Chapter 76 Unauthorized Trespassing in the Inner Courtyard

Zhou Ninghai waved his whisk a few times, then raised his hand and lashed out at Cui Jinxi.

Jinxi had been supporting Zhen Huan with all her might, and this time she struck hard without holding back. The pain made Zhen Huan's body suddenly shrink back, and she lost her support and was about to fall backward. Jinxi could only move her body slightly to avoid the whip, while reaching out with all her might to support Zhen Huan's body.

In the process of dodging, there were bound to be gaps, and when the whisk was twisted into a single strand and swept across Zhen Huan, it caused her excruciating pain.

Lu Yingfeng followed Songzhi in unhurriedly, and this was the scene she saw.

She had originally planned not to come today, just like the previous two days. However, Songzhi's words about Consort Wan and Consort Jing caught her attention. Consort Wan and she weren't close, but was Consort Jing also being made things difficult for? Since Nian Shilan couldn't do anything to her, she really wanted to see what she was up to.

"How dare you! Who gave you the audacity to lay a hand on the Emperor's concubines!" she shouted sternly. Her four-month pregnancy was not yet very noticeable. Xuexin held the Empress's hand tightly to support her, while Hong Xihai followed closely beside her, his eyes cautiously observing the surroundings.

Zhou Ninghai was raising his whisk to deliver another powerful blow when he was startled by the tone of the voice and immediately let go of it. He stared at Lü Yingfeng in astonishment for a long time before remembering to bow – “This servant greets Your Highness, the Virtuous Consort.”

As she spoke, she secretly turned back to look at her master for help.

When Consort Xian finally arrived, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Someone qualified to compete with Consort Nian had finally appeared. They all stood up and bowed to Lü Yingfeng, saying, "Greetings, Consort Xian."

Among the crowd, only An Lingrong cautiously glanced up at Lü Yingfeng. Her eyes were filled with worry and unspoken struggle. Her gaze slowly swept over the incense burner in front of Zhen Huan, and she anxiously clenched her sleeves.

Nian Shilan remained reclining on the couch, motionless, her gaze defiant as she looked at her.

Ignoring everyone else, Lü Yingfeng glanced at Consort Jing, who seemed unharmed except for her anxiety, and then at Zhen Huan, who was slumped over and barely able to stand, looking at her helplessly. She frowned and gestured to Xue Xin, who understood and walked to Zhen Huan's side. Xue Xin placed the soft cushion she had brought for Consort Xian on the ground and helped Zhen Huan change from kneeling to sitting.

Lü Yingfeng lifted the hem of her dress and walked up the steps, ignoring the various expressions on the faces of the people around her. She went straight to Nian Shilan and looked down at her.

"What? Do you still think you can force me to kneel down like you did before?"

Nian Shilan stared at her for a long time, then pursed her lips, rolled her eyes, and lazily stood up to face her. "I didn't say that. I am acting on His Majesty's orders to manage the six palaces. Does Consort Xian have any objections to His Majesty's decision?"

Lu Yingfeng remained silent. Looking at her current state, she was suddenly reminded of five years ago when she was Consort Wan. She was not even as favored by the Emperor as Consort Wan. The cold winter ground chilled her to the bone. At that time, she was filled with fear and dread, and she hated Consort Wan's arrogant demeanor.

But times have changed, and now she is the one most capable of stopping this farce. Looking at Nian Shilan, who is still unaware of being caught in the whirlpool, she can only feel a sense of pity.

Anyone with a modicum of sense can see that the Nian family is now booming like a raging fire, but Nian Shilan alone is still indulging in a mirage and refuses to wake up.

Oh, and her brother too.

Instead of raising her voice to confront Nian Shilan, she chuckled and lowered her voice—"I know what you're thinking now. We've had our disagreements, but I still want to advise you: even if you can't listen to anyone else, why not ask Cao Qinmo and see what she has to say?"

Cao Qinmo's heart clenched when she heard her name mentioned. She hesitated for a moment, then stood up. Her face was grim as she looked at Lü Yingfeng and then at Nian Shilan, who was questioning her. Seeing this, she knew she had no choice but to speak.

