Chapter Fifty-Eight
Life inside the palace was bustling and lively, but He Rui, outside the palace, was completely unaware of it. It wasn't that He Rui, who was currently pregnant, wasn't interested in knowing what was happening in the palace, but rather that those around her were collectively keeping it from her, fearing that she might harm her pregnancy due to emotional distress. Of course, even if He Rui did know what was happening in the palace, she wouldn't be emotionally agitated. Like now, listening to what Princess Hejing, who had come to visit her, was saying, she showed no reaction.
"The other day, when I went to the palace to see the Empress Dowager, I saw that Princess Huanzhu. It was truly an eye-opener." Hejing recounted the recent events in the palace with a disdainful tone.
"Third sister is right. She is truly a remarkable person. I'm afraid even Father Emperor thinks so, which is why he adopted her as his goddaughter!"
"Ha, what a character! I think she's a jinx. Whoever gets dragged into this will be unlucky." He Jing finished speaking with a smirk. "You don't know, that Princess Huanzhu knocked down Hu Shi in Yongqi's room. I heard that Hu Shi was pregnant. Hu Shi wasn't as lucky as my sister; she miscarried right then and there." He Jing looked down on Hu Shi. Others might not know that Hu Shi was Qing'er, but she knew. Why did she give up being a proper princess to become a concubine? Although He Jing didn't like Yongqi much, she didn't think Yongqi would do something so despicable. She was convinced that Qing'er had seduced Yongqi.
He Rui didn't defend Qing'er. She felt a little sympathy for Qing'er, but that didn't mean she would offend her own sister for Qing'er's sake. "What did Father Emperor say?"
"It's strange, Father didn't react at all." He Jing frowned as she recalled Father's calm face. She remembered that Father valued Yongqi quite a bit.
There's nothing strange about it. The Emperor has long since categorized them as part of a conspiracy theory. He's probably keeping them around to see what other tricks they have up their sleeve. "Father is probably heartbroken and doesn't want us children to worry!"
"That's possible. But... He Rui, isn't Father Emperor paying too much attention to that Princess Huanzhu?" Princess Huanzhu hasn't been punished at all, and Hu Shi is carrying the Emperor's grandson! Father Emperor's response is too abnormal.
"Sister, this is not something we should concern ourselves with. I believe Father Emperor has his own plans."
He Jing had no choice but to nod. "I've always felt that Princess Huanzhu's identity is a bit strange. When I met Consort Ling, the implication in her words seemed to have a deeper meaning. You went to the hunting grounds. What happened there?"
He Rui sighed and recounted his trip to Weichang in detail, but omitted the calligraphy, paintings, fans, and the astonishing words.
He Jing frowned more and more as he listened. "Didn't my sister consider that the person who returned it to the princess might be the assassin?"
“I’ve thought about it, and I’ve asked Harichagai. Although Harichagai didn’t say it explicitly, he also…” He Rui sighed again, “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered with a princess from the common people.”
"What exactly does Father Emperor want to do? Why doesn't Mother Emperor stop him?"
"Third sister, Empress Dowager..." Should we tell the truth? "By the way, third sister, when I went to the palace a few days ago, I heard Empress Dowager asking several old nannies about the things from back then. It just so happens that He Rui is also investigating some things, and it seems to be related to what Empress Dowager was asking."
"What is it?" He Jing guessed that He Rui was referring to the fact that she had asked the Empress to investigate the late Empress's affairs.
"Before Consort Ling entered the palace, the Wei family sent another one. However, she disappeared less than two years after entering the palace. Some say she was caught having an affair with a guard and was beaten to death. Others say she committed suicide because she was angered by her master." He Rui lowered his eyes and spoke, "Later, the Wei family sent another one to the palace. This is the current Consort Ling. After she entered the palace, fearing that she would disappear like the previous one, she gave a lot of benefits to the maids under the various concubines."
He Jing's eyelids twitched; he already knew what He Rui was about to say.
“After entering the palace, Wei’s elder sister became a senior servant and served Consort Huixian. Her sister must have known that Consort Huixian was a gentle person, so why would she take her anger out on a servant?” He Rui lowered his eyes, looking at the cup in his hand. A few days ago, Granny Xia finally found out how Consort Huixian was murdered.
"What do you mean by that, little sister?" He Jing's voice was somewhat sharp.
She sighed, "Sister, please let me finish. Wei's sister didn't actually die; she was taken out of the palace by Wei Qingtai, the head of the Imperial Household Department."
"What!" He Jing exclaimed in surprise. How could this be? But... after calming down, He Jing felt that nothing was impossible. "Then... where are we now?"
“Wei’s older sister is actually someone my eldest sister knows,” He Rui could feel the tension in He Jing’s body. “And she’s very familiar with her. After Wei’s older sister left the palace, she couldn’t use the Wei family’s identity, so Wei Qingtai cleverly adopted a daughter out of longing for her. This daughter has a scar on her face, which Wei Qingtai put there.”
He Jing was shocked, "It's Li Tao?"
He Rui nodded.
Who is Li Tao? She was one of the palace maids assigned by the Imperial Household Department after He Jing returned to the capital and settled in. Because of a scar on her face, she could only do menial tasks. He Jing was initially reluctant to keep her, but later, seeing that she was clean and efficient, he kept her in the backyard to do cleaning work. "What does what my sister is saying have to do with my mother's affairs?"
