Chapter 808 Praying for Blessings and Averting Disaster
Here, Consort Gao and Consort Song came to Kunning Palace together.
The two women first bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."
Jiang Fenghua had a sore throat and didn't want to talk. She raised her hand to indicate that they didn't need to be polite, stood up, invited them to sit down, and had tea served.
Consort Song asked with concern, "I heard Your Highness was ill. Has the imperial physician examined you? Are you feeling better?"
Jiang Fenghua nodded. "Much better."
Gao Qingtong said with concern, "Your Majesty, if your throat is uncomfortable, please speak less and take good care of yourself. I have loquat syrup in my palace that is very effective in treating sore throats. I will have someone send it to Your Majesty later."
Jiang Fenghua nodded, "Thank you all. I hope the assassins who came to Kunning Palace the night before last didn't frighten you!"
Consort Song patted her chest and said, "I still feel scared when I think about it. I don't know who wanted to assassinate Your Majesty. Fortunately, Your Majesty is safe and sound. Consort Gao and I were so worried. Your Majesty is a lucky person and is protected by the Bodhisattva."
Gao Qingtong, rarely gossipy, said softly, "There's something that everyone is wondering about. I've dared to ask Your Majesty: Is Princess Yi really the Emperor's daughter?"
Jiang Fenghua said calmly, "What, are there any rumors circulating in the harem again?"
Gao Qingtong quickly stood up and apologized, "Your Majesty, I didn't come here to gossip. It concerns Your Majesty's reputation. I have indeed heard some bad rumors. I feel that even if this matter is over and cleared up on the surface, the noblewomen and common people do not believe that Your Majesty and the Fourth Princess are innocent. After all, the Fourth Princess's words have deeply penetrated people's hearts. Everyone treats them as a joke. Your Majesty's reputation has not actually been improved, and the impact is still great. I was wondering if Your Majesty could think of a way to restore Your Majesty's reputation. If Princess Yi is really not a princess, Your Majesty cannot really carry such a reputation."
Jiang Fenghua knew that Gao Qingtong was not a person who liked to gossip, so the fact that she brought it up meant that she must have actually heard some remarks that were detrimental to the emperor.
At that time, Xie Shang was personally presiding over the case in the capital, and he also invited many famous scholars. Even the Fourth Prince admitted in court that he had accidentally killed someone. However, the Fourth Princess's remarks were more likely to cause gossip than the truth that Xie Shang had uncovered. The emperor's romantic affairs attracted more attention than the power struggles in the court.
The concubines in the harem were unaware of Consort Chang's affairs.
On the night of the family banquet, although rumors of the Fourth Prince's rebellion caused panic in the palace, Xie Shang eventually suppressed some of the truth.
However, an assassination attempt occurred in the palace. Everyone speculated that it might be the Fourth Prince trying to assassinate the Empress, but the Empress and the Fourth Prince had no grudge against each other!
Then, thinking about how the Fourth Princess Consort ran to the court to accuse the Emperor of having an affair with her and even admitted to killing Shu Xue, a series of things seemed suspicious. The strangest thing was that the Fourth Prince came forward to clarify that he had accidentally killed Shu Xue, clearing the Fourth Princess Consort's name, and then explained to everyone that Princess Yi was the Fourth Prince's daughter.
The Fourth Prince stepped forward to smooth things over, probably to cover up the scandal between the Emperor and the Fourth Princess. Everyone will surely think that Xie Ruoyi is actually the Emperor's illegitimate daughter, and the Empress will definitely not be happy if she knows that the Emperor and the Fourth Princess are having an affair.
However, if the Fourth Prince wanted to kill someone, he would kill the Emperor to vent his anger. Why would he assassinate the Empress?
Even Song Qing and Gao Qingtong believed that the Emperor and the Fourth Princess Consort might actually have an affair, judging from the way the Fourth Princess Consort usually looked at the Emperor.
Jiang Fenghua also knew that this matter would not be so easily resolved. She said, "The Emperor and the Fourth Princess Consort are indeed innocent. As for what the Fourth Princess Consort herself is thinking, the Emperor cannot control that."
Although the matter has passed and Zhang Yurou and Xie Yang have come out to clarify things, everyone still prefers to believe that the emperor and the fourth princess had an affair, and it might even be fabricated into unofficial royal history and circulated.
Jiang Fenghua didn't explain much, and she didn't know what Zhang Yurou was thinking. Xie Yang told her to say that, but what about herself?
Gao Qingtong said, "Your Majesty, I understand."
Whether Xie Ruoyi is a princess or a county princess makes a big difference.
Song Qing asked, "Why did Shu Ronghua suddenly disappear?"
"I heard that she was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court by the Emperor. What did she do wrong? Did an assassin rescue her and Consort Chang? How did Consort Chang get involved? Did the Fourth Prince and Consort Chang really rebel? Everyone says the Fourth Prince is the most honest. How could he rebel?"
Generally, when concubines in the imperial harem were imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, it was mostly because they had committed unforgivable mistakes, such as having affairs. Did Consort Shu have an affair? Who was her lover?
Jiang Fenghua spoke frankly: "Shu Ronghua did indeed commit an unforgivable mistake. She has already left the palace, so let's not mention her anymore. As for Consort Chang, she is the mother of the Fourth Prince. If the Fourth Prince wanted to rebel, his mother would definitely be implicated. The inner palace should not interfere in politics, and I am not aware of the details."
She couldn't very well talk about Consort Chang and Prince Kang's affair.
Song Qing covered her mouth, "Oh dear, the Fourth Prince is really going to rebel! What has he done to deserve this?"
Jiang Fenghua noticed that Song Qing was so inquisitive, but it was understandable. In the harem, everyone would be concerned about the slightest disturbance. Even if Xie Shang suppressed the matter, there are no secrets that stay hidden forever.
"Do people who want to rebel wear 'I want to rebel' on their faces?" Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice. "The Emperor has already seen through the Fourth Prince's thoughts and has placed him under house arrest in the Fourth Prince's residence. The concubines in the harem should not inquire about matters of the court. The Emperor is very angry about this matter. Who dares to discuss it in private? If the Emperor finds out, I'm afraid even I can't save her."
Song Qing also quickly stood up, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
“This year may be an unlucky year, with one misfortune after another,” Song Qing suggested. “In my hometown, there is a saying that if it is an unlucky year, one should pray for blessings to ward off disasters. I suggest that we organize a blessing ceremony to ask the gods to protect the Great Zhou and ensure its prosperity.”
Jiang Fenghua remained silent. Indeed, the people had suffered many misfortunes. The idea of seeking divine protection through prayer had existed since ancient times, and the people believed in and revered it.
Jiang Fenghua knew that the successive incidents in the harem could not be resolved by praying to the gods. If people didn't cause trouble, so many things wouldn't have happened. But people didn't think that way. With so many people dead, everyone felt fear. As the empress, if she didn't do something, it would be difficult to explain to everyone.
Song Qing and Gao Qingtong assisted in managing the harem. She asked Gao Qingtong for her opinion, "What is Consort Gao's opinion?"
Gao Qingtong said, "There is indeed such a saying among the people. With one concubine after another getting into trouble in the palace, this is a way to appease people's hearts."
“This matter also needs to be known to the Emperor…” Jiang Fenghua said.
Just then, Xie Shang walked in from outside, "What do I need to know?"
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