Under Consort Duan's thoughtful gaze, Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered. "Your Ladyship, this servant has something to say, but I don't know if it should be spoken."
Consort Duan narrowed her alluring eyes. "Speak."
Lin Qinghe: "Your Ladyship, this servant has a plan. If it succeeds, you and the Third Prince will no longer have to fear the Crown Prince!"
Consort Duan: "Continue."
"Yes, Consort Duan." Lin Qinghe said, "The Crown Prince is currently powerful in court, and even the Emperor's sudden favor towards him is due to one thing: the Grand General of the Northern Garrison, who commands heavy troops, is behind him. If we can seize the Grand General's military power and use it for ourselves, Your Ladyship, imagine, what else does the Crown Prince have to fear!"
Consort Duan was swayed by Lin Qinghe's words. "You mean..."
Lin Qinghe looked directly into Consort Duan's eyes and said word by word, "When Gu Haotian returns to the capital with his troops, this servant, having gained the Crown Prince's trust, will surely have an opportunity to approach Gu Haotian through the Crown Prince and seize the military tally. With the tally in hand, the Third Prince can command over hundreds of thousands of troops! At that time... let alone the position of Crown Prince, even the throne, the Third Prince can easily attain!"
After her speech, Yonghe Palace fell silent. Not only were the palace maids and eunuchs stunned by Lin Qinghe's treasonous words, but even the ambitious Consort Duan was taken aback.
Lin Qinghe was so nervous her mouth felt dry. She took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.
She had to convince Consort Duan, or her life would end here today!
However, Consort Duan was an old fox. Although she was stirred by Lin Qinghe's words, she remained cautious, her inquisitive gaze fixed on Lin Qinghe. "I ask you, why must you go this far? Rebellion is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations. If you were after the position of Crown Princess, wouldn't it be easier to achieve it by approaching You Rong now?"
Lin Qinghe thought to herself: Consort Duan was indeed a 'master of pyramid schemes' as rumored. Despite her dry mouth and the twelve-point performance she put on, she hadn't fully convinced her.
How could she make Consort Duan completely fall for it?
Lin Qinghe racked her brain, even delving into the memories of the original body. Suddenly, a jolt went through her, and fragments of the original body's memories flashed by.
She thought of a good method!
Lin Qinghe bit her lip, hesitating. "This servant has selfish motives..."
Consort Duan: "Selfish motives?"
"This servant knows her humble status and is unworthy of the Third Prince. Although this servant harbored fantasies when Your Ladyship mentioned the position of Crown Princess, deep down, she never truly believed it was possible. But this servant sincerely admires the Third Prince!"
Lin Qinghe raised her head, her eyes slightly red, her small face showing the sweet and bitter pangs of a maiden's first love.
"When this servant first arrived at Yonghe Palace, I was clumsy and often made mistakes, earning punishment from the嬷嬷. One day, I was punished to kneel in the backyard, and it happened to be snowing. I was so cold I almost fainted. It was the Third Prince who came to Yonghe Palace to pay his respects to Your Ladyship. He took pity on this servant, exempted me from punishment, and gave me his cloak. From that moment on, this servant developed feelings of admiration for the Third Prince!"
Consort Duan looked skeptical. "Feng'er saved you?"
"Yes! If Your Ladyship doesn't believe me, you can ask Madam Zhang, who punished me that day. She will surely remember!"
Consort Duan remained silent, but cast a glance at the palace maid beside her. The maid understood and went to verify.
Lin Qinghe pretended not to notice and continued, her voice filled with feigned devotion. "This servant has always thought that if I could be of use, if I could help the Third Prince in any way, then one day, the Third Prince would surely see me..."
Lin Qinghe looked at Consort Duan with reddened eyes, a hint of a sob in her voice. "Your Ladyship, this servant doesn't ask for the position of Crown Princess. I only hope that in the future, in consideration of this servant sacrificing her life for the Third Prince, you will grant me the status of a concubine. As long as I can be by the Third Prince's side and see him every day, this servant will be content!"
Lin Qinghe felt goosebumps from her own words.
She couldn't help it. While speaking such heartfelt words, she had to imagine You Feng's cunning and lecherous face, which was too much of a trial for her!
After Lin Qinghe's sincere speech, the palace maid who had left returned. She whispered a few words into Consort Duan's ear, and Consort Duan's attitude changed dramatically.
Consort Duan personally helped Lin Qinghe up. "Qinghe, why are you so foolish? You feel so deeply for Feng'er. If you had said so earlier, how could this consort not fulfill your wish?"
"Your Ladyship, this servant..."
"This consort sees your feelings for Feng'er. Rest assured, once this matter is concluded and the Crown Prince is overthrown, this consort will personally petition the Emperor to grant you a marriage. The position of Crown Princess will be yours!"
Lin Qinghe, her eyes already red, had to pinch her thigh fiercely to force out a few tears. She pretended to be overwhelmed with emotion and kowtowed her thanks. "This servant thanks Your Ladyship!"
"You need not thank this consort. Thank yourself, for your deep affection for Feng'er has moved this consort."
Consort Duan comforted Lin Qinghe for a moment, then changed the subject. "Today, this consort misunderstood you. Bringing you here so abruptly might arouse You Rong's suspicion towards you."
Hearing this, Lin Qinghe guessed Consort Duan's meaning. Gritting her teeth, with no other option, she raised her hand and slapped herself twice.
To make Consort Duan believe her, Lin Qinghe struck with all her might, her cheeks turning slightly red and swollen.
Lin Qinghe endured the pain. "Your Ladyship, please rest assured. Later, have someone throw me out of Yonghe Palace. Combined with the injuries on my face, the Crown Prince will only believe that I truly betrayed you and you, in your anger, struck me to vent your frustration. He will not suspect me!"
Consort Duan smiled with satisfaction upon seeing this. "Qinghe, you have suffered."
Lin Qinghe replied, "This servant does not feel wronged."
Lin Qinghe inwardly cursed. Once she left Yonghe Palace, she would push the situation further and urge You Rong to eliminate Consort Duan and You Feng as soon as possible, lest they continue to cause trouble and ultimately harm her!
Consort Duan said, "Since that is the case, Qinghe, when you return to the Eastern Palace, be extremely careful. No matter what, you must obtain the military tally!"
"Please rest assured, Your Ladyship. This servant will not disappoint you!"
"Good." Consort Duan said with satisfaction. "You should leave quickly. The longer you stay, the more You Rong might become suspicious of you."
"This servant takes her leave."
On the rooftop.
You Rong's face was pale, his thin lips tightly pursed. His heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, causing him chest pains and making it difficult to breathe. He felt a chill all over his body, as if he were in an ice cellar.
A self-mocking smile crept onto You Rong's lips.
He had been too foolish! To believe that someone's personality could change overnight!
At Consort Duan's signal, several palace maids escorted Lin Qinghe out. At the entrance of Yonghe Palace, they unceremoniously shoved her and hurled curses at her.
Lin Qinghe endured the pain and got up from the ground. After walking a distance away from Yonghe Palace, she finally let out a long sigh.
"I've come out of Yonghe Palace alive. I hope the saying 'blessings come after great misfortune' is true. I can't go through near-death experiences repeatedly; it's too thrilling, my heart can't take it..."
Lin Qinghe was about to walk forward when she looked up and was stunned. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, why are you here? Are you looking for this servant?"