Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 45 The Poisonous Consort Offers a Stunning Beauty! The Tyrant Takes Her, Yet Stands Outside My Palace Every Night

On the 22nd day of the first lunar month, at Huayang Palace.

In the desolate palace, a venomous concubine offers up a stunning beauty! The tyrant takes her, yet he stands outside my palace every night.

Liu Ruyan (although she had been demoted to a commoner, some people in the palace still privately called her "Your Majesty") was doing her makeup in front of a bronze mirror.

The woman in the mirror looked so haggard that she was almost unrecognizable.

His eyes were sunken, his complexion was sallow, and there were even a few gray hairs on his forehead. Although he was not yet thirty, he looked like he was forty.

"Snapped!"

She slammed the comb against the mirror.

The bronze mirror cracked, splitting her face in two.

"Shen Qingci... Shen Qingci..." she gritted her teeth, each word seemingly squeezed out from between them, "It's all your fault... it's all your fault..."

The palace maid Chunxing knelt tremblingly to one side, not daring to speak.

Over the past two weeks, Liu Ruyan's temper has gotten worse and worse.

She had nightmares at night and was paranoid during the day. She always felt that someone wanted to harm her, and she would taste the food three times to make sure it was poisoned before eating it and boil the water three times before drinking it. But the more she did this, the more haggard and insane she became.

"Chunxing." Liu Ruyan suddenly turned around, staring intently at her. "Tell me, His Majesty... has His Majesty truly forgotten me?"

Chunxing trembled in fright: "Your Majesty, His Majesty... His Majesty still cares for you. It's just that now... now at Tangli Palace..."

"Tangli Palace!" Liu Ruyan suddenly stood up. "That bitch! What right does she have? A deposed empress, a bastard! Why is His Majesty so good to her? Sending her rewards, sending her tonics, and... and he even stands outside her palace every night!"

She practically shouted it out by the end.

Chunxing's face turned deathly pale.

This matter had already spread throughout the palace.

Ever since Nangong Ye stormed into Tangli Palace in a drunken stupor on New Year's Eve, for the past two weeks, almost every night around midnight, the emperor would walk alone outside Tangli Palace and stand under that old locust tree for half an hour at a time.

They didn't speak, they didn't go in, they just stood there.

Like a sculpture.

At first, some people whispered that His Majesty had repented and still harbored feelings for the deposed empress. Later, when this reached Liu Ruyan's ears, she flew into a rage and beat two gossipy palace maids to death.

However, rumors suggest that they cannot be completely eradicated.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger..." Chunxing kowtowed. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty was only momentarily soft-hearted. In a few days, he will naturally..."

"In a few days?" Liu Ruyan sneered. "In a few more days, that bastard will have grown up! In a few more days, Shen Qingci will truly be able to turn the tables!"

She slumped into a chair, her chest heaving violently.

After a long while, she raised her head, a glint of madness flashing in her eyes.

"Go," she said. "Send a message to my brother. Tell him... I want a beauty. She must be stunning, young, and charming. The Liu family has so many singers and dancers; surely one of them will catch His Majesty's eye."

Chunxing was stunned: "Your Majesty, what's wrong...?"

"We'll share His Majesty's affections," Liu Ruyan gritted her teeth. "I can't let Shen Qingci monopolize His Majesty's heart. Even if I can't have her, she shouldn't either!"

"But... what is His Majesty's attitude towards the Tangli Palace now..."

"It's precisely because he's so attached to Tangli Palace that he needs to divide his favor!" Liu Ruyan slammed her hand on the table. "Men are all fickle. No matter how deep the guilt, it can't compare to fresh beauty. As long as someone can capture His Majesty's heart, make him forget Tangli Palace, forget that bastard child..."

Her voice grew softer and colder.

"Shen Qingci is still that deposed empress in the cold palace."

"Always."

---

On the 25th day of the first lunar month, a palace banquet was held.

Although it was called a palace banquet, it was actually a small event, with only a few old princes of the imperial family and a few important officials invited. Liu Chengzong was naturally among them.

After several rounds of drinks, Liu Chengzong rose to offer a toast: "Your Majesty, my household has recently acquired a singing girl, whose beauty and talent are both exceptional. I have brought her to the palace today to entertain Your Majesty."

