The Abused Female Protagonist In The Angst Novel Is Actually A White Lotus - Chapter 32

“Qingqing?” Shen Sijing murmured, her consciousness fading. Finally, she felt air rush into her lungs, and tears streamed down her face. She clung to Ling Qingyi’s clothes, scrubbing at her tears.

Ling Qingyi seemed deeply pained. She quickly embraced Shen Sijing, her gaze turning murderous as she glared at Consort Yu, as if she would kill her on the spot if she dared utter another word.

“Oh, isn’t this the country bumpkin from the sticks? Ling Qingyi, do you really think gaining the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s favor, along with your empty reputation, means you can rest easy? Hahaha…” Consort Yu snarled like a rabid dog, ready to bite anyone within reach.

Shen Sijing had expected Ling Qingyi to ignore her. But to her surprise, Ling Qingyi fixed her glare on Consort Yu and warned her, slowly and deliberately, “Let me make this clear, you worthless piece of trash. You’re nothing more than a Deposed Consort rotting in the Cold Palace, unable to control even your own fate, let alone predict others’. If you utter another word, I won’t hesitate to cut out your tongue. Who in the Cold Palace would care if you die anyway?”

Shen Sijing was stunned. What had happened to Ling Qingyi? Why had her usual domineering aura vanished? Could it be… that the Empress Dowager and Emperor’s praise had finally given her true confidence?

Consort Yu wanted to retort, but Ling Qingyi’s resolute gaze silenced her. She stood frozen, staring intently at Ling Qingyi and Shen Sijing.

Ling Qingyi helped Shen Sijing up. The suffocating sensation from moments ago had been unbearable. Now, Shen Sijing was coughing violently, occasionally meeting Consort Yu’s gaze. Gathering her courage, she declared, “I came here only to ask how you ended up in the Cold Palace. If you won’t tell us, we’ll leave.”

In truth, Shen Sijing had long abandoned hope of learning the truth. Yet as she turned to leave, Consort Yu unexpectedly called out to her.

“You want to know what crime I committed to be banished to the Cold Palace, don’t you? Come in.” The Consort’s usual venom seemed to have dissipated.

Ling Qingyi gripped Shen Sijing’s hand, torn. But Shen Sijing trusted her instincts. Even if Consort Yu had erred, she couldn’t possibly have orchestrated her own exile. There had to be a deeper truth behind this, just as there was behind the Consort’s earlier emotional outburst and curse.
Since the original Shen Si had died young, the book provided little information about the Shen family. However, it was clear that during the court’s turmoil, none of the great clans escaped unscathed. If Shen Sijing could gain advance knowledge of these events, perhaps she could help the Shen family avoid disaster.

After all, the Shen family had treated her well, never lacking in good food and fine clothes. Ling Qingyi didn’t understand why Shen Sijing was so determined to uncover the truth, but she had no intention of stopping her. Instead, she remained by Shen Sijing’s side, never leaving her alone.

The Cold Palace was in utter disrepair. The windows were reduced to mere lattices, while spiderwebs covered every corner. In the dim, shadowy recesses, dark figures seemed to dart back and forth.

Shen Sijing covered her nose with a handkerchief. She and Ling Qingyi, both dressed in splendid robes, stood out starkly in this dilapidated palace. Yet Consort Yu appeared perfectly at ease, seated at the table with the same regal bearing she had worn when she was Your Ladyship.

“I merely wanted to use that girl’s death for revenge, but I ended up being used as a pawn myself. It’s much like you thought. I intended to frame the Empress, but then we discovered the girl possessed tokens of the rebel faction. After searching my entire palace and finding nothing else, I managed to avoid the execution of my entire clan and preserve some dignity.”

“But that palace maid—the one the Emperor personally assigned to me when I was Consort Yu—how could she so cruelly harm me? After a bitter search for the truth, I discovered that the Emperor and Empress Dowager have long harbored resentment toward the Chen family, gradually stripping us of our power. And your Shen family won’t remain untouched either.”

Shen Sijing felt a chill run down her spine after hearing these words. But the Empress Dowager was still a member of the Shen family. Could they truly suspect their own kin? Consort Yu sipped her now cold tea, seeming to read Shen Sijing’s thoughts. “Don’t assume the Empress Dowager is on your side. She only seeks to protect her own position and that of her son. Anyone who threatens her standing will be framed just as I was.”

The Empress Dowager Consort Yu spoke of seemed like a different person entirely. Shen Sijing had never harbored any suspicions or doubts about her. Yet it was precisely such an unsuspecting figure who could inflict the greatest harm.

Ling Qingyi helped Shen Sijing sit down, having grasped some of the implications. “But the Shen family shares the Empress Dowager’s maternal surname. Our fates are bound together—what benefits her benefits us, and what harms her harms us. Surely the Empress Dowager wouldn’t be so foolish.”

These words acted like a calming pill, easing Shen Sijing’s anxiety. Consort Yu finally fell silent. An observer might think she had been silenced, but Shen Sijing knew better. It was the silent mockery of a scornful smile.

