Chapter 52 Clouds in Full Bloom (Part Six) "The Crown Prince and his widowed sister-in-law were alone in a room..."
Yan Chao chuckled, "Sister-in-law, you flatter me. I would never dare to neglect your instructions." She paused, not wanting to waste time on pleasantries, and pressed on, "Sister-in-law, did you specifically use that poem to lure me here? Is it related to my mother?"
Before her, wisps of tea smoke curled upwards, gradually fading away like a lingering breath. The sunlight had been shut out through the window, casting dappled shadows on Sun's slender figure, making her appear inexplicably lonely.
“Yes,” Madam Sun nodded slightly, not denying it, but her gaze avoided hers. She lowered her eyelashes and said calmly, “I’ve heard that the Crown Prince has been secretly investigating the cause of Empress Wenhui’s death all these years. His filial piety is truly touching. But you’ve been investigating until now without any progress. Don’t you find that strange?”
“I know someone is secretly trying to stop us,” Yan Chao said.
“It is Your Majesty,” Sun replied without changing her expression.
Yan Chao's expression changed slightly.
Madam Sun's gaze suddenly sharpened as she asked, "If it truly is His Majesty, what should the Crown Prince do?"
“You…” Yan Chao was stunned for a moment, a hint of anger appearing on his face. He said in a deep voice, “To speak ill of His Majesty is a serious crime.”
When the emperor stopped her from investigating, she realized it must be related to him. But now, Sun Shi is saying it so openly; where does her confidence come from, and what is her purpose?
"To speak recklessly? Even the Crown Prince, who wouldn't dare to speak recklessly, wouldn't find anything. Since you've come to listen to me, you naturally don't mind my reckless remarks. I know you must have some suspicions, but you just lack evidence. If you're willing to believe me, I'll tell you where to find evidence; go and investigate yourself."
After saying that, Madam Sun continued to drink her tea with her head down, as if she didn't care.
After the aroma of tea lingered in her mouth, she estimated that it was about time before continuing, "Go and investigate Yongning Palace. You've never investigated it before, so you don't know anything all these years."
Yan Chao felt a sudden pang in his heart, and his eyes welled up with tears. Consort Ning and Empress Wenhui had a very good relationship, but Consort Ning had always been vague about some aspects of Empress Wenhui's death.
She clenched her fists, trying to calm herself, and said, "There's no need for Consort Ning to do that."
Sun's purpose was clear: to exploit her suspicions. Only if she truly harbored such thoughts would she have become estranged from Consort Ning. She didn't want to break ties with Sun so quickly, nor did she want her to succeed too soon or too easily.
A flicker of surprise crossed Sun's eyes. She glanced at her, then frowned and fell into deep thought.
Yan Chao sighed casually, "If what my sister-in-law says is true, even if it's His Majesty, what can I do? As the Crown Prince, am I supposed to disobey the Emperor's orders?"
Sun was taken aback when she realized that she hadn't seen through Yan Chao's thoughts and had gotten herself caught up in it.
“The Crown Prince can even command the head of the Eastern Depot, so how could he not find out about these things?” Her fingernails dug into her palms, and her face finally turned cold. Thinking of the Cao family, she could no longer hold on.
She has no family background and is currently relying on Yan Fei for survival, with the Cao family as her support. Who knew that Lan Huaien would suddenly appear and make a move?
Cao Ying had already suffered a great loss by losing his son, and now, with the added blow from the emperor and the pressure from the court, it was uncertain whether he could withstand it.
“Sister-in-law, be careful what you say. The Director of the Imperial Workshop is His Majesty’s man, so his words and actions naturally reflect the Emperor’s will. What does it have to do with me? I don’t have the guts to influence His Majesty.”
Seeing that she was unmoved by reason, Madam Sun was somewhat unwilling to have gained nothing today. She lowered her voice and stated, "His Majesty is the murderer of Empress Wenhui, and Consort Ning is also the murderer..."
"Perhaps it's too hot, and my sister-in-law is a little out of it. We really can't say things like that."
