The Abused Novel Heroine Became a Clingy Sweetheart [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 42
The moment Song Yaozi left the room and closed the door, You Ting by the table immediately opened her eyes.
Her expression was clear, showing she had been awake for quite some time.
The way things had developed was completely unexpected for everyone.
Both of them were under the influence of the drug last night, leading to their momentary loss of control.
Now that they were sober, they naturally only felt awkward and at a loss.
To avoid embarrassment, You Ting simply chose to feign sleep, avoiding any further interaction with Song Yaozi.
Unfortunately, this was not a long-term solution.
You Ting’s face was slightly strange as she once again cursed He Zhige inwardly.
It was bad enough that he drugged them, but why did it have to be such a rare and exotic poison!
The poison was called “Lovesickness Entanglement” (Xiangsi Chan), which didn’t sound like anything good.
Last night, You Ting and Song Yaozi had relieved the effects of the drug, thus forming a kind of contract.
On the first and fifteenth day of every lunar month, the poison would flare up again, and they could only choose each other as the object to relieve the poison.
In the original plot, this was the biggest means He Zhige used to control Song Yaozi.
She never thought it would now fall upon her and Song Yaozi.
You Ting rubbed her temple, feeling a headache coming on. After all this, the villain turned out to be herself.
She couldn’t dwell on this now. According to the palace rules, You Ting had to go to the Empress to offer morning greetings every day.
He Zhige had just returned to the capital and would certainly stay in the palace.
She would most likely run into him during this visit.
Judging by He Zhige’s behavior at the banquet yesterday, his obsession with her had only grown over the years.
Just thinking about it, You Ting could imagine how difficult he would be to deal with later.
However, from the day she failed to reform He Zhige, she had anticipated this situation.
She would meet trouble as it came.
Sometimes, though, she would recall the innocent child who used to study by her side, an immaculate jade, calling her “Imperial Sister” with light in his eyes.
How did he turn into the person he was today?
You Ting stopped thinking and called Qing Su to come in and help her wash and change.
While combing You Ting’s hair, Qing Su cautiously asked, “Your Highness, nothing happened between you and Miss Song last night, did it?”
She and Miss Song’s maid had been sent away by You Ting, and they had stayed in the side hall, exchanging puzzled glances.
It wasn’t until dawn that they saw Miss Song emerge from their Princess’s room.
Her steps were unsteady, and her face was flushed.
She looked as if she was being chased by a ghost, hurriedly pulling her maid away and leaving the palace.
You Ting’s expression remained unchanged, and she replied calmly, “Of course, nothing happened.”
“Miss Song was just drunk and rested here for a while.”
Qing Su recalled the appearance of the Princess and Miss Song last night and nodded, half understanding.
They did seem to be drunk, yet also somewhat… not…
But she didn’t worry too much. She just needed to listen to her Highness.
If her Highness said nothing happened, then nothing happened.
Dressed in a light and simple skirt, You Ting smoothed her sleeves and left the Duan Yang Palace to offer morning greetings to the Empress.
The Empress was Emperor Ning Jing’s first wife and was quite old. Her health had been declining in recent years, so she mostly kept to herself.
To avoid expending energy, she had excused many people from the morning greeting ritual.
But specifically, she had not excused You Ting.
The reason for this was almost an open secret among the elders in the palace.
In the end, it all boiled down to that ridiculous jealousy.
You Ting’s birth mother was a woman of non-Han ethnicity, whose name and identity were unknown.
The moment she was brought into the palace, Emperor Ning Jing had immediately made her Consort Shu.
Shu, meaning peerlessly beautiful.
The Emperor’s harem had three thousand beauties, and the last thing it lacked was beautiful women.
But there was a certain type of person, whose beauty seemed not to belong to this mortal world.
A casual glance or smile could captivate and haunt one’s soul.
Consort Shu was simply too beautiful. The moment she appeared, all the other beauties in the six palaces lost their luster.
Thus, she naturally became the target of all eyes, a thorn in everyone’s heart.
Since Consort Shu entered the palace, Emperor Ning Jing’s mind was entirely focused on her, and he virtually spent every night in her courtyard.
Her power was briefly unmatched.
Even for the Empress, his original wife, who had accompanied him through thick and thin, Emperor Ning Jing’s interest waned because of Consort Shu.
The Empress wanted to establish rules for Consort Shu, making her perform morning and evening greetings.
But after only one day, Emperor Ning Jing, upon hearing the news, rushed over after the morning court session and sternly reprimanded the Empress.
After this incident, everyone knew that Consort Shu was the Emperor Ning Jing’s darling.
The Empress was jealous but powerless.
Emperor Ning Jing exempted Consort Shu from the morning greetings and even granted her special permission not to leave her palace unless absolutely necessary.
The Empress could not even see Consort Shu’s face.
Furthermore, Emperor Ning Jing sent many guards to protect Consort Shu’s palace.
Forget about plotting to harm her, it was difficult for even an insect to fly in.
Before this, Emperor Ning Jing had never shown such deep care for any concubine.
