Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 385: Who is the person that died?

Chapter 385: Chapter 385: Who is the person that died?

Fifth Princess tentatively believed Ruan Hongwen’s words.

She felt that Murong Man was right; unable to annul their marriage, already the laughingstock of others, only by making it seem as though she and the Prince Consort were deeply in love could she make people forget and stop being the butt of their jokes.

Thus, after reconciling with the Prince Consort, the Fifth Princess began to appear alongside him everywhere in the Capital City, creating the illusion of a loving couple.

As expected, in less than half a month, no one talked anymore about the embarrassment that occurred during her grand wedding to the Prince Consort.

Moreover, the Prince Consort treated her with more gentleness and consideration, which somewhat made her happy and forgetful of home, believing that he was duped into having an affair with another woman.

The current Prince Consort, no matter where he went, would report back to her. Other noble ladies in the Capital City had to endure their husbands constantly taking concubines and not returning at night, fighting desperately in the inner house. Considering this, the Fifth Princess felt herself even more superior.

However, the person whom these noble ladies in the Capital City envied the most was not her, but Murong Jiu.

This made the Fifth Princess harbor even more resentment towards her.

Murong Man often visited the Princess’s Mansion, speaking most frequently about how Murong Jiu was so esteemed, how she won favor with the wives of various families in the city through her medical skills.

The more glorious Murong Jiu became, the more the Fifth Princess despised her.

Her own scandal back then was all thanks to Murong Jiu and Jun Yuyan; earlier on, she merely caused some trouble for Murong Jiu, but Murong Jiu seemed to wish for her to live in extreme misery, becoming the laughingstock of all Great Yan!

Finally, the Fifth Princess found an opportunity to plot against Murong Jiu.

Upon hearing that Murong Jiu was entering the palace to take a pulse for Consort Yun and secure her pregnancy, she immediately went to the palace without delay to discuss with the Empress.

"If the Eldest Imperial Brother is not eliminated, he won’t be able to become the Crown Prince. We must get rid of the other Princes one by one! Murong Jiu usually doesn’t set foot outside, giving us no chance to take action, but today we can use her hand to dispose of the child in Consort Yun’s belly as well, killing two birds with one stone!"

The Empress had long wanted to eliminate Consort Yun.

Every time she saw the Emperor looking at Consort Yun with added concern and expectation towards her abdomen, the Empress’s resentment grew deeper.

She resented the Emperor; although she was the Empress and her confinement was lifted, he still let Consort Jing manage the inner palace. She hinted several times and he was still unwilling to return the Phoenix Seal.

In the end, the Emperor simply didn’t care about her feelings, nor did he mind her becoming the laughingstock among the women in the palace.

Everyone knew that her role as Empress was nothing but a title!

How could the Empress not hate this?

She wished for nothing more than the Emperor to die sooner!

But since she couldn’t get rid of the Emperor, she could only target his favorite Concubines, making him experience once again the pain of losing a loved woman and anticipated child.

She had been planning these days, ready to act at any moment.

Her daughter was planning to frame Murong Jiu, which was exactly a scheme to kill two birds with one stone.

She summoned her trusted nanny and whispered instructions.

The nanny nodded solemnly, quickly leaving.

The Fifth Princess was in an extremely good mood.

Consort Yun was now very esteemed, even outshining the Empress. By getting rid of her, she would see who else would dare to stand above the Empress.

Making an example of one to warn the others, that was all there was to it.

What excited her the most was that Murong Jiu was about to face a huge disaster.

The child in Consort Yun’s belly might be the Emperor’s last.

If it were lost again, she wouldn’t be able to conceive anymore, how could the Emperor not take his anger out on Murong Jiu?

Moreover, when the time came, there would also be "evidence" indicating that Murong Jiu was responsible!

With an excited heart, the Fifth Princess waited for news in the Empress’s palace, instructing the palace maids and eunuchs to keep an eye outside, and to report immediately if there was any disturbance.

After waiting and waiting, she walked around the hall in agitation.

"Stop pacing, you’re making me dizzy. You’re already so grown up, yet you can’t stay calm," the Empress said coldly.

"This is just out of concern for Consort Yun’s bulky fate, right? Mother, can you say for sure whether this will succeed or not?"

"Of course it will! Those palace maids are from the Yun Family; they are willing to die for me. A life for a life, and I’m still at a loss here. Consort Yun comes from a humble background—a life barely worth mentioning—and yet I’ve had to sacrifice several lives for her."

"We can always train more servants, and loyalty can be bought with silver. They’re just a few lives, Mother, don’t take it to heart."

The Empress wasn’t really saddened, she just felt it was a pity.

Those palace maids were extremely loyal and could have been very useful in the future. But for the sake of eliminating Consort Yun, she had to give up these hidden pawns.

"Your Majesty! Disaster has struck! Consort Yun has fallen in the Imperial Garden!"

At that moment, an agile little eunuch ran over and said anxiously in a loud voice.

The Empress and Fifth Princess both curled their lips at the same time, revealing a triumphant smile.

The Empress quickly changed her expression and asked with feigned concern, "Why did Consort Yun fall? Have you summoned the Imperial Physician? Someone help me to go and check quickly!"

As the Empress, although she no longer had the seal, she still carried the responsibility of overseeing the imperial harem. Naturally, she must go and show concern and also casually investigate the "truth" of the matter.

The Fifth Princess was even more excited and personally supported the Empress. They both hurried toward the direction of the Imperial Garden.

From a distance, they saw a crowd gathered in the Imperial Garden, and faint sobbing sounds could be heard. Everyone’s expressions seemed very somber, and they could see five or six Imperial Physicians among the crowd.

It seemed Consort Yun’s fall was quite severe!

The air seemed to be filled with a thick scent of blood.

The best outcome would be one death for two lives!

The Fifth Princess thought so in her heart.

Somewhat indistinctly, the Empress and Fifth Princess appeared to see a body that was completely still and covered in blood on the ground.

Consort Yun is dead?!

Fantastic!

"The Empress has arrived! The Fifth Princess has arrived!"

A eunuch announced.

That voice, wasn’t it Eunuch Li from the Emperor’s side?

Could the Emperor have arrived so quickly?

A bad premonition suddenly rose in the Empress’s heart, and sure enough, the crowd parted to reveal the Emperor dressed in his bright yellow dragon robe, sitting in the pavilion.

And in the Emperor’s arms was Consort Yun!

Consort Yun’s face was tear-stained, raising her head as though raindrops hung on pear blossoms.

It was Consort Yun! No consort other than her!

Wasn’t she supposed to have fallen?

Whose bloody body was lying on the ground?

At this moment, both the Empress and Fifth Princess felt as if their hearts had plunged into an ice cellar, a chill rising from the soles of their feet.

The Empress looked closely at the corpse on the ground. That was not any consort, but clearly her own trusted nanny!

Her nanny had her throat slashed, blood still flowing out, soaking the soil, her eyes wide-open as if she realized something horrifying and unbelievable before her death.

In an instant, the Empress was dripping with cold sweat and subconsciously took a step back.

Even the Fifth Princess could not believe the scene before her eyes.

What exactly happened? Why was Consort Yun unharmed?

Her gaze captured Murong Jiu, who stood behind their father, the Emperor. At this moment, he was looking at her emotionlessly, his dark pupils seemingly seeing through everything.

She felt an immense panic inside her and quickly asked in a loud voice, "What has happened here? Father, how did Nanny Xu die?"