The Daily Life of a Concubine

Chapter 80 - Kill

She resembled a vengeful ghost, devouring Zhang Wenke's soul step by step. "I hear the Emperor dotes on you immensely, even sending you fresh lotuses every day in the dead of winter. Such boundless imperial grace. But do you know? Those lotuses are all nourished with the blood and flesh of the Zhang family. Zhang Wenke, it's you who got the Zhang family killed." With a sharp slap, the Empress Dowager struck Zhang Wenke across the face.

Zhang Wenke was already in tears, her sobs unrelenting. How could this be? How could it have come to this?

She never intended to harm her family; she had only wanted to reach a high position and bring her family the glory and honor they had longed for. Why had it all turned out like this?

"No, no, I don't believe it. This can't be true. The Emperor wouldn't deceive me. He wouldn't." Zhang Wenke was falling apart.

Seeing her descent into madness, the Empress Dowager laughed wildly. "Hahaha, this is karma, retribution!"

The guards outside the hall didn't dare enter. Naturally, someone had already gone to inform Zhao Jinrui when the quarrel had first broken out inside.

Upon learning of the disturbance, Zhao Jinrui merely ordered the situation to be monitored. He didn't even move from his seat.

Later, when it was reported that the two women had come to blows, Zhao Jinrui had them separated and confined to their respective palaces.

The entire palace was left in shock. What had the favored Xian Fei done to deserve confinement by the Emperor?

Everyone scrambled to investigate, but the Emperor had silenced all sources. No one could discover the truth.

As rumors swirled, the palace was rife with speculation. Some, more daring, even began to link the matter to political events from the past. But with the Zhang family having gradually faded from the court, what could they really uncover?

Seeking help from their families proved fruitless, as no one had the courage to investigate. Eventually, most assumed that Xian Fei had simply angered the Empress Dowager and that the Emperor had placed her under house arrest as punishment.

As the year-end approached, Bai Jingxian's pregnancy had progressed to the point where she could no longer move independently. If not for the support of palace servants, it seemed as though a deadly fate awaited her and her unborn children.

Though the due date was still far off, her lack of mobility put her at risk. In this era, there was no concept of a C-section, but fortunately, the childbirth medicine she was taking could ensure the safety of her babies when the time came.

To protect her own health, Bai Jingxian had no choice but to force herself to move around as much as possible. She had to fight for her survival.

With the onset of winter, the entire harem had quieted down. The only one who seemed to lose her mind was the person who had lost her child, the once-powerful Lan Guifei.

"Why is the Emperor treating me like this?" she sobbed after receiving word from her family, who relayed their dire situation. She couldn't believe the Emperor would treat her family so cruelly.

"Your Highness now is not the time for tears," Huang Momo said, her face full of worry. "You must find a way to ask the Emperor to spare the Tan family. Otherwise, what will happen to the lord, the lady, and the young master?"

Though she was concerned for her master, her deeper fear was for her own family, who still resided in the Tan household.

"Yes, Your Highness. We must act quickly to plead with the Emperor. This must be the result of some conspiracy. The Lord has always been so loyal—how could he commit treason?" Li Fuquan urged, equally anxious. Without Lan Guifei's favor, the servants' lives would become difficult.

"Your Highness, let me help you dress," Hua Chun said tearfully.

She had been with Lan Guifei for many years, ever since her mistress had first entered the palace, and her family also served the Tan household. If anything were to happen to the Tan family, she didn't know what fate awaited them.

Lan Guifei had been physically weak ever since losing her child. Most of her days were spent bedridden, and she rarely had the strength to get up. Yet, in this moment of desperation, she found a reserve of energy. "Fine, I will go beg the Emperor."

Meanwhile, in the QingZheng Hall, the latest news had arrived from Jiangnan.

Amid the chaos of the bloodbath, Prince Duan had been goaded into rebellion—something no one had expected.

The Tan family had played a significant role in this, not only inciting the scholars in Jiangnan to support Prince Duan but also rallying the officials of the region under his banner.

The unrest in Jiangnan had largely been the result of Tan Xiang's influence, whose forces had infiltrated the region's defenses. This was why Prince Duan had been able to raise an army so easily.

While Prince Duan himself lacked the nerve to rebel, a mysterious figure had appeared by his side—Dezhong, who had escaped during the Empress Dowager's purging of her court.

Now, using his real name, Zhao Fuzu, his reappearance sheds light on his origins.

Upon learning of this, Zhao Jinrui immediately guessed who he was dealing with, though he hadn't anticipated that a surviving member of that family would cause such a problem. Nor had he expected that the Empress Dowager's illegitimate son would bear the surname Zhao.

How fitting, he thought wryly.

On the secret dispatch, Zhao Jinrui scrawled a single word: "Kill."

That was it. Kill them all—whether they bore the name Zhao, Prince Duan, or Tan. All must die.

Just as the dispatch was being sent out, a commotion erupted outside. Zhao Jinrui's mood darkened. "Who is it?"

De Fu was still in the hall, waiting with a group of ministers, all of whom could feel the Emperor's simmering rage. Each of them prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to move.

"Go see who dares make trouble in QingZheng Hall," Zhao Jinrui ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

De Fu hurried out of the hall, quickening his pace as he heard the Emperor's angry shouts.

"This is the chief minister you all supported! This is the so-called virtuous prime minister you all uphold!"

De Fu hastened his steps and, upon reaching the entrance, was startled to see who had come.

It was none other than Lan Guifei herself.

"Greetings, Your Highness," De Fu greeted her cautiously.

Lan Guifei wasted no time and approached him with a few feeble steps, relying on her maidservant for support. "I must see the Emperor. Please, make an announcement."

Seeing her frail state, De Fu was taken aback. How had she deteriorated so much in such a short time?

He was filled with unease. If this situation wasn't handled delicately, Lan Guifei might not have much time left.

"Your Highness, please wait a moment. I will inform His Majesty right away. There are ministers in the hall right now. Would Your Highness kindly wait in the side chamber?" He couldn't leave her standing at the entrance, where the ministers might see her—it wouldn't be appropriate.

Lan Guifei hesitated but was tugged gently by Huang Momo, prompting her to agree reluctantly. "Fine. I will wait in the side chamber. Thank you for your trouble, Steward."

Now wasn't the time for her to cause a scene. She had come to plead, not to demand. The once-proud and arrogant Lan Guifei had long lost her youthful splendor.

De Fu assigned a young eunuch to lead them away. Watching Lan Guifei's retreating figure, he shook his head. He knew better than to involve himself in these palace intrigues, but even he could sense the Emperor's intentions this time.

Zhao Jinrui was determined to depose the chief minister and dismantle the Tan family's power. However, such a task was far from easy.

Outside, the biting cold of winter cut through the air, freezing everything in its path. Even the wind felt sharp as it chilled people to the bone.