Chapter 284: Grand Finale: Seven

Grand Finale: Seven

Yuzhu spoke in a low voice. Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Zhang did not show the slightest reaction; she merely raised her eyebrows and then laughed softly.

"Hehe~, sigh, Zhan'er is truly a child... but never mind, this is fine too! In any case, there is no need for her to say anything~!"

Noble Consort Zhang was not angry. Although she was speaking to Yuzhu beside her, it was as if she were actually speaking to Empress Dowager Duan. So, as soon as her words fell, Empress Dowager Duan's eyes widened once again, and she began to struggle incessantly.

The sound of the iron chains clashing rang out, but Noble Consort Zhang did not care in the slightest; instead, she laughed even more wantonly. After laughing, she turned her head to look at Empress Dowager Duan, who was hanging before her eyes, and then slowly rose from her seat.

Next, Noble Consort Zhang stepped forward and came straight to Empress Dowager Duan. She then quietly looked Empress Dowager Duan over from head to toe, and then from toe to head, before pursing her lips and smiling again.

"Duan Yuechan, do you know? I have waited a very long time for this day~!"

Noble Consort Zhang's voice remained gentle, but for some reason, her words were hair-raising. So, as soon as Noble Consort Zhang's voice fell, Empress Dowager Duan indeed let out a few muffled sounds, her wide eyes staring straight at Noble Consort Zhang, as if she wanted to swallow her whole!

Seeing this, Noble Consort Zhang gave another triumphant smile, but then her eyes narrowed, and she coldly curled her thin lips.

"Duan Yuechan, you don't need to waste your effort. I know what you want to say. You want to say that I, Zhang Jingya, am just kicking a man when he's down and that it's not a real skill, right?!"

As she spoke, Noble Consort Zhang glanced at Empress Dowager Duan sideways, then reached out two fingers to disdainfully lift Empress Dowager Duan's chin. Without waiting for her to struggle free, Noble Consort Zhang directly flicked her away, took the silk handkerchief handed over by Yuzhu, and said unhurriedly:

"That's right, I am kicking a man when he's down. But Duan Yuechan, I'm not afraid to tell you, even if it weren't kicking a man when he's down, I have plenty of ways to deal with you~!"

"Hehe~, what? You don't believe it? That's right, who are you? You are the Empress, eyes higher than the top, covering the sky with one hand in the inner palace... But Duan Yuechan, you might as well think about it: you and I have fought in this inner palace for over twenty years, have you ever done anything to me?! Even when I first entered the palace, didn't you have no way to deal with me?"

Noble Consort Zhang spoke lightly and airily. Having said this, she threw the silk handkerchief she had used to wipe her hands onto the ground, then raised her eyes to look coldly at Empress Dowager Duan again.

"Duan Yuechan, you have always considered yourself clever, but in reality, you are the most foolish person. For these twenty-plus years, did you think I was truly afraid of you just because I was suppressed by you everywhere?! Hehe, let me tell you, the reason I yielded to you and didn't touch you back then was only for the sake of Xuan'er and Zhan'er! So I was waiting, waiting for the right moment! And now, Zhan'er and Xuan'er have grown into adults, Zhan'er has ascended the throne, and everything is settled; this is the best time~!"

"And look at you? So what if you were once prominent? Your son is dead, the Duan family is defeated, and your lover is finished. Hehe~, so thinking about it this way, Duan Yuechan, do you think you are clever? You are truly foolish to the extreme! Of course, it is precisely because of this that in the days to come, I will have plenty of time to torment you, just like you tormented my sister back then~!"

At the last sentence, a flash of sinister ferocity crossed Noble Consort Zhang's eyes, but it vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye. So, as soon as her words fell, Noble Consort Zhang glanced at Duan Yuechan again, then turned and sat back in her seat, while raising an eyebrow at Yuzhu.

Immediately, Yuzhu nodded in understanding, then composed her expression and took a step forward.

"Strip her clothes off, and beat her!"

"Yes!"

The guards on both sides responded. Then, one of them stepped forward and, without a word, tore off Empress Dowager Duan's clothes in two motions. At this time, the other person stepped forward, took the leather whip that had been prepared on the side, and lashed it fiercely onto Empress Dowager Duan's naked body.

Empress Dowager Duan came from a wealthy family and had lived in luxury since childhood; after entering the palace, she had never suffered the slightest hardship. The past few days of hiding and dodging had already been more than she could bear. So, to be stripped naked and humiliated like this, and beaten on top of it, made her wish she could die instantly from the pain!

The leather whip lashed against her skin, producing a *pop-pop* sound. Empress Dowager Duan wanted to wail shrilly, but because her tongue had been cut out, she could only make muffled sounds while struggling incessantly! And the more she struggled, the less mercy the elderly guard showed, lashing down harder with every strike!

For a time, in the large secret room, only the sound of whipping and muffled wailing could be heard, while Noble Consort Zhang, sitting in her seat, merely lowered her eyes, took the clear tea offered by Yuzhu, and sipped it, feeling leisurely and self-satisfied.

Time passed. For Empress Dowager Duan, it was truly a case of: the more glory she once had, the more painful it was now. Empress Dowager Duan could not endure such pain, and after only a short while, she fainted from the agony!

