At Zen Palace, not only the queen dowager and the king were present, but Helena was also there.Helena quietly twisted her handkerchief, feeling a cold chill in her heart. That vile woman, Wendy, actually dared to expose the kidnapping incident. She was determined to see what kind of trick this woman was playing.Jane ordered for the bandits to be brought in. Since there were many of them, only the leader was brought in for questioning.Jane stood up and began to speak. "The bandits who kidnapped me that day have all been caught by my father. They were elusive, and it took several months to track them down."I am fortunate that the king promised to give me a chance to prove my innocence and find the true culprit! After interrogation, the bandits confessed that the one who ordered them to kidnap me was Lady Helena's aide, Timothy!"She deliberately paused on the last sentence, her tone laden with significance.In an instant, George's gaze, sharp as a blade, turned toward her. Had
Jane did not immediately summon the witness but first questioned the bandit."You insist you've seen Timothy. Do you remember the exact date?""I remember! It was October 10th."Helena sneered coldly, "So sure of yourself? Your memory is remarkable. If I didn't know better, I might think you were…"She meaningfully glanced at the queen, implying that the bandit had been bribed by her.The bandit quickly defended himself."Every year on October 10th, it's the day we pay respects to the mountain. My brothers and I were eating and drinking, and then Timothy came…"Timothy, as if seizing the opportunity, hastily shouted, "That's false! I was in the palace the whole time, how could I have gone to the mountain!"This was exactly the response Jane had been waiting for."Timothy, how can you be so certain that on October 10th, you were in the palace?"Timothy's eyes flickered with a quick thought."Not only October 10th, but I have always been serving Lady Helena in the palace. The
The guards took the gold from Gwen for examination, and the result matched what the queen had said.The gold from the bandit and Gwen came from the same batch!Timothy's lips trembled, and he still tried to deny it."This gold was all refined in the same batch, and there's more than just one or two pieces. I just happened to have one of those gold ingots. How can that prove anything…" he protested.Jane interrupted him in a calm and composed manner."Bandits love wealth, especially in the form of gold and silver, because it saves them the trouble of exchanging promissory notes for cash. Timothy wanted to bribe the bandit with a large amount of gold. "He couldn't possibly have used the scattered pieces of gold and silver he already had. And besides, carrying that much gold out of the palace would be inconvenient. So, he would have taken a promissory note and gone to a local exchange shop to convert it into gold."And when an exchange shop withdraws such a large sum of gold at on
"Is the queen questioning my judgment?" George's gaze was dark and threatening.Jane looked at him indifferently. 'So this is the king whom thousands of soldiers and ministers pledge their loyalty to?' she thought. Not only was he a tyrant king, but he was also a foolish ruler!When spoke, her voice was firm and clear, "Timothy is guilty of more than just instigating the bandits to kidnap people.""What else?" Dina was slightly anxious.Jane's expression was cold and serious."I previously asked Timothy about his whereabouts on October 10th, and he insisted that he was on duty in the palace that day. After checking the palace entry and exit records, as well as the roster of Cloud Palace staff, it was confirmed that his statement was true."But the reality is otherwise. This suggests that -" Jane raised her hand sharply pointed at Helena, "Lady Helena, as the head of the palace, has failed to manage her subordinates. "Moreover, she holds the Royal Seal and is responsible for m
Faced with the king's rage, Jane smirked self-deprecatingly."Am I bold, Your Majesty? After I was captured and rescued, though I remained innocent, no one believed me."Those around me advised me to remain silent, to not respond to the doubts and rumors, to wait for the storm to pass, and for people to forget about it."But reality is not so."I live in fear and pain every day, and I even question my own innocence. I don't know how to define a woman's purity, nor do I understand why, when I was captured and my reputation deliberately tarnished, I, the victim, would be seen as the one who committed a crime, and even called an indecent woman by others!"If I were not bold, I would have long since died because of the rumors. How could I dare wear the crown and bridal robe, and enter the palace?"If I were not bold, how could I have the courage to ask you to investigate the truth?"I am bold, which is why, Your Majesty, I ask you to depose me as queen! Let me be bold once more and
"The royal decree has arrived! Noble Concubine Helena, receive the decree!"Clara supported Helena as she walked to the outer hall. They bowed respectfully.The palace servant began to announce the decree."By the king's command, Timothy has been found guilty of smuggling palace treasures, with irrefutable evidence. Lady Helena's failure to oversee this matter is evident. From this day forward, the gold emblem shall be relinquished, and her Majesty the queen will assume control of the harem..."Hearing this, Helena's expression shifted rapidly. The king was stripping her of the gold emblem? The decree wasn't finished yet.The palace servant continued, "Furthermore, Lady Helena is demoted to the rank of a normal concubine!"'What?!'Everyone in Cloud Palace was visibly shocked.Timothy had committed the crime. Why was Helena receiving such a harsh punishment?Since Helena had gained the king's favor, such an incident had never occurred. Even Clara couldn't believe it and quic
