Chapter 212 Parents Enter the Palace

The gentleness on Huo Lin's face vanished instantly. He nodded slightly, signaling the guards to continue.

The guards reported everything they had gathered at Huo Ting's residence.

Huo Linyue listened, and his cold eyes grew even more intense.

Ha, Huo Ting, that idiot, has finally revealed his trump card?

He thought they would keep this secret, which was enough to punish nine generations of their families, to themselves.

The guard continued, "Upon hearing the Prince's words, the Empress Dowager was struck as if by lightning, and staggered backward. Judging from her terrified expression, it did not seem like she was faking it."

A cold smile curved Huo Lin's lips, and beneath his seemingly calm eyes lay a knowing understanding of everything.

He had already investigated this matter, and it was certainly not fabricated; on the contrary, it couldn't be more real.

This secret was kept peacefully for so many years. Even the Empress Dowager probably never imagined that her beloved nephew, whom she had raised with her own hands, would use it as a knife to stab her.

interesting.

Huo Ting's move was both foolish and ruthless.

He thought that by holding this leverage, he could make the Empress Dowager submit.

Little did he know that once this secret was exposed, he would be the first to be utterly destroyed.

The Empress Dowager has come this far; she wouldn't be intimidated by such threats. She'll only be more ruthless than Huo Ting.

Huo Lin gestured to the guards, "Continue monitoring, hold back for now."

"yes."

The guard kowtowed and his figure disappeared silently like a ghost.

Huo Lin put down his pen, leaned back in the wide chair, and tapped his fingers unconsciously on the armrest.

Huo Ting's life, along with his third brother's shady identity, are like a knife hanging over the Empress Dowager's head, and also the sharpest knife in his hand.

Dogs fighting, all that fur in the mouth, at least it saves him the trouble of doing it himself.

The next morning, the sun shone brightly.

A small sedan chair carried by four men swayed and wobbled along the palace road leading to Weiyang Palace.

The sedan curtain was slightly lifted, revealing a somewhat awkward face; it was Jiang Huan's father.

Sitting next to him was a gentle-looking woman, Jiang Huan's mother, Madam Jiang.

"My lord, do you think Huan'er is doing well in the palace?" Madam Jiang's voice was choked with worry. "It's been so long since I've seen her. I wonder if she's lost weight."

"Oh dear, madam, don't worry."

Jiang Wenyuan quickly comforted her, "Huan'er is now Consort Zhuang, and the Emperor dotes on her so much, how could it be bad? This time, the Emperor specially summoned us to the palace to see her, it's a happy occasion. When you see her later, don't let her see you with red eyes."

"I know it's a joyous occasion..." Madam Jiang tried hard to suppress the bitterness in her heart, "I just... I just miss her so much..."

As the two were talking, the sedan chair turned a corner, and not far ahead, a magnificently dressed imperial concubine was walking towards them, surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs.

The woman at the head, dressed in a light blue palace gown and adorned with kingfisher feather hairpins, with a beautiful face, was Consort Yi.

Consort Yi, with her sharp eyes, immediately recognized the sedan chair, which was of low standard and clearly belonged to a noblewoman from outside the palace.

She heard that Consort Zhuang's parents had been summoned to the palace today, so she waited here.

This was a perfect opportunity to win people's hearts. Consort Yi stepped forward with a smile and blocked the sedan chair's path.

The eunuchs carrying the sedan chair immediately stopped and bowed respectfully: "This servant greets Consort Yi."

The sedan curtain was lifted, and Jiang Wenyuan quickly pulled Madam Jiang out of the sedan and bowed respectfully to Consort Yi.

"Your humble servant Jiang Wenyuan greets Consort Yi."

"Your humble servant, Lady Jiang, greets Consort Yi."

"Lord Jiang, Madam Jiang, please do not stand on ceremony."

Consort Yi's voice was gentle and pleasant, and she even offered a slight helping hand.

"From afar, I thought she was some lady, but it turns out she is the parents of Consort Zhuang. What a coincidence."

