Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 19: Fleeting Glimpses! Pregnancy Can't Stop Me from Leaping Over Walls and Skirts

The training in light-footed skills began in the backyard of the Cold Palace.

This place is even more desolate than the front yard, with weeds growing up to waist height, and broken furniture and withered branches piled up in the corner.

But the advantage is—it's hidden.

The eunuchs Wang Fu sent to monitor the area rarely came here, complaining about the abundance of mosquitoes.

Eunuch Li stood in front of a "plum blossom stake" made of a pile of broken tables—something he had secretly set up over the past few nights.

The table legs were uneven, the tabletop was broken and wobbly, and it creaked when stepped on, making it ten times more difficult than a real plum blossom stake.

"Fleeting Glimpses," he began, his voice ethereal in the morning mist.

"The key is speed, lightness, and stability."

Swift as a flash of light, light as a fleeting shadow, landing silently, leaving no trace in the snow.

Shen Qingci looked at the rickety, broken table, then looked down at her noticeably protruding belly.

It's been four months.

Although it was bound with strips of cloth, you could still feel its weight when you moved around.

Especially this kind of light-footed skill that requires balance and agility...

"Your Majesty is pregnant and cannot be forced to comply."

Eunuch Li clearly saw her concerns.

"This old servant will teach you a simplified version of the footwork."

"There's no need for scaling walls or leaping across rooftops; simply being able to move quickly and silently on flat ground is sufficient."

Shen Qingci nodded: "Please demonstrate, Master."

Eunuch Li didn't speak, but his figure swayed.

It really was just a fleeting moment.

Shen Qingci didn't even see how he moved; she only felt a blur before her eyes, and the hunched figure had already appeared at the corner of the wall three zhang away.

My toes touched the tips of the weeds, and the blades of grass only bent slightly, without even shaking off the dew.

Then, he swayed again.

This time, he moved even slower, allowing Shen Qingci to see the movements clearly—his left foot lightly touched the ground, his right foot followed, and his body leaned forward, like a leaf blown by the wind, silently gliding across the ground.

Each step was precisely placed between the blades of grass, avoiding the dead branches and pebbles that would make a sound.

In the time it takes to breathe, he circled the entire backyard and returned to his original spot.

His breathing was steady, and not even the hem of his clothes was ruffled.

"Did you see it clearly?" he asked.

Shen Qingci closed her eyes, recalling the actions she had just performed.

Footwork itself isn't difficult; what's difficult is the ultimate control over the body—every muscle and every bone must work together seamlessly.

And your breathing must be perfectly synchronized with the rhythm of your steps.

She opened her eyes and walked to the pile of "plum blossom stakes".

Instead of rushing to the stakes, they practiced on flat ground.

Step forward with your left foot, follow with your right foot, and slightly turn your body to the side...

The first step was too heavy, and he broke a dead branch.

"relax."

Li Gonggong's voice came, "Don't use force, use leverage."

Imagine you are a feather; whichever way the wind blows, you drift.

Shen Qingci took a deep breath and readjusted himself.

This time, she tried to channel her internal energy to the soles of her feet.

It was amazing—when that warm current flowed to my toes, my body really felt lighter.

She leaped lightly, landing three feet away with only a very faint "whoosh" sound.

it works.

Her eyes lit up.

For the next hour, she practiced repeatedly in the pile of weeds in the backyard.

Fall down, get up.

I twisted my ankle on a rock, rubbed it, and kept going.

If the cloth strip is tied too tightly and causes pain in the lower abdomen, loosen it a little, catch your breath, and then tighten it again.

Sweat soaked his temples and trickled down his cheeks.

But she didn't stop.

Because she could feel that the little one inside her belly seemed to be... learning?

Every time she circulated her internal energy to practice her footwork, the fetus would become unusually quiet, as if it were sensing the trajectory of that energy flowing through its meridians.

Occasionally, when she performs a particularly precise movement, the little one will give her a gentle kick, as if to say: Mom, this is right!

Eunuch Li also noticed it.

"Your Majesty," he said, reaching out to help Shen Qingci up after she fell again, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"It seems like the fetus is... imitating your exercises?"

Shen Qingci smiled wryly: "I felt it too."

Sometimes when I practiced something wrong, he would kick it extra hard, as if to remind me.

After a moment of silence, Eunuch Li shook his head: "Spiritual beings... indeed cannot be judged by ordinary standards."

He paused, then said, "But this is a good thing."

Mother and child cultivate together; the fetus begins to familiarize itself with the circulation of internal energy while still in the womb, making martial arts practice after birth twice as effective.

Shen Qingci wiped her sweat and stood up straight again: "Master, let's continue."

---

The hidden weapon lesson was held indoors.

Safe and discreet.

Eunuch Li took out a small cloth bag from his pocket and spread it out on the table.

Inside were a dozen or so embroidery needles.

The most ordinary kind, with a slightly rusty needle tip and half a faded red thread still threaded through the eye of the needle—clearly the kind Jinshu usually used for mending clothes.

