NOVPUBConsort Jia instinctively touched her belly.
She seemed deflated, “I know I was wrong. Please, Your Majesty, for the sake of the child...”
It was clear she had no intention of implicating Rong Shuyao, using her pregnancy as a shield.
The Emperor, maintaining his stern demeanor, said, “You know you were wrong! What good does that do!”
He ground his teeth in anger, pointing a trembling finger at her, “How could you be so foolish!”
Shen Roujia seized the opportunity to gently remind, “Father Emperor, Consort Shu has just suffered the loss of her child. Perhaps we should handle the rest of this matter later...”
The Emperor snapped out of his rage.
While Shen Roujia’s issue had been resolved, Consort Shu still needed closure.
In his anger, he declared, “Rong Shuyao has repeatedly overstepped her bounds and slandered the royal family. She is to be exiled to the imperial mausoleum. She is not to leave the premises without permission.”
He paused, then turned to Consort Jia. “Consort Jia, your scheming ways have caused the death of Consort Shu’s beloved pet and coerced others into poisoning the Crown Princess. You are demoted to the rank of Concubine and confined to Fragrant Palace to reflect on your actions.”
Shen Roujia frowned slightly, realizing the Emperor wasn’t going to publicly address the ties between the Bai and Zhao families.
With the control of the horse market not yet secured, the Emperor couldn’t punish Consort Jia too harshly.
Consort Shu’s child, it seemed, was lost for nothing.
However, Shen Roujia wasn’t a ruthless person by nature.
Villains will be ground by other villains.
The palace would always be filled with scheming and deceit, but having vented her frustrations, Shen Roujia felt no dissatisfaction.
She turned to look at Xu Zening and bowed slightly before stepping back.
The palace atmosphere remained gloomy for several days. Shen Roujia found an excuse to leave the palace.
News of Shen Roujia’s facial injury had spread throughout the capital.
Shen Siqi was heartbroken.
“We worked so hard to keep this a secret to protect you, and now this...”
Shen Roujia gently patted Shen Siqi’s hand. “Second Sister, I’m fine. Let them say what they will.”
Shen Siqi held her hand. “If you really wanted to see us, you could have sent a message asking us to visit.”
Shen Roujia understood her sister’s concern. After all, a woman’s appearance was of utmost importance.
The family and the palace had kept it under wraps to protect Shen Roujia’s reputation.
But with the recent string of major events in the palace, the truth was known to all who mattered.
Whether it was the Zhao family, the Bai family, or the remnants of the Rong family, everyone privy to the details had been offended.
Shen Roujia saw no need to hide any longer. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝘤𝘰𝑚
A beautiful face was nothing compared to freedom.
Shen Roujia smiled enigmatically and waved Xiao Fu away before quickly pulling Shen Siqi into the room.
Shen Siqi looked at Shen Roujia, confused. “Wait, what’s going on?”
Shen Roujia chuckled, then revealed her face.
To Shen Siqi’s shock, she peeled off the fake skin, revealing smooth, white skin as soft as snow.
Shen Siqi’s mouth fell open. “This... this is...”
Shen Roujia winked mischievously. “I told you I was fine, but you didn’t believe me, Second Sister.”
Shen Siqi’s anger flared. “You little rascal, how could you deceive us about something so serious!”
Shen Roujia calmly tidied up, “This way, I’ve avoided a lot of trouble, haven’t I?”
Her tone was nonchalant, but there was a hint of bittersweet resignation.
“So many eyes are watching me, hoping for my downfall. Now they’re satisfied, and I’m relieved. Isn’t that a win-win?”
Shen Roujia often spoke in ways that were hard to understand, yet there was an undeniable logic to her words.
