Chapter 15 The Emperor's Heart is Unfathomable
In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi, who had already listened to the reports from the secret guards, was greeted by reports from Yinzhi and Liang Jiugong.
"Currently, the Jue Luo clan and the Ulanara clan are still imprisoned in the Fourth Prince's residence. Without the Emperor's decree, your son dares not act on his own."
Yinzhi lowered his head and reported the truth of the whole matter. The evidence pouch he presented was placed far away on a small table to the side, and he did not approach it, for fear of harming the emperor's health.
Kangxi remained silent for a moment, turning the thumb ring on his thumb with an inscrutable expression. After all, he had ruled the world for many years, and his imposing and stern aura made everyone present feel suffocated.
Kangxi glanced at Yinzhi standing below, looking somewhat disheveled. After all, Yinzhi had been working tirelessly for Yinzhen's sake, and there was some brotherly affection involved. Kangxi's expression softened, and he said to Yinzhi, "Yinzhi, you should go back first. You've done a good job. Go back and rest."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey." Yinzhi bowed respectfully, knowing that what followed was no longer his concern, and obediently withdrew. Even as he walked out of the Qianqing Palace, he could still hear his father's instructions from inside.
"Liang Jiugong, have someone bring Lady Jue Luo and her daughter here, and also summon Fei Yanggu to me. I want to see how he raised his daughter... and Consort De..."
Tsk, Yinzhi shook his head inwardly as he walked, feeling sorry for his fourth brother after finding out the truth. Although he couldn't be raised by his biological mother, he wasn't being schemed against by his own mother like his fourth brother.
Not to mention how many people would have to deal with after Yinzhi left the palace to gather information, in Yonghe Palace, Consort De, of the Uya clan, was the first to receive the imperial decree to see the emperor.
For some reason, Consort De felt uneasy. She gestured to Zhu Xi to reward the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree, and asked softly, "May I ask this young eunuch, why has His Majesty summoned me?"
"Your Majesty is too kind. This servant is but a lowly eunuch serving before the Emperor. How could I possibly fathom His Majesty's intentions? Your Majesty will understand once you go there."
Those who serve in the imperial court are more shrewd than anyone else. They know perfectly well what can and cannot be said, and they will never utter a word more than necessary when they should keep quiet.
Consort De's expression changed slightly. In all the years she had been Consort De, not a single servant had dared to refuse her like this. Although she felt uncomfortable, she dared not touch anyone in the Emperor's presence. Knowing that the little eunuch was tight-lipped and wouldn't get anything out of her, Consort De touched the cinnabar hairpin in her hair, got into her sedan chair, and hurried towards the Qianqing Palace, but her unease only grew stronger.
"Your Majesty, I wish you a long and peaceful life."
Consort De, dressed in a light blue palace gown, gracefully bowed to Emperor Kangxi. However, Kangxi neither told her to rise nor spoke. Feeling his intense gaze fixed on her, Consort De felt a little flustered, but dared not show it on her face.
"Get up, please sit down. Everyone isn't here yet." Kangxi withdrew his probing gaze, pointed to the seat next to him, and gestured for her to sit down.
"Yes." Consort De obediently walked to the side and sat down. She had served Emperor Kangxi for many years. Even though Emperor Kangxi had no expression, she could feel his anger. At this moment, she naturally dared not say anything more and sat quietly to the side.
Looking at the exceptionally docile Consort De, who seemed to be just like before she ascended to the rank of consort, Kangxi raised an eyebrow. "As expected of my Consort De," he thought, "her reactions are so quick. What a pity..."
Soon, the two groups of people who came out of the palace to deliver the imperial edict arrived almost simultaneously.
"This servant kowtows to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!" As soon as Fei Yanggu entered the palace, he knelt down with a thud and performed a grand salute.
"This servant, of the Jue Luo clan (Ulanara clan), greets Your Majesty..." The Jue Luo mother and daughter, who had been brought in, also fell to the ground, looking disheveled.
Seeing the three people's appearance, and especially noticing Rouze's auspicious robes, Consort De's brow twitched. Whether genuine or feigned, she hurriedly stood up to plead guilty: "Your Majesty, what wrong has Rouze committed? I beg Your Majesty to forgive her on her behalf, and plead that Your Majesty consider her young age..."
"How do you know that it was Ulanara who was at fault?" Kangxi interrupted Consort De.
Consort De paused, then realized what she had said in her panic, and tried to explain, "She is my niece after all... Seeing Rou's disheveled appearance, it was indeed my fault for being impolite."
"You dote on her, no wonder you even gave her your wedding attire." Kangxi looked at the uneasy Consort De, then at Rouze who was still wearing her wedding attire, his tone cold.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I only intended to add to Rouze's dowry, which violated palace rules." Consort De immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness, downplaying the seriousness of the matter and focusing solely on establishing a good image for her aunt. It was as if she had no other intentions in bestowing the auspicious clothes.
"Adding to the dowry? Adding to Yinzhen's residence?" Kangxi couldn't help but sneer.
"What...what does this have to do with Yinzhen?" Consort De's eyes widened, seemingly unaware of anything.
