Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 172: There Are Assassins in the Palace!
The reason Long Yue indulged in verbal sparring with the opponent was to bide time.
When she saw this black cat, she knew.
This was Princess Consort Zhen’s beloved pet, Little Black.
The name was common, but it matched its fur color, and only such a name could suit such a little black cat.
The Imperial Palace was vast, yet not small either. Long Yue believed that women who ascended to the rank of Consort all possessed certain skills. In each rival’s palace, they would have some people they bought for their use.
So, when the black cat died, Princess Consort Zhen should immediately learn about it.
As expected, she hurried over.
Princess Consort Zhen was the biological mother of the Seventh Prince. Logically, now that the Seventh Prince participated in the struggle for the throne, the rank of his birth mother should be elevated to that of Imperial Concubine, shouldn’t it?
But not at all!
The concubines of the palace had regulations — one Empress and two Imperial Concubines. Previously, there was a Princess Consort Yun, the Emperor’s most favored concubine. However, she later disappeared, and her rank was never revoked, so others had no way to ascend.
This resulted in Princess Consort Zhen and Consort Xue becoming virtually mortal enemies.
Princess Consort Zhen wished to bring down Consort Xue and ascend to the position of Imperial Concubine, but Consort Xue had to constantly guard against her, preventing herself from being pulled down.
The two women had been competing in the harem for many years. Unfortunately, Princess Consort Zhen had enough favor to become an Imperial Concubine, but with Princess Consort Yun and Consort Xue blocking the way, she couldn’t shake Yun who was akin to a deceased person, and this Consort Xue... had yet to make any mistakes.
On hearing that her beloved pet had died in the Imperial Garden, Princess Consort Zhen was first stricken with grief, but immediately keenly smelled that this might be an opportunity to bring Consort Xue down!
Thus, like a wolf catching the scent of blood, she flew to the Imperial Garden.
As soon as she came in, she burst into wailing and dashed inside.
Seeing that the person coming was Princess Consort Zhen, Consort Xue’s face turned even paler.
This lowly woman!
She had been contending with her for many years, and her presence would certainly make things more difficult!
The reason for holding this banquet today was to vent some anger on behalf of her little niece, because Long Yue publicly humiliated her in the inn, leaving her unable to step down.
That was the Chang Family’s daughter, and by acting so, Pang Longyue clearly disregarded her as an Imperial Concubine. Such a person deserved a fierce reckoning to cut down her arrogance!
This was just one side of it. The other was that Imperial Censor Su was someone favored by the Chang Family, very capable, who wholeheartedly wanted to match Le Xi with him, but this Yang Zhuoya’s interruption was intolerable. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
As long as Yang Zhuoya died, Imperial Censor Su would be heartbroken. If she could vent his anger by punishing Pang Longyue, not only helping Le Xi vent but also granting Su imperial favor.
Wait for his emotions to stabilize before promising Le Xi to him, thus making Imperial Censor Su deeply grateful, then wholeheartedly work for her.
It could be said this was a strategy killing three birds with one stone.
But now, it was all ruined by a spilled glass of poisoned wine and a dead black cat!
Pang Longyue, this vile woman, deserves death!
"Little Black, ah! My Little Black, how could you die so miserably... ah, ah, Chang Ruxue, it’s you, it must be you! Tell me, why did you kill my Little Black?"
Princess Consort Zhen rushed forward, trembling, gingerly holding her little black cat in her hands, crying with streaming tears. Seeing this made Consort Xue’s teeth grind in fury. This woman could really act; a more ignorant person might think she lost her son!
Immediately, she swung her sleeves and coldly reprimanded: "Princess Consort Zhen, stop slandering me with your words. How could I harm a cat? It’s utterly ridiculous!"
"I don’t care; Little Black died here. You definitely need to give me an explanation!"
"Princess Consort Zhen, enough! It’s just a cat; I don’t have time to plot against a cat!" Consort Xue, vexed by the fuss, waved her large sleeves dismissively, coldly rebuking.
She then pointed at Long Yue, "You two, go search her body. If she poisoned it, there would certainly be traces!"
"As you command!"
Two old maidservants, fierce-faced, rolled up their sleeves, charging toward Long Yue’s body, but how could Long Yue let them succeed?
She turned to Princess Consort Zhen and said, "Princess Consort Zhen, an assassin has entered the palace, and someone poisoned our food. But without distinguishing black from white, Imperial Concubine accuses me of this. Wise and virtuous as you are, we must uncover the truth. It’s a small matter if I am misunderstood, but it’s a big deal if the imperial body is really harmed!"
"Vile! Full of lies! Why are you standing still? Quickly, search her!"
"Princess Consort Zhen!"
With a nimble turn, Long Yue ducked behind Princess Consort Zhen.
Princess Consort Zhen was always competing against Consort Xue. What kind of battle was that? You want someone dead, I want them alive. Who you dislike, I will favor.
Seeing Consort Xue insisting on taking Long Yue, Princess Consort Zhen immediately realized something, softly chuckling and in a sharp voice said, "Sister, hasn’t everything been clarified yet? How can one do a body search like this? How can people bear it? Moreover, this matter... indeed seems a bit strange, wouldn’t it be best to let the Holy Emperor make the decision?"
With those words, Consort Xue’s face turned even more unpleasant, almost looking like she had lost a child.
"The Emperor is busy with state affairs, how could we trouble him with such trivial matters? If such things always go to the Emperor, what’s the use of us concubines?"
"Hm, who is looking for me?"
Just as Consort Xue uttered these words, a deep voice resonated from afar, and instantly, everyone present kneeled down, respectfully announcing: "Long live His Majesty, long live for ten thousand years!"
Qi Yun, as Emperor, had spies everywhere in the palace. Consort Xue hosting a banquet in the Imperial Garden, inviting some noblewomen over for a drink and chat, that was nothing, as a concubine, she had that privilege.
When the banquet was halfway through, a cat died, which was also a trivial matter. But when Imperial Concubine and Princess Consort Zhen, two high-ranking concubines, started making a fuss, involving even the newly appointed Lady Jiao, the matter couldn’t just be glossed over.
These small gatherings of women were something he, as Emperor, rarely cared to attend. But once the matters escalated, he had to come and take a look.
"All rise!"
Qi Yun waved his hand, signaling everyone to rise, then looked at Consort Xue, "Things are really lively here, Consort, tell me, what’s happening?"
"Your Majesty, there’s an assassin in the palace!"
"Oh?"
Before Consort Xue could speak, Long Yue continued on the Emperor’s words, and with a sentence, piqued the Emperor’s interest.
"You... I remember you, Pang Wenzheng’s daughter, Pang Longyue, am I right?"
"The Emperor has keen eyes like torches; indeed, I am! And it was the Emperor who gave me the title!"
Immediately establishing a connection, Qi Yun squinted slightly, intrigued by this cunning little couple, weren’t they?
"Well, you say there’s an assassin in the palace? What do you mean by that?"
"Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine set up a feast in the Imperial Garden, but the drinks were poisoned. I think this is not trivial, even if there’s only a one in a thousand chance, it should be treated with caution, for... this is your residing harem, even if it’s a poisonous hawk, it cannot be overlooked!"
