Chapter 51 The investigation into the adulterer led to the emperor's head.
The night was deep and dark, as if ink had been splashed across the sky.
The small boat, covered by a canopy, could accommodate several people sitting and drinking, but now it has become a place for Emperor Zhaoheng and Shui Xian to fool around.
Beneath them lay a thick blanket, and Emperor Zhaoheng held Shuixian tightly in his arms, both of them breathing unsteadily.
The small boat rocked gently on the water, and occasionally the sound of the water lapping could be heard.
At this time of day, Narcissus would always bite the man's shoulder. Although she knew that the lake was far from the shore, she always felt exposed in the middle of the lake under the open sky.
Gradually, the small boat came to a stop.
Narcissus lay in Emperor Zhaoheng's arms, slowly calming her breathing.
The tent was filled with the warm, damp scent of their lovemaking. Feeling somewhat stuffy, she whispered, "Your Majesty, it's a little hot..."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaoheng turned to the side and raised his hand to lift a small gap in the curtain near the bow of the boat.
The night breeze, carrying the cool scent of the lake, swept in, dispelling some of the heat.
However, Emperor Zhaoheng paused, peering through the gap towards the shore.
Narcissus noticed his change and, while straightening her slightly disheveled nightgown, asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Emperor Zhaoheng did not answer immediately, but instead opened the gap a little wider, gesturing for her to come and take a look.
Shui Xian leaned over, and when she saw a large number of figures gathered in the pavilion by the lake, as well as several palace lanterns that were as bright as day around the pavilion, a cold glint flashed in the depths of her eyes.
Yi Shuyao... you finally couldn't hold back anymore.
On the surface, she looked surprised and asked in confusion, "It's so late, I wonder what Consort Li and the other ladies are doing gathered in the pavilion?"
Emperor Zhaoheng pursed his thin lips. Moonlight shone through the gaps in the curtain, falling on his well-defined chest, but it couldn't illuminate the dark depths of his eyes.
The small boat is still in the middle of the lake, and the small pavilion by the lake is the only way to stop there.
He could not leave quietly without alerting the group on the shore.
If the court officials knew that he had met with his pregnant concubine in the middle of the lake late at night... Emperor Zhaoheng slowly frowned.
Those old-fashioned ministers from the previous dynasty will surely seize on this as leverage and impeach him!
"Your Majesty," Shui Xian noticed the seriousness in his eyes and said in a low voice:
"Before leaving Yongle Palace, I instructed Yinzhu that she was feeling restless and short of breath during her pregnancy and wanted to take a boat trip on the lake to get some fresh air and rest for a while."
She gently reassured them, "I doubt they would deliberately board the ship to cause trouble. I'll go out in a bit and find some excuse to send them away."
Emperor Zhaoheng reached out and adjusted her slightly open collar, his voice deep and magnetic: "Very well."
......
On the shore, inside the pavilion.
Consort Li forcibly summoned the concubines from the palaces surrounding the Imperial Garden to this location.
At such a late hour, everyone inevitably looked tired.
Consort Wan couldn't help but speak up, expressing her dissatisfaction: "Your Highness Consort Li, it's late at night and the dew is heavy. I wonder what important matter you have that requires you to summon us all to this lakeside for a breath of fresh air?"
Consort Li stood by the pavilion, gazing across the lake at the small boat in the center of the lake, which had only a single, faint light.
She sneered inwardly, but outwardly wore a worried expression:
"My dear sisters, you may not know this, but I, as the assistant to the six palaces, bear the responsibility for the safety of the harem. I have just received a report that there were suspicious movements in the palace tonight, and I fear that a thief may have infiltrated!"
"I am concerned for the safety of all my sisters, which is why I have gathered you all in this open space to prevent thieves from hiding in the shadows and committing any unsavory acts! The guards can also be deployed here to provide protection."
As soon as she finished speaking, Tuoba Guiren sneered:
"Your Highness, you are mistaken! If there were truly thieves or assassins, gathering us concubines in this brightly lit, open lakeside area with no cover would only make us easy targets. What if the thieves were hiding in the shadows and launching a sneak attack..."
"Ah!" These words immediately elicited a chorus of low gasps.
Consort Wan, Consort De, and the others' expressions changed slightly, and they subconsciously looked around.
It was as if sharp arrows were aimed at them from the darkness, making their already tense nerves even more panicked.
"Noble Tuoba!"
Yi Shuyao immediately stepped forward and rebuked, "Her Highness the Imperial Concubine is acting on imperial orders to assist in managing the six palaces, and she is wholeheartedly concerned for the safety of all the sisters! What are your intentions in questioning Her Highness's arrangements like this?"
In recent days, Consort Tuoba has been sharing the emperor's favor with her, and she has long been displeased with Consort Tuoba.
Now that she sees Consort Tuoba interfering with her and Consort Li's schemes, she naturally can't help but make sarcastic remarks.
Just then.
The palace maid sent by Consort Li to the Qianqing Palace returned breathlessly, her face somewhat pale, and whispered a few words in Consort Li's ear.
"What? His Majesty has already retired for the night?" Consort Li's voice was filled with obvious disappointment. "Didn't you report the situation here to His Majesty? You should have said that there might be thieves disturbing the palace!"