"Heh, Liang Jiugong, explain this to your master."
"Yes, sir."
Kangxi said no more, sat down, picked up his teacup, and watched as the faces of the people grew paler and paler as Liang Jiugong recounted the events.
The sound of Kangxi's teacup hitting the table seemed to strike the hearts of several people. "Feiyanggu, what a good wife and daughter you are! You have truly broadened my horizons."
"This servant deserves to die, this servant is guilty." Upon hearing Kangxi's words, Fei Yanggu kowtowed desperately to confess his guilt. No matter how much he resented the Jue Luo clan in his heart, it was useless. He could only beg Kangxi to spare him this time for the sake of his past merits.
“You are guilty. You have neglected your duties and cannot even manage your own wife. You should resign from your official post and reflect on your mistakes in seclusion.”
"Your subject obeys the decree." Fei Yanggu kowtowed heavily to the ground, closed his eyes, and thought that this was the best possible outcome.
“Jueluo clan.” Leaving Fei Yanggu aside, Kangxi looked at the woman kneeling on the ground, trembling. Now she knew fear, but she was ruthless when scheming against the princes.
"This servant...this servant is here."
"It seems you look down on a mere third-rank noblewoman, which is why you've caused this trouble today. So today, I'll strip you of your noblewoman title and make you an ordinary woman. Besides, since you're so concerned with the marriage arrangements in the Prince's mansion, I suppose you don't need to worry about the affairs of the Ulanara mansion. In that case, you don't need to worry about the household affairs anymore. Just stay in the inner quarters and enjoy your wealth."
"This servant...this servant obeys the decree." Lady Jueluo kowtowed, her face pale. Kangxi's actions had stripped her of her status and position. What future did a powerless consort have? But the decree came from the Emperor; what could she dare say?
Her head slammed against the cold ground. Jue Luo Shi wasn't without regret; wealth and status had truly blinded her. If only she hadn't resented Yi Xiu's life, if only she had agreed to the marriage with Consort Tongjia, if only… But now it was all too late.
But what about Rouze? I wonder how the Emperor will deal with her daughter. It's all Rouze's fault...
Regardless of what the Jue Luo clan thought, Kangxi was there to deliver the results, not to judge the case, so naturally he wouldn't give them a chance to explain themselves.
“Ulanara clan…”
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it's all my fault. Rouze only listened to my advice; she doesn't understand anything..." Upon hearing Kangxi mention Rouze, Lady Jueluo couldn't hold back any longer. Now she had lost everything, but she would protect her daughter with her life.
Jue Luo crawled on her knees to Rou Ze's front, blocking her way, and desperately kowtowed to Kangxi. Fei Yanggu also kowtowed, "Your Majesty, please spare Rou Ze's life. It is the father's fault for not teaching his son properly. This servant is willing to take responsibility."
As the only legitimate daughter, whom he had cherished since childhood, Fei Yanggu naturally didn't want anything to happen to her. However, this blood ties and affection for his daughter weren't enough to make Fei Yanggu step forward. After all, he was a minister who had served Kangxi for many years, and while he might not know everything about him, he had some understanding. At this moment, the image of a loving and righteous father who wholeheartedly cared for his daughter would actually earn Kangxi more favor.
Having come this far, Fei Yanggu had no choice but to take the risk and try to secure a glimmer of hope for the future of the Ulanara clan.
"Father, Mother..." The oblivious Rouze looked at her parents standing in front of her and was deeply moved. She cried bitterly, "Your Majesty, it was this servant who was only trying to curry favor with the Fourth Prince. Your Majesty, please forgive Father and Mother..."
He didn't care much about the Jue Luo mother and daughter, but seeing Fei Yanggu's performance, Kangxi's expression did soften. He felt that although Fei Yanggu was being dragged down by his wife and daughter, his love for his daughter was genuine.
Yes, Kangxi didn't actually believe that Fei Yanggu was involved in this matter. Although Fei Yanggu wasn't particularly capable, he was certainly not incompetent and would never agree to such a plan to curry favor with a prince. Besides, he already had a concubine's daughter who was Yinzhen's secondary consort.
Women might care about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, but men see them all as their offspring, and naturally wouldn't add insult to injury by giving away another legitimate daughter, especially one already betrothed. However, the fault of oversight is unforgivable, especially given the serious consequences. With unrest within the household, Kangxi would never entrust Fei Yanggu with such a heavy responsibility.
Hopefully, Fei Yanggu can properly tidy up the inner quarters after he returns. Otherwise, he'll be stuck on this sideline forever...
Consort De, unaware of any political considerations, simply seized upon Kangxi's relieved expression and softly said, "Your Majesty, if things continue this way, Rouze's reputation will be ruined, which is the heaviest punishment for an unmarried woman. Perhaps... perhaps we should let Rouze enter Yinzhen's residence..."
Seeing that Consort De was still preoccupied with her schemes, Kangxi's expression grew even colder as he looked at her. He sneered, "What a kind motherly heart you have! But since you came in, why haven't you asked about Yinzhen even once?"
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