The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 276 Forbidden Love

That night, Consort Chen returned to the palace in great fear. She dismissed the palace servants, leaving only her personal maid, Cai Xing, to attend to her.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Cai Xing asked with some concern. Consort Chen had been restless ever since she came out of Xuanyang Palace, and now she was drinking water nonstop.

"Cai Xing." Consort Chen came back to her senses and looked outside, as if to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

Cai Xing grasped Consort Chen's hand in return, "Your Majesty, don't worry, there's no one outside."

Consort Chen calmed down and asked Cai Xing, "Do you know what a love potion is?"

"Love Poison?" Cai Xing looked blank. "This servant doesn't know, but our Jing Kingdom forbids witchcraft. Your Majesty, please don't do anything reckless!" Cai Xing thought that Consort Chen wanted to use a spell on Emperor Jing, so she quickly advised her.

So, Princess Yongping is going to use a curse on His Majesty… and it's a love curse! Consort Chen was still somewhat incredulous in Xuanyang Palace, but now she truly understood—Yongping loves His Majesty! Heavens! Consort Chen was startled by this thought. But they are siblings, how could this be…

Seeing that Consort Chen was still in a daze, Cai Xing thought that Consort Chen had been frightened, so she quickly went to pull Consort Chen up, "Your Majesty!"

"I'm fine!" Consort Chen shook off the hand that was picking apricots, then burst into laughter, muttering, "Yongping, you really are absurd!"

"Your Majesty..." Cai Xing was a little scared, wondering if she should go find the imperial physician to take a look.

"Do you know what? I've discovered an incredible secret."

"Huh?" Cai Xing was even more confused.

Consort Chen smiled without saying a word. In this way, she had grasped Yongping's weakness, which she might be able to use someday.

……

The next day.

The residence of the Marquis of Pingchang.

"Your Highness, rest assured, the assassins had already drugged everyone in the manor when they arrived last night, so no one knows what happened last night except for the Fourth Miss," Gao An reported.

Murong Peifeng turned to look at Murong Qingyun, who was still unconscious, and said with mixed feelings, "I understand, you can go now."

"Your Highness..." Gao An hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

"I know what you're going to say. You're afraid Qingyun will discover my identity."

"I'm just worried that it might affect our grand plan," Gao An continued.

"Don't worry, Qingyun is simple-minded and timid, she won't think that much."

Seeing that Murong Peifeng was determined to do so, Gao An ultimately said nothing.

At this moment, Murong Qingyun, who was lying on the bed, slowly regained consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a familiar figure from behind. "Big brother..."

Upon hearing the voice, Murong Peifeng turned around and said gently, "Qingyun, you're awake."

Murong Qingyun rubbed his forehead, which hurt terribly, and then suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Assassin! Brother, there was an assassin last night, wasn't there...?"

"Hmm?" Murong Peifeng stared at Murong Qingyun in confusion, thinking that she had discovered something.

"Some thieves must have been too bold to rob us. Brother, are you alright?" Murong Qingyun asked worriedly.

Murong Peifeng breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm fine. Now that you're awake, you should get some rest."

“Big brother…” Murong Qingyun tugged at Murong Peifeng’s sleeve, hoping he wouldn’t leave. In truth, she knew everything from last night. She had overheard Murong Peifeng and Teng Hui’s conversation clearly. Her brother… wasn’t the Marquis’s biological son, which meant she could like Murong Peifeng, and there was still a possibility between them.

Murong Peifeng smiled helplessly, reached out to touch Murong Qingyun's head, and Murong Qingyun leaned into Murong Peifeng's arms.

Jingrong, who had just entered, witnessed this scene.

"Fourth Miss." Jing Rong was still holding a bowl of chicken soup when she looked up and saw that Murong Peifeng was also there.

"Why are you here?" Murong Peifeng's eyes showed obvious disgust.

Jingrong knew that Murong Peifeng didn't like her, so she lowered her eyes and said, "Young Master, I've come to see the Fourth Miss." She had heard that Murong Qingyun had fainted this morning, and she felt she should come to see her, both out of courtesy and reason. Besides, Murong Qingyun was the only one in the manor who was kind to her.

"Sister-in-law is here." Murong Qingyun was somewhat touched.

"What sister-in-law? Didn't I tell you not to call me that?"

Seeing that Murong Peifeng was angry, Murong Qingyun felt a little wronged, "I'm sorry, brother, I just..."

"Alright." Murong Peifeng softened a little and said softly, "From now on, you can call her Aunt Rong."

For some reason, hearing Murong Peifeng say this made Murong Qingyun feel somewhat fortunate and happy, at least her brother hadn't fallen in love with anyone yet.

Jingrong stood there helplessly. Even a simple title had to be spoken by someone else to be acknowledged. A wave of grievance washed over her. Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice was filled with grievance. "I'll put the chicken soup here. I'll go out now. Fourth Miss, please rest well."

"Thank you, Aunt Rong." Murong Qingyun quickly changed her form of address.

After Jingrong left, she hid in her room and cried.

“Auntie…” Her maid Huan’er felt a little reluctant.

But another maid, Zijuan, spoke with a hint of sarcasm. She was sent by the Princess Consort of Qing, saying, "Those born out of wedlock are simply not fit for high society."

Huan'er, fiercely protective of her mistress, angrily retorted, "What did you say! Our mistress is our master!"

Zijuan retorted without backing down, "What master? To put it nicely, you're a concubine; to put it bluntly, you're a servant. Otherwise, given your status as an illegitimate child, you probably wouldn't be able to enter this Marquis's mansion."

Jingrong had already been wronged, and a fire immediately ignited in her heart.

Hearing Zijuan's words, Jingrong could no longer contain her anger. She stood up abruptly, glaring at Zijuan with bloodshot eyes, "You're nothing but a dog servant sent by the Princess Consort of Qing to spy on me, how dare you humiliate me like this!" Zijuan was startled, but still stubbornly replied, "Am I afraid of people saying the truth?"

Jing Rong was trembling with rage. Seeing the vase on the table, she grabbed it and smashed it at Zi Juan. Zi Juan's eyes widened, but she couldn't dodge in time. The vase smashed straight into her head, and blood gushed out instantly. She slowly collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Huan'er covered her mouth in alarm, "Auntie... what... what should we do? What if we get caught..." Jing Rong finally came to her senses, a look of panic on her face.

But she quickly calmed down. "This lowly servant girl is spouting nonsense and deserves to die." She ordered Huan'er to close the door first, and then, under the cover of night, she and Huan'er threw Zijuan into the dry well in the backyard. After finishing all this, Jingrou trembled with fear.

"I killed someone! I killed someone! She forced me to do it! She forced me to do it!" Jing Rong muttered to herself, curled up in the blanket.

Although Huan'er was also scared, she tried her best to comfort Jing Rong. She knew that if she wanted to survive, she had to shirk all responsibility.

"Aunt, there's only one way now."

"What?" Jing Rong exclaimed as if she had grasped at a straw.

"Only by telling the person who saved me that day can we get help from her."

"Benefactor?" Jing Rong remembered that Huan'er had mentioned that her benefactor had saved her. "But why would she help me?"

Huan'er added, "This servant is willing to try for my aunt."

There's no other way now; this matter will be discovered sooner or later, so we might as well try anything.