Chapter 79: Betrayal and Loss
Concubine Keshun, however, lay lazily on the bed. She then asked, “When will you come again?”
After last night’s passion, her brows and eyes were filled with seductive charm.
“I cannot enter the palace too often. If someone sees us, it will be trouble.” Keshun Sanfeng spoke coldly while adjusting his collar. “You should use your energy on him. With just one word from him, Shen’er will gain great benefits. Do you not understand?”
After hearing this, Concubine Keshun angrily threw the pillow beside her onto the floor. “In his eyes and heart, there is only that dead woman and that vixen in Tianxin Hall. When has he ever cared about me? If I did not resemble that dead woman a little, he would not even bother to pretend to visit me each month.”
A trace of disgust flashed through Keshun Sanfeng’s eyes, but he hid it quickly.
“Exactly because of that, you need to use more methods. Do not think too highly of your noble status. Between a man and a woman, on the bed it is just those few things. If her skill is good enough, even a whore can become a concubine.”
Concubine Keshun laughed in anger.
She stepped down from the bed while wearing only a thin layer of silk and barefoot, she then walking close to Keshun Sanfeng and said, “Do you think I don’t know what tricks are in your heart? You are just like him. In your heart, there is only that dead woman. Too bad she is dead and her bastard child is also dead with her! Hahahahaha!”
“Madwoman.” Seeing Concubine Keshun’s crazed expression, Keshun Sanfeng no longer wanted to argue with her. He turned around and left the room swiftly.
After being left alone, Concubine Keshun collapsed to her knees.
She keep laughing and laughing while her nails stabbed deep into her own flesh.
Drops of bright red blood fell onto the white carpet and tears streamed down her cheeks.
“I hate you. I hate you. Even dead, you do not let us live in peace. One day, when Shen’er takes power, I will dig up your grave and crush your bones into dust.”
The personal maid of Concubine Keshun entered the room as usual while carrying the basin of water for washing.
However, she was shocked to see Concubine Keshun who should have been asleep kneeling on the floor wearing only a thin silk robe.
“Your Highness…” the maid exclaimed in fear and the basin of warm water slipped from her trembling hands and spilling across the floor.
The maid’s cry woke up the enraged Concubine Keshun.
She then stood up after wiping the tears from her face and approached the maid, she looking down at her with a cold glare and said, “What did you just see?”
The maid is an older servant that has been long accustomed to palace life, she knew very well that such a question from Concubine Keshun carried deadly intent.
She collapsed weakly to the side, too frightened to even kneel properly and could only sob with tears streaming down her face.
“I… I didn’t see anything, Your Highness. Please, spare me… please spare me…”
But her pleas did not move Concubine Keshun.
She cast a cold glance at the trembling maid and immediately spat ruthless words: “Beat her to death.”
Immediately, the eunuchs outside dragged the collapsed maid away.
The screams of the maid echoed from outside the door.
On Concubine Keshun’s face appeared a strange smile and a cruel satisfaction in her expression.
Elsewhere, a white fog spread around and Rong Qinglei had no idea how he had arrived here or even where “here” was.
He walked forward in confusion and suddenly a bright light appeared ahead.
He ran toward it, only to see his mother lying on a sickbed, barely alive.
The light came from the oil lamp beside her bed.
The woman on the bed reached out her thin and dry like reeds hands.
Every vein stood out sharply, twisting across the back of her hand like ugly parasites.
Rong Qinglei stepped forward two paces and tightly held the woman’s hand.
He had long forgotten that his mother had died eight years ago.
Her hand was so cold.
“Mother!” Rong Qinglei cried out, like a wounded trapped animal.
The woman lifted her hand and weakly touched his head. “Qing… Qing’er… Mother was weak… could not protect you… poor you, alone in this devouring palace… what will you do…”
“Mother, what’s wrong? What are you saying?” Rong Qinglei no longer had the calm wisdom others attributed to him.
Panic immediately overtook him, like an eight year old child and tears streaming down his face.
The woman stroked his cheek and worry filling her eyes. “Mother has wronged you, bringing you into this royal family. This is a place that devours people. There is no true love, no friendship here. When I am gone… what will you do?”
“Mother, don’t leave me…” Rong Qinglei buried his hands in hers and crying like a child.
A faint glow appeared in the woman’s eyes, her cheeks tinged with red.
