Chapter 57 Cui Linghui looked down on Lu Bingzhi, but it became the...
When Concubine Shu heard the palace maid's report, her face changed drastically. She quickly stood up from the couch and went all the way to Mingde Hall.
Although it was daytime, the Mingde Hall was filled with a strong smell of alcohol. A woman in a pink jacket was kneeling on the ground, her face pale and her body trembling.
Just now, the Second Prince got drunk and kicked the palace maid Qin'er in the chest. Qin'er vomited blood and fainted. She was the Second Prince's concubine, and Qin'er was the maid who served her. How could she not be afraid? She was afraid that the Second Prince would vent his anger on her.
At this moment, there was a sudden sound of footsteps outside, and then the palace door was pushed open, and Concubine Shu came in from outside with a serious face.
Seeing the situation in the palace, Concubine Shu's face turned grim. She stepped forward and snatched the wine from Second Prince Xiao Ze's hand. Then she scolded him harshly, "Why are you drinking in broad daylight? You even kicked a maid. If someone dies and word gets to your father, he'll be punished again!"
As soon as Noble Consort Shu finished speaking, Xiao Ze suddenly stood up and laughed a few times with a hint of gloom. "How could the emperor care about me as his son? He treats his nephew Lu Bingzhi better than his biological son. If Lu Bingzhi wasn't Princess Shuning's son, I would have thought he was not his nephew, but his biological son."
When Concubine Shu heard him speak so rudely, she became furious and slapped him in the face.
The crisp sound of the slap was extremely loud. The concubine Qiu Ning, who was kneeling on the ground, turned pale. She wished she had no eyes and did not see the imperial concubine slapping the prince.
The Second Prince has always been very concerned about his reputation. After she saw this scene, she didn't know what the Second Prince would think in the future.
Qiu Ning trembled and fell to the ground.
Concubine Shu glanced at her and said sternly, "Get out now!"
As soon as Concubine Shu finished speaking, all the palace maids and eunuchs serving in the palace retreated.
The only people left in the palace were Concubine Shu, Second Prince Xiao Ze, and Nanny Duan.
Concubine Shu looked deeply at the Second Prince, then stepped forward and sat down on the soft couch. She spoke earnestly, "Mother knows you're upset, but what good is it for you to get drunk? Your father would only be angry when he sees you. How could he feel any pity for you being drunk?"
"Although your father had the eunuchs around you beaten to death this time, humiliating you, he ultimately suppressed the matter and didn't implicate you. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to explain yourself to the Cining Palace alone, and the Weiguo Mansion wouldn't be so easy either. Lu Bingzhi's biological mother is Princess Shuning, and he's different from any other prince. Even if you were jealous, you shouldn't have acted so hastily, nearly causing such a disaster!"
"If your father really didn't treat you as his son and didn't care about you, you would be in the Imperial Clan Court right now, perhaps even convicted and imprisoned. How could he have the time to get drunk in Mingde Hall? Even if your father is confused, he knows that a nephew is closer than a son. He was just trying to appease the Empress Dowager and the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion. Could it be that a eunuch by your side is so important? He's just a lowly servant. It's a blessing to have him alive to put an end to this matter!"
After hearing what Concubine Shu said, Xiao Ze felt a little less drunk and stood there with a cold face without saying a word.
Seeing her son in this state, Concubine Shu sighed deeply and said to Nanny Duan, "Go and help Ze'er wash up. He looks so unbelievable! If anyone sees him, they will never think he's a prince of noble status!"
"Also, give orders to check on the maid's injuries. If she can be saved, reward her with some silver and send her out of the palace. If she's dead, just say she died of an acute illness. I wonder who in Mingde Palace dares to make up stories about Ze'er!"
Nanny Duan hesitated to speak, and Imperial Concubine Shu said, "She's just a palace maid. If you can't do that, you can accuse her of seducing the prince. Can the Empress Dowager really ask me, the Imperial Concubine, to give an explanation?"
After hearing what she said, Nanny Duan stopped talking and helped the drunk Xiao Ze to wash up.
Concubine Shu sat on the soft couch, smelling the strong smell of alcohol in the room, her face turned pale and blue, and she felt really uncomfortable in her heart.
Those words she just said were to comfort her son, otherwise her son would be depressed and uncomfortable and would humiliate himself. What would he do?
But even though she said that, she didn't have the confidence in her heart. She was no longer favored by the emperor and had even become a thorn in his heart. However, due to the emperor's dignity and pride, he was unwilling to remove her and insisted that she stay in the position of imperial concubine.
