Chapter 97

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Chapter 97: Title

One Month Later – Nanyin’s Palace

With the sound of a baby’s cry, the entire hall lit up brightly, followed by a series of footsteps. A group of palace servants, dressed in blue palace outfits, filed in. The oldest among them set down a lantern, walked to a large baby cradle that could hold an adult, and bent down to lift the crying baby. She moved around the hall, softly comforting the child.

However, on the nearby loft, another person dressed in palace attire stood by a red pillar, her nails digging into her flesh, her pale lips chewed until they lost color.

“How is it? Have you made a decision?” a voice called out from behind, sounding indifferent.

“What have you done to Hong’er?” Her hoarse voice was filled with resentment.

Qin Qixian emerged from the shadows, her face as cold as ever. “If you be my consort, that child can stay with you.”

In just a month, Gu Hengbo had lost a lot of weight, sometimes feeling too weak to speak. At that moment, she fiercely grabbed Qin Qixian by her collar, glaring at her with gritted teeth, "If you dare to touch a hair on Hong’er’s head, as long as I, Gu Hengbo, live, you will never have peace in your life."

Qin Qixian looked down at the hand gripping her collar, "You think too highly of yourself. In my eyes, you are just a discarded waste."

Gu Hengbo sneered, "Oh really? Then do you still wish to go to bed with me, a woman rejected by her own enemy?"

"The provoking tactic won’t work on me," Qin Qixian’s gaze had already turned completely cold.

Gu Hengbo loosened her grip, "I always thought reaching the point Lian Rong did was truly beastly, but it seems you are even worse. You’re asking for a beating!" She had just stepped back when she suddenly rushed forward, catching the person in front of her off guard, and threw a punch.

Qin Qixian widened her eyes, about to speak, but another punch came crashing down. She was so shocked that she took the blow without defending herself.

"You worthless scum waste food. If anything happens to my Hong’er, I will tear down Nanyin’s Palace!" Gu Hengbo was pale, having used nearly all her strength in those two punches.

Qin Qixian backed away, holding her chin in surprise, "You dare hit me?" No one had ever made her feel so humiliated.

Gu Hengbo leaned against a pillar, her face cold as she looked at her, "I’m hitting you!"

In the distance, a baby’s cries echoed from the hall. Gu Hengbo frowned, staring at the person before her in silence. She had made up her mind—if Qin Qixian dared to touch her, she would jump from here. Her life had originally been a second chance, and now it didn’t matter if it ended.

Thinking about it, a sharp pain stirred in her heart. She was the kind of person who would stick to her beliefs for a lifetime. Even if Lian Rong were to hand her over, it would never be done like this. She would present her in a dignified manner and smile, telling everyone that she was just a pawn in this king’s game. Besides, even if Lian Rong might act that way, she would definitely insult her first and say that the other party’s standards were too low to notice her. Therefore, she didn’t believe a word of Qin Qixian’s.

Whether she truly didn’t believe it or was afraid to believe it, she didn’t know. As long as she was alive, her body must remain innocent. Even if it wasn’t because of Lian Rong, she wouldn’t be humiliated or live in shame. The owner of this body had suffered enough already.

Qin Qixian, who had been silent for a long time with her chin in her hand, suddenly laughed, "You really are something special. No wonder Lian Rong wants me to protect you, even without the army." The thought of kneeling down still sent shivers down her spine. Who would have thought that the great Prince Rong would kneel for a woman? Oh, she couldn’t tell the person in front of her; she wasn’t done having her fun yet!

Gu Hengbo was stunned, "What did you say?"

Qin Qixian suddenly turned and walked toward the stairs, "Nothing. Gu Meisheng, you have been charged with the crime of poaching the king’s favor today. Tomorrow, I will send someone for the consort ceremony. Make sure you don’t sleep in!"

Gu Hengbo stood there, her body slowly sliding down the pillar, as tears streamed down her face like a broken string.

In a private room of a restaurant in Northern Region Capital, a handsome young man paced like a trapped beast. The gentle aura he originally had was completely overshadowed by heavy anger, while several black-clad men silently knelt on the floor.

"How is it possible? How is it possible! The royal uncle did not take her away; she is either in the vast grasslands or at Lord Zou’s residence. How can she be missing!" The young man suddenly pointed at the black-clad men and said coldly, "It must be your oversight!"

One of the black-clad men replied gravely, "Your Highness, we have indeed searched the locations you mentioned and other possible places."

"Waste!" The young man’s expression darkened further, "Send my orders out—search everywhere! I want her found in all of Northern Region!"

"Your Highness, I have one thing I don’t understand?"

"Speak!"

"If we find the woman you spoke of, how should we handle her?"

The young man paused, then slowly smiled, "Handle her? If she suffers even a little harm, you will bring your heads to me."

"Yes!"

The black-clad men vanished into the thick night, leaving only the lonely figure of the young man in the room. He clutched his chest, frowning in pain, "Meisheng, have you forgotten me?"

*

In the sixth year of Nanyin’s Chongzhen era, the Southern Emperor decreed to the world that he would marry his first consort since ascending the throne. The people all knew that the consort was a commoner, but who she was remained unknown, leading to much speculation.

The consort ceremony hall was grandly arranged, and the event proceeded smoothly. The Southern Emperor, dressed in a dragon robe, smiled at the civil and military officials in the hall, "I am happy today. You all don’t need to be formal; enjoy yourselves." After saying this, he left without waiting for anyone to respond.

Inside the brightly lit hall, everything was adorned in vibrant red, brightening the usual coldness. Not far from the bed, a baby cradle draped in red silk was placed, and a figure in a red palace outfit sat beside it, gently swaying the cradle, her gaze unfocused on the red carpet beneath her.

The little one in the cradle played happily, waving chubby hands in the air. Gu Hengbo smiled and pinched the small hand, "No wonder your mother always says you’re so ungrateful. Looking at you now, it’s true. This aunt is almost going crazy, and you’re still so cheerful!"

Of course, the little one didn’t understand her words and continued to play happily.

Gu Hengbo sighed, "In one lifetime, I’ve crossed over and become a consort twice. Gu Hengbo, should I say you’re quite capable or just very unlucky?"