Chapter 133: The Grasped Lifeline

Noble Consort Gao was presented with two maidservants by Jun Yeli himself. Ostensibly, they were a gift, but in reality, they were sent to keep her under surveillance.

Jun Yechen saw all of this, yet he was utterly helpless. Fortunately, as a consort from the previous reign, Noble Consort Gao still held some status within the inner palace, which spared her from being bullied further.

At two in the afternoon, the sun was bright. As the clouds parted, the light fell quietly upon the figures below. Jun Yechen, however, downed a cup of bitter wine, his mind churning like a tempest. His thoughts were entirely consumed by the situation regarding Noble Consort Gao.

"That damned Jun Yeli! To use my own mother as a threat—he is truly despicable and shameless!"

As the last word fell, he squeezed the cup in his hand so hard that it shattered into pieces with a sharp crack. Shards pierced his palm, and blood began to trickle down his hand. Seeing this, the nearby palace maids were thrown into a panic, hurriedly rushing over with silk handkerchiefs. "Your Highness, are you alright?"

"Get out!" A thunderous voice roared. The eager maid was shoved heavily to the ground. Though she felt aggrieved for trying to be of service, she dared not even draw a full breath.

"All of you, get out of here—you eyesores!"

Gritting his teeth, he waited until they had all dispersed, leaving him alone in the courtyard. The shattered cup, the flowing blood, and his throbbing palm—everything served only to deepen his frustration.

Just then, a timid voice came from behind him. "Your Highness, it is Liuli's fault. I should not have been so reckless and headstrong..."

Hearing this, Jun Yechen turned around. Liuli was dressed in a palace maid’s uniform, her simple disguise making her difficult to recognize. After all, with so many maids moving in and out of the palace every day, who had the time to scrutinize every face?

Yet, the moment he saw Liuli, Jun Yechen’s irritation flared anew. His gaze, sharp as an eagle's, locked onto her as he barked, "You still have the nerve to show your face? Do you realize that if it weren't for you, my mother would never have become a bargaining chip for that man!"

The more he thought, the angrier he became. He grabbed the wine decanter from the table and hurled it violently at her. Liuli could have dodged it, but she stood foolishly still, closing her eyes and taking the blow head-on.

With a crash, the vessel shattered, leaving a deep bruise on her otherwise flawless face.

"Why didn't you dodge?" Seeing her injured, Jun Yechen couldn't identify his own feelings, only sensing his agitation growing more intense.

"As long as it eases Your Highness’s heart, I would consider it an honor even if you were to kill me!"

It was a pretty answer, but it only made him more annoyed. "Do you think that if you weren't still useful, your betrayal of my orders wouldn't have been enough to earn you death ten thousand times over?"

He could not afford to lose her; if she died, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain?

Hearing this, Liuli threw herself to the ground, prostrating herself and pressing her head firmly against the floor. "Please, Your Highness, forgive me. I was truly blinded by obsession. I only felt that that woman was an obstacle to you, and that your feelings for her..."

She hesitated for a brief moment before forcing herself to continue. "Your feelings for her seem somewhat… unusual. This will only hinder your grand plans!"

These words struck his heart like a silver needle—an imperceptible weapon that caused the most agonizing pain. Jun Yechen fell silent for a long moment, his fists slightly clenched, truly conflicted and restless.

There had been times when he gazed at the moon, contemplating his own feelings for Hua Rong, yet he could never find a conclusion. But as the saying goes, the onlooker sees more clearly than the player; had Liuli not seen through him entirely?

"Is my heart truly that transparent?" He let out a heavy sigh, unable to find any defense. For all his silver-tongued eloquence, he was now rendered mute, unable to voice his own bitterness.

As the clouds dissipated, the glaring sun fell upon Jun Yechen. Liuli looked up cautiously at the side of his face—exquisitely beautiful, yet tinged with a profound sense of desolation. Such sorrow and hesitation had no place on this man's face.

"Your Highness, you..."

"Enough. Say no more. I will not easily overlook what happened last night. You must atone for your sins through meritorious service!"

His resolute, forceful tone carried a hint of hidden hatred, which caught Liuli by surprise. She hurriedly asked, "As long as Your Highness wishes, I would walk through fire and water for you. What would you have me do?"

"Hua Yue—that woman knows too much. To keep the secret, she must be made to shut her mouth forever!" Thinking of that foolish woman, Jun Yechen could not help but sneer. "She actually thinks that by grasping a few minor clues, she can hold my life in her hands? She is truly naive!"

"As you command. This time, I will not let you down!"

In the blink of an eye, the sun began to set. With the matter of Liuli temporarily settled, the issue of Hua Rong’s alleged murder was once again at the forefront. Several concubines had submitted a joint petition demanding an immediate decision. Even the ministers joined the fray, each looking to eliminate a rival and secure a chance for their own daughters to gain favor in the inner palace.

Looking at the mountain of memorials on his desk, Jun Yeli was overcome with fury and agitation. "The same rhetoric again! Can they think of nothing else? Are they truly so invested in the affairs of my inner palace?"

He threw the memorials heavily to the floor and rubbed his temples in annoyance. The eunuch by his side hurried over, gently massaging his shoulders to soothe him. "Your Majesty, please do not be angry."

"Not be angry? These people know nothing, yet they blindly follow the tide, demanding Hua Rong's execution. What good does it do them?"

Hua Rong had inadvertently become the target of everyone’s wrath. If she knew, she would likely retreat into her own shell again.

He looked at the pile of memorials—nine out of ten were requests to execute Hua Rong. How could he possibly read them?

"Enough. You handle these memorials. If there are duplicates or anything related to the death of Consort Rong, just discard them!"

Jun Yeli rose in frustration, having no intention of wasting his mind on such trivial matters, and turned to leave.