After waking up, Cao Qinmo stopped drinking medicine. She knew she was going to die, but she couldn't just die in the hands of the emperor. Otherwise, how would the emperor face Wen Yi in the future?

Will he hate Ji Wu because Wen Yi has a traitorous mother, or will he feel guilty about the poisoning that was ordered by him personally, and therefore avoid Wen Yi?

No matter which result it was, it was not what she wanted. She had to be more sensible and not embarrass the emperor. Only then could her Wen Yi be well.

Since the emperor resented her for betraying Nian Shilan, she might as well make up for her mistake and become a betrayer who died with a guilty conscience and shame.

"Yinxiu, go get some paper and pen."

"Yes." Yinxiu wiped away her tears, thinking about collecting the broken porcelain bowl and taking it out first, but she accidentally cut her finger "hiss~"

Cao Qinmo's heart moved, "Bleeding? Give me the porcelain pieces."

"Huh?" Yinxiu was a little stunned. Why would the Queen want to break the porcelain pieces? Could she be committing suicide by cutting her wrists?

Yinxiu's thoughts were too obvious. Cao Qinmo took a deep breath and said, "Don't worry, I'm not that stupid. Give me the porcelain pieces, and you go get the letter paper."

"Oh, yes."

After getting the porcelain piece, Cao Qinmo cut her index finger with it, wrote a letter in blood, sealed it, and gave it to Yinxiu, asking her to hand it to Nian Shilan away from anyone's eyes.

"Yinxiu, remember, I was instigated to do something wrong because of Wen Yi. But Nian promised me to protect me for many years, and I am ashamed of my trust in her."

Yinxiu, who already understood what her master was going to do, took the blood letter with trembling hands and choked out a sob, "This servant understands."

Yinxiu passed Cao Qinmo's suicide note through Yueli's people.

Four days later, cries were heard from Qixiang Palace, and Concubine Xiang died of starvation.

The noise of the death announcement and Wen Yi's cries alarmed the Yikun Palace. Nian Shilan took one last look at the blood letter Cao Qinmo had sent a few days ago and asked, "Is that bitch dead?"

"Yes."

"Humph! Burn the letter and do as that bitch says."

"Here."

Songzhi took the blood letter and threw it into the charcoal brazier. After it was burned out, she crushed it with tongs, put down the tongs, and went out with the silver bill.

The Hall of Cultivation——

"Your Majesty, news has just arrived from Qixiang Palace: Concubine Xiang has passed away."

Fat Orange's pen didn't stop moving, and his frown furrowed even further, clearly showing his impatience with Su Peisheng's report.

Seeing this, Su Peisheng bent even more, "Your Majesty, Concubine Xiang died of starvation."

The pen paused, and a drop of ink flowed from the tip, wetting the word "read" that Fat Orange had just written.

"She didn't take the medicine?"

"No. Yinxiu also died for her master. Before she died, she left a message saying that Concubine Xiang had a last word: Lianzi's heart is the most bitter. I beg the emperor to find a virtuous and kind mother for Princess Wenyi who can protect her."

Virtuous and kind, this is an expression of apology to the emperor; being able to protect, this is a euphemism for why he had to take action against Nian.

With the heart of a lotus seed and the heart of loving one's son, Concubine Xiang is also a pitiful person.

Su Peisheng felt emotional in his heart, wondering if the emperor would be moved after hearing Cao's last words?

Zhongcui Palace——

Yueli was sitting on the kang, sewing a bellyband for Hongsheng. Danzhu returned from outside the palace and personally lifted the scarlet felt curtain to enter the room. She stood before Yueli and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor's decree has arrived. He has posthumously conferred the title of Consort Xiang on her as a consort, but, citing the depletion of the imperial treasury, has ordered that her funeral be kept simple."

"The treasury is empty? Tsk!" Yue Li grabbed a pair of scissors and cut the thread, muttering to herself: Nian Gengyao and his followers had just been raided, how could the treasury be empty? The emperor's excuse was too perfunctory. However, after all, she was posthumously conferred the title of consort, so Cao Qinmo finally got what she wanted. So she asked, "What does Princess Wen Yi say?"

Danzhu shook her head. While helping her master split the silk thread and sew the needle, she replied, "The Emperor hasn't given any instructions yet. Princess Wen Yi is currently being watched over by Concubine Li."

"Send someone to Xianfu Palace and tell Concubine Jing that if she hesitates any longer, she'll miss this opportunity forever."

"Yes."

Yue Li continued sewing as she asked, "Where's Yikun Palace? Isn't it time for him to start moving?"

"Miss Songzhi just went to the Xinzheku and the Imperial Kitchen without being noticed."

After Nian Shilan was demoted, Songzhi was transformed from a concubine to an ordinary maid in Yikun Palace. So Danzhu only called her "girl" when reporting to Yueli.

