Metamorphosis of an Ugly Girl – Part One

Qingqing was confident that Yafu would persuade Li Qin because she had seen through this point. Why would Yafu agree to persuade Li Qin for Qingqing? Firstly, she could show Li Qin that her loyalty was towards him rather than the Empress Dowager or the Lin family, although her true allegiance was unclear. Secondly, Qingqing promised her to eliminate Yuzhen! Yafu naturally didn’t believe that Qingqing would harm Yuzhen. Qingqing said, “A year ago, the poisonous pastries you fed me could hardly have been concocted by your pig brain.” Yafu was speechless, staring blankly at her, yet couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity, “How did you think of her?” “After all, without me, one less rival, her chances and opportunities would increase. It would be much easier for her to deal with you. And her hope of ascending to the position of empress would also increase.” Yafu was even angrier, yet she couldn’t come up with any reason to refute her. The person whom the Fourth Prince had said would ultimately disappoint Qingqing turned out to be Yuzhen. She still remembered asking Yuzhen back then, “Yuzhen, if you became the empress, would you be happier?” Although she was startled at the time, there was a desire in her eyes; what she desired wasn’t power or the title of empress. What she desired was Li Qin’s love. Once a woman truly falls in love with a man, she can do anything. Like betraying or even killing her closest friend. Or, for instance, bribing a ghost doctor who admires her to reveal Qingqing’s shocking secret. Besides the ghost doctor, who else could know such a bizarre secret? When Qingqing went to her palace and asked if she had a friend named Lin Qingqing, her reaction was so intense that Qingqing should have realized it then. It seemed that her concern wasn’t for Qingqing but to confirm if she was indeed dead. Everything was just because she had truly fallen in love with Li Qin. But it was precisely because she had real feelings that it seemed to foreshadow her downfall. Yafu then said, “Why should I believe you? You can even trade your own friends, so it’s certain that you would sacrifice me, your sister with whom you’ve always had a feud, once you succeed.” Qingqing laughed, “I’m just an insignificant figure with no power. Once you sit on the throne, what could I possibly do to you?” Although Yafu was unaware of Qingqing’s alliance with the Fourth Prince, she seemed somewhat hesitant. Qingqing was not in a rush and calmly said, “Don’t you want to avenge your child?” “Child… you… what do you mean…” Chapter 147: Who Killed the Child Qingqing looked at Yafu’s shocked expression with satisfaction and slowly said, “Do you think your child fell ill by accident?” “Wasn’t it… because of mistakenly eating… saffron?” Yafu could no longer maintain her tough demeanor, her voice trembling slightly. “If Yuzhen hadn’t personally poisoned it and Li Qin hadn’t tacitly approved, who would dare to be so bold?” Qingqing glanced at her, interrupting her pointless sorrow, “The palace doctors are always so careful, how could they make such a low-level mistake?” After hearing this, Yafu, surprisingly, calmed down, oddly calm. Qingqing didn’t need to say more; she left her in the cold palace where Qingqing had stayed for months, returning alone to her inner chamber to wait for Yafu’s decision. Thus, three days later, a shocking imperial edict arrived. Perhaps even more intriguing, Yafu had likely shifted all her focus towards aligning with the Lin family and the Empress Dowager. The first step to take was to isolate Li Qin. Li Qin and the Chen family were one; to deal with the Chen family, one must first deal with Yuzhen. And how could one deal with Yuzhen? That night, Lihua was supposed to have Qingqing wait in the palace for Li Qin’s summons to serve him. Qingqing dressed exceptionally radiantly, yet she went alone to Yuzhen’s palace. She only told Lihua, “You go to bed first; the emperor’s summons won’t come tonight, nor will it ever.” Qingqing, of course, remembered her previous conversation with Li Qin, where they were no longer even confidants, just using each other. Why would Li Qin summon her to serve him? But Lihua, the naive girl, didn’t understand; if not serving the emperor, why would her mistress be happy? Yuzhen’s palace was as serene and elegant as ever, starkly contrasting with Qingqing’s extravagant attire today. Seeing her arrival, Yuzhen was slightly surprised but quickly invited her to sit with a smile. Qingqing thought to herself: It seems the best actress isn’t Yafu or myself, but Yuzhen. Yuzhen held Qingqing’s hand, congratulating her at length. Qingqing, with a faint smile, waited until she finished before saying, “I wonder what expression the emperor would have if he knew that the ghost doctor, whom my sister and I brought into the palace, was rolling around in bed with us?” Yuzhen could no longer control herself, trembling and speechless. Qingqing sipped her tea calmly, her face betraying no emotion. It was just a guess in her heart, but now it seemed true. Chapter 148: Ambiguous Affairs (I) Yafu had recently discovered Qingqing’s identity, which was also told to her by Yuzhen. However, from this, it seems that the ghost doctor wasn’t so naive as to believe that love required no “physical” transactions. Compared to Yafu, Yuzhen was much happier; at least, she had someone who truly loved her. And what about Yafu? Li Qin’s love was too shallow. If not, how could he have sacrificed Yafu’s unborn child? Qingqing came to confront Yuzhen today for two reasons: one, she was tired of playing games with her, and two, she hoped to disrupt Yuzhen’s plans by making her wary. The ghost doctor was now an abandoned piece by the Fourth Prince and Qingqing; they didn’t need a disloyal pawn. The ghost doctor was initially bought by the Fourth Prince because everyone has their weaknesses; he wasn’t a god. He might have once sought merit and fame, but when all that vanished, nothing filled the void like money. And now, it seemed he cherished and needed “affection” more. Words were unnecessary; Qingqing left the still astonished Yuzhen and returned to the Cangju Palace with light steps. “It seems their defeat and our victory are already in sight,” the Fourth Prince, who had somehow emerged from behind the curtain, interrupted Qingqing’s daydreaming: “What are you thinking about?” Qingqing glared at him fiercely: “I’m wondering if you’re even human.” The Fourth Prince shrugged indifferently: “Seems like it.” “Why don’t you care about losing such a capable subordinate? If I ever lose my utility, will you kick me away too?” The Fourth Prince wagged his finger: “You won’t lose your utility.” Qingqing scoffed, clearly not believing him. “And, I will never abandon you,” the Fourth Prince suddenly took her hand, making a vow-like gesture. Qingqing ignored the sincerity or falsehood in his words and picked up the wine jug: “Let’s have a drink.” The Fourth Prince nodded, arms crossed, ready to drink with her. They drank cup after cup, whether truly happy or each with their own thoughts, and only stopped when they couldn’t find an eighth jug after emptying seven. Chapter 149: Ambiguous Affairs (II) Their figures became somewhat blurry in each other’s eyes. Qingqing felt as if she had suffered a great injustice, unsure if it was from Yuzhen’s betrayal or her own transformation. Qingqing carefully observed the man in front of her, known as the Fourth Prince, and thought to herself, “When I was young, I didn’t look like this, yet I felt your affection. Why did you reject me later? Why were you so cold towards me?” Suddenly, the Fourth Prince took her hand, explaining, “Because my father promised that if I treated you coldly, he would command the Prime Minister Lin not to blame you for your offenses.” Unknowingly, Qingqing had voiced her thoughts aloud. Neither of them realized what they were doing or saying. Qingqing continued, “I always thought it was Li Qin’s doing, but it was you… Should I thank the former emperor… or hate him… Why did he do this…?”