Chapter 93: Chapter 93

Just deal with it directly, what concerns could there be.

In the boundless fear, Consort Zhao awaited the announcement of fifty lashes, and if she didn’t die, she would be sent to the Cold Palace.

"Your Majesty, as the saying goes, ’A day as a couple, a hundred days of grace.’ How can you bear to treat me ?"

"These lashes are landed on my body, doesn’t it hurt in your heart?"

"You’re so heartless to me!"

For Consort Zhao, this was no different from having her life taken. She cried out in a mix of unwillingness and grievance, but no one paid her any attention.

Seeing this, she suddenly fainted.

Was it to avoid the upcoming punishment that she genuinely fainted, or was it a pretense?

The people Xiao Lizi brought to execute the punishment wouldn’t care much about that; after all, she was just a discarded consort, and the Empress’s family would not stand up for her. They simply pinned the fainted Consort Zhao to the punishment bench and started flogging her one stroke at a time.

Consort Zhao went in and out of consciousness several times from the pain, but the fifty strokes were finally completed.

Luckily, she wasn’t dead, but her life was hanging by a thread, completely unable to move.

She looked like she was at death’s doorstep!

"Heaven’s sins can be forgiven, self-inflicted ones cannot be lived with." Xiao Lizi sighed and ordered people to carry Consort Zhao to the Cold Palace.

Quite coincidentally, just as Consort Zhao, in her sorry state, was being carried into the Cold Palace, she ran into Jun Ning, who had come to fetch her mother.

Jun Ning, being in the Emperor’s favor, plus having just had a confrontation with Consort Zhao, had many people assigned by Emperor Yongning to protect her.

As she approached, she was surrounded by trusted individuals of Emperor Yongning, which contrasted sharply with Consort Zhao’s situation of being alone and gravely injured.

Consort Zhao found the sight extremely glaring, her dying look replaced by venomous resentment; she wanted to pounce and strangle Jun Ning there and then.

She was just a kid, she could easily take care of her.

But in her current condition, just struggling a little made the wound on her back sear with pain.

"You little wench, just as despicable as your mother."

"You are like maggots in a dirty ditch, cold and disgusting."

Though Consort Zhao could not move her body, her mouth was still working.

She unleashed a flurry of furious insults. The rıghtful source is 𝖓𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖑~𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖾~𝖓𝖊𝖙

But just as the words fell, a slap landed across her face.

"Shut your mouth, wench." The escorting person said, "That is the newly favored Eighteenth Princess, how dare you insult her? You ignorant thing, mind your tongue or you’ll find it cut off..."

Consort Zhao, accustomed to tormenting palace attendants, still had not come to realize her current predicament. When the palace attendant insulted her, she insulted back, but it was a price she couldn’t afford.

The person responsible for her escort was infuriated and struck Consort Zhao.

Jun Ning paid no attention and proceeded with her entourage, carrying a bunch of supplements, directly towards the room where her mother stayed.

Although the Chief of the Imperial Hospital had informed her that her mother was out of danger for now, Jun Ning was still very worried and wanted to see her mother as soon as possible.

As soon as Jun Ning entered the room, she rushed to the side of Qiong Hua’s bed.

But because she was short, she couldn’t quite reach the bed and couldn’t clearly see Qiong Hua’s condition. So she took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and sat by Qiong Hua’s side, looking at her with concern.

Confirming that Qiong Hua was in better spirits than when she last saw her, Jun Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mother, your child is unfilial, only coming to see you now." Jun Ning reproached herself.

If only she had thought to come to the Cold Palace earlier, perhaps none of those unpleasant events would have occurred.

Qiong Hua gently touched Jun Ning’s head and said softly, "My dear, you are mother’s treasure and the best, not unfilial at all. Mother won’t allow you to say such things about yourself."

These words filled Jun Ning’s heart with emotion.

Indeed, there is no other mother like mine in the world!

Unable to help herself, she leaned her head forward a bit, avoiding Qiong Hua’s injuries, and gently nestled into Qiong Hua’s embrace, endearingly looking at her.

Qiong Hua patted her back, smiling affectionately.

Next, the mother and daughter talked about many recent events. From how Jun Ning was mistreated by the Empress’s people after leaving the Cold Palace, to how she miraculously became the Eighteenth Princess, and then to the series of events with Consort Zhao, they discussed it all.

Qiong Hua listened, her heart pounding with shock. So much had happened to her precious child in just a month? She had encountered danger multiple times?

Fearing for Jun Ning’s safety, she earnestly advised her not to be so reckless in the future and to always consider her safety. Her safety concerned not just her but also Qiong Hua.

Qiong Hua was certain that if anything happened to Jun Ning, she wouldn’t be able to go on.

After repeatedly getting Jun Ning’s assurance that she would be careful and nothing would happen, Qiong Hua finally calmed down a bit.

Seeing this, Jun Ning no longer lingered on these worries and instead said, "Mother, Father has restored your position and granted residence in Weiyang Palace. Shouldn’t we move to Weiyang Palace to recuperate so that your injuries can heal faster?"

The Cold Palace is a bit damp and gloomy, and with the food not very good, it ultimately isn’t conducive to recovery.

Though Jun Ning felt reluctant to part with the vegetables she and her mother worked so hard to cultivate, she had to set it aside for the sake of her mother’s recovery.

Qiong Hua pinched Jun Ning’s small face and said, "Mother doesn’t want to move, so let’s just stay here for now."

"Why is that?" Jun Ning asked, puzzled.

The little girl’s voice was soft and sticky, with a bit of grievance, as if complaining, "Mother, I worked so hard to persuade Father to allow you out of the Cold Palace, but why won’t you leave?"

Qiong Hua did not explain, she simply said, "Don’t ask anymore, dear, mother just won’t leave."

Jun Ning puffed her cheeks, pretended distress, "But if you don’t leave, how should I explain to Father?"

Jun Ning had thought that by saying this, her mother would reluctantly agree to go out with her to avoid causing her trouble. But who knew that Qiong Hua was resolute, refusing to leave no matter what.

"My dear, you needn’t say anymore, mother won’t leave."

"As for why mother won’t leave, your father understands."

What game are you all playing?

"But I don’t understand!" Jun Ning said. "If you insist on not going, could you please give me a reasonable explanation?"

"Sigh..." Qiong Hua shook her head, "Dear, even if mother tells you, you’re too young to understand it. So, you better not ask anymore."

"How do you know I won’t understand unless you tell me?"

"Precisely because I know you won’t understand, that’s why I’m not telling."

"If you tell me, I surely will understand."