Mingyi watched coldly from the sidelines, thinking that Consort Yan was truly grasping at straws, trying to appeal to anyone’s emotions. How could she say such things to the Grand Sire of Chaoyang?
The Grand Sire of Chaoyang was a man who valued profit above all else, devoid of sentiment. He had married her solely for her bloodline, and now that her blood couldn’t produce a child with innate red veins, he would feel deceived.
For a commoner to ascend to the position of Consort was incredibly difficult. Mingyi, who caused a sensation in the Six Cities upon her birth, had given Consort Yan her greatest asset. The glory she had won over the years had further solidified her position. But now, Consort Yan’s gaze towards Mingyi was filled with hatred.
“Since Consort Meng exposed your identity, forcing you to leave Chaoyang, why did you return?” she asked bitterly.
Mingyi shrugged. “As you know, I’m not one to hold grudges. If Madam Consort hadn’t pursued me relentlessly, I might not be here today. As you said, I’m gravely poisoned with little time left. I only wished to live out my days in peace. But since you fear Consort Meng’s leverage and want to kill me for your peace of mind, I had no choice but to find ways to protect myself.”
Consort Meng covered her mouth and laughed. “Sister, you just asked the Grand Sire to consider your years of marital affection, but how could you be so ruthless towards the child you raised? If one day the Grand Sire becomes an obstacle to you, would you also act against him?”
These words were extremely venomous. Everyone knew the Grand Sire was her world; how could he ever be an obstacle? But with this statement, the Grand Sire’s expression immediately darkened.
Mingyi’s situation would only lead to her demotion. After all, Chaoyang’s victories over the years were partly due to her contributions. Weighing her merits against her faults, she would lose her position as Consort, but a comfortable life wouldn’t be difficult to maintain. However, Consort Meng’s words, given the Grand Sire’s personality, made it unlikely he would keep her around.
Consort Yan’s eyes reddened. She stumbled forward two steps, looking at Mingyi, and suddenly burst into tears. “I gave you a noble identity, urged you day and night to cultivate without the slightest negligence, and let you bring glory to Chaoyang and the Grand Sire. It was because I knew that our Yan clan had a heaven-sent mission to support the righteous ruler in unifying Qingyun.”
“Though you’re not my child, you’re still a child of the Yan clan. We of the Yan clan are all subjects of the Sire. What spell has come over you today that you must argue about bloodlines in front of everyone?”
Mingyi raised an eyebrow, but before she could retort, Consort Yan turned and knelt before the Sire, her still-beautiful face streaked with tears. “It was my momentary confusion, thinking only of the Sire’s interests, that allowed her, a mere woman, to disrupt our royal hierarchy. I am guilty! But Sire, I harbor not the slightest rebellious thought. I used poison to control her only because I feared her Yuan Power might grow too strong, potentially threatening the Sire in the future. My years of sincere devotion are known to you, Sire.”
“Moreover, although Mingxian is female, she has genuinely won the Six Cities’ Grand Meeting for all these years. That our Chaoyang, abundant in talent, has a mere woman surpassing all the fighters from the other five cities – in my view, this is not a shame, but the highest glory!”
Consort Yan was eloquent, always using her words skillfully in the inner court. Even Mingyi almost believed these few sentences. Indeed, what was wrong with giving Chaoyang a child with innate red veins? Even as a girl, hadn’t she won the championship for seven years?
The Grand Sire’s expression softened slightly. Seeing the tide turning, Consort Meng quickly interjected, “Although the Yan clan produces many superior fighters, Yan women can only bear one child in their lifetime. Sister has already abandoned her child, meaning she’s no different from common women outside. How dare she continue to occupy the position of Consort?”
“Though this Mingxian is formidable, she’s not Sister’s child. If Sister truly thinks of the Sire’s interests, shouldn’t she let Mingxian’s birth parents enjoy this prosperity?”
At this, the Grand Sire also remembered, “Who are her birth parents?”
The Consort pressed her lips together, her face grim. “She was brought by someone from the clan. I’m not sure.”
Mingyi lowered her eyes and suddenly bluffed, “If you don’t know, why did you suddenly imprison Mingan?”
The Consort looked at her in bewilderment, then realized, “Are you saying Mingan is your father?!”
This reaction was unexpected for Mingyi. She seemed too surprised, as if she truly didn’t know about this.
Had she bluffed wrongly? Mingyi fell silent.
The Consort knelt on the ground, shocked for a good while, then suddenly darkened her expression. “No wonder, no wonder he repeatedly spared your life. So there was such a connection.”
“Sister, why are you pretending to be foolish?” Consort Meng covered her mouth. “How could you not know whose child was brought to you by someone close to you?”
“How could I know!” Consort Yan gritted her teeth. “The entire clan hoped for me to bear a child with red veins. If I could give birth to one, that would be best. If not, they had prepared a newborn child to be substituted. I was in such pain during childbirth, how could I know whose child was brought in!”
After catching her breath, she rolled her eyes, her lips turning pale. “To think it was Mingan. He has served me loyally for years; I never imagined he would betray me too.”
“It’s not surprising that anyone would betray you, given that you can ruthlessly kill both the child you raised for years and the servant who has been loyal to you for so long,” Mingyi looked at her, feeling both pity and hatred. “After all these years, even a dog would have earned some affection, but you, Madam Consort, are truly decisive, administering the meridian-destroying poison without hesitation.”
“If I didn’t use the poison, how could I be at ease?!” Consort Yan clenched her fists. “As this vixen said, we Yan women can only bear one child in our lifetime. My child is already gone, and you grew stronger day by day. If one day you recognized your birth parents, how could I face that?”
Mingyi’s throat tightened, and she pinched her fingers. “I always respected you as my birth mother. Even though you were cold and harsh to me, I practiced day after day to please you. Yes, I was born with something other children didn’t have, but I also lacked what other children had.”
She had no affection, and no trust; she only had endless tasks and demands. She was truly a born tool.
“If it were your child,” Mingyi asked her, “would you still have fed them the ‘Heaven of Parting Sorrows’ poison?”
Seeing a flash of vulnerability in her eyes, Consort Yan suddenly seemed to gain the upper hand, raising her chin contemptuously. “If my child had innate red veins, none of this would have happened. I would have loved and cherished them. Forget poison, I wouldn’t have let even cold soup touch their lips. These are things you, traitor, will never have!”
Mingyi lowered her eyes, tugging at the corner of her mouth. “So there is such a thing as karmic retribution in this world.”