Chapter 22: The Revenge of Consort Zheng

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, another dozen days had passed. The rice seeds planted in the royal estate had begun to sprout one after another, and Li Shimin’s mood was particularly cheerful these days—perhaps because the high-yield rice gave him a glimpse of prosperity for the Tang dynasty.

Meanwhile, Du Chengfeng’s Immortal Wine had become a renowned brand in both Chang’an and Luoyang, earning him a fortune. Life had been tranquil and comfortable for Du Chengfeng, but such peace would not last for long.

A conspiracy targeting him was quietly taking shape, yet Du Chengfeng remained completely unaware.

In an unremarkable courtyard within Chang’an, Noble Consort Zheng stared fiercely at a trembling maidservant kneeling before her, her face twisted and terrifying.

Since the Zheng family of Chang’an had been exterminated by a mysterious figure, Noble Consort Zheng’s days had become increasingly agonizing, and she herself had grown haggard. Frequent insomnia left her looking wan and listless, aging her dramatically, as if she had become a veritable dowager. Having lost the support of her elder brother, her status plummeted almost overnight. The Emperor, whether intentionally or not, began to neglect her. Even the main branch of the Zheng clan in Yingyang seemed to have abandoned her, treating her as a discarded pawn.

In her eyes, all of this was the fault of the mysterious person who destroyed her elder brother’s household. Because of this detestable figure, the wealth and glory once within her grasp now seemed forever out of reach. Thus, she vowed again and again in her heart: no matter what price she must pay, she would have that enemy repay blood with blood.

Though those in the palace said the Imperial Guards and the Court of Judicial Review were investigating day and night, Noble Consort Zheng was deeply dissatisfied with their progress.

Therefore, she went to great lengths to bribe two deathsworn from the Zheng family in Yingyang, and spent fifty taels of gold to hire the largest assassin organization in Chang’an, Blue Robe House. At last, she uncovered a trace.

The maid kneeling before her was once one of those who served Zheng Xing in the Chang’an Prefect’s residence. On the night of the massacre, she had not been in Zheng Xing’s quarters and was only knocked unconscious by the clone soldiers, escaping with her life.

“Wretched girl, lift your head and tell me everything you overheard,” Noble Consort Zheng snarled, gritting her teeth.

The maid, trembling, raised