newbobooks Chapter 165 The Beginning and End of the Feud (1)
Chapter 165 The Beginning and End of the Feud (1)
The poor guard was still a greenhorn; he had barely taken office when Consort Duan chased after him demanding his knife: "Where's the knife? Give me the knife!"
Inside the Fengqin Hall, everyone who saw this scene understood that Consort Duan was serious, and they couldn't help but look at the Emperor.
It's not too late to stop it at this point.
However, the emperor remained unmoved by the eight winds, seemingly unaffected by the celestial curtain.
He even raised a question and called on two ministers to continue the discussion.
The minister who was chosen: ...
Who wants to talk about serious matters at this point?
As for the fall of a nation? That's a long way off, but if I don't get to enjoy the gossip right now, I'll never have a peaceful life.
But they only thought these things in their hearts; in reality, they didn't dare to utter a single word.
Fortunately, they had their own countermeasures.
They slowed their speech, their eyes constantly glancing at the screen.
The emperor turned a blind eye to this. His ministers were already busy enough, and as long as it didn't interfere with important matters, there was no need to fuss over such trivial details.
In the light screen, the little guard was forced to retreat step by step by Consort Duan.
His face showed obvious fear and embarrassment.
Having finally regained his senses, he quickly hid the weapon behind his back.
"This...this Your Highness, I cannot give you the knife..."
Although he had only been on duty for a short time, he knew that this was something he shouldn't do.
Once he gets that knife, he's definitely going to be in big trouble.
Fortunately, he wasn't really alone.
The Wuxing Guard patrols always consist of groups of ten, and the members of each group change each time in order to prevent the guards from colluding with each other and doing things that are detrimental to the royal family.
The reason Wu Xingwei was alone was because he needed to relieve himself.
Before they could even get to the outhouse, they were stopped halfway there.
Fortunately, because he hadn't returned for a long time, his good team leader and good colleagues finally came looking for him.
Although he knew that being cornered like a quail was not very dignified, he didn't care about that at all.
The squad leader of Wuxing Guard bowed to Consort Duan as usual: "Your Majesty... As a consort, Your Majesty should set an example by loving and cherishing yourself. Why would you force a mere guard?"
The young guard was touched by his captain's words, but the emotion quickly turned into shock.
"Captain! You're wrong, you're wrong! Consort Duan didn't mean that..."
The captain glared at him with a stern face: "You're willing to do this too?"
Little guard: ?
What? He's willing too? I don't quite understand.
Seeing his silence, the squad leader mistakenly took it as tacit agreement: "That's the emperor's concubine! Are you crazy!"
These words startled the young guard: "Captain! You're wrong, that's not what I meant. It's Consort Duan who wants me..."
His gaze suddenly fell behind the squad leader, his eyes widened in surprise, and he slowly uttered the last word: "Knife..."
The sound of a long sword being drawn rang out, and the squad leader paused for a moment before stiffly turning around.
Consort Duan grabbed the knife and prepared to run.
The squad leader's knife is well-sharpened; the blade is sharp and the surface is so shiny it reflects light.
However, such a powerful weapon ended up in Consort Duan's hands, and Consort Duan's mental state at this time was clearly problematic.
The squad leader felt a little dizzy.
He looked at Consort Duan nervously: "Your Highness, please calm down. Swords have no eyes; be careful not to hurt yourself!"
Consort Duan ignored him completely and walked back aggressively, carrying her knife.
The squad leader and the guard exchanged a glance, both feeling as if their lives were about to end.
Consort Duan ran ahead, with the guards following closely behind.
"Your Majesty! This knife is not suitable for you to play with. How about I get you a cute little toy instead?"
"Your Majesty, according to my calculations, this knife is your nemesis!"
"Your Majesty, this knife is too plain; it doesn't suit you at all..."
"Your Majesty, if you do anything with this knife, I am finished..."
Annoyed by their incessant persuasion, Consort Duan gritted her teeth and finally returned the knife to them.
"Stop reading it, it's so annoying!"
She was very frustrated. She had a chance to take one of Lao Wu's arms, but things were stuck because she didn't have a knife.
But it doesn't matter, that brat will die eventually.
You can't rush it.
The young guard and the captain looked at each other, glancing at the knife they had retrieved and then at Consort Duan. They remembered to bow and express their gratitude, but their expressions remained blank.
The palace servants in Consort Duan's palace were always reluctant to talk about their mistress, and in the past, when the Fifth Prince had not yet collapsed, Consort Duan's words and actions towards him seemed somewhat ruthless.
Therefore, this master was always seen as a difficult master to serve by these guards and palace servants.
Unexpectedly, this aloof and not-so-good master actually changed his mind because of just a few words from them.
It's obvious that Consort Duan didn't want to implicate them...
Consort Duan was unaware of their complicated feelings. She calmly tidied her slightly disheveled hair, restored her usual appearance, and slowly walked home.
The Fifth Prince was still waiting for her listlessly, and when he saw her return empty-handed, he actually showed a look of disappointment.
Consort Duan: ...
She stopped coldly a distance away from him: "This is a very melodramatic and boring past."
The Fifth Prince listened blankly, then quickly calmed his breathing and listened attentively as she continued.