She glanced at Jiang Wenyuan's slightly worn official robe and Madam Jiang's rather plain clothes, a hint of disdain flashing in the depths of her eyes, but her smile remained gentle.

"My sister Consort Zhuang is deeply favored by the Emperor and holds a noble position. I have always wanted to visit Weiyang Palace, but I am afraid of disturbing her peace."

As Consort Yi spoke, she changed the subject, her tone revealing a hint of concern.

"It is truly fate to meet Lord Jiang and his wife today. Are you two here to visit Consort Zhuang? Consort Zhuang is so fortunate to have such loving parents."

Jiang Wenyuan quickly cupped his hands, his smile honest and simple: "Your Majesty is too kind. My wife and I were just missing our daughter. We are grateful for His Majesty's grace in allowing us to enter the palace to see her."

After hearing this string of words, even a fool could see what she was trying to do.

Jiang Wenyuan secretly pondered to himself that the harem and the imperial court were not much different.

The father is scheming and plotting in the imperial court, while the daughter is scheming and plotting in the harem.

Both my daughter and I have worked hard.

"Yes, that's only human nature."

Consort Yi nodded slightly, naturally unaware of what Jiang Wenyuan was thinking.

"However, Consort Zhuang's status is different now. She is the Emperor's darling, and her every word and action represents the dignity of the royal family. When Lord Jiang and his wife visit the palace, they should pay more attention to the rules to avoid causing unnecessary trouble for Consort Zhuang and making her a laughing stock."

Her words were still tactful, but they pierced Madam Jiang's heart like needles.

Lady Jiang's expectant expression froze instantly. She looked up at Consort Yi, her eyes visibly reddening and quickly filling with moisture.

"Causing trouble...making people laugh at us..." she repeated these words softly, her voice barely audible.

To outsiders, she looked exactly like a terrified woman.

But only Jiang Wenyuan, who was standing beside her, knew that his wife's knuckles, which were twisting the handkerchief, were slightly white, a sign that she was trying her best to control her anger.

Having lived as an official's wife for twenty years, she knew all too well that in the inner palace, a weak and easily bullied image was sometimes the best cover.

It can lower people's guard, gain their sympathy, and even... make some people complacent and reveal their true colors.

Jiang Wenyuan's smile froze for a moment, but he reacted quickly, stepping forward to subtly block Madam Jiang's path and bowing repeatedly to Consort Yi.

"Your Majesty is right. I am dull-witted and just worried that no one will guide me. I really don't understand the rules of the palace. Why don't you enlighten me, Your Majesty?"

Consort Yi was taken aback by his question, and the "advice" she had prepared for her was hard to utter.

Looking at Jiang Wenyuan's honest and simple appearance, and then at Madam Jiang's tearful look, she felt a lump in her throat.

This Madam Jiang is too fragile; she cried like this over just one sentence? She's really not presentable.

"Lord Jiang, you flatter me. Mere courtesy is sufficient."

Consort Yi forced a smile, but her tone became somewhat indifferent.

"I am only thinking of Consort Zhuang. After all, there are many people and many eyes in the palace. Even a small matter can be magnified by someone with ulterior motives and reach the Emperor's ears. That would not be good for Consort Zhuang. Don't you think so?"

Upon hearing the words "not good for Consort Zhuang," Madam Jiang finally couldn't hold back her tears, which fell with a thud. She hurriedly lowered her head, covered her mouth tightly with her handkerchief, her shoulders trembling slightly as she sobbed silently.

A barely perceptible glint of cold light flashed in Jiang Wenyuan's eyes, but he didn't show it on his face.

"Yes, yes, Your Highness is right. My wife and I will certainly remember this and will never cause any trouble for Consort Zhuang. I will go back and study the rules properly. My wife is timid and inexperienced. Please forgive her!"

Consort Yi looked at the couple in front of her and felt a wave of disgust, but she had not yet achieved her goal.

If it's about winning someone over, then it's about using both kindness and pressure.

She wanted to give these parents a hard time today and let them know what was going on.

In this palace, having the emperor's favor does not grant one the right to act arbitrarily. Even if one's maternal family has no status, they still have to keep a low profile!