On this side, the Empress quickly learned of the message relayed back by Qiu Yun.
Not having a grandchild has always been her worry, and upon learning that the Consort Ruo dared to curse her, the Empress was furious.
She "p" sound, her hand holding the Buddhist beads slammed heavily on the desk, making a huge noise in the silent room.
"Good a Consort Ruo, is really a good performance, sad empress just do not believe can't deal with you."
The Empress stood up from the eight-treasure auspicious seat, her face cold as she said.
She originally wanted the Consort Ruo to collect Buddhist beans in the hall to calm her mind, but it seems that picking Buddhist beans really benefited her.
"Autumn Cloud, drag that wretch out and throw her into the dark room, apply the needle punishment."
The Empress's eyes flickered with a fierce look, "Remember, don't leave any scars and don't let the emperor notice. I want her to suffer in silence."
The late Emperor had many concubines and numerous children, but the Empress herself rose from a small beauty to become the late Emperor's queen.
The treacherous winds and torrential rain she had to endure, and the blood on her hands, even she couldn't count.
To support her son's rise to the position of Crown Prince, she didn't know how many rivals and their sons she had had eliminated.
What remains are those who pose no threat to Chen Er.
Maybe it's the sins made when she was young, or maybe it's her son who has no descendants. She's eating vegetarian and chanting sutras when she gets old.
When it comes to being ruthless, there's probably no one who can match the Empress.
"Yes, your servant will obey the command!"
Autumn Cloud quickly retreated.
She led two formidable old nannies and, regardless of Consort Ruo's cries, dragged her out of the hall in a wild manner.
Then she was locked in the dark room again.
With the Consort Ruo being locked in the dark room, she was soon subjected to the needle punishment.
The so-called needle punishment refers to piercing the fingernail folds with needles, which is extremely painful and almost unbearable for ordinary people.
No scars were left, and even the imperial physicians couldn't detect it. However, it was extremely painful.
"Wuwuwu... Don't, the consort does not want this. Please, have mercy on me. Chenlang, where are you? Come quickly and save Ruo..."
The Consort Ruo's hands were fixed to the wooden frame and forced to extend her fingers straight.
This is not pretending anymore; she's genuinely crying in pain...
Weak and helpless, her appearance would surely elicit sympathy from any man who saw it.
Too bad, these bearers who were punishing her were all old nannies of the Empress, who had experienced the palace struggles during the late Emperor's reign. They had already become heartless and would not show the slightest compassion.
And they were the most adept at dealing with women like Consort Ruo, who are as fragile as white flowers.
"Aaah... It really hurts... So much..."
"Empress, my lady, I have committed a mistake. I really apologize, please be merciful to me..."
The Consort Ruo's sobs were loud and piercing, her body trembling from the pain, her tears and hair stuck to her face, pitiful and pathetic.
The dark room and the outer chamber were separated by a single door, so the sounds within could be heard perfectly clear.
The Empress sat gracefully on the eight-treasure auspicious seat, holding a string of Buddhist beads in her hand, looking exactly like an old lady who observes a vegetarian diet and chants sutras.
The sound of desperate and tragic screams from the dark room was constantly coming and also entered the Empress's ears.
Yet the Empress's face didn't change at all. It seemed that the sound was irritating her. Opening her eyes, she coldly ordered, "Too noisy, stuff her mouth shut. It's giving me a headache."
As soon as the Empress spoke, she closed her eyes again.
"Yes, Empress."
An old nanny quietly stepped into the dark room.
Shortly after, there was no sound coming from the dark room anymore, not even a low wailing.
The entrance of Cining Palace.
Caiyue waited anxiously at the entrance, but as a lowly palace maid, she was not allowed into the Cining Palace.
She had to wait outside.
Soon, a little eunuch came back.
It was the one that Caiyue had sent to the Imperial Study to request the emperor.
"Your Majesty, where is Your Majesty?" Caiyue quickly approached to ask.
She said this, constantly glancing at the little eunuch's back, but there was nothing there.
The little eunuch looked at Caiyue, his face embarrassed, "Your Majesty is in the Imperial Study discussing important matters with ministers. He won't be able to leave for a while."
Caiyue was immediately worried when she heard this.
The emperor didn't come, the Empress might be subjected to terrible tortures, and the Empress's frail body couldn't withstand it.
But the emperor was discussing state affairs with court ministers, and there was nothing she could do.
