Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 269 Making her pay the price no matter what

She had actually heard long ago that Consort Zhuang's face had been damaged and that His Majesty had ordered it to be disfigured, but apart from the palace maids around Consort Zhuang, no one else had ever seen her face.

This was also the first time for Consort Ning, and even though she had prepared herself mentally, she was still frightened when she first saw it.

With such a delicate face, having been mercilessly slashed with two such long wounds, it's no wonder she always wears a veil and refuses to see anyone.

"you"

Seeing the astonishment in Consort Ning's eyes, Consort Zhuang gave a bitter smile. She put on her veil, revealing only her eyebrows and eyes, yet even then, one could still discern the distorted expression on her face.

"My face is ruined. The face I cherished and valued the most has been destroyed."

Tears of anguish welled up in her eyes: "Do you know? There is still no mirror in my palace. Every morning when I get up, the palace maids serve me when I comb my hair and wash up. I don't want to look in the mirror myself."

Consort Ning stammered, "Back then... why? Why did His Majesty treat you like that?"

Zhuang Zhaoyi closed her eyes in pain, raising her hand to cover her head, as if she were in utter collapse.

"Because of Consort Yun, because I wanted to ruin Consort Yun, His Majesty wants to ruin me in the same way. But I didn't touch her face, I clearly failed! Why!"

Her voice suddenly rose, almost hysterically: "She complained to His Majesty, she told him everything, and His Majesty ordered the guards to disfigure my face. I can never face anyone again!"

A layer of cold sweat broke out on Consort Ning's back.

"Do you know how I've gotten through these past few days and nights?" Zhuang Zhaoyi suddenly laughed hysterically. "I just saw her. She's pregnant now, isn't she? How smug she is!"

Why? Why are their lives so different? She has a stunningly beautiful face, the Emperor's favor, and a precious imperial heir.

But what do I have?
Her face, which used to be her most prized asset and source of pride, is now gone; she has nothing left.

Consort Ning took a deep breath and said coldly, "Consort Zhuang, I'm afraid you've been unable to bear this kind of thing since your face was first disfigured. It's understandable that you hate her, but so much time has passed. Why are you suddenly coming to me today to say these things?"

Zhuang Zhaoyi swayed as she stood up, her eyes bloodshot, and murmured, "We'll cooperate."

Consort Ning's expression changed, and she immediately said, "You few go out and guard the door first, and close it."

"Yes."

Only the two of them remained inside the hall.

Consort Zhuang found Consort Ning's reaction amusing.

"See? You really don't like her either."

Consort Ning's face was tense: "Who in this harem likes her?"

"Tell me, what are you planning to do?"

Zhuang Zhaoyi said in a low voice, "I may not be able to ruin her face, but I can ruin her child. Perhaps only by letting her taste the bitterness of losing something precious can she understand me."

Why did you suddenly have this thought now?

"Because when I got off the carriage just now, I saw her and His Majesty walking hand in hand. Consort Yun also saw me. She saw me and saw that I was wearing a veil, but she acted as if nothing had happened to her."

“She didn’t care about the torment she caused me for so long, or the pain she caused me for so long.”

Zhuang Zhaoyi had been suppressing her emotions, thinking she would never explode in her life, but it was just an ordinary day, just a casual glance.

She suddenly realized that perhaps the two of them had already forgotten that her face had been disfigured.

This is the thing she finds hardest to accept.

Consort Ning frowned: "Calm down. She's been living with His Majesty all along. What can you do?"

“There’s always a way. She’ll only become more and more careless now. There are so many palace servants in the harem. Are you afraid you won’t find anyone willing to serve you?” Consort Ning narrowed her eyes: “But this doesn’t seem to have much to do with me.”

"If I fail, you might succeed. What? Don't you hate her too? Your position as empress is about to be lost. I've heard that once her pregnancy is stable, a coronation ceremony will be held."

These words struck a chord with Consort Ning.

Consort Ning clenched her fists.

Consort Zhuang observed her expression and smiled: "Besides, once things stabilize, there won't be any problems with the imperial heirs, and she'll become the empress. What will be left for you?"

"I've noticed that you're really indecisive. You always have to think things through before you act. She's only a month pregnant, so you have at most two more months to think it over."

Zhuang Zhaoyi reached out and patted her shoulder: "Don't worry, do you think someone like me would take advantage of you? I'll be even more reckless than you, and I'll do anything to make her pay the price."

Early the next morning.

Inside the Qingliang Hall.

When Song Yi woke up, she was still thinking about the swing from last night. When she saw that Jiang Lanye was not by her side, she couldn't help but clench her fists, lift the covers and go over to him.

Hearing the noise, Jiang Lanye noticed that she wasn't wearing shoes or socks and tapped her knuckles on the table as a warning: "This isn't the Imperial Palace. There's no carpet on the floor. Put your shoes on."

Song Yi, who had originally intended to settle scores with him, instantly lost her initial enthusiasm and turned away sullenly, saying, "Fine, I'll wear it then."

She walked up to Jiang Lanye again.

Jiang Lanye patiently closed the memorial: "You're pregnant now, it's not safe for you to swing on such a high swing. What if you fall, what if the rope breaks?"

"I know."

She swept the things on the table aside and sat down on it.

"It's your fault for spoiling me all the time. If you were a little fiercer and more forceful, I wouldn't have thought there was any hope for that, and I wouldn't have deliberately come to bother you even though I knew it was wrong."

Jiang Lanye was almost laughing in exasperation: "So, it's my fault after all?"

Song Yi smiled and said, "Yes, it's your fault."

She had just woken up, and her hair was a mess.

Jiang Lanye said directly, "Go wash up. After you're done, I'll give you a surprise."

Song Yi's eyes lit up: "A swing? A safer swing?"

".no."

She immediately turned and left.

After Song Yi finished washing up, she turned around and looked at the reclining chair that had suddenly appeared in the hall.

The recliner was made entirely of fine sandalwood, with intricate lotus patterns carved on the armrests, and the backrest had a perfectly curved, slightly reclined shape.

The most ingenious feature is the two curved wooden rails at the bottom. With a gentle push from Jiang Lanye, they produce a very soft "creak" sound, and the entire recliner begins to sway.

Song Yi walked over and understood: "You just want to use the rocking chair to coax me."

Jiang Lanye frowned: "A rocking chair?"

This is a novel idea, but it seems quite apt.

(End of this chapter)