Among all the concubines in the harem, she was the only one who held a high position but felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff. Even though she had a prince, she felt empty in her heart and not at ease at all.
Nanny Duan was right. We should choose a prince consort for Ze'er. When they get married, they can set up a residence outside the palace like the eldest prince. They won't have to live in this palace, and Ze'er will be able to relax more.
Concubine Shu was in a state of confusion and had many thoughts in her mind. After a long while, Xiao Ze finally washed up and changed his clothes before coming out. He now had the dignity of a prince, but he looked a little unwell.
Seeing this, Concubine Shu felt a little distressed. She walked forward and pulled her son to sit next to her, and warned him, "I know you are upset, but you are not allowed to drink like this in the future. Drinking is harmful to your health. If anything happens to you, what will I, as your mother, do? You are the only one I rely on in the palace. If you still want to be filial to me, don't compete with Lu Bingzhi in the future. To put it bluntly, no matter how much your father values him, his surname is Lu, not Xiao. How can he really hand over the world to him?"
"Your father has three sons. Do you think he relies on any of them? Let's not talk about the past. Just behave yourself and learn to control your temper. If your father sees you, will he deliberately make things difficult for you?"
"I have the title of Imperial Concubine but I don't have the favor of your father. My family, the Cheng'en Mansion, doesn't help us mother and son. I can't rely on anyone else. After much thought, I thought of choosing a strong Yue family for you and marrying you to the prince's wife. Then, with the help of your Yue family, your situation in the palace will be better."
"After you get married and start your own household, you won't have to look after your father's mood every day. Any unhappiness in your heart will be alleviated. Having more princes and princesses to look after you will also ease your mother's mind. Otherwise, your concubine Qiu Niang only knows how to flatter and curry favor. How could she know how to take care of you? Just like today, if she had cared about your health, she wouldn't have watched you drunk like this."
"She's just a concubine, just a toy. You don't have to take it to heart."
Xiao Ze did not expect that Concubine Shu would mention this. Thinking that Lu Bingzhi had just gotten married, it was time for him to choose a wife. By then, with the help of the Yue family, he, the second prince, would also be of some help.
But when Xiao Ze thought of his cousin Lu Bingzhi, he still felt a little resentful.
He was just a prince of a duke's mansion, and had no respect for inferiors in front of him, the prince. He couldn't stand Lu Bingzhi's cold attitude. He didn't know that his cousin was mocking him in his heart, mocking how his biological mother entered the palace, how she killed the late queen, and laughing at the embarrassing situation of them in the palace. Otherwise, how could he be so disrespectful?
"Did Lu Bingzhi bring Cui to the palace to pay his respects to the Emperor today?"
Concubine Shu couldn't hide the news from her son, so she told him the news she had heard.
Xiao Ze's expression darkened upon hearing this, and he said with a hint of sarcasm, "Your Majesty truly loves his nephew, Lu Bingzhi. I wonder how much He will reward my son when he gets married in the future."
"And Chun'an, a married woman can now live in the palace so casually? Your Majesty is truly biased. Your Majesty is only indulging Chun'an out of guilt. Otherwise, why would he let Chun'an marry the Duke of Dingguo and become his wife?"
Concubine Shu's face turned grim. Seeing that her son was about to continue talking, she said in a deep voice, "Alright! This palace belongs to your father. Chun'an can live here if she wants. How can she, a daughter married out of wedlock, influence your father's mind? She has a bad temper and has argued with your father many times. She even mentioned the late queen and blamed your father for killing his first wife. Your father feels guilty for indulging her and pampering her, but the guilt will eventually wear off. Who knows, one day Chun'an might say something disrespectful and really anger your father. When that happens, all dignity will be gone!"
"You don't have to think too much about it. Even if you find her annoying, just pretend she doesn't exist. When the new emperor ascends the throne, no matter who it is, will he allow her to be so unruly?"
Concubine Shu lowered her voice and continued, "If you ascend to that throne, Princess Chun'an's life will be in your hands. Even if you worry about your reputation and show some respect, her life as the wife of Duke Dingguo will be difficult. She has no children now. Will the Duke Dingguo's Mansion still support her? Maybe he will divorce her and remarry, and even ask her to chant sutras in the Buddhist temple. Brother Ze, as long as you can sit in that position, you can make all those who look down on you live a life worse than death and rely on you!"