Like a dying candle in the wind, she tried to shine one last bright light.
She grasped Rong Qinglei’s hands tightly. “Qing’er, Qing’er… I give my life for fifteen years of safety for you. Remember what I say. Remember it clearly… my sister killed her elder sister. Remember!”
Rong Qinglei held her hands tightly and whispered, “My sister killed her elder sister…”
The woman on the bed looked at Rong Qinglei with deep reluctance.
She struggled once more, then finally exhaled her last breath.
Rong Qinglei seemed to sense her passing and cried out in anguish, “Mother!”
“Mother!” Rong Qinglei suddenly sat up on the bed.
The light of the setting sun filtered through the window, spilling across the bedding.
For a moment, he couldn’t tell whether he was still dreaming or if this was reality.
His face felt wet and when he reached up to touch it, his hands met with tears.
Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep
Chapters
- Chapter 358: A Father’s Truth
- Chapter 357: Truths of Dongyue
- Chapter 356: A New Path in Dongyue
- Chapter 355: Parting for Love
- Chapter 354: A Love That Defies Fate
- Chapter 353: Meet Mogushu Again
- Chapter 352: Shang Qinghua and Rong Zishen
- Chapter 351: Hidden Battles
- Chapter 350: Forged for War
- Chapter 349: Shadows Before the Storm
- Chapter 348: Shelter and Intentions
- Chapter 347: Fate and Sacrifice
- Chapter 346: Shadows Over the Throne
- Chapter 345: Poisoned Throne
- Chapter 344: Burden of the Throne
- Chapter 343: The Crown Secured
- Chapter 342: The Baited Prince
- Chapter 341: Schemes for the Throne
- Chapter 340: The Price of Truth
- Chapter 339: The Hidden Heir
- Chapter 338: The Masked Truth
- Chapter 337: Luring Keshun Sanfen
- Chapter 336: Keshun Sanfeng
- Chapter 335: Sword Forge Villa
- Chapter 334: Beirong’s Royal Lineage
- Chapter 333: The True Prince of Beirong
- Chapter 332: The Emperor Returns
- Chapter 331: The Unexpected Heir
- Chapter 330: The Emperor’s Choice
- Chapter 329: The Hidden Poisoner
- Chapter 328: Poison in the Palace
- Chapter 327: The Hidden Plan
- Chapter 326: Hidden in Plain Sight
- Chapter 325: The Stolen Corpse
- Chapter 324: After the Cure
- Chapter 323: Into the Plague City
- Chapter 322: The Poisoned Child
- Chapter 321: A Divided Sect
- Chapter 320: The Letter in the Coffin
- Chapter 319: The Hidden Secret in Ice
- Chapter 318: Secrets of the Silver Needle Sect
- Chapter 317: Entering the Silver Needle Sect
- Chapter 316: A New Beginning
- Chapter 315: Escape from the Tomb
- Chapter 314: Silence and Suspicion
- Chapter 313: Rebirth in the Tomb
- Chapter 312: The Feigned Death Plan
- Chapter 311: Fake Death Plan
- Chapter 310: The Secret Scroll
- Chapter 309: Forced to Lead
- Chapter 308: Escape from Desolate Valley
- Chapter 307: Desolate Valley
- Chapter 306: The Forbidden Valley
- Chapter 305: A Vow for the Future
- Chapter 304: Obsession with Revenge
- Chapter 303: Grief and Resolve
- Chapter 302: Irreversible Loss
- Chapter 301: The Crown Prince’s Sacrifice
- Chapter 300: The Deadly Formation
- Chapter 299: The Hunting Invitation
- Chapter 298: A Hunt Beyond the City
- Chapter 297: Learning to Use Light Skill (Part 2)
- Chapter 296: Learning to Use Light Skill
- Chapter 295: Eating Through the City
- Chapter 294: A Day of Pearl Cakes
- Chapter 293: Pearl Cakes Invitation
- Chapter 292: The Secret of Feigned Death
- Chapter 291: The Man with the Earring
- Chapter 290: Mistaken Target
- Chapter 289: The Enigma of Consort Wan
