Chapter 65 The Cold-Headed Rooftop (Part 3) "Don't move. This time, let me release..."
The rain came and went, sometimes heavy, sometimes light. A few figures could be seen on the palace road, hurrying by. Yan Chao walked aimlessly, her hands holding the umbrella already cold and numb. She deliberately avoided people, choosing secluded spots.
Originally, she intended to find a quiet place to calm her mind, but unexpectedly, things remained a mess. Consort Ning's gloomy and unfathomable expression kept appearing before her eyes, each word striking her heart.
Family ties had always been distant for her. The loneliness of her childhood seemed to have planted a seed of alienation and indifference early on, so much so that when she returned to the palace and Empress Wenhui embraced her and wept bitterly, she felt the blood connection and, while deeply moved, still felt cautious and incredulous.
Her exceptionally close relationship with Consort Ning was largely due to her mother, the Empress Dowager. After the Empress Dowager's passing, her connection with her birth mother became more concretely manifested in her relationship with Consort Ning.
But those words spoken at Yongning Palace just now seemed to have severed something. The two were only three feet apart, yet they were now separated by a thousand miles.
Yan Chao was half-asleep, somewhat immersed in these emotions. She silently closed her umbrella, letting the rain fall on her body, a chill rising up, filling the thousands of wounds like water overflowing from a ravine.
Was this unconventional approach of the past twenty years truly just for reaching the pinnacle of power?
She sighed silently, then suddenly felt relieved.
She slowly stopped walking and realized that she had already arrived at the Imperial Garden. In front of her was a rather complex and rugged artificial mountain. Walking along the stone path, the rocks and flowers cleverly surrounded her, forming a shady area on all sides, which should be a rare summer resort.
She leaned casually against a rockery, the sound of raindrops tinkling in her ears, each drop striking the rocks with a clear, ethereal quality. The new leaves had been washed clean, their green hue glistening, a vibrant display of grassy beauty.
The barely audible footsteps were mixed in with the sound of rain, but she was off guard and didn't notice them immediately.
Until an umbrella peeked over her head. Water still dripped from her temples as she looked up at the person with her wet eyes.
"What did Consort Ning and His Highness say that made you look like you've lost your soul?" Lan Huaien placed the umbrella in the crack in the stone, just enough to cover the leaking hole.
The second half of her sentence was interrupted by Lan Huaien's sudden approach. She had just frowned when she saw Lan Huaien take out a handkerchief and calmly wipe the rain off her face.
"I met a palace servant on the way, who said Your Highness came this way alone. I was worried about you, so I followed to check on you." After wiping her down, Lan Huaien looked at her, who was soaked to the bone, and couldn't help but sigh, "Your Highness has been walking for so long and has been caught in the rain. If there's something you can't figure out, shouldn't you feel a little better?"
Before Yan Chao could speak, he pulled her hand again, and for a moment he clearly felt her hand instinctively try to pull back. Lan Huaien gripped it even tighter, then lowered his head and breathed out a breath, frowning: "Your hands are cold too. At this time, the chill hasn't completely dissipated, not to mention you're already sensitive to the cold."
Yan Chao felt a slight tingling sensation on one shoulder. She pursed her lips and pulled her hand away. This time, she didn't blame him, but simply said, "It's alright."
"Your Highness seems to be feeling somewhat troubled. It's not good to keep it bottled up like this. If you trust me, you may confide in me."
Yan Chao looked up at him and saw that he had straightened up at some point, and the eunuch-like appearance was no longer there.
She chuckled softly, then suddenly reached out and hugged him, wrapping her arms around his waist, their fingers interlocking, the grip tightening. The two were pressed tightly together.
Her chest rose and fell with each breath, and with her eyes closed, she could even hear her heartbeat clearly. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and something seemed to silently bloom within her, spreading to her limbs—a subtle yet profound, bone-melting, intoxicating sensation. Her breathing quickened, but she restrained herself, quietly holding him, feeling as if all the trials and tribulations of her journey had finally found their home, and her empty, cold heart had been reborn, bursting with life. With each breath, warmth dispelled the chill, infusing her with an unknown desire and longing.
This was the first time she had been so close to a man, and as long as she didn't overthink it, this absurd moment was worth cherishing. She couldn't bear to let go.
