Chapter 126 Your Majesty, I Want to Report This

"What did you say? Musk?!"

Zhen Huan gripped the corner of the table and leaned forward involuntarily, her voice tight with surprise and doubt.

An Lingrong held the small jar she had brought and sniffed it carefully. Then, with a serious and determined expression, she said, "This Joyful Fragrance contains a full amount of musk, and it's not just ordinary musk, but musk deer."

"This kind of musk can only be found in the snowy mountains of the Northwest, and its effects are many times stronger than ordinary musk."

After being shocked, Zhen Huan had a blank expression, her eyes lowered and her mind churning with thoughts.

No wonder...no wonder Nian Shilan, despite being favored by the emperor for so many years, never conceived. No wonder she felt unwell every day when she was pregnant and attending lectures at Yikun Palace. No wonder I miscarried that day after kneeling for such a short time in the palace...

Your Majesty, do you know that the "Joyful Fragrance" you bestowed upon Nian Shilan has also harmed our child...?

An Lingrong caught a glimpse of the pain in her face out of the corner of her eye, and turned her head away, secretly suppressing the corners of her mouth.

The Imperial Observatory received the Emperor's order and soon calculated the auspicious day for Consort Wan's investiture as a concubine. It was exactly the day before Lü Jiaying was to be made Empress.

Yinzhen lowered his eyes to look at the memorial presented by the chief envoy of the Imperial Observatory, hesitating to write it down, his brows furrowed tightly. "The time for Consort Wan's conferment as a concubine and the time for the Empress's investiture are too close together. There is no rush. Let's choose a new day and submit another one." After saying that, he was about to put down his pen and send the memorial back.

"Your Majesty." Seeing that the emperor intended to reject the proposal, the envoy hurriedly bowed and asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, I observed the stars last night. The North Star shines brightly, illuminating the inner palace. Smaller stars follow, and the Northwest is the brightest. This is a blessing from the heavens. The noble person in the northwest of the palace is most suitable for promotion at this time. Such a celestial phenomenon is very rare. If we miss it, we will have to wait for more than eight years."

The celestial phenomena of mother and child... The Imperial Astronomical Bureau always speaks in a mysterious and cryptic manner, revealing only half the story. However, the terms "mother and child" are clear to everyone. Could this promotion at this time be helpful in understanding this...?

"Very well." Yinzhen pondered for a while, then gently slapped the memorial down—"Then tell the Imperial Household Department to make preparations quickly, and make sure the empress's investiture ceremony is not delayed."

Su Peisheng's gaze swept across the face of the Imperial Observatory's chief envoy, his eyes filled with deep thought. Upon seeing this, he bowed and replied, "Yes." He was already planning to make a trip to Yongshou Palace soon.

Hongzhao had a good rest for a day, and then, as usual, he followed his father, the Emperor, to learn about politics every day.

He listened as rumors about Nian Gengyao constantly pierced through the walls of the Forbidden City and reached the Emperor's ears. Nian Gengyao had offended too many people. Even though he was far away in Hangzhou, his every move could be reported to the Emperor. These people were watching him closely, and they could make even falsehoods seem true. Moreover, he was arrogant and conceited.

Hongzhao watched as he was demoted from General of Hangzhou to guard of the city gates of Hangzhou.

Today, this freshly submitted memorial has reached the Emperor's hands again—"I have already dismissed Nian Gengyao from all his posts and ordered him to guard the city gates. If he had behaved himself, I would not have wanted to eliminate him completely. But he actually wore the yellow jacket bestowed upon him by me to guard the city gates, parading around the city, causing a great deal of discussion!"

The louder he spoke, the louder the folded document slammed on the table, making Hongzhao, who was standing nearby, squint. He took two steps forward, took the document from his father, and helped him catch his breath.

"Father, there is no need to worry about this. The rumors are mostly just ignorant people being misled and repeating what others say. The court officials have listed ninety-five major crimes committed by Nian Gengyao, each of which is punishable by death according to the law. As long as they are posted and made public, the people will know that Your Majesty is benevolent and that sparing his life is already a great favor."

Hearing this, Yinzhen turned his head to look at the child beside him, his chest still heaving, and asked angrily, "You'er, do you think I should continue to forgive him?"

But to his surprise, Hongzhao gently shook his head at him, tilted his head and said in a normal tone, "It's not that I think we should forgive Nian Gengyao, it's that after observing things these past few days, I feel that Father wants to forgive him."

