Chapter 321: Please Believe This Concubine
Yun Chu shook her head.
Xie Ping's move, while seemingly escaping the wolf's den of the imperial mausoleum, had actually entered the tiger's cave of the Eastern Palace.
Once her identity was exposed, the Empress would never allow Xie Ping to remain alive.
However, since Xie Ping had managed to persuade the Crown Prince to bring her here, it indicated she held some significance in his heart.
Yun Chu spoke: "Your identity destined you cannot remain by the Crown Prince's side unless you possess value that would make the Empress retreat a step."
Xie Ping raised her head, face full of confusion: "What do you mean?"
"You must make yourself useful." Yun Chu looked into her eyes. "Think about it—what is most urgent for the Empress and the Eastern Palace right now?"
Xie Ping knelt on the ground and thought for a moment before tentatively saying: "Stabilizing the Crown Prince's position?"
Yun Chu nodded: "Now that the princes from various palaces have grown up, especially Prince Gongxi and Prince Pingxi, their influence has gradually increased, clearly threatening the Crown Prince's position. The Empress cannot help but be wary."
Xie Ping lifted her head: "What can I do? I beg Mother to speak plainly."
Yun Chu picked up a teacup and took a sip: "Our positions differ. I can only say this much. Attendants, see the guest out."
Ting Xue stood up and escorted Xie Ping out.
Walking outside, a gust of wind blew towards her, and she instantly became much clearer-headed.
She seemed to vaguely understand what Mother meant.
After waiting ahead for a while, she saw the Crown Prince emerge dejectedly. She knew Prince Pingxi must have refused the alliance.
"Your Highness, this concubine already has a plan." Xie Ping nestled in the Crown Prince's embrace. "After returning to the palace, please take this concubine to see Her Majesty the Empress."
The Crown Prince grasped her hand, disapproving: "Mother has always wanted you dead. You'd better stay safely in the Eastern Palace."
"Place oneself in a deadly situation to be reborn." Xie Ping's voice carried determination. "Your Highness, please believe this concubine."
The carriage traveled towards the capital, only reaching the palace as dusk fell.
Xie Ping changed clothes and followed the Crown Prince to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Palace lanterns illuminated the hall as bright as daytime.
The Empress lay on the couch with closed eyes, a palace maid gently fanning her nearby.
"Paying respects to Mother."
The Crown Prince entered the hall with Xie Ping.
Xie Ping directly knelt on the ground, kowtowing: "This lowly concubine pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress."
The Empress's eyes snapped open. She hadn't expected this wretched girl would dare come to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility!
"All of you may leave." The Crown Prince dismissed the servants. "Mother, Linglong has something to say."
Although he knew Xie Ping's true identity, the Crown Prince still habitually called her Linglong.
The Empress's face was full of cold severity. She would listen to what this girl had to say.
"This concubine knows her crimes are unforgivable and wishes to atone through merit." Xie Ping prostrated on the ground. "This concubine's full-blooded younger brother serves as a counselor in Prince Gongxi's mansion. This concubine can persuade him to become the Eastern Palace's spy beside Prince Gongxi."
Xie Shi'an wanted her to become Prince Gongxi's spy.
Similarly, she could make Xie Shi'an become the Eastern Palace's spy.
This way, wouldn't it demonstrate her value?
"Hah." The Empress sneered coldly. "That full-blooded younger brother of yours—he could even force his own birth mother to death. This Empress doesn't believe he would risk his life for you, his elder sister."
Xie Ping bit her lip: "Then what must this concubine do for Your Majesty to believe her?"
The Empress's fingers casually played with her nails.Initially, she hadn't taken Xie Ping's words seriously. Whether it was Xie Ping or Xie Shi'an, they were both too lowly—she didn't believe such base individuals could accomplish anything significant.
But then it occurred to her—many pivotal events in history were often triggered by those of humble origins... Perhaps...
The Empress paused her gesture and gave Granny Yin a meaningful look.
Granny Yin turned and left the main hall, returning shortly with a small paper packet.
"If you have the capability to make Gong Xi Prince consume this powder, I shall spare your life."
The packet was thrown before Xie Ping, making her fingers tremble violently.
The meals of royalty were closely monitored during preparation by numerous attendants. After being cooked and served, they would be tasted by at least two food testers.
Poisoning Gong Xi Prince would not be easy.
Yet she knew she had to accept this task—it was the only way to prove her worth.
"Three days. I'll give you only three days," the Empress said slowly. "Upon success, I shall demonstrate my sincerity by releasing Xie Yuanshi."
Xie Ping bowed low in gratitude.
The pitch-black night passed, giving way to dawn.
Xie Ping had slept poorly, dark circles evident beneath her eyelids.
She attended to the Crown Prince's dressing and washing. After he left for court, she changed clothes preparing to leave the palace.
"Consort Wu, halt!" The Crown Princess's voice rang behind her. "Dressed like that, where do you think you're going?"
Women of the inner palace were forbidden from leaving easily. Even the four highest-ranking consorts needed the Emperor's permission to exit—how much more difficult for a low-ranking consort of the Eastern Palace.
Yesterday she had disguised herself as the Crown Prince's servant boy; today she wore a palace maid's attire.
"You're a consort of the Crown Prince! How improper to dress as a maid!" The Crown Princess fumed. "Kneel! Remain kneeling for four hours!"
Recently, this Consort Wu had been staying in the Crown Prince's main chambers—utterly disregarding protocol.
Her repeated admonitions to the Crown Prince had been met with mild rebukes about overstepping boundaries.
Now she'd finally found an opportunity to discipline this little wretch.
"I cannot kneel," Xie Ping produced a waist token from her sleeve. "I'm carrying out Empress's orders beyond the palace. It's growing late—I must take my leave."
She turned and walked out of the Eastern Palace.
The Crown Princess nearly fainted from rage.
Xie Ping took a carriage directly to the Xie residence. Instead of entering, she waited at a nearby teahouse.
After an uncertain length of time, she finally saw Xie Shi'an returning. She hurried over, pulling him into a private room on the teahouse's second floor.
"You..." Xie Shi'an stared in shock. "How can you be here?"
A rear palace consort essentially could never leave the palace again—how could Xie Ping return to the Xie family so freely?
With limited time, Xie Ping went straight to the point, explaining her purpose. After finishing, she placed the powder packet in Xie Shi'an's palm: "An Ge'er, whether I survive and whether Grandmother leaves the palace depends entirely on you."
Xie Shi'an withdrew his hand, letting the powder fall to the floor.
He said coldly, "I've finally become Gong Xi Prince's most trusted counselor. Why should I dig my own grave for you?"
"Because—" Xie Ping revealed a sinister smile. "If I can't live, you won't either. If we die, we all die together! Don't forget—we're blood siblings. If I assassinate the Crown Prince, do you think you can remain uninvolved?"
"You!"
Xie Shi'an directly seized her by the throat.Xie Ping gasped for air with difficulty, speaking slowly: "Three days, Xie Shi'an. You only have three days. After that, there will be no second chance!"
Xie Shi'an shoved her away abruptly.
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