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Chapter 62
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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
Substitute Queen's Revenge Chapter 66
George usually enjoyed visiting the royal stable, but he had no interest in watching the concubines' performances. However, the queen dowager personally came to invite him."You are busy with state affairs, and I would not disturb you under normal circumstances," Dina said gently. "But there have been rumors recently about discord between us, which could affect the court and harem alike. For the sake of stability, we must dispel them."Would you accompany me today?"-At the royal stable, Dina watched the concubines practicing their riding with a constant smile. Their dedication to gaining favor was evident and admirable."Your Majesty, you are a skilled equestrian. Do you see any flaws in their techniques?"George, however, remained stern, his gaze falling on the queen, who was approaching leading her horse."Ridiculous."Dina's expression stiffened slightly.The king's blunt remark would undoubtedly dishearten the concubines. What a pity, considering Wendy's thoughtful effor
Substitute Queen's Revenge Chapter 67
Helena stood hidden in the shadows, her expression twisted with dark and maddened jealousy. No matter how many rumors she had heard, or how many days had passed without the king visiting Cloud Palace, she had firmly believed that the king would never favor Josephine. Until today. Yet here she was, watching Josephine bask in the limelight, summoned by the king himself.Helena clenched her fists tightly, her heart pounding wildly.For those he disliked, the king never spared a glance, let alone spoke to them. He would have either left outright or dismissed Josephine immediately.But it had been quite some time now… Josephine was still there."Your Highness, the wind is strong out here. Perhaps we should return to Cloud Palace?" Clara suggested softly.Helena's mood was visibly stormy, and Clara feared it might spiral further if they stayed."Lady Josephine's horseback riding—does it truly resemble Lady Rosalie's so much?" Helena's voice dripped venom.Clara hesitated, uncertain
Substitute Queen's Revenge Chapter 68
Although Helena knew how to ride, it had been a long time since she last mounted a horse.Before performing for the king, she needed to practice, and the royal stable was the only place in the palace where horseback riding was possible."What did you say? Our lady is not allowed to enter?" Clara's face was filled with disbelief. How dare the servants of the royal stable stop her mistress?At the entrance to the royal stable, the steward's face was contorted with a mix of frustration and helplessness."Lady Helena, it's not that I'm refusing you. It's an order from above, and I dare not disobey!"Helena's expression turned icy. Was there now a place in the harem she could not access?There was no need for Helena to argue herself; Clara stepped forward to confront the steward."Not long ago, our lady was allowed in. Why is she barred today? Who gave such an order?"The steward wiped his sweat nervously."I-It's the queen. Her Majesty said that the horses and riding gear in the r
Substitute Queen's Revenge Chapter 69
Helena ignored Jane and immediately turned to the king, acting coquettishly."Your Majesty, you know about my equestrian skills."George, with his strikingly handsome face, glanced at Jane with indifference."Helena's riding skills far surpass those of others. Wendy, you're overthinking this."Jane, on the other hand, appeared more at ease."In that case, Lady Helena doesn't need to participate in the selection. In ten days, she can directly take part in the polo match."Helena was displeased. She had been honing her equestrian skills to please the king, not to compete in some polo match."Your Majesty, I refuse!"Jane's attitude was firm."Then it can only happen after the polo match!""You…" Helena was left speechless, turning to the king for support.-Outside the royal study, Lily approached Jane as soon as she emerged."Your Majesty, are you alright?"Jane remained composed."Add Lady Helena to the polo match roster."Lily was surprised."Your Majesty, how did you
Substitute Queen's Revenge Chapter 70
