort Shu pointed at her and spoke first: “Your Majesty, it is this wretched maid. I asked her why she let someone new to the Lateral Courts, who knows nothing, manage my wardrobe. She said it was Hu Jinzhong who told her to do it, so I called Hu Jinzhong to confront her.”

Then she pointed at Hu Jinzhong again, her voice stern: “Hu Jinzhong, tell me, have you been meddling in the Lateral Courts?”

“I’m being wronged, Consort!” Hu Jinzhong glanced at Xiang Rui and denied flatly, “I don’t know this maid at all, nor have I ever been to the Lateral Courts. Consort, please do not believe her nonsense and wrongly accuse me!”

At these words, Xiang Rui’s face changed dramatically: “Eunuch Hu, I’m Xiang Rui, how could you not know me, you clearly…”

She wanted to say, you clearly gave me silver and told me to make things difficult for Jiang Wanyu, how can you deny it now?

But Hu Jinzhong didn’t give her a chance to speak, slapping her hard across the face: “What Xiang Rui or stinking Rui, I’ve never seen you, why are you falsely accusing me?”

Xiang Rui was struck so hard that blood seeped from the corner of her mouth. Only then did she realize she had fallen for Hu Jinzhong’s trick.

If she couldn’t prove she had secret dealings with Hu Jinzhong, her life would end here.

But if she proved she did have secret dealings, the crime of private transactions would cost her life all the same.

Either way, she was doomed!

Realizing this, her face turned ashen with fear. She kowtowed and cried, “Your Majesty, Consort, I am the most wronged! Everything I did was because Eunuch Hu forced me. He told me to beat and scold Jiang Wanyu, saying he wanted her to suffer more…”

“Utter nonsense!”

Hu Jinzhong interrupted her again, “You wretched maid, even at death’s door you bite others. I’ve worked with Miss Wanyu for years, always taking good care of her. These past days I’ve worried myself sick over her affairs. Do you think His Majesty would believe you?”

He kowtowed to Qi Rang: “Your Majesty, you know best what I’ve been doing these days. Please speak fairly, am I someone who would kick others when they’re down?”

Qi Rang calmly played with the Bodhi Bead Bracelet in his hand and said to Xu Qingzhan, “Such trivial matters, even asking one more question is a waste of time. Take your people and interrogate them.”

Xu Qingzhan bowed in response, walked to the door and called Lai Xi and Lai Lu inside. After a few simple instructions, Lai Xi and Lai Lu stepped forward and dragged Xiang Rui out.

Xiang Rui was so frightened on the spot that if Lai Xi and Lai Lu hadn’t moved quickly, she almost would have wet herself in front of the emperor and Consort Shu.

“Your Majesty, Consort, I am innocent! I was deceived by Eunuch Hu, Your Majesty spare me, Consort spare me…” She struggled desperately, letting out a shrill wail.

But no one wanted to listen to her grievances. Her mouth was quickly gagged, and she was dragged out of Yongshou Palace like a dead dog.

The Palace Maids and eunuchs in the hall were so frightened they did not dare to breathe.

Wanyu kept her head down, remembering Xiang Rui’s beatings and scoldings these past two days. She hardened her heart and said nothing.

She was not made of stone, but neither was she a saint. Xiang Rui was so arrogant and overbearing, indifferent to others’ lives-it served her right to die.

Qi Rang silently observed Wanyu’s reaction. Seeing that she was unmoved, he gently curled his lips and said in a low voice, “Now, it’s your turn.”