"Lianxiang, I hereby bestow upon you Lianxiang Garden. You may go to Prince Yan's Dongrui Pavilion to rest. The nanny has already gone to fetch the imperial physician."
After the Empress finished speaking, two maids came in from outside the door and helped Lianxiang leave, leaving only Hongyu kneeling.
Hongyu was overjoyed. The Empress hadn't bestowed Yurunxuan upon Lianxiang, which meant she must be keeping her.
She raised her head, wanting to thank the Empress for her grace, but saw that the Empress still had a stern and cold expression, and ordered in a stern voice, "[Hongyu has been deceiving and swindling me; she shall be given twenty strokes of the cane and expelled from the Yan Prince's residence!]"
King Yan was terrified and knelt down to plead for Hongyu, saying, "Mother! Hongyu has already told Yan'er her true identity and has not deceived her."
Having said that, he kowtowed repeatedly. Hongyu was the assistant he had chosen; he had originally intended to use her to deal with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. If the Empress drove her away, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain?
Seeing Prince Yan kneel before Hongyu, the Empress was furious and shouted, "Guards! Help Prince Yan back to his room to rest..."
Gui Xiang, Ju Xiang, and He Xiang, three maids who were accompanying the Prince, rushed in and helped him leave.
Once again, Yan Wang was lifted up by three maids. His mind was filled with the memory of being forced the night before. He was terrified and fainted before he could even leave the hall.
"Your Majesty, Prince Yan has fainted."
The Empress was flustered and uneasy. She realized that a trap had been set and that Shen Yu was just waiting to fall into it. If she let Shen Yu treat Prince Yan, wouldn't that be making them late? So she had no choice but to send someone to invite her old confidante.
[Quickly fetch Imperial Physician Wen, and then go welcome Miss Chenyu.]
A short while later, Shen Yu hurriedly got off the carriage with her medicine box on her back. She looked up and saw Grand Tutor Zhang walking out of the Yan Prince's Mansion. He lowered his head, looking absent-minded, and brushed past Shen Yu.
Shen Yu naturally understood what was going on. On the way here, the old nanny had already told her about Hongyu impersonating Lianxiang and posing as the Grand Tutor's daughter. Presumably, Hongyu's schemes against others failed, and she fell into Lianxiang's trap instead, losing not only her position as a concubine but also Lianxiang's identity as the Grand Tutor's daughter.
She had sent people to Jiangnan to investigate, and it was found that Hongyu was indeed the daughter of Grand Tutor Zhang.
I wonder what methods Lianxiang used to be able to recognize Grand Tutor Zhang? I must have a good talk with Lianxiang later and see if I can find any clues.
Before the old nanny and Chenyu even reached Lianxiang Garden, someone called out to them, "Miss Chenyu."
Shen Yu turned her head and saw two maids supporting Hong Yu as they walked over.
Hongyu turned deathly pale and fainted, with blood at the corner of her mouth.
She quickly looked Hongyu up and down, and saw a patch of blood behind Hongyu. Touching it, she found that Hongyu's long dress was still wet, indicating that she had just been punished.
Her nose tingled, and before she could even speak, tears streamed down her face.
【Miss Chenyu, the Empress says you and Miss Hongyu are as close as sisters. Please escort her back to the Duke's mansion.】
She had never been to the Duke's mansion before, but seeing how badly Hongyu was injured, she nodded repeatedly, "Alright, quickly help Hongyu into the sedan chair."
------
The carriage stopped.
Shen Yu lifted the curtain and saw a carriage parked not far away. Madam Mu was looking at her through the curtain. Why was her mother here? Could it be that she was urging her to go to Putuo Temple?
Just as she was about to jump off the carriage, a carriage suddenly sped up and then abruptly stopped in front of the Duke's mansion.
Four handsome young men emerged from the sedan chair, dressed in white robes and adorned with red flowers in their hair. They helped each other down from the carriage and hurriedly ran into the Duke's mansion. Their delicate steps and swaying figures exuded a charming and effeminate air.
Shen Yu was surprised: Hadn't Liu Yu already dismissed his male concubines? What were they doing at the Duke's mansion? Prince Yan was too exhausted to leave the house at the moment.
Just as Shen Yu was wondering, a burly man stepped out of the sedan chair. The man stroked his beard and walked slowly into the Duke's mansion.
Why would the emperor's brother-in-law invite male concubines?
Shen Yu became increasingly puzzled. Remembering that Madam Mu was waiting for her to go to Putuo Temple, she ordered her maid to help Hong Yu down from the carriage.
The guards at the gate, upon hearing that she was sent by the Empress, not only did not stop her, but instead led them into the Duke's mansion.
The Duke's Mansion was indeed majestic and imposing, with artificial hills standing tall, and rivers and bridges. Its only shortcoming was the lack of birdsong and fragrant flowers, with only a large, withered tree standing among the artificial hills.
Because the courtyard was exceptionally quiet, any sound could be heard. Sure enough, a man's playful, coquettish laughter came from behind the rockery, "Master, the eldest young master chased us all out. It's so hard for us to even see you..."
"Good children, look, Master has brought you in. Yu'er has gone to Putuo Temple. You must leave before dark."
The voice sounded like the emperor's brother-in-law comforting his male favorite.
Chen Yu dared not linger and had no choice but to continue forward with the guards.
But before they had gone more than a few steps, a scream came from behind them, "Ah! Master, help me..."
"The eldest young master is going to kill someone..."
Is Liu Yu going to kill someone?
Chen Yu was terrified and handed the medicine box to the guards. "You take Miss Hongyu back to her room first, I'll be right back."
After saying that, Chen Yu ran to the back of the artificial hill and saw Liu Yu holding a sharp sword, pointing it at the emperor's brother-in-law.
Four male concubines were huddled under the stone table next to the emperor's brother-in-law.
Did they get caught?
The emperor's brother-in-law pushed aside the sword and approached Liu Yu. "Yu'er, listen to your father and put the sword away. If you hadn't dismissed the male concubines, why would your father have brought them to the manor?"
"Guard Liu, who's shouting?"
"I don't know, I only saw the eldest young master run behind the artificial hill with a sword, and then there was a scream..."
Hearing the Duchess and Guard Liu approaching, Shen Yu hurriedly searched for a hiding place. If she went out now, she wasn't afraid that the Duke's brother-in-law would lose face, but she was worried that Liu Yu would be embarrassed.
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