RPAGF Chapter 191 The Witch
Chapter 191 The Witch
Seeing the bitter look on her face, and her aggrieved and helpless appearance, Pei Yuanling felt a pang of pity.
He put down his teacup, took her hand, and said gently, "Yinyin, don't worry, I will make a decision on this matter."
He had already visited the Phoenix Palace that day and seen Empress Wang lying on the couch. Her haggard appearance did not seem to be fake.
Another maid told him that Empress Wang had been suffering from insomnia for many nights. Whenever she fell asleep, it was as if she was haunted by a vengeful ghost, and she could not sleep peacefully. She also often mumbled in her sleep, saying that the vengeful ghost in her dreams wanted to take someone's life.
If the palace maids in Fengyi Palace are saying this, then the rumors circulating in the palace must not be unfounded.
However, the matter was too strange, and he did suspect that it was Chu Qingyin who did it.
After all, Chu Qingyin had probably already guessed that the real culprit who poisoned her was none other than Empress Wang.
He already knew the truth about this, but he kept putting it off and was unwilling to investigate further.
He is still unable to completely eradicate the Wang family, and the Empress cannot be deposed yet.
However, judging from Chu Qingyin's words just now, it seems that someone else was the one who harmed Empress Wang.
After all, no one would gamble with their reputation, and he didn't want his innocent and carefree lover to be tainted by such sordid methods.
"Yinyin, you should not concern yourself with this matter anymore. Just stay in Feixue Palace for now."
"Your Majesty, I understand."
Chu Qingyin lowered her head slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes. Then she raised her head again, full of concern. "But now that Her Majesty the Empress is unwell, people in the palace are in a state of panic. I am worried that if this continues, it will affect the stability of the harem, and I am even more afraid that it will disturb His Majesty's mind and delay state affairs."
"It's alright, I'll handle it."
He raised his hand, gesturing for Chu Qingyin to sit on his lap.
Upon seeing this, Chu Qingyin, dressed in an elegant, simple dress, smoothed her hair at her temples and obediently sat in his lap, saying, "Your Majesty."
Pei Yuanling gently embraced Chu Qingyin's waist, his eyes full of tenderness, but deep within those eyes lurked a shadow that was difficult for others to detect.
He gently stroked Chu Qingyin's hair and murmured, "Yinyin, the court may seem calm on the surface, but there are undercurrents beneath. I have no choice but to retreat in order to advance. Many things are interconnected, and a single move can have far-reaching consequences. Do you understand?"
Chu Qingyin nestled in his arms and nodded obediently: "I understand Your Majesty's difficulties. It's just that I really feel sorry for Your Majesty, having to worry about the affairs of the court every day. Now, this incident in the harem has caused Your Majesty no peace."
As she spoke, she sat up slightly, looking at Pei Yuanling with a firm gaze, "If Your Majesty needs anything from me, please don't hesitate to ask. I will do my utmost to share Your Majesty's burdens."
Seeing her like this, Pei Yuanling was moved and couldn't help but kiss her forehead: "With your kindness, I am content."
"You just need to stay obediently in this Feixue Palace and wait for me to take care of everything."
Chu Qingyin smiled shyly, buried her head in his neck, her eyes sparkling as if they were shimmering with light, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey."
As she spoke, she deliberately twisted her waist on the man's lap, ran one hand across Pei Yuanling's neck, and bit her lip coquettishly said, "Your Majesty, it has been a long time since you have come to my place."
The man's body stiffened for a moment.
The next moment, he raised his hand, grabbed her chin, and lowered his head to kiss her rosy lips.
After a long time apart, this kiss was exceptionally passionate.
Upon seeing this, the other maids in the hall all withdrew and carefully closed the hall door.
With no outsiders around, Pei Yuanling no longer hesitated, picked the person up by the waist, and strode into the inner room.
"His Majesty……"
Chu Qingyin breathed softly, her arms wrapped around the man's neck.
Their eyes met, and the love in their eyes seemed to overflow.
After not seeing each other for many days, the two embraced, their passion growing stronger like dry tinder igniting a raging fire.
That night, Pei Yuanling tormented her until very late before finally letting her go.
Afterwards, as they lingered in each other's arms, he lay back in the red silk curtains, his long fingers stroking the alluring face of the woman in his arms, still feeling as if he were dreaming.
His voice has truly returned.
Chu Qingyin leaned lazily against Pei Yuanling's chest, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on his chest.
Pei Yuanling gently stroked her back, and the two of them were immersed in this moment of tranquility.
After that night, Pei Yuanling did not visit Feixue Palace for a long time.
The Empress's illness showed no signs of improvement, and he could only spare a few moments each day to visit her at the Phoenix Palace.
Chu Qingyin didn't think much of it. She simply followed Pei Yuanling's instructions and stayed peacefully in Feixue Palace, refusing to go out again.
Although Pei Yuanling suppressed many rumors in the palace, a considerable number still reached outside the palace. Some even went so far as to say that the strange occurrences in the Cold Palace were the spirit of the late Consort seeking revenge!
That afternoon, Yu Yan hurriedly ran back from outside the palace.
The little girl looked flustered, as if she had encountered something extremely serious.
Be careful!
Seeing her so reckless, Xianglan quickly spoke up to stop her, "Why are you in such a panic? Be careful not to offend Her Majesty!"
Once Yu Yan's breathing had calmed down a bit, she asked again, "What happened that made you so anxious?"
"Sister Xianglan, I heard that a sorceress has come to Fengyi Palace. It seems that the Wang family sent her because Her Majesty the Empress has been ill for a long time."
Yu Yan swallowed hard and then recounted everything she had learned.
Xianglan looked solemn and led her to her mistress, whereupon she recounted the incident once more.
"A sorceress? Or was she personally sent in by the Wang family?"
Chu Qingyin frowned slightly. Did Pei Yuanling know about such a big matter?
Or did he find out and just let them run wild?
"Yes."
Yu Yan said tremblingly in a low voice, "I saw it with my own eyes, it's absolutely true."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin scoffed.
It seems the rumors are spreading so widely that even the Wang family members themselves have come to believe them.
However, if one didn't have a guilty conscience, why would one be afraid?
"Alright, I understand. You may all leave."
Chu Qingyin glanced at the sky, pretending she knew nothing about it.
Although the royal family handled the matter cautiously, the news still spread throughout the palace.
Seeing that he could no longer conceal the truth, Pei Yuanling simply ordered all the concubines to go to Fengyi Palace to attend the ceremony and pray for the Empress's well-being.
Upon learning of this, Chu Qingyin felt little emotional.
But since the emperor ordered all the concubines to go, she naturally couldn't refuse.
As night approached, she changed into a plain-colored dress.
Because of the excessive blood loss from the previous assassination attempt, her face, without makeup, still looked somewhat pale and sickly, which appeared even more pronounced in the dim light of the night.
When she arrived, many concubines had already gathered at Fengyi Palace.
To her surprise, Lu Zhiheng was also there.
Today, he wore a red official robe, the gold-embroidered crane pattern gleaming in the firelight, so solemn and dignified that one dared not look directly at him.
As if sensing the gaze from one side, he suddenly turned around and looked in Chu Qingyin's direction.