The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 192 Consort Lin is Punished

Jing Anle squinted and rubbed his temples, looking somewhat tired.

"Did the princess not sleep well?"

As Afang helped Jing Anle put on her hairpin, she looked at Jing Anle with concern, "Why don't you take a day off today? Don't go to class."

"It's alright." Jing Anle opened her eyes and saw that her complexion in the mirror was indeed not good. She added, "Just cover it up with rouge."

Afang knew Jing Anle's temperament, so she pouted and obediently did as she was told.

“By the way, Princess.” Afang always liked to exaggerate.

"Yesterday, Consort Lin was punished by the Empress Dowager, who said that in order to conceive a son as soon as possible, Consort Lin should kneel in front of the Guanyin Bodhisattva who grants children at Cining Palace for one hour every day to ask for the Bodhisattva's blessing."

Her words instantly woke Jing Anle from her drowsiness. This old hag certainly knew how to torment people in various ways.

"Does Father know?"

Afang shook her head. "No one knows. This morning, I went to the Imperial Kitchen to get my meals and overheard Cai Xing, who was serving Consort Chen, talking about it."

"When did this happen?"

“She is now being forced to kneel, probably because of me,” Jing Anle continued.

Afang paused for a moment, then immediately realized that it referred to the incident where Jing Anle beat up Consort Chen to help Consort Lin.

"It was an imperial decree issued by the Empress Dowager yesterday."

"Consort Chen is truly despicable." After saying this, Afang quickly covered her mouth and looked cautiously at Jing Anle. "This servant misspoke, please forgive me, Princess."

Jing Anle glanced at Afang and said, "You're right, this Consort Chen is a vengeful person."

"What should we do now?" Afang asked anxiously.

Jing Anle said, "The Empress Dowager torments Consort Lin, and the second reason is because of the Emperor. She always tries to stop what the Emperor likes, but if the Emperor knew, he wouldn't stand idly by."

“Then we can rest assured.” Afang patted her chest, then realized, “Wait a minute, since the Empress Dowager is determined not to let His Majesty know, no one will dare to inform on us.”

Looking at herself dressed up in the mirror, Jing Anle said, "That makes sense. If we openly stand up for Consort Lin again, we'll probably get into trouble for her. We have to do this secretly."

……

Side hall of Cixi Palace.

The hall was filled with the fragrance of incense and housed a lifelike statue of Guanyin with a benevolent face.

"The Empress Dowager is unwell and will not be speaking with Consort Lin." The speaker was Su Rong, the Empress Dowager's personal maid. She was not arrogant and her attitude was quite respectful.

Consort Lin nodded and was about to kneel down when Su Rong stopped her again, "Consort Lin, please wait."

Consort Lin and the palace maid Dong Qing both looked at Su Rong with suspicion.

"Somebody come!"

Two palace maids were seen carrying a round stone in with difficulty and placing it in front of Guanyin. Then they removed the prayer mat that had been there.

"Granny Su, what is this?" Consort Lin asked.

"Oh, to show Your Majesty's sincerity, the Empress Dowager specially prepared this piece of jade for Consort Lin. I suppose Heaven will take pity on you, and the Bodhisattva will surely grant Your Majesty's wish and bestow upon you a child."

Without waiting for Consort Lin to speak, he ordered someone to light incense.

"This servant is going to serve the Empress Dowager, so I will not serve you personally. Xi'er will take care of you."

Dongqing stood by, indignant. This wasn't looking after someone; it was clearly surveillance.

“Yes,” Xi’er replied.

Su Rong didn't even look at Xi'er, but said to Consort Lin, "Then this servant will take her leave first."

Consort Lin nodded and knelt down, looking at the kind-faced Bodhisattva.

"Tsk~" Lin Fei frowned. Even though she was mentally prepared, the jade was not only hard, but also extremely cold.

“Your Majesty…” Dong Tian looked at Consort Lin with concern, and then said, “Why don’t we go and beg the Empress Dowager?”

"The Empress Dowager's words are law, there's no reason to take them back." Consort Lin glanced at the Bodhisattva, "I suppose the Bodhisattva is merciful and will grant my wish."

"Dongqing, do not speak too much in the Empress Dowager's palace." Although Consort Lin did not receive much favor, she had never suffered such physical pain before. Now that the Empress Dowager was determined to torment her, she had no choice but to endure it.

In less than half an hour, Consort Lin's knees were already aching, but she couldn't get up. Dong Qing was heartbroken and almost cried, but because Xi'er was there, she dared not and could not say anything. She could only stare at the incense stick and pray that time would pass quickly.

Finally, an hour passed, and Dongqing happily tried to stand up. Even though she was a maid who was used to working as a waitress, she felt that her knees could not take it. It took her a while to stand up, and she immediately went to help Consort Lin.

"My lady, let me help you up."

Although Consort Lin had lived a frugal life before, she was still a mistress, and since she was also skilled in medicine, she had managed to take good care of her health.

However, the jade stone that the Empress Dowager has deliberately chosen is not only hard, but also extremely harmful to a woman's body, making it even more impossible for her to conceive.

Consort Lin staggered and almost lost her balance, but fortunately Dong Qing was there to protect her.

"Your Highness, please be careful." Dong Qing's eyes were filled with tears, and before she could say anything more, Su Rong's voice came from behind her.

"By order of the Empress Dowager, to show Consort Lin's sincerity towards the Bodhisattva, Consort Lin is requested to walk back to the palace," Su Rong said expressionlessly.

Dong Qing, eager to protect her mistress, couldn't help but say, "Yunqing Palace is far from Cining Palace, and Your Highness's knees are in great pain..."

Before she could finish speaking, a crisp slap rang out, and instantly, two clear handprints appeared on Dongqing's face.

"What a sharp-tongued girl! Consort Lin, you wouldn't mind if I helped you discipline her, would you?" Su Rong said, looking at Consort Lin.

Consort Lin was already in so much pain that she couldn't straighten up and could only bend over. Her eyes suddenly turned cold, and she gritted her teeth and said, "Granny Su, you're too kind. You are someone close to the Empress Dowager, so it is only right for you to discipline me."

Su Rong smiled coldly. "In that case, Your Highness, please remember to come at the same time tomorrow. I won't see you off." With that, she turned and left with Xi'er.

"It's all my fault..." Dongqing couldn't hold back any longer, and tears streamed down her face.

Consort Lin grasped Dong Qing's hand in return and asked with concern, "I'm fine, but you, did you hurt yourself?"

Dongqing wiped away her tears and stubbornly said, "This servant is not in pain." After saying that, she helped Consort Lin walk outside.

The distance to Cixi Palace was already quite far, and now that Consort Lin was injured, the narrow palace path was even more difficult for her.

"Your Highness, please slow down." Dongqing carefully supported Consort Lin, while Consort Lin leaned against the palace wall with one hand and helped Dongqing walk back with difficulty.

I hadn't walked far when I bumped into a familiar figure at the corner.

"Oh, isn't this Consort Lin? What happened to you? Why are you in such a state?" The person who came was Consort Chen, who was dressed in her finest attire. She was sitting in a sedan chair, looking down at Consort Lin.