Chapter Thirty-Three: Banished to the Cold Palace

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Wei Yanqiao’s movements startled Xiao Ceyun from his sleep.

Xiao Ceyun opened his eyes. His face was so dark it seemed capable of dripping with fury. With a cold laugh, he sneered, “What is it? Could it be that Consort Sheng thinks I have defiled your body?”

Wei Yanqiao’s heart jolted. She hurriedly knelt on the bed and said tremblingly, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I did not. It is getting late. You should rise and attend the morning court. I will serve you while you dress.”

The fact that Xiao Ceyun had not taken advantage of her and forced himself upon her the previous night was already an immeasurable stroke of luck. Now she could only comply with him, lest she provoke his displeasure and drive him to take her by force.

Wei Yanqiao quickly climbed out of bed and prepared to help Xiao Ceyun dress.

Suddenly, Xiao Ceyun reached out and yanked her forcefully into his arms. In the next instant, he rolled over and pinned her beneath him.

“Your Majesty, what are you doing?” Xiao Ceyun’s sudden movement left Wei Yanqiao deathly pale with fright. Her body stiffened like a statue, and she did not dare move even an inch. Her eyes, like those of a terrified fawn, stared fixedly at Xiao Ceyun, who was mere inches from her.

Xiao Ceyun snarled viciously, “If I want any woman, there has never been one I could not have! No one has ever dared refuse me!” The reason he had not touched Wei Yanqiao all these days was simply to see whether she had truly changed or was merely pretending.

Yet that seemingly unintentional gesture of hers moments ago had completely ignited the fury in his heart. Now that she was already his woman, she still presumed to preserve her chastity for that illusory Buddha? How utterly absurd! Within the borders of the Great Yao Empire, he was the supreme authority—the very heavens of Great Yao. No one would ever be permitted to defy his will!

Xiao Ceyun lunged at Wei Yanqiao like a wild beast run amok and fiercely covered her delicate lips with his own.

Terrified beyond measure, Wei Yanqiao cried out, “Your Majesty, let me go! Let me go!” But her screams did nothing to make Xiao Ceyun stop his brutality.

With a sharp ripping sound, the clothes on Wei Yanqiao’s body were torn to shreds by Xiao Ceyun.

Wei Yanqiao fought with all her strength to break free, but her opponent possessed overwhelming power and paid no heed to her desperate struggle. He was intent only on taking her by force.

As she watched herself about to suffer such humiliation, a tremendous hatred surged within Wei Yanqiao. Without the slightest hesitation, she reached up and pulled the sharp hairpin from her head, then drove it toward Xiao Ceyun with all her strength.

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Xiao Ceyun suddenly let out a cry of pain. The hairpin had plunged deep into his shoulder, and blood instantly stained his robes red.

Staring at Wei Yanqiao in astonishment, Xiao Ceyun could not believe she had dared attack him. Gnashing his teeth, he demanded, “Wei Yanqiao, you actually dared assassinate me?”

Wei Yanqiao met his gaze without retreating, her voice hoarse with fury. “You were the one who disregarded my wishes and violated me first, Your Majesty!”

The hand clutching the hairpin trembled slightly. Fury and fear flickered in Wei Yanqiao’s eyes.

If she could, she would have driven the hairpin straight through Xiao Ceyun’s throat and killed him with a single blow. But she could not. Regicide was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one’s family. She could not involve her family again in this lifetime. Wounding Xiao Ceyun would only bring disaster upon herself.

“Violated you?” Xiao Ceyun laughed furiously. “You are my woman. If I wish to favor you, what say do you have in the matter?”

“I told you, Your Majesty—I will not serve you in bed! You also said that you would never require me to do so again. You are the one who broke your word!”

“You dared try to kill me? Then go to your death!” Xiao Ceyun roared like a maddened lion. He stretched out his large hand and clamped it tightly around Wei Yanqiao’s slender neck.

Wei Yanqiao felt a tremendous force descend upon her, leaving her scarcely able to breathe. She desperately tried to pry open Xiao Ceyun’s fingers, which were like iron pincers, but all her efforts were futile.

Gradually, her breathing grew more and more labored. Her vision began to blur, and her consciousness slowly slipped away.

Was she going to die like this again?

Wei Yanqiao’s heart filled with unwillingness and despair. After being granted a second life, she had believed she could change her fate. Yet she had still ended up in such a miserable state, utterly defeated...

Wei Tianze sensed Wei Yanqiao’s suffocation and called out anxiously, “Master?”

Crystal tears slid from the corners of Wei Yanqiao’s eyes. In despair and anguish, she said, “Tianze, I’m going to die. You’ll be reborn and regain your freedom. I’m completely finished...”

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Xiao Ceyun stared intently at Wei Yanqiao’s face, which had turned as pale as paper from suffocation. He also saw the tears spilling from the corners of her eyes. For some unknown reason, a strange emotion suddenly welled up within him.

Perhaps he had seen the intense desire to live in Wei Yanqiao’s eyes, along with her despair toward life. Or perhaps he had remembered some of the moments they had once shared. In any case, as if possessed by some unseen force, just as Wei Yanqiao was about to be strangled to death by his own hand, he released his grip and hurled her viciously from the imperial bed.

With a muffled thud, Wei Yanqiao crashed heavily onto the cold, hard floor.

She first broke into a violent fit of coughing, as though she would cough up her lungs, then greedily gulped down breath after breath of fresh air, savoring the joy of life returning to her body.

Outside the hall, Bi Zifu had been standing quietly on watch. Suddenly, he heard a commotion from within and felt his heart tighten. He hurriedly ran inside.

When Bi Zifu rushed through the doors, the scene before him left him utterly stunned. Wei Yanqiao’s delicate body lay sprawled on the cold floor, her clothes in disarray and her appearance wretched. Xiao Ceyun sat on the imperial bed, his face livid with rage, his eyes blazing as he glared at Wei Yanqiao on the ground as though he wished to devour her alive. Even more horrifying was the sharp hairpin protruding from Xiao Ceyun’s shoulder. Blood poured continuously from the wound, rapidly staining his bright yellow undergarment red.

At the sight, Bi Zifu’s head began to ring. His heartbeat accelerated violently, and terror instantly spread across his face. In a trembling voice, he shouted, “Your Majesty! What happened to you? Quickly, summon the imperial physicians! Summon the physicians!”

At his words, Xiao Ceyun’s fury burned even more fiercely. Gritting his teeth, he forced out each word through clenched jaws: “Consort Sheng actually dared injure the imperial body. Her crime is unforgivable! Effective immediately, strip her of her title, reduce her to a servant, and send her to the Cold Palace!”

After hearing the judgment, Wei Yanqiao took several short breaths, gradually calming her disordered breathing and tense emotions. Then, without hesitation, she replied respectfully, “This concubine obeys Your Majesty’s decree.”

With that, the corner of her lips lifted slightly, revealing the faintest smile.

She had committed such a grave offense. Although Xiao Ceyun was furious beyond measure, he had ultimately spared her life. Whether he feared the power of her maternal family or could not bear to see her die, this perilous gamble had been won by her.

The imperial physicians came running as soon as they received the summons. Looking flustered, they hurried to Xiao Ceyun’s side and immediately began emergency treatment. Meanwhile, several strong eunuchs dragged Wei Yanqiao mercilessly out of the hall and sent her to the Cold Palace.

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