10. Quarrel
◎I am the crown prince, not a widower◎
"You work so hard, and Shu'er is fine now. Why worry so much?" Bai Yi is a considerate person and is very kind to children.
Tan Lu relied on the little princess, either to win favor or as a bargaining chip, but it was also because of the little princess that she was able to make a living.
"My reputation is not as great as yours. Shu'er is anxious to see her father and has been arguing for several days. The prince is also very busy, so I have no choice but to trouble your majesty."
"Shu'er, do you miss your father?" Bai Yi hugged Shu'er and teased her with the jewelry in his hand.
Shu'er was over one year old, just learning to speak. She had a red string tied in her pigtails. The cool breeze of early winter made her chubby little face red.
He grabbed the jade bracelet from his grandmother's hand and answered childishly, "I miss... my father!"
Bai Yi picked up Shu'er and carried her. "She's over a year old, can talk and walk, she's so cute now."
"Shu'er, quickly tell the Imperial Grandmother, thank you!"
"Thank you...thank you, Grandmother."
The three generations of grandparents and grandchildren stood outside the hall and were affectionate for a while, just like ordinary people, with their grandchildren around their knees, enjoying the family happiness.
When Bai Yi reached the palace gate and was about to go in, he was stopped by the young eunuch outside the door.
The young eunuch trembled, fearing that he would be discovered doing something behind the door. He looked nervous, as if he had done something wrong. He didn't dare to say much or look up.
"Why are you standing here in broad daylight instead of serving the prince?"
The young eunuch lowered his head and stammered, "The prince said... that he doesn't want anyone to disturb him."
"Has the prince reviewed his lessons?" Bai Yi asked.
"Warm...warm." The young eunuch lowered his head even lower, hesitating and not daring to say anything, "The prince said he doesn't want to be disturbed."
Seeing this, Tan Lu stepped forward to interrupt, "Isn't this a coincidence? Then I'd better go back. I'm afraid His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is busy."
As a mother knows her son best, Bai Yi saw the clue and quickly stepped forward to open the door. "What is the prince doing?"
"Empress!" The young eunuch was so frightened that his hands and feet went limp. He took a step forward to stop them, but tripped over the threshold and was supported by Tan Lu.
“Get out of the way!”
Bai Yi didn't care and just pushed the door open and walked in. What hit him in the face was a lewd, sticky and ambiguous smell.
"Your Majesty!" The young eunuch wanted to struggle, or perhaps even warn Fu Hua, but Tan Lu winked at him, "You should step down first to avoid getting involved."
The young eunuch was in a panic and retreated obediently. "Thank you, Lady Liang, thank you, Lady Liang! I will take my leave!"
"What's that smell in this room, Hua'er?" As Bai Yi entered the room, her sensitive nerves quickly tensed up. She had expected it, but she was still trembling with fear and didn't dare to move forward.
It would be so embarrassing for a biological mother to see such a thing as catching a man cheating. Although it was common for the prince to visit palace ladies, if such a commotion happened, I'm afraid everyone in the palace would know about it.
Tan Lu was slow to follow, and it would be even more embarrassing if the concubines saw this.
She stood outside the door waiting for Rong Qianyu and told Yunzhi: "Take the princess back with you. When the princess arrives, stop her outside the palace and don't let her in."
Yunzhi nodded and went out to greet Rong Qianyu.
After saying that, Tan Lu also followed Bai Yi into the house, but she walked very slowly, just symbolically. She was very smart and knew the proper measure at this moment.
There was a dim candlelight in the room, the doors and windows were closed, and a decadent smell hit Bai Yi's face. He knew that it was a done deal. Whether he was angry or helpless, this son was ultimately disappointing.
Walking further in, one could faintly hear the man snoring, his heavy breathing, accompanied by the strong smell of alcohol, the scent of powder and the beauty's sweat. Outer clothes, underwear, jewelry and hairpins were scattered around the corner.
As I walked closer along the clothes, I saw the curtains piled up, half-covering them. I could see the messy black hair scattered on the edge of the tent, rising and falling in a hazy manner.
