Chapter 86: The Highly Sensitive Clingy Person
Starting with Empress Wang, a group of palace servants were released from the palace within ten days, and other palaces had to submit lists of dismissed servants before that.
Now, with the New Year approaching and the Imperial Household Department undergoing restructuring and splitting into the Imperial Household Bureau... Empress Wang is overwhelmed with all these matters, and even her daily greetings are rushed away.
Before they could even catch their breath, just before lunchtime, they heard Consort Zhao requesting an audience outside.
Empress Wang's expression subtly revealed her impatience.
But considering the King of Ying's hard work in serving the Crown Prince, he still allowed Consort Zhao to enter the palace.
"This humble concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress."
"Alright, get up."
After telling everyone to rise, Empress Wang picked up her teacup and took two sips.
After finishing the tea, Zhao Jieyu didn't say a word.
Empress Wang put down her teacup. "You came in such a hurry, is there something you need?"
This time, Zhao Jieyu hesitated for a moment before speaking, which was unusual for her.
After being confined to the palace time and again, to be honest, Consort Zhao was indeed afraid.
Even without being beaten or scolded, they had no worries about food and drink, and with Empress Wang's care, no one would skimp on their expenses. But who could bear being imprisoned for so long?
"Your Majesty the Empress."
Consort Zhao carefully considered her words before saying, "I have come here today for the sake of Consort Lu in my palace."
"Lady Lu?"
"That's right. She is the granddaughter of Grand Secretary Wen. She was selected to enter the palace last year and was assigned to the Changli Palace, which is for concubines."
"After the news of Consort Jiang's pregnancy spread, she made a mistake because she could not get an audience with the Emperor for a long time... Because of her offense against the Emperor, she was implicated and confined to Changli Palace."
It's clear that Zhao Jieyu is trying very hard to distance herself from the situation.
“Even two days ago when I was released from confinement, Consort Lu did not return, and I have not heard any news from her.”
The morning and evening greetings in the palace were a rule, but they were also a way for the concubines to exchange glances.
However, they wouldn't allow all the concubines to crowd into Kunning Palace.
Concubines below the rank of Noble Lady were not entitled to pay their respects to the Empress.
Unless there are other special circumstances, they only need to pay their respects to the principal empress in the palace.
"Lu Meiren has been missing for so long?!"
Seeing Empress Wang's face darken instantly, Consort Zhao became anxious and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, since Consort Jiang became pregnant, I have been confined to my quarters and unable to leave the palace. I also assumed that Consort Lu had moved elsewhere, but I really don't know anything about the other concubines."
Empress Wang asked a few more questions, but seeing that Consort Zhao truly knew nothing, she sent her away first.
After everyone left the palace, Empress Wang looked at Aunt Hua beside her and asked, "Has anyone in the palace recently fallen into the water and drowned?"
Aunt Hua thought for a moment, then shook her head: "Your Majesty, there really isn't one."
No?
How can a living person just disappear without a reason?
Empress Wang's eyes widened in surprise as she couldn't help but think of her youngest son.
Prince Rui is now at the age where he should be settling down and starting a family. In fact, because he is suffering from a "stubborn illness," Empress Wang is very concerned about the selection of Prince Rui's consort.
As for Lu Yinyue, Empress Wang had actually considered betrothing her to Prince Rui.
It was rare that Prince Rui liked her so much, and it just so happened that her identity was also suitable—a noblewoman of the Lu family and the granddaughter of the current Grand Secretary.
They wouldn't be too low in social standing to tarnish Prince Rui's status, nor would they be too high in social standing to overshadow the Crown Princess... They were a perfect match in every way, truly a match made in heaven.
Empress Wang originally intended to discuss the marriage with Emperor Xuanpei at a suitable time, but unexpectedly received a list of candidates for the imperial concubine selection.
Indeed, during each imperial concubine selection, there were those who performed exceptionally well or caught the emperor's eye and were chosen to enter the palace on the spot, while others were pre-selected for entry into the palace early on due to various considerations.
This time is no exception.
The moment Empress Wang learned of the chosen one, she gave up hope. After all, she could still tell the Emperor that because Prince Rui liked her, he could choose another woman, thus creating a scandal of father and son fighting over a woman.
