The Rise of a General's Daughter-in-Law Doctor

Li Muxia held Consort Shu in her arms and comforted her softly.

A palace maid stepped forward to help Consort Liang up, but as soon as Consort Liang stood up, she kicked the maid, saying, "Useless thing."

As she spoke, she straightened her hair and clothes, looked at Consort Shu and said, "You crazy woman, you're already insane and you still come to harm me. I should have had that damned girl Yunxiang give you a deadly poison that would kill you instantly."

Li Muxia thought to herself: This Consort Liang is really brainless, why does she blurt out everything?

Although she knew that the poison was probably administered by Consort Liang, she still feigned surprise and said, "What did you say? You instructed Yunxiang to poison Her Majesty."

Consort Liang tucked her hair behind her ear and said, "So what if it is? You are now a madman and a person who has been convicted by the Emperor. Even if you know that I did it, what can you do? Besides me, who else would come to this Cold Palace out of kindness?"

"I have only come with good intentions to see you off. Life in the Cold Palace is unbearable, and I cannot bear to see my former sisters suffer like this, so I have come to help you get out of this predicament sooner."

Li Muxia said angrily, "Aren't you afraid that the Emperor will find out and punish you?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Liang snorted coldly: "Afraid? Why should I be afraid? Consort Shu couldn't bear life in the Cold Palace and hanged herself in a moment of despair. Doctor Xia also committed suicide out of fear of punishment. What does that have to do with me?"

"You... are truly wicked." Li Muxia also saw through Consort Liang's viciousness.

Consort Liang didn't want to waste any more words with Li Muxia; she had already shown great mercy by saying so much to them.

He gave the palace maid a wink, and the maid took out the white silk from her bosom.

Just as the palace maid was about to reach Li Muxia and the other woman, the door was pushed open with a "thump".

Consort Liang was clearly not expecting anyone to come to the Cold Palace. She turned her head in surprise and saw the Emperor and Prince Yu standing at the door with gloomy expressions.

Consort Liang was so frightened that she immediately knelt down on the ground and stammered, "Your...Your Majesty...This concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty."

The Emperor strode toward Consort Shu. Consort Liang knelt on the ground, watching the pair of black boots embroidered with gold trim walk past her step by step. Each step felt like a death knell pressing on Consort Liang's heart.

Consort Shu stopped pretending to be crazy, straightened her disguise, and bowed to the Emperor.

Hearing Consort Shu's normal voice, Consort Liang looked up in disbelief, staring at Consort Shu and the Emperor with a face full of despair, and slumped to her knees on the ground. She realized that she had been set up.

The Emperor looked coldly at Consort Liang and said, "Consort Liang, do you know your crime?"

Consort Liang knew that she was completely finished this time. She didn't know how long the Emperor had been outside or how much he had overheard, but for now she could only pretend that she knew nothing and wait for her father and brother to come and save her.

Consort Liang feigned pitifulness and said, "Your Majesty, I only came to see Consort Shu. Is that a crime?"

Seeing that Consort Liang was still trying to argue, the Emperor said to the outside, "Bring her in."

Consort Liang was startled when she saw Yunxiang being escorted in by a guard. Hadn't she already sent someone to kill Yunxiang? How could she be here?

The Emperor looked at Consort Liang and said, "What, are you surprised to see Yunxiang?"

Consort Liang then dropped her pretense and looked at the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty knew all along that I was behind all of this, which is why you orchestrated this whole scheme today, isn't it?"

The Emperor snorted coldly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Consort Liang was heartbroken and furious, but she laughed and said, "Your Majesty, I admit my guilt. However, I have something I would like to ask you."

The Emperor did not look at Consort Liang; his cold face remained expressionless.

Consort Liang didn't expect the Emperor to answer her, and continued, "I entered the Crown Prince's residence when Your Majesty was still the Crown Prince, and accompanied you all the way to your current position. I remember when we got married, Your Majesty doted on me. Now, Your Majesty doesn't even want to look at me. I only want to know, in Your Majesty's heart, has there ever been even the slightest place for me?"

Upon hearing Consort Liang's words, the Emperor's face showed a moment of hesitation. Indeed, he had once doted on Consort Liang, but since meeting Consort Shu, he seemed to have become less attentive to the other concubines in the harem.

Listening to Consort Liang's accusations and seeing the Emperor's guilty expression, Li Muxia thought to herself: "The imperial family is the most ruthless place. Thank goodness I was jilted by the Second Prince. I'd better never have anything to do with the royal family again."

Although the Emperor felt guilty towards Consort Liang, this was not an excuse for her to harm others. Consort Liang had committed so many evil deeds; it seemed she couldn't be kept alive any longer. Before she died, it was best to explain things to her clearly, so she could die knowing the truth.

“Consort Liang, I am the emperor. As my consort, you should know that I never choose my own women. Consort Shu is the first person I have ever been moved by and wanted to spend my life with. You should never have touched her.”

The emperor's tone was somewhat helpless, but he also knew that he had failed the concubines in the harem, as he could not give them love.

Those concubines were merely bargaining chips sent to the palace by various ministers to consolidate their positions, and at the same time, they were also pawns used by the emperor to control the ministers. To put it bluntly, these concubines were nothing more than political sacrifices.

Perhaps some concubines harbored feelings for the emperor, but as an emperor, the last thing one could give was affection. Exposing one's feelings to others would be dangerous for both the emperor and the concubines.

Therefore, even though the Emperor only loved Consort Shu, he still managed to extend his favor to all the concubines and tried his best to hide his feelings. Even so, this still brought a lot of trouble to Consort Shu.

Upon hearing the Emperor's words, Consort Liang laughed and cried at the same time: "Hahaha, I never thought that despite all my scheming, I still couldn't win even a sliver of Your Majesty's love. But Your Majesty, you don't know that when I first saw Your Majesty at the Grand Tutor's residence, I fell in love with you at first sight. Even though I knew that Your Majesty already had a Crown Princess at the time, I still knelt down and begged my father to send me to the Crown Prince's residence. In the end, it was all wishful thinking on my part, and my love was misplaced."

Li Muxia could hear the despair and sadness in Consort Liang's words. Although she felt sympathy, this was not an excuse for Consort Liang to harm others. Using love as an excuse to harm others, no matter how pitiful they were, did not deserve sympathy.

Consort Liang had already confessed her crime. The Emperor ordered her to be taken to the prison to await her fate. Consort Liang did not struggle and let the guards take her away like a broken rag doll.

Only then did the Emperor look at Consort Shu and show concern.

Looking at the two of them, Li Muxia felt an indescribable sadness. Even if the emperor loved Consort Shu, he still had to have a large harem of wives and concubines. Whether he loved her or not was not something she could control.

In this world of imperial power, women are ultimately the victims.