The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

When Xie Yanzhao returned to his bedchamber, it was already late at night.

He first took a thorough bath to wash away the blood and chill before coming to the bedside wearing a soft nightgown.

Shen Tinghe was fast asleep, her little face nestled in the cloud-shaped pillow with a rosy blush, her breathing light and even, the blanket having already been kicked to the side by the restless person.

A smile unconsciously appeared in Xie Yanzhao's eyes. He got into bed, gently pulled her into his arms, and then pulled the quilt over them both.

He took her soft wrist and carefully tied the slightly worn red string around it.

He ran his fingertips over the knot, lowered his head and placed a few light kisses on the back of her hand, then contentedly wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes to sleep.

He would eliminate and crush all potential dangers around her.

The matter of witchcraft has now been settled.

Two days later, the imperial edict was issued to the entire palace.

The mastermind behind the witchcraft plot against Consort An has been executed.

Consort Xian was implicated and demoted to Consort Zhen; Princess Rouan, Xie Jiayu, had her title revoked.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside a waterside pavilion in the imperial palace, Xie Jiayu was leaning against a balustrade, listening to Guan Yi recite poetry for her.

She had specifically summoned him.

Since their marriage was arranged, the two rarely saw each other. She chose him as her consort because she admired his refined and elegant demeanor, which resembled that of Shen Chengbai, when he played the zither and recited poetry. Naturally, she wanted to take a few more glances at him to soothe her heart.

Guan Yi's voice was clear and gentle, but Xie Jiayu's gaze suddenly caught sight of a figure hurrying past on a path in the distance.

A chilling smile immediately appeared on her lips.

It's Xie Jiaran.

She has kept a low profile ever since that incident, but today she's finally shown her face.

Xie Jiayu's eyes flickered as she glanced at Guan Yi beside her, a hint of malice and excitement flashing in them.

She got up and slowly walked out of the open pavilion.

"Fifth Sister." The voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to make that slender figure freeze abruptly.

Xie Jiaran was feeling unwell, but no one from the Imperial Hospital was willing to set foot in Lanchi Palace, so she had no choice but to come out and seek medical help herself.

To my utter surprise, I ran into the person I least wanted to see.

Her fingertips were icy cold; knowing she couldn't escape, she simply stopped, stood there with her head down, and thought dejectedly:

What else can we do? It can't get any worse than it is now.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." She bowed softly, her posture humble.

Xie Jiayu, however, did not let her go, her smile becoming increasingly alluring and dazzling.

"Fifth Sister, you seem to be in a hurry. Where are you rushing off to?"

She suddenly turned her head and softly called out to the pavilion, "Guan Yi, come and take a look. This is the person you used to admire."

Guan Yi hurriedly got up and came over, his tone urgent as he tried to distance himself from the situation.

"Third Princess, you jest! I've only met the Fifth Princess a few times; how could there be any talk of affection? If we're talking about affection..."

He turned to Xie Jiayu, his gaze earnest: "Your Majesty, I naturally only have eyes for you."

Xie Jiaran shuddered, abruptly looking up at Guan Yi, her eyes filled with disbelief, which then welled up with tears.

She had thought... at least Guan Yi wouldn't take advantage of her misfortune.

Xie Jiayu snorted lightly, her gaze quickly sweeping over Guan Yi with an undisguised contempt.

This person is only similar to Shen Chengbai when reciting poetry and playing the zither, and is somewhat presentable, but his inner nature is so vulgar that it disgusts her.

But in order to sting Xie Jiaran, she barely managed to hold back.

"Oh? But I've heard that you used to write quite a few love poems for my fifth sister?" she drawled.

Guan Yi's expression remained unchanged, even showing a hint of anxiety at being wronged.

"Your Highness, please understand! It was merely a poem exchanged in response. Moreover, it is common for poets to compose and recite poems with their fellow talented female classmates at poetry gatherings and banquets; it is truly not to be taken seriously."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xie Jiaran with disdain, only to meet her tearful gaze, before quickly turning his face away.

Xie Jiayu sneered inwardly, gracefully walked to Xie Jiaran and stopped in front of her. Leaning slightly forward, she spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear, word by word:

"There's something I seem to have forgotten to tell you. The day after Father Emperor issued the decree of marriage, I received a letter from Guan Yi."

She watched with satisfaction as Xie Jiaran's pupils suddenly contracted: "In the letter, he said he was grateful that I chose him as my consort, and that he would definitely live in harmony with me in the future and follow my lead."

"Good sister, look!"

Her tone grew softer, yet it was like a viper's tongue: "In the end, you have nothing. Your lover was a fake, and your mother... is gone too."

"What my mother and I lost was nothing more than a few trivial things."

That is indeed the case.

Xie Jiayu will get married next April, at which time the Ministry of Rites will draft a new title for her.

Although Consort Xian was demoted to Consort Zhen, there were not many consorts in the harem to begin with, and with her family background, her status was still prominent.

In the harem, she remained just as powerful as before, second only to Consort Ming and above all others.

Xie Jiaran stared intently at Xie Jiayu, her chest heaving violently, her whole body trembling uncontrollably, and an abnormal flush rising on her pale face.

Seeing her like this, Xie Jiayu finally felt a sense of relief and release from the pent-up frustration in her heart.

She straightened up, her voice instantly turning cold, and said loudly:

"Guards! The Fifth Princess shows no respect for her elders, glaring angrily at her elder sister with utter disrespect. Drag her away, slap her ten times, and take her back to Lanchi Palace to reflect on her actions!"

Immediately, two eunuchs stepped forward and grabbed Xie Jiaran from both sides.

As she was being dragged away, she gave Guan Yi one last, intense look, a look that seemed to pierce her soul and leave her in his wake. Guan Yi stood frozen to the side, unable to meet her gaze.

It's all for someone like that...

For such a hypocritical and cowardly beast, she lost her beloved mother, and everything she had was ruined!

Boundless hatred overwhelmed her last shred of reason. Before being dragged out of the open space, she screamed with all her might, her voice shrill and heart-wrenching:

"Guan Yi—I curse you to a terrible death! I curse your whole family to be condemned to eternal hell, never to be reborn—!"

The screams faded into the distance, eventually disappearing at the end of the winding palace path.

The open pavilion was deathly silent, except for Xie Jiayu's face, where a cold and smug smile slowly bloomed.

In the distance, behind a rockery made of Taihu stones, Shen Tinghe held a round fan and watched all this.

She and Zhou Chenxi were playing and chasing butterflies in this secluded garden.

Zhou Chenxi was able to come to the palace again only because Shen Tinghe had pleaded with Xie Yanzhao for two whole nights in the hot springs a few days ago, and that's how she got permission.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they stepped out of the shade of the flowers, they came into full view of the humiliation and rupture that had taken place in front of the open pavilion.

Zhou Chenxi sighed softly, but there was little sympathy in her sigh: "Heaven's sins may be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins are unforgivable. The cause and effect in this deep palace are always interconnected, and retribution is inevitable."

Shen Tinghe's gaze was fixed on the distance.

Xie Jiayu had already turned around leisurely, and Guan Yi followed closely with his head down. The eunuchs dragged that limp figure away from the end of the path, as if the commotion just now was just a shadow play that started suddenly and ended hastily.

Her expression remained calm, and her heart was completely unmoved.

She watched these people's honor and disgrace, love and hate, struggles and destruction, but felt no connection whatsoever.

They and she were from completely different worlds.

The bitter fruits borne from desires and scheming must ultimately be swallowed by those who sow them.

Shen Tinghe turned her head slightly and said to Zhou Chenxi, "It's getting windy, let's go back."