The harem is too complicated; the empress, a lazy bum, wins by doing nothing.

Chapter 246: Vengeance must be avenged
what?
Consort Xian's eyes trembled violently, and she stood up abruptly from her chair.

Although she could be a little impulsive at times, she was by no means someone who would be easily startled. However, the fact that she reacted so strongly to the news that Xiao Cui was on the list of people leaving the palace made her first thought that the Empress might already know that Xiao Cui was one of her people.

Consort Xian felt a sudden surge of panic. When exactly did the Empress find out that Xiao Cui was her person?
Although she had given Xiao Cui some money, she had never been able to get anything of value out of Xiao Cui.

"Bring me the list of people leaving Kunning Palace and let me take a look."

The moment Consort Xian saw the list of those leaving the palace, she became even more certain of her suspicions.

I understand, I understand. The Empress must know, otherwise this list of those leaving the palace would only include those who are indeed quite old and not suitable to continue serving in the palace.

Only Xiao Cui and another young palace maid remained.

"Your Highness," Xia Fuchuan said, pointing to Xiaoling's name, "I just asked around and it seems that this palace maid's mother is dying. I estimate she won't live to see her one last time. But now that the palace has just changed the age for palace maids to leave, she should take this opportunity to request to leave the palace."

Consort Xian couldn't help but take a deep breath.

in this case.

That leaves only Xiao Cui.

So, did Xiao Cui want to leave the palace on her own, or was it arranged by the Empress?

She remembered the last time the imperial kitchen sent her some food that clashed with her diet. Not only did she eat it, but she also felt unwell. In the middle of the night, the imperial physician was alarmed. Originally, she wanted to use this incident to bring down the empress, but unexpectedly, Prince Rui appeared out of nowhere. Not only did he not affect that bitch Shen Qingwan in the slightest, but he also made her turn the tables and kill the personal maid who had been by his side since childhood. Whenever she thought of this, she was filled with hatred.

Xiang'er was stabbed to death to take the blame for her. But that vile woman Shen Qingwan arranged a table full of dishes that were incompatible with the same dish when her aunt entered the palace. The aunt knew nothing about it and was implicated innocently. After eating that table of food, she suffered unbearable abdominal pain. She dared not seek medical help from the imperial physician in the palace. Although she found a doctor after leaving the palace, she had to rest in bed for several days before she slowly recovered.

That bitch Shen Qingwan is truly someone who will seek revenge and can't stand to suffer even the slightest loss.

Now she's resorting to the same old trick, trying to use Xiao Cui's departure from the palace to tell her that she already knows Xiao Cui is from Jingyang Palace, so what?

“Go find a reliable person and follow Xiao Cui. Isn’t she from the same hometown as you? After dark…” Consort Xian’s eyes turned icy as she spoke, and she gestured with her hand across her neck.

Xia Fuchuan understood what she meant.

This is to silence the witnesses.

But Xiao Cui clearly did nothing and knew nothing. Now that she has left the palace, why go to such lengths to kill her?

"Your Majesty," Xia Fuchuan couldn't help but ask, "Is it...?"

"Is it something?" Consort Xian's eyes darkened. "What? You wouldn't have taken a fancy to that Xiao Cui, would you? And can't bear to part with her?"

Xia Fuchuan's expression was somewhat indescribable. "Your Majesty, how could this be? This servant is just a eunuch. What love or affection can a eunuch possibly have? This servant is not worthy."

Consort Xian scoffed at his words, "You do know, but it's good that you do. This matter must be handled quickly and cleanly, and you must not leave any evidence."

Xia Fuchuan paused slightly. "Yes, Your Highness." He wasn't really sympathizing with Xiao Cui; he just felt that Consort Xian wouldn't even leave a way out for someone who had only been forced to accept some money. How could she possibly tolerate someone with such a vicious mind, someone who knew so many of her secrets?

Xiao Cui's fate today may well be his miserable state in the future.

Not only him, but perhaps everyone in Jingyang Palace who follows her will meet a bad end.

The list of those leaving Kunning Palace was slowly crumpled into a ball in Consort Xian's hands, the sound of it about to be crushed particularly jarring in the quiet palace.

Xia Fuchuan had only been gone a short while when Xia Mei hurriedly walked in from outside.

Consort Xian was holding a wooden skewer, sticking an apple out of a plate. For some reason, the usually smoothest skewer had a splinter on it today, which unfortunately pricked her fingertip. Bright red blood instantly dripped down the skewer into the fruit plate. Consort Xian gasped in pain and involuntarily let out a soft "uh".

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Xia Mei quickly walked up to Consort Xian.

Consort Xian clenched her fingers in anger and said irritably, "What's the rush? You're an old hand in the palace, how can you still be so frivolous and lack composure in your actions?"

"My lady..."

Xia Mei moved her lips but before she could speak, Consort Xian interrupted her.

"Your Majesty, all you do all day is call me Your Majesty. Don't you see my hand is bleeding? Hurry up and fetch the imperial physician!" Consort Xian was trembling with anger, and slammed her other hand heavily on the table twice.

Xia Mei seemed a little hesitant, but seeing that Consort Xian seemed to be really angry, she didn't dare to delay any longer and turned to go to the Imperial Hospital.

The imperial physician came and treated Consort Xian's wound. She had been pricked by a splinter, which wasn't anything particularly serious, but the splinter had gone in a little too deep, which is why she felt the pain quite noticeably.

After seeing the imperial physician off, Consort Xian summoned the people who washed the apples and carried the bamboo skewers. Consort Xian not only had them beaten with a board, but also had wooden splinters driven into their fingernails.

Suddenly, Jingyang Palace was filled with wails.

"What's going on?" Hearing the screams, Consort Wen came out of her palace and looked in the direction of the sound, her gaze falling on the main hall of Jingyang Palace.

"It must be Consort Xian disciplining the palace maids again," Green Pine replied.

Consort Wen remained silent, simply standing at the entrance of her palace. The screams grew louder and louder, clearly indicating that it was no longer a simple beating, but rather torture.

"What crime did this palace maid commit that made Consort Xian so angry and so ruthless?" Consort Wen wondered.

“These days, the harem has been busy with the issue of palace maids leaving the palace. I heard that many of the older palace maids in Consort Xian’s palace are unwilling to stay and serve her. Her harem is almost empty. How could she be so cruel to the palace maids who serve her at a time like this? It seems that she really wants to drive all the palace maids out of the harem,” Green Pine replied.

In the brief moment between their conversation, another scream pierced the air above Jingyang Palace.

Consort Wen clutched her clothes tightly in fright, her brows furrowing deeply. "Isn't the Empress going to do anything about this?"