Chapter 17: The King is Here!
Several concubines looked at each other.
Princess Mingyi and Prince Xuan looked very calm and not rude at all. Why did Concubine Hui ask them to come here?
Concubine Hui's smile froze on her face.
The palace maid clearly said that Prince Duan had already arrived at the water pavilion, and the eunuch also saw Ruan Yunsheng come in alone.
Apart from the White Jade Bridge, there is no other exit from this water pavilion!
So how did the person in the warm pavilion by the water become Xie Yan?
Where is Prince Duan?
What about her son who is that old?
Ruan Yunsheng curled the corners of his lips slightly, and first paid his respects to Concubine Hui and several concubines.
Then he turned to look at Concubine Li, puzzled, "What did your Majesty just say?"
When she heard what Concubine Li had not finished speaking, she denied her previous judgment.
It seems that Concubine Hui's plan was not to discredit her and Xie Yan's reputation, but to force her to commit herself to Xie Huaiye. The pot of tea with added ingredients was also prepared for her.
If that’s the case, how could Xie Huaiye invite Xie Yan to the waterside pavilion for tea at this time?
Did Xie Yan know something in advance?
But if Xie Yan knew about this in advance, he would have known that there was a love drug in the tea.
Xie Yan has been against her in every way since childhood, and she doesn't think that Xie Yan would come to save her.
Even if Xie Yan had a change of heart and really came to save her, he could have just told her directly why she drank that pot of tea with added ingredients. Was he sick?
Also, where did Prince Duan go?
Ruan Yunsheng felt that everything that happened today was strange.
But no matter what, Concubine Hui couldn't do anything to her in front of so many people.
Concubine Li smiled awkwardly and said, "It's my eyes that are blurry..."
Several concubines tried to smooth things over by saying that the flowers in the plum garden were blooming beautifully.
Yao Biwu stared at Xie Yan in a daze. She always felt that the dignified and noble Prince Xuan was a little different from usual, but she couldn't tell what was different.
She took the initiative to walk up to Xie Yan, bowed, and said softly, "Your Highness greets Prince Xuan."
Ruan Yunsheng glanced at Xie Yan nonchalantly.
Perhaps because the wound on his palm was bleeding, the redness at the corners of Xie Yan's eyes had faded, and he had returned to his usual cold look.
Although it is certain that Concubine Hui was behind today's incident, it would not be good for her reputation if it became a big deal.
Moreover, nothing really happened to her. Even if the incident was brought before the emperor and the empress, in the end they would just find a palace maid or eunuch to take the blame, and the matter would be left unresolved.
Ruan Yunsheng withdrew his thoughts and pretended that he knew nothing.
Concubine Hui was worried about Prince Duan but couldn't say it directly, so she could only ask, "Why is His Highness Prince Xuan here? Are you and the princess the only ones here?"
Xie Yan's voice was gentle, "Second brother invited me here for tea, but when I arrived, he was nowhere to be seen. However, the palace servants had already gone to invite him over."
"As for why the princess is here," he said with a half-smile, "I'm sure the imperial concubine knows it all."
Of course, Concubine Hui didn't believe what he said, but because she had something to hide, she didn't want to expose Xie Yan.
She nodded perfunctorily, her eyes sweeping around the warm room.
The brocade quilt on the soft couch in the corner hung down to the ground, and someone should be able to hide inside.
But the couch was narrow and Prince Duan was tall, so even if he hid underneath he could only curl up.
The dignified Prince Duan is not ashamed to be seen by others, so why is he hiding under the bed?
Concubine Hui looked out the window again, wondering if Prince Duan was in the lake.
She was startled by her own thought and quickly dispelled the strange thoughts in her mind.
Perhaps Prince Duan went out for something urgent, and the palace servants were lazy and didn't pay attention.
Yao Biwu's eyes were always on Xie Yan, and he soon noticed the bleeding hand under Xie Yan's sleeve and the broken pieces of teacup on the ground!
She exclaimed, "Oh, the prince is injured!"
Concubine Hui turned her head and looked over. Her pupils suddenly shrank and her voice changed a little: "Did the prince drink tea just now?"
Could it be that Xie Yan has been drugged?
She and the Queen Mother both stood on the side of Prince Duan. In order to gain the support of the Marquis Zhenguo's Mansion, they did not hesitate to use such despicable means to force Ruan Yunsheng to submit.
But Ruan Yunsheng looked safe and sound, and probably didn't know there was something wrong with the tea.
But what if Xie Yan has already taken Chinese medicine, how will this matter end?
Xie Yan said calmly, "I just wanted to drink tea, but I accidentally broke the teacup and cut my hand."
Yao Biwu said with concern, "Your Highness's hand looks seriously injured. Let's quickly have the palace maids call the imperial physician to bandage the wound!"
Concubine Hui glared at Yao Biwu secretly.
Fortunately, Xie Yan didn't have time to drink the tea, but what if the imperial physician came and found that there was something wrong with the tea?
Xie Yan didn't even look at Yao Biwu, and stood up. "I was just about to send for the imperial physician, but since the ladies are here, I'll take my leave."
Of course he came here to protect Shengsheng, and pretending to have Chinese medicine was just a reason to be alone with Shengsheng for a while.
Since Shengsheng is fine and the concubines are here, he should leave.
After Xie Yan finished speaking, he turned and left the pavilion.
Yao Biwu looked at his back with a lost look in her eyes.
Concubine Hui didn't know which of Xie Yan's words were true and which were false, but it was best for him to leave as soon as possible.
Coincidentally, the palace maids from Kunning Palace also arrived.
Nanny Fang beside the Queen smiled and saluted: "Your Highness, the Queen has asked me to take the Princess to Kunning Palace."
Zhishu followed Nanny Fang and anxiously looked for Ruan Yunsheng as soon as she entered the warm room. Seeing that Ruan Yunsheng was safe and sound, she breathed a sigh of relief.
After going through so much trouble, Concubine Hui failed to accomplish her goal and even lost her son. She was extremely anxious and had no mood to make things difficult for Ruan Yunsheng.
She forced a smile and said to Ruan Yunsheng, "Since the Empress has specially sent someone to invite you, I will not keep the princess."
Ruan Yunsheng curved her lips and said, "I'll take my leave."
Concubine Hui watched Ruan Yunsheng and his group leave the Baiyu Bridge, and waved her hand to let Concubine Li and others go back.
Then she immediately sent someone to call in the eunuchs outside. She lowered her voice and asked, "How did you manage to do your job? You let Prince Xuan in with so many people guarding outside! Where is His Royal Highness Prince Duan?"
Several eunuchs were also stunned when they saw King Xuan leaving the water pavilion.
Hearing the imperial concubine's questioning, he hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! We have indeed been guarding outside the whole time. We didn't see His Royal Highness Prince Duan go out, and we don't know when His Royal Highness Prince Xuan came..."
Concubine Hui grabbed the teapot on the table and smashed it on the eunuch, cursing, "You are all trash!"
"What are you still standing there for? Go out and find His Royal Highness Prince Duan!"
Her voice was sharp: "If anything goes wrong with the prince, I will not forgive you!"
The palace servants left in a hurry and searched around the waterside pavilion and the imperial garden for Prince Duan.
At this time, Prince Duan was still curled up under the couch, motionless. He was anxiously roaring in his heart: I am here!
My legs are numb, who would take a look under the bed?
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