A tiny raindrop silently slid down her cheek, cool yet burning hot. She trembled for a moment as if startled, then finally regained her composure and loosened her tightly clenched hands.
Her voice was as soft as a sigh: "Am I cold?"
Lan Huaien's throat bobbed, the cool dampness on her chest actually making him feel warm. He was extremely surprised, but more than that, a cautious joy welled up inside him, even though he knew Yan Chao might just be acting on impulse. He reached out to hug her back, and when he touched her forehead and cheek, the lingering warmth from the moisture he had just wiped made him want to gently rub his chin against hers.
He inexplicably recalled the dark cloud over Nanjing, and couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he breathed close to her ear: "No. Your Highness's heart is still beating in my arms."
Yan Chao felt a chill run down her spine. She opened her eyes, her gaze as clear as ever. Looking at him so close, a sudden impulse welled up inside her. She completely released her grip on his waist and reached out to put her arm around his shoulder.
She barely managed to catch her breath and lift her head when her toes felt weak. He had already lowered his head slightly, and their eyes met. All her movements and thoughts were instantly frozen in that moment.
She felt flustered and at a loss, and immediately knew she should avoid him, but the tingling sensation from her tailbone made her lose her senses. She involuntarily grabbed his clothes, her heart warmed, and she gritted her teeth and kissed him again, unwilling to be outdone.
Now it was Lan Huaien's turn to be shocked. He opened his eyes, moved his fingers, and secretly pinched her waist.
Yan Chao dodged as expected, then angrily pinched him back. The force wasn't particularly strong, and Lan Huai'en hissed as she heard her say:
"Don't move. This time, I'll be unrestrained."
She felt a sudden surge of grievance, but felt no shame whatsoever. The instant their lips touched, Yan Chao was suddenly overcome with tears.
When it comes to romantic love, Yan Chao is completely clueless.
Perhaps she was just eager to vent the emotions pent up inside her, so her kiss was a little forceful. But when Lan Huaien took the initiative, she was reluctant to part from him, her body went weak and trembling as she pressed herself against him, holding him tightly.
The kiss was long and awkward, disregarding any rules, simply wanting to get closer and closer to each other. Lan Huaien knew that once she regained consciousness, she would rarely have such an opportunity again, so she cherished it all the more.
Raindrops fell along the branches and leaves, clinging to eyelashes and filling the eyes with a glistening sheen. They gathered at the tip of the nose and slid down to the lips, as clear as glass and as sweet as spring dew.
Her breath came out shallow and disordered, yet she remained silent. She let the cold raindrops mix with her scalding tears, silently streaming down her cheeks like pearls.
When Huai En released her lips, he saw that her face was streaked with tears, but she kept quiet and refused to show any fear.
He suddenly remembered that the emperor had once spoken of the crown prince's resilience. He couldn't recall why he had first seen the crown prince cry in front of the emperor, only that she had concealed her emotions with quiet forbearance and restraint.
He still held her in his arms. He loosened his arms and saw that she could stand steadily now. Her eyes were misty with tears, and his gaze softened. He took a handkerchief and wiped away her tears.
Just as she was about to offer comfort and speak, she suddenly lost her focus. Her lips seemed to no longer belong to her, and after a long while, she managed to utter a few words: "Your Highness, don't cry, I'm here."
Yan Chao twitched the corners of his lips, wanting to laugh but not actually doing so, only humming in response.
Lan Huaien helped her up, saying, "Your Highness is soaked. Please come with me to change your clothes. You'll catch a cold if you get chilled."
"No need for now, I have things to do back at the East Palace." She moved her arm and found it was indeed a little numb.
As her mind gradually cleared, she naturally didn't mention what had just happened. She lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then said softly, "I have something to ask you."
Lan Huaien brushed aside the tender willow branch above her head and bent down to pick up the umbrella that had fallen off at some point: "Your Highness, please speak."
"You investigated the Seventh Princess's death. I want to know, was it truly an accident?"
Yan Chao understood; there were indeed suspicious points. As for the outcome, if it wasn't an accident but rather a setup by someone else, then Li's crime would be much lighter.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she asked again, "Does this have anything to do with you?"