Afterwards, as a form of compensation, Empress Wang selected many noble ladies for Prince Rui, but Prince Rui did not accept any of them.
Because of Prince Rui's "special" status, Empress Wang dared not force anyone into his household, lest Prince Rui, at such a young age, be burdened with the reputation of being a "wife-killer," which would be truly inappropriate.
After thinking it over, Empress Wang hesitated for a moment, then looked at Aunt Hua and said softly, "What about Zhen'er? Did he enter the palace without reason or delay leaving the palace during that period?"
This... Aunt Hua clearly hesitated as well.
After all, if there is any oversight, this matter could really be a disaster for Prince Rui if not handled properly.
“Your Highness, Prince Rui is the most filial. Even after he established his own residence outside the palace, he often came to the palace to pay his respects to you. Consort Jiang has been pregnant for more than half a year. It is understandable that there were one or two unexpected delays.”
Look, even Aunt Hua doesn't dare to vouch for Prince Rui.
Empress Wang, feeling a headache, covered her forehead.
"I originally thought that he had found a job and, now that he's older, he'd become more capable, but I never expected him to become even more audacious and reckless!"
"I think he's truly gone mad!"
"This is absolutely outrageous!"
Empress Wang said with exasperation, "In the past, it was one thing for him to mess with those palace maids, who were just servants. But what is Lady Lu's status?"
“They are registered and formally selected concubines to enter the palace!”
"If even a whisper of this matter gets out, not only will I be implicated, but the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace will also be dragged down!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the truth is still uncertain," Aunt Hua comforted her repeatedly. "After all, Lu Mei offended His Majesty..."
"There's no need to speak well of that wretched child anymore!"
Empress Wang slammed her fist on the table in a fit of rage.
"Summon him to me immediately. I want to confront him and get to the bottom of this!"
"......yes."
Aunt Hua accepted the order and left.
*
Hanyuan Hall
Because of the holiday break, Emperor Xuanpei no longer needs to attend court.
According to custom, the government would not be restored until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
During this period, if there were any important political matters, officials would first submit memorials to the cabinet.
Emperor Xuanpei and Azhu ate lunch together.
He handed the soup bowl to Azhu, and then Emperor Xuanpei heard Eunuch Chen report that Empress Wang had summoned Prince Rui to the palace.
Although Emperor Xuanpei was suspicious and prone to overthinking, he would "turn a blind eye," since no one in the palace was a flawless "saint" when it came to serious criticism.
But now...
Emperor Xuanpei, already choked with anger by the news, was particularly sensitive at this time. He glanced at Eunuch Chen, who understood and bowed as he withdrew from the hall.
It wasn't unusual for Prince Rui to come to the palace to pay his respects, so A-Zhu ate her meal in peace. Unexpectedly, she suddenly heard Emperor Xuanpei mention Prince Rui to her.
? ? ?
Ah Zhu immediately became alert.
She and the emperor already have two children. Could it be that Emperor Xuanpei is having another bout of delusional thinking?
Emperor Xuanpei has been acting strangely lately.
He really, really, really liked being close to her, and he was still so serious but incredibly clingy.
It was as if the two of them couldn't be comfortable unless they were skin-to-skin close together.
But he turned around and caused a huge uproar in the palace... while he just watched coldly from the sidelines.
Sometimes, Ah Zhu felt a chill when she looked at him sitting there quietly.
What was originally a mild "petty-mindedness" has successfully evolved into a sensitive, suspicious, and somewhat unpredictable "petty-mindedness".
What can Azhu do?
The emperor could only turn himself into a "clingy person" to cope with the emperor's "high-density" demands.
Seeing that Emperor Xuanpei's expression was neither happy nor angry, Azhu sighed inwardly. She put down the soup bowl in her hand and, like a "butterfly," threw herself into Emperor Xuanpei's arms.
Emperor Xuanpei reached out and caught Azhu, embracing her tightly.
Originally as graceful as a willow swaying in the spring breeze, Ah Zhu became even more fragrant and cuddly after giving birth.
