That night, when all was quiet and still, a window in the bedchamber of the Changchun Palace was quietly opened.
Qi Daiyu leaned against the window sill, studying the drone in her hand. The instruction manual pressed under the desk was all crumpled, and she had lost count of how many times she had rewatched the tutorial video. Now, she was about to begin her "test flight."
The bird-like appearance provided the drone with the perfect camouflage. Qi Daiyu had even asked Xiao Li to collect some feathers and glue them on. While this slightly affected the drone's performance, in a world with no concept of drones, it was more than sufficient, especially on a pitch-black night.
After flying a loop around the imperial palace without any patrolling guards noticing anything amiss—or perhaps they did, but only thought a bird had flown past—Qi Daiyu gained considerable confidence. She then piloted the drone to the Yikun Palace, landing it by the window of Consort Ning's bedchamber.
Currently, apart from Suihe, all the other servants in the Yikun Palace were temporarily assigned by the Imperial Household Department. There weren't many, let alone loyal ones. The eunuch on night watch at the palace gate was already fast asleep, and Suihe, who was keeping watch inside the room, didn't notice a "bird" perched at the window.
Having confirmed the location, Qi Daiyu controlled the drone back to the Changchun Palace, then to the Yikun Palace again, and back to Changchun, repeating this several times to set a fixed route. This way, she only needed to set the timer, and the drone could fly to the destination on its own and return within the allotted time.
And this operation could be done entirely through the "phone light screen."
Qi Daiyu yawned and fell onto the bed to sleep.
Everything was ready. It was time for the show to begin.
The next day, Qi Daiyu gave Little Cheng and Putao a task. Both were somewhat surprised. "Your Ladyship, this... will it work?"
Qi Daiyu said, "Just do as I say. Don't worry about the rest."
Little Cheng and Putao were utterly loyal and asked no further questions. "Rest assured, Master. Leave this matter to your servants. We definitely won't ruin your plans."
When night fell and the time was about right, Qi Daiyu sent Shiliu to invite the Emperor. "Just say I have something to discuss with His Majesty."
Such a lively show couldn't miss the Emperor's presence.
As soon as Shiliu left, Qi Daiyu opened that window. With a thought directed at the light screen invisible to others before her eyes, the drone silently took off.
Qi Daiyu felt a bit nervous. She had already loaded the edited video into the drone. Later, that video would be projected using the projection function. It was a video she had personally recorded, voiced, and edited. It absolutely had to work!
At this moment in the Yikun Palace, Consort Ning had taken her medicine and fallen asleep. Suihe, carrying the empty bowl, went out and saw the deserted courtyard, feeling rather angry. The servants temporarily sent by the Imperial Household Department were not diligent in their service. Even though it was still early, they had all returned to their own quarters. Suihe was just thinking of calling a young maid to wash the empty bowl when she saw Putao from Consort Hui's side suddenly arrive.
Suihe's heart skipped a beat. "Putao, why are you here? Did something happen with Consort Hui? Why didn't the gate-keeping eunuch announce you? These lazy, cunning lot! Once Her Ladyship recovers from her injuries, they must be dealt with!"
Suihe couldn't hide her embarrassment. After all, Consort Ning was currently the only Consort in the rear palace, yet she had no one reliable to use! Thinking of the original servants of the Chengqian Palace still in the Prison for Internal Discipline, Suihe felt fear again. These past two days, besides caring for Consort Ning, she had been secretly maneuvering, using Grand Secretary Yang's influence to prevent those people from saying things they shouldn't.
This was the slim chance of survival Consort Ning had fought so hard for, and Suihe naturally dared not relax. She was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.
Putao chuckled softly. "I came to find you, Sister Suihe, precisely for an important matter. Consort Ning is injured, and I'm afraid scars will be left later. My mistress has a box of ointment for removing scars with excellent results. Lianwu was accidentally scalded before, and after using it for a few days, not a single mark remained. Sister Suihe, why don't you come with me to fetch it?"
Suihe was somewhat tempted. Her Ladyship's wounds were not small, and scars would indeed be a headache later. Moreover, Consort Hui's skills in skincare were now well-known throughout the palace—after all, even the Empress was willing to use the beauty cream made by Consort Hui.
But... Suihe's eyes flickered as she looked at Putao. It was her own mistress who had suggested the plan to frame Consort Hui before. Suihe felt a pang of guilt.
