HCB Chapter 74 Rong'er's fate is entirely my prerogative.
Chapter 74 Rong'er's fate is entirely my prerogative.
Wen Yue stood outside Shou Kang Palace. When she saw Jun Ce walking towards her with a murderous aura, she was stunned. A strong sense of unease welled up in her heart, and she quickly lowered her head and stepped aside.
Jun Ce pushed open the door and went inside.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Qin Yan stood up in surprise, "Brother Ce!"
After many years, the spirited young man I remembered has grown into a true man. His eyes are sharp, his demeanor is dignified, and he exudes a powerful aura that compels people to bow down.
Qin Yan lowered her head and bit her lip, a girlish shyness appearing on her face.
Jun Ce glanced coldly at her and the Empress Dowager, as if they were lifeless objects.
The Empress Dowager, seeing the unfriendly look in his eyes, froze for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "Ce'er, you've come at the right time. I was just talking to Yan'er about..."
Jun Ce interrupted him directly, his voice filled with pressure.
"What did you say to Rong'er?"
Qin Yan's beautiful thoughts vanished instantly, replaced by a heavy, unbearable feeling in her heart, as if a large stone had been lodged there.
She looked up at Jun Ce with disbelief.
Brother Ce, you've come to confront me on behalf of that woman...
The Empress Dowager fell silent, her smile gradually fading, her eyes sharpening as if she were about to unleash a torrent of fire.
Are you questioning me?
Seeing that Jun Ce did not answer, the Empress Dowager sneered and said, "The Regent is really putting on airs now, daring to act so arrogantly towards me!"
"Zhai Rongyu is merely the daughter of an official; can't I even exchange a few words with her?"
"They're all so unruly!"
The Empress Dowager seemed extremely angry, her fingers gripping the side of the chair, her chest heaving.
Qin Yan stepped forward and gently took the Empress Dowager's hand, patting her back softly. "Aunt, please calm down."
She glanced at Jun Ce, suppressing the flutter in her heart, and said softly, "Someone must have maliciously stirred things up in front of Brother Ce, trying to cause discord between you and your son. Aunt, please don't fall for her tricks!"
Jun Ce's dark eyes suddenly darkened.
The sound was like ice shards in the dead of winter.
"I'm here to warn you all. I will do as I please with Rong'er. If anyone is foolish enough to bully her, I will make them regret ever being born!"
When Qin Yan heard him defend Zhai Rongyu, she felt her blood run cold.
She bit her lower lip hard, her eyes bloodshot.
The Empress Dowager pointed at him with trembling fingers, "What do you mean by that?"
"You want to marry her?!"
"I absolutely disagree!" She stood up abruptly.
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is getting old. If she continues to worry about the affairs of the younger generation, she may not be able to enjoy her later years in peace," Jun Ce said indifferently.
The Empress Dowager sensed the threat in his words and was startled.
“If you wish to meddle in other people’s business, there is an interesting story you might tell the Empress Dowager.” Jun Ce looked at her, his calm, star-like eyes revealing a chilling sharpness. “A lone figure.”
"Yes!"
The figure turned around and said to the Empress Dowager with a blank expression, "Your Majesty, the Prince recently arrested a man named Ye Kun in Yangcheng, and he is now being secretly detained in Dali Temple."
"This man is nothing more than a merchant, yet he keeps claiming to be the imperial court's purse. Isn't that interesting?"
The Empress Dowager turned deathly pale, covered in cold sweat, and collapsed onto the soft couch.
Jun Ce looked at her indifferently, "Your Majesty, rest assured, such a scoundrel is bound to make wild accusations under torture."
"This matter needs to be investigated carefully."
"If Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has the time, why not take care of this matter?"
The Empress Dowager's pale lips trembled as she forced a smile and said, "Ce'er is joking. How could I possibly interfere in the affairs of the previous dynasty?"
"I'm getting old and don't want to worry anymore."
"You can decide your own marriage."
"Aunt..." In her haste, Qin Yan tried to pull on the Empress Dowager's sleeve, but was brushed away.
She clenched her fists.
Jun Ce didn't look at them again and left Shou Kang Palace with a flick of his sleeve.