Xiao Ze understood this principle very well. He nodded and said solemnly, "Son, I will remember this. Now I will trouble you, mother, to choose a prince consort for me."
Concubine Shu smiled with relief, and without staying in Mingde Hall for too long, she got up and left with Nanny Duan.
After she left, Qiu Ning came in to serve her.
Seeing the still pale face of the concubine Qiu Ning, whose eyes revealed a submissive and fawning expression, Xiao Ze said with a hint of disdain, "Why are you so frightened? She's just a maid. I, as a prince, kicked her to death while drunk, so what? Do you want me to die with her? If the emperor could have the eunuchs executed with a stick, why can't I punish the maids?"
After he said this, Qiu Ning's face turned pale.
This is resentment against the emperor. If these words were to reach the emperor's ears, he would surely be furious.
Qiu Ning's face turned pale and she didn't dare to speak. Xiao Ze waved his hand and asked her to come over to him.
"Come closer, how could this prince eat you? You've served me before, and I'm a gentle and considerate person. How could I possibly use force on you?"
Qiu Ning was a little afraid, but she didn't dare to disobey him and walked forward slowly.
Xiao Ze said, "My mother said she would choose a prince consort for me. When the time comes, I will set up a residence outside the palace. You will follow me and I will give you the status of a concubine. If you give birth to a child, you can also be considered for the position of concubine."
Qiu Ning didn't know how to respond.
Xiao Ze rubbed his forehead and continued, "It's just that I'm really upset. I feel that my father has embarrassed me and ruined my reputation because of Lu Bing. You women are always thoughtful and considerate. Could you come up with an idea to help me vent this anger?"
Qiu Ning lowered his head, his face pale.
Xiao Ze's face darkened, and he said angrily, "Why aren't you talking? Are you dumb? You've been fawning and trying to curry favor with me, but I never saw you become dumb."
"Or are you only good at flattering and seeking favor, and unable to share my worries? Then what's the point of me keeping such a fool as you?"
Qiu Ning clenched the handkerchief in her hand, and knelt on the ground with a plop. After a long time, she spoke in a trembling voice: "Your servant, I think you can start with the eldest daughter of the Ningshou Marquis's Mansion."
"Everyone in the capital knows why this marriage fell from Miss Cui Da to Miss Cui San. Ultimately, Miss Cui Da was worried because Prince Lu was poisoned and injured, which was not good for her offspring. This is why she felt uneasy and even disliked Prince Lu as her fiancé."
"If, if Miss Cui becomes yours, or even just a concubine, then Master Lu's reputation will be trampled on the ground."
Xiao Ze was silent for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter, pointing at Qiu Ning and saying, "Good! Good! What a great idea! I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful and able to come up with such a great idea!"
"Cui Linghui looked down on Lu Bingzhi, yet she became this prince's concubine. Wonderful! Truly wonderful! This prince wants to see if Lu Bingzhi's cold face will be filled with shame and anger!"
Qiu Ning lowered his head, his face pale and he said nothing.
She came up with such a vicious idea just to save her own life.
She thought to herself, Miss Cui shouldn't blame her if she wants to. Perhaps this is also a good way out for Miss Cui? If the Second Prince can really sit in that position one day, Miss Cui will also have a good future, right?
After leaving the palace, Cui Lingyan and Lu Bingzhi took a carriage back to the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion, unaware of what had happened in the palace.
After breakfast the next morning, the two of them took the gifts and took a carriage to the Ningshou Marquis Mansion.
Ningshou Marquis Mansion
Madam Zhai had been waiting since early morning, asking from time to time, "Hasn't anyone arrived yet? I wonder if Miss Yan has won the favor of the prince?"
Mrs. Qi smiled but said nothing. Mrs. Bian, beside her, coaxed Madam Zhai, saying, "Yan girl has a good temper and good looks, how could she not catch the eye of the prince? He protected her before they got married, and now that they're married, he'll naturally protect her even more."
Cui Linghui, who was sitting below, was holding a teacup in his hand, but he felt a little nervous.
She was a little scared of meeting Lu Bingzhi in a while, as Lu Bingzhi and Cui Lingyan would behave intimately like a perfect couple.
In her previous life, Lu Bingzhi had embarrassed her, and anyone could see that Lu Bingzhi disliked her as his new wife.
She didn't want to lose Lu Bingzhi's favor, but she saw that Cui Lingyan caught Lu Bingzhi's eye, and asked her to become the prince's wife in a glorious manner.
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