Hongzhao gently tugged at his father's sleeve, signaling him to sit down. He leaned forward, and Yinzhen naturally pulled him closer to listen to him quietly.

"If I'm wrong, Father, I'll accept whatever punishment you give me." When Yinzhen was so angry, everyone else was silent and cautious. Only Hongzhao was still in the mood to joke and bargain with him.

Yinzhen slightly raised his chin, gesturing for him to continue. Hongzhao saw the emotions in his eyes gradually calming down. "Father, you once said that Nian Gengyao was your right-hand man and did a lot for you in the early years. Consort Nian was also a rare confidante. So you were especially fond of and indulged them. I remember all of this."

"But Nian Gengyao went against his original intention of assisting you and had unwarranted thoughts. You could have executed him long ago based on those ninety-five major crimes, but you are an excellent monarch. You still gave him many chances, demoting him again and again and tolerating him again and again. I think that since we have already tolerated him to this extent, why not just go all the way and let those ungrateful people see what kind of benevolent ruler Father is."

His words may have truly moved Yinzhen. He lowered his brows in thought, his hand unconsciously patting Hongzhao's back lightly. The patting sound was irregular, but inexplicably it made people feel at ease. After a long while, he finally spoke again—"If You'er were to say so, what do you intend to do?"

Hongzhao didn't blurt it out either. He pondered for a moment before speaking logically and reasonedly: "Let's expose his crimes to the world and let everyone see the truth. That will shut them up. Since Nian Gengyao can't learn to behave himself outside, let's imprison him. It'll only cost two people to watch over him. No matter how lawless he is, can he grow wings and force his way out?"

Yinzhen's gaze gradually hardened as he listened to Hongzhao's words. It was indeed a good idea, though he still needed to consider the details more carefully...

He looked at Hongzhao with satisfaction and was about to say something when he heard Su Peisheng outside loudly report, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort requests your presence at Yongshou Palace."

Yinzhen paused, and Hongzhao turned around sharply upon hearing this. His mother rarely invited the emperor so directly, especially so early in the morning. Had something happened again?

"What happened?"

Yinzhen raised his voice, then stood up with Hongzhao and started to walk out.

"Oh, Your Majesty, please don't be in such a hurry." Su Peisheng lifted the curtain and was about to come in when he saw that the Emperor had already stood up and was holding the Crown Prince's hand, seemingly about to go together. He paused for a moment and then explained, "It's not that the Imperial Noble Consort has something to do, it's Consort Cao. She said that she has something of great importance that could shake the country and has to report it to Your Majesty and the Imperial Noble Consort. She said that she will only speak after you arrive."

Su Peisheng's gaze lingered on the Crown Prince for a moment, and Hongzhao immediately understood what he meant. It was probably something that happened in the Emperor's harem. As a son who was already old enough to understand, he shouldn't be eavesdropping. Seeing this, he let go of his father's hand and said, "Father, then I'll go do the homework that the teacher left behind. I'll check it when you come back."

——

When Consort Cao of Yongshou Palace heard that Nian Gengyao had been repeatedly demoted and now held no official position, and was even wearing a yellow jacket while guarding the city gate, thus defying the Emperor's authority, she could no longer contain herself.

This news is fresh and hot. The Emperor must be furious with the Nian family right now. If I expose everything now, it will only make the Emperor even angrier, and then my Wenyi can return to my side from that hellhole of Consort Hua.

She was so excited and nervous that she couldn't help but tremble. She barely managed to hold back her excitement. When the Emperor finally stepped into Yongshou Palace, she collapsed to her knees as if she had slipped off a stool.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty, but I really dare not help Consort Nian cover it up any longer."

Her face was full of reluctance and difficulty, her voice trembled as if she were extremely frightened, and the end of her voice even had a sob in it. If one did not know the situation, one would really say that she was "pitiful".

"The person who framed Consort Wan and Consort Hui for faking their pregnancies was not Consort Li, who died in the Cold Palace, but Consort Nian!"

Yinzhen: I feel like I know what you're saying before...

On the day Consort Hua was demoted to Noble Lady Nian, Zhou Ninghai revealed these matters. However, with Ulanara Clan also surfacing, Nian Shilan's situation paled in comparison. Therefore, the punishment was not severe, but the testimony was not made public.

At the time, everyone only knew that Consort Hua had been suddenly demoted, but they did not know why. They only said that it was related to the fire in the Cold Palace and that she had been implicated by Nian Gengyao.