WBSGVS Chapter 193 V2

Still, she couldn’t openly agree. Who knew if any spies from other factions had come with her?

She replied softly, “Father rules an entire nation. He’s incredibly busy. I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose.”

“Oh, ruling a nation? So busy he forgot me and my little brother. Makes sense,” Qingli said thoughtfully, nodding.

Sima Qinghe breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “Yes, exactly.”

But Qingli suddenly looked puzzled again. “But what about the people around him? Didn’t anyone bring us up? You never mentioned us? Was it because no one knew we existed?” She paused, then frowned slightly. “That can’t be. You knew—otherwise, how would you know I’m the Sixth Princess? So why didn’t anyone remember us?”

Sima Qinghe: “……”

She couldn’t go on!!!

Sima Qinghe’s face turned pale, then flushed with color. She was silent for a long while.

Qingli blinked innocently and asked, “What’s wrong, Princess Leqin?”

Sima Qinghe forced a strained smile. “Nothing. Sixth Princess, you’ve suffered in this Cold Palace. I’ll go request Father to bring you out immediately. It’s getting late—I’ll go speak to him now and have your new quarters prepared. As for the Fourth Prince, he’ll also be moving to the Qilin Hall.”

She wasn’t going to continue the conversation, nor did she plan to take Qingli with her right away.

Let the Emperor deal with this.

If Qingli had the guts, she would ask him those questions to his face!

“Hmm?” Qingli tilted her head as if about to speak.

But Sima Qinghe had already stood up, almost unable to wait. “Sixth Princess, I’ll head off first. You just wait here—you can start packing up your things.”

With that, she turned sharply and walked off, clearly not wanting to stay another second.

The crowd of palace attendants quickly followed behind her like a dark tide.

—

The door of the Cold Palace couldn’t even be shut properly. Qingli remained seated, watching their retreating figures disappear. Suddenly, she smiled and shook her head.

So fake.

Everyone in the palace was fake.

When they needed you, they said you’d “suffered.”

When they didn’t, they couldn’t even remember you existed.

Sima Qinghe’s tricks were far too amateurish. But that was fine. Qingli still had Sima Yan—her brother—as a hostage of sorts. At least for now, they still had leverage over her.

It wasn’t surprising that Sima Qinghe had never taken her seriously.

Qingli’s laughter startled Granny Dai.

Because Sima Qinghe had intended to assert dominance, she hadn’t even told Granny Dai to get up. Now that they were gone, the old woman scrambled to her feet and hurried over to Qingli, fretting, “Oh dear heavens, what were you thinking going toe to toe with Princess Leqin? His Majesty favors her above all, more than most princes even! If you offend her, how will you ever survive in the inner palace?”

It wasn’t a concern born from affection. After all these years, Granny Dai didn’t care about Qingli personally—she was just worried about her skin. She’d failed in the mission the Imperial Consort gave her, and now that Sima Yan was leaving the Cold Palace in one piece, he’d become a threat in the fight for the throne. There was no way the Consort would let that slide.

So she needed to latch onto a new master.

And Qingli was her only option.

Not a bad one, either. She had that ghost Bai-shi watching over her, and those strange, eerie abilities Granny Dai had witnessed firsthand over the years. Even deep in the palace, Qingli wouldn’t be someone easily trifled with.

So Granny Dai laid it on thick now, trying to show some heartfelt loyalty.

But Qingli didn’t buy it in the slightest. She said coolly, “People don’t act helpful without an ulterior motive. Whether I offend her or not—what’s the difference? You think she can touch me?”

Granny Dai thought to herself: Maybe not you, but what about Sima Yan? He’s just a child…

But she dared not say it aloud. If Qingli had thought that far ahead and still didn’t care, she had something up her sleeve.

Just then, Xiling—sharp as ever—hurried over with a grin now that it was clear Qingli was about to leave. “Princess! Now that you’re finally getting out of here, can I come with you? I promise I’ll serve you with even more dedication!”

Qingli gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “If it’s possible, sure.”

Xiling beamed and began massaging Qingli’s shoulders happily.

Bamboo, the more reserved maid, looked on as Granny Dai schemed and Xiling sucked up. She hesitated, then quietly asked, “Princess, um… should I still gather firewood for hot water and your bath today?”

“No need,” Qingli replied with a shake of her head.

“Oh.” Bamboo lowered her head, a bit disappointed, unsure of what else to do.

Before noon, the imperial decree arrived:

“The Imperial Consort has acted without compassion, causing our son and daughter to be trapped in the Cold Palace. Her titles are hereby revoked, and she is demoted to Lady Li.”

The decree was delivered by the chief eunuch by the Emperor’s side. He also brought a new nanny and a senior maid appointed by the Emperor to escort Qingli.

Xiling, giddy with excitement, tried to follow them out. But before she could even step outside the Cold Palace, the chief eunuch made a hand gesture. Several junior eunuchs moved in and immediately restrained all three palace servants.

Qingli turned back and reminded them, “Bamboo is my maid.”

The eunuch studied the three and, seeing only one of them looking surprised and joyful, ordered the others to be released.

As for Xiling and Granny Dai, who were now sobbing and begging on their knees, he barked sternly:

“You dared to mistreat the Emperor’s children? Fifty lashes each for your crimes!”

Both women immediately collapsed, legs giving out, their voices cracking as they screamed toward Qingli:

“Princess! Princess! We’ve served you for five years! If not merit, at least pity our hardship—please spare our lives!”

Qingli covered Sima Yan’s ears and turned him away from the scene. Calmly, she replied:

“That’s why I’ve let you live this long.”

Now was not the time for mercy.

The original Qingli was only ten years old, and Sima Yan just five. Two children who had been forced to eat spoiled food until they got sick—so sick they passed out from hunger and fever—while those women stood by and did nothing.

Qingli never spoke of it.

But that didn’t mean she’d forgotten.

Taking them out and letting them enjoy a good life? The original Qingli would never rest in peace.

“Princess!” Granny Dai howled. Her eyes were wide, nearly bulging, and her body slumped to the ground. Her hands were still held in place, but she felt nothing—she was already numb with cold.

After all the evil she’d committed, it was only at this moment that she finally understood—

There was such a thing as karma.

It doesn’t come immediately.

But when it does, it comes.

No wonder, months ago, Qingli had said those words: You’ll all get what’s coming to you.
Back then, she hadn’t understood.

They still had a princess? And being allowed to leave the Cold Palace—wasn’t that a good thing?