Chapter 24
“As a young lady, it’s best you avoid such talk.”
After saying this, Yun Jing intended to leave, but Qiu Chi stopped him. “When are you planning to rebel?”
Meeting Yun Jing’s incredulous gaze, Qiu Chi said, “Don’t look so surprised. I won’t tell anyone. In fact, I can even lend you a hand. Weren’t you quite envious of my martial strength, wanting me to serve you?”
That was indeed what Yun Jing had thought at first, but over the past few days, he had actually abandoned that initial idea.
Now, hearing Qiu Chi say this so suddenly, he was very surprised and also a bit confused. “Didn’t you say you wanted revenge on this king? How is helping this king ascend the throne considered revenge? And growing old alone without a woman for the rest of my life… that doesn’t really count as revenge, does it?”
“If this king were to take revenge on someone, I would make them wish for death but be unable to die. I would never let them live well, nor would I grant them the right to make their own choices.”
Now it was Qiu Chi’s turn to be speechless. “Are you teaching me how to take revenge on you?”
“Not at all. This king is merely telling you that’s not how one takes revenge.”
Of course, Qiu Chi knew that wasn’t how one took revenge. If someone had offended her, she would have drawn her blade and killed them long ago.
But in this abuse novel, she wasn’t allowed to kill people she shouldn’t, so she had to find another way.
Take Gu Ting from the last world, for instance. He was ruined. The Gu family had other illegitimate sons, and since he was no longer a man, how could he possibly remain full of vigor?
Then there was Lu Mingxuan from the last world, who was cuckolded and ended up raising another man’s son. That, however, had nothing to do with her. She was quite surprised when she learned about it from the System and could only chalk it up to Lu Mingxuan’s own bad luck.
As for Fang Yuming and Liu Yuer, they purely brought it upon themselves. They deserved it.
And Su Yingying… well, birth, aging, sickness, and death are all a natural part of life.
And as for Yun Jing in this world.
“If you’re sensible after you become emperor and live out your days alone, how about I spare you from being ruined?”
Yun Jing: “…Why are you so fixated on this topic? You could stay by this king’s side and keep an eye on this king.”
Qiu Chi rolled her eyes and began to usher him out. “You can go now.”
Stay by his side and watch him? He was dreaming. What a fantasy. She would leave the moment the plot was finished.
After Cui Mingyu stayed at the Prime Minister’s Manor for two days and returned, she found that not only was Lian'er perfectly fine, but her residence was now even closer to the emperor’s.
In contrast, some concubines, though not demoted, had been confined to their quarters.
Cui Mingyu had every reason to suspect that if not for Lian'er's low status and the short time she'd been there, she would have likely been promoted.
Lian'er instantly triggered her sense of crisis, and she no longer had the mind to care about how Qiu Chi was faring.
While Cui Mingyu and Lian'er were locked in a battle of wits, Qiu Chi's days were rather leisurely.
Although the Prime Minister's Manor had informed Yun Jing that Cui Yueyue had a sweetheart, Yun Jing knew Qiu Chi was not Cui Yueyue and had already investigated the matter. Unlike in the original plot, Cui Yueyue's sweetheart did not have his future completely ruined and driven out of the capital.
After being frightened by Qiu Chi that one time, Xin'er became incredibly obedient.
And Lian'er had been sent into the palace by Qiu Chi.
Yun Jing hadn't brought any other women into his manor either. Being all by herself, her life was quite leisurely indeed.
The only thing that displeased Qiu Chi was Yun Jing's delay in starting his rebellion.
“It’s almost the seventh month. Why haven’t you made a move?”
Only after finishing a letter did Yun Jing look up. “This king has already accelerated the plan. In seven days, the Emperor will travel to Qingliang Palace to escape the summer heat. You and I will both be going.”
“Oh, a good opportunity to strike. Do your best.”
In the original plot, Yun Jing made his move during the autumn hunt. The timeline had indeed been moved up, but it didn't affect anything. The emperor was bound to die anyway. If he didn't, she would deliver the final blow herself. There probably wouldn't be a do-over.
In the Imperial Palace, the women of the harem were naturally aware that the emperor was going to the mountain villa to escape the heat. Every one of them wanted to go. Not only was the villa cooler, but being invited would also show the emperor's favor and provide an opportunity to deepen their relationship with him.
Lian'er's arrival had shattered Cui Mingyu's monopoly on the emperor's favor, and the other concubines were naturally stirring with ambition.
Some of the foolish ones were used by Cui Mingyu to deal with Lian'er, but the more intelligent ones saw an opportunity for themselves.
The emperor was the only man in the harem. They no longer sought his exclusive favor, but they hoped he would at least visit their palaces a few times.
Compared to the newcomer Lian'er, they actually found Cui Mingyu, who had monopolized the emperor's favor for two and a half months, to be a greater eyesore.
Lian'er had no powerful background and was not a cause for concern. Cui Mingyu was their true stumbling block. The cleverer concubines, those who had their eyes on the empress's throne, paid Lian'er no mind.
Lian'er was indeed clever. She familiarized herself with the other concubines, learned their preferences and birthdays, and then advised the emperor to share his favor equally among them.
At first, the emperor was naturally displeased. After all, any other concubine would have been overjoyed to receive his exclusive favor; it made no sense for her to push him away.
But Lian'er said, “If I could, I would naturally wish for Your Majesty's exclusive favor. But Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, unlike other men. To have become Your Majesty's woman is already a great satisfaction for me. How could I possibly hope for Your Majesty to belong to me alone?”
“Moreover, the sisters in the harem all miss Your Majesty dearly. If I put myself in their shoes, waiting for Your Majesty day after day only to be met with disappointment, my heart would surely ache with sorrow.”
“I dare not monopolize Your Majesty. I only hope to remain by Your Majesty's side. Even if Your Majesty only thinks of me occasionally, I would be perfectly content.”
Faced with such understanding, the emperor was naturally filled with tenderness for her.
After all, he didn't particularly want to eat the same dish every day, even if he liked it. It was just that Cui Mingyu had been too domineering, and at the time, there was no one to compare her with. Furthermore, considering her past with Yun Jing, he had indulged her partly to spite and embarrass his brother.
Now, with Lian'er as a point of comparison, he found Cui Mingyu increasingly spoiled and willful. However, with the Prime Minister's Manor backing her, he couldn't truly neglect her.
Thus, from that day on, the emperor began visiting different concubines each day. He visited Lian'er most frequently, with Cui Mingyu coming in second.
The harem's concubines were delighted, but Cui Mingyu was furious enough to die.
Of course, Lian'er wasn't one to do a good deed without taking credit. While she didn't directly tell the other concubines that she was the reason for the emperor's visits, the word got out through the emperor himself.
After all, she hadn't inquired about the concubines' preferences and birthdays for no reason.
The concubines now owed Lian'er a favor, and the emperor found her to be ever more beautiful and kind-hearted.
For a while, the harem seemed to be getting along in perfect harmony.
No matter how furious Cui Mingyu was, she couldn't be the one to start trouble, since the current harmony in the harem was precisely what the emperor wanted to see.
But how could Cui Mingyu accept this?
She was not resigned. So, upon learning of the trip to the summer villa, she resolved to make Lian'er stay in Qingliang Palace forever.
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