Chapter Twenty-Six
Just as Qianlong was about to go to Yanxi Palace, he was stopped by Rong Momo. Upon hearing that Consort Yu had fainted, Qianlong no longer cared about Consort Ling and immediately turned to Changpu Palace.
Consort Ling in Yanxi Palace heard a report from her servants that Rong Momo had intercepted the Emperor on the way and headed towards Chang'an. Consort Ling twisted her handkerchief and twirled it around and around. "I want to see what tricks Consort Yu is up to. Lamei, Dongxue, help me change my clothes."
Palace maids were coming and going in the long hall, while the Emperor sat in the middle. "What's going on, Granny Xia? How have you been taking care of Consort Yu?"
"This servant knows her crime." Granny Xia knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the Emperor. She did not complain about Consort Yu. Instead, she guessed that Consort Yu might be using such means to win the Emperor's favor.
Actually… both Granny Xia and Consort Ling misunderstood. Consort Yu had no intention of using such methods to gain favor. Consort Yu was truly unlucky; she hadn't noticed a protruding root under the tree she was standing on. Consort Yu tripped over it, hit her head on the tree, and fell to the ground. Granny Xia, not noticing this process, assumed Consort Yu was using underhanded tactics to gain favor…
The imperial physician finally finished taking the pulse and came out. A normal pulse diagnosis wouldn't take this long, showing he wasn't stupid; he knew Consort Yu was currently the most favored concubine and deliberately dragged it out so the Emperor would see. The physician bowed and greeted the Emperor, and the other concubines also paid their respects. Then he reported to the Emperor on Consort Yu's condition: a bruise on her head, but the unborn child was unharmed.
“Bruises? How could there be bruises?” Qianlong looked at Granny Xia.
Xia Mama was stunned for a moment. She didn't know how there could be bruises, but she quickly replied, "Your Majesty, perhaps Consort Yu hit a tree before she fell."
Whether Emperor Qianlong truly loved Consort Yu or was simply showing his regard for her, he ordered that the tree be removed for him.
"..." The Empress lowered her head, playing with her handkerchief. Consorts Jia and Chun felt a pang of unease; was the Emperor paying too much attention to Consort Yu?
"Consort Ling has arrived!"
Consort Ling overheard the palace maids talking about Consort Yu's fainting along the way, but Consort Ling believed it was just a ploy, not a genuine fainting. A cold smile played on her lips; she had used this trick before. She wanted to see what other tricks this seemingly unconscious Consort Yu had up her sleeve. Consort Ling's mind worked quickly, and she immediately thought of the word "clashing." Was Consort Yu incompatible with the word "consort"? With this in mind, Consort Ling decided to use this opportunity to speak to the Emperor, hoping to get Consort Yu demoted to the rank of concubine.
Upon entering the palace, Consort Ling saw that everyone several ranks above her was there. She immediately lowered her head and respectfully greeted the Emperor and Empress, and also paid her respects to the two Imperial Concubines. Consort Ling had prepared her words, but upon seeing the two Imperial Concubines, she fell silent; she couldn't allow others to show her favor.
"When will Consort Yu wake up?" The Emperor had long forgotten that he was to spend the night in Yanxi Palace. He acted as if he didn't even see Consort Ling.
"Your Majesty, it will take about an hour," the imperial physician replied, bowing.
Consort Ling was unaware of what had happened before she entered. Hearing the imperial physician's words, Consort Ling assumed that Consort Yu had bribed the imperial physician, and the corner of her mouth involuntarily twitched.
"Your Majesty, since the imperial physician has said that Sister Yu needs to rest quietly for a while, I think we should have everyone dispersed! These people surrounding her might disturb her recovery." The Empress, who had been watching Consort Ling, lowered her eyelids and looked at Consort Jia and Consort Chun. Thinking of Consort Yu inside, the Empress suddenly realized that as long as she followed the Emperor's lead and held onto the Phoenix Seal, playing the role of the fisherman might not be so bad.
"Disperse, all of you! Rong Momo, help the Empress back to Kunning Palace." The Emperor's special instruction made the two Noble Consorts and one Consort quite jealous. The two Noble Consorts quickly realized that there was no point in competing with the Empress. The Empress's background was higher than theirs, and even if they managed to dethrone the Empress, they might not necessarily be the ones to ascend to the throne. Consort Ling, however, was not as open-minded as the two Noble Consorts. She still harbored hopes for that position. She wrung out her handkerchief and stood behind the two Noble Consorts as she withdrew from the main hall.
"This tree won't be visible tomorrow." Consort Jia and Consort Chun stopped, gazing at a large tree in the garden. Looking down at the lush tree, Consort Chun noticed the protruding roots. She frowned, thinking for a moment. "Time waits for no one. I'm tired after just a short while. I'll take my leave first."
Consort Jia glanced at Consort Ling and then left as well.
Consort Ling looked at the big tree, wondering what it meant. After leaving the Chang'an Palace, Consort Ling immediately sent Dongxue to find out what had happened before she arrived.
~~~
The palace was in turmoil, and the area outside was also in chaos.
When the Prince's wife returned to the manor with a face swollen like a steamed cake, she startled the Prince. Hearing from her that the palace officials said Haozhen had been kissing a singing girl in public, the Prince was so shocked that he dropped his teacup. Recalling that he had been publicly flogged a few days ago, the Prince understood what had happened and immediately ordered Haozhen to be summoned.
The servant left quickly and returned just as fast; the man wasn't in the manor, he'd gone out. The servant spoke tremblingly; even the most oblivious servant could sense the terrifying look on his master's face. Who wanted to get involved in this mess?
