Jiang Yingcheng hadn't noticed the atmosphere around her turn strange in an instant. Her devastating inner thoughts kept spilling out, one after another.
[The ladies punished by Noble Consort Rou didn't dare say anything afterward, so everyone outside thought the Aunties really did it!]
[How awful! Even that wasn't enough. Noble Consort Rou sent people everywhere to spread rumors that Pretty Auntie was cruel and ruthless, hoping Father would gradually start believing it too.]
[Three people can turn a rumor into a tiger! A tiger, I tell you!]
The three people present who could hear Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts were so shocked by the revelations that they instinctively overlooked how unlike a child her age those remarks were.
Eunuch Changshun recovered first. Suddenly remembering Emperor Mingze's instructions, he swept his gaze back and forth across the faces in the room.
Consort Lan and Noble Consort Qing both stared wide-eyed in alarm at the little dumpling standing between them with her head lowered, utterly unaware that they had heard every last one of her thoughts.
He lowered his head, concealing the emotions in his eyes.
These two apparently could hear the little princess's thoughts as well, while the princess herself remained completely oblivious to the change in the atmosphere.
Noble Consort Qing's fingertips began trembling uncontrollably.
Ever since entering the palace, she had treated everyone kindly. She had never mistreated even the servants in her residence.
She had thought this would keep her far from the palace's conflicts, allowing her to live peacefully in her own little corner. Never had she imagined her opponent would pursue her so relentlessly, even brazenly bringing the bullying into her own residence!
[Ah!!]
Jiang Yingcheng's inner voice suddenly rose, as though she had heard something startling.
What? What happened?!
Noble Consort Qing hurriedly suppressed the emotions churning inside her and held her breath, concentrating for fear of missing something important.
Jiang Yingcheng finally raised her head, her eyes darting toward Noble Consort Qing's waist.
[Is it that sachet?]
A sachet?
In a daze, Noble Consort Qing looked down.
She did indeed have a sachet hanging at her waist today. Noble Consort Rou had personally delivered it two months ago.
Noble Consort Qing's breath caught.
Could it be...
[Hmm, how do I tell the Aunties that the fragrant herbs inside can make her infertile?]
*!!!*
Noble Consort Qing's vision dimmed. She staggered backward and nearly collapsed onto the floor, but the maid behind her noticed something was wrong and caught her in time.
There were fragrant herbs inside that could make her infertile?!
Noble Consort Qing's thoughts raced, everything from the past flashing before her eyes like a revolving lantern.
Noble Consort Rou had always presented herself as pure-hearted and free of worldly desires, once leading her to believe she had found a kindred spirit in the palace. They often called each other sisters and frequently exchanged gifts.
Noble Consort Rou sent a new sachet like this almost every few months. Over the years, she had replaced so many that Noble Consort Qing had lost count.
Noble Consort Qing nearly fainted.
Then had those earlier ones contained the same herbs too?
Was this why she had never been able to conceive??!
Noble Consort Qing trembled all over with rage. She reached to tear off the sachet and throw it far away, only to hear a voice beside her-
"Aunties, are you feeling unwell?"
That concerned question briefly brought clarity back to Noble Consort Qing's eyes.
The little one's gaze was filled with confusion and genuine concern. For a moment, Noble Consort Qing had no idea how to explain something as absurd as being able to hear her thoughts.
And besides...
Deep down, she wanted to learn more from the child's thoughts...
Noble Consort Qing drew a deep breath and said weakly, "I'm fine. It's an old ailment. Sometimes I can't stand overly pungent scents."
She turned to ask her maid to remove the sachet at her waist, but suddenly saw a bright light flare in the little one's eyes.
"That's wonderful!" Jiang Yingcheng exclaimed excitedly. "Then can you give this little sachet to Chengcheng, Aunties?"
Noble Consort Qing froze, instinctively wanting to refuse. "This..."
It's poisonous!
[Hehehe, when we go to Noble Consort Rou's residence later, we'll hide this sachet in her room!]
Noble Consort Qing immediately perked up. She swiftly untied the sachet and pressed it into the little one's hand. "Here."
These things only caused poisoning after prolonged use, so she wasn't worried that such brief contact would endanger the child.
Watching the little one carefully put the sachet away, she sincerely wanted to give her some gifts in thanks as well.
With her maid supporting her, Noble Consort Qing slowly crouched down. Looking directly into the little one's clear eyes, she asked gently, "Is there anything else you like, Chengcheng? Aunties can give it to you."
Jiang Yingcheng's almond-shaped eyes grew even rounder. "Anything at all?"
[System Bro, System Bro! Now we have an excuse to throw out all the poisonous things!]
The joy in the little one's thoughts was unmistakable, but Noble Consort Qing's heart sank straight to the bottom.
She had truly wanted to give the little one a gift. Yet hearing those thoughts now left her both warmed and terrified-
Just how many poisonous things were there in her residence??
Noble Consort Qing clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. It took all her strength to keep her voice from sounding strained. "Of course."
"Anything at all," she emphasized.
She didn't know how to describe what she felt. She hoped the little one could carry away every poisonous thing, yet dreaded discovering that she had lived among them for so long.
The little one, however, had no understanding of her complicated feelings. With a cheer, she began scampering all over the room.
"Chengcheng really likes this little box!"
[Noble Consort Rou soaked this in saffron juice over and over. Dangerous!]
"Chengcheng wants to take this stack of writing paper home to practice writing!"
[That villain! She even gave the Aunties writing paper soaked in hyssop juice!]
"This one, Chengcheng..."
"Likes..."
Like a little bandit, Jiang Yingcheng kept plundering the small reception room. In no time, she had picked out several things and piled them all into the accompanying maid's arms.
Every lingering doubt in Noble Consort Qing's heart gradually vanished as she watched the little one.
Every single thing the child picked out had been a gift from Noble Consort Rou...
The maid behind Noble Consort Qing watched, dumbstruck. Eventually, she couldn't help speaking with a hint of complaint. "Your Highness, are you just going to..."
"Silence!" Noble Consort Qing snapped under her breath.
Noble Consort Qing struggled to breathe, and the dizziness from earlier swept over her again.
She had never yearned for Emperor Mingze's favor, but she had always longed for a child of her own.
She wanted to watch a little one grow from babbling their first words to brimming with poetry and learning, standing tall and graceful or handsome and radiant. She only wanted a child of her own!
The world within these palace walls was far too small. She had nowhere to pour all the love in her heart.
Never had she imagined someone would scheme so painstakingly to destroy her one and only hope!
She clenched her teeth, unwilling to lose her composure in front of so many people.
She hated her, hated her so much that she wanted to storm over to Noble Consort Rou right now and fling all these things in her face.
But she couldn't.
Power mattered more than anything in this palace.
Noble Consort Rou's maternal family held exceptional standing. She could only plan her moves slowly and carefully.
Noble Consort Qing slowly closed her eyes, hoping to escape the sight before her for a moment.
Yet the little one's thoughts kept burrowing relentlessly into her head.
[Sigh...]
[We've cleared out everything here, but there are still so many things in the Aunties' bedroom...]
Jiang Yingcheng tugged at her own hair in distress.
Noble Consort Qing: "..."
Forget taking it slow. She was storming into Noble Consort Rou's residence today!
Before you continue