Yan Chao rose, cupped his hands in greeting, and was about to take his leave when a commotion suddenly arose outside. The sounds of palace servants blocking his way, footsteps, and announcements were chaotic, and a series of footsteps gradually approached.
"Your Highness! You trespassed into your widowed sister-in-law's palace in broad daylight and forced her to be alone with you in a room. This is a violation of ethics. What is your punishment?"
Princess Yongjia.
.
Lan Huaien had just left the Eastern Depot when he heard about the events at Zhaoyang Palace. His brow furrowed, and he stopped in front of the door, lost in thought. He also felt a burning numbness in his right hand, which had gripped the knife.
The relationship between the Crown Prince and Zhaoyang Palace has always been delicate; he would never go there lightly without important business. So how did Princess Yongjia manage to find a pretext for his actions?
"Your Excellency, the princess's husband, Xue Heng, has also entered the palace with her, but we do not yet know why."
Lan Huaien's gaze hardened, and he strode out with his hands behind his back: "Let's go take a look. I also have something important to report."
In the East Warm Pavilion, the Emperor sat on the dragon throne with a somber expression. The cabinet ministers, who had just been dismissed, were preoccupied with the complexities of government affairs, and the cacophony of their earlier arguments still lingered in their ears.
His beloved eldest daughter suddenly insisted on seeing him, and upon entering the palace, she immediately launched into a tirade against the Crown Prince. It is said that family scandals should not be aired in public, and Princess Yongjia was indeed mindful of propriety. However, her face was flushed, and she spoke hastily, fearing that those outside might have overheard.
The emperor was somewhat embarrassed, but he managed to suppress his anger and patiently listened to her finish speaking. Just as he was about to ask a question, a eunuch entered to serve tea.
As the princess turned around, she bumped into the eunuch, splashing scalding tea all over the hall. Several memorials on the emperor's desk, which he hadn't yet closed, were smeared with ink.
"Yongjia!" the emperor finally rebuked in a deep voice.
Princess Yongjia's expression hardened, and she quickly apologized, her heart sinking.
Lan Huaien then entered from outside without making a sound, followed by several eunuchs who hurriedly began to tidy up.
Watching coldly from the side, Madam Sun already suspected that it was no coincidence. She silently bowed to the emperor and calmly said, "Father, please forgive me, the relationship between your son and the Crown Prince is completely innocent."
First, they distanced themselves from the situation.
Yongjia Gong remained kneeling on the ground. The master glanced at Sun Shi in surprise: "Sister-in-law, did he force you...?"
A pair of piercing eyes were fixed on Yan Chao: "And what about the Crown Prince? As a man, you didn't know how to avoid suspicion, and went straight into your sister-in-law's inner chamber. You must have ulterior motives..."
The emperor lightly pressed his temple, silencing Princess Yongjia, and said calmly, "Your Highness, please explain first."
"Your Majesty, my sister-in-law said that while sorting through her old belongings some time ago, she found several relics of Empress Wenhui, so she asked me to retrieve them. When I arrived, seeing these items reminded me of her, and I asked her about things from back then. I didn't pay attention to the time, which caused damage to my sister-in-law's reputation. It was my fault. However, when Princess Yongjia barged into the hall, my sister-in-law had just ordered the palace servants to change the tea, so there was no one in the hall..." Yan Chao's deep gaze turned to Madam Sun, "Fei'er was there; he should know everything perfectly well. Apologize to your sister-in-law. Your Majesty can summon him to inquire."
Sun's pupils constricted: "You..."
She had already had someone take Yan Fei back to his room, how could he have heard it!
Although Princess Yongjia was using her to deal with the Crown Prince today, her conversation with the Crown Prince was not suitable to be revealed. She had already planned to explain to the Emperor and then stop there.
Moreover, the things she said to Yan Chao were deliberate, and only she knew how much calculation and truth were involved. She was absolutely unwilling to let her son get involved as well.