"Everyone who came into contact with her was kept under close watch, and assistance was provided when necessary."

"Don't worry, Madam, I know what's going on."

Qi Yuebin wants Wen Yi to recognize the thief as her mother, how can Cao Qinmo let her go? Nian Shilan will not agree! So even if she hates Cao Qinmo's betrayal, Nian Shilan will not let Cao Qinmo's vicious plan go unused.

So, just after Cao Qinmo's funeral, two major fires broke out in the palace overnight.

One fire burned in Suiyuxuan, and although the palace was burned, fortunately Zhen Huan was not hurt; the other fire burned in Yanqing Palace, which directly killed Concubine Duan and her servant.

The first place to catch fire was Zhen Huan's Sui Yuxuan. The emperor hurried over after hearing the news. He was just feeling relieved that nothing had really happened to his Chun Yuan figurine. Xiao Yunzi and others caught the sneaky person who had set fire to Sui Yuxuan tonight.

Zhen Huan was ready to strike while the iron was hot and expose the master behind him so that the emperor would have to punish Nian Shilan, but she was shocked by the little eunuch's confession.

"Your Majesty, please spare me! Concubine Wan, please spare me! It was Nian who promised me this, it was Nian who promised me this!"

"Nian?" Fatty Orange's eyes looked uncertain in the firelight. He gave Zhen Huan a deep look before asking, "Does Miss Nian really have no one else to rely on? Why would they send a worthless person like you to do such a big thing as setting fire to the palace?"

Zhen Huan's heart leaped! What did the Emperor mean by this? He didn't believe me?! And this little eunuch, how could he be so easily frightened? What on earth was Nian Shilan planning?!

Zhen Huan, who was extremely confused, suddenly felt her sleeve being pulled by Shen Meizhuang. The next second, she heard Shen Meizhuang scream "Ah!" and frowned.

"Sister Mei! Are you okay? Imperial Physician! Your Majesty, Sister Mei burned her hand while protecting me. I beg Your Majesty to let the Imperial Physician bandage Sister Mei first."

Fat Ju's heart softened. Mei'er had suffered, and at this moment, he didn't want to explore the innocence of Zhen Huan and her sister. He waved his hand, asking the imperial physician to come and help Shen Meizhuang treat her wounds first, and then ordered Su Peisheng to send the arson eunuch to the Shenxingsi for strict interrogation.

But in fact, he had already started to think about smoothing things over. He didn't want to give up on either Shilan or Huanhuan.

But before Shen Meizhuang's wound was bandaged, trouble broke out in the palace again.

"Your Majesty, there seems to be a fire over there!" Huanbi looked at the flames rising into the sky from the northeast in horror.

Su Peisheng looked in the direction, his expression solemn, thinking: This is bad! "Your Majesty, that seems to be the direction of Yanqing Palace!"

"What are you still standing there for? Go put out the fire!"

"Oh, yes, yes! Let's go, let's go to Yanqing Palace and put out the fire!"

"Wanwan, Suiyuxuan can no longer be lived in. You should go to Xianfu Palace and live with Mei'er for the next few days. I will go to see Concubine Duan."

After saying this, he hurried away without waiting for Zhen Huan's reaction.

"Sister Mei, I'm so panicked. Nian Shilan, I'm afraid she's going after Concubine Duan. We've all fallen for her!"

She had a premonition that Concubine Duan might not survive. Furthermore, Zhen Huan looked at the ruins behind her and realized that she and Mei Jie's plan was within Nian Shilan's expectations.

In this round, Nian Shilan may not die, but she and Concubine Duan will definitely suffer heavy losses!

Zhen Huan felt a chill in her heart: This doesn't seem like something that Nian Shilan could come up with, it's more like - Cao Qinmo!

Yanqing Palace——

Flames shot up into the sky, beams collapsed, and there were crackling sounds in the fire scene. People rushed to sprinkle water to put out the fire like a swarm of bees, but upon closer inspection, it can be found that most of them were just working without putting in any effort. After all, the fire was so big that anyone with a discerning eye could tell that Concubine Duan was in great danger.

If that was the case, why risk being burned by the fire to save a childless, unloved, sickly person whose family had fallen on hard times? With this in mind, the guards and servants who came to put out the fire were extremely flustered and ineffective.

"Why won't the fire go out?"

"Alas! Concubine Duan has always disliked crowds. She only has Jixiang serving her, and there are few patrolling guards here. By the time they discovered it, it was already too late. Besides, this is not an accident! This Yanqing Palace is full of kerosene!"

"Kerosene! Hiss~" The eunuch in charge took a breath of cold air, looked at the guards and servants busying around, and then looked at the fiercely burning hall. Could Concubine Duan still be alive?

……

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like