The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Perhaps it was because autumn was approaching, but the summer heat had not yet subsided, and a cool breeze carried rain for several days in a row.

Yunqing Palace.

"Your Majesty, Qingyu, the maidservant of Consort Li, has arrived," Dongqing said hurriedly as she ran into the bedchamber.

Consort Lin was flipping through a book with her left hand and copying notes with her right. Hearing the sound, she said with some displeasure, "Dongqing, you're not allowed to be so rude in the future." After saying this, Consort Lin looked up and said indifferently, "Let's go, let's go meet them."

It's not surprising that Dongqing is worried. Yunqing Palace has been neglected for a long time. Apart from troublemakers, few people come here. But now that Consort Li, who is currently enjoying great favor, has sent someone over, how can people not be worried?

Upon arriving at the main hall, Consort Lin glanced around and saw that the table was covered with silks, satins, and jewelry. She was slightly taken aback and looked at Qingyu.

When Qingyu saw Consort Lin arrive, she bowed and said, "Greetings, Consort Lin."

"Get up," Consort Lin said, then sat down in the head seat, waiting for Qingyu to continue.

Yesterday, Consort Li thought for a long time. Given His Majesty's favor towards Princess Anle, she had no reason to doubt Princess Anle's intentions. Since Princess Anle had shown goodwill towards Consort Lin, she would do the same. All she needed to do was let Princess Anle know that she was on her side.

Although Qingyu disliked Consort Lin's cold and aloof demeanor, as a veteran in the palace, she naturally knew how to speak. Her tone was respectful but not obsequious, "Your Majesty, my mistress said that autumn is approaching, so she specially sent me to deliver some fabrics and jewelry to you as a small token of her appreciation. Please accept it with a smile."

Dongqing, who was standing next to her, knew Lin Fei's temperament and that she never cared about material possessions. Just as she was about to find a reason to refuse, she heard Lin Fei say, "Then please thank Consort Li on my behalf."

Dongqing stared at Consort Lin in shock, somewhat incredulous. Qingyu, who had also thought Consort Lin wouldn't accept the gift, found the task easy to complete and thus saved herself some trouble. She said in a low voice, "Your Highness is too kind. If there's nothing else, this servant will take her leave."

Consort Lin nodded in response.

"Your Highness, what's going on?" Dong Qing asked, watching Qing Yu's figure disappear completely at the entrance of Yunqing Palace.

Consort Lin stood up, sighed, and said, "Dongqing? It's my fault for being useless; even you are suffering because of me."

Dongqing had served Consort Lin since she was a child, and she had long regarded Consort Lin as family. Hearing Consort Lin say this, her nose couldn't help but feel sore, and she choked up and said, "Your Highness, please don't say that. This servant doesn't feel bitter. It is this servant's blessing to follow Your Highness."

Since Consort Lin fell out of favor, her meals have consisted of simple fare. Although Consort Lin didn't find it bitter or cold, the palace servants below her were adept at reading her moods. Although Consort Lin could make some medicine packets, they couldn't be exchanged for much money, and for the past two years she had mostly lived off the silver she brought with her when she entered the palace.

Looking at Dong Qing before her, Consort Lin couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. She smiled, not wanting to wallow in sorrow, and said, "Put everything away and exchange anything that can be exchanged for silver!"

Dongqing looked at the clothes and jewelry, touched them, and found that they weren't bad at all; on the contrary, they were above average. She said, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager will be returning to the palace soon. Let's make some clothes!"

Empress Dowager? When Consort Lin entered the palace, the Empress Dowager had already gone to Tanfo Temple to recuperate. As a young lady from a noble family, she knew the importance of first impressions, so she said, "I'll do as you say."

"Your Highness, why do you think Consort Li would send someone to deliver these things?" Dong Qing asked as she tidied up.

Why? Although Consort Lin disliked strife, she was no fool. She stroked the jade bracelet on her left wrist with her right hand and said, "Naturally, it's because of Princess Anle!"

“Princess Anle?” Dongqing recalled the tea that Jing Anle had sent a few days ago, which Consort Lin had greatly enjoyed. She smiled and said, “Princess Anle is truly our lucky star!”

Consort Lin smiled without saying a word, simply gazing at the drizzle outside.

……

Tanfo Temple.

One mountain can have four seasons, and the weather can vary every ten miles. In the capital, it's drizzling, but at Tanfo Temple, it's a raging storm. An elderly woman with hair in her fifties is kneeling on a prayer mat, rhythmically turning her prayer beads while chanting incantations.

The old woman, though half-hidden in silver hair, was full of energy. She was dressed in fine silks and satins, and her hair was adorned with gold and silver. It was easy to tell that she had been a beauty in her youth. If one did not know that she had come to recuperate and meditate, one would think she was a wealthy old lady from some noble family.

Before long, a woman of similar age came in carrying a food tray. Seeing that the old woman was still chanting scriptures, she simply arranged the dishes and stood aside to wait.

"Su Rong?" the old woman said, as if she had finished reading.

The old woman, named Su Rong, quickly stepped forward to greet her and said, "The Empress Dowager recites scriptures every day with utmost sincerity. If I were a Bodhisattva, I would have been moved long ago."

The old woman was none other than the late emperor's principal wife, the current Empress Dowager Chen Huaping.

"You old woman, you can't keep your mouth shut," the Empress Dowager said, but her smile was wide open.

Su Rong helped the Empress Dowager sit down and introduced today's dishes, "I noticed that Your Majesty doesn't have a good appetite, so I prepared some light dishes. Please take a look."

The Empress Dowager glanced around and saw that the round table was laden with dishes. The vegetarian options included stuffed winter melon and a multi-flavored soup, while the meat dishes included chicken, turtle, and stewed game, accompanied by a bowl of white porridge and a side dish of pickled mustard greens. Feigning annoyance, she asked, "Why is there meat?"

Su Rong immediately knelt down and explained, "This servant knows that the Empress Dowager is kind-hearted and cannot bear to kill, but vegetarian food is really not nutritious. If there is any sin, then this servant shall bear it."

"Enough, enough, this is the only time, and there will be no next time. Get up," the Empress Dowager said, waving her hand.

Su Rong then got up and served the dishes to the Empress Dowager.

After lunch, the Empress Dowager was lounging on a cushion for a nap when she suddenly remarked, "This Buddhist temple is quiet, but it's a bit too much."

Knowing the Empress Dowager's meaning, Su Rong continued, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the palace has probably already received the news. Our Emperor is the most filial, so you can just wait to return to the palace with peace of mind."

"Then you can go back and play with your grandson, and enjoy your old age."

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, thought for a moment, and said, "Speaking of filial piety, I still prefer Prince Qing. His Majesty is sometimes too rigid."

Su Rong knew that it was because the current emperor had insisted on making Qin Yin empress back then, neglecting the empress dowager's niece, who is now Consort Chen, that the empress dowager had some resentment towards Emperor Jing, and consequently, her legitimate children, Jing Fengyao and Jing Anle, were favored by the Prince of Qing's children.

"His Majesty is an upright ruler, and no matter what, he will always be filial to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

These words pleased the Empress Dowager greatly, and she began to dream.

This is the true face of the current Empress Dowager. She speaks of the Buddha's compassion and Amitabha Buddha, but in reality, she is cunning, sophistry, and has the heart of a snake.