Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 417: In the End, Just a Stand-In

Chapter 417: Chapter 417: In the End, Just a Stand-In

Consort Jing looked up at Master Mei, her tone sorrowful, "If heaven had given me another chance, I would never betray you again, but life has no remedy for regret. Seeing you now, all I hope for is your forgiveness."

"The forgiveness of a commoner?"

Mei Yuzong forced a bitter smile, "If it would put Your Majesty at ease, this commoner would never let Your Majesty be disappointed. Besides, too much time has passed, and I have long since let it go."

Consort Jing thought to herself that he was lying. If he had truly let go, why would he still keep that handkerchief? If he had truly let go, why would he specifically come here to see her?

But since he said so, Consort Jing felt relieved.

She indeed felt guilty towards Mei Yuzong, but after so many years had passed, even the deepest hatred would have been eroded by time.

After so many years, to meet in the depths of the palace, doesn’t it also show that their destinies were intertwined and unbroken?

Consort Jing looked at him, lowered her voice and said, "I have already attained all the glory and riches I once desired. Compared to His Majesty, we are still young. You must have heard of the Third Prince. In the future, he will ascend to that position."

Mei Yuzong showed a shocked expression, "Why would Your Majesty speak of such matters with a commoner like me?"

"Yu Lang, I wronged you back then. If you are willing, I will make it up to you."

Having said that, Consort Jing glanced toward the distance where Su Jin, holding a cloak, was about to come over.

"This commoner..."

Consort Jing interrupted, "Yu Lang, you will come to perform in my plays, won’t you?"

"But, my voice is ruined, I can no longer perform."

Consort Jing suddenly remembered, Mei Yuzong’s voice problems were caused by her; it happened so long ago that she had almost forgotten, although it hadn’t been intentional at the time.

But Consort Jing felt that a voice wasn’t important; at Mei Yuzong’s age, and as a troupe leader, he didn’t need to perform. She just wanted to see him, not necessarily to hear him perform.

"I will invite your troupe to perform in my palace, Yu Lang, you may go. Do not walk alone in the palace in the future. His Majesty is suspicious, and if caught by the guards, it could cost you your life."

After speaking, Consort Jing walked out from behind the artificial mountain, heading toward Su Jin.

She let Su Jin drape the cloak over her and then left directly, only glancing back as if casually.

She still saw a corner of his garment; Mei Yuzong watched her leave, just like years ago, tenderly watching her wherever she went until she disappeared from view.

Yu Lang hasn’t changed.

"Your Majesty, you seem in good spirits," Aunt Su Jin remarked perceptively and flatteringly.

"I was just thinking of the Third Prince."

"The Third Prince is sure to come out on top in today’s dragon boat race. We might receive good news soon!"

Consort Jing smiled and nodded, feeling elated.

In the artificial mountain, Mei Yuzong watched Consort Jing depart and then touched his throat, his lips curling into a cold sneer.

His voice wasn’t important?

Back then, he was already a pillar of the theatre troupe, moderately famous, with many people coming to see him perform, and he was making more and more high-profile connections. His troupe’s fame and income were on the rise.

He was full of vigor.

He had a beloved wife at home, with his career steadily improving. All he was waiting for was to save enough money to buy a separate residence to serve as their new home, and to move out with Honglian. He had even persuaded his parents, determined to marry Honglian.

Despite being tricked at first, he pitied Honglian’s background and thought she had no other choice. He spent quite a bit of Silver to persuade Landlord Liu to release her. His parents disagreed at the time, but as an only son who had always been decisive, they knew they couldn’t change his mind and eventually relented.

It is often said that performers are heartless, but he was not one to flirt around. He later devoted his entire heart to Honglian and truly wanted to live a vibrant and flourishing life with her.

However, he could have never imagined that one moment he was beside Honglian on the bed, and in the next, a bowl of her medicine made him sleep through the night and also ruined his voice.

When he awoke, Honglian had vanished.

His parents lay in the cold snow, having struggled out to find him after consuming the medicine, and froze to death in a stupor.

He refused to believe that Honglian was responsible.

He treated Honglian well, providing her with clothes and jewelry that others had, and even planned for her to manage finances as the Main Wife. He specifically hired a female tutor to teach her to read and write because he feared others might look down on Honglian.

Honglian was always gentle to him and never burdened him with household matters. They often discussed what names they would give their future children and how many they wanted to have.

Clearly, Honglian intended to live her life with him. He couldn’t accept that his hoarseness and his parents’ deaths could indirectly be caused by her.

But the doctor from the medicine shop told him that the medicine was bought by Honglian. Honglian claimed it was to poison rats, yet worried about the stench of dead rats, so she opted not for poison but for a sleeping potion.

Medicine always has its toxins, and fearful that Mei Yuzong might wake up, she gave him a full bowl that ended up damaging his voice.

Ironically, Honglian tricked him into believing it was a tonic, and he naively drank it all.

But why would Honglian harm him?

He couldn’t figure it out.

He later learned that someone had seen her crying with a man who appeared wealthy and imposing.

He didn’t know who the man was; it took much inquiry to learn that this was a Noble Lady, someone not even the mayor of Yangzhou dared mention.

Mei Yuzong had thought he was a high official or perhaps royalty, but it wasn’t until he entered the palace that he learned the man was the Emperor!

Consort Jing was Chen Honglian!

Everyone in the palace knew Consort Jing was favored, and he too had thought she was a true love of the Emperor. A few days ago, he accidentally overheard two palace maids talking and discovered that Consort Jing was actually a stand-in for the Empress Dowager, who had known the Emperor since childhood before she entered the palace.

Laughable!

He thought Honglian had fallen in love with another, that she and the Emperor shared mutual affection, only to find out she was just a substitute in the end.

So she remembered his kindness now, did she?

A sneer flashed through Mei Yuzong’s eyes as he lowered his head and walked outside.

Upon encountering a guard who questioned him, he acted composed and simply said he was a performer from the troupe who had dropped something on the road and was looking for it. Naturally, the guard did not let him wander in the palace and had someone escort him back to the troupe’s location.

"Troupe leader, are we about to leave the palace?"

Cleaned up and free of makeup, several people gathered around, curiously asking.

"We won’t be leaving the palace just yet,"

Mei Yuzong said.

"That’s great! The Noble Ladies here are so generous. Consort Qi and Consort Yun just sent over some rewards. Troupe leader, you must go check it out!"

Having previously feared poverty, everyone originally wanted to leave the palace quickly to avoid offending the Noble Ladies and risking execution. Now, having received substantial rewards, everyone was excited and no longer wished to leave.

Their troupe had only become famous in the past few years, truly gaining widespread recognition half a year ago when someone invited them to perform in the largest Pear Garden in Yangzhou. Subsequently, officials and dignitaries from Yangzhou and nearby areas sought them out exclusively for performances, and later, even the nobility from the north paid a high price to boost their fame, eventually earning them the opportunity to perform for the Noble Ladies in the palace.

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