jdhmnovel Chapter 293 Pretending to Beg for Mercy
Chapter 293 Pretending to Beg for Mercy
This sudden change made Cen Jiexiao secretly happy. The plan was going even more smoothly than expected, which made her more determined.
She pretended to be concerned and walked to the side of Concubine Shu, pretending to check on her condition. Her slender fingers gently rested on Concubine Shu's wrist, feeling the weak pulse.
Her eyes swept over the panicked concubines around her, a barely perceptible sneer curling up at the corner of her mouth. In reality, she was observing the reactions of those around her, taking in their fear, disgust, and gloating.
All of this was observed by Chai Zhen, who was secretly observing. He stood in a corner, his figure veiled in the shadows, observing all this like a ghost. He remained impassive on the surface, but inwardly he was filled with admiration for Cen Jiexiao's courage and acting skills. This woman was meticulous and ruthless, yet she managed to remain calm in crucial moments, concealing her emotions with impeccable precision. He watched Cen Jiexiao's every move with fascination, his eyes filled with amusement and inquiry. This woman was becoming increasingly intriguing.
As night fell and the palace lights dimmed, Chai Zhen found Xiaolian on duty in a secluded corner outside the imperial study. He gestured for the guards to withdraw, and after ensuring that no one was around, he whispered, "You are Xiaolian, Concubine Shu's most trusted maid?"
Xiaolian knelt down in fear and said, "I am Xiaolian, your servant, here to pay my respects to the Emperor."
Chai Zhen gently helped her up and said, "No need to be so polite. I have an important matter to entrust to you. You must do it well."
After saying that, he took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Xiaolian.
"Hand this letter to Concubine Shu in person. Remember, hand it to her in person, and don't let anyone else do it."
Xiaolian took the envelope with both hands, feeling it was slightly heavy in her hands. She nodded solemnly, "I will obey your order and will personally deliver the letter to Her Majesty the Concubine."
"This is a serious matter, don't leak a single word." Chai Zhen reminded again, his tone full of unquestionable majesty.
Xiaolian kowtowed again: "I understand."
After watching Xiaolian leave in a hurry, Chai Zhen turned back to the imperial study, stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, staring at the deep night sky, with a thousand thoughts in his mind.
Xiaolian trotted all the way through the numerous palace gates and corridors, finally returning to Concubine Shu's bedroom. The bedroom was completely silent, with only a few dim palace lanterns emitting a faint light.
Concubine Shu reclined on the bed, her face as pale as paper, her eyes closed, and her breath weak. Seeing this, Xiaolian hurried forward and called softly, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
Concubine Shu slowly opened her eyes and saw that it was Xiaolian. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes: "Xiaolian, it's you... why are you back?"
"Your Majesty, the Emperor sent me to bring you a letter." Xiaolian said, carefully handing the envelope to Concubine Shu.
Concubine Shu took the envelope with trembling hands, laboriously unsealed it, and pulled out the letter. It contained only a few words, each weighing heavily: "Cen Jiexiao is one of us, trustworthy. I will find a way to rescue you." The signature was a simple "Zheng" (zhen).
Upon seeing the contents of the letter, Concubine Shu was stunned for a moment, then a flicker of disbelief and surprise flashed across her eyes, followed by tears. The Emperor actually believed her! He even sent Sister Cen to help her! She clutched the letter tightly, as if grasping a lifeline, and a spark of hope ignited in her heart.
The next morning, golden sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, illuminating the exquisite breakfast served in the Empress's chambers. A dazzling array of delicacies from land and sea filled the air, their aromas filling the air. Shai Zhen and Empress He Yunshu sat opposite each other, enjoying this peaceful breakfast.
Chai Zhen picked up his ivory chopsticks, picked up a piece of crystal-clear osmanthus cake, took a bite, and said casually, "Shufei is under house arrest now. I believe she must be feeling depressed. I want to go and visit her."
Empress He Yunshu put down the jade chopsticks in her hand, smiled gently, and said softly, "Your Majesty is so kind, and Concubine Shu will surely be grateful. I also feel that Concubine Shu is now pregnant with the dragon heir, and being confined for too long will be detrimental to the dragon fetus."
Chai Zhen put down his chopsticks, tapping the tabletop lightly with his slender fingers. A hint of hesitation flashed across his brows. "I'm indeed a little worried about my mother. She's so concerned about Concubine Shu..."
Empress He Yunshu gently grasped Chai Zhen's hand and soothed him softly, "Your Majesty has always loved the Emperor and valued the royal family's heirs. As long as the Emperor and I sincerely plead together, Your Majesty will surely relent." Her eyes flickered as she added, "Furthermore, the child Shufei is carrying is the Emperor's flesh and blood. How could Your Majesty truly have the heart to do this?"
Chai Zhen nodded, feeling somewhat relieved, and tightened his grip on the Empress's hand. "Yun Shu is right. Let's go and ask for Mother's favor together." After breakfast, he stood up and said to the Empress, "Let's go together to Mother's palace."
Empress He Yunshu responded and followed Chai Zhen to the Empress Dowager's chambers. Along the way, the palace maids and eunuchs saluted one after another, and the mighty procession passed through numerous palace gates and corridors, finally arriving at the Empress Dowager's chambers.
In the Empress Dowager's chambers, smoke curled from the incense burner, filling the air with a soothing aroma. The Empress Dowager sat in a rosewood chair, leisurely sipping her morning tea.
Seeing Chai Zhen and the Empress coming together, the Empress Dowager's face flashed with surprise. She put down the teacup in her hand and asked, "Why are the Emperor and Empress here together today?"
Chai Zhen stepped forward and bowed, saying respectfully, "Mother, your Majesty, Yunshu and I have just learned about Concubine Shu's affairs. We learned that she was disrespectful to her elders and had contradicted you, so we came to see you."
Empress He Yunshu also bowed gracefully, "That's right, Mother. My sister Shufei was young and ignorant, and she offended you. Please calm down. Now she knows she's wrong and knows the difference between right and wrong. I hope you will forgive her this time for Your Majesty's sake."
Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother's face darkened and she snorted coldly, "I'm not senile yet! She's clearly deliberately challenging my authority! Why is the Emperor so protective of her?"
Chai Zhen looked helpless and explained in a low voice, "Mother, Concubine Shu's pulse seems to be abnormal recently. I'm afraid she is pregnant with a dragon heir. If she has a miscarriage, wouldn't you lose your grandson? Please think twice."
Although the Queen Mother was unhappy, the Queen also pleaded with her. Moreover, she did not want to be charged with disobeying the Emperor during this sensitive period, so she had to agree to release Concubine Shu, but still confined her to her own bedroom and did not allow anyone to visit her.
Cen Jiexiao pondered for a moment, a plan in mind. She decided to further win over Concubine Shu and consolidate her power. So, she took the initiative to ask the Empress Dowager to send her personal maid, Yu Lan, to "protect" Concubine Shu. While this was ostensibly protection, it was actually surveillance, so she could keep tabs on Concubine Shu's movements. The Empress Dowager, worried about finding a suitable person to monitor Concubine Shu, readily agreed to Cen Jiexiao's proposal. After all, she needed an informant to keep tabs on Concubine Shu's every move and prevent her from causing trouble again.