Jingren Palace.
The Empress was trembling with anger, and the maidservant watched her cautiously, not daring to say a word.
"How could no one have informed me of such a serious matter?" The Empress only learned of the assassination attempt several days after the Emperor's death, and she was furious, having only heard about it from the servants.
The maidservant quickly knelt on the ground and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. His Majesty has been away from the palace. I heard that during those days, the imperial relatives who went to the flower viewing banquet were not allowed to leave without permission, which is why no one came to inform us..."
The Empress's gaze sharpened, and she asked through gritted teeth, "Wasn't Consort Xi seriously injured? Where is she now?"
The maidservant trembled with fear and answered hesitantly, "Your Majesty, Consort Xi was seriously injured that night and was on the verge of death. But the Fourth Prince ordered his son to fetch Doctor Liang, which saved her life. She is still recuperating at the Yuanmingyuan..."
Snap!
The Empress slapped the maid across the face, and half of her cheek immediately swelled up. Terrified, she kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down..."
"She's not dead, that's why the Emperor is thinking of making her a Noble Consort! How can I swallow this insult? Go... secretly inform the court officials and strongly urge the Emperor to postpone this matter. We absolutely cannot allow her to obtain the title of Noble Consort at this time and block my son's path..."
After learning about the Yuanmingyuan incident, Sun Jiacheng returned home and pondered the matter, feeling deeply ashamed. He never expected that Consort Xi would be so selfless, shielding the Emperor from a knife with her own body; she was truly a heroine among women.
The following day at court, Sun Jiacheng stepped forward and said to the Fourth Prince, "Your Majesty, I am truly ashamed... I only learned yesterday that Consort Xi at the Yuanmingyuan Garden had shielded Your Majesty from a knife, and I misunderstood her. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me..."
Fourth Master's anger subsided considerably, and seeing that Sun Jiacheng took the initiative to admit his mistake, he decided not to hold it against him.
However, Sun Jiacheng did not leave and continued, "Your Majesty, although this old minister has wronged Consort Xi, this old minister still suggests that Your Majesty postpone the conferment of the title of Imperial Noble Consort. After all, conferring the title of Imperial Noble Consort is no small matter, and besides, there is already an Imperial Noble Consort Nian, isn't there...?"
The Fourth Prince took a deep breath, his face solemn, and said sadly, "Now that you know about Consort Xi, why are you still obstructing my decision to bestow upon her the title of Imperial Noble Consort?"
Sun Jiacheng said, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. Besides, Consort Xi's injuries have not yet fully healed, and the ceremony for bestowing the title of Consort is quite complicated. It is really not suitable to hold it now. Please, Your Majesty, postpone it..."
The Fourth Prince knew this was Sun Jiacheng's delaying tactic, and with no other choice, the Emperor asked everyone, "What do you all think?"
Those present looked at each other in bewilderment. Only the Thirteenth Prince, the Seventeenth Prince, and a few ministers stepped forward to list Consort Xi's merits and support her being promoted to Imperial Noble Consort. Everyone else opposed it.
The reason given was probably to use Lanqin's family background and palace rules to persuade the Fourth Prince to give up his decision. The Fourth Prince sat in the main hall, like a bird that had been bound, unable to spread its wings or move.
The image of Lanqin leaping to block the knife flashed countless times in Fourth Master's mind: her chest slowly unfolding like a red lotus, blood flowing freely. Even now, Fourth Master vividly recalls it, and the pain is unbearable.
He gritted his teeth and said, "I have decided to elevate Consort Xi to the rank of Noble Consort Xi, and there are reasons why Lady Niohuru must be made a Noble Consort! I cannot reveal these reasons at the moment, but I will never give up..."
The air froze, and the Fourth Prince's words still echoed: "She must be Consort Xi!"
These words caused great turmoil. The people who had initially felt pity and admiration for Lanqin because of this incident now viewed it as a vicious scheme and plot by Lanqin, amidst a wave of suspicion. However, the Fourth Prince paid no heed to this, and the court meeting ended in discord...
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