sbdcsierra Chapter 128: Concubine Xian is captured
Chapter 128: Concubine Xian is captured
"Mother..." Empress Xian bit her lips in pain, tears welling up in her eyes: "My daughter has really tried her best..."
"Try your best? Do you mean to watch us die?" The mother was furious. Her voice was as sharp as a sword that pierced through Concubine Xian's heart: "What's the use of your nobleness? Can your kindness save your brother in prison?"
Empress Xian's eyes widened, filled with astonishment and helplessness. She had never thought that her mother would accuse her like this.
"Mother..." Concubine Xian lowered her head weakly, tears welling up in her eyes: "But I really don't know what to do..."
"You don't know what to do? Then just wait for our whole family to die together!" The mother roared, with deep disappointment and hatred in her tone: "You useless thing, I really raised you for so many years in vain!"
After saying this, Concubine Xian's mother looked at her in despair, her eyes full of resentment and unwillingness. She slowly turned around and quickly left Chengqian Palace, never looking at Concubine Xian again, as if she wanted to abandon her forever.
Empress Xian stared blankly at her mother's departing back, feeling lost. What could she do?
She collapsed to the ground helplessly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She felt as if her heart was torn apart and was in great pain.
She once thought that as long as she remained kind and honest, she would be happy, but now it seems that all this was so naive.
Empress Xian had no choice but to sell her favorite jewelry to raise money. These jewelry were actually Empress Xian's dowry and her last remaining property.
Her father was honest and incorruptible, and the family had almost no savings. However, her brother was seriously ill in prison, and if he didn't have enough money to open up his joints and get a doctor to treat him, her brother might not live long.
Empress Xian had no other choice but to entrust someone else to take the jewels out of the palace and cash them in.
At the same time, Concubine Gao also learned that Concubine Xian's brother was in prison and Concubine Xian's mother came to ask for money, so she asked Zhilan to tell the chief steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs not to let Concubine Xian take an advance on her monthly salary.
He also ordered people to closely monitor Chengqian Palace.
When night fell, Concubine Xian and her maid Zhen'er quietly brought a small package to the palace gate, trying to ask the eunuchs in the palace to help take it out of the palace and sell it.
The eunuch who was responsible for taking the items out of the palace to sell happened to be Yuan Chunwang.
However, Concubine Xian never expected that all this would be discovered by Concubine Gao's men.
Just when they were about to hand over the items, Concubine Gao, leading a group of palace maids and eunuchs, came towards them in a menacing manner.
"Well, Concubine Xian, you actually dare to sell off the palace property without permission!" Concubine Gao sneered, with pride and ridicule flashing in her eyes.
Empress Xian's face was as pale as paper, her hands tightly grasped the package in her hands, her body trembling slightly, as if she would fall down at any time. Her lips moved, trying to explain something, but no sound came out.
"Your Highness, my family encountered an unexpected change. I really had nowhere else to turn, so I..." Empress Xian's voice was choked with sobs, tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced herself not to let them fall.
"Hmph, are you desperate? Everyone in this palace has difficulties. Are they all like you, disregarding palace rules?" Concubine Gao stepped forward, snatched the package from Concubine Xian's hand, and opened it with force.
The gold and silver jewelry in the package scattered on the ground, making crisp sounds.
Empress Xian widened her eyes and looked at the jewelry on the ground, her heart filled with despair.
She tried to explain, "My Lady, these jewels were my own before I entered the palace. I didn't use any of the rewards from the palace. What's wrong with me exchanging my own things for money?"
Concubine Gao sneered, bent down to pick up a gold ring, looked at it carefully, and then threw it to the ground.
"If this were really known to others, they would be shocked. Empress Xian of the Qing Dynasty actually lives in such poverty. I don't even look at such shabby jewelry. How much silver can you exchange for it?"
"This is my business, please don't worry about it." Empress Xian looked stubborn and straightened her back.
"The eunuchs secretly took the items out of Shenwu Gate to sell them. This is smuggling, which is theft. Come here, confiscate all these things from me!" As soon as Concubine Gao gave an order, the eunuchs around her immediately stepped forward and snatched the package away.
"No, this is my last hope. Please, Concubine Gao, return the things to me!" Concubine Xian knelt down and begged with tears streaming down her face.
"Give it back to you? You've made such a big mistake, do you still expect me to let you go?" Concubine Gao looked at her complacently and smiled contemptuously.
"I think you are too comfortable as Concubine Xian. However, if you support me from now on and stand by my side, I will protect you and save your brother."
Concubine Xian raised her head, her eyes firm, "My Lady, I have no intention of participating in palace fighting. I just want to keep my duty in the palace. I'm sorry I can't agree to your request."
"Humph, what a good way to keep your duty. I want to see how long you can hold on." Concubine Gao sneered, "Your brother's life or death is uncertain, and you are still here talking to me about keeping your duty. It's really ridiculous."
Empress Xian bit her lip, tears streaming down her cheeks, but she still said firmly: "My Lady, I really cannot agree to this. Apart from this, you can ask me to do anything."
After hearing this, Concubine Gao's face turned gloomy. She glared at Concubine Xian fiercely, her face turning blue with anger.
She laughed in anger and said through gnashing teeth, "Okay, very good! Since you are so ungrateful, come and destroy all her jewelry for me!"
When Zhen'er heard this, she turned pale with fear. She immediately knelt down and begged for mercy with tears streaming down her face: "My Lady Concubine, these jewels were stolen by me. I wanted to send them out of the palace for money. My Lady Concubine Xian was just trying to persuade me. Please punish me!"
After hearing what Zhen'er said, Concubine Xian was shocked. She rushed over and covered Zhen'er's mouth tightly, fearing that she would say something wrong. "Zhen'er, don't talk nonsense."
However, the imperial concubine sneered and said disdainfully: "Haha, what a deep love between master and servant. Unfortunately, I don't buy it."
After saying that, she smiled slightly, waved her hand, and ordered arrogantly: "Do it!"
As soon as the words fell, the imperial concubine's followers rushed forward and tried to destroy the jewellery.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Zhen Er rushed forward desperately, shouting heartbreakingly: "These jewels are the most beloved by the queen, please, please."
At this moment, Wei Yingluo suddenly appeared with a group of people.
She walked quickly to the Imperial Concubine and said in a loud voice: "Your servant greets the Imperial Concubine. Imperial Concubine, what are you doing?"