"Sister, do you still remember Wu, the old nanny who served the late Empress?" He Rui saw He Jing nod. "This Wu was the most capable person by the late Empress's side, but she was also Wei's godmother."
"How could this be?" He Jing recalled the kind and loving Granny Wu and couldn't believe it. Granny Wu was in cahoots with Madam Wei.
“Wu Mama’s relationship with the Wei family is very deep. She was raised by the Wei family.” He Rui knew so much thanks to her brother-in-law, E Yue. At the time, she only mentioned it to He Ya. He Ya was quite friendly to Xia Mama, so she naturally helped Xia Mama find out what happened.
“The Wei family is so cunning! My mother was…” He Jing looked at He Rui, not wanting to believe what He Rui was saying, but reason reminded her that everything He Rui said was true.
Nodding, she wasn't sure if E Yue had informed the Emperor of his findings, but judging from the Empress's apparent ignorance, it seemed E Yue felt it wasn't appropriate to report this to the Emperor yet. The palace was truly a place rife with intrigues. What was the Wei family's purpose? The Empress? The Empress Dowager? Or to elevate a future emperor? Regardless of the reason, it revealed the Wei family's immense ambition and Wei Qingtai's profound understanding of the Emperor's preferences.
After seeing Hejing off, Herui, who should have been asleep, found it difficult to fall asleep. Lying on his side on the soft couch, a book in his hand, Herui squinted, wondering if Hejing would cause trouble in the palace because of this matter. There was one thing Herui didn't tell Hejing: the death of Consort Huixian was secretly approved by Empress Xiaoxian. If the Emperor knew about this but didn't investigate, it was very likely that the Emperor harbored resentment towards Empress Xiaoxian.
"Princess, the lotus seed soup is ready. Would you like to drink it now?"
"How long has Baozhu been with me?" He Rui leaned back on the cushion, took the lotus seed soup, and asked, remembering Haricha's promise to act as matchmaker for Baozhu.
“Reporting to Master, Baozhu has been with you since she was four years old, which is fourteen years ago.”
"Fourteen years, that's a long time. A few days ago, my husband said that a guard at the palace gate asked him for your help. I would like to ask what you think."
"Baozhu will leave it to the princess to decide." Baozhu twisted her handkerchief and lowered her head. She knew that her mistress loved her, but she could not become arrogant because of her favor and make her mistress dislike her.
"I saw you getting very close to Selemo, and I thought you were interested in him and was considering betrothing you to him. But seeing you like this, I need to think about it carefully." He Rui saw through Baozhu's thoughts. In this era, even daughters of wealthy families could not decide their own marriages, let alone a little girl.
“Master.” Baozhu bit her lip, steeled her heart, and knelt down before He Rui. “This servant was interested in Selemo.” After saying this, Baozhu’s face turned red. “But Baozhu cannot make Master feel bad because of herself.”
"It's your dishonesty that's making things difficult for me. I'll remember this. Prepare your own expenses for your wedding. If you don't have enough, get more from the management."
"master……"
"Get up early tomorrow and go submit your nameplate. I'm going to the palace to see what's going on, and I'll take the opportunity to have your slave status removed. If you want to help out in the household, you can stay, and your monthly salary will remain the same. If you want to start a small business, I'll also have someone make things easier for you."
Baozhu burst into tears after hearing this and kowtowed several times to He Rui, "Master..."
"Get up! I'm tired."
~~
Having deliberately missed the time when the concubines paid their respects to the Empress, He Rui sat on the soft couch prepared by the Empress and chatted with her. After mentioning Bao Zhu's status as a slave, He Rui asked the Empress for advice on precautions for pregnant women. Just then, a palace maid rushed in, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Princess Huan Zhu has caused trouble again, and the Emperor is currently in the Shufangzhai Palace, about to punish her."
"What has Huanzhu done now?" The Empress wasn't worried at all. It would be best if she were executed, which would relieve her of a worry. Ever since Xiao Yanzi entered the palace, she had been worried about whether the Emperor would be in danger.
"This... I heard that Princess Huanzhu secretly left the palace last night and was mistaken for an assassin. This morning, His Majesty wanted to see the assassin, but it turned out to be..." The maid's voice trailed off.
He Rui's lips twitched. Without Ziwei, what was Xiao Yanzi doing leaving the palace in the middle of the night? Was she going to look for her mother? "He Rui will accompany the Empress Dowager to see her."
The Empress glanced at He Rui, guessing he wanted to go see a play, and had Rong Momo help him to his feet. "Hurry up and lead the way." The Empress looked at the palace maid who had reported this; the harem had been quite lively lately.
Before even reaching Shufangzhai, they heard cries of agony, one after another. The Empress remained calm, while He Rui frowned slightly. "Princess Huanzhu can go sing some high notes now," he thought.
Upon entering the Shufangzhai, He Rui followed the Empress in paying respects to the Emperor. When Qianlong saw He Rui, his expression softened. "He Rui, why have you come? Didn't I tell you to take good care of your health?"
"Is Father Emperor disgusted with He Rui? Or does he no longer like He Rui?" He Rui looked very hurt.
"I have no reason to dislike He Rui."
"What did Huanzhu do to anger Father Emperor? For He Rui's sake, shall we spare her for now?"
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