Nangong Ye, seated at the head of the table, toyed with his wine glass. Hearing this, he raised his eyes and said, "Oh?"

Liu Chengzong clapped his hands.

The sounds of string and wind instruments begin.

A woman in red gracefully entered the hall.

She is absolutely stunning.

At eighteen or nineteen, her skin was as white as snow, and her eyes sparkled. She had a slender figure and graceful dance moves. What was even more remarkable was that she possessed a natural allure, captivating hearts with every smile and frown.

After the dance, the entire hall erupted in applause.

Liu Chengzong smiled and said, "This woman is named Hongxiao. She is the daughter of a famous courtesan from Jiangnan and has been learning to dance since childhood. If Your Majesty does not mind, she can stay in the palace to serve you."

The meaning behind those words couldn't be clearer.

The old princes exchanged glances, all understanding each other without saying a word.

This is to send beauties to His Majesty, to share the favor of the Tangli Palace.

Nangong Ye stared at the red silk in the hall for a long time.

So long that the smile on Liu Chengzong's face became somewhat stiff.

"Alright." Nangong Ye finally spoke. "Stay. Consort... will reside in Chuxiu Palace."

Liu Chengzong was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Hongxiao bowed gracefully, her voice soft and sweet: "This servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

The banquet continued, but the atmosphere had changed.

Everyone knew that after tonight, there would be one more concubine in the palace.

That one in Tangli Palace... is probably really going to fall out of favor.

---

The news reached Tangli Palace the next morning.

Jinshu's face turned ashen with anger: "Your Majesty! The Liu family did this on purpose! They deliberately sent a beauty in to distract His Majesty!"

Shen Qingci was breastfeeding Bao'er when she heard this, and without even looking up, she simply replied, "Mm."

"Your Majesty!" Jinshu stamped her foot anxiously. "Why aren't you worried at all? I've heard that Consort Hong is a notorious vixen from Jiangnan! What if she really seduces His Majesty..."

"So what if he's hooked?" Shen Qingci put down her bowl and wiped Bao'er's mouth. "What does it matter to me who Nangong Ye's heart is?"

Jinshu was stunned.

"But...but His Majesty has been standing outside the palace every night these past few days. He still has feelings for you..."

"Love?" Shen Qingci laughed, her smile full of sarcasm. "Jinshu, a man's love is the most unreliable thing. Today he might stand for you all night, tomorrow he might be sleeping with another woman. Today he might say he regrets it, tomorrow he might throw you back into the cold palace."

She picked up Bao'er and gently patted her back.

"I've said it before, I don't need his affection. What I want is justice and revenge."

Jinshu opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

"However," Shen Qingci changed the subject, "the fact that the Liu family sent a beauty... could be put to good use."

She walked to the window and looked at the old locust tree in the yard.

Last night at midnight, Nangong Ye came again.

I stood under the tree for half an hour, then silently left.

Just like every night before.

"Jinshu," she turned around, "go and tell Xiaoluzi to spread the word."

"What news?"

"They said..." Shen Qingci said, enunciating each word clearly, "His Majesty still harbors feelings for the deposed Empress. He has taken in beauties but doesn't visit them. Instead, he stands outside Tangli Palace every night. They say the deposed Empress is very cunning and has stolen His Majesty's heart."

Jinshu's eyes widened: "Your Highness! If this gets out, won't Consort Liu be furious?"

"I want to drive her crazy." Shen Qingci sneered. "The crazier she gets, the more stupid things she'll do. And only when she does stupid things will she give herself away."

"But... what about Her Majesty's reputation..."

"Reputation?" Shen Qingci laughed. "What reputation does a deposed empress in the cold palace need? Besides, the reputation of 'bewitching the emperor' can sometimes be a form of protection."

Jinshu seemed to understand but not quite, but she still nodded: "This servant will go right away."

She left in a hurry.

Shen Qingci carried Bao'er and walked to the corridor.

The sun was shining brightly, and it felt warm and cozy on my skin.

Bao'er squirmed in her arms, then suddenly frowned as she looked towards the courtyard gate.

Shen Qingci's heart tightened.

She followed Bao'er's gaze—

A figure in red flashed past outside the courtyard gate.

Although it was quick, she saw it clearly.

It was that newly appointed Red Talent.

What is she doing at Tangli Palace?

Spying? Demonstration?

Or... something else?

