After listening to Consort Mei’s words, the Emperor was stunned and sat motionless on the dragon throne, utterly dejected.
The hall fell into a profound silence, so quiet one could hear a needle drop.
Consort Mei walked to Prince Yu’s side, gently caressing his face with a loving expression. “Yu’er, this is the past between your mother and your biological father. If it weren’t for Baili Rongmo, your mother… would have died long ago at the bottom of a cliff, unknown and forgotten, and there would be no you. So, you… please don’t resent your mother, okay?”
Prince Yu, tears streaming down his face, clasped Consort Mei’s hand and said, “Mother, your son will never resent you. Your Majesty does not deserve you.”
“Hahaha…” From the front of the eldest prince, the woman in the wheelchair suddenly let out a sinister laugh. She slowly removed her mask.
Seeing her face, the Empress, Consort Mei, and the older consorts were all greatly astonished.
“Ghost–” a consort cried out in alarm.
The woman in the wheelchair, a mocking smile on her lips, looked coldly at the Emperor. “Your Majesty, do you still remember your concubine?”
The Emperor looked up, his stiff gaze fixed on the speaking woman. Suddenly, his eyes widened in terror. “You… you are Meng… Consort Meng, a ghost! A ghost!”
“Hahahaha…” the woman in the wheelchair let out an unrestrained, sinister laugh. “Your Majesty, I bet you didn’t expect this, but your concubine is not dead yet. You had my human skin stripped away, and you sprinkled poison on me, yet I stubbornly survived.
Do you know what kept me going?
It’s because after I gave birth to the eldest prince and the eldest princess, I secretly used medicine to destroy your fertility, haha… In truth, you are an emperor who is completely incapable of fathering children, haha…
So, look, look! These lowly women you loved to death have all been unfaithful to you. Your head is covered in green!
Hahaha…
Of all these children, except for the eldest prince and the eldest princess, not a single one is yours! You have polluted the bloodline of the entire Xia imperial family by yourself!
Therefore, you can only pass the throne to my grandson, Xia Hongqian!”
“Your Majesty, this woman is speaking utter nonsense. Our children are your biological children!” The consorts standing nearby all knelt down facing the Emperor.
Consort Meng let out another burst of laughter. “Utter nonsense? You are the ones speaking utter nonsense! Your lovers, your concubine has already captured them all!”
The Emperor spurted out another mouthful of blood, pointing at Consort Meng, he said, “You… you are so vicious!”
“Vicious?” Consort Meng smiled sadly. “When it comes to viciousness, your concubine is truly not half as bad as you, Your Majesty. You once promised your concubine that you would only love me in this life, and only then did I give up my freedom to enter the palace with you, willing to stay in this cage.
But you? After ascending the throne, you then married the Empress, followed by Mei Qing, and then, one woman after another.
You are truly a breeding boar!
Besides the countless women, you even disdained your concubine’s low birth and deliberately neglected and suppressed my two children.
Since I could not see any future with you, I had to plan my own future! Your concubine wants to seize your empire for her children!
Let this boar see that your concubine, who was of low birth, is the one who laughs last!
Ahahaha…”
The Emperor collapsed onto the dragon throne, his eyes filled with despair as he looked at the eldest princess.
The eldest princess’s gaze in return was utterly indifferent.
“Come–” Before the Emperor could even utter “Guards!”, his chest was suddenly pierced by a sharp sword, and blood splattered onto the ground before him.
Everyone was shocked once again.
Bai Sheng clutched her pounding heart. She saw Consort Yu, a madwoman, standing up from behind the dragon throne with a ferocious grin. No one noticed how she had slipped behind the Emperor.
Blood gushed from the Emperor’s mouth. He slowly turned his head and saw Consort Yu, his eyes widening in shock. “Consort Yu, you… you…”
Consort Yu’s face contorted into a twisted smile. “Your Majesty, I am not your Consort Yu. My name is Baili Shushu. Shushu, half of it, means ‘Yu’, haha, you have been terribly deceived!”
Baili Shushu? Little Aunt? Bai Sheng was shocked and immediately exchanged a tense glance with Consort Mei and Prince Yu.
“Why… why are you still alive?” The Emperor’s eyes teared up blood, his face looking terrifying.
“Why am I still alive?” Consort Yu laughed sarcastically. “When I was five years old, because of the false accusations of traitors and the deliberate indulgence of Your Majesty, my entire Baili clan of nine generations was annihilated. I was fortunate enough to be saved by a minor county magistrate who was handling affairs in the capital. From then on, I secretly vowed to kill you myself and avenge my nine generations of the Baili clan! I never imagined that I would actually achieve it today, haha, you have finally… died by my sword.”
The Emperor spat out a mouthful of blood and, using his last bit of strength, shouted, “Guards! There are… assassins!”
The commander of the imperial guards seemed to have heard the Emperor’s cry but could not be sure. To be safe, he shouted loudly, “Your Majesty, are you calling for your humble servant? Your Majesty?”
There was no response. He felt a sense of foreboding and raised his hand, forcefully banging on the door. “Open the door! Quickly open the door!”
Guai Bao and Consort Mei were still inside the hall, and Zuo Ye was also anxious, starting to ram the door with his body.
Inside the grand hall, the consorts had all cowered together in fear.
At this moment, the skylight on the roof burst open, and a figure in black robes descended, followed by more than a dozen masked individuals.
Upon seeing the person in black robes, the Empress exclaimed with joy, “Black-Faced Fox, kill everyone in the hall! Our son will be the Emperor!”
The figure in black robes swung his large saber, cutting down anyone he saw with fierce and merciless techniques. The other masked individuals did the same.
The maids and eunuchs around the eldest princess and the eldest prince immediately drew their swords to meet the attackers, shielding their masters behind them.
The Empress, with blood splattered on her face, laughed ecstatically.
“Little Black Face! Little Aunt! Come here quickly!” Prince Yu shouted to Bai Sheng.
Bai Sheng grabbed Consort Yu’s hand. “Little Aunt, come with me! Your son is still alive!”
Little Aunt? Consort Yu was startled and unconsciously followed Bai Sheng to stand behind Prince Yu.
“Be careful, Little Aunt!” Prince Yu shouted, seeing Consort Yu.
Consort Yu tearfully nodded. She had just heard everything; Prince Yu was the child of her third brother and Consort Mei, making him her nephew!
Consort Mei, Prince Yu, and Bai Sheng shielded the unskilled Consort Yu behind them.
Black-Faced Fox, wielding his large round saber, had already killed many consorts, not even sparing the children.
More red-robed secret guards descended from the roof, protecting the eldest princess and her companions.
With a clang, the hall door was broken open, and the commander of the imperial guards rushed in with his soldiers.
Zuo Ye shouted, “Wife!” and flashed over!
“Husband, Consort Yu is my Little Aunt, Baili Shushu!” Bai Sheng said urgently.
“Little Aunt?” Consort Yu was greatly surprised.
Bai Sheng nodded at her. “Little Aunt, this is not a place to talk. Let’s focus on staying alive first!”
“Okay,” Consort Yu said, a smile on her lips and a look of happiness. It seemed her sister was also not dead, otherwise, who would call her Little Aunt?
Bai Sheng handed her a knife. “If anyone tries to harm you, chop them!”
“Okay!” Consort Yu nodded heavily.