"The true 'plucking leaves and flying flowers' requires infusing internal energy into the leaves and petals, so that when they fly out, they are both soft and strong, capable of cutting through gold and jade."

Eunuch Li calmly said, "But Your Highness's internal strength is still shallow, so using leaves is too difficult."

Let's start with needles.

He picked up a needle and gently twisted it between his index finger and thumb.

"Hidden weapons require three things: accuracy, speed, and ruthlessness."

"Accurate, it must hit exactly where you point it, there can be no deviation."

"Quickly, strike like lightning, don't give the opponent any time to react."

"Ruthless, a single, decisive blow, leaving no room for retreat."

After saying that, he flicked his wrist.

Shen Qingci didn't even see how the needle went out.

A soft "hiss" was heard.

The needle was already driven into the door panel three zhang away.

The red thread at the end of the needle was still trembling slightly.

The nail was placed right in the center of the door seam—a gap less than half an inch wide.

Shen Qingci gasped.

That accuracy...

"Your Highness, please try this." Eunuch Li handed her another needle.

Shen Qingci accepted it.

She had used throwing knives and crossbows in her past life, but needles... were too light.

She imitated Eunuch Li, pinching the end of the needle and channeling her inner strength.

Then, aim at the door panel—not the door seam, but the entire door panel.

Use your wrist to flick it out.

The needle flew out.

But it's crooked.

It was nailed to the door frame, more than a foot off from where she was aiming.

Moreover, the force was too light; the needle tip only pierced in a tiny bit, wobbled, and fell to the ground.

"His wrists are too stiff," commented Eunuch Li.

"The hidden weapon is not thrown out with the strength of the arm, but 'flicked' out with the skillful force of the wrist."

Like this—

He gave a slow-motion demonstration.

Relax your wrist, flick your fingers, and the needle will "slide" out from your fingertips instead of being "flicked" out.

Shen Qingci looked at it carefully, and then imitated it.

The second needle.

This time it's much better; at least it's nailed to the door panel, although it's still a bit off-center.

The third one, the fourth one, the fifth one...

An hour later, she was able to hit the palm-sized circle she had drawn on the door panel with six or seven out of ten needles within a distance of three zhang (approximately 10 meters).

Although the accuracy and power are still far from sufficient.

But at least, I've gotten started.

"That's enough," said Eunuch Li. "Your Highness, practice whenever you have time. Don't rush; the worst thing you can do with hidden weapons is to be impatient and agitated."

He put away the remaining needles and then took out another item from his pocket.

It is not a weapon.

It was a thin booklet with yellowed pages.

There are no words on the cover.

"This is a list of court relationships that this old servant has compiled over the years."

Li Gonggong gave it to her.

"Your Majesty, please take a look when you have time. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle."

Shen Qingci took it and opened it.

The booklet was handwritten in extremely small characters, densely packed, but clearly organized.

The first page contains a list of imperial concubines.

Starting with Consort Liu Ruyan, the ranks followed by the Four Consorts, the Nine Concubines, the Jieyu, the Meiren...

Each name is followed by its family background, personality traits, level of favor with the family, and... its relationship with the Liu family.

The page about Liu Ruyan is the most detailed.

Father Liu Chengzong, elder brother Liu Chengming, time of entering the palace, the incident of shielding someone from an arrow, career path...

There was even a note: "Jealous, ruthless, seemingly gentle, but actually vengeful."

Her trusted confidants: Chunxing, Physician Liu, and Wang Fu.

Shen Qingci was shocked.

Has Eunuch Li... figured out the entire harem?

She continued flipping through the pages.

The list of court officials, the network of connections of the chief eunuch, the factions of palace maids and matrons...

It even involves key figures from the Imperial Kitchen, Imperial Pharmacy, and Imperial Household Department.

It's practically an encyclopedia of palace survival.

"Master," she looked up, "these...were all compiled by you over the years?"

Eunuch Li nodded: "I've got nothing else to do, so I'll just jot it down."

I never thought... I'd actually come in handy one day.

He paused, then said, "What Your Majesty should pay the most attention to right now is Liu Ruyan's recent actions."

Shen Qingci's heart tightened: "She's making a new move?"

"This old servant received news last night,"

Eunuch Li lowered his voice.

"Recently, Liu Ruyan has been secretly investigating all the concubines in the harem... who are pregnant or may be pregnant."

Shen Qingci's hand trembled, and the booklet almost fell to the ground.

Investigating pregnant concubines?

Why?

Is it...

She instinctively covered her lower abdomen.

"Your Majesty need not be too nervous."

Li Gonggong said,

She probably hasn't suspected you yet.

After all, you were confined to the cold palace for three months, so logically... you shouldn't be pregnant.

She investigated those who were rightfully favored or who might threaten her position.

Shen Qingci breathed a slight sigh of relief, but her heart was still in suspense.

"However," Eunuch Li changed the subject, "better safe than sorry."

From today onwards, Your Majesty's corset strips will be tighter, and your clothes will be looser.

If you can avoid going out of the house, then don't.

"Disciple understands."

Just then, a very faint knocking sound came from outside the window.

Three times.

