After the accident, Qingyin returned to the palace.
The secret guards who found the person also discovered the culprit. Looking at Princess Huanzhu who was still screaming and crying in pain, the guards looked at each other. After all, this princess was also a master, and she was not someone they could make decisions for. This matter still needed to be properly reported to His Majesty.
"I didn't do it!" Seeing Princess Huanzhu's confession, the guards who stayed behind to arrest her looked at her with disdain. This Princess Huanzhu is really stupid. If she really didn't do it, why would she know how to defend herself?
Upon hearing the report from the secret guards that Xiao Yanzi had harmed Consort Yu, Emperor Qianlong was so enraged that he smashed the ink brush in his hand to pieces.
He did indeed feel guilty towards Xia Yuhe by Daming Lake, and he projected those feelings onto Xiao Yanzi, but this was not a shield for her misdeeds. Especially since she had directly crossed his bottom line regarding the imperial heir.
Qianlong: Li Yu
"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Yu endured the emperor's wrath, feeling somewhat resentful towards this troublesome Princess Huanzhu. After finally being recognized as a relative by the emperor and having her status as a royal heir acknowledged, instead of enjoying her newfound wealth, she insisted on pushing the emperor's boundaries. Now, she had offended the pregnant Consort Yu, the person he least wanted to mess with. Wasn't she just asking for trouble?
No matter how much Li Yu thought about the mentally unstable Princess Huanzhu in his heart, he remained as cautious and loyal as ever when facing Emperor Qianlong.
"Since she's causing trouble, she shouldn't be allowed to come out anymore. Pass on my decree that she be kept locked up and no one is allowed to see her."
"Furthermore, Consort Ling will be confined to her quarters until Consort Yu gives birth, and then her salary will be reduced by a year." He didn't believe that Xiao Yanzi, with her stupid brain, would think of harming Li'er out of thin air, especially since he had just punished her. There was something fishy about this, and Consort Ling was very suspicious. However, he didn't need to investigate; suspicion was enough for him to convict her.
"Your Majesty, what about Consort Yu?" Li Yu asked hesitantly.
Emperor Qianlong pondered for a moment. This matter was not to be publicized, nor should it be known to Consort Yu. He said, "Just say that the thief ran too fast and was not caught. Remember to send some more headdresses and other items from the private treasury to Consort Yu to appease her."
Seeing Li Yu preparing to leave, Qianlong added, "Remember to send some skilled eunuchs to guard Consort Yu."
Li Yu: ...Is Your Majesty surrounding Consort Yu's palace like an impregnable fortress? You even have to send people in. Even birds that fly in will be completely blocked by the human wall.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Li Yu finally left Qianqing Palace and headed towards Chunhe Palace.
Qingyin soon received a report from her servants that Eunuch Li Yu had arrived.
"Let the father-in-law in quickly!" Qingyin was also curious about how Qianlong would treat his adopted daughter.
Li Yu respectfully bowed to Qingyin first, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed with longevity and peace."
"Get up quickly, Eunuch Li Yu."
Qingyin also hinted that Alisa had handed the prepared gold nude pouch to Li Yu.
As Li Yu stood up, he naturally took the purse and gently weighed it in his hand. Feeling its solid weight, the smile in his eyes deepened.
No wonder he likes Consort Yu so much; she's favored and generous. Anyone would be confused by that.
He cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, the Emperor has asked me to report on the matter in the Imperial Garden. The thief escaped too quickly, and the servants haven't found him yet. But Your Majesty, rest assured, the Emperor has sent some more people outside the palace. They will definitely ensure that nothing happens to Your Majesty."
Li Yu turned around and revealed the reward behind him.
"And Your Majesty, these are all His Majesty's good intentions. Your Majesty, please rest assured, that villain will surely not get away with it."
Upon receiving Li Yu's hint, Qingyin raised an eyebrow. Qianlong was using money to silence her for the sake of the royal family's reputation, but she guessed that Xiaoyanzi's fate wouldn't be good either.
But how could she dislike that Little Swallow still holding the title of a princess! Good things should be returned to their rightful owners; she can't stand those who usurp their positions. Ah, she's such a kind and beautiful person.
Seeing the smile on Qingyin's lips, Li Yu unconsciously sensed a dangerous aura, but it disappeared the next second. Was he seeing things?
If the system were there, it would definitely tell him that this is the host's scheming smile, not his illusion.
Soon the palace learned of Consort Ling's punishment. Although the reason was an overly extravagant excuse, who would be punished so severely for such a reason? Moreover, the time of confinement was cleverly timed to coincide with the days after the new favorite Consort Yu gave birth. This reason was obviously a lie; only a fool would believe it!
Consort Ling, sitting in the palace and suddenly punished, was truly going crazy. She had been hoping to hear good news someday, but instead, she received a severe punishment from the Emperor. She knew that Xiao Yanzi must have taken action. Could it be that the Emperor knew about her involvement? Impossible, she had only said a few words casually, how could the Emperor know?
"But Consort Yu's baby is doomed, isn't it? Haha," Consort Ling's panicked expression turned into a hint of triumphant joy, the two expressions contorting her face and completely destroying any semblance of her delicate beauty. The servants in the palace were so frightened that they wished they could disappear into the room.
"Lu Rou, go and inquire about Consort Yu."
Green Soft kept her head tightly bowed, not daring to let Consort Ling see the frenzied hatred in her eyes. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Watching Lü Rou walk away, the palace maids in Consort Ling's palace were filled with envy. How wonderful, even if it was just for a short while, they wouldn't have to be beaten.
Relieved to learn from the surrounding eunuchs that Consort Yu was unharmed, Lü Rou was quite pleased. She adored Consort Yu; she had seen the relaxed demeanor in the eyes of Consort Yu's maids—a demeanor not usually reserved for ruthless individuals. She had also met Consort Yu herself; her gaze was different from everyone else's, gentle and tender. She liked Consort Yu very much, truly loved her. If her sister had been with Consort Yu, she wouldn't have died.
Green Soft hid in a small corner of the Imperial Garden, a treasure trove discovered by her and her sister. Few people came here, and after her sister's death, it became her own private haven. Only here could she freely reveal her most vulnerable side. She knew she would die after returning to report, and Green Soft wanted to give herself a good cry before she died, as a gift to herself.
Back in Yanxi Palace, Lürou numbly reported the news she had inquired about to Consort Ling, which angered Consort Ling so much that she smashed a vase in Lürou's face, and blood flowed down her face, leaving a pool of water.
"Bring me the whip." A hint of reluctance flashed in the eyes of the palace maid who handed the whip to Consort Ling.
Lu Rou wasn't surprised at all; she lay on the ground like a dead fish.
Consort Ling anxiously whipped Lü Rou with a rattan cane until she heard Lü Rou's screams. Only then did her mood gradually calm down. Looking at the little palace maid lying in a pool of blood covered with whip marks, she casually threw the whip, still dripping with flesh and blood, on the ground, causing drops of blood to rise.
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