Chapter 1: Hate Emerging from the Body

In the third year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign, in the eleventh month, at the Yuanmingyuan.

As deep autumn set in, a cool autumn rain brought a chill to the air, and the autumn wind rustled through the misty rain, bringing waves of cold. With every gust of cold wind, the chill seemed to seep into the bones, causing involuntary shivers.

The Lady Nian, who had caught a cold some time ago, had been staying in the Yuanmingyuan to recuperate. This was not a surprise to many, as everyone knew of her delicate health. However, the imperial edict promoting her to the position of Imperial Noble Consort had ignited a rebellious sentiment among the women in the palace.

Qiu Yan entered with medicine and saw Lady Nian propped up against the bed, and couldn't help but walk up to tuck her in, saying, "My lady, the room lacks sufficient charcoal. Your casual movements exacerbate your condition. What should we do?"

Lady Nian chuckled and paid no mind, instead asking softly, "Has the message been sent out?"

"This..." Qiu Yan's eyes reddened, and she hesitated to speak.

"Never mind. Ever since the Emperor issued the edict promoting me to Imperial Noble Consort, these people have been unable to sit still. But have they ever considered how long my frail body can endure? They are so eager for my demise!" Lady Nian reached up to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, and for the first time, her pale face showed emotion, with tears welling up in her captivating eyes.

"My lady, Consort Xi is here and wishes to see you." The hurried footsteps outside disrupted the tranquility in the room.

Lady Nian was taken aback, and her thin face showed a hint of surprise. It was evident that she had not expected Niohuru, Consort Xi, to come at this time. After a moment, she furrowed her brows slightly and said decisively, "I will not see her."

"Imperial Noble Consort, or should I say, Your Imperial Noble Consort, the palace is busy, and the Empress and all the sisters are not coming to bid you farewell!" The sudden sarcasm made Lady Nian's fingertips tremble, and her furrowed brows tightened even more. Niohuru had entered despite Lady Nian's refusal, indicating that she had lost her place in the Yuanmingyuan.

"It seems to me that it's not that she doesn't want to come, but that she can't. You are all so scheming, all you want is my life, isn't it?" Lady Nian laughed silently, her eyes showing a hint of mockery.

"Imperial Noble Consort, that's not right. When it comes to scheming, who can compare to you? Since you entered the palace, the Emperor has been like a changed man, favoring only you. You enjoy the meat and won't even let others have the soup. Who else would they wish death upon if not you!" As Niohuru spoke, her eyes turned red, and she clenched her fists, the tips of her fingers digging into her palms as if enduring immense humiliation and anger.

Lady Nian fell silent, and she looked at Niohuru's ordinary face with a distant gaze. After a while, she suddenly burst into laughter, tears streaming down her face.

"You say I hog the Emperor's favor and won't share, but have I ever held a grudge against anyone? The Emperor is the supreme ruler, and his decisions are beyond my control!" Lady Nian had just finished speaking when she began coughing uncontrollably, her face turning red and her breath becoming heavy.

She, born into a prestigious family and showered with endless favor, had always been modest and kind, hoping to avoid offending anyone. She never expected to end up in this situation.

Niohuru's face turned ugly as Lady Nian exposed her true nature, but she managed to maintain her composure and continued, "Yes, you have not wronged me in any way, but do you know that sometimes charity can be sickening!"

"I see. Since it has come to this, I want to know when you started plotting against me." Lady Nian spoke slowly and deliberately. In reality, she was gambling that Niohuru could not fully trust the others, such as Ula Nara, who were still in the palace.

"Imperial Noble Consort, you are as naive as ever!" Niohuru looked at Lady Nian's pale and delicate yet still beautiful face, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes as she spoke scornfully. "Let me tell you, from the moment the Emperor intended to bring you into the palace, you fell into the trap set by the Empress. If it weren't for your good fortune, how could you have survived until today, when everyone in the harem joined forces to bring you to this point!"

"What do you mean?" Lady Nian's fists clenched, her face turning ashen, her pupils suddenly dilating.

"What else could it mean? Doesn't the Imperial Noble Consort understand her own predicament? With the Emperor's favor towards you, if we hadn't made arrangements in advance, even if we had all worked together, we couldn't guarantee success." Niohuru looked at Lady Nian, whose expression had finally changed, and she felt a sense of superiority. "If the Imperial Noble Consort weren't so foolish and had been more cautious of those around her, perhaps she wouldn't have ended up in this situation today."

For a moment, Lady Nian wished she had misheard.

Why was she only frail before entering the palace, but her health deteriorated after entering? She had thought it was just a coincidence, but now it seemed that too many coincidences were not normal.

"Enough. You don't need to say much more. Although I regret trusting the wrong person, I want to know how you plan to get rid of me. Remember, I am the Imperial Noble Consort appointed by the Emperor himself!" Lady Nian did not believe they would dare to eliminate everyone in Yunjing Pavilion.

Seeing her resolute demeanor, Niohuru suddenly smiled slyly. "Imperial Noble Consort, have you forgotten that the Eighth Prince is still in the Yuanmingyuan? Rest assured, I will follow the Empress's orders and have the Eighth Prince personally escort you on your final journey."

"How dare you!" Lady Nian's eyes widened with fury, and she glared at Niohuru as if a single word from her would make her pounce and take her life.

"It's no use saying more. Empress Dowager, you should just accept your fate!" Niohuru, giving a signal to the maid behind Fuhui, took a few steps forward and coaxed Fuhui to come in front of Nian Suxin.

As the excruciating pain struck, her consciousness was becoming unclear, but the burning sensation in her organs reminded her incessantly of how foolish her past kindness and leniency had been.

She hated!

She hated knowing that untrustworthy people should not be treated with respect, yet she still had to do so. She hated herself for having doubts but not delving deeper. She hated that her prestigious family background had not been utilized, leading to harm to herself and her child, ultimately resulting in this fatal outcome.

As her consciousness gradually dissipated, the crimson red before her seemed to be the resentment bursting out from within, occupying all of Nian Suxin's thoughts, deeply embedded in her soul. In order to prevent her son from seeing the terrifying sight of her dying from poisoning, she endured until her lips were bitten raw, before reluctantly swallowing her last breath.