She's still staying in Hanyuan Palace and not going anywhere, which is just... perfect.
"Your Majesty."
Azhu Cou got a little closer to Emperor Xuanpei.
"I only served in Kunning Palace for a few months before..." As she spoke, Azhu placed her hand on her chin and made a vague, elongated gesture.
"And every time Her Majesty the Empress sees me, her face turns so long—"
"All I do all day is think about is how to please Her Majesty the Empress. How could I possibly pay attention to anything else?"
"When I was in the Yeting Palace, I first heard of His Highness the Crown Prince because other palace maids said that on His Highness's birthday, the Kunning Palace would give small gold beans to the servants who served him."
"As for His Highness Prince Rui..." A-Zhu shook her head, "I've never heard of him before, let alone seen him."
Emperor Xuanpei looked at Azhu, who was patiently and earnestly explaining things to him clearly.
Ah Zhu's reputation has never been very good.
Of course, she is indeed thick-skinned, good at flattering, and gets into arguments over trivial matters, making herself unpopular everywhere.
When Emperor Xuanpei left Azhu in Hanyuan Palace, he knew very well that she was not as she seemed... but Azhu really was very cute.
Even if she has all sorts of flaws, those are her unique qualities.
Compared to the other people in the palace... Ah Zhu was almost always under Emperor Xuanpei's nose, so she didn't, or rather, couldn't find any opportunity to do anything bad.
Even when he became arrogant and caused trouble, openly showing disrespect to Empress Wang, it was Emperor Xuanpei who personally intervened to protect him.
“A-Zhu”.
Emperor Xuanpei gently stroked her head, his eyes tender yet earnest, and said, "As long as I have it, whatever you want, whatever you want to do... don't hide it from me, okay?"
Ah Zhu felt uneasy and wanted to curse.
Can anyone tell her what exactly happened that night at the New Year's Eve banquet?
Give her back the emperor who still had some dignity, manners, and normalcy!
Since Emperor Xuanpei had already said so, Azhu could only offer something in return and show his dependence through concrete actions.
After thinking for a moment, A-Zhu reached out and clung to Emperor Xuanpei's neck. She hesitated for a moment before softly asking, "Your Majesty, were the fireworks and firecrackers that caught fire at Guanju Palace on the night of the fire an accidental mistake by the palace servants, or...?"
"Naturally, it was done intentionally by the people in this palace."
"But who exactly it is, whether it is Empress Wang, Consort Gui, Consort Xian, Consort Sheng, or some other Zhaoyi... even I don't know."
Who would do such a thing under their own name?
It is natural that I committed evil deeds under your name, and you framed me with conspiracies and tricks.
Those who were arrested couldn't even guarantee the truth of what they knew, let alone others.
One inside another, they are all, and yet none of them are.
Apart from his beloved Azhu, who had always completely entrusted herself to him and relied on him entirely, sharing both glory and ruin, Emperor Xuanpei now trusted no one else.
When she heard Emperor Xuanpei admit to her face that even he himself was unaware of the truth, Azhu was stunned.
She stammered for a long time, only managing to stammer out two sentences, "Your Majesty..."
Emperor Xuanpei shook his head with an almost self-deprecating laugh. "Are you surprised?"
"I was surprised too."
"Everyone says that I am the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven should be omnipotent, but I can't tell whether the officials in the court are human or ghost, or whether there are ghosts or humans in the palace."
Ah Zhu slowly kissed Emperor Xuanpei's lips.
Until she was pressed down on the back of her neck and kissed until she was dizzy, Ah Zhu looked at Emperor Xuanpei with watery eyes full of admiration for him.
"His Majesty is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and possesses an elegant and handsome appearance that inspires admiration."
"He also worked tirelessly day and night to handle state affairs, deeply concerned about floods, and repaired and reinforced the river embankments every year, with regular inspections. In the past ten years, there have been no reports of devastating floods. He also reduced taxes and lightened corvée labor..."
Ah Zhu, who is constantly refining his "skills," can now give meaningful compliments.
"It is said that actions speak louder than words. Even the gods in heaven cannot see through everyone in this world. But because of Your Majesty, those court officials dare not be harsh or harmful to the people."