Consort Duan rarely recalls that past.
“I am indeed not your biological mother. Your mother is my cousin, so you should call me that…”
She didn't finish her sentence because she actually didn't want to acknowledge the Fifth Prince as a relative.
The people inside the Fengqin Hall: ...
So they thought things weren't so absurd, but they weren't so normal either.
The Fifth Prince has to call Consort Duan "Auntie"...
Ah, the memory from just now is resurfacing in my mind.
The old fogies' faces turned pale and purplish again. If the Fifth Prince were here, he would probably be scolded so badly that he couldn't lift his head.
In her youth, Consort Duan was unrestrained and lively, while her cousin, who later became Consort Jing, was quiet and gentle.
Because their personalities complement each other, they have been very close friends since childhood.
Consort Jing's father was one of the most stubborn opponents of the current emperor's ascension to the throne.
However, the emperor was decisive and ruthless. Even with the empress dowager's restraint, his methods of purging were still fierce and merciless, which eventually frightened Consort Jing's father.
To show his relenting, he offered up his carefully raised daughter.
At that time, Consort Jing already had a fiancé with whom she shared a deep affection, but her father and family wanted her to make a sacrifice. She was gentle by nature and had no choice but to comply.
She has enjoyed the wealth brought by her family for so many years, so it is only right that she makes some sacrifices.
Everyone told her that, and she believed it too.
Therefore, she played the role of someone who fell in love with the emperor at first sight, and then the drama unfolded as she "coveted wealth and status," "was ungrateful," and "insisted on entering the palace."
However, the elders of Consort Jing and Consort Duan did not know that Consort Duan was the one who truly fell in love with the Emperor at first sight.
Before Consort Jing entered the palace, Consort Duan had told her about her feelings for her.
A young girl's heart is always filled with poetry; in a moment of passion, she developed the idea of entering the palace.
However, Consort Jing knew Consort Duan's personality well. Once the initial enthusiasm cooled, she knew that someone as unwilling to be bound as her would not be happy staying in the palace.
The most ruthless imperial family.
The undying love and harmonious marriage she longed for could never happen between Consort Duan and the Emperor.
The emperor, suddenly described as "the most ruthless": ...
Although he was a little unconvinced, what he said wasn't wrong.
Other ministers who had concubines in the palace couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
Even those with good memories can't help but recall what Consort Duan looked like. Although they didn't know much about her, they knew she was a very lively and cheerful person.
Who would have thought that the current emperor is not bound by the harem at all? They can give away their daughters as they please, but the emperor will not show any mercy just because they have taken their daughters.
"I listened to my cousin's advice and gave up the idea of entering the palace, but I didn't expect that she would break off the engagement and enter the palace."
Consort Duan was unaware of the inside story, but one can imagine how devastated she must have been at the time.
In her eyes, this was a story of betrayal by her most trusted confidant.
She really wanted to ask Consort Jing why.
However, Consort Jing's arrival at the palace was too hasty, and Consort Duan didn't even have time to see her.
Consort Duan, still seething with resentment, was unwilling to let her beloved be stolen away by her cousin, so she resolutely followed her into the palace.
At that time, Consort Jing was still favored, but Consort Duan was too noisy. The Emperor had to deal with many official matters every day, so he just wanted some peace and quiet at night.
Naturally, Consort Duan was neglected.
Consort Jing tried to explain to Consort Duan several times, but failed due to various unforeseen circumstances.
Coincidentally, Consort Jing's popularity was an eyesore to others, so some villains stirred up trouble, saying that Consort Duan could not win the emperor's favor because Consort Jing was behind it.
Consort Duan initially didn't believe it. Although her cousin had lied to her, their friendship of so many years couldn't be so easily severed.
But by sheer coincidence, she stumbled upon Consort Jing speaking ill of her in front of the Emperor.
The so-called bad talk was nothing more than Consort Jing asking the Emperor, in a feigned jealous tone, whether he would go to Consort Duan's place.
The emperor coaxed her, saying she wouldn't go.
Consort Jing then feigned anger and scolded him for being greedy and always wanting more.
She knew that the emperor disliked women who were unreasonable, and that her persistent nagging was only annoying him.
When the emperor became displeased, he would naturally think of Consort Duan, whom she kept mentioning.
However, Consort Duan did not understand the Emperor's temperament, nor did she understand Consort Jing's plans. As a result, the misunderstanding between the two sisters deepened.
Although the situation is outrageous, it is considered normal within the context of the imperial harem.
Time passed slowly but surely, and finally, Consort Duan was chosen by the Emperor.
As expected, there was no romantic relationship between her and the emperor.
The emperor's mind was entirely focused on state affairs, and apart from showing extra respect to the empress, he couldn't spare any attention for trivial matters.
Day after day of disappointment finally made Consort Duan face reality.
Then, Consort Jing became pregnant.
This should have been a joyous occasion, but Consort Jing was not happy.
Only she knew that she still had feelings for her ex-fiancé and had no expectations for the child.
Coincidentally, Consort Duan also became pregnant.
Consort Duan was also unhappy.
The ministers once again cast strange glances at the emperor.