"Better not..."
"Sister Suihe, I deeply admire Consort Ning's noble and unyielding character. Even if my mistress doesn't say it, she has always held Consort Ning in high regard. Besides, at a time like this, surely you don't think my mistress would harm Consort Ning, do you?"
With such a major incident just happening, who would dare to harm anyone now?
"Let's go. It's just a stone's throw away. We'll be quick, and you can return sooner to care for Consort Ning!" The Changchun Palace and Yikun Palace were very close. Without another word, Putao pulled Suihe out. Suihe had no choice but to temporarily place the tray on the stone table in the courtyard.
But as soon as they stepped out of the palace gate, a sharp pain struck the back of Suihe's neck, and her vision went dark.
Putao finally let out a sigh of relief, seeing Little Cheng next to the unconscious gate-keeping eunuch. "Quick, hide both of them well. I'll go open the window!" She lifted her skirt and ran back into the courtyard. Following Qi Daiyu's instructions, she opened the window of Consort Ning's bedchamber, then returned to help Little Cheng hide the people.
Focused solely on carrying out their orders, the two didn't notice a "bird" flying overhead.
Inside the bedchamber, a faint blue light projected into the room. A translucent, illusory figure of a woman materialized in mid-air. It was Yang Luoniang.
Qi Daiyu had designed the lines herself for the video recording, then used AI face-swapping technology to replace the face with Yang Luoniang's. She had also collected Yang Luoniang's voice from her New Year's banquet greetings for voiceprint synthesis. Unfortunately, due to limited source material, the voice was only thirty to forty percent similar. Adding some ethereal sound effects, in such an environment, it was enough to pass as real.
The sound of the window opening didn't wake Consort Ning. It wasn't until she heard a voice.
"Sister, sister..."
The somewhat familiar voice made Consort Ning frown in her sleep.
"Sister, why did you do this to Luoniang? Luoniang hurts so much, sister!"
Consort Ning's eyelashes trembled, as if struggling to wake up.
"Sister, please save Luoniang. Luoniang will be obedient. Luoniang won't compete for favor with sister. Sister, please save Luoniang..."
Consort Ning's eyes snapped open on the bed. She could clearly hear her own heartbeat. Had she just dreamed of Luoniang?
Her feelings towards this younger sister were complex. When they were very young, they had been very close. Luoniang was like a little shadow, following her around all day. Luoniang's favorite thing was hearing people praise her elder sister. In Luoniang's heart, no noble lady in the capital could compare to her sister, Yang Minzhen.
Later, Yang Minzhen entered the Eastern Palace, making it difficult to see her family, and her bond with Yang Luoniang faded considerably. By the time they met again, Yang Luoniang had grown into a graceful young maiden, still somewhat green but hinting at boundless future beauty. At that time, Consort Ning faintly felt a twinge of jealousy, one she herself hadn't even fully recognized. This jealousy could no longer be contained when she heard Lady Yang say she wanted Yang Luoniang to enter the palace.
Thus, Consort Ning discussed with her father, Yang Heng, and arranged for Yang Luoniang to marry Zeng Qiming. When she learned that Yang Luoniang was actually being abused by Zeng Qiming, Consort Ning felt shock, heartache, and also a strange, perverse sense of pleasure. She couldn't explain where that pleasure came from and was ashamed of having such thoughts. Yet, the combination of these emotions led her not to choose to help her younger sister immediately.
It wasn't until she heard the news of Yang Luoniang's death, followed shortly by Lady Yang's suicide by poison, that the guilt in her heart reached its peak. Only then did Consort Ning realize with a start what she had done wrong. But she did not punish herself; instead, she chose to punish Zeng Qiming, to avenge Yang Luoniang.
After Zeng Qiming's death, Consort Ning felt she had already avenged Yang Luoniang and cleared her debt. She owed Yang Luoniang nothing anymore.
So why, just now in that dream, was she trembling and weeping?
The wound ached fiercely, and her throat was parched. Consort Ning called out, "Suihe."
No one answered.
Enduring the pain, Consort Ning slowly sat up. She lifted the bed curtain to call out again, but upon seeing the figure in the room, her pupils contracted sharply. Immense terror enveloped her, and for a moment, it felt as if all the blood in her body had frozen.
Yang Luoniang!
It wasn't just a dream; it was Luoniang calling her, Luoniang had come for her!