No sooner had he left than a small mirror on the lawn inside the Shou Kang Palace reflected enough sunlight to spark tiny sparks, and the lawn was immediately engulfed in flames. The fire spread rapidly, climbing up the palace pillars in an instant, and a series of panicked shouts came from inside the palace.
"The fire is coming!"
The palace servants ran around spreading the news and rushed to fetch water to put out the fire.
As Jun Ce gazed at the raging flames of Shou Kang Palace, he recalled the girl's angry yet mischievous smile. His tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"You still have quite a temper." The tone was filled with undisguised doting affection.
He was all alone and completely bewildered.
What is the Lord saying?
*
Another corner of the palace.
Following Qiu Jin's directions, Zhai Muling arrived at the inner hall of Xianning Palace.
"Please wait here, young lady. Her Majesty will come shortly after changing her clothes." After saying this, Qiu Jin withdrew and closed the door to the inner hall behind her.
Zhai Muling frowned.
She walked to the table and sat down. After waiting for a while, she smelled a faint fragrance. The fragrance lingered, and Zhai Muling twitched her nose. Upon closer inspection, she found it somewhat sweet and cloying, and her head began to spin.
Alarm bells rang in her mind! She quickly took out an antidote and swallowed it.
My mind cleared instantly.
Rong'er was right, Consort Shu's purpose was indeed...
She was startled and looked into the inner room, where she saw Jun Yiqing slowly walking out!
"Sixth Prince!" Zhai Muling stood up in fright.
"Mu Ling? What are you doing here?"
Jun Yiqing waved his fan and asked, somewhat puzzled.
He suddenly remembered something and stepped forward excitedly, "Mu Ling, have you thought it through? My engagement with you..."
"Your Highness!" Zhai Muling interrupted him, taking a deep breath, "The reason I've come here is to tell Your Highness that I will not marry you. Please, Your Highness, annul the engagement!"
Jun Yiqing stopped waving her fan, her eyes filled with disappointment.
But then a feeling of resentment welled up inside me.
"You... really won't reconsider?"
“My mind is made up, and I beg Your Highness to grant my request.” As soon as Zhai Muling finished speaking, she saw Jun Yiqing shake his head, looking somewhat confused.
She walked anxiously to the door, intending to open it, but found it locked!
"what happened?"
Jun Yiqing also walked over, somewhat surprised.
How could Aunt Qiu Jin be so careless? And the incense in the inner hall... it smells so strange...
His head began to feel dizzy.
In the shadows, I saw Zhai Muling leaning against the door in a panic, her usually dignified face now showing signs of unease, and a strange sense of unease crept into my heart.
“Mu Ling…” He reached out, wanting to grab the woman he had been longing for and hold her in his arms to comfort her.
"Ah—" Zhai Muling screamed with her eyes closed.
Suddenly, a golden talisman flew out from his sleeve and stuck directly to Jun Yiqing's forehead. The surrounding air rippled and spread with the golden light, actually breaking open the door!
Jun Yiqing seemed to freeze, his hands stiff and he stood there dumbfounded.
Air condensation.
Without a second thought, Zhai Muling turned and ran out the door.
In the chaos, she caught a glimpse of a leaf frozen in mid-air, Qiu Jin rushing over with one foot in the air, and a water jug in the hands of a palace maid, the water of which had stopped on the leaf!
She was deeply shocked.
Rong'er's talisman has such great power!
Only after Zhai Muling ran out of Xianning Palace did the leaves in mid-air fall down.
The palace maids, oblivious to the danger, continued watering the flowers.
Qiu Jin rushed to the inner hall, only to find Jun Yiqing collapsed on the ground with a golden talisman stuck to his forehead!
"Your Majesty!"
She cried out in alarm and searched everywhere, but couldn't find Zhai Muling anywhere!
……
In a panic, Zhai Muling ran past several palaces and hid inside the artificial hill.
Before she could catch her breath, a figure enveloped her.
She looked up and felt a terrifying sense of being gripped by fate...
"Your Highness the Crown Prince?!"
Jun Yinghuai approached her, his eyes glazed over, and raised his hand to stroke her face, which was slightly flushed from running. His tone was languid yet dangerous.
"Mu Ling, I told you, you can't escape."