Shen Sijing was about to say more when Consort Yu unexpectedly dismissed them. “The Cold Palace is remote and filled with lunatics. You two shouldn’t linger. When the time is right, you’ll understand the meaning behind my words today.” Consort Yu still refused to accept that she had been banished to the Cold Palace. Shen Sijing didn’t want to upset her further and stood up, pulling Ling Qingyi along. But something about those unspoken words felt distinctly unsettling.

We’ll probably have to ask Consort Yu again in the future, Shen Sijing thought as she walked out, only to bump into a matron from the Empress Dowager’s Palace.

“I heard from Miss Yun Nian that you were frightened in the Cold Palace, Young Miss?” the matron said, her calm demeanor radiating reassurance. “Who dared to frighten you?” Shen Sijing, still lost in thought from Consort Yu’s words, didn’t respond. Ling Qingyi stepped in, “No, no, it was just Sister Shen’s first time in the Cold Palace. Seeing those deranged people lying on the ground frightened her. Fortunately, I arrived in time to help her out.”

At that moment, Ling Qingyi’s voice sounded unusually small, her eyes looking at the Matron with a hint of fear, as if she were very restrained. Shen Sijing snapped out of her daze, remembering how Ling Qingyi had acted earlier towards Consort Yu, and couldn’t believe it was the same person.

“Qingqing is right,” Shen Sijing said, eager to leave the Cold Palace gate. “Let’s go find the Empress Dowager.” She took Ling Qingyi’s hand and suggested they leave, but Ling Qingyi gently refused. “I came to the palace to discuss matters regarding Jiangnan with His Majesty. When I saw Miss Yun Nian standing at the Cold Palace gate, I rushed over to check. I’m afraid going to see His Majesty now would be too late. You two go ahead. Once I’ve completed my mission, I’ll come find Sister Shen.”

So… Ling Qingyi was here to see the Emperor. Shen Sijing’s confusion suddenly cleared. It made sense now why Ling Qingyi had been able to rescue her at such a critical moment.

But why had Ling Qingyi’s attitude changed so drastically? If she had shown this demeanor earlier, she probably wouldn’t have been bullied in the first place.

Shen Sijing was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice Ling Qingyi leaving. By the time she snapped back to reality, she could only see Ling Qingyi’s retreating figure.

Shen Sijing didn’t know why, but she suddenly wanted to run faster to catch up. Yun Nian and the matron were puzzled, but they didn’t stop her.

Ling Qingyi had been walking for some time, her figure fading into the distance. Shen Sijing ran after her, her steps unsteady and gasping for breath from the earlier lack of oxygen.

“Young Miss! What are you doing?!” Yun Nian couldn’t hold back and called out loudly. Ling Qingyi seemed to hear her voice and quickly turned around, seeing a slender yet striking figure stumbling toward her.

“Jing’er…” Ling Qingyi murmured repeatedly, then spread her arms and rushed toward Shen Sijing. Shen Sijing’s legs suddenly buckled, and she was about to collapse to the ground when she was caught in a warm embrace.

Ling Qingyi had knelt down to catch her, the sudden weight causing her knees to bleed. But she paid no mind to the pain, her eyes filled only with concern.

“Sister Shen, what’s wrong?” Ling Qingyi asked, her brow furrowed with worry. But Shen Sijing burst into tears. “Don’t leave… Please don’t leave…”

“Qingqing, don’t go,” Ling Qingyi said, no longer concerned about the Emperor’s reaction. She held Shen Sijing tightly in her arms. Yun Nian and the Matron remained at the entrance to the Cold Palace. Yun Nian had wanted to rush over, but the Matron held her back.

Shen Sijing’s crying grew more intense, her tears soaking Ling Qingyi’s sleeves. Her small body trembled in Ling Qingyi’s embrace. Ling Qingyi’s heart twisted into a knot, utterly baffled by Shen Sijing’s distress. Could she have been bullied while I was away?

“Did someone bully you?” Ling Qingyi asked, her voice low and firm, shedding its usual timidity. Shen Sijing shook her head and wiped her tears on Ling Qingyi’s sleeve. Seeing her like this, Ling Qingyi couldn’t help but chuckle.

She reached out to tousle Shen Sijing’s hair, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Sister Shen. May we have memories to cherish, and share a lifetime of deep affection until our hair turns white.”

The poem was so cryptic that Shen Sijing was bewildered. Just as she was about to ask Ling Qingyi what it meant, she saw the Empress Dowager’s sedan chair approaching.

“What’s going on? Why are you kneeling on the ground?” The Empress Dowager looked at Shen Sijing with concern, her small face still streaked with tears. She quickly ordered the other matrons nearby to help her up, then scolded, “Yun Nian, what were you thinking? The Young Miss fell and you didn’t even come to help her up!”

Yun Nian and the matrons hurried over. The matron immediately apologized and took responsibility, but Shen Sijing quickly spoke up, “No, no, no, I told them not to come. I didn’t want to seem so delicate…”

Shen Sijing was terrified that the matron would be punished because of her. The Empress Dowager, who never intended to punish anyone in the first place, merely flicked Shen Sijing’s nose. “How could this be called delicate? You’re the cherished pearl of the Shen family, favored by both this Dowager and the Emperor. We wouldn’t even let you feel slighted, let alone fall!”

These words were also meant for the other matrons to hear. By tomorrow, they would undoubtedly spread throughout the entire Inner Palace.

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