SFS Chapter 64, 9th Lifetime: The Mad Beauty's Desperate Counterattack
Chapter 64, 9th Lifetime: The Mad Beauty's Desperate Counterattack
Chapter Sixty-Four: The Mad Beauty in the Harem: Beauty Yan's Desperate Counterattack
The talent show had just ended when Luo Qingci transformed into Yan Meiren, striding confidently into the palace and moving into the Jade Bamboo Pavilion, a secluded spot seemingly forgotten by the palace at the edge of the universe.
The place was so quiet you could hear ants fighting, but Luo Qingci was overjoyed, thinking, "This is my secret revenge base, it's perfect!"
She put her hands on her hips, her eyes darted around, and a smug, triumphant smile spread across her face, as if to say, "You'd better wait until I turn the palace upside down!"
A few days later, the palace held a flower-viewing banquet. This was hardly a flower-viewing event; it was clearly a large-scale palace intrigue "happy planet." Luo Qingci wore a light pink silk dress, and the plum blossom embroidery on the hem seemed to be enchanted. With each step she took, the blossoms swayed merrily, and the fragrance they emitted could dazzle even butterflies.
The moment she appeared, wow, all eyes in the room were instantly drawn to her, as if by a powerful magnet.
When Consort Shu saw her from afar, her eyes widened like copper bells, and the flames of jealousy instantly burned up to her throat, her face contorting like a crumpled piece of paper.
She yelled in her hoarse voice, "Hey, who came out of here? With that face and that vixen look, she really thinks she's the boss of the harem?"
Some of the surrounding concubines, like sparrows injected with chicken blood, immediately joined in the commotion; others crossed their arms, amusement on their lips, as if to say, "This drama is sure to be even more exciting than a storytelling performance!"
Luo Qingci rolled her eyes inwardly, but her face was plastered with a sickeningly sweet smile. She gave a slight bow and spoke in a soft, cute voice like a kitten that had just woken up: "Your Highness is too witty. I'm just a newcomer to the palace, and I haven't even figured out the rules yet. I just want to avoid causing trouble for the ladies. How could I dare to have any wicked thoughts?"
These words, seemingly a show of weakness, were actually a veiled attack, making Consort Shu so angry that her face turned as green as a vegetable struck by lightning.
Just then, the Emperor arrived, and everyone knelt down in unison, like dumplings being dropped into a pot. As soon as the Emperor took his seat, his eyes were drawn to Luo Qingci, and he said with a smile, "Consort Yan is even more radiant today."
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu nearly twisted the handkerchief in her hand into a pretzel. The fire of jealousy burning in her heart felt like it could burn the entire palace to ashes.
Halfway through the banquet, a bee suddenly appeared from some mysterious corner, as if under a bewitching spell, and flew straight towards Consort Shu. Consort Shu was terrified, her face turning pale. Her scream was so loud it could have pierced the atmosphere, more agonizing than the squeal of a pig being scalded by boiling water.
She jumped around, waving her hands wildly in the air, looking exactly like a comical doll that had been set on fire. The scene was incredibly messy and embarrassing.
But Luo Qingci remained calm and composed, like Mount Tai that has stood firm for a thousand years. She calmly took out a delicate little bottle from her sleeve, gently shook it, and a miracle happened: the bees seemed to be frozen in place and obediently flew away.
The Emperor was so surprised that his jaw almost dropped to the ground. He asked curiously, "Consort Yan, what kind of treasure is this? It's so magical."
Luo Qingci bowed respectfully and replied, "Your Majesty, this is an insect repellent perfume that I made myself. I thought there would be many mosquitoes in the summer, so I made some in advance. I never expected that it would help the Imperial Concubine in a difficult situation today." Upon hearing this, the Emperor was delighted and praised her intelligence even more.
Although Consort Shu escaped unscathed, she couldn't swallow the humiliation she had suffered in front of everyone. Back in her palace, she paced back and forth like an enraged tigress, muttering to herself, "That Luo Qingci, I'm not done with her! I'll show her who's really in charge in this palace!"
She immediately summoned her trusted eunuch, and the two of them huddled together, secretly plotting to give Luo Qingci a hard time.
On the other side, Luo Qingci had already learned the news from Juxiang. She sat in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound, like playing the prelude to revenge.
A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, a smile that sent chills down one's spine. He thought to himself, "Hmph, you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, so don't blame me for being impolite. Watch how I completely crush your arrogance and show you that messing with me comes at a terrible price."
A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, as if she were about to devour her enemy alive at any moment.
That evening, the young eunuch sent by Consort Shu sneaked into the Jade Bamboo Pavilion. He clutched the poison tightly in his hand, his furtive manner resembling that of a cat stealing cream, taking each step cautiously, afraid of making the slightest sound.
But as soon as he entered the room, he was seized by the guards who had been lying in wait, like a chicken being picked up. It turned out that Luo Qingci had already made contact with the Grand Secretary's inside agent in the palace and laid a trap, just waiting for these people to walk right into it.
The next day, the matter reached the Emperor's ears. Upon hearing it, the Emperor was furious, his face turning as black as the bottom of a pot, and he loudly ordered a thorough investigation.
Consort Shu, realizing her plan had been exposed, was so terrified that her legs went weak and she collapsed to the ground. Her face was ashen, her lips trembled slightly, and she kept muttering, "It's over, it's over..."
Luo Qingci seized the opportunity and wept bitterly before the Emperor. She knelt on both knees, tears streaming down her face like a burst dam, her voice trembling with sobs as she pitifully said, "Your Majesty, I have served you wholeheartedly and dutifully, never having ever dared to overstep my bounds. Where have I offended anyone to suffer this calamity?"
Looking at her pitiful state, and recalling Consort Shu's usual arrogance, the Emperor's dissatisfaction with her deepened. He frowned and, with a stern expression, ordered the severe punishment of Consort Shu's trusted eunuch, and sternly warned Consort Shu against further reckless behavior.
After this battle, Luo Qingci became famous throughout the palace. Everyone knew that this seemingly delicate beauty was actually a ruthless character not to be trifled with. She knew in her heart that this was just a small ripple on her road to revenge; the real challenges were yet to come.
Undeterred, she relied on her calm and composed demeanor and clear-headed rationality to steadily advance towards her revenge in the ruthless and treacherous imperial harem. She firmly believed that as long as she was strong enough, those who had harmed her and her family would eventually pay a heavy price for their actions.
And she will surely shine brightly in this dark harem, becoming a queen who controls her own destiny and making everyone look at her with new eyes.
She wanted the palace to know that the frail girl who used to scream and hide under the covers at the sight of a chicken being killed was gone forever. Now standing here was an avenger with an iron will and great strength. She would firmly grasp her destiny in her own hands and let justice prevail!