"Without Your Highness's orders, I dare not act rashly," Lan Huaien said frankly. He pondered for a moment, then tentatively guessed, "Does Consort Ning suspect that Your Highness was behind it?"
Yan Chao nodded slightly, thinking to herself that Lan Huaien was indeed perceptive. She paused for a moment, then asked softly, "Do you think it's something I would do?"
“Your Highness is a suspect. But I am certain you wouldn’t do it. You spared even Cui’s life, let alone Consort Zhuang and the Seventh Princess who have never been involved.” He finished speaking in a low voice, but then heard Yan Chao sneer.
Lan Huaien secretly pursed his lips, but still promised, "If that's the case, I'm willing to investigate for Your Highness."
.
Inside the Eastern Palace, Empress Wenhui's belongings were not mixed with other items in the storeroom, but were placed together in a cabinet with a separate lock. The brocade box containing the butterfly-shaped gold hairpin was placed on the top shelf.
Yan Chao had never paid attention to the stories behind his mother's belongings before, simply keeping them as treasures. Only now, after inquiring in detail, did he learn that his mother's gold hairpin was a gift from the emperor shortly after she was made empress, and that it was not much different in shape or size from the one belonging to Lady Li.
However, unlike the Li family's branch, the rubies inlaid on the body and wings of the Empress Dowager's branch are all deep, not dark, pigeon blood red, which is extremely rare and precious, while the Li family's branch is closer to rose red.
Secondly, there's the bead inlay on the tip of the butterfly's antennae. Originally, it should have been a perforated pearl, worn in the hair to appear light. The Empress Dowager's pearl was replaced with a gold bead, but it was still hollow with a perforation. Li's, on the other hand, was solid. Even a perforation would have reduced the risk of accidental ingestion and choking.
Li Shi certainly didn't mean it that way. She was just afraid that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes, and was determined to kill the Seventh Princess.
The Empress Wenhui's belongings in the storeroom were formerly under the care of Yingniang, but Liang Lu later entrusted them to his adopted son, Liang Ren. Now that something has happened, Liang Lu feels responsible and ashamed. Logically, he should avoid suspicion, but Yan Chao has entrusted him with the investigation with complete confidence, and he dares not refuse.
They searched the storeroom and found some clues, including those belonging to Liang Ren and all the palace staff.
After reporting the details in detail, Yan Chao only instructed: "Have someone keep an eye on things secretly, and don't make a fuss about it yet."
Liang Lu answered yes, but his expression was not good. This incident involved his adopted son, but Liang Ren had turned out to be disappointing. Now, Yan Chao's attitude clearly showed that he did not intend to take his anger out on him. He sighed inwardly at the misfortune of his family and couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"When I came out of Yongning Palace, I was wondering if this was a scheme to sow discord. It just so happens that you have a problem, and the investigation points to Liang Ren. Perhaps it's targeting you? Liang Lu, calm down. I haven't even said anything yet."
Liang Lu's face flushed, and she lowered her head to reply, "It was this servant's haste."
Duan Shou investigated the silver workshop and related clues outside the palace. The inlay craftsman confessed that he had a daughter-in-law and an eight-year-old grandson outside the palace. However, when Duan Shou's men went to inquire, the house was already deserted.
According to the neighbors, the inlay craftsman was a kind and honest man with superb skills, and he was highly respected by everyone in the neighborhood. After his death, his daughter-in-law took her grandson to live with relatives in the northwest. The inlay craftsman's son died young, and his skills were basically passed down to his daughter-in-law, in the hope that his grandson would inherit them when he grew up.
An old man who was on good terms with the inlay craftsman provided an important piece of information: the craftsman had invited him for drinks the previous year, and in his drunken state, he told him that he had made a fortune. Also, in the dead of winter last year, the craftsman had given out a large sum of money to help the poor and needy on the street. Therefore, after the craftsman's death, many beggars went to pay their respects.
There's clearly something fishy about this.
After Duan Shou reported back, Yan Chao nodded and told him to continue the investigation. However, investigating his family further would be time-consuming and laborious, and it couldn't be rushed.
Yan Chao had been quite free these past two days. The day after she returned from Yongning Palace, she caught a cold, but the symptoms were extremely mild—just a few sneezes and a stuffy nose for a few days—and nothing serious.
