Free Web NovelChapter 602: Chapter 603: The Change in the Royal Palace [First Update, Please Subscribe]
"Queen..." Upon hearing the word, Si’er’s face turned pale.
The Queen was Wang Yu’s birth mother, an ever-solemn and rigid woman who never smiled. Years ago, after King Xiuyuan’s family, the Yu Cangs, usurped the throne, he sought to legitimize his claim by marrying Si’er and Yi Ren’s mother, a descendant of the former Wuliang rulers. This union produced the two sisters, but their mother did not live long, falling victim to the vicious power struggles of the Royal Palace. At the time, neither sister could have imagined the Queen would be so cruel. The horrors of the court were bone-chilling, and even now, the memory of the Queen’s ruthlessness was enough to make one’s hair stand on end.
"Little sister, I don’t know what that woman will do," Yi Ren said, her expression grave. "In any case, we should sever our ties with Wu Tian for now."
Just as she finished speaking, a cold, sharp voice cut in.
"Yi Ren, who is this ’woman’ you speak of?"
A woman in regal attire, flanked by a retinue of palace maids, swept into Si’er’s chambers.
"Queen..." Yi Ren trembled. Snapping back to her senses, she quickly bowed her head and stammered, "It was nothing, nothing at all."
The Queen shot the two sisters a cold glance, deeply displeased. A mother’s status depended on her son, and she had always believed hers, Wang Yu, was superior to all others. In her eyes, he was the undisputed future wise ruler under whose reign the Xiuyuan Country would rise to glory! But now her perfect son was dead, and her future was ruined along with him. Resentment festered in her heart. Why weren’t these two wretched girls, these two lowborn creatures, the ones who had died?
"Kneel," the Queen commanded, her expression darkening. Her intimidating authority, cultivated over many years in the Royal Palace, had cast a deep shadow over the hearts of Yi Ren and Si’er. Yi Ren shivered and immediately dropped to her knees. Si’er did the same.
Pleased by their obedience, the Queen’s stern lips curled into a cold smile. Her gaze swept over the two young women before finally resting intently on Si’er. She had heard about the duel between Si’er and Yi Ren earlier today and that Si’er had actually managed to defeat her older sister.
This Jade Pure Kunlun Fan... It’s truly formidable. I must have it.
Without Wang Yu, King Xiuyuan will be much more likely to take new concubines after he emerges from his seclusion. My position as Queen is in jeopardy again. In the first half of my life, I schemed and plotted against those other women in the palace. In the end, I won. But I don’t want to go through all that again. The fighting is just too exhausting. If I had the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan, I would have leverage to negotiate with King Xiuyuan face-to-face! I was once just an ordinary woman who only knew how to support her husband and raise her children. But when Yu Cang and his father rebelled, everything changed. The moment I became Queen, I had to think about my own status, my own interests. Husband? No, he was no longer my husband. He was His Majesty, the King... Everything changed. I have to look out for myself.
"Si’er, do you realize your mistake?" the Queen suddenly sneered.
"I..." Si’er started to ask what she had done wrong, but Yi Ren cut her off.
"Little sister knows her mistake."
"It’s good that she knows. That Wu Tian is an Executioner. He killed people but was never punished because the City Lord of Guang has always protected him. Therefore, this matter can only be dealt with after His Majesty the King finishes his seclusion." The Queen’s face darkened. Back then, the Wuliang descendant was only a woman. That was the only reason Yu Cang and his father had the opportunity to rebel. Otherwise, how would they have dared? So many years had passed, yet Wuliang’s sacred decree still held sway. It stated that as long as Wuliang’s two great families and their descendants did not commit treason, none of their other offenses could be considered crimes. That one sentence held immense weight.
The Queen chuckled. "Now, the common folk are spreading a rumor that the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan is the lost treasure of the Heavenly Sword Sect. I believe it’s true. Hand over the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan to me, and I will naturally return it to the Heavenly Sword Sect."
She didn’t actually believe the rumors, but at this juncture, she had to act as if she did. It was the only way to use public sentiment to obtain the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan. The Heavenly Sword Sect, despite its many misdeeds, still held prestige. Wu Tian, on the other hand, was an outsider, a nobody with no reputation. Of course people would assume he couldn’t possess a Supreme Treasure. If he did have one, it must have been stolen or found by chance.
Yi Ren looked at Si’er.
But the younger sister simply shook her head. "No!"
"I believe in Big Brother Sect Leader! He’s not a thief or a bandit. The Jade Pure Kunlun Fan is definitely his," she declared. "This has nothing to do with the Heavenly Sword Sect. They probably started this rumor themselves because they want the fan!"
Although naive, Si’er had spent enough years in the Royal Palace to understand such schemes; she was no fool. She usually just couldn’t be bothered to speak up, but now, she had to fight for what was right. The Jade Pure Kunlun Fan was a gift from her Big Brother Sect Leader. She couldn’t lose it.
Seeing Si’er dare to argue, the palace maids beside the Queen shook their heads slightly.
What a foolish girl, the Queen thought. Handing over the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan now is the only wise choice.
"Si’er," the Queen’s voice turned cold again, sending a chill through Yi Ren’s heart. "Did you not hear me clearly? Or have you grown so arrogant that you no longer listen to your Queen?"
"I’m not being arrogant." Si’er gritted her teeth. She was naturally gentle, but she couldn’t be that way any longer. A stubborn streak lies hidden in every woman’s heart. "This fan was a gift from Big Brother Sect Leader. It’s mine. Why should I have to hand it over?"
"Little sister, do not speak to the Queen that way!" Yi Ren cried out, terrified that Si’er would be harmed. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
The Queen isn’t skilled in martial arts, but she’s ruthless! So ruthless it sends shivers down your spine.
"Si’er, I’ll give you one last chance. Will you hand it over, or not!" the Queen demanded, her eyes like daggers, her glare shockingly vicious.
Si’er clenched her jaw and replied, "I will not!"
The Queen’s eyes blazed with fury. She huffed and immediately commanded, "Seize her!"
"Yes!" freewebnovёl.ƈom
The palace maids, all of them at the Ninth Grade of Foundation Establishment, moved toward Si’er.
Si’er panicked. I’ll be killed if she catches me. This woman has ways of making people die without ever staining her own hands with blood. King Xiuyuan used to have many concubines... they either hanged themselves or threw themselves into rivers... Who knows how many dark secrets lie behind their deaths?
Now, the Queen’s personal palace maids were closing in on her.
Si’er instantly took out the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan, flicked it open, and swung.
WHOOSH!
A fierce gale tore through the chambers, causing the entire room to sway. The strength of the wind was visibly immense and far from ordinary. The palace maids were all sent flying backward, spitting blood. The gale threw the Queen’s long hair into disarray, ripping her hairpins and ornaments away.
When she came to her senses, the Queen stared in disbelief. Her voice trembled with rage as she began to scream hysterically, "Rebellion! This is rebellion! Guards! Seize this girl! Seize this insolent wench for me!"
