latelenovela Chapter 117: Concubine Yuan was sent to the cold palace
Chapter 117: Concubine Yuan was sent to the cold palace
Deep within the resplendent, solemn, and elegant imperial palace, news spread like a spring breeze across a lake, stirring ripples. Imperial Concubine Su Jingyue, renowned for her stunning beauty and exceptional talent, was now pregnant, bearing the future of the empire. Her good news, like warm sunshine, spread throughout the palace, filling everyone with joy.
Yet, amidst this sea of joy, one person's heart simmered with an undercurrent of jealousy. Concubine Yuan, once the dazzling star of the imperial palace, now felt an unprecedented sense of loss and threat. She sat alone in the empty palace, staring blankly at the withering petals outside the window, the flames of jealousy burning fiercely within her, threatening to consume her sanity.
Princess Yuan thought back to the past, a time when she was beloved and enjoyed immense glory. But now, everything had changed. Her status had been stripped away, her glory gone, and even the emperor had grown cold and indifferent to her. And the source of all this was a woman named Su Jingyue.
The news of Su Jingyue's pregnancy hit Concubine Yuan like a bolt from the blue. She knew that if Su Jingyue gave birth to a prince, her position would be completely ruined. So, she decided to take a risk and not just sit there and wait for death.
Late at night, Concubine Yuan secretly gathered a few of her confidants, all of whom were members of the forces she had accumulated over the years in the palace. In the dim candlelight, they sat together, plotting how to eliminate the heir in Su Jingyue's womb.
"Do you have any solution?" Princess Yuan's voice was cold and resolute.
One of them said, "We can arrange an accident and make Su Jingyue have a miscarriage."
Another person said, "Or poison her food, but do it perfectly."
Concubine Yuan's eyes became more vicious. After pondering for a moment, she said, "No, these methods are too risky and easy to be exposed. I need a more perfect plan that can not only get rid of the child in Su Jingyue's belly, but also keep us out of trouble."
Everyone fell silent and began to think. At this time, a sinister idea came into Princess Yuan's mind.
"We can find a scapegoat and let him murder Su Jingyue. After the deed is done, we can kill him. That way, no one will suspect us." Princess Yuan raised a cold smile at the corner of her mouth.
The others nodded in agreement. Thus, Concubine Yuan began to plot her scheme. She wanted Su Jingyue to lose her child forever, so that she could regain the glory and status that once belonged to her.
On a spring day, the Imperial Gardens were ablaze with blossoms, birdsong, and fragrance. Su Jingyue strolled amidst this beautiful scenery, enjoying a rare moment of peace and tranquility. However, she was unaware of the danger creeping in. Under cover of darkness, a trusted maidservant of the Imperial Concubine Yuan had spread a greasy coating of oil on the path Su Jingyue was walking on, intending to cause her to fall and miscarry.
However, fate seemed unwilling to let this kind-hearted imperial concubine suffer such a fate. Su Jingyue's maid, with her keen insight and loyal devotion to her master, spotted something strange on the ground. She quickly alerted Su Jingyue, allowing her to narrowly avoid the trap. Concubine Yuan's first plan had failed, but she didn't give up.
In the days that followed, Concubine Yuan's schemes became even more frantic. She ordered Su Jingyue's meals to be secretly poisoned, attempting to quietly eliminate this thorn in her side. However, she had no idea that all this was discovered by the Emperor's covert protection of Su Jingyue. These loyal guards and palace maids, like an invisible net, thwarted Concubine Yuan's schemes one by one.
When the Emperor learned of Concubine Yuan's actions, his fury erupted like a volcano. He could not tolerate such threats and harm to his beloved woman and unborn child. Without mercy, he ordered Concubine Yuan banished to the cold palace, stripping her of her title and all privileges. In the dark and damp recesses of the cold palace, Concubine Yuan finally realized her mistake and her folly. Tears streamed down her face, regretting her impulsiveness and jealousy, but it was too late to undo.
Upon learning of Concubine Yuan's fate, Su Jingyue felt neither joy nor a sense of revenge. She knew the cruelty and ruthlessness of palace struggle, and understood that her safe passage to this point was inseparable from the protection and care of the Emperor and those around her. Therefore, she cherished everything she had, hoping only to safely give birth to a son, continuing the Emperor's bloodline while also bringing a glimmer of hope and warmth to a palace rife with strife and scheming.
As the days progressed, Su Jingyue's belly gradually swelled, marking the crucial stage of her pregnancy. The Emperor showed her meticulous care, often visiting her personally to inquire about her health and needs. His actions, demonstrating his deep love and sense of responsibility for Su Jingyue, moved the entire court.
The imperial physicians took turns meticulously checking Su Jingyue's pulse, their eyes revealing their unwavering faith in the safety of both mother and child. Each pulse check was a sincere act of care for life, a reaffirmation of the peace within the palace. An atmosphere of cautiousness permeated every corner of the palace, with maids and eunuchs alike apprehensive that any small movement might disturb the soon-to-be mother.
Su Jingyue, a woman at the pinnacle of power, seemed to be in a paradise. Her heart was free from the struggles of power, only a reverence and anticipation for life. Every day, besides the necessary physical exercise to strengthen her body, she also engaged in prenatal education, weaving a beautiful world for her unborn child with gentle words and soft music. Accompanied by poetry, books, and the sounds of the zither, she seemed to be detached from the world, immersed in tranquility and harmony, striving to create a pure and loving prenatal environment for her unborn child.
As summer quietly approaches, the Imperial Gardens burst into life. Flowers of all colors bloom, vying for splendor, as if offering their sincerest blessings for the new life to come. Su Jingyue occasionally chooses to stroll through this sea of flowers at dusk, carefully supported by her maid. A gentle breeze carries the fragrance of flowers, and she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, as if to engrave this beauty forever in her heart.
Beyond this warm and beautiful scene, a pair of eyes silently observed it all. The Emperor, the ruler of a nation, cast aside all dignity and busyness, standing quietly not far away, watching Su Jingyue's every move with a gaze filled with tenderness and expectation. His heart was filled with love and care for Su Jingyue, and with anticipation and longing for the new life that was about to arrive.
To welcome this new life, the entire palace was immersed in joy and bustle. The Empress personally oversaw every detail, meticulously selecting and arranging everything from the necessary delivery items to the attendant nurses and doctors, striving to ensure every possible outcome. A warm and harmonious atmosphere permeated the entire palace, as if everyone was offering their most sincere blessings and anticipation for this impending birth.