Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 418 Consort Jing Wants to Pursue Happiness

Chapter 418: Chapter 418 Consort Jing Wants to Pursue Happiness

Despite their troupe’s current fame, enabling them to perform in the palace, just a few years ago, they could barely make ends meet.

Even earlier, when the old troupe leader and his wife met with disaster, these folks were still children, adopted by the troupe leader. At that time, the troupe almost disbanded, with Mei Yuzong falling into despair.

Had it not been for the fact that they could not survive without the troupe, Mei Yuzong would have likely disbanded them long ago.

But they had already endured the most difficult times.

"Troupe leader, why do you seem unhappy?"

Mei Yuzong looked up and smiled at them, "After a few more performances, we’ll leave the palace."

"That’s better. Being in the palace always makes one feel anxious. It’s good to leave."

The next day, as expected, Consort Jing sent someone to invite the troupe to perform in her palace quarters.

"Doesn’t Consort Jing dislike listening to plays? Why would she call for the troupe again?"

All the women of the inner palace had to give face to Consort Jing and came together to listen to the play.

While Consort Jing had not yet arrived, a few women whispered among themselves.

"Yesterday, the Third Prince’s dragon boat won first place, the Emperor was overjoyed, and so was Consort Jing. Naturally, she wants to celebrate."

Just then, Consort Qi entered with a sneer, "Isn’t it that Consort Jing has heart palpitations every time she hears a play? Could it be that we have Hua Tuo in our palace who cured Consort Jing’s heart ailment?"

The others did not dare to respond to that remark.

Consort Yun arrived as well, her voice cheerful, "The women in our palace have little entertainment. Listening to a play enlivens us all. Consort Jing must be concerned about dampening everyone’s spirits yesterday and decided to arrange another performance for everyone’s enjoyment."

Indeed, that’s what Consort Jing told the Emperor.

And the Emperor, pleased with the performance of the Third Prince yesterday, looked forward to more such opportunities. Once the Third Prince’s prestige among the populace increased, proposing him as the Crown Prince would face little opposition from the ministers.

Whether the palace women listened to the play was a trifling matter. As long as Consort Jing herself was not unwell, the Emperor could not be bothered to intervene much.

Moreover, just by watching a play, if the palace women could be entertained, what harm was there?

The Emperor was unaware of Consort Jing’s intention to cuckold him.

"Consort Yun is considerate, aware of what lies in my heart. Consort Qi, why are you so irritable? Could it be that you had another dispute with Princess Consort Ling yesterday?"

Consort Jing emerged slowly, astonishingly dressed in a light pink gown, looking radiant and seemingly younger by several years, her face filled with a delighted and triumphant smile.

Most of the women thought Consort Jing was happy because of the Third Prince’s matter, but Consort Qi had already noticed the unusual relationship between Consort Jing and Master Mei and surmised that Consort Jing’s outfit was for her old lover’s eyes.

Irritated by the sarcastic comment and a flash of anger on her face, Consort Qi was intent on simply watching the drama unfold. She was looking forward to seeing how her son, Jun Yuyan, and Murong Jiu would resolve the issue, as Murong Jiu said it would soon be over.

So, she just kept a straight face throughout, appearing only interested in watching the performance in peace.

Her focus was not on the play on the stage but on Consort Jing’s play.

Consort Jing sat for barely half an hour before rising to return to her chambers. The other women noticed nothing amiss, thinking Consort Jing simply did not enjoy the play.

Consort Qi sneered inwardly. Master Mei was also gone from sight. Weren’t they off having a secret rendezvous? Consort Jing had quite the nerve, carrying on with disgraceful acts in front of so many, likely using them as shields.

Consort Qi had already harbored the thought of secretly sending for the Emperor at this moment, intending to catch them red-handed.

She loathed Consort Jing, truly looked down on her from the bottom of her heart, not because the latter was a country bumpkin but because she knew full well she was the Empress Dowager’s substitute, yet was willing to dress up as the Empress Dowager before the Emperor. This behavior was utterly detestable.

Almost everyone felt that Consort Jing would be the future Empress Dowager and the Third Prince would become the Crown Prince. Thus, Consort Jing was no longer as pretentious as before and had become increasingly arrogant. When she was still Consort Jing Pin, she only dared to address Consort Qi as Nobleen Consort. After ascending to the Concubine’s Position, she first called her Consort Qi Eldest Sister and recently switched to calling her Consort Qi Younger Sister, which was truly nauseating.

But the thought of exposing them was fleeting, for she remembered what Murong Jiu had said the day before.

Murong Jiu and Jun Yuyan had planned ahead; Consort Yun was on good terms with Murong Jiu. No wonder Consort Yun kept the opera troupe in the palace; it indicated that they surely had other plans in place.

If she were to summon the Emperor and failed to catch Consort Jing and Troupe leader Mei’s illicit affair, it would instead startle the snake in the grass.

With that thought, Consort Qi forcefully suppressed the impulse in her heart.

Consort Yun made no move either.

Consort Qi’s thoughts were accurate.

Consort Jing’s first secret meeting with Mei Yuzong was conducted openly. She invited him to talk at the pavilion behind the stage under the pretext of him being a fellow townsman. The stage concealed them, and since Consort Qi and others couldn’t see and they were in plain view of the eunuchs and palace maids, it was impossible for anything improper to occur between them.

Even if the Emperor came, he wouldn’t find any fault with Consort Jing.

Only Consort Jing and Mei Yuzong were in the pavilion.

Even Aunt Su Jin stood outside the pavilion; the sound of the opera performance prevented her from hearing their conversation.

Consort Jing spoke gently, "Yu Lang, sing a few more operas for me, then you may leave the palace. I will reward you with a generous sum of money, and you can settle down and establish yourself in the Capital City with your troupe."

She had thought about it all night and realized it was too dangerous to meet with Mei Yuzong in the palace.

And the previous night, the Emperor, for some unknown reason—whether he remembered the Empress Dowager or was spurred by some agitation—insisted that she wear a nun’s robes and called her by the Empress Dowager’s nickname. Perhaps because she had seen Mei Yuzong during the day, her heart was biased.

With Mei Yuzong, she was an unforgettable love, but to the obese Emperor, she was merely a substitute.

For the first time, she wished fervently for the Emperor’s death.

If the Emperor died, she would be the Empress Dowager, her son would be the Emperor—what couldn’t she do?

In history, it wasn’t unheard of for the Empress Dowager to keep a favored male companion.

The more she thought about it, the more agitated she became. She hadn’t felt this impulsive in a long time, having restrained herself for so many years. She had once harbored wild fantasies about the Emperor, but each time, he would harshly snap her back to reality.

She wanted to pursue her happiness, to compensate Mei Yuzong.

That was why she wanted Mei Yuzong to stay in the Capital City. Once she became the Empress Dowager, she would be free of any constraints.

"You can also bring your parents to the Capital City. I have long since stopped hating them, even though they might be too old to travel these days."

Consort Jing was still indulging in dreams of the future.

It was only then that Mei Yuzong said indifferently, "My parents have been dead for many years."

"Ah? Of course, so many years have passed, everything has changed. But Yu Lang, you haven’t changed. You are still the same as before."

Consort Jing did not know that she had already caused the death of Mei Yuzong’s parents.

"After more than twenty years, how can a person remain unchanged? Consort Jing is mistaken, I have changed long ago."