Jane rarely rode horses and most often stayed on the sidelines to observe. As the day's practice was about to conclude, Richard arrived at the royal stable."Greetings, Your Majesty."Typically, Richard would come with the king. Jane instinctively glanced behind him but did not see the tyrant king."Today, it's just me." Richard smiled, exuding a gentle warmth like spring rain.Jane nodded in response and shifted her gaze to the distance—toward the concubines riding horses.She assumed Richard would leave after exchanging pleasantries, but instead, he stood beside her and began chatting."Your Majesty has gone to great lengths. If needed, I can persuade the king to visit the royal stable more often."Lily, standing nearby, was visibly surprised. Richard didn't seem to be joking—his crescent-shaped eyes carried the same mildness as always."That won't be necessary." Jane bluntly declined without even turning to look at him.Richard appeared momentarily taken aback but quickly r
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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
Substitute Queen's Revenge Chapter 317
Conan's lips were cracked, and his voice was unusually hoarse. Jane met his gaze and saw the murderous look in his eyes."I was paying respects to my ancestors and happened to pass by," she explained.Due to prolonged hunger, Conan's hands trembled as he picked up the offerings and returned them to her."Take them away! My mother doesn't need these!"Jane ignored his resistance. She carried a sword at her waist. With a swift motion, she drew it from its sheath. With a few rapid slashes, a nearby tree was carved into a wooden slab the size of a gravestone.Conan watched the scene unfold. His expression was completely blank.Jane placed the wooden slab on the ground and asked him, "What was your mother's surname?"Conan suddenly reacted, looking at her in surprise.Jane's tone was calm and even, without a trace of condescension or pity. "With a gravestone, she won't become a wandering ghost."Conan let out a cold scoff. "I don't believe in that."Jane spoke as if joking, "Even
Substitute Queen's Revenge Chapter 316
Conan reacted quickly. He barely dodged Jocelyn's first strike.Jocelyn didn't stop there and launched a series of attacks at him.Conan had been on a long and hard journey, exhausted and starving. In this moment, he barely had any strength left. Yet, even in this state, he managed to evade Jocelyn and even found opportunities to counterattack.Jocelyn's expression darkened. This kid was even stronger than she had expected.She feinted an attack at his lower body, and just as he moved to counter, she suddenly shifted behind him and delivered a sharp kick to the back of his knee.Conan's knee buckled, and he dropped to the ground on it.Jocelyn immediately locked her arm around his throat from behind. His head was forced back, mouth wide open, gasping for air.Jocelyn didn't let go. She tightened her grip more and more. Conan's face turned a bluish-purple.Sensing something was wrong, Keira immediately shouted in alarm. "Commander Morris!"Only then did Jocelyn release him, tho
Substitute Queen's Revenge Chapter 315
"There are three in total. I haven't really seen the other two," the vegetable vendor gasped, blood trickling from his lips.'Haven't really seen' meant he had seen them.Jane pressed on. "Describe them.""One has a mole on his face. The other likes to gamble and is a habitual thief. He's skinny and has a square face. Please, have mercy! I've told you everything I know!"Jane lifted his chin with the tip of her dagger. "Why do you all follow Jocelyn's orders?"The vendor was pale from blood loss. His voice was weak."We're all wanted men. Outlaws. If we don't obey her, she'll hand us over to the authorities. But if we do, she gives us gold. She also poisoned us. She gives us the antidote on schedule. Otherwise, we die. "Now that I've betrayed her, there's no way I'll survive. I beg you. Make it quick."Jane's gaze was cold. "Fine."With a swift motion, she slit his throat.For a wanted criminal of his stature, death was probably mercy enough.She sheathed her dagger and ste
Substitute Queen's Revenge Chapter 314
Wallace was badly injured. When he woke up and saw Jane, he immediately knew he was safe. His upper body was covered in bandages, and his face was pale."Com-"He noticed someone else in the room and quickly corrected himself. "Master."Jane, still wearing the same silver mask, turned to look at him.The doctor was giving her instructions on how to care for the injury. She listened, memorized them, then paid the fee and personally escorted the doctor out.Moments later, when she returned, she saw Wallace trying to sit up."Don't move!" she ordered immediately. Did he not realize how badly he was hurt?Wallace obediently laid back down. He grimaced with a wry smile."Master, I'm tough. It's nothing."He was lying. He still remembered the pain of those knives stabbing into him. It hurt like hell!"Master, that vegetable vendor–""He's been caught," Jane interrupted.Wallace was about to speak again when a young man suddenly barged into the room."Vice Leader! That vegetable
