Chapter 28 [VIP]
Chapter Summary: Rumors.
Yu Jing had been restless all night, and after taking a bath, she rested and slept for a long time, not waking up until late the next morning. She called A Yu in to help her wash up, but A Yu seemed hesitant to speak. Yu Jing, who couldn't keep a secret, saw A Yu's expression and asked directly, "What is it?"
"Huh?" Ayu snapped out of her daze, smiled at Yu Jing, but looked a little awkward.
"You look preoccupied. Is something wrong?" Yu Jing asked.
Ayu glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs serving around her and said, "You may all leave now."
"Yes." They responded and withdrew.
After they had all left, Ayu knelt down and replied, "This morning, when I went to collect my monthly allowance, I overheard two palace maids gossiping on the way."
At this point, Ayu paused, seemingly hesitant to speak further. Yu Jing's brow twitched; she instinctively felt that this matter was likely related to her. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke: "Go ahead and say it."
"They said that last night, Lord Xie came out of the banquet at the Zheng residence, drove a carriage, and took the Empress Dowager's imperial edict into the palace. They also said that after the Empress Dowager left the palace in her carriage, she ordered people to prepare water for her to bathe."
Yu Jing was stunned for a long time. Although she knew that Xie Xuan had her Phoenix Token, she had not expected that things would turn out this way.
Seeing Yu Jing stunned, A Yu quickly spoke up, "I don't know who with such malicious intentions is spreading this rumor. Everyone in Cining Palace knows that the Empress Dowager has not left Cining Palace, nor has Lord Xie entered Cining Palace. It's truly despicable!"
"Your Majesty, to prove my innocence, I humbly request that Your Majesty thoroughly investigate this matter to quell the rumors." Ayu's words were earnest, and she seemed to have a truly thoughtful approach for Yu Jing.
Now that she is the Empress Dowager, such a scandalous affair is extremely damaging to her reputation.
Xie Xuan took her Phoenix Token into the palace, and the carriage did indeed drive to the corridor of Cining Palace. Except for not entering Cining Palace, everything else was correct...
If this matter were thoroughly investigated, she could easily clear herself of all responsibility, but Xie Xuan was a different story.
Thinking of this, Yu Jing gently tapped the dressing table and replied, "No need. The innocent will remain innocent. There has never been a shortage of rumors in the palace. It will probably pass in a while."
Ayu lowered her head slightly and replied, "Yes."
Rumors spread throughout the palace, and soon the news reached both the imperial court and the inner palace.
When Xie Xuan first heard about it at court today, he was also somewhat surprised. Although he knew that someone would know about his visit to the palace last night, he never expected it to be spread like this.
Su Siyang went to court as usual. When he left court, he heard two eunuchs talking as they wiped the door with their backs to them.
"Tell me, is what's being said today true or not?"
"What's wrong?"
"You haven't heard?" another eunuch asked in surprise.
"Tell me quickly!"
"I heard that General Xie entered Cining Palace late at night with the Phoenix Token, and afterwards the Empress Dowager went to the hot spring to bathe."
"Really?" the young eunuch asked, somewhat surprised.
"It's all the talk in the palace, so it must be true."
Su Siyang couldn't stand it anymore. He cleared his throat and walked over. The two eunuchs, startled by the noise, stumbled backward and quickly knelt down to pay their respects.
"This servant greets Lord Su."
"Go to the Inner Palace to receive your punishment."
"Yes." The two eunuchs answered tremblingly and quickly left, fearing that Su Siyang would change his mind and punish them.
Su Siyang watched the eunuch leave without moving an inch. After a moment of contemplation, he turned slightly to Qinghong, who was standing to the side, and asked, "Did you do this?"
He was still wearing his purple official robes, adorned with a white crane that flapped its wings from its wide sleeves, its beak pointing towards his heart. He held an ivory tablet in his hand, casually resting it on his left elbow, his body slightly turned to the side, the crane's eyes and crested cap directly facing Qinghong. His tone was indifferent, his emotions unreadable.
Qinghong knew he couldn't hide it, so he stared at Bai Hewen's eyes for a while before replying, "This humble one is indignant on behalf of the master."
Su Siyang sneered and retorted, "Why should you defend me in my own affairs?"
"My lord," Qinghong called out guiltily.
"Go back to your residence and receive your punishment."
"Yes," Qinghong replied.
The court session ended early today, and because of the rain, all the officials left early. Su Siyang and Qinghong turned down the corridor, and a young eunuch holding an umbrella was about to escort them to their carriage. As they were walking, they heard a sharp voice from a little distance: "Lord Xie, please wait."
The person in front turned around, and Su Siyang realized it was Xie Xuan. Since Xie Xuan had been serving in the Cining Palace, he hadn't attended court for quite some time, which was why Su Siyang hadn't recognized him.
Still dressed in a scarlet robe, standing in the rain, holding an umbrella, he evoked the image of a pine tree. He was young and vigorous, with outstanding looks and a high position, yet his demeanor was so dignified, truly enviable.
Xie Xuan turned around and looked at Xu Xinshu who was walking quickly towards him. He immediately guessed why Qi Jin wanted to see him.
