Chapter 666 The Helan Family Came to the Imperial Palace to Cause Trouble
Meanwhile, in the Golden Palace.
The Empress Dowager of Changping fainted, and the Emperor had already sent for the imperial physician once. Even if it was just for show, he couldn't ignore it.
He had her taken to a side hall to rest, and a moment later she ran to the outside of the Golden Palace to plead for her daughter's innocence, and even wanted to ask the Empress for clarification.
Marquis Changping was also heartbroken that an elderly man had to outlive his son; his eyes were swollen from crying. He couldn't control his wife and wanted to find out the specifics of the situation.
Jiang Jinyan was also afraid that the shrew would start crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide. It was like a scholar encountering a soldier; politeness was not enough to resolve the situation. The key point was that he was also a member of the Empress's family. If he spoke up, the Helan family would think that he was speaking up for the Empress.
So Jiang Jinyan quietly stepped aside. At this moment, his mind wasn't on the imperial palace, but on home. Last night, Zhang Yumo had kicked him out of his room...
Xie Shang was also in a real bind. "The Empress was also a victim in this matter; she was also kidnapped by the criminals."
"Yanran never makes enemies. Who would kidnap her? So many concubines have left the palace, why weren't they kidnapped? Why is it my Yanran? I've heard that Her Majesty the Empress has many enemies. There were villains who tried to harm her, but why did Her Majesty return safely while my daughter disappeared? I must ask the Empress today where she took my daughter." Lady Changping Marquis continued relentlessly.
Xie Shang's eyes were cold as he said in a deep voice, "Madam, who did you hear say that the Empress has many enemies? What kind of enemies does she have? The Empress has always been friendly with people. Madam, don't spread rumors and damage the Empress's reputation."
"If I am merely repeating hearsay, the Empress will only suffer damage to her reputation, but my daughter will lose her life." She knelt on the ground and wept bitterly.
Xie Shang was stunned. He had heard that Lady Changping had already caused trouble at Jishan Hall once, and now she had come to the palace to cause trouble again. He Lan Changping had brought his wife to disrupt the Golden Palace, and he could throw her out. However, the death of Consort Lan was indeed in their wrong.
Xie Shang said, "I understand that you miss your daughter dearly, and I am also heartbroken by the accident that happened to Consort Lan."
"I've heard that the Emperor dotes on the Empress and doesn't care about the other concubines at all. My poor daughter has just disappeared. Is the Emperor really heartbroken? Or does he simply not care about Yanran's life or death?" Lady Changping was full of indignation. Her daughter was being neglected by her husband, and as a mother, she must be heartbroken. Now her daughter's fate was unknown.
Xie Shang narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "My lady is meddling far too much in my family affairs!"
"Your Majesty's family affairs also concern my daughter! Yanran is my own flesh and blood, and she has just disappeared without a trace. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for Yanran."
Xie Shang didn't know what to do. If she said that the remnants of the Su family had killed her daughter, or even mentioned Consort Su, Consort Su had already been banished to the Cold Palace and died. If she brought up the Su family now, not only would no one believe her, but people would also question whether the Su family was only targeting Jiang Fenghua.
He felt that the incident involving Lady Changping Marquis at the Golden Palace was not so simple. Perhaps someone had deliberately set it up to frame Jiang Fenghua, and he was determined to find out who was gossiping behind her back.
Xie Shang said, "I will send people down to continue the search. Please ask Lady Hou and Lord Hou to return to the manor and await news."
Jiang Fenghua followed the people to the back of the Golden Palace. She listened quietly to the commotion in front. Compared to yesterday, Lady Changping was even more convinced that she was the one who had harmed her daughter.
She glanced at Shang Hong beside her and whispered, "See? The Helan family has blown this up."
Shang Hong said, "What does Your Majesty want to say?" Lan'er cannot possibly show herself, otherwise she really wouldn't survive, and the Empress knows this better than anyone else.
"Find out who's been gossiping about her." She refused to believe that anyone outside the palace could know who the Emperor favored.
If Xie Shang truly favors Jiang Fenghua above all others, where would the children in the wombs of the other concubines come from? Besides, Xie Shang has never shortchanged the women in his harem materially; whenever anything good is sent to the palace, the concubines always get a share.
