The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 196 True or False Injustice

The late autumn night was cold and desolate. Jing Rong didn't know how she got back to the Empress Dowager's palace. She only felt that her soul had been partially taken away, and she felt like her soul had left her body.

"Where did Rong'er go just now?" It was Princess Qing who came to greet her with her question. Although she was smiling, her eyes were cold. In front of the Empress Dowager, Princess Qing still appeared to be a kind and benevolent mistress.

Jing Rong sat in her seat, her hands clasped together, trying to appear calm.

“Sister, Mother is asking you a question.” Jing Rou, sitting to her right, spoke up, her demeanor gentle and serene, revealing nothing of what they had just done.

Jing Rong gritted her teeth. No, she couldn't reveal anything, so she simply stepped forward and respectfully kowtowed, "Your Majesty, Mother, I was feeling a little unwell just now, which is why I was delayed for a while."

She lay prone on the ground, trying her best to hide it, but she was still trembling slightly. Without even looking, Jing Rong knew that her face must be deathly pale, so she could only bury her head even lower so that no one would notice.

The Empress Dowager had no interest in Jing Rong, so she waved her hand and told Princess Qing to go back to her residence and find him a doctor.

Princess Qing obediently agreed, and looking at Jing Rong's appearance, she felt that Jing Rong was of lowly birth and had no good fortune.

When they returned home, they were bound to receive a scolding.

"What kind of behavior did you exhibit just now? You've already caused trouble after just one trip to the palace? Are you perhaps deliberately acting like this in front of the Empress Dowager to make me the subject of gossip?" Princess Qing reprimanded the servants after returning to her residence and waiting for them to close the door.

After resting for a while in the carriage on the way back to the manor, Jingrong finally felt a little better. Now, she could only lower her head as usual and say humbly, "It's my fault, I accidentally ate something that upset my stomach..."

She kept her head bowed low, not wanting Princess Qing and Jing Rou to notice anything amiss.

Jing Rou glanced at her, then went to help Princess Qing, saying, "Mother, don't get upset over such trivial matters." After saying that, she turned to Jing Rong and said, "Go downstairs now."

"Yes." Only then did Jing Rong dare to return to her room tremblingly. When she relaxed, she realized that her throat was extremely dry.

She poured herself a glass of water, her hands trembling, spilling it on the table several times. She drank the water in one gulp before her heart calmed down a little. Now, she could only keep this to herself; she dared not tell even her own mother.

But she also felt resentful that she could only marry a cripple as a concubine, while Jing Rou was having a secret rendezvous in the palace. She only heard Jing Rou calling out "Brother Qi"? Surname Qi? Could it be...? Jing Rong became even more frightened, and probably guessed who it was.

……

The night was deep, at Yongfu Palace.

Before the gates were closed, Mu Ping returned to the palace.

After seeing Qin Zhihua off today, Jing Fengyao sent someone to deliver a pair of gilded armlets. Jing Anle knew that this was his elder brother's way of thanking him.

"The eldest prince is so good to the princess; he sends people to deliver nice things every now and then," Afang said to Jing Anle after putting the things away.

Jing Anle shook his head. Was this Afang really stupid or just pretending? It seemed she had truly mastered a skill.

"Princess, please stop reading. You've been staying up late for too long; it's bad for your eyes."

Jing Anle hadn't noticed it at first, but after hearing what Afang said, he suddenly felt his neck stiffen.

"Let me massage you," Afang said, as Muping came in from outside.

Jing Anle waved his hand, signaling Afang to stop. Afang was already used to it; it seemed that every time Muping returned from outside the palace, she would bring back new news.

"Princess." As soon as Mu Ping finished speaking, A Fang tactfully went to close the door and sent the others outside.

"How is it?"

Jing Anle asked about Consort Jiang's affairs outside the palace.

Mu Ping lowered her voice and said truthfully, "When Consort Jiang was in her boudoir, she was always well-behaved and never overstepped any boundaries."

"Furthermore, Lord Jiang has always intended to send Consort Jiang into the palace, so there is no marriage agreement."

Jing Anle closed the book, stood up, and asked, "Then what's the matter with her frequenting Wanfo Temple?"

"How did the princess find out?" Mu Ping was somewhat surprised, after all, she had only learned about it today.

So Jing Anle told Mu Ping that Qin Zhihua had come.

After learning the reason, Mu Ping nodded, "That's right. It's because Consort Jiang's mother, Madam Jiang, fell seriously ill a few years ago and her health has been poor ever since, and medicine has been ineffective for a time."

"Later, Consort Jiang went to Wanfo Temple to pray for blessings and met Master Jiquan who gave her medicine. She thought it would have no effect, but to her surprise, Consort Jiang's condition improved miraculously."

Jing Anle had a rough idea and said, "That's why Consort Jiang often goes up the mountain."

Mu Ping nodded, "That's right. Consort Jiang is grateful for Master Jiquan's kindness and often goes up the mountain to offer incense."

Suddenly, the image of Master Jiquan from today flashed into her mind. Could it be that Consort Jiang was truly wronged in her past life? Jing Anle felt a little doubtful.

"Afang, where does Consort Jiang live now?"

Afang listened attentively and hurriedly said, "Consort Jiang was only recently granted her title and has just moved to Changning Palace."

If Consort Jiang was wronged, then who was the one who harmed her?

"Afang, go and do something for me," Jing Anle said in a low voice.

……

The next day.

Rong'en Palace.

Consort Li's belly is getting bigger and bigger. Since the incident with Consort Rong's sachet, she has been very careful about her diet and daily life, and she only feels at ease when the imperial physician examines everything.

"Now that Your Highness is craving sour foods more and more, it seems you are indeed carrying a little prince." Qingyu picked up a small box of candied fruit and handed it to Consort Li.

Consort Li smiled contentedly, gently picking up a small piece of purplish-red candied fruit with her jade-like fingers and putting it in her mouth. She didn't find it sour at all; on the contrary, she found it appetizing.

"I heard that Consort Lin went to kneel and pray to the Goddess of Fertility again today."

Qingyu put down the candied fruit jar, then helped Consort Li up from the chair, and replied, "That's right. I heard that Consort Lin had difficulty walking back yesterday and needed someone to help her."

Consort Li snorted lightly, "If the Empress Dowager wants to torment her, there's nothing she can do."

Qingyu nodded and said directly, "It's because Consort Lin offended Consort Chen."

"Your Majesty, you are pregnant and it is inconvenient for you to do things. Let them fight it out, so as not to waste our time."

Consort Li shook her head. "You're still thinking too simply."