But Luoniang was clearly dead. She was a ghost!
Yang Luoniang stared fixedly "at" her, her face an abnormally deathly pale, her entire body emitting a faint blue glow, like a vengeful spirit crawled out from some deep hell.
A vengeful spirit! Yes, a vengeful spirit!
This realization shattered Consort Ning's reason. She frantically and clumsily scrambled backward, trying to retreat to the corner of the bed, but her eyes remained uncontrollably fixed on Yang Luoniang. She saw Yang Luoniang open her mouth. "Elder Sister, why didn't you save me? Why didn't you save me?"
Consort Ning heard her own voice speak. "I already avenged you! Zeng Qiming, Zeng Qiming is already dead!"
Yang Luoniang continued speaking, "Elder Sister, he hit me, it hurt so much. There wasn't a single patch of good flesh left on my body. Elder Sister, why did you marry me off to Zeng Qiming? I am your younger sister!" Her voice twisted strangely. "You hated me. You were jealous of me. You didn't want me to have a good life!"
"Elder Sister, you were afraid. You knew your looks couldn't compare to mine. You feared I would enter the palace and share your favor. You feared the Emperor's eyes would no longer hold you. You feared you would no longer be the pride of our parents' hearts. You feared that in the future, everyone would only know Yang Luoniang, and not you, Yang Minzhen!"
"I did not!" Consort Ning shrieked, her mind laid bare. She ignored the blood seeping from the wound on her chest. "How could I possibly be jealous of you! I am the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yang family! I am His Majesty's Consort Ning! How could I be jealous of you!"
Yang Luoniang's figure suddenly loomed larger, twisting into a grotesque smile. "You weren't just jealous of me. You were jealous of everyone better and more outstanding than you! You were jealous of Consort Shu for receiving more favor, jealous of the Empress for taking the Crown Princess position that should have been yours. Elder Sister, do you truly think His Majesty cannot see your dark heart?"
"Ah!!" Terrified by Yang Luoniang's sudden approach, Consort Ning tried to dodge but accidentally fell to the floor. She waved her arms, shielding her head. "You're lying! The Crown Princess position was rightfully mine! It was Jiang Nvying, it was Jiang Nvying who intervened and snatched the Crown Princess position away from me! I was the most talented in the capital, my conduct was peerless, sought after by a hundred families. I should have been the Crown Princess! I should have been the Empress!"
"So, Elder Sister, you poisoned the Empress. Did you think you could ascend to the empress's throne once she died?"
After saying this, "Yang Luoniang" suddenly vanished. The hall plunged into darkness. Before Consort Ning could even sigh in relief, suddenly, from all directions—there were "Yang Luoniangs" everywhere!
Countless Yang Luoniangs spoke in unison.
"Elder Sister, you are delusional!"
"Elder Sister, you are delusional!"
"Elder Sister, you are delusional!"
The horrifying scene utterly shattered Consort Ning's mental defenses. She screamed in terror, mixed with anger at being mocked by "Yang Luoniang."
"The empress's throne will be mine! Once the Empress dies, no one else in the palace will be my match. The Emperor cannot go forever without appointing a new empress. When that time comes, the empress's throne will definitely be mine!" Consort Ning seemed to have gone mad, the blood on her chest now thoroughly soaking her garments. "The Empress is about to die. She probably won't even realize until her last breath that her life was ended by my hand!"
Consort Ning did not yet know that Chief Physician Xia had already found the medicine to treat the Empress.
It was as if she were boasting of her achievements to Yang Luoniang. "All these years, the Empress Dowager and the Empress have had me assist in managing palace affairs frequently. In this rear palace, it's not only the Empress who has confidantes; I have mine too. I've already ordered Suihe to act. Those people caught and sent to the Discipline Office are of no consequence. Once Little Cheng dies, the murderer can only be Consort An. I attempted suicide first; who would suspect me?"
"His Majesty... His Majesty won't kill me. With my father here, the Emperor cannot kill me. Mother, Luoniang, I know, I know you hate Father, but Father is still useful. I still need to keep him. Later, I will avenge you!"
"Mother, I will become Empress. I will not fail your expectations. I will definitely become Empress. I am your most accomplished daughter! I am!"
Blood loss made her body cold and weak, her vision swimming with spots. Consort Ning lay on the floor, nearly babbling incoherently. She did not notice that "Yang Luoniang" had already disappeared.
