Capítulo 1602: Chapter 1609: Grievances Redressed (4)
After saying this, she used the excuse of tea scalding her mouth to dismiss the two maids serving Concubine Xue, ignoring Luo Xue’s desperate pleas, and ordered them to be thrown into the dungeon.
As she was leaving, Princess Zhao Gui coldly said to her, “If there’s a next life, remember, one should always leave a path for others to walk. If you push people to a dead end, they’ll be left with no choice but to snatch a path from you…”
Shortly after, she commanded that the two of Concubine Xue’s palace maids be interrogated rigorously. A few Shi Chen later, the two maids confessed that Concubine Xue had repeatedly used banquets and rewards as a guise to secretly administer contraceptive medicines to the concubines in the palace.
Princess Zhao Gui collected the spices, flowers, and tea leaves that Luo Xue had gifted to the concubines as evidence, presenting them before Helan Qi. The evidence was irrefutable, leaving Concubine Xue with no room to deny. Helan Qi flew into a rage and immediately ordered that Concubine Xue be stripped of her title and thrown into the Cold Palace.
Luo Xue never imagined that the once gentle and humble Princess Zhao Gui in the palace could act with such ruthless decisiveness. With just one sentence, she had plunged her into hell. If Luo Xue had known Zhao Gui had this nature, even if ghosts had dragged her into it, she wouldn’t have dared to provoke her. But now, it was too late for regret.
Helan Qi was a heartless man. Upon learning of her conspiracy, he immediately felt disgust toward her. Sparing her life out of deference to the princess was already quite merciful. Luo Xue was discarded into the Cold Palace, beginning her endless, desolate life there…
After toppling Luo Xue, Zhao Gui gradually captivated Helan Qi’s attention and became the rightful Queen Consort.
However, she did not live happily. Helan Qi, eager for numerous heirs, would visit multiple concubines almost daily. Even when staying overnight in Zhao Gui’s palace, he didn’t spare a few of the good-looking palace maids. Guarding this old man who lived like a stud horse, she found herself holding the high but lonely position of Queen Consort, experiencing the chilling solitude of power that no one could truly understand!
…
After the new year, the Liaodan Imperial Harem welcomed a young prince. This little prince was Saknu’s first child and was exceptionally precious. Yet, upon seeing the pink, wrinkled infant, Saknu frowned and said, “So ugly!”
Nevertheless, this little one, despised by his father as “so ugly,” instantly became Madam Xiao’s cherished treasure. She not only insisted on keeping the child by her side, but she also demanded that the child’s birth mother, Lady Du, be elevated to the status of Lady Yan of Liaodan Kingdom.
Miss Du Yue was naturally gentle and deeply influenced by feudal thought. She placed her husband above all and managed to coexist peacefully with the various madams in Saknu’s harem, showing no jealousy. She would often advise Saknu to spread his favor evenly among his concubines and to bear as many children as possible to extend the kingdom’s lineage.
Seeing her so virtuous, Saknu, though she was far from the one in his heart, accepted the situation. Since the one he truly desired was destined to be unattainable, it mattered little who became Lady Yan. Following his mother’s wishes, he elevated Miss Du Yue to Lady Yan of Liaodan Kingdom.
After becoming Lady Yan, Madam Yue immediately wrote a letter to her brother and mother, informing them of her situation.
When Du Yongqi learned that his younger sister had become Lady Yan of Liaodan Kingdom, he was overjoyed. Aunt Liao and Du Ruohai celebrated as well. Du Yongbang, Du Yongzhi, and Du Yongchun, however, were filled with regret upon hearing the news.
Back in the day, when they held power, they completely disregarded Aunt Liao’s family, oppressing and marginalizing them whenever possible. As a result, Du Yongqi ended up with a crippled leg, and Miss Du Yue nearly got married off to an old man to be his second wife. If they had known she would rise so high, they would certainly have treated Aunt Liao’s family kindly. If they had done so, they might have been able to share in her fortune by now.
But even if they couldn’t benefit from Miss Yue’s success, it didn’t matter much. Du family now had not only Miss Yue as Lady Yan, but Du Meiren of the Meng slave king’s tent was also close to giving birth. Tuoba Hong Khan had secretly told her that if she gave birth to a son, he would elevate her to Lady Yan of the Meng slaves.