Font Size:
The news of Qin Yanshu’s death by beating quickly spread throughout the Imperial Uncle, Qin’s residence. Upon hearing the news, Madam Qin fainted on the spot.
After days of pleading for help, they still couldn’t escape this calamity.
In the end, Imperial Uncle Qin Guoju brought back only Qin Yanshu’s body.
The entire Qin family was plunged into grief and despair, shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere that brought an unprecedented sense of unease.
The Empress Dowager fell ill.
Overwhelmed by shock and grief, how could she not fall ill?
As she lay in bed, she mumbled “reckless” and “Yanshu”. This illness seemed to bring an ominous omen, casting a shadow over the hearts of the palace attendants serving in the Longevity Palace.
After the imperial physician examined her, he carefully explained the cause and prescribed medication, urging the Empress Dowager to rest quietly and avoid any further outbursts of anger or sorrow.
When the imperial physician reported the diagnosis to Ji Yucang, the decisive Regent immediately ordered the Longevity Palace to be closed, allowing the Empress Dowager to rest in peace without any disturbances.
The Yong Kingdom Imperial Palace truly became a place where Ji Yucang’s word was law.
In the following days, the three princes consort entered the palace before dawn and returned to their residences only when dusk approached. Shen Huai’s situation gradually improved, and he was no longer the pitiful creature confined to the inner residence, prone to making mistakes.
In contrast, Princess Jiahe was no longer as domineering as before. Her attitude visibly became cautious and gentle, even showing a hint of subservient ingratiation.
“Huai, were you tired from court today?” Princess Jiahe walked into the study with a bowl of freshly stewed chicken soup, a smile of goodwill on her face. “I personally stewed this chicken soup in the small kitchen. You work hard every day at court, this is to nourish you.”
Shen Huai’s nerves tensed, and he stood up expressionlessly, bowing to her: “Thank you for your kindness, Princess.”
Princess Jiahe put down the chicken soup and quickly waved her hand: “No… no need for such courtesy, you should drink it while it’s hot.”
“I will drink it later.” Shen Huai said distantly. “The Regent has given me a task, I cannot chat with you for long at the moment. Please excuse yourself, Your Highness.”
Princess Jiahe’s expression stiffened, and she instinctively wanted to get angry.
However, thinking of her current situation, she quickly suppressed her anger and forced a slightly fawning smile: “Alright, I won’t disturb you. You should come back to the room to sleep tonight. I… I’ll wait for you.”
Shen Huai’s tone remained aloof: “There’s no need for the Princess to wait for me, I may be working very late.”
“I’ll wait for you no matter how late it is.” Princess Jiahe said, her forced smile almost unmaintainable. “Just come find me when you’re done.”
Shen Huai didn’t say anything more.
After Princess Jiahe left, the guard waiting outside the door closed it behind her, and the study quickly returned to silence.
Shen Huai let out a soft sigh, still somewhat shaken as he sat down, his mind still a bit hazy.
He stared silently at the direction of the door, now clearly aware that the Princess was not truly untouchable and invincible.
Nor did the prince consort have to submit to her forever.
It turned out that even the cold-hearted and ruthless Princess Jiahe could lower her proud head and speak humbly to others.
Shen Huai didn’t know what to feel.
He didn’t feel the exhilaration of raising his head and breathing freely, nor the smugness of turning the tables, he just felt that… perhaps his future destiny could really be in his own hands.
Shen Huai spent the night in the study.
Princess Jiahe waited in the bedroom all night, but no one came. As the eastern sky began to brighten with the first light of dawn, she asked the attendant on duty, “Has the prince consort not retired yet?”
“Your Highness, the prince consort has entered the palace.”
Princess Jiahe’s expression immediately stiffened, and the anxiety from waiting all night instantly turned into anger.
Damn Shen Huai!
Did he really think he could turn the tables?
When he returned tonight, she would give him a good lesson and make him understand who the master of this residence really was.
However, after this thought flashed through her mind, Princess Jiahe couldn’t help but feel defeated. Her face, already haggard and pale from a sleepless night, was now gripped by a fearful unease.
She wasn’t a fool.
Even if she didn’t fully understand the situation in the court, she couldn’t be completely oblivious to it.
The Emperor had been confined for some time, and even the arrival of the Nan Dynasty envoys wasn’t enough for the Regent to release him, indicating that the Regent truly wasn’t afraid of being accused of treason and usurpation.
As for the poisoning incident, she didn’t know what was going on with the Regent’s poison. Was he no longer controlled by the antidote? Otherwise, how would he dare to confine the Emperor?
Promoting the prince consort was a deliberate act of defiance against her, the Princess.
And Qin Yanshu was beaten to death.
Princess Jiahe couldn’t help but feel a layered and pervasive fear, a dread that enveloped her from her very limbs, wrapping her tightly with no escape.
The Qin family was finished.
The Empress Dowager, said to need rest due to illness, was actually confined as well.
Given how she had treated Shen Huai in the past, once he gained power, he would certainly seek revenge against her.
Leaning against the headboard, Princess Jiahe experienced true despair and helplessness for the first time. She didn’t know how to change her situation.
She couldn’t even imagine what she would do when the day came that no one listened to her words and the residence was completely controlled by the prince consort.