It wasn't until the doors to her bedchamber were pushed open, and light streamed in, illuminating Consort Ning—huddled in a corner, clothes disheveled, utterly wretched—that she realized.
With great difficulty, Consort Ning raised her head toward the source of the light.
She saw... the Emperor, his face ashen with rage.
Time rewinds to approximately the time it takes an incense stick to burn. In Changchun Palace, Qi Daiyu waited for the Emperor.
Qi Daiyu rarely took the initiative to send someone for him. Jiang Yuan, currently full of goodwill towards her, naturally would not refuse to come.
"Your maid said you had something to discuss with Us. What is it?"
Yan He stepped forward holding a box. Qi Daiyu pointed to it and gave her prepared explanation. "This is a scar-removing ointment I prepared. I thought... perhaps Consort Ning might have use for it."
"You want to give this to Consort Ning?" Jiang Yuan was somewhat surprised. Although Consort Ning didn't seem like the one who poisoned the Empress, she wasn't completely cleared of suspicion yet. He knew Qi Daiyu was close to the Empress; she was actually thinking of sending scar ointment to Consort Ning?
Qi Daiyu pursed her lips. "Your Majesty, I heard that Consort Ning's injuries are severe, and the wounds are likely to leave scars. No woman wishes to have ugly scars mar her skin. I am merely putting myself in her place. If Consort Ning truly is the one who harmed Her Majesty the Empress, as you have said, you would show no mercy, and she would have no use for this scar-removing ointment. But if she is not guilty, then she has suffered this ordeal for nothing. This ointment can serve as a small token of apology from me, on behalf of the Empress."
Seeing her earnest expression, Jiang Yuan was reminded of the silver she had donated to the almshouse.
She was always so kind-hearted.
Jiang Yuan: "If that's the case, you could have simply sent someone to deliver it to Consort Ning yourself. Why did you go out of your way to come and find me?"
Qi Daiyu shot him a glance, a charmingly coquettish manner instantly appearing. "I wouldn't dare to send anything on my own authority."
Her look amused Jiang Yuan. "So, you want me to vouch for your innocence?"
In his view, Qi Daiyu had been frightened by the previous incident and no longer dared to send things casually to the other palaces. This time, when she sent the scar ointment, she had deliberately gone through him, the Emperor, so that if any trouble arose later, he would be her witness.
"Then will Your Majesty agree or not?" Estimating that the time was almost right, Qi Daiyu felt some inner anxiety.
Jiang Yuan was in a mood to indulge her. "Since you specifically asked me, of course I must agree." He was about to order Quan Fuhai to deliver the ointment to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
But Qi Daiyu stopped him. "Your Majesty, since Consort Ning was injured, I have not yet visited her. The other sisters in the palace are also concerned about her condition, but due to the circumstances... they dare not disturb her. As it is still early, perhaps I could accompany Your Majesty to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility? We could deliver the ointment along the way. Then tomorrow, when other consorts inquire, I can inform them of Consort Ning's condition and set their minds at ease."
Having said all this, Jiang Yuan could hardly refuse. Besides, he hadn't found the time to visit Consort Ning since her injury. He might as well go now.
The Palace of Eternal Spring was right next to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, very close. Upon entering the courtyard of the latter, they found it deserted. Faint noises could be heard coming from the bedchamber.
Qi Daiyu clicked the return button on the light screen. The drone's projection shut down, and the "little bird" automatically returned along its pre-set route. Everyone present merely sensed a bird flying overhead, noticing nothing amiss.
Seeing that not even a night-duty eunuch was present, Jiang Yuan frowned. As they approached the bedchamber and heard Consort Ning's screams from within, his steps halted. Quan Fuhai, holding a palace lantern, was about to open the door when Jiang Yuan stopped him.
"Wait."
Consort Ning's voice was piercingly clear in the quiet night air. Her shocking words caused beads of sweat to break out on the foreheads of the attending palace servants, who silently dropped to their knees one by one.
Qi Daiyu was inwardly overjoyed, but on the surface, she feigned alarm and made to kneel as well. Jiang Yuan, however, grasped her hand.
Consort Ning's words grew increasingly outrageous. Standing beside Jiang Yuan, Qi Daiyu clearly heard a cold, furious snort of laughter escape his throat. Then, Jiang Yuan kicked open the door before them.
"Consort Ning, you deserve to die a thousand deaths!"
