EBE Chapter 64 I'll Cut Off Your Tongue and Feed It to the Dogs
Chapter 64 I'll Cut Off Your Tongue and Feed It to the Dogs
Inside Shuhua Palace.
"Your Highness, why is there still no news about Qiuzhu? Could it be that Consort Qiao has discovered something amiss?"
Zijuan's eyes were filled with barely concealed panic. According to the agreement, Qiuzhu should have already brought Consort Qiao's blouse here by now.
Consort Shu glanced at her slowly and deliberately, "What's the rush?"
Earlier, during the scene in the Imperial Garden, she felt more and more that Qiao Qingyin was insignificant and couldn't cause any trouble.
"But this Qiuzhu is also a good-for-nothing. She can't even handle such a small matter properly. She's not fit for any important task." She said with some dissatisfaction.
"Should I go and find out?" Zijuan asked.
Consort Shu didn't speak, but waved her hand impatiently.
Zijuan knew that she had agreed, and turned to leave.
Just as she stepped out of the main hall, she saw someone walking towards her.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Lin Qing, the chief eunuch of Empress Wang.
What is he doing here?
For some reason, her eyelids twitched inexplicably, and she felt a vague unease in her heart.
"Eunuch Lin, you are a rare guest. Does the Empress have any orders for you to come here?" Zijuan asked, forcing a smile.
Lin Qing's expression was serious, and he did not smile at her: "This servant has come by imperial decree to invite Consort Shu to the Phoenix Palace. Please inform her."
"What does the Empress want with me?" Consort Shu came out of the room upon hearing the voice, looking at Lin Qing with a haughty expression.
Lin Qing bowed to Consort Shu before replying, "This servant was merely summoned by imperial decree; I know nothing of the specifics."
Dao Zhen has the same temperament as the one in Fengyi Palace; she's a very meticulous person!
Consort Shu pouted unhappily, but dared not disobey the Empress's summons: "You go first, I'll come right after I've washed up."
He turned and headed back to the inner palace.
"I hope Consort Shu will understand. The Empress has instructed you to go immediately and not delay!" Lin Qing said, trying to stop him.
Seeing his unyielding attitude, Consort Shu was instantly enraged. She pointed a finger at Lin Qing's face and said, "Who do you think you are, daring to use the Empress to intimidate me? My father is General Tiger Might, even His Majesty gives me some face. How dare you, a mere servant—"
Lin Qing did not dodge, but looked at Consort Shu on the steps, his expression neither humble nor arrogant: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was only acting on imperial orders. I hope you will not make things difficult for me."
Consort Shu had only intended to vent her anger by scolding him, but his attitude only fueled her rage: "Do you think I wouldn't dare to punish you?"
As he spoke, he raised his hand to strike Lin Qing.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
Zijuan immediately stepped forward to stop Consort Shu and advised, "Your Highness, Eunuch Lin is, after all, the Empress's man. Please calm down and don't cause trouble for the Empress for no reason."
Consort Shu snorted coldly, but put her hand down at the right moment: "It's just a trip to Fengyi Palace, I'll go with you."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qing gave a slight bow and said, "Please, Consort Shu, come with me."
Meanwhile, inside the Phoenix Palace.
Empress Wang, dressed in a bright gold-embroidered phoenix robe, sat at the head of the table, looking at Qiu Zhu, who was kneeling on the ground with blood on her forehead, her eyes calm and serene.
"Your Majesty, please be wise! Consort Shu colluded with the maids in my palace to frame me. I beg you to do me justice!"
Chu Qingyin's voice was mournful, and her clear, bright eyes were filled with grievances, making her look pitiful and endearing.
"Consort Qiao, do not be anxious. Wait for Consort Shu to arrive. If this is true, I will certainly stand up for you!"
Empress Wang spoke softly and gently, then raised her hand to signal the palace servants to offer her a seat.
Seeing the Empress's dignified and serene demeanor, Chu Qingyin sneered inwardly.
She said she was waiting for Consort Shu to come, but it was really just to watch them fight like dogs. No matter who won, she would remain calm and collected.
She used to have a certain fondness for this unassuming and unambitious Empress Wang.
Now that we've stepped out of the vortex, some things are becoming clearer the more we look at them.
In the inner palace, who can truly be considered innocent? She didn't believe that the Empress's hands were really clean and untouched by any filth.
Before long, Consort Shu arrived, accompanied by Lu Mingzhu, whom she had met along the way.
When Lu Mingzhu heard that Chu Qingyin had brought a palace maid to Fengyi Palace in a grand manner, she knew that there was going to be some excitement!
She immediately got excited and brought her people to Fengyi Palace to join in the fun.
Even though Lin Qing had hinted at it to her along the way, Consort Lu was a shameless and not very bright woman, so she still followed along.
When Empress Wang saw the helplessness in Lin Qing's eyes, she immediately understood.
"I wonder what business Your Majesty has summoned me here for?"
Consort Shu first glanced at Chu Qingyin, who was sitting below Empress Wang, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes, before bowing to Empress Wang.
Lu Mingzhu also bowed in greeting.
"Please have a seat." Empress Wang gestured for two fine pear wood carved chairs to be brought over.
Consort Shu didn't stand on ceremony and sat down gracefully to the side. She then looked up at Chu Qingyin beside her and asked, "Why is Consort Qiao here at the Empress's instead of taking care of that maidservant who protects her mistress in Feixue Palace?"
"I am here to ask Your Majesty the Empress to make a decision, thank you for your concern, Consort Shu."
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu assumed that she had come because of what happened that morning, and a look of disdain flashed across her face.
I thought she was an easy target, but it turns out she's someone who keeps quiet and secretly complains about others.
Seeing that Chu Qingyin's eyes were red again, Empress Wang felt somewhat helpless. Looking at Consort Shu's arrogant expression, she frowned, raised her hand, and ordered someone to bring Qiuzhu over.
"Consort Shu, this palace maid claims she was instructed by you to frame Consort Qiao. Is that true?" Empress Wang asked calmly, pointing at Qiu Zhu kneeling on the ground.
Even the slow-witted Lu Mingzhu realized that there was definitely going to be a good show!
This trip was definitely worth it!
Zijuan, who was standing beside Consort Shu, saw Qiuzhu being led out in a disheveled state, and her heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously took two steps back.
However, she reacted quickly and steadied herself, thus avoiding a breach of etiquette in front of the emperor.
This commotion immediately drew everyone's attention to her.
Empress Wang looked at Consort Shu, her eyebrows slightly furrowed: "Consort Shu, you should also teach your subordinates proper etiquette."
"Zijuan, hurry up and apologize to the Empress!" Consort Shu shouted sternly.
Upon hearing this, Zijuan immediately knelt before Empress Wang: "This servant has been disrespectful, Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
Empress Wang could not punish him excessively, so she could only magnanimously say, "Let it go."
Zijuan then stood up and returned to stand behind Consort Shu, but her lowered gaze fell on Qiuzhu in front of her, and her heart gradually grew cold.
"What is Consort Shu's opinion on this matter?" Empress Wang pointed at Qiu Zhu and asked again.
Consort Shu raised her eyes and glanced at Chu Qingyin before looking at Qiu Zhu with an arrogant expression: "You say you were instructed by me, do you have any evidence?"
Qiu Zhu trembled under the cold gaze of Consort Shu and looked to Chu Qingyin for help: "Your Highness, what I said is true!"
"Ha, what's true?"
Consort Shu, however, did not allow her to dodge. Her beautiful eyes narrowed and she said, "You better explain yourself clearly to me. If there is even the slightest false accusation, I will cut your tongue to pieces and feed it to the dogs today!"