[1]The Consort is Both Charming and Scheming, Rising Through Palace Intrigue

In just one hour, Mi Chongyi was reduced to a commoner, and the Lingbo Palace became a river of blood.

Yet what no one knew was that, late at night, a palace maid named Zisu had secretly been taken to the Chengguang Hall.

Two days later, the Rong Kingdom sent a formal letter of apology, along with many rare treasures. The letter stated that Chu Jiao had committed an unforgivable crime and deserved death, earnestly requesting Emperor Yifeng to punish her according to palace rules.

Xiao Yu then ordered a cup of poison wine to be delivered to the Lingbo Palace.

That afternoon, news of Chu's death spread.

In Liuyin Palace, Li Zhang said, "I heard that the Chu woman wailed and cried about her innocence, refusing to drink the poison. In the end, it was Eunuch Yang who forced it down her throat."

Ning Shuyan held a teacup, her eyes gazing faintly into the green tea, and calmly said, "She was indeed wronged, but her death was well deserved."

Had she not gotten close to Consort Zhuang, that tiger of a woman, how would she have brought disaster upon herself? And hadn't she tried every possible way to harm her—Ning Shuyan—even conspiring with Jiang Shi (Consort Rong) to slip a sterilizing drug into her pregnancy medicine? Now that she was dead, Ning Shuyan felt no pity at all.

Still, when thinking deeply, Chu Jiao was a princess of the Rong Kingdom, pampered by her parents since childhood like a precious gem.

Naturally, she was ambitious and sought glory and the emperor's favor in the palace.

Ning Shuyan took a slow sip of tea and murmured, "Hopefully she won't be born into the palace in her next life."

For several days afterward, Xiao Yu did not visit the Liuyin Pavilion.

Instead, he stayed at Consort Zhuang's palace, which raised no surprise among the courtiers. Could Consort Zhuang be on the verge of dominating the harem once again?

During these days, rumors began to spread through the temporary palace: at night, when everything was silent, one could hear the sorrowful cries of a woman. Worse yet, a three-foot-long white silk ribbon was seen fluttering from a tree nearby, eerie and haunting, casting a shadow of fear over the entire harem.

In Qingyun Hall, the concubines gathered to greet the Empress.

The hall was filled with large jars of ice, sending wisps of chilly air that made the place feel as cool as spring.

Lin Zhaorong, known for her loose tongue, frowned and said, "You've all heard the rumors, haven't you? Why is it that even in death, Chu's spirit won't rest?"

A mysterious curve lifted the corner of Ning Shuyan's lips—gone in the blink of an eye. Twisting a silk handkerchief in her hands, she whispered, "I heard that when a person dies with a heavy grudge, they cannot reincarnate and become a ghost. Perhaps Chu has come back to seek revenge?"

At those words, Consort Zhuang's brows furrowed, and she immediately scolded, "Zhao Xiuyi, stop speaking nonsense. You actually believe in such absurd superstitions?"

Before Ning Shuyan could respond, Lin Zhaorong hastily said, "There's evidence to support it, isn't there? Otherwise, why would there be a woman's cries at Lingbo Palace, and white silk hanging from the trees? Isn't that her crying out for justice?"

Consort Zhuang was briefly speechless, her face tense.

Lin Zhaorong then gave Ning Shuyan a knowing look, smiling playfully, "Aren't you afraid, Sister Xiuyi? After all, she died because of you."