The Beloved Imperial Consort Chapter 133

Lady Wu’s pupils shrank. Mu Xi Yao noticed her expression froze for a moment.

“It’s really you,” Zhong Zheng Lin had mentioned to her that his informant in the first prince’s residence had once relayed the news that the House of the Duke of An may have planted a spy in the inner yard. Its codename was “Zhi Zhi.” Therefore, Mu Xi Yao had been keeping an eye on any suspicious candidates, eventually targeting lady Wu, lady Gan, and lady An.

None of these three women were simple. So far, neither Lady Wan nor Lady An had revealed any flaws. Only Lady Wu had previously visited Lady Zhang’s courtyard in an unusually diligent manner, which had attracted her attention. Later, she discovered that Lady Wu would often send her servant girl to interact with the attendant in the front yard, asking him to buy small items or something.

These seemed to be quite ordinary and insignificant matters. But once you paid close attention, you would find anomalies. Every time something happened in the residence or she caused some commotion, the number of purchases by Lady Wu would be carefully increased by one or two times. This notable change made Mu Xi Yao especially interested in lady Wu.

Afterward, she discovered a very strange occurrence. Lady Wu had two chief maidservants by her side, yet the people they came into contact with were different each time. It was as if they were two separate teams that did not interfere with each other. Such a meticulous arrangement soon made Mu Xi Yao take notice. If she were not in the palace and short on manpower, she would have already dispatched someone to investigate and unravel the situation.

Until this accident, Mu Xi Yao hadn’t had a chance to take action and address the situation, but lady Wu was already one step ahead of her and caused her to be locked in a small black room ¹.

As a result, when Mu Xi Yao’s position turned around, the first person she suspected was lady Wu. As for lady Kong and lady Qi, they were included in the list of suspects only due to their seniority and for the sake of caution.

“So, who is the real master behind you? Qie is truly curious. Is it the lord of those rebels or the House of Duke of An behind the first prince?” Mu Xi Yao looked at the expressionless woman in front of her and had to admire her. Internal Affairs². She played this game very well. It was possible that she was a double agent. Her abilities in Great Wei could be considered to be among the top.

Unfortunately, this woman had a fatal flaw, that was, she had developed feelings for Zhong Zheng Lin! On several occasions when Mu Xi Yao was publicly affectionate with Zhong Zheng Lin, she could catch a glimpse of pain in lady Wu’s eyes. That kind of extreme restraint and bitter emotion left Mu Xi Yao quite shocked.

Later, she fully cooperated with the other side’s actions. Perhaps, it was due to longstanding resentment and a desire for revenge.

“Cefei has surprised this servant. Is there anything in the inner yard that cefei isn’t aware of?” Lady Wu cast a glance at her and walked back to her seat, sitting down with an imposing presence.

Seeing her approach, everyone around lady Wu immediately scattered and cleared a large space for her. There was no one around.

They never would have expected that this honest person was actually the most venomous snake and scorpion. Not only was she the inside man of the rebels, but she also had connections with the House of Duke of An. Her identity was so unbelievable that no one would dare to believe it if it were to be revealed.

“It’s simply outrageous! Lady Wu, you are a guilty person. What right do you have to sit in the hall?”

He Lian Min Min was initially startled by Mu Xi Yao’s words. After she finally managed to recover her composure, she saw lady Wu sit down in an imposing manner, seemingly unaware that she was about to become a prisoner.

“Jiejie, there’s no need to get angry. Rewarding her a chair is a way of sending her on her way, as she is a person who is going to die.” Mu Xi Yao smiled gorgeously, but her eyes were filled with gloom.

Lady Wu couldn’t be handed over to authorities. Once she enters the prison, the first prince will look for an opportunity to act. As Zhong Zheng Lin wasn’t in Shengjing and she was a mere woman, it was absolutely impossible for her to openly confront a prince’s household.

Previously, it was said that lady Wu would be sent to authorities for investigation, but it was only because her other identity had not been confirmed yet. Now that situation has been clarified, lady Wu had to be disposed of.