She could only wait outside the Cining Palace in a worried manner.
......
The Imperial Study was in disarray, resembling a battlefield. Documents, books, calligraphy scrolls, and everything that had been placed on flat surfaces were scattered all over the place.
It's clear how intense the situation is.
Yu Yao is afraid that the blessings of the Fu Qinggong would enter and report, and he dare not let Ye Beichen stop.
She has already inquired from the system that the Empress has used punishment on Consort Ruo, and it is a needle punishment.
In this situation, she definitely wouldn't let Ye Beichen go see Consort Ruo.
Consort Ruo was tortured so severely by the Empress. If Ye Beichen saw it, he would surely be heartbroken and then feel pity.
It might even be the case that the goodwill originally destroyed by Consort Ruo would rise back up.
This is absolutely not acceptable!
Yu Yao's plan is to drag as much time as possible. It would be best if it can be delayed until Consort Ruo leaves Cining Palace.
After all, the Empress is using a needle punishment on Consort Ruo, which leaves no visible scars.
That's because Consort Ruo made a complaint, and even if it was true, Ye Beichen wouldn't believe it.
The Empress is Ye Beichen's mother. Who in the world would believe that their own mother could be cruel?
This is also the Empress's cleverness.
The Empress punished Consort Ruo so severely that she was left in a state of near death and unable to speak.
Gosh... No wonder she's the palace intrigue champion of the late Emperor's era. She's indeed ruthless.
......
At Cining Palace, Consort Ruo, who had been suffering from extreme torture, finally released herself from the dark room.
The Empress was concerned about Consort Ruo finding the emperor to complain, which might affect the relationship between mother and son.
The Empress specially instructed Autumn Cloud to give Consort Ruo a thorough bath and to pour her a pot of invigorating and health-preserving soup.
Confirming that Consort Ruo's face looked rosy and her appearance appeared normal.
The Empress only then showed mercy and allowed her to leave Cining Palace.
Consort Ruo quickly walked away, her expression numb.
Caiyue saw Consort Ruo come out and also breathed a sigh of relief, then quickly approached her.
"Consort, are you alright?"
Caiyue examined Consort Ruo from head to toe and saw that Consort Ruo appeared to have no abnormalities, and her heart finally settled.
Consort Ruo did not respond to Caiyue and stood there with a dumb expression, but her hands were shaking uncontrollably.
It's obvious that she's in a lot of pain.
Caiyue saw this, but she didn't think too much of it and only thought that the Empress had been frightened in Cining Palace.
"Support... I will go back!"
Consort Ruo said weakly.
Feebly and without strength!
Caiyue looked at the Empress's appearance and furrowed her brow. Although the Empress appeared to be normal on the outside, she felt strange and not right.
Is it because she was scared?
But at this moment, she couldn't ask too many questions at the entrance of Cining Palace. Caiyue carefully helped Consort Ruo onto the sedan chair, "Your Highness, sit properly, we'll go back now!"
"Rise, and return to the Yongfu Palace!"
Caiyue waved her hand to the nearby servant.
As the sedan chair gradually moved away from the Cining Palace, Consort Ruo dared to show other emotions.
She leaned on the sedan chair, her expression was extremely painful, and her tears flowed without stopping.
She didn't understand why Chenlang hadn't come to save her.
Why didn't he come? Why?
Is it because she has him locked outside the Yongfu Palace and is still angry with herself?
He used to forgive her, why can't he forgive her this time?
She felt that Chenlang no longer loved her. If he doesn't love her, he won't tolerate or pamper her.
Such a result is infinitely more painful than the needle punishment she suffered in the Cining Palace.
How could he not love her!
How could he!
Has he forgotten the vows they made to each other?
But it was only a short time of keeping him outside. How could he be so unforgivable?
Why...
Consort Ruo cried with all her heart, tears streaming down her face. She cried with a heart that was deeply touched, and with a heart that was painfully broken.
She just sat on the sedan chair and cried, no longer delicate and teary, but instead, her crying was very loud and without any restraint.
If Chenlang no longer loves her, what is there to be considerate about?
Anyway, he won't care and won't come to see her.
Let her cry to death.
Caiyue was also frightened by Consort Ruo's appearance and couldn't comfort her no matter how she tried, she could only feel helpless.
However, it might be laughed at by other courts, so Caiyue could only order the people responsible for lifting the sedan chair to speed up the pace.