At Zen Palace, Jane had just finished bathing and sat by her bed, wringing out her hair.A faint tapping sound came from outside the window, like a small bird pecking at grains. Her eyes lit up as she rose and walked over.Her silhouette was reflected on the paper screen of the window. Her long black hair cascaded down, and her delicate nose was outlined prominently.When she opened the window, a black carrier pigeon stood there impatiently, pecking at the windowsill as if complaining about her tardiness.Jane removed the thin tube attached to the pigeon's leg and extracted the secret message within.[The rat has entered the trap.]The 'rat' referred to the mountain bandits. She had deceived them.Once delivered to the underground brothel, they would have their tongues cut out and their tendons severed, living in torment until death.But even as she imagined the bandits meeting their cruel fate, Jane felt no satisfaction.Wendy had suffered so much. No amount of punishment for
The king came to the Zen Palace for breakfast for the first time, causing the few kitchen staff to hurriedly prepare a few extra dishes under mounting pressure.The meal was quiet.George didn't speak, and Jane remained silent as well. It was pointless to expect her to serve food to the king. Occasionally, she would even compete with him for the same dish.Lily tried signaling her mistress multiple times, hoping Jane would break the ice with some conversation to lighten the mood, but Jane ignored her completely.Suddenly, Jane spoke.Lily, expecting something meaningful, instead heard, "Another plate of pasta."As a martial artist, Jane had a bigger appetite than most women. When she was in the military camp among men, this was hardly noticeable, but within the palace, her eating habits were somewhat unusual.When she requested a third plate of pasta, George finally looked up at her.When he dined with concubines, most of them barely ate anything and often focused on serving hi
George stood there, his expression darkening, cold as the harshest winter frost. Despicably, he blamed everything on the queen.Suddenly, Jane's strong internal energy sensed his presence. Their eyes met, and she saw the disgust in his gaze.Lily followed Jane's line of sight. Seeing that it was the king, she hurriedly grabbed the robe from the bed and draped it over Jane's shoulders. She completely ignored the fact that it was only natural for a king to look at his own woman.Fortunately, the wound had just been bandaged."Greetings, Your Majesty." Lily stepped out of the bed curtains and performed a curtsy first.Jane dressed herself without greeting him. Inevitably, the movement pulled at the wound on her back, but she could endure it.George asked coldly, "The queen's fever still hasn't subsided?"Lily lowered her head. "Y-Yes."She was somewhat nervous. She had no idea when George had come. Thankfully, she and Jane hadn't said anything confidential just now. Otherwise, t
"Yes."If it were any ordinary person in danger, she would still step in to help.Then, Jane added, "Within my ability."Marissa had often reminded her that this life of hers belonged to her first and foremost.George cared only about that single word, 'Yes'.He couldn't quite describe what he was feeling at that moment. Helena had also risked her life for him, given her heart's blood for him, and even sacrificed years off her lifespan. By comparison, the queen had merely cured him of Thiberium poisoning and taken an arrow for him–nothing close to Helena's four years of devotion.Yet, it was the queen's actions that stirred something in his heart.Perhaps it was because Helena gave, but also demanded something in return. Whereas the queen never had…However, the gentleness in George's eyes was once again replaced by cold indifference.Who could say for certain that the queen was truly without wants? What if it was simply a strategy of retreating in order to advance?He had
Teressa arrived at Zen Palace with an air of authority. The chief maid, Maya, hurriedly led her into the inner chamber.Inside, Teressa saw George next to the table, his gaze fixed on the bed where a maid was feeding Jane her medicine. He was so focused on the queen that he didn't even notice his grandmother's arrival.Her presence wasn't acknowledged until Steven saw her. "Greetings, Lady Teressa!"Only then did George snap out of his thoughts and rise to welcome her."Grandmother." His voice was hoarse, as if he had developed a fever and hurt his throat.Teressa felt a pang of sympathy for her grandson."George, you were up all night dealing with the assassins and barely rested. The queen has plenty of people attending to her. You should go back and get some rest."George's expression remained indifferent, as though it didn't trouble him much. "I only stopped by to take a look. I was just about to leave."Teressa nodded before turning her gaze to the woman on the bed."What