Although the officials had some reservations, they turned a blind eye because Consort Shu seemed to have no background and would not cause a maternal clan rebellion.
In addition, Consort Shu herself was very low-key and caused no trouble, allowing the Emperor to dote on her.
Consort Shu’s appearance was sudden, and she monopolized the Emperor’s favor.
The Empress and many concubines in the harem felt threatened and secretly ordered their subordinates to investigate her identity and background.
However, they all failed to find any clues.
They only knew that she was the woman Emperor Ning Jing brought back from a military campaign, as if she had appeared out of thin air.
Because Consort Shu had a bewitching appearance, reminding people of the mountain spirits and ghosts in ancient legends, many people in the palace quietly whispered that she might be a fox spirit reincarnated.
When this rumor reached Emperor Ning Jing’s ears, he, who utterly despised superstition and witchcraft, immediately ordered the palace staff who spread the gossip to be found.
With thunderous means, he had them all beheaded in front of the female members of the harem.
Such a bloody scene caused everyone in the harem to have nightmares for a long time.
Since then, no one dared to speak of Consort Shu again.
Logically, with Consort Shu receiving such favor, Emperor Ning Jing should have also loved and doted on Princess Shunan, her daughter.
But surprisingly, since Shunan was born, Emperor Ning Jing had never shown her a kind face.
Once, the wet nurse who breastfed Princess Shunan saw the Emperor holding the infant Princess.
His gaze held no fatherly joy, but was instead utterly cold.
He suddenly lifted the swaddled baby high, as if he would smash her to the ground the next moment, scaring the wet nurse who was hiding in the dark.
Fortunately, Emperor Ning Jing did not perform such a cruel act, but merely threw the baby aside casually.
The wet nurse thought, this was more than just dislike; he practically wanted to get rid of her.
No one knew the reason why Emperor Ning Jing hated Princess Shunan so much, but everyone in the harem was pleased about it.
It was fortunate that Consort Shu had given birth to a daughter, and one that did not please the Emperor.
Privately, some people quietly rumored that Princess Shunan was born prematurely.
Consort Shu was already pregnant when Emperor Ning Jing brought her back to the palace.
The reason he so hated this daughter was because she was not his biological child.
However, this rumor was much more serious than calling Consort Shu a demon.
It was destined to remain a secret gossip, buried deep inside.
You Ting, familiar with the routine, followed the palace staff to the Empress’s residence. The young maid whispered, “Princess, please wait a moment. Your servant will go and inform Her Majesty the Empress.”
You Ting nodded.
Soon, the young maid returned, not daring to look at You Ting, and said with her head lowered, “Her Majesty is suffering from a recurring migraine. Please wait a little longer, Princess.”
You Ting’s face showed no surprise.
This young maid must be new. This was the Empress’s old trick to torment You Ting.
Regardless of the weather, whether freezing or scorching, she would always be made to stand outside for half a day before being allowed in.
But this time, before You Ting had stood for long, she heard a familiar male voice: “Imperial Sister?”
She looked up and saw He Zhige, in casual clothes, walking towards her.
The formerly somewhat thin young man had grown to be half a head taller than her.
His previously pale skin had darkened somewhat from his time on the battlefield.
His eyes were sharp and bright, like stars.
He Zhige stopped in front of You Ting, curved his lips, and feigned ignorance, asking, “Why is Imperial Sister standing outside and not going in to greet Mother Empress?”
You Ting rolled her eyes at him.
Pretending, standing there and pretending.
She wondered who used to insist on following her, coming every day to greet the Empress, and standing outside with her every day.
Now he was conveniently suffering from amnesia.
He raised his voice slightly, letting it pass through the pearl curtain and into the ears of the person inside: “It turns out Mother Empress has a recurring migraine. Then I will wait outside with Imperial Sister.”
As soon as these words fell, someone immediately came out from inside.
It was the Empress’s wet nurse.
The wet nurse wore a flattering smile on her face, “Oh, isn’t this Third Prince?”
She glanced at the young maid beside her and scolded, “You servant! Why didn’t you announce the arrival of the Third Prince? Don’t you know Her Majesty the Empress is fondest of the Third Prince?”
The young maid repeatedly apologized.
The wet nurse walked two steps closer to He Zhige and bowed low, “Her Majesty the Empress’s health has immediately improved upon learning of the Third Prince’s arrival.”
He Zhige smiled without speaking.
“It’s sunny outside, Third Prince. Please come in with your servant quickly. Don’t get sunburned.”
He Zhige didn’t move. Instead, he turned his gaze towards You Ting.
The wet nurse seemed to only just notice You Ting was there, and gave a dry chuckle, “Oh, the Princess is here too. Then the Princess can come in as well. Her Majesty the Empress was just speaking of you both.”
You Ting mockingly twitched the corner of her lips and walked in with He Zhige.
He Zhige tilted his head, his eyes shining as he looked at You Ting, as if hoping for praise.
You Ting kept her gaze straight, and said expressionlessly, “Get lost.”
Support The Abused Novel Heroine Became a Clingy Sweetheart [Quick Transmigration]
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