- Chapter 288: Unraveling Consort Wan’s Mystery
- Chapter 287: Secrets of Consort Wan
- Chapter 286: Whispers from the Cold Palace
- Chapter 285: Hidden Motives
- Chapter 284: The Shattered Stone
- Chapter 283: The Night Yue Mingxuan Disappeared
- Chapter 282: Strange Changes
- Chapter 281: Fever in the Night
- Chapter 280: Restless Energy
- Chapter 279: Morning After the Cold
- Chapter 278: Reversed Flow
- Chapter 277: Reversal of Internal Energy Flow
- Chapter 276: The Mechanism Box
- Chapter 275: The Tear-Mole Consort
- Chapter 274: The Sealed Coffin
- Chapter 273: Return to the Mausoleum
- Chapter 272: Hidden Intentions
- Chapter 271: Poison in the Night
- Chapter 270: The Hidden Manual
- Chapter 269: Secrets Beneath the Tomb
- Chapter 268: Hidden Intentions
- Chapter 267: An Uninvited Guest
- Chapter 266: Running Through the Rain
- Chapter 265: Trust and Doubt
- Chapter 264: Training Within the Circle
- Chapter 263: Hidden Strength
- Chapter 262: A Marriage Decree
- Chapter 261: Moonlit Worries
- Chapter 260: Unseen Moves
- Chapter 259: Plans in Motion
- Chapter 258: A Princess Arrives
- Chapter 257: New Year in the Palace
- Chapter 256: Fading Days
- Chapter 255: A Body Under Siege
- Chapter 254: Poison in the Medicine
- Chapter 253: Ambush at Mount Hakuen
- Chapter 252: Night Visit to the Flying Opera Group
- Chapter 251: Called to Account
- Chapter 250: Impeached Before the Throne
- Chapter 249: A Question of Marriage
- Chapter 248: Truth Revealed in the Court
- Chapter 247: A Plea for Justice
- Chapter 246: The Public Hearing
- Chapter 245: The Public Trial Begins
- Chapter 244: The Calm Before the Trial
- Chapter 243: Assassins in the Cell
- Chapter 242: The Seventh Day
- Chapter 241: The Emperor’s Memory
- Chapter 240: Unraveling the Poison
- Chapter 239: Midnight Preparations
- Chapter 238: Waiting for the Truth
- Chapter 237: Shadows in the Prison
- Chapter 236: Waiting in the Dark
- Chapter 235: Imprisoned
- Chapter 234: The Accusation
- Chapter 233: Xie Lianhua in the Cold Palace
- Chapter 232: A Visit to the Cold Palace
- Chapter 231: The Weight of the Seal
- Chapter 230: The Treasure Revealed
- Chapter 229: Words at the Valley Gate
- Chapter 228: Storm at Piaoxiang Courtyard
- Chapter 227: Trouble Deepens
- Chapter 226: Crossroads
- Chapter 225: Merit and Fault
- Chapter 224: Crossing the Line
- Chapter 223: The Truth Laid Bare
- Chapter 222: An Awkward Encounter
- Chapter 221: Copying One Thousand Times
- Chapter 220: Asking for Help
- Chapter 219: After the Audience
- Chapter 218: The Return
- Chapter 217: The Man in the Silver Mask
- Chapter 216: Half a Stick of Incense
- Chapter 215: Rain and Shadows
- Chapter 214: A Quiet Meal
- Chapter 213: Gone in the Night
- Chapter 212: Rumors and Misunderstandings
- Chapter 211: A Pair of Golden Gloves
- Chapter 210: The Box That Opened
- Chapter 209: Copying as Punishment
- Chapter 208: Unwanted Invitations
- Chapter 207: Final Farewell and Healing
- Chapter 206: Butterflies in the Imperial Garden
- Chapter 205: Recreating the Past
- Chapter 204: Ambition
- Chapter 203: Gold and Grievances
- Chapter 202: Uninvited Interruption
- Chapter 201: A Bitter Dose
- Chapter 200: Truth Revealed
- Chapter 199: Unspoken Truths
- Chapter 198: Unsettled Undercurrents
- Chapter 197: Extraordinary Measures
- Chapter 196: Between Life and Death
- Chapter 195: A Sliver of Hope
- Chapter 194: On the Brink of Life and Death
- Chapter 193: Unspoken Tensions
- Chapter 192: Silent Vigil
