Chapter 152: The Cold Palace

He had already seen this routine countless times in palace struggle stories.

Seeing that Yue Mingxuan did not answer, the Imperial Consort Zhou asked again, “Do you know how many people are in the Cold Palace now?”

Yue Mingxuan glanced at her and replied, “I don’t know.”

He was not in charge of the Cold Palace.

How could he know such trivial matters?

The Imperial Consort Zhou stood up with a proud look after setting down her teacup.

“Since you are already here, would Prince Yue be willing to take a walk through the Cold Palace with this consort?”

Yue Mingxuan neither agreed nor refused.

He stood up and followed her into the main hall of the Bieli Palace.

Because it had become the Cold Palace, the main hall of Bieli Palace had been changed into something like a prison.

Even the windows were nailed shut.

Inside, it was dark and airless, and a heavy, suffocating feeling rushed toward them.

The eunuch who had withdrawn earlier appeared again at some point, holding a torch and saying respectfully, “This servant will lead the way for Your Ladyship.”

Yue Mingxuan followed the Imperial Consort Zhou as they slowly walked along a passage that had been specially opened inside the main hall.

After a short while, the Imperial Consort Zhou stopped in front of a cell and said to Yue Mingxuan, “Do you know who is locked up here?”

Yue Mingxuan shook his head.

The Imperial Consort Zhou said proudly, “This is Wu An, she’s once the emperor’s most favored concubine. When she first entered the palace, she was granted the title ’autumn beauty’ because of her appearance. Unfortunately, she did not know her place and insisted on opposing this consort. So I had people shave off her hair, blind her eyes, and pierce her ears. Now she can only live here as a useless cripple.”

The woman inside the cell seemed to sense someone’s presence.

She shrank back in fear and let out muffled sobbing sounds.

By the light of the torch in the eunuch’s hand, Yue Mingxuan clearly saw that the woman’s face was covered with deep, crisscrossing scars. Reflected by the firelight, it was truly terrifying.

Seeing the woman’s miserable state, Yue Mingxuan glared at the Imperial Consort Zhou.

This woman built her happiness on the suffering of others, she was nothing but a madwoman.

Seeing that Yue Mingxuan did not speak, the Imperial Consort Zhou thought he had been frightened.

She smugly led him further inside.

After walking four or five more steps, she stopped in front of another cell.

Inside, a woman lay on the ground like a pile of mud.

A sharp, foul smell floated through the air.

Yue Mingxuan frowned.

At a glance, he could tell that the woman’s spine and limbs had been broken.

That was why she looked so twisted and strange.

There was no need to ask, this was clearly another of the Imperial Consort Zhou’s “masterpieces.”

“This woman is Yue Yi, who was once also greatly favored by the emperor,” the Imperial Consort Zhou said. “When she first entered the palace, she could dance on a golden tray. As soon as she entered, she gained the emperor’s favor and occupied the dragon bed alone for eleven full days.”

Her voice carried clear hatred. “Now, she is barely more alive than dead.”

At this point, she could no longer suppress her pride and burst into loud laughter. “Look at them. These were all my enemies. Now I stand here, while they live worse than ants. Even death is a luxury for them.”

Facing the Imperial Consort Zhou’s madness, Yue Mingxuan became strangely calm. “So, what do you want me to do?”

The Imperial Consort Zhou smiled. “Prince Yue truly is a smart man. I only want you to make one small mistake.”

Hearing this, Yue Mingxuan immediately understood. “And if I say no?”

She had not expected Yue Mingxuan to still dare refuse after seeing such cruelty.

The Imperial Consort Zhou paused, then said, “Then their present will be your future.”

Yue Mingxuan sneered inwardly.

This woman was nothing more than a temporary winner in palace struggles.

Her past opponents must have been too weak, which making her so arrogant now.

“Your Ladyship,” he said calmly, “until the very end, no one can claim to be the victor. You should not speak with such certainty.”

Being struck at her sore point, the Imperial Consort Zhou’s face instantly changed.

“Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit.”

Yue Mingxuan smiled faintly. “I never drink with people I dislike.”

With that, Yue Mingxuan strode out without hesitation.

This Cold Palace once held a tragic and beautiful love story, but now it had become a living hell.

Staying here even one second longer filled him with disgust and suffocation, especially with such a twisted woman by his side, making every part of him feel sick.

After taking two steps, Yue Mingxuan seemed to remember something and turned back to say, “Imperial Consort Zhou, your methods are still too weak. Do you know about the sandalwood punishment? It is when a piece of fine sandalwood is placed in fragrant oil and boiled for seven days and seven nights, then stabbed into the lower passage and pushed through until it comes out from the back of the neck. After that, the two ends are tied to a sword and the person is hung up. At that time, ginseng soup is used to keep them alive. Those with strong lives will watch themselves rot away little by little.”

Although Yue Mingxuan’s tone was calm and plain, inside this dark and gloomy Bieli Palace, his words sounded especially terrifying.

The Imperial Consort Zhou could not help but shiver, yet she heard Yue Mingxuan continue, “Mm, turning someone into a human pig isn’t bad either. Cut off all four limbs, blind the eyes, pierce the ears until deaf, then place the person into a wine jar and soak them in fine medicine to keep them alive…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep