Chapter 231 Rest Assured
As soon as Hongzhao stepped out, he saw Consort Jing pacing anxiously at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. He paused and went to greet her.
"Your Highness is well."
Consort Jing's usually gentle voice had become hoarse, and her hands were clasped tightly together, as if she wanted to ask something but didn't know where to begin.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Hongzhao lowered his head, glancing at Xiao Dezi who had returned at some point, and then looked around to make sure no one else was there before speaking.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, everything is fine with Third Brother now. Father Emperor punished Third Brother by making him copy the Classic of Filial Piety a thousand times and also deducted a year's salary. That matter is now over."
Consort Jing nodded with her lips pursed. Xiao Dezi had told her the whole story on the way. The Emperor had already shown her extra mercy by punishing her like this, and the Crown Prince's role in mediating the dispute was undoubtedly a factor.
"Hongzhao, I...I really don't know how to thank you enough." A string in her heart suddenly loosened, and tears were about to fall.
Having served the Emperor for many years, she was well aware of his temper; anyone would be enraged to hear their child say such things. Moreover, he was the Emperor, the supreme ruler, so his anger would only be greater.
Hongzhao had received a lot of care from Consort Jing since childhood, so seeing her like this, he quickly bent down and said gently, "Don't worry, there's something I need to tell you. My third brother has lost a year's salary, so the whole family will naturally have a harder time. But you must not give him any money or money easily. Father Emperor is very angry, and it's inevitable that my third brother will suffer some hardship these days."
"Yes, yes, I understand that principle perfectly well." Consort Jing nodded hurriedly, and just as she was about to ask a few more questions, the door in front of her suddenly opened.
Su Peisheng came out and saw the two standing at the door. He paused for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor invites you in."
"Thank you, sir."
Consort Jing adjusted her expression, nodded to Hongzhao, and was about to walk inside when Hongzhao seemed to remember something, turned around, and called out softly again.
"At this time, the Emperor had quite a few objections to that Jiang Gege."
It's far better to have someone point out the Emperor's thoughts than to fumble around blindly. Though it was just a short sentence, it was indeed priceless.
Consort Jing patted Hongzhao's hand, her lips moving as if in a trembling voice, but her words of gratitude were too empty; all her thoughts could be summed up in a single sentence.
"Good child, don't worry, Hongshi and I will always remember your kindness."
Hongzhao waved his hand nonchalantly, "Your Highness is being too polite. Hurry up and go inside, don't keep Father waiting inside."
...
There have never been any secrets in the Forbidden City.
The news of the Emperor's anger spread like wildfire throughout the palace even before Hongzhao and Hongshi had left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Everyone speculated what the Third Prince had done to anger the Emperor so much.
As for why they didn't guess it was the Crown Prince who was traveling with them... even those who had just entered the palace wouldn't ask such a question. Seeing Consort Jing rushing towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation only confirmed their suspicions.
Life in the palace was dull, and everyone was eagerly anticipating a spectacle. They were all waiting to see how the foolish Third Prince would be punished, but to their surprise, he emerged unscathed from the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Apart from looking flustered, he appeared perfectly fine!
Although Fucha knew in his heart that this had nothing to do with the Crown Prince, he was still anxious because he didn't know the situation at the time. Just as he was thinking of sending someone to ask the Empress Dowager about the situation, he heard a report from outside: "The Crown Prince has returned."
She got up to go out and greet her, but Hongzhao stepped into the hall first. Seeing Fucha's worried look, he couldn't help but smile and spoke before she could ask.
"Don't worry, don't worry, I know you heard what was said outside. Don't be afraid, it has nothing to do with me. It was Third Brother who said something wrong and offended Father Emperor."
In the sweltering heat, anyone walking outside would be drenched in sweat, and Hongzhao was no exception. The first thing he did upon entering the house was to take the damp cloth handed to him by Jinxi and carefully wipe himself. Fucha only truly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the Crown Prince say this himself.
She picked up a fan from the table and leaned forward to straighten Hongzhao's collar, which he had turned upside down. She fanned him slowly and gently. "I heard from outside that it's about that pregnant princess? I was just talking about it with my third sister-in-law."
"Yes and no." After all that fuss, Hongzhao finally managed to sit properly in the armchair. The moment his body touched the chair, he let out a sigh. Moving around between two different places was really inconvenient.
"It was Third Brother who spoke without thinking, insisting on pulling a whisker from a tiger's head, and that's why he got punished." He picked up the iced tea beside him and took a few gulps—"Yingjun, you just said that you also talked about Jiang Gege with Third Sister-in-law? What did you say?"
When a husband and wife chat casually about everyday matters, they can say whatever they want, but the listeners always need to understand something. Fucha kept the speed of his fan waving and only glanced at the room briefly. As a result, all the clever people in the room nodded and filed out one after another.
"Third Sister-in-law said that Hua'er's health was not good, and that Jiang Gege's pregnancy had relieved his worries. She also asked about our affairs, but it was just some concern and advice."
Her words were vague, but Hongzhao understood them.
Third Sister-in-law is a qualified consort, a fact universally acknowledged both inside and outside the palace. She has a cheerful personality and a supportive family. In every respect, she does not diminish the Third Prince's standing. However, there is one thing about her that has drawn much criticism over the years.
That is, he has few children. His third brother, at his age, only has one daughter, who is also sickly, which is really unacceptable. But even so, she has managed to keep a close watch on the courtyard for several years. Judging from this, she has probably shared her "insights" with Yingjun.
He smiled gently. Women already face many hardships in life. Once they enter the palace, they never have a chance to leave. What else can they plan for if not their future?
He dropped his relaxed smile, turned around to face Fucha Yingjun, and his expression became serious. His solemnity made Fucha gradually stop waving his fan.
"Yingjun, there are some things I don't think I can say a second time. Remember this well: you are the wife I personally brought into the house with eight sedan chairs. You can rest assured about everything from now on."
Fucha stared into his beautiful eyes, the sincerity in them unmistakable, and gazed into those captivating eyes.
"Okay, don't worry."
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