"Where did the eldest young master go?" Prince Shuo threw a teacup at Xue Ru and turned to look at her. "It's all because of your good son that I lost face in front of all the ministers." Prince Shuo roared at Xue Ru.
"I..." Xue Ru wanted to explain, but seeing the King Shuo's expression, she obediently shut her mouth and listened to the King Shuo vent his anger.
After cursing for a while, the Prince of Shuo calmed down a bit. Looking at the servant kneeling on the ground, he said, "Why aren't you going out to find the young master?" Another teacup flew out.
The servant ran out and first saw the second young master, Haoxiang. Haoxiang looked at the servant who had run out and asked, "What are you doing in such a panic?"
"Second Young Master, Master has sent me to find the Eldest Young Master."
Haoxiang, recalling the rumors circulating outside, curled a calculating smile at the corner of his mouth. "My elder brother is in XX alley of Mao'er Hutong. Go and find him." Haoxiang's voice wasn't quiet, so Prince Shuo in the main house heard him clearly, and his wife gritted her teeth. After speaking, Haoxiang walked towards his mother's courtyard. Usually, everyone thought that the second young master of Prince Shuo's mansion was inferior to the eldest young master, so Haoxiang followed everyone's ideas and developed into a playboy. Anyway, Prince Shuo's mansion could only have one heir, and since he couldn't compete with his brother who could catch and release foxes, he didn't bother.
Prince Shuo originally wanted to stop Haoxiang and ask him for clarification, but then he thought that Prince Shuo had summoned his servants and he wanted to go and see.
Xue Ru saw Prince Shuo leave and immediately called over Granny Qin, as she had a bad feeling.
Normally, Prince Shuo hadn't paid much attention to his youngest son's words, but today he seemed bewitched, inexplicably wanting to see if it was true or false. Prince Shuo and his entourage had barely stepped out the door when Xue Ru, accompanied by Granny Qin, followed behind his carriage.
The servants who came out to find the eldest son were no match for Prince Shuo's carriage. When Prince Shuo arrived at Mao'er Alley, he followed the address given by his youngest son and walked in. From afar, he could hear the continuous sound of a zither, and Prince Shuo's heart sank. When Prince Shuo pushed open the door and saw the two people inside drinking and laughing, his mouth turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Haozhen stood beside a woman dressed in mourning clothes who was playing the zither, holding a wine jug. His smile froze upon seeing Prince Shuo. "Father, what's wrong..." Haozhen hurriedly put down the wine jug and pulled the woman to her feet.
Prince Shuo looked at his son. What a good son! He had thought his son had offended someone, but he never expected... this shameless beast. Prince Shuo's lips twitched, and the murderous intent in Bai Yinshuang's eyes grew stronger.
How could Haozhen not see the obvious murderous intent in Prince Shuo's eyes? He knelt down before Prince Shuo, holding Bai Yinshuang, and said, "Father, Yinshuang is a very beautiful woman. Please grant us permission!"
"I've granted your request! Do you think the Emperor's arranged marriage is a joke? Don't think that just because the Emperor is referring to a princess, she's from the palace. Even a princess can kill the entire household. You've already taken a mistress before the marriage, and she's even in mourning!" Prince Shuo became angrier as he spoke, and walked over and kicked Bai Yinshuang in the shoulder. "A woman in mourning seducing a man deserves to be drowned in a pig cage. Today, I will get rid of you."
"Father, no! Yinshuang and I are truly in love. I will marry no one but Yinshuang in this life. I don't care who the Emperor has chosen. I only want Yinshuang." Haozhen supported Bai Yinshuang, held her in his arms, and looked at Prince Shuo with an unyielding expression.
Prince Shuo was furious at Haozhen's words and pointed at him. "Are you threatening me?" No matter who the Emperor pointed at, did he want to drag the entire Prince Shuo's mansion down with him? How could he have such an unfilial son?
Haozhen stared at Prince Shuo with a stiff neck, a silent act of defiance.
"Fine, fine, fine, today I will kill you, and then I will ask the Emperor for punishment for failing to properly discipline my son. Guards! Separate these two adulterers from me!" Prince Shuo said through gritted teeth, his eyes no longer showing the mercy he once had for Haozhen. Haozhen looked at Prince Shuo's eyes with fear, but still stood tall. His father loved him so much; he wouldn't really kill him.
"Strip that woman in mourning clothes and throw her into the official kiln." Prince Shuo sneered. How could the glory of the Shuo Prince's Mansion be ruined like this? Fortunately, he still had a son. Although he was a spoiled brat, he was confident that he could correct his son's bad habits.
"No..." Haozhen held Bai Yinshuang tightly, "Father, Yinshuang is so beautiful, so kind, how could you hurt her? You are too cold-hearted and cruel!" Haozhen roared at Prince Shuo. Before they knew it, the servants were pulling Bai Yinshuang's clothes off.
"Haozhen, save me..."
When Xue Ru stumbled to the courtyard gate, she saw Hao Zhen and the servants scrambling for a woman. The woman's clothes had been torn open, revealing a plum blossom brand on her shoulder. Xue Ru's heart skipped a beat when she saw the brand. She pushed aside Granny Qin and walked towards Bai Yinshuang, staring blankly at the plum blossom brand on Bai Yinshuang's body. Suddenly, with a burst of strength, Xue Ru pushed Hao Zhen and the servants aside and embraced Bai Yinshuang.
"Your Highness, Yinshuang is our daughter."
Author's Note: Hehe, actually you guys are overthinking it. *covers face* *runs away*
Sorry everyone, there were too many bugs TAT
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