Chapter 1254: Chapter 1254: Partners in Crime (Part 1)
Finally, she was recognized.
Shih Wanxin felt a mix of irony and helplessness.
Her hands clenched tightly, her nails dug into her flesh, yet she was oblivious.
The two women stared at each other.
After a long while, Shih Wanxin finally looked up and confessed.
"That’s right, it’s me!"
Luo Manman was shocked.
"Consort, how did you end up like this?"
When she first entered the palace, how delicate and beautiful she was? Like a budding peony.
She was cherished by the Crown Prince and protected, even the then Crown Princess Consort had to step aside for her.
Who could have imagined that after so many years?
The woman who was once so dazzling would fall to such a fate!
Shih Wanxin slowly moved in front of her, asking with a cold smile.
"How about now?!"
"Aren’t you shocked?!"
"Isn’t there a big difference between the past me and the present me?!"
Luo Manman nodded involuntarily.
"Yes!"
Shih Wanxin gave a sarcastic smile.
"That’s right!"
"This is all because of that woman!"
"The Emperor was bewitched by that seductress, not only did he forget you early on, but even me..."
"We all lost, that woman is the only winner!"
Luo Manman was a bit confused.
"Consort, are you referring to the Empress?"
Shih Wanxin glared at her fiercely.
"Don’t call me Consort anymore!"
"I’m no longer a Consort!"
"I am nothing now; from now on, just call me Wanxin!"
Luo Manman was somewhat uncomfortable with this, but she dared not defy.
Suppressing her discomfort, she softly called out.
"Wanxin!"
Shih Wanxin finally let out a breath.
"That’s right!"
She naturally walked two steps forward and sat by the bed, pulling out a bottle of medicine from her bosom.
"I know you’re wounded!"
"This is Nine-Flower Jade Dew Ointment, an excellent healing potion. Apply it, and not only will it heal the wounds, but it won’t leave scars!"
"From now on, we’re like grasshoppers on the same string!"
"Would you be willing?"
Luo Manman hesitated, afraid to take it.
Shih Wanxin continued.
"Don’t you want to regain the Emperor’s favor?"
"Given your status and favor back in the day, if you had given birth to a son in the harem, a First-Rank Consort position would be yours for sure!"
"Don’t you want that?"
"Or do you not care about the Emperor anymore?"
"No!"
"I don’t!"
Luo Manman shook her head vigorously.
"I never stopped caring about the Emperor, it’s just..."
Shih Wanxin quickly shoved the medicine bottle into her hands!
"Don’t say just anymore!"
"Hesitate a moment longer, and you’ll even lose your life!"
Luo Manman looked at the delicate medicine bottle in her hand but remained silent.
Shih Wanxin bit her lip, suddenly got up, and knelt in front of her.
"Manman, I know I harmed you back then!"
"I also know you’ve had a tough time these years!"
"You surely must hate me in your heart!"
"But... look at me, my days aren’t good either. I’ve also received the punishment I deserve, the retribution!"
"For the sake of our acquaintance, help me!"
"I’m bowing to you!"
To achieve great things, one mustn’t be bound by trivial matters. Even a great man can bend and stretch, like Han Xin with his humiliation beneath another’s crotch.
The humiliation suffered by a woman like her is nothing in comparison, right?
She has nothing left to lose now, doesn’t she?
Shih Wanxin’s kowtows echoed loudly, soon leaving her forehead bruised and swollen.
Luo Manman watched with alarm, wanting to rise but her pain-ridden body betrayed her, causing her to tumble out of bed.
"Ah!"
"Manman Sister!"
Shih Wanxin shrieked and moved to support her, but Luo Manman suddenly cried out.
"There’s a snake under the bed!"
Shih Wanxin froze with fear, screaming uncontrollably.
"Ah, ah!!"
"Help!"
"Ah, ah!"
The two women screamed and tried to run outside but were tripped up by something, tumbling to the ground together.
Luo Manman’s body and mind were overwhelmed with pain and shock, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
Shih Wanxin ran out alone.
She doesn’t know what happened afterward.
Undoubtedly, the palace maids and eunuchs went into chaos, drove the snake away, and helped Luo Manman back to bed.
For the next three days, Shih Wanxin didn’t come.
After all, snakes like cool places.
The area around Luo Manman’s room was quiet and deserted, surrounded by towering trees.
Such a place is prone to attracting snakes! Where there’s one, there might be another.
Any other hardship she can endure, she fears nothing but snakes!
Thus, Shih Wanxin pondered for three days but didn’t dare take a step forward.
...
Luo Manman was here.
Her body riddled with wounds and frightened, her body and mind drained, she fell into a high fever after fainting.
Despite Xiao Ge’s disdain, she still had to take care of her mistress.
After all, this was the first mistress she served; if she died, who else would dare employ her?
After considering it, she called for a Little Eunuch to fetch a Female Doctor overnight.
When it concerns life, the Female Doctor dared not slack. She came, checked the pulse, made soup and administered medicine amid chaos.
Luo Manman’s fever finally subsided by morning.
Xiao Ge, exhausted, went to rest.
After Luo Manman awoke, she saw no one was around, still lying where she had been.
The room remained dim, filthy.
The sunlight still couldn’t reach her.
The air was still as unpleasant, nothing had changed.
Thinking that yesterday, a snake hid under the bed she slept on, perhaps one might still lurk in some corner.
She utterly broke down, bursting into anguished tears.
"Boohoo..."
"Enough, truly enough!"
"She’s had enough of such days!"
Upon opening her eyes again, they were filled with irrepressible hatred.
Haha!
She was kind all her life, only to receive such an ending?
She retreated time and again, only to be repaid like this by fate?
Heavens, you are so unfair!
Since you turn a blind eye, don’t blame me for being ruthless!
Luo Manman’s expression was cold, her eyes with vengeful hatred, her hands tightly clenched, nails buried deep in her flesh.
She suddenly felt disdain for her past self.
Ha!
What’s the point in pride?
There’s clearly a road predestined, why not walk it?!
Having figured everything out, her desire to survive grew increasingly intense.
She braced herself to walk to the door, calling out.
"Someone!"
"I want to wash and change!"
"Yes, Mistress!"
The Little Eunuch was impatient, yet he couldn’t disobey the mistress’s orders, begrudgingly he fetched water.
"Xiao Ge served you all night yesterday, now she’s gone to rest!"
"I can’t serve well, Mistress, feel free to."
Luo Manman was stunned.
"Served all night? What do you mean?"
The Little Eunuch answered with his head bowed.
"Mistress had a fever throughout the night; Xiao Ge requested a Female Doctor for your treatment!"
"The Female Doctor prescribed medicines, and I should go brew them now, so I must leave!"
Luo Manman’s heart was somewhat touched, but she quickly suppressed it.
"Go!"
She said coldly!