Bao'er's little face scrunched up even more, and her little hands clenched into fists.

This is a sign that he is unhappy.

Shen Qingci hugged her son tightly, her eyes cold.

It seems this talented woman... has come with ill intentions.

---

Chuxiu Palace.

Hongxiao sat in front of the dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror.

The woman in the mirror was breathtakingly beautiful.

But there was no joy on her face.

"Miss," the personal maid whispered, "Prime Minister Liu sent word that you... need to hurry. His Majesty has accepted you for three days, but hasn't summoned you even once. If this continues..."

"I know," Hongxiao interrupted her, her voice cold. "I don't need you to remind me."

She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

She was a pawn cultivated by the Liu family. From the age of thirteen, she knew her fate—to be sent to the palace to please the emperor and secure the Liu family's favor.

But she never expected to encounter such a situation.

The emperor took her in, but never even came to see her.

Instead, he would stand outside the palace of a deposed empress every night.

What kind of magic does Shen Qingci possess?

"Miss, how about... we go to Tangli Palace and take a look?" the palace maid tentatively suggested. "Everyone says that deposed empress is incredibly cunning; shall we go and find out for ourselves?"

"She's gone," Hongxiao said. "She just left."

"how?"

Hongxiao fell silent.

She recalled the scene she had just witnessed outside the Tangli Palace—

The deposed empress stood under the eaves, holding her child. Sunlight shone on her; it was an ordinary scene, yet it possessed an indescribable... aura.

It's not beauty, it's not allure.

It is a kind of resilience, a kind of tranquility.

Like a pine tree in the snow, it stands firm and unmoved despite the wind and snow.

more importantly……

Hongxiao touched her chest.

As she approached the Tangli Palace, a strong sense of unease suddenly welled up inside her. It was as if something dangerous was watching her from the shadows.

"That place...it's eerie," she whispered. "I'll avoid it in the future."

The palace maid was about to ask more questions when a report came from outside: "Prime Minister Liu has arrived!"

Hongxiao quickly got up to greet her.

Liu Chengzong came secretly, accompanied only by a trusted follower.

He dismissed his attendants and cut to the chase: "Has His Majesty not summoned you yet?"

Hongxiao knelt down: "This servant is incompetent."

"It's not that you're incompetent," Liu Chengzong said with a gloomy face. "It's that bitch Shen Qingci's methods are too clever. She's... playing hard to get with His Majesty."

He paced back and forth: "We can't wait any longer. If we wait any longer, His Majesty will really be bewitched by her."

Hongxiao looked up: "What does the Prime Minister mean?"

Liu Chengzong stopped and looked at her, saying each word clearly: "Get rid of the child first."

Hongxiao's heart skipped a beat.

"That bastard child is His Majesty's greatest weakness," Liu Chengzong said coldly. "If anything happens to the child, His Majesty's guilt towards Shen Qingci will turn into resentment. At that time, you can take advantage of the situation..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Hongxiao understood.

"But..." she hesitated, "the child is being closely guarded, it's difficult to make a move."

"Then let's find a way." Liu Chengzong took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve. "Find a way to put this into the food at Tangli Palace. Not much, half a coin each time, for seven consecutive days. The child will gradually weaken, and eventually... die."

Hongxiao took the porcelain bottle, her hands trembling.

"What's wrong?" Liu Chengzong looked at her. "Have you softened?"

"This servant wouldn't dare," Hongxiao quickly lowered her head, "but... what if it gets found out..."

"They can't detect it." Liu Chengzong sneered. "This is a rare poison from the Western Regions, 'Seven-Day Withering.' It's colorless and odorless, and the symptoms after poisoning resemble a cold. The imperial physicians simply can't diagnose it. Even if they could, they would only assume the child was weak and died young."

He looked at Hongxiao: "If this succeeds, I guarantee you'll be made a concubine. If it fails..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Hongxiao understood.

The Liu family has no right to fail.

"This servant...yes." She gripped the porcelain bottle tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Liu Chengzong nodded in satisfaction, then turned and left.

Hongxiao stood there, staring at the porcelain vase in her hand for a long time.

Then, she walked to the window and looked in the direction of the Tangli Palace.

There, the sunset was just right.

She remembered the deposed empress standing in the sunlight, and the exquisitely beautiful child in her arms.

Their hands gripped even tighter.