“Didn’t cefei expose this servant’s identity in front of everyone because cefei wishes to cut off all of this servant’s escape routes?” If Mu’shi had not spoken out, the first prince might have still taken into account her past contributions and found a way to get her out and make other arrangements for her. However, t was no longer possible. But now, having been publicly exposed, Zhong Zheng Chun would never get himself involved in this mess, let alone acknowledge her identity.

“You’re quite smart.” Mu Xi Yao was indifferent to the intense hatred in lady Wu’s eyes.

“Has Yin Ji also been exposed?”

“As qie is cefei of the sixth prince’s household, qie is not able to interfere with the investigation of others in another household for the time being.” That Yin Ji, she was afraid that Zhong Zheng Ming hasn’t had time to investigate her thoroughly yet. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have only confined the entire inner yard and no news was heard from him even after he left the capital.

“That is to say, this servant’s luck is not good as this servant entered the sixth Highness’s household of all places.“ Coincidentally, she fell in love with his Highness and encountered this wicked woman.

“As cefei is aware, this servant doesn’t have long to live. Can cefei help clarify doubts this servant has so that this servant can die with a contend?”

“No.” Mu Xi Yao unexpectedly rejected lady Wu’s last request.

Lady Wu’s eyes widened suddenly, with a trace of blood spilling from the corners of her mouth.

“Ah!” Lady Qi was startled by lady Wu’s unusual condition and screamed. The main house was quickly engulfed in fear.

The women in the inner yard had never seen such a bloody scene face-to-face before. Su Lin was too frightened and, because of her previous embarrassment and anger, her emotions were in such turmoil, her knees felt weak and she faint.

He Lian Min Min’s face paled, and her fingertips trembled slightly. At this time, she finally understood Mu Xi Yao’s words ‘send her on her way’. It wasn’t intimidation. She had foreseen lady Wu’s fate.

“Jie Jie, if you don’t speak up, when the situation becomes chaotic later, it won’t look good.” Mu Xi Yao sat comfortably and watched the women below who were thrown into chaos. Her ears were constantly disturbed by the noise.

When He Lian Min Min saw Mu Xi Yao’s calm demeanor, she felt small-minded in comparison and struggled to keep her frustration in check.

For women, getting angry was the easiest reaction. Frustrated, He Lian Min Min let out a huge outburst of rage, causing the women in each courtyard to lose their composure and become instantly quiet from fear.

Lady Wu’s almond-white lapel was already stained red with blood, but she stubbornly leaned against the back of her chair and stared at Mu Xi Yao, refusing to look away even for a second.

“Is it too much to ask for cefei to fulfill even a humble with of this servant?” As she spoke, her breathing was already unsteady. Her chest rose and fell slightly.

Mu Xi Yao took the palace fan³ from Hui Lan’s hand and fanned it quickly, dispersing the faint smell of blood from her nose.

“No. Qie might not be able to fulfill your desire to leave contently. Qie fears that once qie says it, Wu’shi you will not be able to ease your mind.”

“What can a servant who is going to die not endure?”

Mu Xi Yao disagreed with her desire to die with knowing the reason. Why not die simply? Was she asking so many questions just to bring grudges and unwillingness to the afterlife? One must learn to let go to obtain happiness.

“This servant cannot comprehend what kind of scent was on that note that caused cefei to hold on firmly to this servant and pronounce this servant’s guilt with a single sentence.” Such swift and ruthless disposal of her. She won’t be able to even see that person’s face for the last time.

Your Highness…..

Ow, still have time to think of her man? Mu Xi Yao’s pettiness returned. Zhong Zheng Lin was now her personal pillow. Technically, he was her private possession. Demoness Mu had quite a revengeful nature.

Translation notes:

[1] To be locked in a small black room is an internet term that refers to a feature where users who violate community guidelines or rules are temporarily suspended from posting or commenting. It can also be used as a metaphor for being punished or reprimanded for something.
[2] Internal Affairs is a Hong Kong crime-action movie that tells a story of an undercover Hong Kong Police Force officer who infiltrates a Triad, and another officer who is secretly a spy for the same Triad.
[3] Palace fan is typically silk rigid hand fan; they are typically circular or oval in shape (source)

Relationship Diagram  (by Sith Kazar)

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