The Double-Chapter 435 - 142: Spread Out_5

The truth suddenly became elusive, and Jiang Li could not understand. Being in the Jiang Family, it was difficult to know what was happening in the palace. Involuntarily, her hand reached for the whistle in her sleeve, considering there was a shortcut at hand... However, would Jih Heng allow Zhao Ke to tell her?

After all, it wasn’t a trifling matter.

...

As Jiang Li thought of Consort Li, the latter had not been having peaceful days in the palace either.

Lady Ji Shuran had suddenly died.

The last time Consort Li saw Lady Ji Shuran, they had been discussing how to use Chongxu Daoist Master to deal with Jiang Li. After she left that day, there was no more news of Lady Ji Shuran. What’s more, Chongxu Daoist Master had also disappeared. Consort Li felt a sense of unease in her heart, but the people she sent out came back empty-handed. The Jiang Family was guarded like an iron barrel, letting out no news whatsoever.

Two days later, she received the news that Lady Ji Shuran had died abruptly from a serious illness. Consort Li was shocked, suspecting that something had gone wrong, and wrote to the Ji family. But Ji Yanlin’s reply said nothing and he didn’t allow Consort Li to visit the Jiang Family to offer her condolences. Now, Consort Li was certain that something had happened, and what was odd was the attitude of the Ji family, who had also not attended the Jiang Family’s mourning. Consort Li grew even more uneasy.

With worries in her mind, Consort Li simply feigned illness these few days, scarcely leaving her side hall, saying that she had not yet recovered from an illness a few days ago. Hong Zhu, Consort Li’s palace maid, came in from outside and hurried to Consort Li, saying, "Your Highness, something has happened outside."

"What happened?" Consort Li sat up.

"They say there’s more to the death of Madam Ji." Hong Zhu conveyed the news she had heard from outside to Lady Ji Shuran, then added, "Now, everyone in the streets and alleys is talking about it, I’m afraid... I’m afraid the Emperor knows about it too."

Upon hearing this news, Consort Li was momentarily stunned. It took her a while to gather her thoughts.

Consort Li certainly knew the details regarding Lady Ji Shuran; whenever Lady Chen Ji came to visit the palace every now and then, she always talked about it. Consort Li didn’t think much of Lady Ji Shuran initially; Lady Ji Shuran wasn’t as domineering as Lady Chen Ji. However, the matter of Ye Zhenzhen and Liu Wencai made Consort Li see her in a new light. After all, there was a certain ruthlessness in her nature.

But this very admiration had now become contempt when it implicated herself.

"How could this have spread!" Consort Li exclaimed in anger.

With Lady Ji Shuran’s incident, the reputation of all the women in the Ji family, including herself, would be tarnished. People seeing her would say, look, she is Lady Ji Shuran’s sister, with the same blood flowing in her veins, maybe someday she would also become so malicious, flirtatious by nature. Living in the palace, where overt and covert struggles were endless, those who wished to take this chance to overthrow her were surely countless.

Wait, how could Lady Ji Shuran have died? Was it because her scandal was exposed and Jiang Yuan Bai executed her? Then why was the scandal exposed? Calculating the time, it happened shortly after the Chongxu Daoist Master’s exorcism at her residence?

Could it be that Chongxu Daoist Master being a fraud had been discovered? Consort Li twisted her handkerchief anxiously, knowing if this was indeed the case, she would be the first to suffer! The Emperor would not allow someone who deceived him to live!

Just as she was thinking, a palace maid announced the arrival of the Emperor.

Consort Li hurriedly got out of bed and went to greet him.

She bowed her head and from the corner of her eye, she could glimpse the edge of the bright yellow Dragon robe. The Dragon robe stopped in front of her. Usually, Consort Li was very bold and unlike other concubines, she didn’t show Emperor Hongxiao utter reverence; she could banter with him, which set her apart in his eyes.

But today, the bright yellow seemed like a death warrant, and for the first time, she felt fear of imperial power, acknowledging her own insignificance and vulnerability. As she bowed her head, she felt as if time was passing excruciatingly slow, uncertain of what fate awaited her.

A long time passed.

When a familiar voice eventually said, "Rise," and hands helped her up, it was as Consort Li was starting to break out in cold sweat.

Emperor Hongxiao looked at her with his usual doting and handsome expression, and Consort Li’s heart gradually eased — seeing Emperor Hongxiao’s unchanged attitude toward her, it seemed he had not been affected by the rumors outside.

He must also be unaware of the Chongxu Daoist Master event.

Emperor Hongxiao reached out to tidy the hair that had fallen across her face and, feeling her forehead damp with sweat, frowned and said, "Why is Consort Li sweating so much? It’s cold today."

Consort Li replied with a cheerful smile, "Perhaps I’m still a bit weak and haven’t fully recovered."

Emperor Hongxiao nodded and ordered his attendants to call the imperial physician to check on Consort Li. Seeing Emperor Hongxiao treating her just as before, Consort Li finally felt completely reassured.

Indeed, as long as Emperor Hongxiao did not know about the Chongxu Daoist Master affair, Lady Ji Shuran’s case alone was not enough to significantly shake her position. Consort Li could use other means to claim ignorance about this matter or even resort to a tactic of self-harm.

As long as she could completely detach herself from this incident and portray herself as a deceived person, all would be well.

Fortunately, almost as if she had walked a path between life and death, Consort Li showed a genuine smile and rested her head lightly on the Emperor’s shoulder.

Emperor Hongxiao patted her hand reassuredly, but his eyes were ice cold.