Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1453 Consort Kang Retrieves Buddhist Scriptures

Bahargul's fierce expression froze instantly, her eyes filled with astonishment and panic.

Consort Kang… How dare Consort Kang?!

Little did she know, Consort Kang was taking a gamble.

Bahargul would never dare to bring the matter to the emperor's attention and cause an even bigger uproar.

Only by resorting to such extreme measures could she possibly break free from the endless coercion and retrieve that deadly Buddhist scripture.

At that moment, the air seemed to freeze...

For Bahargul, that Buddhist scripture was her leverage over Consort Kang.

Without it, would Consort Kang still listen to her?

But if she refused, Consort Kang was determined to fight her to the death...

Moreover... the prince can't wait.

Only by causing Consort Dun to lose her beloved son can her hatred be somewhat relieved, and the Emperor's attention be diverted, giving the Prince a chance to catch his breath.

She has to take this gamble!

Just as Consort Kang's figure was about to disappear around the corner—

"and many more!"

Bahargul's urgent voice finally rang out behind her.

Consort Kang stopped in her tracks, slowly turned around, her face still bearing that cold and hard expression.

Bahargul's chest heaved, clearly indicating that she had gone through a fierce internal struggle.

She stared intently at Consort Kang, gritting her teeth as she said, "Fine... I promise you! I can return the Buddhist scriptures to you first."

Immediately, Bahargul's tone shifted, her eyes turning incredibly sinister as she warned, "But if Consort Kang dares to betray us after receiving the item, or pretends to comply while secretly disobeying..."

"Don't blame me for revealing everything my sister has done, one by one!"

"When that happens, nobody will have an easy time!"

Consort Kang met Bahargul's gaze, her heart pounding, but her face remained impassive: "No."

Bahargul glared at her fiercely before reluctantly taking a booklet from her bosom.

It was the Buddhist scripture that recorded Consort Kang's secret.

She gritted her teeth as she handed the item over.

Consort Kang reached out and quickly took it, clutching it tightly in her hand.

At that moment, she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Sister Kangfei, remember your promise!"

Bahargul said coldly, "I want to hear news of the Third Prince's death within three days!"

"Otherwise... His Majesty will know how you bribed the monks of Fatu Temple to help me get out of the Cold Palace, and how you plotted against the Fifth Prince at his first birthday celebration!"

"How will you explain that then?"

“Even without this Buddhist scripture, His Majesty would believe my words!”

Consort Kang pressed the Buddhist scripture tightly to her chest, lowered her eyelashes to conceal all emotions in her eyes, and only responded softly, "...I understand."

The two said no more, turned around and silently disappeared into the deep night.

Upon returning to Chuxiu Palace, Consort Kang's previously maintained cold and aloof demeanor instantly crumbled.

She staggered a few steps and collapsed onto the soft couch by the window, clutching the Buddhist scripture she had lost and found tightly in her arms.

Consort Kang looked down at the booklet that could have plunged her into an abyss. Suddenly, her eyes welled up with tears, and the tears she had suppressed for so long poured out like beads from a broken string...

At first, it was a silent sob, which then turned into an uncontrollable whimper.

Only she knew the turmoil and trepidation that had surged within her when she faced Bahargul's sinister and vicious gaze...

Every conversation, every confrontation, felt like walking on the edge of a precipice. One wrong step, and you'd be shattered to pieces…

She is afraid.

She was really scared.

Fearing that Bahargul might disregard everything and publish the contents of the love poem, they were worried that she might do something drastic.

They feared His Majesty's wrath and the shame upon their family.

He feared that he would end up disgraced and dying a miserable death.

Fortunately... fortunately, at the last moment, she won her gamble!

Her ruthless words, which threatened to kill them all, forced Bahargul to back down and return the deadly item!

Tears blurred her vision as Consort Kang clutched the Buddhist scriptures, weeping uncontrollably.

After an unknown amount of time, Consort Kang hastily wiped away the tears on her face with her sleeve, took a few deep breaths, and tried to calm her turbulent emotions.

Caiju had been quietly standing by, and seeing that Consort Kang's emotions had calmed down a bit, she silently brought over a brazier with a roaring fire inside: "Your Highness, please burn this quickly..."

Consort Kang's gaze fell on the brazier, and she slowly opened the Buddhist scripture. Her eyes lingered on the two lines of love poems she had written when she couldn't help herself.

This was her most secret, her most tender secret, but now it has become her most fatal stain.

Consort Kang closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, her eyes were filled with cold indifference.

Without the slightest hesitation, she threw the Buddhist scripture, which carried so much fear and unbearable suffering, into the blazing fire pit.

Orange flames leaped up, quickly licking the paper, the ink distorting and blurring under the intense heat.

The two lines of poetry turned to ashes first, then the entire booklet was engulfed by flames, eventually turning into a small clump of unrecognizable ashes.

Consort Kang's tense nerves finally relaxed at this moment.

"Miss."

Caiju stepped forward and said with relief, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, you will no longer be coerced by Bahargul."

Consort Kang did not show a relieved smile. She shook her head as she looked at the gradually dying embers in the charcoal fire, a lingering gloom on her face: "Caiju, you're thinking too simply."

“What Bahargul said just now was not entirely unreasonable. Even without this Buddhist scripture, I am already covered in mud.”

"If she were to become desperate and reveal everything to His Majesty—including the things I helped her out of the Cold Palace and the things she hinted at to me—what would His Majesty think?"

"His Majesty will surely ask why I helped her in the first place?"

"If Bahargul were to spout nonsense and bring up my inappropriate feelings for Master Xingchen... even without written evidence, wouldn't Your Majesty have some doubts?"

At this point, a trace of sorrow flashed in Consort Kang's eyes: "What future can a consort who is suspected by His Majesty of having feelings for a recluse have in the harem?"

"I'm afraid that His Majesty will feel disgusted when he sees me in the future, and will think that I am impure..."

These words instantly snapped Caiju out of her elation, and her face paled.

Yes, once the seed of doubt is planted, it is very difficult to eradicate.

Especially when it comes to matters of imperial dignity and the virtue of concubines, no solid evidence is needed. As long as His Majesty harbors doubts, the Empress's days in the harem are effectively over…

"Then...then what should we do now?"

Caiju said anxiously, "Could it be...could it really be that we have to do as Madam Ba said and harm the Third Prince..."

"No!"

Consort Kang shook her head firmly: "The child is innocent."

"I had no choice but to treat Sui'an that way last time. Even now, I still feel deep regret when I think about it..."