Chapter 6 Jiang Fei Wants to Kill Her

After leaving the door of East Bright Hall, Chu Baihan had intended to stroll in the Imperial Garden while waiting for Yan Lin to come out.

But unexpectedly, someone stopped her halfway and forcibly "invited" her to Jiangxin Palace.

"Your Majesty, the person has been brought here," the palace maid said respectfully to the person behind the screen.

Soon, that person came out from behind the screen.

Dressed in a red palace robe that trailed on the floor, her slim waist bound by a cloud belt which emphasized her slender frame, her face was strikingly beautiful, and her charm was naturally alluring.

This person was none other than Empress Jiang, one of the four favored consorts personally bestowed by the Emperor, and naturally, she was Yan Lin's birth mother.

Guessing her identity, Chu Baihan lowered her head and softly said, "Daughter-in-law pays respects to Mother Consort."

"Ha, Mother Consort? This Consort does not have such a daughter-in-law," Empress Jiang scoffed, her words dripping with unmistakable sarcasm.

Well, it seems this "Mother Consort" does not like her very much.

Since that was the case, there was no point in pretending anymore.

Chu Baihan slowly raised her head and said calmly, "Since Empress Jiang does not like me, I shall leave."

Having said that, she turned around.

This action shocked all the palace maids in Jiangxin Palace.

It was known that the Consort's position in the harem was only second to the Empress and the Empress Dowager. Even though the Eighth Prince was in trouble, the Emperor's favor towards her only increased, and even the Empress had to show her some courtesy.

This Miss Chu must be mad, to dare act this way towards the Consort.

"Insolence!"

Empress Jiang fiercely knocked a teacup to the side and sternly rebuked everyone, "Don't let her leave."

Soon, the palace maids of Jiangxin Palace completely blocked Chu Baihan's path.

It seemed today it would not be easy for her to leave. Chu Baihan sighed, quickly turned around, and looked at Empress Jiang with a gaze that was neither servile nor overbearing.

"If Empress Jiang dislikes seeing me and yet does not want me to leave, what are you implying?"

Empress Jiang coldly sneered and slowly sat down on the chair, with palace maids rushing to pour her tea, fan her, and massage her legs.

She did not respond for a long time, deliberately leaving Chu Baihan hanging.

Chu Baihan knew the other party was deliberately making things difficult for her and remained silent, just waiting it out to see who could last longer.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time, Empress Jiang coldly spoke, "Whether you are a concubine daughter of the Chu Family or a legitimate daughter, you are not worthy of my royal son. The daughter-in-law I desire should be the Grand Tutor's daughter. She is intelligent and sensible, such a person could indeed be a worthy aide to my Eighth Son."

The Grand Tutor's daughter? Oh, it must be that daughter of Grand Tutor Liu about whom the matchmakers in the capital city are almost breaking down the door, and many young lords are seeking to marry?

The Liu Family has been Grand Tutors for generations, having tutored the Grand Ancestor and also the Emperor, thus they hold a significant position in the Emperor's heart.

Marrying the daughter of the prestigious Grand Tutor, whose wife is a Commandery Princess from another state, surely provides far more benefits than marrying a disliked daughter of the treasonous General Chu.

Chu Baihan listened quietly, her expression showing no annoyance but instead, a smile appeared on her face.

In the end, she nodded in agreement, "Hmm, I also think that the Prince and Miss Liu are a match made in heaven. Please ask Emperor Jiang to decree a divorce for the Prince from me, so he may be with Miss Liu and they can be together joyfully."

"You..." Fire seemed to spark from Empress Jiang's phoenix eyes.

She felt that Chu Baihan was deliberately mocking her.

She indeed had discussed this matter with the Emperor, but...

Although the Emperor doted on her, whenever Yan Lin was mentioned, his face would inevitably turn cold, and he would reprimand her not to bring him up again.

In public, she and the Emperor indeed appeared affectionate, but only they knew that there was an irreparable rift between them.

That rift was Yan Lin.

"The Emperor never mentioned granting a marriage before, it must be the Chu Family meddling behind the scenes. Do you think by doing this, you can monopolize the position of Prince Consort? I order you to immediately plead with your father to ask the Emperor to revoke the marriage decree," Princess Consort Jiang harshly scolded.

"Princess Consort Jiang, the Imperial edict has been issued, how can it be withdrawn?"

"Then I will have Linlin divorce you!" Princess Consort Jiang's expression darkened.

"Fine, Princess Consort Jiang, if you can persuade the Prince to divorce me, I could not ask for more!" Chu Baihan nodded earnestly.

She dreamed of escaping from the Prince Residence, escaping the Chu Family, escaping the capital city, escaping these people!

But her composure, seen by Princess Consort Jiang, was interpreted as a provocation.

"Ha, it seems you are convinced that Linlin will not divorce you, hence your arrogance. Actually, there is a better way—that you die. Once you are dead, the position of Prince Consort will be vacant. Someone, bring the white silk," she said.

Princess Consort Jiang's sinister gaze was fixed on Chu Baihan, then she ordered a palace maid to fetch the white silk.

"If you die, the palace will simply claim that you were insolent toward me, I disciplined you as a warning to others, not knowing your body couldn't bear it, and you expired. No one will bother about your death, since you are not favored in the Chu Family, and your father certainly won't offend me for your sake.

At this moment, Princess Consort Jiang began to leisurely sip her tea, appearing quite content.

Chu Baihan's expression grew even colder, realizing that Princess Consort Jiang had already planned everything for after her death; this plot must have been prepared long ago, just waiting for this moment to kill her.

As the white silk approached, several silver needles appeared in the palm of her hand.

She had brought these from Jiangnan.

Though she did not know martial arts, in critical moments, these silver needles could save her life.

She watched coldly as the palace maid stepped closer to her, calculating which vital point to strike first for quicker effect.

Just as the palace maid reached her, Chu Baihan's gaze hardened, and she was about to move her hand.

But at that moment, a chilling voice came from the doorway.

"Mother Consort, are you now intent on killing even my people?"

Princess Consort Jiang looked up and saw Ziyi supporting Yan Lin as they entered.

Her expression tensed, her hand shook, and hot tea splashed onto her hand.

She furrowed her brows deeply, shooting a vicious glare at the palace maid beside her.

Shifting her gaze, she quickly stood up and warmly smiled, "Linlin, what brings you here?"

Yan Lin did not respond to her but instead ordered Ziyi, "Why aren't you rescuing the Princess Consort?"

Ziyi, realizing the urgency, rushed over.

The palace maids, frightened, quickly dropped the white silk.

Chu Baihan's icy demeanor softened slightly, and she also concealed the silver needles.

At that moment, Yan Lin came to her side, and after searching briefly, his cool hand directly took hold of her fingertips.

"Didn't I tell you to wait for me in the Imperial Garden? Why did you come here?" Yan Lin's tone was cool, his reprimand barely concealed.

Knowing his strange behavior was to save her in front of Princess Consort Jiang, Chu Baihan did not resist but whispered in a low voice, "I know my mistake."