She read the account books that Cheng Feng brought and remembered everything clearly.
"Your Majesty means that someone is deliberately causing trouble by taking advantage of this matter, but why?"
“Naturally, it’s aimed at me. She just said that I have many enemies, and I think that’s the key. Since she knows about my enemies, it means she must have heard something,” Jiang Fenghua added.
Furthermore, Xie Shang never mentioned in court that the assassin was a remnant of the Su family, as if Xie Shang knew that involving the Su family would involve her. Xie Shang still did not want to involve her, and he would rather be questioned by the Lady of Changping Marquis.
The emperor tolerated a woman's tantrum in front of all his officials not because he knew Helan Yanran had faked her death, but because it concerned Jiang Fenghua. He didn't want to involve her too much. As long as he gave in to her whims, she would stop making a scene once she had had enough.
That's why Lin Feng sent someone to invite the Empress, fearing that someone would say she was hiding and refusing to meet people, making things worse and making it impossible to explain herself in the end.
Jiang Fenghua didn't want to go out and be attacked by Lady Changping. She thought that, considering He Lanjue's help in detoxifying the people of Jishantang, she could forgive Lady Changping for her wild words and being used by others.
Aoxue, having received the Empress's instructions, selected a fine horse and personally left the palace, galloping to Jishan Hall to take Helan Jue away. Before anyone could react, Helan Jue had vanished from Jishan Hall.
Upon entering the palace and seeing his parents, He Lanjue immediately understood. He first bowed to the Emperor, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
Upon seeing this, Xie Shang asked, "Are you the young master of the Marquis of Changping's mansion? Who are you?"
"This humble citizen is Helan Jue, son of Marquis Helan Changping of Changping."
Xie Shang had no recollection of him and seemed never to have seen him before. He said, "Get up! Consort Lan had an accident, and your mother has been shocked and is in a bad mood. Since Young Master Helan is here, please comfort your mother!"
"Yes," Helan Jue replied.
When Marquis Changping and his wife saw their son arrive, a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes. "Jue'er, why are you here?"
Helan Jue knelt beside them and said in a low voice, "Mother, my sister's accident has nothing to do with Her Majesty the Empress. It was an accident. You came to the palace and made a scene for so long. It was only because the Emperor and Her Majesty were merciful and did not hold our Helan family's disrespect against us that you stopped making a scene. If you continue to make a scene, not only will people laugh at our Helan family, but it will also affect Father's career. Let's go back quickly!"
Since the Emperor said that the Lady's emotions were unstable, it means that the Emperor will not hold the matter against the Mother for causing a scene at the Golden Palace, nor will he blame the Father for bringing the Mother into the palace without permission.
He went back to the manor last night to persuade his mother, but no matter how he tried, she wouldn't listen and insisted that it was the Empress who had implicated his sister.
The Empress had absolutely no reason to harm Yanran. What did they hear somewhere that made them so confused?
"I'm not going back. I'm going to find your sister. She was supposed to be a concubine in the palace. How could she suddenly be gone? How could this happen! Jue'er, how could Yanran be in trouble? I need to ask the Empress. I need to see her." Lady Helan cried even more bitterly when she saw her son.
The next moment, no one knew what Helan Jue had done to his mother, but Lady Helan fainted in his arms from crying. He deliberately asked, "Mother, Mother, what's wrong?"
Marquis Changping also said, "Madam..."
He Lanjue made a quick decision and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, my mother has fainted due to excessive grief. Please allow me to take my mother back to my residence to recuperate."
Xie Shang said, "I pity your mother for losing her beloved daughter. Young Master Helan, please take her back to your residence!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Helan Jue said in a deep voice.
Helan Jue held no official position, and the title of Marquis of Changping could no longer be inherited. In addition, he was ill and could die at any time. Helan Jue lived as he pleased, so he referred to himself as "commoner" in front of the emperor.
He knew that the Helan family sent their daughter to the palace to bring glory to their family. Now that Yanran had suddenly died, everyone was devastated. He himself was also chronically ill and could not bring hope or honor to the family; he was a burden to the Helan family.
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