novelraw Chapter 168 Do you no longer want your concubine?
Chapter 168 Do you no longer want your concubine?
It is said that on the third day of Rong Lian's imprisonment in Jingyang Palace, he could not bear the stark contrast between his previous life and that of the palace maids who served him.
The coarse rice served by the palace servants was a little cold, so she swept all the bowls and plates off the table and shouted angrily, still carrying some of her usual haughty demeanor.
But now she is no longer the Xiuyi who holds the position of the head of the palace; she is just a commoner whom no one cares about.
The palace maid was already seething with anger because of the mistreatment she had suffered in the past, so she didn't hold back and cursed back with her hands on her hips.
Rong Lian was choked so badly that her face turned pale and then blue, and she couldn't say a word.
Rong Lian lay on the headboard, sobbing uncontrollably. The only remaining silver hairpin in her hair fell to the ground and rolled onto the corner of the table, making her look even more disheveled.
As she cried, she felt all her strength drain away, her eyelids became too heavy to lift, and she drifted off to sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, the sky outside the window had already darkened a bit.
She tried to sit up, but was surprised to find that her limbs were too weak to obey her commands, and even lifting her legs was difficult.
An overwhelming fear gripped her instantly.
She struggled desperately to move to the edge of the bed, but her limbs were too weak, and she fell heavily to the ground, gasping in pain.
Then she realized—
She was unable to speak.
She opened her mouth wide and tried repeatedly, but no sound came out of her throat.
Rong Lian completely broke down and could only pound the ground with her fists, hoping to attract someone to save her.
What's wrong with her?
Why... can't I speak?
"You're awake?"
Upon hearing this, Rong Lian raised her head with difficulty.
Song Shuangning was sitting comfortably in a chair not far away, holding a teacup with ease.
Song Shuangning put down her teacup, looking at her with a slight smile: "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Oh, I forgot, you'll never be able to speak again."
Rong Lian's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly clutched her throat, desperately trying to squeeze out a sound, but to no avail.
She... will never be able to speak again?
Anger and despair washed over her, and she instinctively wanted to crawl over and confront them.
However, his limbs were weak and he couldn't muster any strength. After a short while, he collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
Song Shuangning stared at her eyes, which were brimming with anger and tears, and laughed out loud: "Why are you glaring at me like that?"
Song Shuangning looked at her, her throat making hoarse sounds but unable to produce a sound, and raised her eyebrows slightly. "You want to know why? Why I made you lose your voice, become paralyzed, and unable to even lift your arm to walk, right?"
"You have harmed me time and time again, this is retribution. However, you should thank me, from now on you don't have to speak, walk or do anything, how convenient!"
After saying this, she exchanged a glance with Tingyu and Tinglu, and the three of them laughed together.
Rong Lian's eyes were bloodshot.
He frantically groped around on the ground, his fingertips suddenly touching a shard of broken porcelain.
She gripped tightly, dragging her limp body, inching closer to Song Shuangning, her eyes surging with overwhelming hatred.
She's going to kill Song Shuangning!
Seeing this, Tinglu was about to step forward to stop them, but Song Shuangning gently waved her hand, indicating that they didn't need to be nervous.
She watched as Rong Lianzhen slowly moved to her feet.
Song Shuangning slowly stood up, looking down at her, then raised her foot and firmly stepped on the hand that was holding the porcelain shard.
A sharp pain struck, and Rong Lian trembled all over, but could only open her mouth and silently shed tears.
"Fortunately, I and my child are both safe and sound."
Song Shuangning squatted down, forcefully gripping her chin and forcing her to look up: "If anything happens to my child, it won't be as simple as just cutting off your voice and crippling your limbs!"
Humiliation and pain intertwined, Rong Lian felt pain in her internal organs.
She cursed inwardly: Crazy!
Song Shuangning seemed to see through her thoughts and scoffed, "Fool."
"Do you really think the Empress is sincere towards you? She's merely using you as a pawn. If I'm not mistaken, the method of plotting against me wasn't your own idea, was it?"
Rong Lian was suddenly startled, and thought carefully—
Those storybooks!
The storybooks the Empress gave her weren't just for amusement; they were clearly carefully selected!
She was actually used as a pawn by the Empress!
The Empress's past kindness and tolerance towards her were all calculated and purposeful!
Rong Lian collapsed to the ground, her body ice-cold.
She then realized that she had been nothing more than a blunt knife in the Empress's hand from beginning to end.
Song Shuangning chuckled softly, her laughter laced with undisguised sarcasm: "You're incredibly stupid, being used as a pawn for so long without even realizing it. How could someone with a brain like yours have grown up safely in the royal family?"
Rong Lian was so provoked by these words that she trembled all over.
He could only stare at Song Shuangning with bloodshot eyes, displaying a pathetic state of impotent rage.
Song Shuangning flicked her sleeve, a simple and innocent smile appearing on her face: "This palace will be your final resting place. The cycle of karma is inescapable; no one can escape the consequences of their own actions."
After saying that, she turned and walked outside, glancing sideways at the palace maid guarding the door.
"You know that Rong Shuren's loss of speech and paralysis was due to an overreaction of emotions?"
The palace maid bowed and replied, "This servant understands."
"Furthermore," Song Shuangning's eyes darkened, her tone turning icy, "keep a close eye on them. No matter who comes to visit, or if any disturbance occurs in the palace, they must report to me immediately."
"This servant obeys the decree."
She walked away slowly, the evening breeze lifting the hem of her clothes.
She wanted Rong Lian to live a little longer, to lie in this cold palace every day, slowly enduring the days when she couldn't speak or move.
Naturally, she would never again allow a fool like Rong Lian to be used as a weapon to stab her.
*
The Emperor has not set foot in Yaohua Palace for two days.
However, every day he would send Li Fuquan to deliver a message saying "I'm busy with official business."
Song Shuangning leaned against the window and sighed softly.
The fact that he's avoiding me clearly means he already knows that she used double the amount of nutmeg flower juice to turn the tables on me.
Will Xiao Yan think she is heartless?
Won't you think her methods are too ruthless?
What could possibly escape the Emperor's notice in the inner palace?
Those who managed to escape punishment in the past were simply those who were indulged by the emperor turning a blind eye.
Song Shuangning gave the order: "Prepare a serving of ice cream."
She personally carried the ice cream to the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Xiao Yan looked up and saw it was her. His expression was no different than usual. "You've arrived?"
Song Shuangning stepped forward and handed over the ice cream: "Your Majesty, I have prepared some ice cream for you. Please have a taste."
Xiao Yan put down his vermilion brush, his brows furrowing slightly, and gently instructed, "Leave such trivial matters to the servants. You are pregnant now, so you must be extra careful in everything you do."
Upon hearing those words, Song Shuangning sensed a different meaning.
It sounded like a suggestion, yet also like a reprimand.
She stepped forward, grasped Xiao Yan's hand, and looked up into his deep eyes, her expression a mixture of grievance and trepidation: "Does Your Majesty find my methods too ruthless and no longer want me?"