Phi-Fic Chapter 292 Concubine Shu’s “Performance”
Chapter 292 Concubine Shu’s “Performance”
Xiao Mu looked at the silver in his hand, then at the packet of medicine powder, and hesitated, "This medicine powder... won't be fatal, right?"
Cen Jiexiao sneered, "Don't worry, this powder will only make her look ridiculous, it won't kill her. The Queen Mother just wants to teach her a lesson, to let her know who is the master of the harem."
Xiaomu thought of his seriously ill mother at home, and finally gritted his teeth and agreed to Cen Jiexiao's request.
The next day, the concubines dressed in their finest attire and arrived early at the Queen Mother's chambers. Each wore a polite smile, a picture of sisterly affection, but beneath the surface, undercurrents surged, each harboring ulterior motives.
Today, Concubine Shu was wearing a peony-patterned palace dress and a golden hairpin, appearing exceptionally elegant and graceful. Ever since receiving the Emperor's "guarantee," she had become somewhat complacent and less respectful to the Empress Dowager.
The Queen Mother sat back on the phoenix chair, her eyes as sharp as a torch, taking in the Concubine Shu's pride and contempt. She sneered in her heart: I'll let you be proud for a while, but you'll be in trouble later!
The palace maids filed in and placed the prepared refreshments before the concubines. Concubine Shu picked up her teacup and was about to drink when she caught sight of Cen Jiexiao, who was sitting beside her. Cen Jiexiao smiled at her, a smile that seemed sinister and smug to Concubine Shu, as if to say, "The fun is about to begin."
Concubine Shu's heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding washing over her. Her hands trembled slightly, nearly spilling her tea. She looked around, only to see the other concubines appearing perfectly normal, seemingly unaware of anything unusual.
Was I overthinking it? Concubine Shu pondered. Perhaps Sister Cen Xiao was just bluffing, trying to scare her. The Emperor had already promised to protect her, and even if the Empress Dowager was angry, she wouldn't dare do anything to her. Thinking of this, Concubine Shu suppressed her uneasiness and drank the tea in one gulp.
A wave of dizziness washed over her like a tide, and Concubine Shu felt the world before her begin to spin, the colorful scene becoming blurred, as if covered by a veil. She shook her head vigorously, trying to dispel the sudden discomfort, but found that everything in front of her was even more distorted.
"Empress Dowager..." Concubine Shu's voice was as thin as a mosquito's, as if it floated from far away, with a hint of confusion, a hint of fear, and a hint of indescribable weirdness. Her eyes were empty, her pupils were sluggish, as if she had lost focus, unable to focus on anything.
"Look..." She stretched out a trembling hand, her fingertips slightly bent, pointing to a painting of a lady hanging on the wall, her voice intermittent, like a whisper.
"That... that painting on the wall... it... it moved..." Shufei's voice suddenly rose, with a hint of fear, a hint of excitement, and a hint of disbelief.
The ladies in the painting, once motionless, now seem to come alive, their dresses fluttering as they dance gracefully. Their eyes, the corners of their lips, every subtle movement, are filled with agility and vitality. They twirl, leap, and dance with graceful movements, like fairies dancing gracefully among the clouds.
"They... they are dancing... they are dancing... so beautifully..." Concubine Shu stared at the scroll infatuatedly, her eyes blurred and a strange smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
The ladies transformed into blurry shadows in her eyes, interweaving and swirling in a dazzling display. Their dance moves were sometimes as light as a swallow, sometimes as unrestrained as fire, sometimes as graceful as a crane, and sometimes as agile as a fairy. Their dresses fluttered with their dance moves, like the wings of colorful butterflies, dancing in the air.
The Queen Mother and the other concubines looked at each other, confused as to why Concubine Shu had suddenly said such strange words. Their eyes fell on the painting of the ladies on the wall, but they only saw a still picture, without any movement.
"And...and..." Concubine Shu's gaze turned to a blue and white porcelain vase on the table, her eyes blurred, as if she had seen something incredible.
"That vase...it...it's smiling at me..." She giggled, her laughter sharp and piercing, creepy.
In her eyes, the vase seemed to have life and expression. It opened its mouth, revealing a strange smile, as if mocking her, as if tempting her.
"It said...it said..." Shufei's voice became lower and lower, and more and more unclear.
"The Empress Dowager...is old...ugly..."
The Queen Mother's expression suddenly changed. Her originally kind face instantly turned ashen. She slammed the table hard, making a deafening sound.
"How dare you! Concubine Shu, are you crazy?" the Queen Mother shouted, her voice full of majesty and anger.
Concubine Shu was completely unaware of her own misconduct. She was still immersed in her own illusions and continued to ramble, "Empress Dowager... please don't be angry... I... I just... I just feel... that the phoenix crown on your head..."
She paused, looking at the glittering golden phoenix crown on the empress dowager's head with a dazed look, and said shockingly: "It looks like... looks like a... a green-haired turtle..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience was in an uproar. The concubines covered their mouths and screamed, unable to believe their ears.
The Queen Mother was trembling with anger. She pointed at Consort Shu and roared, "Come here! Drag this crazy woman away! Put her under house arrest! Without my permission, she is not allowed to take a single step out of the palace!"
Two eunuchs immediately stepped forward and dragged Concubine Shu, who had completely fallen into the illusion, away. Concubine Shu was still struggling, mumbling some irrelevant words, her voice becoming smaller and smaller, more and more vague, and finally disappeared into the depths of the palace.
Cen Jiexiao watched all this with a cold eye, a barely perceptible sneer curling up at the corner of her mouth, secretly pleased with herself. She knew her plan had taken another step forward.
Suddenly, everything went dark before Concubine Shu's eyes, as if she had fallen into a bottomless abyss. She lost control of her body and slumped limply into the chair, like a puppet with its strings removed.
White foam overflowed from the corners of her mouth, dripped down her chin, and left stains on the luxurious brocade. Her limbs twitched and trembled uncontrollably, like a dying fish struggling in vain on the shore.
This sudden change plunged the previously bustling palace into chaos. The concubines screamed in terror, scattering like frightened birds, fearing they would be infected by this sudden "madness."
Their skirts fluttered in their hurried steps, like colorful butterflies, yet with a hint of fear. They covered their noses and frowned, as if the concubine exuded a disgusting stench.
The Queen Mother feigned surprise and stood up, her face thick with concern, yet also tinged with a subtle hint of pride. She sternly shouted, "What's going on? Someone, call the imperial physician!" Her voice echoed through the hall, carrying undeniable authority, yet it couldn't conceal the cunning glint in her eyes.