CHAPTER 121: CHAPTER 120 CAN’T LIVE ANYMORE

Her gaze was unfocused as she spoke in a daze.

"You two go your separate ways, I’m doomed!"

Lv Zhu and Lv Luo exchanged worried glances.

"What nonsense are you talking about, my lady?"

"Yes, my lady, are you feeling unwell?"

Honored Lady Hu shook her head, her face the picture of defeat. She looked like a dejected, plucked rooster, utterly dispirited, devoid of any spark of life.

"I’m not unwell! Just go!"

With that, she lay down on the couch, staring at the ceiling with open eyes, just staring. The two palace maids looked at each other, confused, but there was nothing they could do, so they left nervously.

Honored Lady Hu sighed with relief and closed her eyes.

Lady Xia! I have ultimately met my defeat at your hands!

「 」

Honored Lady Hu was not wrong. The Empress wanted to distance herself from the matter while also providing an explanation to the Emperor. Thus, Honored Lady Hu had to be sacrificed.

"To think that a mere Lady Xia could be so troublesome! Where does she get the courage to oppose me?" the Empress fumed. "She has caused me to stumble time and time again! I thought that a mere Honored Lady would pose less of a threat than a Noble Consort, but who could have foreseen this situation!"

The Empress was so angry she felt like exploding.

"Your Majesty, it doesn’t matter if Honored Lady Hu is gone. There are still so many Seventh-Rank Ladies; we will surely find someone!" Sister Ji advised. "Your Majesty, don’t worry! Even the Noble Consort was once a person of the past. Naturally, we can find a way to make Lady Xia one too!"

The Empress pondered this, then her eyes suddenly lit up as she seemed to come to a realization. "Yes! Next year is the grand selection! Since the Emperor likes lively girls, we can... choose a few more. By then, what will Lady Xia count for?"

The Empress thought this idea made a lot of sense. It was normal for the Emperor to have three thousand beauties in his Harem. She would just choose a few more next year to further solidify her reputation for virtue.

"Excellent! Excellent!" the Empress exclaimed proudly.

"Indeed!" Sister Ji’s face was full of smugness.

As she spoke, her smile suddenly faltered. "But... what does Your Majesty plan to do with Honored Lady Hu?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress’s expression changed, and she let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Hmph! It’s her own lack of ability. Who else can she blame? I finally got the authority to investigate the case, and of course, I need to satisfy the Emperor! Otherwise, if it falls into Lady Xia’s hands, that would be truly disastrous! Without offering some substantial evidence and finding a scapegoat, how would the Noble Consort be willing to let the matter rest? How else would the Emperor be satisfied?"

Sister Ji bowed her head. "You speak the truth, Your Majesty!" She agreed, then hesitated again. "But... Your Majesty, as the saying goes, even a cornered rabbit will bite. This incident, after all, was done on your behalf. What if she refuses to take the blame and implicates you instead?"

This was Sister Ji’s biggest concern.

A ruthless look flashed in the Empress’s eyes. She snorted coldly. "Hmph! Refuse to take the blame? That would only be possible if she had Lady Xia’s capabilities! While I am temporarily unable to do anything about Lady Xia, I still have the means to control Lady Hu!"

Lady Xia is protected by the Emperor. Even if I have a thousand strategies, I can’t use them against her. But Lady Hu is different; she committed the act. As long as the evidence is presented, it’s a capital offense for plotting against an imperial heir, and I hold that evidence in my hands. Heh, it seems this chess piece is no longer useful...

「There were still three days left until the Emperor departed for the southern tour.」

The Ministry of Internal Affairs had already arranged everything, and she needed to give the Emperor a satisfactory answer within these three days. Having thought it through, she gave an order. "Yu Lan, find someone to send a message to Lijing Pavilion. Tell Honored Lady Hu to come here tonight, and remember, do it quietly—meaning, let no one know."

Yu Lan acknowledged the order and left.

「 」

By nightfall, Honored Lady Hu indeed came under the cover of darkness, entering through a side gate of Jiaofang Hall. The Empress held her lifeline; she dared not refuse.

Doffing her black cloak, Honored Lady Hu knelt and kowtowed before the Empress. "Empress, save me..."

The moment she heard the Emperor say that the case was to be investigated by the Empress, she knew she wasn’t going to live. But she didn’t want to die! She had not yet defeated Lady Xia. She had yet to be favored by the Emperor, to attain a high rank, to be taken out of the palace by him. There were still so many riches and honors she hadn’t enjoyed. So young, how could she die? And most importantly, she shouldn’t die! All she had done was to make her own life better; she hadn’t done anything wrong! Harming the Noble Consort was under orders—the one who should die wasn’t her! Why? Why?!

The Empress looked down at her, her eyes filled with extreme indifference. Once Honored Lady Hu finished kowtowing and stood up, the Empress’s expression suddenly changed, showing pity, compassion, and reluctance. "Honored Lady Hu, I too am reluctant!"

The Empress’s voice trembled slightly, with a hint of a sob.

"Empress, save me! Please save me! I do not wish to die!" Honored Lady Hu cried, her inner desire to survive overcoming everything else; she could no longer care about appearances.

The Empress seemed even more reluctant, tears welling in her eyes. "I do wish to save you, but..." She bent over, her hands trembling as she touched Honored Lady Hu’s youthful, tender cheeks. "You’re so young. It shouldn’t be you who dies!" The Empress sighed.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Lady Hu pleaded even more desperately.

Suddenly, the Empress straightened, turned, and sat down in her seat. After a moment of internal struggle, she finally spoke. "How about this: if you hand over the evidence, I can spare your life. But you must go to the Cold Palace..."

Having said that, the Empress hastily added, "Rest assured, even if you go to the Cold Palace, as long as I am here, I won’t let your days be too difficult. The most detailed evidence, in exchange for your life—how about that?"

The Empress’s eyes were sharp as she stared at Honored Lady Hu.

After listening, Lady Hu stopped pleading and just stood there, stunned. "Evi... evidence?"

"Yes, all the evidence!" the Empress affirmed. "If I am to give the Emperor a satisfying reply, I naturally can’t just pull someone out to frame them. I need evidence!"

Human life is of utmost importance; a capital offense cannot be handled carelessly. The Punishment Department will investigate repeatedly, confirming every detail before delivering a verdict. This is the palace. To fabricate one lie, you’d have to create ten thousand more to cover it! So, real evidence is far more useful!

Honored Lady Hu was deeply conflicted, her face etched with pain as she fell into deep thought.

The Empress, in no rush, leisurely picked up her teacup. She slowly took a few sips, then said persuasively, "In my opinion, preserving your life is most important. As long as you’re alive, with a whole lifetime ahead, anything is possible. But if your life is gone..."

The Empress set the teacup down forcefully on the table, a cold light flashing in her eyes. "If life is gone, then everything is gone!"