The palace maid said hesitantly, "Your Majesty, I wanted to report this, but Eunuch Feng Shunxiang stopped me, saying... saying that His Majesty has already retired for the night, his health is of utmost importance, and even the most important matters can be discussed tomorrow, and that I must not be disturbed..."
Feng Shunxiang was a trusted confidant of the emperor.
Consort Li was furious, but there was nothing she could do.
She thought to herself with resentment: What a pity! The Emperor wasn't there; she couldn't let him see that lowly maid's shameful behavior on the spot!
However... as long as we catch them in the act and the evidence is conclusive, we can report it tomorrow!
At this time, the eunuchs who had been sent to investigate the various palaces returned one after another to report: "Your Highness Consort Li, no trace of the thief has been found in any of the palaces."
Consort Li and Consort Wen exchanged a glance, their understanding unspoken.
There were no thieves at all! This is just an excuse they made up to catch their partner in the act!
"No thieves?" Consort Li pretended to ponder, her gaze sweeping once more toward the small boat in the center of the lake.
"The thief may not have infiltrated the palaces, but is hiding... on this small boat in the middle of the lake!"
Consort Li pointed to the covered boat in the middle of the lake and said decisively, "Someone! Bring that small boat to me! I want to inspect it myself!"
When Consort Li mentioned the small boat, Consort Tuoba's expression changed instantly!
She knew Narcissus was on that boat! She suddenly stood up from her seat and stared nervously at the eunuchs who were ordered to pull the ropes to drag the small boat back to shore.
Although I don't know why Consort Li would do this, Narcissus is on the boat. Could it be that tonight's events are aimed at Narcissus?
Just as she was getting anxious, a figure rushed over from the shore – it was Yinzhu.
Yinzhu had been guarding the shore, and when she saw the eunuch trying to pull the small boat over from the middle of the lake, she quickly came over to stop him.
She was out of breath from running, and as soon as she entered the pavilion, she knelt down on the ground:
"Your Highness! What is this? My lady is resting on the ship, and she is all alone! I watched her board the ship the whole time; there was absolutely no one else there! And no thieves! Her lady is just feeling unwell during her pregnancy and came out for some fresh air..."
The more panicked Yinzhu appeared, the more certain Consort Li became that Consort Jin was indeed having an affair with her lover on the boat!
This is clearly an attempt to cover up the truth!
Consort Li sneered, pressing on relentlessly, "Some thieves are excellent swimmers; how can we be sure they didn't swim onto the boat? To ensure Consort Jin's safety, we must stop the boat and dock for a thorough search!"
She looked around at the concubines and said, "My dear sisters, come with me to the shore and witness together who this scoundrel is who dares to cause trouble in the forbidden palace!"
As they were talking, the small boat was pulled to the shore by several eunuchs.
After the small boat came to a stop, the curtain covering the awning moved slightly, and Narcissus, wearing a plain-colored outer robe, slowly walked out.
Her hair was slightly loose, and her face showed displeasure at being disturbed. Her gaze swept over the crowd on the shore and finally landed on Consort Li.
"In the stillness of the night, I am taking a short rest here. May I ask what brings Consort Li to all this trouble?"
As she spoke, her gaze couldn't help but drift towards the direction of the cabin, as if someone she wanted to hide was there.
Consort Li looked at her slightly disheveled clothes and somewhat flustered expression, her eyes brimming with barely suppressed excitement.
The adulterer is on the boat! Judging from Narcissus's appearance, which has just been pampered and nourished, she is absolutely certain!
Consort Li, barely suppressing her agitation, said sternly, "Consort Jin! Suspicious thieves have appeared in the palace. For safety's sake, I, in charge of the six palaces, must inspect all areas! Guards! Board the ship and search..."
"Wait!" Narcissus immediately called out to stop her, her face showing anger at being offended.
"Your Highness, I was just taking a short rest on the ship. The cabin is in a mess... It's really inconvenient to see anyone! If you have something to say, just ask me here. Why do you have to come aboard and search?"
"Unable to see people? I think it's because you have something to hide!"
Yi Shuyao could no longer contain herself. She suddenly stood up from behind Consort Li, raising her hand and pointing directly at the narcissus and the dark cabin:
"Consort Jin! Now that things have come to this, do you still want to deny it? Someone witnessed a strange guard sneaking into your boat in the dead of night and committing illicit acts with you!"
She sneered, "The dragon child in your womb is probably this bastard born of your adultery! The adulterer is hiding in this boat right now! The Imperial Concubine is here to uphold justice, so why don't you confess your crimes and hand over the adulterer!"
Consort Jin had an affair?! And she was carrying an illegitimate child?!
All the concubines gasped, their probing gazes sweeping back and forth between Shui Xian's swollen belly and the dark cabin!
Narcissus swayed, her hands tightly protecting her lower abdomen, her eyes brimming with tears of humiliation.
"You...you're spouting nonsense! I have no...I am carrying the Emperor's child, how dare you slander me like this!"
Yi Shuyao ignored her explanation and actually stepped forward to reach out and pull at the curtain.
"Afraid to come out? They must be feeling guilty!"
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the curtain...
"presumptuous!"
The man's voice, filled with anger and carrying a familiar tone to Yi Shuyao, boomed through the night!
The next moment, the curtain was suddenly ripped open from the inside!
Emperor Zhaoheng, dressed in a dark blue guard uniform and exuding a chilling aura, stepped out of the cabin.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"
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