After being reborn, the empress only wanted to seduce the emperor and seize the empress's posit

Chapter 19 The Virtuous Consort's Secret Joy
Cheng Qiangong

Granny Li hurried into Chengqian Palace, a polite smile on her face. She bowed to Lu Jingning and said, "Your Highness, the Consort Xian specially sent this old servant to say that she had several boxes of the finest bird's nest to give to Your Highness to nourish your body, but as you can see, I am old and have accidentally forgotten about it. Could you please send a young maid to fetch it?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingning raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze lingering on Granny Li's face for a moment, making Granny Li feel somewhat flustered.

Then, she parted her lips slightly, her voice gentle: "It's truly kind of Consort Xian to go to such trouble. Xia'er, go and fetch the things with Granny Li."

"Yes, this servant will go right away."

Fearing that Lu Jingning might change his mind, Granny Li quickly took Xia'er back to Zhongcui Palace.

Xia'er saw that Consort Xian was reclining on the soft couch, and immediately knelt down: "This servant greets Consort Xian."

Consort Xian glanced at her and said, "In a moment, see if that guard is the same guard Han you saw a few nights ago."

"Yes, Your Highness," Xia'er said obediently.

Not long after, Han Yizhi entered the main hall of Zhongcui Palace, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

He looked around and saw Consort Xian leaning against the soft couch, looking languid and cunning. Xia'er beside her had her head down and seemed a little nervous, but it was strange to see her here.

Without saying much, he simply knelt and bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Highness, the Virtuous Consort. May I ask why Your Highness has summoned me here again?"

Consort Xian gently raised her hand, gesturing for Han Yizhi to come closer, and said softly, "Xia'er, take a good look and see if this is the person."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Xia'er. Han Yizhi's gaze fell on Xia'er, his eyebrows slightly raised, puzzled.

Han Yizhi was unsure whether Xia'er had betrayed him.
Xia'er looked up, quickly glanced at Han Yizhi, then quickly lowered her head again, raising her voice: "Your Highness, it's him! I saw him that day, there's absolutely no mistake."

That one glance was enough for Han Yizhi to be certain that Xia'er was Lu Jingning's person, and he had to cooperate with Xia'er to prevent Consort Xian from becoming suspicious.

Han Yizhi pretended to be angry and embarrassed, grabbed Xia'er, glared at her and shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about? Don't you want to live?"

"Your Majesty, save me!" Xia'er screamed loudly in fright, though of course she was faking it.

Upon seeing this, Consort Xian immediately scolded, "Han Yizhi, how dare you! Stop right now!"

"Your Majesty, it was she who had an affair with Consort Lu. She wants to silence me! Your Majesty, please save me!" Xia'er pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears.

Han Yizhi stopped using his strength, pretending to throw Xia'er aside. Xia'er also pretended to be in great pain and complained to Consort Xian, "Your Highness, you must stand up for me! He's just angry out of embarrassment!"

Consort Xian frowned, her gaze sharp as she stared at Han Yizhi, and demanded, "Xia'er has already identified you, what else do you have to say?"

Han Yizhi's expression hardened, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes. He glared fiercely at Xia'er, then turned to Consort Xian and said coldly, "It was all Consort Lu who forced me to do this, Your Majesty, you are right!"

Seeing this, Consort Xian's lips curled into a smug smile, her eyes gleaming with excitement: "What did you say? Consort Lu forced you? Tell me from the beginning, or the Emperor will find out and execute your entire family!"

"That day I happened to save Consort Lu. She saw that I was good-looking and forced me. I was forced," Han Yizhi said, his arrogant demeanor gone and his face filled with fear.

The virtuous concubine's face was already beaming with a victorious smile: "I know you have a sick mother at home. Here's one hundred taels; take it to help your mother."

Granny Li took the bag of silver from Consort Xian and handed it to Han Yizhi.

Han Yizhi accepted the gift tremblingly: "Thank you, Your Highness. I swear to serve you with my life."

Seeing this, Consort Xian immediately said, "I do have a way..." Before she could finish speaking, she looked at him meaningfully.

Han Yizhi asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, what's your plan?" The Consort Xian, her face full of smugness, looked at the nail guards in her hand and told him, "Tomorrow I will go to the Empress to report Lu Jingning. You just need to testify for me."

“But Your Highness, how could Consort Lu possibly agree? She is currently favored by the Empress, and I’m afraid the Empress won’t side with you,” Han Yizhi raised his question.

Consort Xian didn't take this seriously at all: "Take out a sachet and a jade pendant, and have Granny Li give them to the two of them respectively."

Xia'er took the jade pendant and asked, "What is this, Your Highness?"

"I wonder what Your Majesty means?" Han Yizhi asked, his face full of questions.

The Consort Xian told the two of them, "This sachet belonged to Lu Jingning a long time ago. You can see the character 'Ning' embroidered on the back of the sachet."

"Han Yizhi, tomorrow you only need to take out this sachet and insist that it is a token of your love."

"Xia'er, you just need to secretly hide this jade pendant in Lu Jingning's bedroom."

Xia'er's small hand gripped the warm jade pendant tightly, her nails almost digging into her palm, yet she still firmly replied, "Yes, this servant understands."

A struggle flashed across Han Yizhi's face, his brows furrowed, as if he were making a difficult decision.

Upon seeing this, Consort Xian curled her lips into a cold smile, her eyes revealing an undeniable threat.

"Han Yizhi, you'd better think this through. If this matter alarms the Emperor tomorrow, your entire family will be executed. Your elderly mother is waiting for you to save her life. You'd better think this through."

Han Yizhi heard these words and realized that the virtuous concubine in his previous life had said the same thing. As a result, he went against his conscience and did things for the virtuous concubine.

In the end, after Consort Lu was executed, he was also secretly killed by Consort Xian's men, and even his mother was cruelly murdered.

This time, I will end her life myself to avenge my mother.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to lend you a hand," Han Yizhi said, wearing a mask of hypocrisy.

Upon seeing this, Consort Xian's lips curled into a satisfied smile once again.

She waved her hand gently: "That's right, Han Yizhi and Xia'er. You must remember that I always reward and punish fairly. As long as you work loyally, you will certainly be rewarded."

Her voice was gentle yet sharp as a steel blade, striking straight into their hearts.

Han Yizhi and Xia'er exchanged a glance, a complex emotion flashing in their eyes. They then lowered their heads and answered in unison, "Yes, Your Majesty, please rest assured, we will do our utmost to live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

"Alright, you may leave now," Consort Xian said, quite pleased that her goal had been achieved.

"This servant takes her leave."

After the two women left, Granny Li's eyes flickered and her lips pursed slightly, clearly harboring doubts, yet she still tried to remain calm and comforted Consort Xian.

"Your Majesty's wisdom is unparalleled; this plan is sure to succeed. However, this old servant dares to be bold, but Han Yizhi and Xia'er are, after all, people close to Consort Lu. What if..."

Consort Xian smiled gently, her eyes filled with confidence and ruthlessness, as she lightly stroked the nail guards on her fingertips.

"Granny Li is overthinking it. People are all made of flesh and blood. As long as we have their weaknesses, why worry that they won't obey us? Besides, I have already paved the way for them. Whether they live or die is up to their own choice."

After saying this, she gently raised her chin, signaling for Granny Li to leave, her face beaming with a confident smile.

(End of this chapter)