Two short and one long.

This is not Li Gonggong's code.

Eunuch Li's eyes sharpened, and he gestured for Shen Qing to say goodbye. He then walked to the window and opened it a crack.

Outside, there was a young eunuch dressed in a dark gray eunuch's robe. He looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, thin and small, with a dirty face but bright eyes.

"Grandpa Li..." the little eunuch's voice trembled, clearly frightened.

"Little Lu?" Eunuch Li frowned. "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to stay put in Huayang Palace?"

Xiaoluzi?

Shen Qingci searched her memory for the name—she had no recollection of it.

"Something...something's happened..."

Xiao Luzi's voice trembled even more.

"On Consort Rou's side... this morning, she... she beat... beat to death that pregnant palace maid in Consort Zhang's palace..."

Shen Qingci's pupils suddenly contracted.

Eunuch Li's face also darkened: "What happened? Tell me slowly."

Xiao Luzi swallowed hard and stammered:

"It's...it's that palace maid named Xiaolian who serves Consort Zhang...She said she wasn't feeling well a while ago and secretly went to see the imperial physician, who said she was pregnant."

I originally intended to keep it a secret and tell His Majesty when my pregnancy was more advanced...

As it turns out, someone leaked the news, and it reached Consort Rou's ears...

This morning, the Imperial Concubine said that Xiao Lian had stolen her jade bracelet, and led people to search the palace.

...and then, then they found it under Xiaolian's bed...

"What did they find?"

"We searched...we found a bunch of little people with needles stuck in their bodies..." Xiao Luzi was almost in tears.

"It contains the birth dates and times of the Imperial Concubine and His Majesty..."

The Imperial Concubine immediately flew into a rage, accusing Xiaolian of practicing witchcraft and cursing her and His Majesty...

"Have the eunuchs drag him out and beat him to death with sticks..."

Shen Qingci's palms were covered in cold sweat.

Sorcery.

It's witchcraft again.

The method used to frame her back then was exactly the same.

"What about the child?" asked Eunuch Li.

"The child..." Xiao Luzi shook his head, "Two lives lost... By the time the imperial physician arrived, the body was already cold..."

The room was deathly silent.

Only Xiao Luzi's suppressed sobs could be heard.

After a long silence, Eunuch Li finally spoke slowly: "I understand. You may go back now. Be careful not to be seen."

Xiao Luzi nodded, glanced at Shen Qingci in the room again, his eyes filled with fear and pity, then turned and ran away.

The footsteps quickly disappeared outside the courtyard.

Eunuch Li closed the window and turned to look at Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci sat on the edge of the bed, her face pale.

He gripped the booklet tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Your Majesty," Eunuch Li began, his voice deep, "Do you understand now?"

Shen Qingci raised her head.

"Liu Ruyan wasn't 'investigating' pregnant concubines or palace maids."

Eunuch Li spoke slowly and deliberately.

She was "cleaning up".

Using the same methods and the same charges, she targeted all the children who might threaten her position...

Nip it in the bud.

Shen Qingci closed her eyes.

It felt like something was blocking my chest, making it hard to breathe.

She remembered what Jinshu had said—

Although Liu Ruyan is currently favored by the emperor, she has not yet become pregnant.

Three years after Nangong Ye ascended the throne, not a single prince or princess has been born in his harem.

She hadn't thought much about it before.

just now……

Everything is connected.

"so,"

She opened her eyes, her voice hoarse.

"I was falsely accused of witchcraft at the time, probably not because I was the empress and stood in her way."

"Even more so because..."

She looked down at her protruding belly.

"At that time... I might have already been pregnant?"

Eunuch Li remained silent.

But his eyes said it all.

Shen Qingci suddenly felt a chill run through her body.

It was bitterly cold.

It turns out that from the very beginning, she had stepped into a deadly trap that had been laid out long ago.

And now, she's pregnant with this child...

"Master," she looked up, her eyes revealing genuine fear for the first time, "my child..."

"Your Majesty, rest assured," Eunuch Li interrupted her, his voice firm. "With this old servant here, no one can harm you or the unborn child."

He paused, then said, "Moreover... the news that Xiao Luzi brought may not all be bad news."

Shen Qingci was taken aback.

"At least that shows," said Eunuch Li calmly, "that Liu Ruyan is unaware of your pregnancy."

She was clearing out the obvious targets.

"And you..."

He looked at Shen Qingci, a sharp glint flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"In the Cold Palace."

"In everyone's eyes, you are already a useless person, a patient waiting to die."

"This is precisely... the best cover."

Shen Qingci was stunned.

Then, I slowly came to understand.

Yes.

The Cold Palace.

This forgotten corner, this place that even Wang Fu finds unlucky.

Ironically, it became the safest place.

Because no one would have imagined that a deposed empress, poisoned and on the verge of death, would become pregnant.

No one would have imagined that the child in her womb would be...

She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

Gently place your hand on your lower abdomen.

There, the fetus seemed to sense her emotions and moved slightly, as if to soothe her.

"Bao'er," she whispered, "Mother will protect you."

"At all costs."