"Eunuch Xu," Xie Xuan nodded slightly and called out.
"Lord Xie, His Majesty summons you to the Imperial Study now." Xu Xinshu walked hurriedly, his voice still slightly breathless.
"Alright, thank you for making the trip, Eunuch." Xie Xuan replied, holding an umbrella as he followed Xu Xinshu toward the Imperial Study.
"It's all a servant's duty," Xu Xinshu replied smoothly, leading Xie Xuan toward the imperial study.
The rain had been falling for a long time, and with the arrival of spring, the air was thick with moisture, a layer of mist shrouding the palace. Through the rain, the road in the distance was obscured. Su Siyang stood there, watching Xie Xuan and Xu Xinshu walk away until they disappeared from sight, before finally taking a step.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Study, Xie Xuan closed his umbrella and handed it to the eunuch beside him.
"Your Majesty, Lord Xie has arrived," Xu Xinshu said cautiously at the door of the study.
"Come in," came Qi Jin's calm and indifferent voice from inside.
The study door opened, and Xie Xuan stepped inside. The scent of ambergris wafted towards him, enveloped in moisture. Unlike the pungent smell of burning charcoal in winter, it had a gentler aroma.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject greets you." Xie Xuan knelt down to pay his respects.
"Get up." Qi Jin was reviewing memorials, his hands still moving.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xie Xuan stood up, but dared not look at Qi Jin.
"You must have heard about what happened this morning," Qi Jin said, getting straight to the point.
"Yes." Xie Xuan had been thinking about it all the way, so he didn't feel guilty answering now.
"What brings you to the palace so late at night?"
"Your humble servant is stationed at Cining Palace. To facilitate my entry and exit, the Empress Dowager entrusted me with the task of arranging the arranging of ...
After all, he certainly didn't enter the Cining Palace last night, and he did attend a banquet at the Zheng residence, where he rested in the back corridor after getting drunk. These facts can all be verified.
After hearing this, Qi Jin didn't have too many doubts. After all, Xie Xuan had been his study companion, and he knew his character well.
"I will have Xu Xinshu deliver the message about this matter."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xie Xuan breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"but."
Qi Jin then spoke, and Xie Xuan's heart jumped, waiting for Qi Jin to speak.
"Rumors in the palace are hard to stop. In a few days, the Empress Dowager will be going to Wanjiang Mountain to pray for blessings. Now that such a thing has happened, it is not convenient for you to accompany her. You should stay in the capital. I will send someone else to escort the Empress Dowager."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your command." Xie Xuan replied with lowered eyes. "If Your Majesty has no further instructions, I will take my leave."
"Um."
Emerging from the imperial study, Xie Xuan felt a strange, unsettling feeling, like a small boat adrift, unable to quite define his emotions. He had already prepared to accompany them to Wanjiang Mountain, and now the sudden announcement of his cancellation must have been somewhat disheartening. Thinking this, Xie Xuan gently shook his head, trying to clear his mind of these thoughts. Regardless, last night's matter was considered settled with Qi Jin.
Back at the mansion, before he could even sit down properly, Xie Ying arrived.
"Xie Xuan!" Xie Ying would call him this whenever she had something important to say. Before Xie Ying could even speak, Xie Xuan knew what she wanted to ask. He went straight to the point and said, "I did enter the palace last night."
"You...you...you wouldn't really be with the Empress Dowager..." Xie Ying looked at him in shock.
"Sister," Xie Xuan sighed, sounding rather helpless.
"I drank a bit too much last night, and when I saw the Phoenix Token that the Empress Dowager had given me, I was a little confused. I wanted to go into the palace to return it to the Empress Dowager, but before I even reached Cining Palace, I came to my senses and left the palace again. I really didn't expect this matter to cause such a big fuss," Xie Xuan explained.
"Thank goodness." Xie Ying breathed a sigh of relief. "I was worried about the Empress Dowager for most of the day. It's good that you're not."
Looking at Xie Yingsong's tone and demeanor, Xie Xuan suddenly thought of Sheng Hua for some reason. Her aloof appearance standing in the snow-covered corridor, her helping each other out of the snowy night, and the way he held her last night…
"What are you thinking about?" Xie Ying asked when she saw Xie Xuan lost in thought.
Xie Xuan realized what he was thinking, was startled, and quickly replied, "Nothing."
“Mother probably doesn’t know about this yet. Since it’s not a big deal, let’s not worry her,” Xie Ying said, then added, “Don’t forget the Buddhist scriptures that your mother asked you to copy last night. Before you go to Wanjiang Mountain, be sure to give them to your mother.”
"I'm not going to Wanjiang Mountain," Xie Xuan said when Wanjiang Mountain was mentioned.
"Why?" Xie Ying countered, immediately replying, "Because of this matter?"
"Yes," Xie Xuan replied.
Xie Ying paused for a moment: "It's better not to go. The journey to Wanjiang Mountain is long and arduous, and it involves escorting the Empress Dowager. It's better not to go."
“Since you’re not going, I’d better let Mother know so she won’t have to go through all the trouble of preparing for you.”
"Okay, thank you, sister."
Xie Ying smiled and said, "There's no need for such formalities between us."
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