Emperor Xuanpei was used to having a cold face.
Facing such a dignified and imposing face, coupled with eyes that seemed to pierce right into one's soul... no courtier dared to flatter him so blatantly.
Emperor Xuanpei, feeling both helpless and amused, and somewhat bewildered, held his son Azhu, unsure of what to say.
He shook his head, smiled, and sighed with a touch of melancholy: "You...you..."
Regardless of whether Emperor Xuanpei felt embarrassed or not, Ah Zhu, with his thick skin, didn't feel ashamed at all.
She held Emperor Xuanpei tightly and said, "Your Majesty is the best Your Majesty, the best husband for me. Who in this world can compare to Your Majesty?"
After saying that, A-Zhu added firmly to himself, "No!"
Ah Zhu was very warm, as if touching her was like being warmed by the sun.
Those rustling sounds seemed to come from the dark crevices, quietly stirring up feelings of sensitivity, unease, doubt, violence, impulsiveness, and even the shadows of bloodshed were forced to retreat step by step by the heat of this beam of light, hissing and scattering in all directions.
It's only natural that they would want to create a safe haven for the weak, pitiful, and helpless Ah-Zhu.
It's perfectly normal for Ah Zhu to crave something soft, warm, and sweet; it's as natural for her as people need to eat and sleep.
Emperor Xuanpei, who had been holding Azhu without saying a word, suddenly got up and went to the inner palace.
A-Zhu: ......
Seeing Emperor Xuanpei's expression, Ah Zhu, who was lying on the couch, couldn't bear it any longer and bit Emperor Xuanpei's hand fiercely.
Emperor Xuanpei showed no sign of breaking free. When Azhu tearfully opened her mouth, he smiled and brought his hand back to Azhu's lips.
Sobbing, A-Zhu cursed the emperor in her heart, calling him a bastard who was always ungrateful.
While Ah Zhu was grumbling and whining, Empress Wang in Kunning Palace was even more furious at Prince Rui's nonchalant and somewhat perfunctory attitude.
It's no wonder that Prince Rui adopted a perfunctory attitude. When it comes to being meticulous, Prince Rui is more sensitive and concerned about his image than the Crown Prince or any of the other princes in the palace.
But she entered the palace as his father's concubine, so you expect Prince Rui to make a gesture.
He felt both resentful and frustrated, yet he couldn't say it. When Empress Wang subtly brought it up, Prince Rui became even more annoyed and didn't want to mention it at all, so he simply gave a perfunctory reply.
His attitude only made Empress Wang, who was already suspicious, even more certain.
"Bang—!"
Unable to contain her anger, Empress Wang slammed her hand on the table, looking as if she was about to point her finger at Prince Rui and hurl insults.
"You bastard!"
"Those palace maids are one thing, but do you think you dare to covet your father's concubines?"
"You wicked child, you've become obsessed with evil and acted improperly. Who knows if you'll be the only one implicated!"
Empress Wang said with great distress, "When your brother was regent, he not only had to deal with the court officials, but also had to guard against those villains. He didn't even have a peaceful night's sleep. But you are doing so well!"
"Not only do you fail to help or show consideration, and lack ambition, you've also committed such a heinous act! You, you foolish thing..."
Looking at Empress Wang, whose face was full of disappointment towards him, listening to her accusations and her words about implicating the Crown Prince... Prince Rui was stunned, and his eyes slowly turned into a dark and chaotic mess.
Isn't that how it is? In his mother's eyes, he was a useless piece of trash whenever he was with his elder brother, the emperor.
Didn't he already know about this?
What else is there to be disappointed about?
Prince Rui loosened his tightly clenched fist.
He twitched his lips, revealing a mocking smile.
"Who in the court and the country doesn't know that our Crown Prince is exceptionally intelligent and unparalleled in wisdom and courage?"
"What great prestige, what great ability! Even the Grand Secretary can retire at will, what help does he need?"
"Oh, yes, it is needed, but surely it's not your son who needs it?"
"You are always worried that I will damage the Crown Prince's reputation, and you hate me for preventing him from ascending to the throne."
