Chapter 34: Journey to the Cold Palace

Wei Yanqiao walked slowly back to her bedchamber with a deathly pale complexion, preparing to pack her belongings for an immediate move to the cold, dismal Cold Palace.

Shui Yao, who had been waiting anxiously in the palace, caught sight of Wei Yanqiao’s soul-shattered figure from afar. She hurried over in a few quick strides and asked with concern, "Your Ladyship, you have finally returned!"

Wei Yanqiao looked up and spoke in a listless voice, "Do not call me 'Your Ladyship' anymore. I am now nothing more than a disgraced consort in the Cold Palace; how could I possibly still be considered the Noble Consort Sheng..."

Seeing Wei Yanqiao in such a miserable state, Shui Yao could not help but ask, "My Lady, why on earth would you stab the Emperor? This is no trifling matter!"

It was already a stroke of fortune that Xiao Ceyun had not killed Wei Yanqiao, but merely cast her into the Cold Palace.

Clutching her knees tightly, Wei Yanqiao sobbed as she recounted, "It was the Emperor who forced himself upon me. In a moment of desperation, I stabbed him..."

Shui Yao gasped in disbelief. It was only natural for the Emperor to favor his consorts; all women under heaven belonged to the Emperor. That Wei Yanqiao had dared to resist was unthinkable.

Not long ago, Wei Yanqiao had already angered the Emperor once. Instead of reflecting on her behavior, who could have expected her to be so audacious this time as to directly stab the Emperor? Shui Yao truly wondered if Wei Yanqiao had lost her mind or been possessed by some reckless courage.

A guard walked in with hurried steps. With a stern face, he urged, "Sinner Wei, move quickly! Pack your things and come with us to the Cold Palace at once!"

Wei Yanqiao scrambled to gather her belongings. There was little to pack; she merely collected the few scripture books resting on the table and tucked away some brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone.

Seeing this, Shui Yao couldn't help but advise, "My Lady, the Cold Palace is no ordinary place. These scriptures will likely be of no use to you. It would be better to leave them behind."

Shui Yao could not fathom why, having fallen to such depths, Wei Yanqiao was still so fixated on those worn-out scriptures. What could possibly be inside them?

Wei Yanqiao seemed not to hear her. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, she turned to Shui Yao and said, "Shui Yao, why don't you go and beg the Empress now? She has always been kind-hearted and benevolent. Perhaps, for the sake of our past connection, she might arrange a better place for you, so you won't have to suffer in the Cold Palace with me."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Shui Yao fell to her knees with a thud. Tears flowed like a bursting dam as she sobbed, answering firmly, "No, this servant will never leave you, My Lady! Wherever you go, I will be by your side, serving you with all my heart!"

She wanted to leave, but Xiao Ceyun would not necessarily let her go.

Looking at her loyal servant, who was suffering because of her, Wei Yanqiao was filled with guilt and anguish. The mistress and servant embraced tightly, unable to stop their tears. Wei Yanqiao sobbed, "Before, I insisted on taking you with me to suffer at Nanan Temple. I thought that after we returned, we could live a few days of peace, but I never expected to drag you into the Cold Palace with me now. It is all the fault of this useless mistress of yours; I am truly sorry..."

Just as the two were immersed in their sorrow, a roar suddenly erupted: "Stop crying!" The guard in charge of escorting them shouted impatiently, "If you are packed, then get moving!"

Hearing this, Shui Yao scrambled up from the cold ground. In a fluster, she gathered a few scattered pieces of silver, stuffed them into a bundle, grabbed the scriptures Wei Yanqiao was carrying, and helped her mistress leave with hurried steps.

As they walked slowly toward the Cold Palace under the guard's watch, every step Wei Yanqiao took made the hatred in her heart surge like a turbulent sea, deeper and more profound. She gritted her teeth and silently called out the name of Wei Tianze in her mind.

"I am here. Master, are you alright?"

She took a deep breath and replied, "I am fine. Tianze, the plan I mentioned to you before—it can begin."

At this moment, although she had lost the title of Noble Consort Sheng and was cast into the Cold Palace, the fire of revenge in her heart burned ever more fiercely.

Wei Tianze responded without hesitation, "Yes, I will immediately send word to my father to initiate the plan we agreed upon."

Wei Yanqiao glanced slightly at Shui Yao, who was following her like a shadow, monitoring her every move. She could not pass any messages out. But with Wei Tianze, she was not under anyone's surveillance; as long as she devised a plan, she could convey it accurately through him.

The guard escorting them suddenly stopped and said expressionlessly, "That is it. You have arrived. Get inside."

Shui Yao cautiously peeked inside. Suddenly, the guard behind them shoved them with great force. Caught off guard, the two were pushed inside by a powerful strength.

With two dull thuds, they fell heavily onto the cold, hard ground. The precious scriptures they were clutching scattered like falling petals across the floor.

Wei Yanqiao reacted quickly, scrambling on hands and knees to grab the scattered scriptures, fearing they might be damaged. Meanwhile, Shui Yao stood up trembling from the ground, filled with fear and unease. In this deep palace, if one had to choose the place with the most sinister and resentful atmosphere, it was undoubtedly this terrifying Cold Palace.

"My Lady... do you think... the concubines who died miserably in this Cold Palace might come to claim our lives because their resentment never dissipated?" Shui Yao gripped the hem of Wei Yanqiao’s robe, her voice hoarse with extreme terror.

Feeling Shui Yao’s fear, Wei Yanqiao patted her hand gently, comforting her softly, "Do not be afraid, everything will be fine." Though she said this, her own heart was pounding with anxiety.

With heavy hearts, the two supported each other and walked step by step toward the gloomy courtyard ahead. When they finally reached the entrance, they found the gate, which should have been tightly shut, was only ajar and appeared dilapidated from years of neglect.

Wei Yanqiao extended a trembling hand and gently pushed the rickety gate. A harsh, creaking sound echoed, as if the ancient gate were groaning in pain. As the gap widened, a scent of decay and rot rushed out to meet them.

Wei Yanqiao looked around nervously before stepping cautiously into the courtyard. Suddenly, she caught sight of a figure sitting by a window in the distance. The woman’s hair was disheveled like weeds, covering most of her face, making it impossible to see her features. Just as Wei Yanqiao tried to look closer, the woman, as if sensing their approach, suddenly turned her head in a fit of rage and stared fixedly at them.

This sudden turn of events left Wei Yanqiao and Shui Yao stunned, their bodies stiff as statues, completely unable to move.