Xiao Jian was very satisfied with Fu Erkang's answer. Once you're on his ship, there's no reason to get off easily.
Liu Qing brought up several bowls of cooked porridge, her expression now composed. "I thought you hadn't eaten dinner either, so I cooked a few extra bowls. He's still not awake," she said casually as she put down the bowls.
Xiao Jian immediately chimed in, "It's alright, his injuries aren't serious, he should wake up soon." Then he smiled and saw Liu Qing off.
As soon as Liu Qing stepped outside, his face darkened. He wasn't deaf; there was no need to be on guard against him with words.
*
Hall of Mental Cultivation
The Emperor was sitting at his desk reviewing the memorials submitted by his ministers, looking extremely uncomfortable, and frequently rubbing his temples. He then saw Yongqi and the others enter, with Hanxiang following behind them.
The Emperor knew something must have happened during today's farewell. He immediately asked, "What happened?"
"Your Majesty, when I was seeing off Consort Xiang and Ali Khoja today, several Hui people suddenly appeared from the side, causing a slight delay." Yongqi said respectfully, cupping his hands, without embellishing or omitting anything.
The Emperor glanced at Fu Ertai on the left and Ji Chu on the right. Both nodded, and the Emperor had a general idea of what was going on. He coughed lightly, "Alright, you may all leave. Hanxiang, stay." After all, it wouldn't be good for the younger generation to hear about this.
What? He's the emperor, an elder, how could he let these juniors and ministers watch the spectacle?
"Tell me what you have to say!" The Emperor silently sat back down, staring at the memorial in front of him without raising his head.
Hanxiang knelt on the ground, still unable to gather her thoughts, unsure how to explain herself to the emperor.
The Emperor waited for a long time but didn't hear Hanxiang's explanation. He looked up and saw the beauty kneeling on the ground. "Just be honest. I've known for a long time that you have a childhood sweetheart named Meng Dan, haven't I?"
Hanxiang stared wide-eyed in disbelief. She didn't know how the Emperor had found out about this. Hadn't the princess kept her secret? She also remembered seeing the princess in the Emperor's Hall of Mental Cultivation just before she left the palace. Could it really be that princess?
The Emperor watched as Hanxiang's eyes darted around. "I investigated your background early this morning. I wouldn't say I know everything about you, but I have a general idea." After all, he had to investigate the women sent to the palace thoroughly. What if she was an assassin, an assassin carrying out a family mission?
Even if one is obsessed with women, one cannot disregard one's own life and safety.
Hanxiang suddenly realized what had happened and felt guilty for her unfounded suspicions about the princess. Knowing that the emperor already knew the whole story, Hanxiang stopped hiding it and told him everything that had happened that day.
"Oh, so that means Meng Dan wanted to kidnap you today?" the Emperor said in a deep voice.
"Yes, but I've already made it clear to him that I can't watch him die in front of me after more than ten years of friendship," Hanxiang said calmly.
"But judging from his attitude, it doesn't seem like he's going to let you go and start over properly," the Emperor said meaningfully. "Do you think that if he feels I forced you, he might try to kill me?"
The Emperor spoke in an extremely calm tone, uttering words that sent chills down one's spine.
Li Yu, who was beside the Emperor, did not show any particular expression. On the other hand, Hanxiang, who was kneeling on the ground, could no longer maintain her composure.
"His Majesty wouldn't do that, I swear on my life, he absolutely wouldn't." Hanxiang hurriedly knelt forward a few steps, fearing that the emperor would issue an edict to take Meng Dan's life at any moment.
"Whether it is or not, it's not something you can say for sure with just one sentence." The Emperor glanced up from the memorial at Consort Xiang, who was kneeling on the ground, weeping with tears streaming down her face. "If you stay obediently in Baoyue Tower, I can't guarantee anything for the rest of your life, but at least you will be safe and sound."
"Now that you have entered my harem, you are my woman. Unless you die of illness, you will never be able to leave this Forbidden City." The Emperor's eyes were fixed on Consort Xiang, who was kneeling on the ground.
After all, he was the emperor. He had his pride and self-respect. How could his woman just run away from the palace? Wouldn't that make him, the emperor, a laughingstock to the people of the world? Even if he imprisoned her until she died and never favored her in his life, she couldn't escape.
"Yes, Hanxiang already knew." Hanxiang said, her heart ashen. From the moment that princess told her, she had never held onto any illusions about escaping the palace.
"Go back now. I will pretend I know nothing about this." The Emperor waved his hand, dismissing her. "But if there is a next time, think of your father, think of your entire Hui community."