Dina was usually kind and gentle. If not for being pushed to the limit by Wilhelmina, she would never have raised her hand.She gazed at Wilhelmina, her palm still tingling, and felt uneasy."Wilhelmina! I told you to watch your words and actions. Now look at you. You have truly disappointed me!" she scolded. "A few words from Lady Rachel were enough to make you lose your senses? Do you really think she has your best interests at heart?""She knows you are not like Rosalie, that you will never be favored by the king, and that you are easy to manipulate. That is why she wants to support you in rising to power. "But once she bears a royal son, you will be left guarding an empty title, only to be cast aside in the end! Do you understand?"Dina's words jolted Wilhelmina back to her senses. She covered the side of her face where she had been slapped and forcibly steadied her emotions."Aunt Dina, you are right. I was wrong."Upon leaving Serene Palace, Wilhelmina felt troubled.Bac
Lily wasn't sure whether she should announce that Jane had woken.Fortunately, at that moment, a voice came from behind the curtain. "Your Majesty, I just woke up."After hearing her speak, George lifted the curtain with one hand. His slender fingers grasped the fabric, leaving noticeable creases.Their eyes met. He gazed at the frail woman before him, his fists clenching slightly."Rest well."Beyond that cold, distant expression of concern, he said nothing more.Jane broke the tense atmosphere, supporting herself as she sat up.George frowned, stepped forward, and reached out to steady her by the waist. Unknowingly, he pressed against an old wound.Jane drew in a sharp breath and froze.George noticed her reaction. "What's wrong?"He rarely displayed such patience with her."It's nothing." Jane shook her head gently, though inwardly, she was rolling her eyes. Enduring the pain, she mustered her strength to sit up.George had no idea about the injury on her abdomen. When h
Wilhelmina immediately knelt on the ground, her face still showing signs of panic.Dina no longer showed her usual kindness. She sat with a solemn expression."Explain yourself. How much were you involved in tonight's events?"Wilhelmina still wanted to deny it. "Aunt Dina, I didn't–"Dina cut her off. "From the moment the rumors started, I felt something was off. They say the queen and Edward met in Serene Palace and rekindled old feelings. "But that day, Edward came to see me. I refused to meet him and had him sent away. How, then, could he have remained outside all that time? If he had left immediately, would he have met the queen at all?"The more I thought about it, the more I realised the only person who could have influence in Serene Palace was you! You were the one who falsely passed off my orders."Wilhelmina anxiously defended herself. "Aunt Dina, I–""Don't interrupt! I'm not finished!" Dina said sharply. "I initially thought you were just displeased with the queen,
Although Jane had given the order to remove the arrow, and even though she was the one who was wounded, the physician still waited for the king's command.George's expression was ice-cold. He nodded. "Do it."With his approval, the physician swiftly and precisely pulled the arrow out.Jane gripped the bedding beneath her tightly. She let out only a muffled groan before falling completely silent. Sweat beaded on her forehead, dampening the strands of hair at her temples.The physician inspected the iron arrowhead, his hand trembling slightly as he turned to George."Your Majesty, just as I suspected, it's poisoned!""Is her life in danger?" George asked, standing next to Jane."Fortunately, we removed it in time. Her Majesty will be fine." Saying this, the physician immediately began treating the wound.George remained standing beside the bed, watching with a cold, deep gaze.The physician cut open the back of Jane's robes. He needed to rinse the wound multiple times with a spe
"Protect His Majesty!" Karlsen shouted, standing in front of the king.George rose to his feet, overlooking everything without a trace of panic.The same could not be said for the others in the hall. Chaos erupted as people scrambled to find places to hide."Escort Lady Teressa out first!" George commanded.Hearing this, Dina felt a chill in her heart.Gloria's first thought was her daughter, but Robin forcefully pulled her away, scolding, "There are plenty of guards!"Jane was no stranger to assassination attempts. Her keen eyes scanned the hall, sensing that if this were a well-planned attack, the arrows were merely a distraction, meant to disorient. The real killing blow would come from an unexpected place.Suddenly, she saw it.A man dressed as a chamberlain was using the chaos as cover, hiding behind a pillar, a concealed dart aimed directly at the king.Jane's composure wavered for the first time. Four words flashed through her mind. 'Protect King George! Timing!'Witho
Seated on the throne, George carefully read through the petition, not missing a single word. After a while, he lifted his gaze to look at Wendy.Jane lowered her gaze to maintain a respectful posture. "I have no idea who brought this petition into the palace or why it was placed inside Lady Rachel's festival gift," she said.Wilhelmina looked at Wendy in surprise. She had informed Wendy that Rachel planned to tamper with Edward's festival gift.It wasn't surprising that Wendy had interfered with the other festival gifts, causing chaos to divert suspicion from herself. That much, Wilhelmina had expected. But the petition–this was beyond her expectations.To place it inside Rachel's gift was truly a ruthless strategy. In this moment, she could only feel relieved that she hadn't made an enemy of Wendy.Though Wilhelmina had realized it much later, she still cooperated seamlessly with Wendy."Your Majesty, if you hadn't ordered us to open our festival gifts, this petition would have