"Hua'er?"
This was also the first time that Bai Yi caught her son cheating on her husband. Her voice was trembling as she spoke tentatively.
She walked to the bed and tremblingly pulled open the curtains. She looked closely and saw the two people sleeping in each other's arms, their bodies covered with conspicuous marks. After the pleasure, the palace maid's face was still flushed, her lips were bright red, and her white neck and wrists were flushed.
"How dare you, both of you, get up!" Bai Yi looked at the two people who were entangled and woke them up angrily.
When Fu Hua heard his mother's voice, he rolled off the bed in a panic. Liu Chunyan's small dress was still hanging around his waist, which was bright red and very eye-catching.
"Mother... Mother!" He was so scared that he lowered his head, and Liu Chunyan immediately wrapped herself in clothes and cried beside him.
"Queen, please spare me, Queen, please spare me!"
Tan Lu only came in after hearing the noise. Bai Yi didn't want to pay attention to her at the moment, so he didn't bother with her.
Seeing the white inside, she pretended to be shocked and said palely: "Your Majesty, otherwise I will withdraw first. The princess is afraid of catching a cold."
Bai Yi's tone was gloomy. "Take Shu'er back with you. You disgraceful thing! Put on your clothes and come out!"
Rong Qianyu had received the news and was on her way to the Eastern Palace. "I don't know what the Empress wants to talk to me about, and why she's in such a hurry."
She happened to meet Yunzhi who came to greet her. "Why are you here? Is Tan Liangdi here too?"
At this time, Tan Lu also rushed over, "Your Highness, I want to go back to see the princess. How about the princess go with me?"
Rong Qianyu didn't know the truth and had no idea what the other party was talking about. It was clearly the Queen who asked her to come, so how did she meet Tan Lu?
"The princess will find out tomorrow. There's no need to rush. Don't embarrass the queen and the prince."
"What happened?" Rong Qianyu asked in confusion.
"Your Highness will know tomorrow. I cannot tell you now."
"Is something wrong with the prince?"
Tan Lu dragged Rong Qianyu back to the palace without any explanation.
When they arrived at Weixuan Hall, Rong Qianyu had been holding back a lot of words to say. Looking at Tan Lu's expression along the way, she guessed what was going on, but still didn't know what had happened.
"What is going on? What is going on, Queen?"
"Your Highness, please be patient. The Crown Prince is being lectured by the Empress. All you have to do is pretend to be deaf and dumb."
Rong Qianyu dismissed the servants and waited until the doors and windows were locked before speaking. "I have no intention of fighting. Why are you going to all this trouble, Lady Liang? Just speak frankly."
"I just want Your Highness to see clearly what kind of person the Crown Prince is, and whether he is worthy of Your Highness's true love. I feel that I am compatible with Your Highness. I have been with the Crown Prince since I was fifteen, and I have experienced the ups and downs of life in the past few years. I only want to live a stable life. I pray that Shu'er will have a stable and smooth life in this life, and I also hope that Your Highness will not toss around in vain. I have no other requests."
In fact, there is no need for Tan Lu to put so much effort into it. Rong Qianyu has already noticed Fu Hua's feelings and will never entrust him with anything easily.
She didn't believe what Xue Ji said on that rainy night, but now it has come true.
But it is still unknown whether Tan Lu is worthy of confiding. Now she is the only concubine with a formal status. If I become favored, she will definitely be wary.
She was a smart person, and she was so sure because she knew Fu Hua's heart. Otherwise, if she did these things rashly, and if Rong Qianyu and Fu Hua knew each other well, she would not end up well.
Although it was risky, she was certain of the two's intentions. She knew that Rong Qianyu, like her, did not live for her own glory and wealth.
Rong Qianyu understood her intentions, but she didn't dare to trust her easily. "It's good to love your son, but why did Liang Di test my attitude like this? You dragged me into this today. Are you hoping that I will have a falling out with the Crown Prince? Is that palace maid yours?"
"No, it's just that I know the prince too well."
"If I can have a harmonious relationship with the Crown Prince, aren't you afraid that I will bear a grudge and take revenge on you in the future?"
