Consort Jin gritted her teeth: "It's no use saying this now; I'm afraid this matter can't be kept secret any longer."
Hongchou and Lüyu exchanged a glance. Lüyu said, "As long as you remain adamant and don't say anything, the Fourth Prince won't say anything unless he's gone mad."
“If the Fourth Prince doesn’t speak, will the people around him not speak? After several rounds of torture, who will remain loyal?” Consort Jin said.
“But… His Majesty only took the people from Consort Rong’s side, not the Fourth Prince’s people?” Hongchou said.
“We haven’t taken it yet, just to give him face, since his mother hasn’t been sent to the imperial mausoleum yet. Once Consort Rong sends it out, how can we not find out?” Consort Jin said irritably.
"Ah? How did things come to this... This time it wasn't anyone's scheme, could it be the Empress?" Hongchou asked.
Consort Jin remained silent.
She had no idea who it was.
"Your Majesty," Green Feather knelt down, "you...you need to make a decision soon."
"Your Majesty, admitting to murdering a prince is a grave crime, and I'm afraid even your family won't be able to protect you. But there's still room for maneuver in Consort Rong's case. Even if... you're innocent, there's nothing we can do." These ambiguous words didn't necessarily mean Consort Rong had to die.
"Even if I admit it, so what? What about the Fourth Prince?" Consort Jin asked.
“If Your Highness were wise, you would know what a crime it is to plot against your brother,” said Green Feather.
Consort Jin took a deep breath: "Am I really going to be tricked like this?"
"Your Majesty, you must protect yourself so that you can have a backup plan," Green Feather said helplessly.
The person behind it might be because of this that they dare to scheme so recklessly.
Because if their own mistress refused to admit it, they would have to admit to plotting against the eldest prince.
Which is more important?
"Whoever it is, this person is truly shrewd and resourceful." Consort Jin took a deep breath.
"Let me think about it carefully."
The next day, Shu Chengfeng went to court, and Yan Nangui also got up early. That's how it is when you return to the palace; you can't be lazy in the morning.
No sooner had she gotten up than Consort Jin came to request an audience.
Yan Nangui finished his breakfast at a leisurely pace, saw the Seventh Princess out, and then called Consort Jin in.
Consort Jin knelt down as soon as she entered, without the slightest hesitation: "Your Majesty, I have come to confess my sins."
"You admitted it so easily?" Yan Nangui smiled.
"Your Majesty, I...did not intend for Consort Rong to die. I only...I only told her not to meddle in so many things, but she misunderstood..."
“Consort Jin, ever since the late Empress was imprisoned, I’ve suspected that there’s a hidden hand in this palace.” Yan Nangui sat down and smiled, “Get up and let’s talk while you’re sitting down.”
Consort Jin's heart tightened, but she still got up and sat down.
"These hands rarely appear. But when they do, it signifies something significant. Take the late Empress, for example. Or Consort Qu's miscarriage back then. Although I don't know the details, I can sense it's the same person. You and I both know what kind of person the late Empress was. Who hated her so deeply?"
"Does Your Highness have a plan?" Consort Jin's heart raced.
"In the harem, those of high rank each have their own affairs. The late Empress was pregnant three times but failed to give birth; were all of them accidents? Consort Jing miscarried once, and her childbirth was a near-death experience. She miscarried again later. You and I both know the truth. Consort Xiangxian miscarried and raised the Eighth Prince. She also went through many ups and downs. You, me, Luo Shi, Xia Shi, and Murong Shi—who among us who came from the manor, good or bad, hasn't experienced many things? Only one person has remained completely stable from beginning to end. Although there were some difficulties in the manor, looking at her now, she has truly risen to prominence smoothly."
“Consort Ning!” Consort Jin suddenly said.
"Heh. At first, the eldest prince was raised by the empress. Back then, she was just a pitiful illegitimate daughter, suppressed by her own cousin and without any favor. But what happened later? Now, she has the eldest prince, and he's even a first-rank Consort Shu. His Majesty has no legitimate son, and his eldest son has done nothing wrong. Who knows if, in the future, this empire will belong to them, mother and son?" Yan Nangui said.
Consort Jin was also deeply concerned. Yes, she had noticed it before, but not this deeply.
"As for your matter, you're like tofu that's fallen into the stove—you can't blow on it or hit it, can you? You came to me instead of His Majesty because perhaps I'll spare your life for some reason, right?" Yan Nangui said with a smile.
Consort Jin rose and knelt down again: "Your Majesty the Empress is wise. I... did not lay a hand on Consort Rong. It's just... it was indeed me who did it to the maidservant in the First Prince's quarters. If the person behind it is truly Consort Ning, she must know about this. Firstly, it's for revenge, and secondly, it's to get rid of the Fourth Prince."
"She knows I have no choice; I'll have to choose one of these two things," Consort Jin said, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Sigh. It's not easy for anyone. I can understand your support for the Fourth Prince." Yan Nangui shook his head.
"Your Majesty, I..."
"You think you can get away unscathed? It's impossible. It all depends on which one you admit to. His Majesty can't possibly find nothing. But you do have your own backing. If you can save yourself now, out of respect for your father, your life can be spared," Yan Nangui said directly.
"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. If I am fortunate enough to survive, I will follow Your Majesty's lead without hesitation. In the future, whichever prince Your Majesty supports, the Huo family will not hesitate. I only ask that Your Majesty consider the sisterly bond we had back then." Consort Jin kowtowed.
“Alright. I remember those words. As for Consort Ning, you don’t need to act rashly. The First Prince has never made a mistake. And now, I’m afraid the Fourth Prince is no longer fit to be the Crown Prince. Do you understand what I mean?” Yan Nangui asked.
"Your Majesty, I understand," Consort Jin hurriedly replied.
I understand perfectly well. The Second Prince comes from a poor background, the Third Prince is already disliked by His Majesty because of his mother, and the Fourth Prince is no better now. If Consort Ning is dealt with now, it will look bad.
If none of the five princes are suitable, then His Majesty will lose face.
On her way to Beichen Palace, Consort Jin received news that Yang Li, who served the Fourth Prince, had drowned in the pond the previous night.
The place where the concubines' remains were laid to rest was a temporary palace outside the city.
Although it's not big, it has everything you could possibly need.
There are also ponds, of course.
Consort Jin breathed a sigh of relief; this time, she wouldn't have to bring up the matter of the First Prince.
Not to mention how Consort Jin begged for mercy in agony.
In Zhaochun Palace, after learning about this, Yan Nangui gently shook his head: "It really wasn't me who schemed against him, it's just that he couldn't handle the consequences himself."
The "he" in this context naturally refers to the Fourth Prince.
"He's still young, and I guess he lost his composure because of the sudden death of Consort Rong," Jiang Xiang said.
“Yes, actually, no matter what he was dealt with, it would be better than this. He could at least go back to the palace and cry to His Majesty. His Majesty’s own son, even if he has done something wrong, as long as he is willing to change, how could His Majesty not forgive him? Now, his mother didn’t believe His Majesty and committed suicide. And him, he can’t handle the slightest thing and ordered the death of the person next to him.” Yuanhua shook her head: “In my opinion, he has no chance.”
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