Prince Rui looked at Empress Wang and said with a grin, "Mother, do you wish that Prince Ying were your son?"
"Do you wish I had never been born?"
"Yes or no......"
"Smack!"
The unusually crisp slap made Prince Rui turn his head to the side.
Empress Wang, who was on the verge of going crazy with anger, impulsively slapped Prince Rui, and then she was stunned for a moment.
Empress Wang had always doted on Prince Rui, and this was the first time she had ever hit her youngest son.
She looked at her trembling hands, then at Prince Rui, who was standing with his eyes downcast and silent.
"Zhen'er..."
Empress Wang looked at Prince Rui's flushed cheeks and trembled as she tried to touch his face.
Prince Rui stepped back a few paces, avoiding Empress Wang's hand.
"The Crown Prince is still in the Eastern Palace. If the Empress Dowager misses him, she can summon him frequently."
Prince Rui bowed to Empress Wang and said, "Your Majesty, I will not trouble you any further. I will take my leave."
After saying this, Prince Rui turned and left the palace.
"Zhen'er!"
"Zhen'er..."
Empress Wang, her eyes red, chased after him for a few steps, but Prince Rui left the palace without even turning his head.
Before Aunt Hua, who was waiting outside the hall, could even speak, Prince Rui strode down the steps without stopping or even looking at her.
Something's not right. With a jolt of alarm, Aunt Hua hurried into the inner palace and saw Empress Wang sitting there listlessly, tears still on her face.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Aunt Hua rushed forward to support Empress Wang. "What...what happened?"
"I hit him."
Empress Wang, tears streaming down her face, looked down at her reddened palms and murmured, "I just hit him..."
"Your Highness, even if the Prince is at fault, he is getting old and is indeed at an age where he cares a lot about his reputation..."
Empress Wang clutched her chest, her expression sorrowful: "I only have these two sons."
"He was born from the brink of death of my own accord..."
"What has he wanted all these years, haven't I given him?"
"I endure those disrespectful lowly maids in this palace, and I tolerate the Emperor's repeated favoritism and neglect... isn't it all for their sake?"
"But he's doing the opposite; he's trying to tear my heart out."
"Your Highness," Aunt Hua said repeatedly, "How can a mother and son hold a grudge overnight?"
“Once Prince Rui goes back and calms down, he will surely understand the Empress’s good intentions and realize that she is doing all this for the Prince’s good.”
Seeing that Empress Wang's face was still very sorrowful and she was even starting to shed tears, Aunt Hua quickly changed the subject: "Your Majesty, the most important thing right now is Consort Lu."
"It was fine when Changli Palace was sealed off, but now a living person can't just disappear from this palace for no reason."
Empress Wang also mustered her spirits.
But considering that Prince Rui had just caused this commotion, Empress Wang had no choice but to say, "Don't make a fuss yet. Consort Lu has been missing for more than just a day or two."
"Grand Secretary Wen has now retired and returned to his hometown."
"Empress Lu is not favored by the Emperor, so no one will pay special attention to her. Consort Zhao said before that she offended the Emperor... Let's go to the Emperor's presence and hear the news."
"Wait two days, wait two days, and I will ask Zhen'er for clarification."
"yes."
Although Empress Wang instructed that the matter be kept secret, the news from Kunning Palace was posted on the imperial desk that very night.
Empress Wang secretly ordered an investigation. This matter was neither respectable nor wrong, since the disappearance of a concubine was not something to be proud of, and keeping a low profile was normal.
But the missing concubine happened to have a past relationship with Prince Rui, and Empress Wang suddenly summoned Prince Rui to the palace at this time... Emperor Xuanpei looked at the memorial in his hand, but what he was thinking about was the matter of Prince Rui drowning a palace maid, and the news that Empress Wang and the former eunuch had joined forces to suppress.
What about the imperial concubines?
Just how bold was Empress Wang?
The human heart is unpredictable, but the emperor, who was clearly very perceptive, had no choice but to test it.
"Chen Delu".
Eunuch Chen bowed and replied, "This servant is here."
Emperor Xuanpei slowly tapped the memorial on the table with his finger: "Go and summon Chongqing."
"yes."
......
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