Her attitude was a bit tough, but she lacked strength. Up to now, she really didn't dare to say everything.
But Tan Lu revealed her thoughts in one sentence.
"I know the Crown Prince well. He has his own ideas of right and wrong, and he won't even look at the answer, even if it's right before his eyes. But the Empress loves you. Just based on this, no matter how turbulent the future is, or how favored the Cui family is, you will always be the unshakable Empress."
Rong Qianyu understood and asked, "So you're sure the Crown Prince will think I was the one behind this and won't take his anger out on you, so you want to see if the Crown Prince's reaction to me is what you expected?"
"Your Highness, I will not harm you. You are the legitimate daughter of the Rong Kingdom. Although your biological mother is no longer with us, the influence of her family still exists. In addition, Your Highness is extremely intelligent and there is nothing you cannot accomplish. However, the relationship between a ruler and his subjects and a husband and wife is destined, and sometimes it cannot be reversed. I am truly sorry for doing this, but I only hope that Your Highness can take note of the fact that the relationship between ruler and subject first and husband and wife lasts a long time. I also hope that Your Highness will show favor to Shu'er when he enters the imperial harem. That is all."
After hearing her impassioned speech, Rong Qianyu had to change her attitude towards her. She knew Tan Lu was farsighted, but she didn't expect her to think so far ahead.
She herself had never thought about it, and just wanted to take one step at a time. Tan Lu was indeed thorough and detailed.
I originally thought she was a little clever, but now it seems that she is an ambitious person who knows what she wants better than I do.
Therefore, even if there are constant fights in the harem and her husband's heart is never with her, it doesn't matter. Men are not people to be relied on. Only when she knows what she wants can she live comfortably.
"I understand what Liang Di is thinking. It seems you shouldn't be trapped in this wall. You deserve a better husband. A good man who truly loves you and appreciates you, and you can live a life of mutual support and love together."
The similar experiences made the two gradually let down their guard. Rong Qianyu said this from the heart, and Tan Lu just smiled.
Under these palace walls, a smart woman can survive better than a beautiful appearance.
"Calling it the art of strategy is a bit of an exaggeration, but it's just a little nonsense from a humble girl. I hope Your Highness will not be anxious and remain calm. Everything has its own destiny."
"Today's incident is really abrupt, and I hope Your Highness can think it through. If Your Highness feels it's okay, you can wait and see what the Crown Prince's attitude is tomorrow." After saying this, Tan Lu left.
The next morning, Rong Qianyu went to pay her respects to the queen as usual.
When Bai Yi saw her, he immediately told her to stand up, feeling guilty, "Good boy, stand up and sit down."
"Thank you, my lady."
"Hurry and show the princess the tea."
A day and a night was enough for rumors to spread throughout the palace. Rong Qianyu didn't ask, and pretended not to hear. She asked, "I haven't had enough of the wine Your Majesty gave me last time. I wonder if I can ask Your Majesty for some more."
"Okay," Bai Yi said happily, "I happen to have a jar left. I'll have someone fetch it and send it to you. That's all I need. Don't be so shy."
"Why bother your mother's people? I'll just ask Pan'er and the others to get it."
"Okay." The two were chatting and laughing when Fu Hua walked straight into the house from outside the hall.
"Greetings to the Queen Mother."
"Please sit down." Bai Yi changed his tone and glanced at him reluctantly.
Fu Hua sat closer and looked at Rong Qianyu fiercely, "The princess is here too." She was frightened by his cold look and immediately turned her eyes away.
Bai Yi also noticed Fu Hua's expression and asked, "Who are you showing off to? You do nothing all day and are controlled by women. What will happen if you become emperor and let others manipulate you without paying attention?"
"Mother..." Fu Hua wanted to explain, but Bai Yi raised her hand to stop him.
"Alright, alright, stop talking, let's all go." Bai Yi didn't say a single kind word to his son the entire time, but instead was very affectionate with Rong Qianyu. "Just ask your maid to get what you want."
"Thank you, my lady."
