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Chapter 57

Penulis: Rainstorm
In Cloud Palace, Helena frowned when she heard about the matter.

"The queen must be mad! How dare she force me to play polo? Does she think that just because she has the gold emblem, she can do as she pleases and even command me?"

If the king had not warned her just last night to stay out of trouble for the time being, she would have already made the queen suffer.

-

The polo match had stirred discontent, not just with Helena.

After the morning assembly, several concubines gathered together, voicing their complaints.

"What's the point of playing polo? The queen has such strange ideas to come up with something like this."

"Even if she makes it sound grand, I'm not interested. Times have changed. Nidora is strong and secure now; we no longer need women defending the city."

"The queen is just throwing her weight around because she's new to power. I doubt this polo match will even happen."

Meanwhile, Wilhelmina went to Serene Palace to complain.

"Aunt Dina, you wouldn't believe ho
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  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 58

    Jane performed a curtsy in the royal study."Greetings, Your Majesty."George sat behind the desk, his gaze sharp and imposing."I'm busy with state affairs. Be quick."He had already heard about the poor turnout for the training at the riding grounds—only two concubines had shown up. He assumed Jane had come to ask him to issue a decree to compel the others.However, Jane's tone was calm as she spoke."Lady Helena's medicine for her migraines is almost used up. I've brought another bottle."George's brows furrowed. Was she here merely to deliver medicine?A trace of sternness entered his eyes."You previously said there was only one bottle left."His words carried an accusatory edge, as if he was ready to charge her with deceiving the king.Jane remained composed as she explained."I wrote to my father, asking him to keep an eye out for the traveling physician. By coincidence, the physician recently returned to the capital."George doubted her story but had no way to disp

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 59

    The concubines gathered outside to receive the decree, each filled with a sense of foreboding.The royal servant announced, "The queen has ordered the physicians to examine all the concubines."Those who are ill will be treated. Those feigning illness to avoid training at the riding grounds will copy the palace rules fifty times and receive five strokes as punishment!'"The concubines' faces turned pale with shock and dismay. None had expected the queen to be so harsh.One by one, the physicians conducted their examinations. The results were predictable. Each concubine was punished, enduring the strokes and being assigned the writing task.Wilhelmina, however, escaped unscathed, having informed the queen dowager ahead of time and gained her protection.Some concubines, disgruntled, voiced their frustrations."What about Helena? I heard she didn't go to the riding grounds today either! Does the queen dare punish her?"The royal servant replied respectfully, "By now, the decree h

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 60

    Helena glanced at the entrance but did not see the king.The chamberlain standing before her was drenched in cold sweat."Lady Helena, Mr. Logan said the king was exhausted during the day, retired early, and explicitly ordered that no one disturb him."Clara was shocked."You fool! Did you not make it clear to him that Lady Helena was about to be punished with the rod?!" she demanded.Helena was the king's favorite concubine, surely she wouldn't be included in the 'no one' list.Helena's face grew cold, and her gaze directed at the chamberlain was laced with a murderous glint.Useless! At such a critical moment, he couldn't even summon the king.The royal servants assigned to carry out the punishment looked at one another nervously. Finally, one stepped forward and said, "Lady Helena, forgive us!"They moved to apprehend her, but Clara shouted, "How dare you! Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?"-Thirty minutes later, Helena laid weakly on the bed inside the inner

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 61

    Helena carried herself with an elegant air, her demeanor completely different from the weak and delicate display she had put on before the king. Her gaze towards the queen held a clear challenge."My deepest apologies for arriving late. It's all because the king was so worried about me, giving me many reminders before letting me come," she said sweetly.Jane's icy gaze remained steady and unperturbed."Inform the king that he need not worry—I will take good care of Lady Helena," Jane replied, emphasizing the word 'care.'Helena, unbothered, covered her mouth and gave a sweet chuckle."Your Majesty, have you forgotten? The king mentioned just this morning that you should rule with grace and virtue, not resort to constant punishment."With that, Helena confidently walked past Jane and settled herself under a shaded pavilion, surrounded by attendants waiting on her.The other concubines observed Helena's actions and, emboldened by her, began to imitate her behavior.The queen had

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 62

    At the eastern side of the royal stable, George and Richard stood together, their expressions unreadable as they arrived quietly.Celine noticed them first and immediately reminded Josephine, "Hurry, greet the king."Both women approached, their voices soft and deferential."Your Majesty, your humble concubines greet you."Richard, ever composed, bowed slightly to greet them. "Your Highnesses, my respects to you both," he said.Richard's warm smile and gentle demeanor always gave an impression of easy going kindness.George's gaze lingered briefly in the direction Jane had disappeared with the horse. Then, he shifted his cold eyes to the two before him."Rise," he said curtly.Celine gracefully stepped back, moving to her position behind him, while Josephine seized the rare opportunity to speak."Your Majesty, are you here to ride as well?" she asked with hopeful eagerness.George didn't answer her. Instead, he walked past without a word, leaving her standing there awkwardly.

