Chapter 24

Chapter 24

A small sedan chair carried us, with Zhan Mingyue and me sitting on opposite sides.

Of the four girls who had started the journey, only we two sworn enemies remained by the time we entered the palace.

Wanchun Palace was ablaze with candlelight.

Inside the vast hall, there was no one but the Imperial Consort and her attending servants.

Upon seeing us enter, the Imperial Consort rose to her feet.

Dressed in a peach-blossom cloud robe and barefoot, she slowly descended from the dais.

She moved like a tigress-magnificent, yet radiating an aura of absolute authority.

The Imperial Consort stopped first in front of Zhan Mingyue.

She tilted her head down, pinching Zhan Mingyue’s chin to scrutinize the face that bore such a striking resemblance to her own.

Zhan Mingyue kept her eyes lowered, her entire body trembling.

She had been arrogant and self-assured throughout the journey, but now, in the presence of the Imperial Consort, she was paralyzed with fear, her legs barely able to support her weight.

The Imperial Consort let out a cold laugh. “A hollow shell.”

She released Zhan Mingyue and, with a flick of her sleeves, took her seat upon the golden throne.

“Bring it in.”

Eight attendants carried in an iron cage.

When the shroud was pulled away, a striped tiger roared from within.

“This hungry beast has harmed the local villagers many times. Today, I shall rid the people of this menace,” the Imperial Consort said with a smile.

“Well? Since you are both newcomers, why not show me what you can do?”

She held up two wooden sticks, one long and one short.

“Each of you pick one.

“Whoever draws the short straw will go in there for me and kill this starving tiger.”