Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 435 The Emperor’s Cold Ruthlessness

Chapter 435: Chapter 435 The Emperor’s Cold Ruthlessness

Su Jin truly regretted it before her death.

Initially, she only regretted not having coerced Consort Jing into killing Consort Yun, which led to her current plight, but as her breath was about to cease, it seemed as though countless vengeful spirits appeared before her, waiting to seek revenge as soon as she descended into hell.

She was truly afraid, truly regretful, with fear so intense that her eyes were wide open even as she died, filled with terror.

Upon leaving the Ministry of Justice, Consort Yun took a deep breath of the cold, damp air and glanced at the sky, realizing it had started to rain without her noticing.

The autumn wind was bleak and she felt inexplicably cold.

Despite avenging Qing Zhi and Gui Zhi, why was she still not happy?

Yes, Su Jin’s malicious life was over, but Qing Zhi and Gui Zhi were pure and loyal. Their vibrant lives had vanished on an inconsequential day, remembered by no one but her.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Young Prince has been fussing for you, he refuses to drink from his wet nurse’s bottle!"

Hearing the anxious voice of the palace maid, Consort Yun suddenly smiled.

She still had the Young Prince by her side. Qing Zhi, Gui Zhi, you should also rest in peace. It won’t be much longer now; Consort Jing will probably be joining you soon.

...

The Cold Palace.

Consort Jing had experienced the Cold Palace multiple times over the years.

When she was "out of favor," her palace was located near the Cold Palace, far from the Emperor, evading all watchful eyes. Everyone thought she truly was out of favor, not knowing that the Emperor’s palace had an underground passage to her Jingan Palace.

The Emperor had ordered her to keep a low profile and show herself less, so she spent her days in Jingan Palace, obedient and proper. Even when she went out for a stroll, she headed toward the Cold Palace rather than the lively Imperial Garden.

But she never imagined that one day she would be banished to the Cold Palace.

The Cold Palace was already inhabited, some had been confined for years, having long since lost their sanity.

A few women were imprisoned in the past year for offending Consort Jing.

That’s how the Emperor was – when he favored you, he bestowed upon you unmatched glory, and once tired of you, he ignored whether you lived or died.

Once in the Cold Palace, one should not even dream of leaving.

But how could Consort Jing accept this fate?

She was so close to becoming the Empress!

The Emperor was about to appoint the Third Prince as Crown Prince!

All her efforts were about to bear fruit, yet in an instant, everything changed.

Those women whom she had once trampled into the mud were now stepping on her.

"Who would have thought that the exalted Consort Jing would have such a day! Ha ha ha ha! Thrilling!"

Listening to the delighted and wild laughter, Consort Jing shivered uncontrollably in the rain, her whole body chilling to the core.

It hurt too much.

It was too cold.

All these women wanted to torment her to death.

But they seemed to have listened to someone’s advice and did not deal her a fatal blow. However, every hit she suffered caused her excruciating pain; her bones were broken, and no one had set them, a pain that never ceased for a moment.

Winter had set in, and each day was colder than the last.

And she, who had always lived in luxury, spent a night freezing in the icy rain for the first time.

When she awoke, she was in a warm bed, which made her wonder for a moment if her recent ordeal had been nothing but a nightmare.

Just as she sat up, a slap struck her hard across the face.

"Whore, I heard you wanted to die along with your actor lover?"

Consort Jing saw the Emperor’s gloomy face, and the shadows in his eyes made her feel as if he would strangle her to death right then and there.

"Your Majesty! This consort..."

As the words came out, she realized how hoarse her voice was, as if it was a man’s voice, and her throat was too sore to speak.

The Emperor said coldly, "Chen Honglian, I have never mistreated you, but you betrayed me for an actor. I am thoroughly disappointed in you."

Upon hearing this, Consort Jing shook her head in denial while crying on the surface, yet a surge of joy rose in her heart. The Emperor had made a special visit to see her, indicating that he cared about her, and the words he spoke further proved that point.

But the Emperor’s next words cooled her heart by half once more.

"I have already dispatched people to Yangzhou to thoroughly investigate the facts, and you should know the consequences of deceiving the sovereign!"

"When you spoke those words initially, I should have sentenced you to death. If it were not for the sake of the Third Prince, I would have executed you on the spot!"

"Your Majesty, I was truly set up..."

Consort Jing had no way to defend herself and could only repeat that sentence.

Think about it, Your Majesty, the beneficiary is Prince Ling!

Yet, not a single sound could come out of her throat. She strained her voice, which only produced a hoarse and piercing sound, causing the Emperor’s brows to furrow deeply.

"You had better watch yourself!"

The Emperor turned and left.

"Your Majesty!"

She shouted loudly, her voice extremely coarse and rough, but the Emperor, with a stern face, did not turn back and left.

Once the Emperor was gone, the women in the Cold Palace approached, snatching the blanket off her body with a cruel smile, pulling her down to the ground, beating her mercilessly, and then throwing her into the muddy soil.

Consort Jing could not walk because her legs were broken. Before the Emperor’s visit, those women had covered her with blankets, and the Emperor had no idea what she had gone through.

No, I cannot fall.

Even though the Emperor’s attitude was one of loathing and hatred, he still cared about the Third Prince. Perhaps, in the end, he might spare her life.

What did it matter if she was in the Cold Palace? As long as the Third Prince stood unyielding, she would have a chance to turn her fate around!

When the time came, she would have every single one of those women executed!

News of what happened in the Cold Palace quickly made it to Prince Ling’s Mansion.

The women in the Cold Palace led miserable lives, not even able to eat their fill, and although Jun Yuyan could not rescue them from the Cold Palace for the time being, he could at least ensure that these women were well-fed and clothed, so they did not hesitate to obey his men.

The Emperor’s visit to Consort Jing did not surprise Jun Yuyan.

After all, to the Emperor, Consort Jing indeed held a different significance than the other women.

So many years of "exclusive favor," indeed.

Had it been someone else, they would have died long ago.

Wasn’t it the case with Imperial Noble Consort Qin?

Moreover, with the Third Prince kneeling for such a long time in the Imperial Study Room, how could the Emperor not feel pained for him? Even if it was just to put on a play to appease the Third Prince, he had to make a trip to the Cold Palace, right?

But it didn’t matter. His father, the Emperor, would surely end Consort Jing’s life personally, no need for anyone else to act.

Half a month later.

A thick covert letter was presented on the Emperor’s desk.

Consort Jing, original name Chen Honglian, born in...

Consort Jing’s life story, her entire experience up until she was sixteen, every little detail, meticulously recorded on the paper.

As he read, the Emperor’s anger grew immensely.

When he came to a certain passage, his eyes suddenly narrowed, a murderous intent shining through, cold and merciless like that of an emperor.

Once again, the Emperor came to the Cold Palace.

His arrival was so sudden that the women were in the midst of punishing Consort Jing. When they saw the bright yellow Dragon Robe, they all knelt down in terror.

Consort Jing’s eyes carried a glint of hope, her voice hoarse and pitiful:

"Your Majesty..."

But the Emperor did not deal with them.

"All of you, get out," he commanded.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.