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 63

    By the time the concubines rushed out, the king had already left. They were filled with regret. They shouldn't have been lazy—otherwise, they might have seen him.Opportunities to see the king were too rare.When everyone had rushed out, only Helena remained where she was. She wasn't as desperate as the others.If she wanted to see the king, she could do so anytime.Josephine couldn't keep a secret and eagerly spread the news. Word traveled quickly, growing more exaggerated with every retelling. For the concubines who rarely saw the king, this sparked jealousy.Rather than sitting idly in their chambers, it was better to try their luck at the royal stable.The next day, before the scheduled practice time, the concubines all flocked to the royal stable.However, for several days in a row, the king never showed up again.The concubines were disheartened."Josephine was just lucky. Who can guarantee we'd be as fortunate to see the king?""Exactly. The king doesn't come to the ro

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 64

    Clara, Helena's trusted maid, was quite clever."The queen must be worried that if you stay at the royal stable, the king will only pay attention to you and overlook everyone else," she suggested.Helena was smug."Even if I don't go, the king won't notice them."Still, after days of rising early to head to the royal stable, she indeed felt exhausted.-A few days later, Jane summoned the steward to ask for updates.The steward whispered, "Your Majesty, recently quite a few concubines have been practicing 'Frost Over Snow.' As per your instructions, I've been subtly guiding them whenever they face difficulties."But it's Lady Josephine who shows the most talent. She's learning quickly and practicing the hardest—she even sneaks over at night to practice."Jane understood and dismissed the steward with a wave of her hand.Curious, Lily asked, "Your Majesty, do you really think Lady Josephine can provoke Lady Helena into revealing her riding skills?"Jane weighed a polo ball in

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 65

    A man in a red robe, flamboyant and striking, clashed with Jane. However, her strike forced him back, nearly injuring him. Quickly, he shouted, "Hen! It's me! I was just saying hello—no need to get serious!"Jane tilted her head slightly."Who's Hen?"The man dragged his foot against the floor and hurriedly pleaded, "Fine, fine! Henry! Is that good enough?"Only then did Jane withdraw her hand. With a single wave, she shut the door to the private room.Jane knew the man well; they were old acquaintances. She untied the ropes binding Luke and pulled the cloth from his mouth.Freed at last, Luke took a deep breath."Henry, I'd have warned you, but he's too cunning. He followed me all the way here and ambushed me!"The man in red perched by the window, letting the breeze tousle his hair, exuding an air of roguish charm. None would suspect that he was Lancelot Grey, the son of the wealthiest merchant in Nidora.Lancelot smoothed his hair back and muttered, "Cunning? It's because H

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  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 326

    'The great Vivian Rudock?'Before the masked man could even process his shock, his head was already rolling on the ground.Hearing the commotion, Conan quickly got up.Vivian.He had heard that name somewhere before.Not knowing whether the other party was friend or foe, Conan's first instinct was to flee. Suddenly, a chilling breeze swept past him. The next moment, an icy hand clamped around his throat.A woman's sultry yet ruthless voice sounded by his ear. "So, you're Henry's new apprentice?"Did she know his master? Conan remained cautious and didn't answer.The woman chuckled."Quite the tough one, huh? No worries. I've got plenty of time."Her long, talon-like fingers clutched the top of his head. With a sudden force, he felt as though the tendons in his skull were being yanked out. An excruciating pain shot through him.He clenched his jaw, refusing to utter a single cry for mercy.After fifteen minutes, the woman seemed to have grown tired of her game and finally le

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 325

    Reunions and separations were part of life.Learning that this was the last time Henry would guide him, Conan felt deeply saddened. But he also knew that sooner or later, he would have to join the army.Henry had taught him a great deal, especially in the art of war, which had benefited him immensely.At their parting, Henry gifted him a spear. Upon receiving the gift, Conan's eyes lit up."Master, how did you know I love spears?"He immediately tried it out and found it an excellent weight and length. The spear sliced through the air and struck the ground with immense force. It felt as if it had become an extension of his body. It was like an extension of his arm.He had never wielded a weapon so perfectly suited to him.Gradually, Conan's eyes filled with excitement. After performing a set of spear techniques, he knelt down at once."Thank you, Master! This is the best gift I have ever received!"He vowed to use this spear to achieve great feats and bring honor to Henry's na

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 324

    "I had no idea the forbidden palace could be this lively."George looked at Wendy and Julie, who were embracing each other. His expression was cold and unreadable.Julie was so frightened that she stopped crying. She immediately stood up and, in a fluster, curtsied."Y-Your Majesty!"Jane also rose and curtsied respectfully."Your Majesty."George walked directly to a chair and sat down. His gaze landed on Julie."So? Did you come to the forbidden palace to keep the queen company?"Julie's eyes were red and swollen. She instinctively nodded, but then quickly shook her head.George's eyes turned dark."Well? Was that what you wanted to do?" he demanded.Julie was so terrified that she dropped to her knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, please have mercy. Please allow Queen Wendy to leave the forbidden palace!"George scoffed and looked at Wendy. "You plead so earnestly, but the queen may not even wish to leave."Julie blurted out, "How could that be?"Who in their right mind