Hanxiang was already about to reach the door when she heard the Emperor's half-threatening words and froze. Then, following the etiquette taught by Granny Fang, she turned back and respectfully said "Yes" to the Emperor.
Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Jin and Yin Lingzi were already impatiently waiting, fearing that their princess might accidentally say something wrong and offend the emperor, resulting in him ordering her to be executed.
Fortunately, the princess came out unharmed, and Jin Lingzi quickly went to help Hanxiang, whose legs were a little weak.
"What's wrong with the princess? Could it be that the emperor..." Jin Lingzi looked around cautiously and communicated with Hanxiang in Huiyu.
"Don't use Hui language in the palace. This is the last time. From now on, don't call me princess. Call me Consort Xiang." Hanxiang suddenly closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the purity in her eyes was gone.
It's as if Hanxiang is truly a thing of the past, and now it's Consort Xiang.
Consort Xiang looked up at the sky above the Forbidden City and the birds circling overhead, and smiled slightly. "Let's go back to Baoyue Tower."
Since she had already agreed to be Consort Xiang, she should be like the other women in the palace. Having made her choice, she had to completely abandon her other half. She wanted to protect her Hui people; in this life, she could only be Consort Xiang.
Princess Hanxiang will never exist again!
*
"Do you think Consort Xiang would tell the Emperor the truth?" Yongqi was completely puzzled.
On the way back to the palace, seeing Consort Xiang sitting comfortably in her sedan chair, no different from the other concubines in the palace, was a stark contrast to how she had pleaded for Meng Dan.
“This is beyond our concern. We have already completed the task assigned to us by the Emperor.” Fu Ertai patted Yongqi on the shoulder, signaling him to relax.
Yongqi nodded, and after a long while, he realized what was happening. "Wait a minute, aren't you two leaving the palace now?" He watched as the two of them walked towards the palace.
Isn't this going in the opposite direction from the palace gate? Yongqi glanced at Ertai and Jichu very cautiously.
Ertai knew the reason, after all, he liked his little sister An'an. But what about General Ji? Didn't he know that outsiders were not allowed to enter the palace without permission?
"I'll go take a look at the princess." Ertai was a little embarrassed in front of the two of them, and scratched his head with his cheeks flushed.
“You, I know.” Yongqi frowned and glared at Ertai. How could he not know that Ertai was going to Cining Palace to see Wang An’an? “General Ji, aren’t you leaving the palace so late? If you’re late, the palace gates will be locked.”
"Your humble servant and General Fu are on the same side," Ji Chu said, casually avoiding Yongqi's topic.
The saying goes, "You can't hit someone who's smiling," especially since Ji Chu hadn't offended him. Asking further would seem a bit too harsh.
Ertai put his arm around Yongqi's shoulder, turned his head and whispered a few words to Yongqi. After listening, Yongqi's eyes widened.
After Yongqi learned the truth, Ertai immediately called over Jichu, who was standing nearby, and headed towards the Cining Palace.
Yongqi was left alone, bewildered in the wind.
Yongqi: No? What have I missed all this time? How did Ertai fall for An'an? I don't know. And how did General Ji fall for Qing'er this time? I still don't know.
Fortunately, Yongqi reacted instantly. It wasn't his business, so why was he thinking so much about it? Qing'er had been a woman with her own opinions since she was a child, so she probably knew how to get along with this General Ji.
On second thought, he realized he was their older brother, and both his sisters had found someone they liked, while he was still single. In that instant, all his worries vanished.
Under the moonlight, we walked back to Yonghe Palace, stopping and starting along the way.
*
Shufangzhai
Fu Erkang managed to evade the eyes of many guards and climb over the side wall.
As soon as it was turned over, Jin Suo almost attracted even more people.
Jin Suo looked at Fu Erkang climbing over the wall and found it somewhat unbelievable. However, after hearing Fu Erkang's purpose, she didn't dare to delay and went to her mistress's room, knocking on the door.
Upon hearing that Erkang had arrived, Ziwei quickly washed and dressed herself. Looking at Erkang sitting on the stone bench outside, she felt as if they hadn't seen each other for a very long time.
Indeed, ever since Fu Erkang was demoted to a cook in the imperial kitchen, he no longer had as much time to sneak off to Shufangzhai to meet with Ziwei in secret.
"Erkang, what brings you here?" Ziwei walked over slowly and spoke softly. Seeing the fallen leaves drifting onto him, Ziwei reached out and gently brushed them away.