Princess Yongjia retorted, "Those relics can be sent by palace servants; there's no need for you to retrieve them personally..."
Lan Huaien stepped forward at the opportune moment and raised his voice to request permission: "Your Majesty, would you like me to summon the Prince of Chang Le?"
The emperor raised his eyes, glanced at the expressions of the crowd, and closed the memorial in his hand: "No need. From now on, the Crown Prince shall not enter Zhaoyang Palace without an imperial edict. All of you may return."
Princess Yongjia, though unwilling, knew that her meddling in the matter had made her a laughingstock, and her face burned with shame as if she had been slapped. As she rose, she glanced at Madam Sun, a sense of resentment rising within her.
If Lady Sun were to secretly join forces with the Crown Prince, wouldn't her wishful thinking have backfired?
"Father, I have something else to report."
It was Princess Yongjia who spoke again.
She tilted her head back slightly, her cheeks still flushed from the intense emotions she had just experienced, but her face, which bore a striking resemblance to Empress Wenshu, still retained its radiance.
Before the emperor could speak, Lady Sun preemptively announced her departure. The emperor frowned as he watched her bow, seemingly oblivious to the people and events in the hall. He withdrew his gaze, waved his hand, and followed her away.
"you say."
The emperor didn't lose his temper, but his tone was certainly not good. He was always lenient with his eldest daughter, and Yongjia was usually exceptionally sensible.
Lan Huaien silently served a cup of tea. After the tea was placed on the table, the princess still did not speak, so he said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, when I came in, I saw that the Prince Consort was still waiting outside."
"What matter requires both of you to come to the palace at the same time?" The emperor took a sip of tea and ordered, "Let the prince consort come in first."
Princess Yongjia ignored her and took two steps forward. Her eyes were slightly red, and she said softly, "I dreamed of my mother again last night. She asked me to pass on a few words to my father."
.
Letter to the palace.
Prince Xin was playing with the baby in Lady Wei's arms, shaking a rattle drum. Yan Tang was only six months old and very active. His bright, round eyes were fixed on the drum, and he reached out to grab it. Prince Xin tossed the rattle drum to him and turned to look at the eunuch below.
"Did Princess Yongjia really propose to the Emperor the establishment of an empress?"
"Yes, the princess also brought her husband into the palace. She recommended a woman from Pingliang named He, and I heard that the Xingji Earl's family found her for her." Before the princess could finish speaking, Eunuch Lan interjected, "I have heard of this woman. I heard that she resembles Empress Wenshu in appearance and temperament." His Majesty's expression immediately changed. If His Highness the Crown Prince hadn't intervened, the situation would have been uncontrollable due to his imperial wrath.
Prince Xin glanced at his son, who was still muttering incessantly, and chuckled: "As expected of the eldest sister, even the Crown Prince dares not question this matter, yet she dares to openly find a woman who resembles Empress Wenshu. This is more than just a loss of face."
“Yes,” the eunuch nodded and continued, “His Majesty immediately reprimanded the princess for being unfilial, and also took his anger out on the prince consort. The princess then said that she dreamed of Empress Cao at night, so His Majesty simply issued an edict ordering the princess to copy one hundred chapters of the classics for Empress Wenshu to show her filial piety.”
Prince Xin shook his head and sighed, "She was too reckless."
Fortunately, he still had the Li family by his side, and an uncle with whom he could plot. Since his mother's incident at the beginning of the year, Li Shihai had often advised him to keep a low profile. Sure enough, Ji Weixian was soon brought down. If he hadn't been so well-behaved, he probably would have been implicated as well.
The current situation is truly worrying. Even the Ministry of Personnel has been transferred to the Crown Prince's court, and he has yet to take any action.
He frowned, and when he looked up, he happened to see Lady Wei's timid gaze. He asked hesitantly, "Is Your Highness troubled?"
As if afraid of him, Madam Wei quickly looked away, biting her lip in embarrassment and whispering, "You frightened Tang'er..."
When Prince Xin looked up, he saw his son buried tightly in her arms, refusing to show his face.
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