Chapter 117: Killed His Own Grandson With His Own Hands

"My Lady, Zhong Shi and the others will not be back for some time. Wouldn't it be better if you didn't leave the palace?"

Qiao Qingyun lay on her rocking chair, listening to Qing Luo’s soft persuasion beside her. The last time Qiao Qingyun had been targeted by an assassin, it was not the sort of ordeal an ordinary person could survive. Had it not been for the exceptional capabilities of the Imperial Guards, they would likely never have seen her again.

The woman cast a nonchalant glance at Qing Luo, picked up a grape, tossed it into her mouth, and spat out the skin, reveling in the moment.

"The business at the medical clinic can be put aside for now, but as for the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, we cannot keep relying on Feng Ke to watch over it. He has his own affairs to attend to."

Besides, she had other things to do.

A flash of cold light crossed her eyes, and she nearly crushed the grape in her hand. Seeing this, Qing Luo felt a chill run down her spine and hurriedly replied, "Yes."

"Princess, the Empress invites you to join her."

As the mistress and maid were enjoying their leisure, a hurried voice sounded from outside. Looking up, they saw the gate-keeping maidservant.

"The Empress?"

Qiao Qingyun’s voice was coated in frost. She had not intended to look for trouble with the Empress, but since the woman was seeking it out herself, she could hardly refuse to give her the courtesy of a meeting.

"Very well, I am aware."

"Understood."

The maid, unaware of the history between Qiao Qingyun and the Empress, sensed the tension and quickly turned to leave.

"My Lady..."

Qing Luo reached out, gripping Qiao Qingyun's wrist with visible apprehension. Her eyes were filled with refusal. "You cannot go. No matter how low the Empress has fallen, she is still the mistress of the inner palace. If you come into conflict with her, there is no guarantee you will come out unscathed."

"And so what?" Qiao Qingyun said calmly. "Even if she wants to act, she won't be so rash as to do it now, lest she invite suspicion."

With that, she waved her arm, taking Qing Luo and Yuan Bao directly toward the Empress’s palace.

Due to the long period of house arrest, the once-bustling palace was now devoid of visitors—quite a contrast to the days when people would clamor to gain her favor.

***

"Greetings to the Empress."

Qiao Qingyun understood the meaning of bowing one's head when under another's roof, but that did not mean she would allow herself to be bullied. After all, the explosive news she brought today would surely leave the Empress filled with regret.

As she spoke, she cast a sidelong glance at the woman sitting in the seat of honor. Although she looked much the same as she had days prior, the weariness in her eyes and her diminished vitality could not be hidden.

"Princess Qingjun has arrived? Rise."

"Many thanks, Your Majesty."

When Qiao Qingyun sat down, her face was still wreathed in smiles. If one didn't know her true purpose, one might have thought she and the Empress were on the best of terms.

Having finally had the opportunity to wear her phoenix robes again, the Empress had naturally gone to great lengths to dress up. The pearls and emeralds adorning her hair were all worth a fortune, clearly intended to showcase her majesty and grace. Yet, every move she made seemed restricted, as if she were frozen in place.

"I never expected that I would have the fortune to see you again, Princess. I had thought it was a hopeless dream for this lifetime."

"Haha, what are you saying, Your Majesty? I once thought the same, and was even worried about your health. But looking at you now, you seem to be living quite comfortably."

The two exchanged barbs, each dripping with sarcasm. Qiao Qingyun, backed by the Emperor, clearly held the upper hand. Before the Empress’s house arrest was lifted, the Emperor had specifically sent word to warn her that if she dared to stir up trouble again, the consequences would not be so simple.

"Oh? So you have been keeping an eye on me at all times, Princess? It is well; my constitution remains quite robust."

"Indeed, your health is robust, and the Crown Prince’s health is even more so."

Qiao Qingyun made idle chatter, jumping straight to the topic of Yuan Zaichun. The Empress’s expression turned cold, though she quickly recovered and asked with a smile, "Oh? How so?"

"Ah! I really shouldn't be telling you this, Your Majesty. After all, this is a matter between the Crown Prince and myself. However, the Crown Prince is prone to bouts of jealousy. He accidentally injured one of my subordinates, which pained me greatly, so I chased him out."

"He stood under the scorching sun for over two hours and refused to leave. One can see how robust his constitution truly is."

At these words, the Empress’s body trembled with rage. She forced a smile, cursing inwardly.

*This little vixen has a sharp tongue, hitting the nail on the head with just a few words.*

What angered her even more was her own son. Knowing full well there was no possibility between them, how could he demean himself by groveling like that?

***

Qiao Qingyun laughed coquettishly, picked up a teacup, sniffed it, and finding no foul scent, took a dainty sip. "Your Majesty, if you see the Crown Prince again, please tell him that my Zijing Palace is already too crowded. I cannot fit anyone else; I fear the place might burst at the seams."

"You!"

The Empress was so angry she lost her composure, slamming her hand onto the chair. Realizing there were many people around, she shifted her expression as quickly as turning a page, fixing her face back into a pleasant smile.

"You... what do you mean by that? You two are essentially brother and sister; what is this talk of crowding?"

"Brother and sister is one thing, but that does not mean he must come to Zijing Palace every time he has a moment. Furthermore, he sends too many gifts. The finest cloud brocade was already sent over by my uncle, and then the Crown Prince sent his own. You tell me, how am I supposed to wear all of it?"

At these words, the Empress was consumed by madness. Her son had never even spoken of giving such treasures as cloud brocade to her, yet he turned around and handed them to this little vixen!

"Haha, it is only right to dote on one's sister."

"Indeed, to dote on one's sister."

At this point, a glimmer of cruelty appeared in Qiao Qingyun’s eyes. She curled her lips into a smile, looked up, and asked the Empress directly, "Your Majesty, if the Crown Prince were to have a child now, would his position be even more secure?"

Though the Empress did not know why Qiao Qingyun would ask this, she subconsciously nodded. "That is correct. The Emperor dotes on his kin, and there has never been an imperial grandson. If there were one, he would naturally be even more pleased."

"Oh... then, if you were to kill your own grandchild with your own hands, would you feel sorrow?"

"What did you say!"

The Empress’s pupils constricted. She gripped the armrests of her chair so tightly she nearly stood up.

Qiao Qingyun did not take her reaction to heart. Instead, she calmly glanced at the pastries on the table and smiled. "I mean, if one day I were six months pregnant and surrounded by a group of men in black, and because my skills are lacking, I failed to protect the Crown Prince’s child... well, I would still be Princess Qingjun from then on."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress slumped like a puppet whose strings had been cut, staring blankly at the ceiling with lifeless eyes.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty, are you alright?"

The maid beside the Empress hurriedly pushed her, struggling to bring the Empress back to her senses.