- Chapter 191: The Hidden Poison
- Chapter 190: The Poisoned Cup
- Chapter 189: Poisoned in the Palace
- Chapter 188: A Hasty Escape
- Chapter 187: Top Floor Treasures
- Chapter 186: Crossing the Death Trap
- Chapter 185: Leaping to Safety
- Chapter 184: Breaking the Formation
- Chapter 183: The Deadly Mechanism
- Chapter 182: Rescue and Reassurance
- Chapter 181: Reunion at Piaoxiang Courtyard
- Chapter 180: The Brothel Encounter
- Chapter 179: A Lead at Piaoxiang Courtyard
- Chapter 178: When Rivals Meet Again
- Chapter 177: Threads Removed
- Chapter 176: By the Stream
- Chapter 175: Behind Closed Doors
- Chapter 174: An Unwelcome Reunion
- Chapter 173: Surviving at Piaoxiang Courtyard
- Chapter 172: Trapped in the Brothel
- Chapter 171: Taken in the Dark
- Chapter 170: Overheard in the Pavilion
- Chapter 169: A Quiet Morning at the Clinic
- Chapter 168: Four Shadow Guards
- Chapter 167: Summoned to the Imperial Study
- Chapter 166: The Mask Falls
- Chapter 165: Strange Tools and Quiet Laughter
- Chapter 164: A Chance Worth Taking
- Chapter 163: A Thirty Percent Gamble
- Chapter 162: The One Who Solved the Riddle
- Chapter 161: The Questions and the Answer
- Chapter 160: Answering the Challenge
- Chapter 159: No Way Forward
- Chapter 158: Medicine and Laughter
- Chapter 157: The Prescription
- Chapter 156: A Shared Bed, Separate Fates
- Chapter 155: Resolve
- Chapter 154: Truths
- Chapter 153: Worries
- Chapter 152: The Cold Palace
- Chapter 151: Meeting in the Cold Palace
- Chapter 150: Trust at the Edge of Life
- Chapter 149: A Dangerous Choice
- Chapter 148: Schemes in the Palace
- Chapter 147: A Sudden Illness
- Chapter 146: Tensions and Hidden Motives
- Chapter 145: Breaking Ties and Hidden Dangers
- Chapter 144: A Simple Misunderstanding
- Chapter 143: Broken Trust
- Chapter 142: At the Sickbed
- Chapter 141: Rushing to See Him
- Chapter 140: Crossed Words
- Chapter 139: The Unpaid Patient
- Chapter 138: Dirty Trick
- Chapter 137: Upcoming Disaster
- Chapter 136: A Debt of One Hundred Taels
- Chapter 135: Seeking Patients
- Chapter 134: Hidden Feelings
- Chapter 133: A Quiet Afternoon
- Chapter 132: Rumors and an Unexpected Invitation
- Chapter 131: A Price Paid in Gold
- Chapter 130: The Birth of the Snake Poison
- Chapter 129: Poison of the Lovesick Snake
- Chapter 128: A Shocking Diagnosis
- Chapter 127: A Costly House Call
- Chapter 126: Asked at Last
- Chapter 125: Unwanted Attention
- Chapter 124: An Unexpected Visitor
- Chapter 123: Trouble at the Clinic
- Chapter 122: A Choice to Leave
- Chapter 121: Between Two Princes
- Chapter 120: Forced Truths
- Chapter 119: Tangled Feelings
- Chapter 118: A Night of Misunderstandings
- Chapter 117: The Night of Garlic and Interest
- Chapter 116: Interest Comes Due
- Chapter 115: Gold Before Feelings
- Chapter 114: A Dangerous Bargain
- Chapter 113: An Unexpected Kiss
- Chapter 112: Unwanted Proposal
- Chapter 111: Secrets Revealed
- Chapter 110: His Life Has Been Saved
- Chapter 109: Life and Death in the Forest
- Chapter 108: The Half-Moon Bear
- Chapter 107: The Flower God Awakens
- Chapter 106: The Hunting Festival Begins
- Chapter 105: Unwanted Visitors
- Chapter 104: Confrontation at Longjing Manor
- Chapter 103: Meeting Mingxuan
- Chapter 102: Tricked and Schemed
- Chapter 101: Funding the Clinic
- Chapter 100: The Hunting Festival Dilemma
- Chapter 99: The Midnight Blades Encounter
- Chapter 98: The Wonton Shop Rescue
- Chapter 97: Hats, Masks, and Hungry Stomachs
