Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 424 Your Majesty, Keep Calm

Chapter 424: Chapter 424 Your Majesty, Keep Calm

"Su Jin, bring me that peach-red robe," ordered Consort Jing as she was dressing, frowning at the dark gray garment before her.

Su Jin did not move immediately but instead advised, "Your Majesty, didn’t His Majesty mention yesterday that he does not favor you in bright-colored clothes? Perhaps you could change into something else today?"

"I have worn dark colors all my life; what is wrong with wanting to wear something bright for a few days? Su Jin, are you truly my servant, or do you belong to someone else? If even you do not consider matters from my perspective, whom can I rely on?" Consort Jing’s voice was stern, and Su Jin, surprised by her strong reaction, quickly knelt down.

Seeing that she could not dissuade Consort Jing, Su Jin had no choice but to take out the peach-red robe and help her put it on.

Having stayed by Consort Jing’s side for over a decade, Su Jin understood her better than anyone. While everyone thought Consort Jing’s improved mood and complexion were due to the achievements of the Third Prince, only Su Jin knew that it wasn’t solely because of him.

Choosing her words carefully, Su Jin cautiously said to Consort Jing, "Your Majesty, lately you seem to have grown quite close to Master Mei of the troupe; you should be careful of the idle gossip in the palace. Consort Qi and Consort Yun are not the kind to turn a blind eye."

Consort Jing’s gaze snapped towards Su Jin, scrutinizing her intently.

After a long pause, Consort Jing slowly said, "Su Jin, you were sent to my side by His Majesty. I know you looked down on me at first because both of us were once palace maids. I soared to the status of a consort while you, once ranked higher than me, became a servant attending to me."

"Your Majesty! I have never had such thoughts! I have always been loyally devoted to you!" Su Jin knelt down again, earnestly recounting her years of loyalty.

Consort Jing gave a soft smile, her fingers elegantly poised as her voice softened.

"You have been with me longer than His Majesty and the Third Prince combined. I have always treated you as someone close to me, that’s why I have been good to your family as well. By now, your brother’s grandson must be three years old—how time flies."

Su Jin’s shoulders trembled slightly.

The Consort Jing of today was no longer the naive palace maid who had entered the palace all those years ago.

Once her master had been the Emperor, but now, and for a long time, her master had been Consort Jing.

What the Emperor had asked or said, she never concealed nor dared to hide.

Though a farmer’s daughter by birth, Consort Jing’s tactics were none the less ruthless.

With her own family in Consort Jing’s grasp, Su Jin dared not harbor any disloyal sentiments.

"Don’t be nervous; I was just asking. It’s nothing serious," said Consort Jing, her lips curving into a reassuring smile as she personally helped Su Jin up.

"These years, I have indeed treated you as a sister, and just now, you were acting with my best interests at heart. How could I fail to see that? I was merely indulging a whim, but I will certainly dress in clothes that His Majesty prefers in the future," affirmed Consort Jing.

Su Jin quickly replied, "Your Majesty has suffered over the years, but in the future... you will be able to indulge as much as you wish."

They both knew what "in the future" implied.

The smile on Consort Jing’s face deepened as she took Su Jin’s hand and said, "With you by my side, I feel at ease. In the future, whatever you wish for, I will grant it, whether you desire a peaceful retirement from the palace or seek a higher position."

Consort Jing had always known that Su Jin was ambitious and aspired for power, possessing a ruthless streak deep in her bones. Over the years, Su Jin had grown increasingly indifferent to human life, all under her tacit permission—enabling Su Jin’s love for such power.

If only Su Jin were not so plain, she would have been taken into the Emperor’s harem and become a rival. Unfortunately for Su Jin, she could never be more than a servant.

When she became the Empress Dowager, Su Jin would be the most powerful palace maid in the harem, as long as she did not offend the Emperor. What could she not do then?

Su Jin listened, her breathing quickened, her eyes shimmering with a bright light.

She was well past the age of leaving the palace to marry, and even if she were to leave, although there were people who would support her, they wouldn’t be her own kin. Rather than entrusting her future to strangers, wielding power over the servants within the palace walls was what she most desired.

Consort Jing, observing Su Jin, inquired casually, "Has His Majesty asked you anything these past few days?"

Su Jin quickly lifted her head to meet Consort Jing’s gaze and hastily replied, "His Majesty inquired yesterday about Your Majesty’s health, and I was just about to report to you today."

"His Majesty is concerned about me, and I am very pleased. What did you respond?"

"I told him that due to the Third Prince, Your Majesty’s spirits have improved a lot, and you have been eating more than usual these past few days. His Majesty was very comforted by this and instructed me to take good care of Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Consort Jing’s face maintained its smile, but a chill flickered in her eyes.

The Emperor was becoming suspicious of her.

This old bastard, why doesn’t he just die.

She still had to hold on. Once the Third Prince achieved more and his prestige rose further, his ascension would be all the more justified.

With this in mind, she pressed her temples with her fingers and said to Su Jin, "Change me into that dark-colored garment, we shall not visit the Imperial Garden today."

These past few days, Consort Jing had been strolling in the Imperial Garden every day.

Consort Qi and Consort Yun liked to set up a stage in the Imperial Garden to watch operas, but not every day. Consort Jing would occasionally go to see them, but most of the time she would simply walk by the lake.

Su Jin sensed something was wrong during the third time Consort Jing sent her away. She harbored a suspicion and instructed a young palace maid to go back to Consort Jing for an errand. When she circled back, she saw Consort Jing speaking with Master Mei.

Su Jin had never seen Consort Jing like that. She couldn’t pinpoint what was different, but it felt very unusual—the smile on her face was more genuine than ever.

At that moment, her heart skipped a beat.

Although Consort Jing and Master Mei were only conversing away from others, without any intimate gestures, and parted quickly, Su Jin still felt unsettled.

The more she observed, the more she felt that something was off.

Yesterday, when the Emperor commented that Consort Jing was dressed too attractively, her heart raced to her throat.

It was true that she was placed with Consort Jing by the Emperor, but Consort Jing was right, what she wished for, only Consort Jing could give her.

The Emperor wouldn’t care at all about a palace maid like her.

If Consort Jing were to fall from grace, she would be the first unable to escape.

Even if she went to the Emperor to inform on Consort Jing beforehand, given the Emperor’s ruthlessness, it was very likely that she too would be dealt with.

Rather than gambling with the Emperor’s wrath, it was better to focus her thoughts on Consort Jing.

Seeing that the Third Prince was fast becoming influential, Consort Jing just needed to endure a while longer.

Hearing that Consort Jing opted to change her clothes instead of going to the Imperial Garden, she breathed a long sigh of relief.

Consort Jing had been behaving for several days.

The sounds of squeaking and crooning opera came from the Imperial Garden, but she didn’t venture over.

However, after a few days, Consort Yun arrived.

"Eldest Sister Consort Jing, yesterday His Majesty visited my palace and mentioned that the constant sound of opera was giving him headaches. I truly regret causing discomfort. I’ve discussed this with Consort Qi Eldest Sister and plan to enjoy one last performance before dismissing the opera troupe from the palace tomorrow. I especially came to inform Eldest Sister Consort Jing of this."