noffsinger Chapter 257 Showdown
Chapter 257 Showdown
Chapter 257 Showdown
Looking at the scene before her, Chen Ruoyao couldn't help but wonder if Chen Xianlin had something important to discuss with her.
Chen Ruoyao broke the silence first, bowed slightly, and said, "I wonder what brings Your Majesty the Empress here today?"
Chen Xianlin snorted coldly, staring directly at Chen Ruoyao with undisguised hostility in her eyes, and asked bluntly, "Hmph! I'd like to ask, should I call you Consort Shu or Chen Ruoyao?"
Chen Ruoyao's face froze. After a while, she came to her senses, but instead of responding to Chen Xianlin's questioning, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. She wondered if Chen Xianlin knew or was testing her.
Chen Ruoyao lowered her head slightly, her eyes flickering uncertainly, trying to change the subject with words, and replied calmly, "Your Majesty, I really don't understand what you mean by that! I hope Your Majesty will enlighten me."
However, Chen Ruoyao's slightly trembling voice betrayed her inner nervousness.
"There must be some misunderstanding here!" she said, while carefully observing Chen Xianlin's expression.
Chen Xianlin sneered and raised her hand to deliver a resounding slap to Chen Ruoyao's face.
Chen Ruoyao was stunned by the sudden slap and felt dizzy. She instinctively covered her burning cheek and stood there blankly.
In just a moment, Chen Ruoyao's feigned innocent expression vanished without a trace, replaced by a face full of resentment.
She stared wide-eyed at Chen Xianlin before her, and said, "I don't know what you're talking about! But... if you intend to torture me without my permission, it might not be good if the Emperor finds out. I am, after all, a concubine!"
Chen Ruoyao spoke with sarcasm, her eyes full of provocation.
Her words made Chen Xianlin even more certain of Consort Shu's identity. If she had some doubts before, she was now completely certain.
It seems that Consort Shu really is Chen Ruoyao.
Chen Xianlin's face suddenly darkened. She glanced coldly at Chen Ruoyao and said indifferently, "Do you think you can replace me?"
"Hahahaha! What are you saying, sister? Substitute? How could that be? How could I possibly have such amazing skills as you, sister?" Chen Ruoyao had a bright smile on her face, but her eyes were fixed on Chen Xianlin in front of her.
"How could someone of my humble birth dare to dream of the Empress's position!"
Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, Chen Ruoyao's lips curled up slightly, and she said softly, "However, after all, I, as her younger sister, could not do such a ruthless thing as my older sister, who would even harm a child who is only a month old!"
As soon as Chen Ruoyao finished speaking, Chen Xianlin's body visibly trembled, and her previously calm face instantly turned deathly pale.
Seeing Chen Xianlin's unusual behavior, Chen Ruoyao's heart sank.
Before this, Chen Ruoyao only had some suspicions about her brother's cause of death. Now, seeing Chen Xianlin's reaction, she is even more convinced that her brother's death is definitely related to Chen Xianlin, but she has no evidence at the moment.
Actually, Chen Ruoyao learned about her brother's cause of death from other people.
When Consort Jiang sensed that Chen Xianlin might target her, she secretly sent someone to inform her of this before leaving the palace.
Chen Ruoyao was very puzzled at the time. She couldn't understand how Consort Jiang knew about this matter, nor could she understand why Consort Jiang would tell her about it.
Before Chen Ruoyao could even figure it out, Chen Xianlin's panicked state was already telling her the answer.
"Hahahahahaha!" In an instant, a sharp, piercing, and maniacal laugh rang out, and Chen Xianlin burst into wild laughter without warning.
She was laughing so hard she was doubled over, tears almost streaming down her face. Her once delicate features now looked grotesque and terrifying due to the excessive distortion.
After the laughter subsided slightly, Chen Xianlin said in a mocking and disdainful tone, "Is there any evidence? It's just wild guessing! If my sister really had solid evidence, she would have already told Father!"
"Father is far too arrogant. He actually thinks that as long as you replace me, he will be able to bring down the Prime Minister's Mansion? That's just wishful thinking and delusional!"
At this point, Chen Xianlin slightly raised her chin, a hint of pride on her face: "I am able to sit in this position today entirely by my own efforts."
"Do you know what it's like to be locked in a water dungeon for days and nights in complete darkness? Do you know what it feels like to kill someone who was once very close to you with your own hands?"
"Do you know what it feels like to be beaten black and blue, in so much pain... so much pain... wanting to die right now, but being unable to die?"
"Hahahaha, back then, Empress Dowager Wen tried every means but couldn't torture me to death. This is fate. It was God who let me live and live to this day!"
"No matter who it is, if they dare to try to pull me down from this position, even if it's my father, I will show absolutely no mercy!"
"Is that Consort Shu? You'd better live with that face forever. If you're accidentally discovered, that's a crime of deceiving the emperor, hmph!" As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Xianlin turned and left without looking back.
Prime Minister's Mansion
Zheng Luoqi received a message from a spy in the palace, informing her that Chen Xianlin and Chen Ruoyao had already confronted each other.
Seeing that things were almost done, Chen Xianlin was ready to make her move, and Zheng Luoqi planned to secretly give her another hand.
It was Zheng Luoqi who orchestrated the news of the plague that reached the capital, all to let Chen Xianlin know about the plan and make her guess that Chen Tongyu wanted her younger sister, who held the title of Consort Shu, to replace her.
It was Zheng Luoqi who arranged for Consort Jiang to tell Chen Ruoyao the news, with the aim of letting Chen Ruoyao find something to use against Chen Xianlin and then causing the two to fight each other.
Unfortunately, Chen Ruoyao wasn't bold enough. If she had continued to investigate her brother's death, Zheng Luoqi would have secretly helped her find evidence that Chen Xianlin had murdered her brother.
However, Chen Ruoyao hesitated and did not investigate immediately, instead giving Chen Xianlin time to investigate her.
Although Zheng Luoqi didn't get to see Chen Ruoyao make a move, she did get to see Chen Xianlin take action.
Since that's the case, it wouldn't be unreasonable to use Chen Xianlin to get rid of the Chen family. The current infighting between the two presents the perfect opportunity to strike.
"Boyu!" Zheng Luoqi picked up the letter sent by the palace spy, brought it close to the candlelight, and the letter burned out.
Boyu happened to arrive at the door. He raised his hand, knocked gently, and respectfully inquired, "Sir!"
A crisp reply came from inside: "Come in!"
Upon hearing the order, Boyu slowly pushed open the door and went inside. He first bowed slightly in a standard salute, then raised his head and asked, "What business does the master have with me?"