Upon seeing Ziwei, Fu Erkang immediately grabbed her hand without any hesitation. "Ziwei, I have something to tell you today, but I can't stay too long." As he spoke, Fu Erkang kept glancing left and right, as if afraid someone would notice him.
"Okay, go ahead!" Ziwei immediately straightened her attitude when she heard that Fu Erkang had come for something.
"Yesterday, Meng Dan ran over and kidnapped Han Xiang, but was injured by Yong Qi and the others. Later, he was rescued by Xiao Jian and taken to Huibinlou." Fu Erkang felt that the situation was urgent and briefly told Ziwei about yesterday's events.
"What? Kidnapping Hanxiang?" Ziwei found it utterly unbelievable. Hadn't she already made things clear with Mengdan? How could he still do such a thing?
“Yes, when Meng Dan woke up last night, he was still muttering about Han Xiang. Xiao Jian and I discussed it, and we concluded that there’s no way he could give up on Han Xiang.” Fu Erkang also frowned deeply.
"Then, what should we do?" Ziwei really didn't want to get involved in any more trouble; she just wanted to salvage her relationship with her father, the Emperor.
"Ziwei, go to Baoyue Tower again and sound out Hanxiang's thoughts. See if she really wants to stay in the palace as the Emperor's concubine, or if she wants to escape from the palace?" Fu Erkang said, putting his arm around Ziwei's shoulder.
"But Hanxiang already made it clear last time, how can I ask her again?" Ziwei twisted her handkerchief in her hand and took a few steps toward Fu Erkang's back.
“Ziwei, think about their situation, think about your situation and mine, aren’t we in the same boat?” Fu Erkang said affectionately. “Just like what Xiao Yanzi said back then, the emperor already has so many concubines. Think about your mother, your mother who has waited for more than ten years. Why don’t we help this couple in love and let them be together?”
Ziwei bit her lower lip so hard that it bled slightly. Ziwei's bottom line was her mother. Whenever Xia Yuhe was mentioned, Ziwei would think of the more than ten years that she and her mother had waited for each other by Daming Lake.
Before Ziwei could respond, Xiaoyanzi darted out from the side, "Of course we have to ask! Ziwei, let's go visit Consort Xiang at Baoyue Tower later." Xiaoyanzi gripped Ziwei's hand tightly.
"His Majesty already has so many concubines. Consider that Consort Ling, whom we've seen, is pregnant but doesn't dare tell His Majesty. Why drag Consort Han into this mess?" Indeed, Xiao Yanzi and Ziwei secretly went to Yanxi Palace last night to visit Consort Ling.
Upon learning that Consort Ling was pregnant, but the Emperor was still unaware, Xiao Yanzi rashly concluded that it was because the Emperor was indifferent to her.
I can't even remember it. It was thanks to her and Ziwei that Consort Ling fell from her position as Imperial Concubine Ling!
Thinking of the state of Consort Ling she had witnessed last night, Ziwei clutched the handkerchief in her hand tightly, making up her mind. "Alright, don't worry, we'll go to Baoyue Tower again today to ask Hanxiang what she thinks."
Fu Erkang hugged Ziwei tightly. Hearing footsteps at the door, Fu Erkang cleverly jumped over the wall and escaped without being caught.
The person who entered was Granny Fang, who came to check on their learning of palace rules and etiquette.
Ziwei did a fairly decent job, but Xiaoyanzi's attempt was a complete disaster. In Fang Mama's opinion, it was just a poor imitation, failing to resemble anything at all.
"Little Swallow, you need to study the etiquette in the palace properly. Look at the steps you just took, they weren't proper at all. And when you squatted down to bow, you didn't squat deep enough," Granny Fang nagged at them.
Little Swallow is like a piece of meat now; you can say whatever you want to her, she doesn't care. Her mind is already wandering off into the distance.
Granny Fang could tell at a glance that Xiao Yanzi wasn't listening carefully, and she sighed inwardly. When Xiao Yanzi was still Princess Huanzhu, she couldn't do anything with her, but now she was like a stubborn mule, even more difficult to deal with.
"That's all for today. I'll come back in ten days to check on the results. If Xiao Yanzi hasn't done well, I'll report it to His Majesty and let him decide." Granny Fang bowed respectfully to Ziwei and then walked away gracefully.
Xiao Yanzi initially seemed indifferent, but upon hearing that she was to be told to the Emperor, she immediately panicked, fearing that the Emperor would disregard their past relationship and send her to another palace.
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