"This is the new tea I got. Please try it, Noble Concubine."
Rong Dai took a sip of the tea and looked at Noble Concubine Chun. Although her expression was calm, her eyes were not. She concealed her subtle emotions very well, easily leading people on.
"Many thanks, Imperial Concubine."
Noble Concubine Chun thanked her and took a sip of the tea.
Rong Dai watched her the entire time. Seeing her reaction to such a precious tribute tea was so bland, Rong Dai's eyes suddenly turned sinister.
"Recently I've obtained some information. I wonder if Noble Concubine can clarify it for me?"
When Noble Concubine finished drinking the tea, put down the teacup and wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, Rong Dai revealed a meaningful smile. With a look, she signaled a palace maid to hand over an investigated document.
Seeing the document, Noble Concubine was startled. A hint of coldness flashed through her beautiful eyes, but it disappeared very quickly.
"Take a look, Noble Concubine?" The Empress said lightly with a smile.
"Empress, this concubine is illiterate and afraid I can't clarify it for you."
Noble Concubine declined.
"Oh?" Rong Dai drew out her voice. Her gaze never left Noble Concubine. Restraint and hatred intertwined in her eyes.
"You are very bold! As the daughter of a traitorous official, you actually deceived His Majesty and took the place of a maiden to enter the palace as a consort! Corrupting the inner palace like this, what more can you say, Noble Concubine?"
Rong Dai's eyes suddenly became extremely sharp. Her voice rose in volume, full of majesty and anger. The dignity of an empress was fully revealed.
Many people were startled by Rong Dai's sudden outburst.
Qiao Wanzhou's heart also skipped a beat. She quickly knelt down with an anxious and uneasy expression, "May the Empress see clearly. How would this concubine dare to do such unfilial acts?"
"You don't dare? According to what I know, Prime Minister Yuan's family was executed for treason. Three months before the Yuan family was raided, they had just had a daughter named Yuan Chun."
"I had people investigate this personally. Are you suggesting they deliberately fabricated this to deceive me? Who exactly arranged for you to enter the palace? And why?"
"If you do not confess the truth, don't blame me for interrogating you."
Rong Dai spoke each word with majesty. Her face was taut and solemn yet cold. Her anger and hatred intertwined, fully demonstrating her resentment and malice.
"This concubine...cannot say." Still kneeling on the ground, Noble Concubine lowered her eyes. The panic and unease on her face had completely vanished, replaced by perfect calmness.
Seeing this, Rong Dai, playing the role of Empress, narrowed her beautiful eyes and commanded in a deep voice, "Come, beat Noble Concubine to death with clubs!"
"Empress, you mustn't! Our mistress...was arranged by His Majesty to enter the palace."
Hearing the Empress' fury, the palace maid serving Noble Concubine panicked. She explained in a trembling voice with her head down.
"His Majesty? Even now, you still want to deny it, Noble Concubine?"
The concubine Qiao Wanzhou portrayed suddenly stood up from the ground. She looked at Rong Dai with an icy expression, "It's true that His Majesty arranged for me to enter the palace. Why else would the Empress force me to admit it directly?"
"I admit it. I was brought into the palace by His Majesty."
The smile on the face of Rong Dai as the Empress gradually faded away. The majesty of an empress emerged once again as her eyes turned cold and murderous.
"I have no control? I helped him ascend the throne, so I can also make him abdicate. Noble Concubine, if you don't believe me, just relay my words to His Majesty."
"You and His Majesty deceived me, took advantage of me and my clan. Now that His Majesty feels secure in his position, he brought you into the palace. What deep affection between mandarin ducks!"
The Empress gave a cold laugh. Her smile was majestic yet cold and resentful, demonstrating her hatred and resentment to the fullest.
"I have been childless for many years. It turns out His Majesty made me barren long ago. I will never bear children in this lifetime."
"Yet His Majesty had illegitimate children with you outside the palace. The children are innocent. But how innocent am I? To become your stepping stone?"
When Rong Dai performed this part, scenes from her past life would appear in her mind. This scene was so similar to her past life!
That piercing pain, that skin-deep hatred, burned inside her!
She was fully immersed in character.
Rong Dai's emotional outpour stunned the entire studio. Even Qiao Wanzhou did not expect this. Rong Dai's acting reached another level compared to their rehearsal.
After this scene, Rong Dai was a little exhausted. Many people on set looked at her with admiration and approval. Some actors came over to compliment her.
But Rong Dai looked listless, as if all her energy had been drained.
Scenes from her past life flashed chaotically in her mind, like floodwaters after a dam burst. It felt as if a huge hand was kneading her brain.
"Give her some space, let Rong Dai rest a bit. Her emotional release just now caused a little hypoxia."
Qiao Wanzhou noticed something was off with her. As a professional actress, she understood very well that sometimes actors have difficulty separating from their roles.
She was awed by Rong Dai's wonderful performance just now, but she also knew Rong Dai would be very uncomfortable after such intense acting.
Everyone on set understood this and dispersed accordingly.
"Thank you, I'll be fine after a short rest."
Rong Dai gave a faint smile, but her hands and feet were frighteningly icy cold. Her complexion was also very pale.
Qiao Wanzhou frowned. She reached out and felt Rong Dai's forehead but didn't notice anything abnormal. She supported Rong Dai to the side to sit down.
Huo Mei Shu came over holding a thermos, looking at her brightly, "Sister-in-law, you were so amazing! Just now my heart nearly stopped from fright. This is simmered silver fungus and bird's nest. Drink some to moisten your throat."
Rong Dai didn't decline. She nodded, but her hands shook slightly holding the thermos. Beads of sweat had also appeared on her forehead.
"Sister-in-law, are you alright?"
Seeing her like this, Huo Mei Shu was badly frightened.
"Go get a thermometer and some mentholatum," Qiao Wanzhou instructed Huo Mei Shu while supporting Rong Dai.
Huo Mei Shu nodded and immediately turned to fetch the items.
"Rong Dai, Rong Dai! Wake up!"
Huo Mei Shu had just taken two steps when Rong Dai fainted. The thermos fell from her hand and crashed loudly on the ground. Qiao Wanzhou was also badly startled.
Lu Ye and Huo Shaojie looked over. Seeing Rong Dai collapsed on the ground, the two were scared out of their wits and ran over.
"Sister-in-law, don't frighten me!"
Seeing Rong Dai's face deathly pale in her ancient costume, looking somewhat like a zombie from a movie, Huo Mei Shu cried out in alarm.
