NABC Chapter 155: Connecting Hearts
Chapter 155: Connecting Hearts
Xiao Yufu clutched her sleeves tightly, lowered her head and dared not say a word. Seeing this, the Queen glanced at Xiao Yufu and slowly said, "However, Madam Li is in urgent need of rescue. If she can become a consort, wouldn't it be possible to clear her guilt openly? Wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?"
Hearing this, Xiao Yule fell to his knees and said earnestly, "Mother, Li Ziyan and Zhao Junning are people who are in love with each other. Didn't you always teach us not to separate lovers?"
The Queen frowned slightly and responded, "I did say that, but I did not ask Li Ziyan to divorce his wife. I just hope that the two women can serve one husband and both be equal wives."
At this time, Zhao Junning took a step forward, bowed and saluted to express her gratitude: "I am grateful for your kindness, Your Majesty. But it is difficult for me to obey your order. I love my husband deeply and will do my best to rescue him. As for the conditions proposed by Your Majesty, I really cannot accept them. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"
"How dare you! How dare you speak to the Queen like that? Come, slap them hard!"
Hearing this, Zhao Junning was shocked and quickly pleaded with the Queen: "Mother..."
However, the queen ignored her and just glared at her fiercely. The nanny beside her understood the queen's intention and stepped forward to torture Zhao Junning. The nanny raised her hand and slapped Zhao Junning twice, then quickly retreated behind the queen.
Zhao Junning endured the severe pain and clenched her fists tightly, her fingertips turning white from excessive force. She gritted her teeth to prevent the tears from flowing down her eyes, but her eyes were full of anger and grievance.
The queen lowered her head slightly, looked at Zhao Junning's red cheeks, and said coldly: "Madam Li, it's a pity to use these beautiful hands to hit people." After that, she reached out and gently stroked Xiao Yufu's face, saying distressedly: "I can't bear to hit my own Jiuer, how dare you hit her?"
Zhao Junning was so angry that she was shaking all over. She stared at the queen with wide eyes, wishing she could cut this vicious woman into pieces. At this time, the queen continued, "General Zhao did give birth to a good daughter, who is indeed pretty. It's a pity that you are unlucky and happened to meet me.
I have always been very protective of my shortcomings. A few days ago, when I was praying at Xingguo Temple, I learned from Fu'er's personal maid that you actually beat her when Fu'er went to Yangzhou two years ago?"
Xiao Yufu tightly grasped the queen's sleeve, her eyes full of fear and anxiety. Although she no longer cared about this matter, she was still filled with fear when she recalled the experience of being severely warned by Li Ziyan when she framed Zhao Junning in Liangzhou.
"I can let my daughter go without pursuing the matter, but I will never tolerate such a thing happening! However, I am not a cruel person. Let's put it this way, Madam Li has a beautiful face and nice hands, but her face really shouldn't be injured to avoid disfigurement. Let's punish these hands a little." The queen said coldly.
Hearing this, Xiao Yule hurried forward and said anxiously: "Mother, this is my father's bedroom, how can you torture him here?"
The queen suddenly realized and nodded, saying, "Le'er is right. It was I who was negligent. Then, let's execute him outside the palace."
So, the group came outside the palace. Two eunuchs brought ten bamboo sticks. The queen looked at them and said thoughtfully: "I originally wanted to torture her with the torture of tying the sticks, but that would hurt her hands and affect her appearance. Why not try the punishment of pouring sticks into her hands?"
Xiao Yule's eyes widened and she asked worriedly, "Mother, you resorted to private punishment. Aren't you afraid that Father will find out?"
"Le'er! I am still your mother after all. Even though you and Fu'er are not from the same mother, you are still half sisters! Now that your sister is being beaten and bullied, you are standing by the perpetrator? What's the logic behind this?"
Xiao Yule glanced at Xiao Yufu and the maid standing behind her, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a sneer: "It seems that what the Queen Mother knows is not complete! It was obviously Fu'er who chased to the Zhao Mansion first to provoke trouble, and was the first to beat Jun Ning.
Facing the attacks and injuries of others, she just defended herself instinctively. Mother, you have taught us since childhood that as princesses, we should not rely solely on our noble status, and we should not easily forget the mistakes we made. As for how Yu'er reported the truth to you, mother, I am afraid only she knows it best, right? "
The queen was so angry that her face turned blue. She raised her hand and slapped Xiao Yule hard, shouting, "Well! How dare you talk to my mother like that? You are really becoming more and more unruly!" Then, she turned her head and glared at the nanny beside her, saying sternly, "I will report this matter to your father truthfully. Nanny Liu, do it immediately!"
The eunuchs handed the sharp bamboo sticks to the nanny and held Zhao Junning tightly. Zhao Junning knew that this day would come sooner or later, because she had dreamed of a similar scene a few days ago. However, what she didn't expect was that this dream actually became a reality!
Even so, she knew that she had to endure this torture. Only in this way could she wait for the emperor to wake up and let him see with his own eyes that the harm she suffered came from the queen of a country. There is no doubt that in order to maintain the dignity and status of the queen, the emperor will definitely take action. At this moment, Zhao Junning also has the bargaining chip to negotiate with him.
The originally tender, white, and slender jade hands were now cruelly pierced by cold and ruthless bamboo sticks. The severe pain made Zhao Junning sweat profusely. In the end, she couldn't bear it anymore and cried out in pain. Xiao Yule, who was watching all this, felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife; while Xiao Yufu was terrified and trembling all over.
When ten bamboo sticks were deeply inserted into the gaps between Zhao Junning's nails and then forcibly pulled out, blood gushed out like a fountain. The piercing pain seemed to tear her apart. Finally, Zhao Junning was unable to support herself and fell to the ground. Xiao Yule hurried forward and helped the weak Zhao Junning up.