She had hoped that this would result in a draw between Nian Shilan and Zhen Huan, but unexpectedly, a shrewd man appeared out of nowhere.

Cao Qinmo pursed her lips and said softly, "Your Majesty, Consort Wan really cannot kneel any longer. Perhaps... we should stop here."

Seeing that even the usually resourceful Cao Qinmo had spoken up, Nian Shilan hesitated, a rare occurrence for her. She looked at Zhen Huan, who was sitting below half-dead and far from her usual self, with a puzzled expression. She opened her mouth but couldn't say anything.

Lu Yingfeng wanted her hesitation, and seeing this, she seized the opportunity and loudly ordered, "Quickly, fetch the imperial physician! Someone, help Consort Wan to the side hall and settle her in properly."

Seeing that Nian Shilan did not stop her after she finished speaking, Consort Jing breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to go forward to help, but the commotion coming from the doorway startled her.

Several people hurried over without being informed, with Liu Zhu, who was sweating profusely, beside them.

The person who arrived was not the Empress Dowager, but Prince Guo, dressed in a plain blue robe.

Seeing a group of maids and servants about to attack Consort Wan, whose body had already gone limp, he quickly stepped forward, brushed them all aside, tossed his braid, bent down, and pulled her into his arms.

This shock not only caused the concubines present to look at him in astonishment, but also left Prince Yi, who had followed behind, along with the Third and Fifth Princes, speechless with shock.

"Prince Guo? This is the inner palace, how dare you trespass!" Nian Shilan was the first to react, pointing at him and shouting, "Put Consort Wan down now, where are you taking her!"

"This concerns the imperial heir; whether or not to trespass is a matter for my elder brother to decide." He lifted the person in his arms, turned around, and quickly left Yikun Palace. Liuzhu Jinxi hurriedly followed after him.

Prince Yi, along with Hongshi and Hongzhao, stood at the entrance without stepping inside. They had just been chatting with the Empress Dowager at Shou Kang Palace when the girl Liuzhu threatened suicide, causing a commotion that alerted them.

Now, seeing the seventeenth brother barging in and out, it seemed the matter had been resolved. As an outsider, it wasn't appropriate for him to linger in the inner courtyard. Prince Yi watched the departing figure with a hint of amusement in his eyes, then whispered a few words to Hongzhao before leaving.

Lu Yingfeng looked at Prince Guo, who had come and gone in a hurry like the wind, and the servants who had left behind only a bunch of bewildered faces, and was quite speechless.

Hey bro, what's this all about? I was watching the situation unfold and you're already getting all worked up. Originally, Consort Wan could have been seen by the imperial physician in the side hall of Yikun Palace, or at the very least, Yongshou Palace, which is the closest to Yikun Palace. Are you going to cross half the palace and carry her all the way back to Suiyu Pavilion?

The Emperor did not entrust her with the power to manage the six palaces, so she didn't need to worry about it. Looking at Hongzhao, who looked worried at the door, she shook her head and stopped talking, turning around to walk towards her son.

Consort Jing was the same; Hongshi and Hongzhao stood side by side to greet their mother.

Seeing that Lü Yingfeng left Yikun Palace after only a short while, An Lingrong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Outside the palace.

Dressed in a bright yellow empress's auspicious robe, Yixiu stood beside the emperor, her eyes filled with piety as she clasped her hands together in prayer—"May Heaven bless Consort Xian and Consort Wan so that they may successfully give birth to imperial heirs."

Yinzhen stood silently to the side, a mix of emotions flashing in his eyes—suspect, scrutiny. But mostly, he remained silent, nodding noncommittally—"I hope the Empress's words are as she thinks."

Yi Xiu's face stiffened upon hearing this. She moved her lips as if about to say something when she saw Su Peisheng hurriedly running over, adjusting his hat.

"Your Majesty, something has happened in the palace."

"But what happened to Hongzhao? Was it Yongshou Palace?" Yinzhen asked anxiously, his previous calm tone replaced by a hurried question.

Upon seeing this, Su Peisheng quickly shook his head. "Your Majesty, something has happened at Suiyu Pavilion."