SFS Chapter 192 The resentment runs deep, and it's probably hard to resolve!
Chapter 192 The resentment runs deep, and it's probably hard to resolve!
For a brief moment, their gazes met in the air.
Chu Qingyin didn't bother to see Lu Zhiheng's expression clearly, and turned her face away first, looking straight ahead.
In a spacious area of the Phoenix Palace, an altar had been erected in the center.
The short, stout sorceress wore a colorful feathered crown, shook a silver bell in her hand, and muttered incantations.
The concubines stood in a row on one side. Now that Chu Qingyin's rank was high, she naturally had to stand at the front, so she could see even more clearly.
The appointed time arrived, and Empress Wang was carried out, sitting in a wooden chair.
Although she was dressed in a proper empress's gown, she leaned listlessly against the back of the chair, her face haggard and her eyes vacant, a stark contrast to her usual dignified and majestic self.
Chu Qingyin had not seen Empress Wang for many days, and she never expected that she would become like this.
Could it be that I'm really tormented by nightmares every night?
She thought to herself, "The Wang family invited the sorceress into the palace, supposedly to pray for the Empress's health and cure her illness. I wonder what they're really up to."
Seeing that everyone had arrived, the sorceress shook her silver bells even more rapidly and chanted incantations in an increasingly louder tone.
Suddenly, she stopped what she was doing, her eyes widened, and she stared straight at Empress Wang, exclaiming loudly, "Your Majesty, you are being haunted by a vengeful spirit!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped in shock.
The concubines whispered among themselves, their expressions filled with panic.
Pei Yuanling's expression was solemn, his gaze fixed on the sorceress, and he remained silent.
Chu Qingyin sneered inwardly. Was this sorceress trying to make things difficult by pointing the finger at her?
She glanced at Lu Zhiheng out of the corner of her eye, and saw that in the firelight, the man's handsome face was flickering, and his deep eyes reflected the firelight, making it difficult to see clearly.
At this moment, the sorceress spoke again.
"This wronged spirit harbors deep resentment; it may be difficult to resolve!"
She muttered to herself, "But it's not entirely hopeless. We need to find the person the wronged spirit is referring to, and sincerely repent. Perhaps that can appease the spirit's anger."
"Nonsense!"
Empress Wang was furious upon hearing her words and shouted angrily, "Where did this swindler come from, daring to deceive people in the palace!"
Although Empress Wang rebuked her sternly, her voice was weak and lacked its usual majesty.
His face was flushed with anger, and he slammed his hand on the armrest of the chair, coughing violently as if he were terminally ill.
The sorceress remained calm and continued kneeling on the ground, looking directly at Empress Wang with a strange smile on her face.
"Your Majesty, please do not be angry. You have been having nightmares lately and cannot sleep at night. If it is not the work of a vengeful spirit, what else could it be? If we do not find the person the vengeful spirit is pointing to as soon as possible, I am afraid that your illness will get worse and worse, and may even endanger your life!"
As the sorceress spoke, the silver bell in her hand jingled incessantly, and she scattered a handful of glutinous rice on the ground, making people's hearts tremble.
Empress Wang trembled slightly, and a hint of fear flashed in her eyes.
However, she quickly regained her composure: "You vixen, stop spreading your lies here! Guards, throw her out of here!"
The guards on both sides were about to step forward, but Pei Yuanling stopped them by raising his hand: "Wait."
Upon hearing this, Empress Wang's face turned even paler. She said sadly, "Your Majesty, have you also believed the sorceress's nonsense?"
Pei Yuanling's expression was indifferent, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the sorceress and Empress Wang.
"Your Majesty, since the sorceress says she has a way to resolve this, let's listen to her. If she is truly a fraud, I will not let her off easily."
Besides, this sorceress was sent to the palace by the Wang family. If she is a fraud, the Wang family will also be implicated.
Empress Wang's heart tightened, and a complicated look flashed in her eyes as she looked at Pei Yuanling, but she still nodded reluctantly.
Upon seeing this, the sorceress's lips curled into a strange smile.
She started shaking the silver bells again, slowly pacing around Empress Wang, sprinkling handfuls of glutinous rice onto Empress Wang.
The other concubines all lowered their heads, not daring to look at this scene.
It was already late, and dark, gloomy clouds hung heavy, as if rain was about to fall, making it hard to breathe.
Suddenly, the sorceress stopped in her tracks, her eyes, sharp as eagle hooks, scanning her surroundings intently.
The concubines beside him all trembled, fearing that the other party would turn the spear against them.
Chu Qingyin remained calm and met her gaze.
Upon making eye contact, the sorceress's gaze remained fixed on her, never wavering.
Seeing this, Chu Qingyin coldly curled the corner of her mouth: "Why is the sorcerer looking at me like that? Are you saying that the vengeful spirit has possessed me? And that I must exchange my life for hers in order for the Empress's illness to improve?"
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to Chu Qingyin.
Chu Qingyin had anticipated this, and remained calm, meeting everyone's gaze without fear.
Hearing her say that, the sorceress shook her head and looked at an abandoned palace with a mysterious expression.
"Over there!"
A light flashed in her eyes, and the sound of the silver bells grew more intense. As if guided, she pointed her hand in the direction of the silver bells.
"This is the place where the wronged spirits reside."
Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped in shock.
Having lived in the palace for many years, how could they not know which direction to go?
It was not only a cold palace, but also the abandoned palace where the late Consort Gui had passed away.
Could it be that the death of the late Consort Gui was related to the Empress?
"Absurd! Utter nonsense!"
Empress Wang slammed her hand on the armrest and stood up abruptly. Ignoring Pei Yuanling's presence, she roared, "Guards! Throw this sorcerer out of the palace!"
Upon receiving the order, the guards immediately stepped forward to lift up the sorceress.
The sorceress did not struggle; her murky eyes stared straight at Empress Wang, sending chills down one's spine.
Empress Wang was breathing heavily, clearly very angry.
She couldn't understand why her father would send such a crazy woman into the palace!
Isn't this putting her on the hot seat?
Or is it that the Wang family has already chosen another daughter to send to the palace, and my existence is an obstacle?
Because of her long illness, Empress Wang was under a lot of stress and overthinking, so she didn't think about the details. She only felt that her family had abandoned her, and she became increasingly angry.
He was so angry that he collapsed into the chair, nearly fainting.
"Miss!"
Lin Qing, who was closest, was shocked and stumbled forward to help the person up, preventing them from falling to the ground.
Upon seeing this, the imperial physicians standing nearby immediately stepped forward, took out silver needles from their medicine boxes, and quickly located the acupuncture points to administer the treatment.
A moment later, Empress Wang slowly regained consciousness.
Her face was ashen, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, yet she still shouted, "Get that madwoman out of the palace!"
"The Empress seems distracted; she should focus on recuperating in the future."
The firelight reflected on Pei Yuanling's face, making him appear even more unpredictable. He waved his hand, signaling the palace servants to push Empress Wang into the hall.
He then turned to look at everyone present, his expression growing increasingly cold and stern. "From now on, no one is allowed to discuss what happened today. Anyone who does so will be beaten to death."