Seeing this, the guard holding the leather whip immediately retreated to the side. Hearing that Empress Dowager Duan had gone silent, Noble Consort Zhang finally set the teacup in her hand aside.

"Wake her up!"

"Yes!"

Hearing Noble Consort Zhang's order, the guard responded, then took half a bucket of water and splashed it directly onto Empress Dowager Duan!

The water had been mixed with salt beforehand, and as it touched her broken flesh, it immediately made Empress Dowager Duan's eyes widen, while she let out muffled wails of agony.

Seeing this, Noble Consort Zhang finally pursed her lips in satisfaction, then stood up again and came before Empress Dowager Duan.

"Duan Yuechan, rest assured, I will not let you die! Furthermore, not only will I not let you die, I will make sure you live well..."

As she spoke, Noble Consort Zhang smiled again, then suddenly leaned down to Empress Dowager Duan's ear and said word by word:

"So Duan Yuechan, you must live, you must live well... because only by making you wish for death but unable to die can I comfort my sister's spirit in heaven, and not waste all these years I've waited, wouldn't you say~!"

As the last word fell, Noble Consort Zhang straightened up. By now, Empress Dowager Duan was already pale as death, staring at Noble Consort Zhang in terror, unable to even utter a single plea for mercy!

At this moment, meeting her eyes, Noble Consort Zhang finally smiled leisurely, then turned and walked straight outside.

"Serve her well, remember, don't let her die~!"

"Yes!"

More than a month after the state banquet, news came from the border that Rong City had been recovered. Then, nearly another month later, another victory report arrived: Jin City had been recovered!

With this, Eastern Ling had completely recovered the two cities of Rong and Jin, which had been occupied by Western Di for over twenty years. When the news reached the capital, the entire Eastern Ling was instantly in an uproar!

It was already nearing the New Year. These successive great victories at the border undoubtedly added to the joy and became the best New Year's gift!

Regarding this, the civil and military officials were overjoyed, but Yin Fengzhan remained calm and unruffled. After all, in Yin Fengzhan's view, this military campaign had the right timing, the right place, and the right people; in every aspect, they were stronger than Western Di, so there was no reason for failure! Otherwise, he would not have been so firm in pointing his sword at Western Di back then!

Yin Fengzhan had a plan in mind. Because of the recovery of the two cities of Rong and Jin, the civil and military officials were even more convinced of Yin Fengzhan's decisiveness, and the rumors among the common people about the new Emperor Yin Fengzhan being too tyrannical also completely vanished!

As for Western Di, although the Western Di ruler Xiao Zhe had been persuaded by the State Preceptor Bahejie, the inherent bloodthirstiness of the Western Di people made Xiao Zhe unwilling to yield! Duke of Qi Qiu Mubai, who had dealt with Western Di before, naturally knew their intentions. Therefore, while sending the victory report to Yin Fengzhan, he also wrote a memorial pointing out that they must not be soft-hearted; striking while the iron was hot and completely beating Western Di into submission was the best strategy!

For this reason, there was another debate in the imperial court, but Yin Fengzhan had already thought of a countermeasure. With a stroke of his vermilion brush, he directly approved Duke of Qi's memorial. Seeing Yin Fengzhan make this decision, the few civil officials in the court who had suggested stopping the war to recuperate also obediently shut their mouths and said no more.

Just like that, Duke of Qi Qiu Mubai pressed the attack while they were winning. In just one month, he chased the remnants of the Western Di army three hundred miles into Western Di territory, forcing the new Western Di ruler Xiao Zhe to submit a letter of surrender, which finally settled the matter!

From then on, for decades, Western Di would not dare to infringe upon even an inch of Eastern Ling!

Eastern Ling successfully recovered the two cities of Rong and Jin. At the same time, it was the New Year. In previous years, the imperial court would hold grand banquets, but this year, because two emperors of Eastern Ling had passed away in succession, it was not too extravagant. Originally, the New Year was a good day, but ever since the first month began, Yin Fengzhan had been on pins and needles every day, because Nie Jinxuan was about to give birth!

Yin Fengzhan's nervousness was obvious; even the officials in the court could clearly feel that this young emperor, who was usually expressionless and imposing, was significantly different from before!

And when Yin Fengzhan was nervous, the entire inner palace was even more anxious. However, compared to everyone else's nervousness, Nie Jinxuan remained quite calm.

The fifteenth day of the first month, the Lantern Festival.

Although there was no grand celebration this year and everything was kept simple, the Lantern Festival was still a major holiday, so a banquet was held in the palace according to old customs.

The war at the border was winning victory after victory, so although the banquet was simple, everyone was very happy. Counting the time, Nie Jinxuan was also about to give birth, so not long after the banquet started, Yin Fengzhan left.

Yin Fengzhan was the Emperor; no one dared to say a word when he left. As soon as he left, Yin Fengzhan went straight back to Yongle Palace. But as soon as he entered the palace gate, he saw Nie Jinxuan sitting in the courtyard admiring the lanterns, with Noble Consort Zhang, Consort Li, Princess Yun Chen Yan'er, as well as Jin Jingwen and Qiu Pingting sitting beside her.

The people were all there. Looking at these women, Yin Fengzhan's expression was somewhat unpleasant, so his gaze shifted, and he strode forward to Nie Jinxuan's side.

"Why are you sitting here?" ===== CHAPTER 285 =====