Looking at the two of them talking and laughing, Fu Hua felt indignant. He had lost a huge person yesterday, but she was chatting and laughing here as if nothing had happened.
Back at Weixuan Hall, Yuanqing came to report that the Crown Prince had arrived, and cautiously reminded him, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince doesn't look well..."
"Yesterday's incident has been widely reported. I'm definitely the one to take the blame. Now that I'm here, I might as well make the best of it. Close the door tightly, and don't come in if you hear any noise."
As he was speaking, Fu Hua came in and sat down on the chair without saying a word.
"Why is the prince here? I'll pour you some tea."
"No need." He said coldly.
"Okay." Rong Qianyu put down the work in her hands and looked at him with round eyes.
Fu Hua didn't try to maneuver around and went straight to the point, "What do you mean, finding a palace maid to tease me?"
"You think it's me?"
"What else?" Fu Hua asked.
Just as Tan Lu said, he didn't want to delve into the matter further, but simply put the blame on Rong Qianyu.
She observed Fu Hua's expression and smiled calmly, "I may be blind, but I'm not blind in heart. I know exactly what I should and shouldn't do. I've only been in Great Zhou for less than a month, and I don't even remember where the palaces are. Why would I want to harm you?"
"Who knows? Most likely you're unhappy. I've treated you this way time and time again. Do you really think you have no resentment or hatred in your heart?"
As expected, Fu Hua was certain that it was Rong Qianyu who did it today, and came to hold her accountable, even though she was not the one who did it, and even though Tan Lu had no intention of involving her, she had already made Fu Hua suspicious.
Only she has sufficient reasons to do these things. Finding a palace maid to take the opportunity to win favor is such a good idea.
Rong Qianyu didn't say anything.
"Say something, I don't believe there is no ripple in your heart." He had suspected this again and again, and Rong Qianyu had tolerated it again and again, but today she still kept asking questions so relentlessly.
An uncontrollable emotion was churning in her heart, her eyebrows were trembling as if they could make a sound, and her eyes stared at him for a long time.
She had so much to say, but she'd been careful with her words and actions for the past month, and even then, she couldn't satisfy the prince. She was consumed by a surge of grievances, and as she recalled everything that had happened over the past month, she finally couldn't hold it back and burst out.
"What kind of turmoil does Your Highness want to see? To see you lose control, to see you defile a palace maid after just a few drinks, and be the laughing stock of the entire palace? Seeing you point fingers at me and smear my reputation the first time we met, I've humbled myself, thinking you've misunderstood me. I want to explain and make peace, but what about you? Who is putting the other in a difficult position? Who is trying to harm the other? You know it all, Your Highness. Why do you have to pretend to be ignorant and fabricate a random accusation for me to bear?"
“…”
Fu Hua knew it very well, but he just wanted to find someone he could control. Usually, she was quiet and acted like a punching bag, but he didn't expect that Rong Qianyu would say so much today.
I finally said what I had been talking about for so long, but as the saying goes, too much talk leads to mistakes, and excited words always lead to mistakes.
"Aren't you particularly fond of your confidante? How could you have lost your mind after a few drinks? Doesn't that palace maid look much like her?"
Speaking of Cui Rumei, Fu Hua finally couldn't sit still anymore, "How outrageous!" Then a loud slap fell on Rong Qianyu's face.
The force was so strong that the palace maids and eunuchs outside the room could hear it, but Rong Qianyu had no intention of stopping and instead asked more questions.
After this slap, Rong Qianyu finally came to her senses. She had still hesitated the day before, but now there was not a trace of hesitation left.
"Why didn't you say the Crown Prince was presumptuous just now, but it became presumptuous when it comes to her? If the Crown Prince loves her so much, how could he be so easily distracted? Isn't His Royal Highness's beautiful concubine enough? Why does he have to have a tea maid?"
Cui Rumei is like Fu Hua's Achilles' heel. Rong Qianyu said the wrong thing today.
At this point, Fu Hua scolded without hesitation: "Is it your turn to care? I am the crown prince, not a widower. I can take any woman I want! But as for you, I will never touch you. Don't even think about it!"
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