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 323

    Jane needed a token of royal pardon to ensure that if the truth ever came to light in the future, the king would not hold Kennedy accountable. She also knew that to obtain this token of royal pardon, she had to achieve great merit."You don't have to give it to me now," she said. "If you ever encounter a problem you can't resolve, come find me at Safe Haven Pawnshop. Just ask for Henry."With that, she placed a silver coin on the table, picked up the longsword leaning against the chair, and left without a word.Right outside the door, Karlsen happened to meet Henry's gaze as he departed.He had been curious about what the famous Shadow Phantom of the martial world looked like. But the person wore a mask. There was nothing to see.Shortly after, the king emerged as well.Karlsen stepped forward and awaited instructions.George looked ahead and spoke calmly."Free the women who were forced into performing here and send them home.""Yes!" Karlsen placed his hand over his chest an

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 322

    The box contained the onyxite horse.Jane was puzzled. Why would George send her this?Steven placed the box holding the onyxite down, recalling how perplexed he had been when the king ordered him to deliver the stone to the forbidden palace. Though rewards from the king were always considered acts of favor, gifting a mere stone seemed rather baffling.At first, he had thought it was because Wendy was skilled in riding and fond of horses, so the king had given her this horse-shaped stone.Then the king had remarked in a deep voice, "The queen's temperament is just like this stone, stubborn and unyielding."Of course, Steven dared not relay a single word of that to Wendy. Instead, he simply smiled and said, "Queen Wendy, King George is thinking of you."Even without knowing the reason behind it, Jane accepted the onyxite. After all, it was a token of Conan's regard for his master.-At the Chief Gatekeeper's residence, Jocelyn locked herself in her room, her expression dark and

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 321

    "Conan, it's been a few days since we last met. How have you been?" Jocelyn asked first with concern.Conan didn't want to resent her, but recalling the hurtful words she had spoken that day, it was difficult to face her with the same admiration he once had."Thank you for your concern, Commander," he replied courteously. "I'm doing well."He had wanted to tell her his mother was dead. That she had perished in agony from hunger and illness.But before he could, she asked, "How did you come to know Henry?"Conan casually made up a lie. "It's just a matter of chance."Jocelyn felt relieved. It seemed he still didn't know Jane's true identity. And Jane, most likely, wouldn't tell him to keep him from being entangled in the matter.She made a pained expression and got to the point."Conan, the reason I refused to take you as my apprentice that day was that I couldn't bear to see you sent to the battlefield to die. Your father and I were good friends. I still can't get over his deat

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 320

    When asked who his master was, Conan looked at Jocelyn. Jocelyn was also looking at him, smiling. But he just stared at her without saying a word.Was the boy afraid she would refuse? To encourage him, Jocelyn took the initiative."Go ahead and say it, young man," she said. "You've made such a great contribution. No matter who it is, they would be willing to take you as their disciple."For the onyxite mine, she could reluctantly accept him as her disciple. She could always find an opportunity to get rid of him later.Conan nodded at her, as if he had caught her hint.Then, he opened his mouth and said, "My master is Henry, also known as Shadow Phantom."The moment those words fell, the hall went dead silent.Jocelyn stood frozen, feeling as if the blood in her veins had turned to ice.'Henry? Jane?'That had to be a lie.Hadn't Jane been in the forbidden palace all this time? When did she take Conan as her disciple? This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Conan should have be

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 319

    Hearing that someone was offering onyxite, George looked at Jocelyn.Jocelyn instinctively responded, "Your Majesty, the people at the Armory Bureau all say that onyxite has long been mined out. It's impossible."George had no patience to listen further and directly summoned the young man into the hall.A trace of gloom flickered in Jocelyn's eyes. She would see for herself whether this onyxite was real or not.Moments later, the young man was led inside.The moment she saw him, Jocelyn's expression changed abruptly in shock. Why was it Conan?Conan was also surprised to see Jocelyn here. However, Henry's instructions took priority. He respectfully bowed before the king."Your Majesty, I, Conan Carter, have come to present to you this onyxite."George summoned the people from the Armory Bureau to the palace, instructing them to examine whether the onyxite in the young man's possession was genuine.After thorough verification, the conclusion was unanimous."Your Majesty, this

  • Substitute Queen's Revenge   Chapter 318

    Onyxite was an impossible find, yet now it was before Jane's very eyes."This is onyxite. How did you get it?" she asked immediately.Conan looked intrigued. "Master, do you know about onyxite too?" Three years ago, when I first met Commander Morris, I heard her discussing onyxite with my father. She seemed quite fond of it. She even took notes on it in her books."I have a good memory, so I remembered it."My hometown, Lime Valley, is surrounded by mountains. In my free time, I searched everywhere. A year ago, I finally found onyxite. That's why I chose it as my offering to Commander Morris for when I became her apprentice. But that was before she rejected me."Three years ago, Jane had already wanted to develop a new type of rifle. At the time, she had determined that the key was in insulation. The best material for insulation was none other than the black iron refined from onyxite.Who would have thought a child would overhear and, by pure chance, actually find it for her?Ja

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