- Chapter 96: A New Beginning
- Chapter 95: When Hope Turns to Despair
- Chapter 94: Trading Lives
- Chapter 93: The Crimson Orchid
- Chapter 92: No Antidote
- Chapter 91: Flower Blossom’s Cruelty
- Chapter 90: A Drunken Escape
- Chapter 89: Dragged to the Banquet
- Chapter 88: Wisdom and Gold
- Chapter 87: The Flower God’s Reward
- Chapter 86: The Dance Duel
- Chapter 85: The Song of Parting Hearts
- Chapter 84: The Shanshi Festival Opens
- Chapter 83: Preparing for the Contest
- Chapter 82: Buying the Exam Questions
- Chapter 81: The Shanshi Festival Challenge
- Chapter 80: Hidden Agendas
- Chapter 79: Betrayal and Loss
- Chapter 78: Palace Intrigues
- Chapter 77: Moonlight Schemes
- Chapter 76: The Moonlit Duel
- Chapter 75: The Emperor’s Chessboard
- Chapter 74: The Harem’s Scheme
- Chapter 73: The False Accuser
- Chapter 72: Refusal in the Palace
- Chapter 71: The Palace Trap
- Chapter 70: Framed in the Palace
- Chapter 69: Unexpected Summons
- Chapter 68: Hot Spring Tension and a Lonely Morning
- Chapter 67: The Hot Spring Incident
- Chapter 66: The Hidden Jade Bracelet
- Chapter 65: The Golden Trap
- Chapter 64: The Secret Chamber
- Chapter 63: Accidental Kiss
- Chapter 62: Calming the Poisoned Prince
- Chapter 61: Hot Spring Rescue
- Chapter 60: Trapped with Danger
- Chapter 59: Shelter in the Storm
- Chapter 58: Racing Through the Storm
- Chapter 57: Storm on the Back Mountain
- Chapter 56: Race Against the Storm
- Chapter 55: The Price of the Bath
- Chapter 54: Bathtime Chaos
- Chapter 53: Unexpected Bath Encounter
- Chapter 52: The Bath Dilemma
- Chapter 51: Moonlit Intruder
- Chapter 50: Midnight Intrusion
- Chapter 49: Moonlight and Restless Hearts
- Chapter 48: Jealous Hearts and Hidden Wounds
- Chapter 47: A Feast and a Verbal Battle
- Chapter 46: A Clash at Tianqin Restaurant
- Chapter 45: An Awkward Reunion at Tianqin Restaurant
- Chapter 44: Pawned Jewels and Unwanted Company
- Chapter 43: The Slap That Never Fell
- Chapter 42: Shopping Revenge
- Chapter 41: Morning After and Mushroom Money
- Chapter 40: Stolen Jade and Lost Dignity
- Chapter 39: The Jade and the Trap
- Chapter 38: The Man in White
- Chapter 37: The Moonlit Cliff
- Chapter 36: The Meat Dilemma
- Chapter 35: A Restless Morning
- Chapter 34: Shadows in the Capital
- Chapter 33: Vow of Revenge
- Chapter 32: Morning After Conflicts
- Chapter 31: The Midnight Cure
- Chapter 30: The Healer’s Bargain
- Chapter 29: The Poison and the Punishment
- Chapter 28: The Price of Defiance
- Chapter 27: The General and the Prince
- Chapter 26: Captured by Prince Shang
- Chapter 25: The Man from the Past
- Chapter 24: Scandal at Yuehua Hall
- Chapter 23: Morning Revelations
- Chapter 22: Reflections and Revelations
- Chapter 21: The Mirror Revelation
- Chapter 20: The Trap Unveiled
- Chapter 19: Freedom at Last
- Chapter 18: Yue Mingxuan Breaks the Engagement
- Chapter 17: Rong Tieshan’s Intervention
- Chapter 16: Accusation and Defiance
- Chapter 15: A Trap in Tianxin Hall
- Chapter 14: Before the Emperor
- Chapter 13: A Mercy Given
- Chapter 12: No Mercy
- Chapter 11: Tears and Lies
- Chapter 10: Begging for Mercy
- Chapter 9: The Prince’s Judgment
- Chapter 8: Caught in Her Own Trap
- Chapter 7: The Shamed Prince
- Chapter 6: The Fiancé’s Disgust
- Chapter 5: The Beginning of Trouble
- Chapter 4: The Stolen Pendant
- Chapter 3: The Jade Pendant
- Chapter 2: The Naked Prince
- Chapter 1: First Encounter in the Tianyi Building