Chapter 135: Decree of Death

The following day, the clamor of voices in the imperial court grew even louder, with officials vehemently demanding that Jun Yeli punish Hua Rong.

Sitting upon the dragon throne, the man wore a solemn expression, his gaze drifting across the assembly. Faced with the cacophony, he felt a flicker of irritability and roared in a low, commanding voice, "Enough! Do you take this for a marketplace? Such unruly behavior—what decorum is this!"

His words silenced the room instantly; no one dared utter another syllable. Yet, as they lifted their heads, the expectant look in their eyes made it clear they had no intention of letting the matter rest.

Jun Yeli observed them, understanding their intent, and finally heaved a heavy sigh. "Very well. I have heard you. Since you are all so convinced that the evidence is ironclad, then let Hua Rong be put to death by poison to serve as a warning to others."

The announcement left the courtiers momentarily stunned, but they quickly composed themselves and accepted the verdict. "His Majesty is wise!" they chorused, departing the hall with satisfied expressions.

As Jun Yeli walked away, his personal eunuch followed, looking utterly bewildered. "Your Majesty, do you truly intend to execute Consort Rong? You were so fond of her before; how could the winds have changed so drastically in a single day?"

A cold glare silenced the eunuch immediately, who promptly shut his mouth. A monarch’s heart was not for a servant to fathom—why invite death by knowing too much?

Moments later, a cup of poisoned wine was delivered to the prison cell, leaving Hua Rong dumbfounded. "What kind of joke is this? Are you certain this is meant for me? There must be some mistake!"

She stared at the cup, catching a faint scent of wine, yet she could not bring herself to believe it. Only a moment ago, the man had been full of tenderness and solemn vows, yet he had turned into a treacherous villain seeking her life in the blink of an eye. The sudden shift was impossible to comprehend. Hua Rong shook her head repeatedly, refusing to drink.

"Consort, this is not a matter for you to decide. Since it is the Emperor’s decree, I suggest you comply, or do not blame us for being discourteous!"

The burly guards, looking like demons from the underworld, were each more menacing than the last. Hua Rong envisioned them forcing the poison down her throat, a scene too gruesome to bear. Recalling the warmth and care Jun Yeli had once shown her, everything now seemed absurdly farcical.

"Heh, and here I was, trusting him so deeply, dreaming of spending our lives together. Who would have thought it would end in such ingratitude? I have truly misplaced my heart..."

With a heavy sigh, Hua Rong trembling took the cup. Gritting her teeth, she whispered, "Fine. Even in death, I shall depart with dignity. I only hope that in the next life, I never set foot in this imperial palace again!"

Filled with despair, she drained the cup in one gulp. A moment later, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.

"Very well, she is dead. Let us return to report." The men left sloppily, leaving the corpse lying silently in the cell.

The news spread rapidly, and the women of the inner palace were ecstatic. "Heaven truly has eyes! That woman is finally dead. Let’s see how she can seduce the Emperor now!" The sound of their gleeful laughter filled the air as if they had achieved some great, cathartic victory.

One of them couldn't resist adding with a mocking smile, "Perhaps not. What if Consort Rong holds such a deep grudge that she returns as a ghost to haunt the Emperor?"

They laughed even more肆意, never noticing Hua Yue approaching with a faltering gait. "You sisters seem quite happy. It appears you have quite a grievance against my younger sister."

The comment rendered them speechless, and all eyes turned toward Hua Yue. Previously, they had treated her with a modicum of courtesy, mostly to curry favor with the Emperor’s favorite, Hua Rong, but now, there was no need for such pretenses.

Noble Lady Yu was the first to reveal her true colors, sneering, "I wondered who it was—if it isn't Noble Lady Le. Your sister is dead, yet you show no grief; how dare you speak to us?"

The others chimed in, wearing looks of unabashed schadenfreude. Seeing them so insufferable, Hua Yue let out a cold laugh. Far from retreating, she stepped into their circle.

She picked up a wine cup, swirling it gently, and fixed her gaze on Noble Lady Yu. "Noble Lady Yu, you seem very pleased with yourself. But have you forgotten about me?"

The simple remark silenced them. They looked at Hua Yue with newfound surprise; it was clear she intended to be their enemy.

Noble Lady Yu gritted her teeth. "Heh, you rely on your looks and a murderous sister? Do you think your reputation is any better? Do you really think the Emperor will favor you?"

She was filled with triumph, but the slap in the face came too swiftly.

In the distance, the Emperor’s personal eunuch approached with a brisk, light-footed pace, taking everyone by surprise.

"Oh, isn't that Eunuch Li? Why are you here? Could it be that the Emperor..."

With the moon rising, it was the perfect time for the Emperor to seek company, and everyone was eager to make an impression. Yet, Eunuch Li ignored them entirely, turning instead to Hua Yue. "Consort, the Emperor invites you to attend to him tonight."

"What? How could it be her? How could the Emperor favor the sister of such a vicious murderess?"

Noble Lady Yu, being naturally competitive, stood up, her teeth clenched in fury.

However, Eunuch Li gave a cold smile. "Do you truly think the Emperor’s heart is yours to guess?"

With that, he gestured respectfully for Hua Yue to follow. Under the collective gaze of the others, Hua Yue walked away with Eunuch Li, leaving the group behind, green with envy.

"Damn it! I thought we finally had a chance. Those Hua sisters are truly a nuisance; they leave no room for anyone else to breathe!" One woman stomped her foot, her anger written plainly on her face. Only Imperial Concubine Wen, wearing a forced smile, watched their retreating backs, her fists tightly clenched.

She turned to the fuming Noble Lady Yu and chuckled, "Sister Yu, there is no need to be so distressed. The Emperor’s mind is hard to guess, but it is not impossible that he might look our way eventually. Let us simply wait for a better day."

This was hardly a consolation; it was salt in the wound. Since entering the palace, the only time Noble Lady Yu had spent with the Emperor was the night she arrived, and the two had simply sat opposite each other by the red candles all night, with nothing happening at all.