Perhaps due to the weather, she felt a bit lazier than before after recovering from her illness, and felt tired for several days, but it didn't affect her daily life.
She recalled feeling inexplicably sleepy last spring, and couldn't help but become alarmed. But since Feng Jingmo also said it was nothing serious, she was relieved and assumed it was just lingering spring fatigue.
As for Yan Chao's cold, only she herself probably knows the cause.
The rain she got caught in was nothing. It was just that after returning to the East Palace that night, after retiring to bed, the image of their deep kiss flashed through her mind several times. It made her cheeks burn and her heart race with unease, but she couldn't tell anyone. At first, she threw back the covers, but later she simply got up and went outside, letting the wind blow through the courtyard before getting caught in the rain. How could she not fall ill?
She rubbed her temples and muttered to herself: "Damn eunuch, it's all his fault."
In March and April, spring is in full bloom, and flowers are in abundance. In the Imperial Garden, patches of red flowers and green willows burst forth with vibrant life. The pear tree in the rear hall of the East Palace still follows its flowering season, blooming to its fullest and then withering away in the wind.
Yan Fei liked it very much and stared at it for many days until the tree was covered with lush green leaves. Suddenly, he was filled with anticipation.
"Sixth Uncle, will we be able to eat pears this year?"
Yan Chao had never paid much attention to this tree. After thinking for a moment, she said, "This tree doesn't bear much fruit, and when it does, it's very small and sour, inedible."
"How does Uncle Liu know what it tastes like? Have you ever eaten it?"
"You cheated on me once two years ago and told Xiao Jiu."
"..."
Yan Fei pursed his lips and looked behind him. Sure enough, he saw the familiar little eunuch lowering his head guiltily, probably trying to suppress a laugh.
Xu Shuying continued to visit Yongning Palace these days. The Crown Prince hadn't said anything to her, and Consort Ning treated her as usual, so she didn't notice anything slightly unusual, such as Consort Ning no longer mentioning the Crown Prince in their conversations.
Consort Ning came from a humble background and was illiterate, barely able to read or write. Shuying, who had previously served Yan Fei, had learned a few books from her and timidly agreed to become Consort Ning's tutor. The two spent their days reading and practicing calligraphy, finding joy in each other's company. Gradually, a smile returned to Consort Ning's face, as if she had emerged from her grief.
Shuying liked Consort Ning, even seeing her as her only solace in this desolate palace. Entering the Eastern Palace was almost equivalent to severing ties with Zhaoyang Palace. When she first arrived, she fantasized about how she would serve the Crown Prince in the future, and even imagined having children. Later, seeing that the Crown Prince had no interest in her, she no longer focused on those things.
But one time when the Crown Prince saw her, he suddenly asked her if she wanted to leave the palace and live a freer life. Shuying didn't understand and thought that the Crown Prince wanted to expel her from the palace. She had no relatives outside the palace, and only Zhaoyang Palace and Yongning Palace in this palace warmed her heart.
So she refused, feeling very uneasy.
As Yan Chao was plotting how to lure out the spies from the Eastern Palace, Lan Huaien sent word that she had made some progress. However, the reasons were complicated and it was not appropriate to report it within the palace, so she was invited to Lan's residence for a discussion.
At this time of year, she is both busy and idle. So she took some time to leave the palace under the pretext of going to Funing Temple to pray for blessings.
Knowing that she was traveling incognito, Lan Huaien had sent people to meet her early on, while he personally brewed tea to wait for her.
Yan Chao lifted the curtain and entered, just in time to see him holding a teapot and pouring tea. The room was filled with the subtle fragrance of tea, exuding an elegant atmosphere. She raised her eyebrows slightly: "You seem to have a lot of free time."
Lan Huaien bowed and invited her to take a seat: "The tea is Mengding Ganlu, which Your Highness likes."
After tasting it, Yan Chao pondered and said, "It seems different from the one in the Eastern Palace. It seems that the one here is more fragrant and refreshing."
Lan Huaien said with great pride, "The water used to brew the tea was specially collected from the Imperial Garden a few days ago in the early morning dew. It has the fragrance of a hundred flowers and is the sweetest of all."
Yan Chao: "..."
The Imperial Garden is really not worth mentioning.
She set down her teacup, cleared her throat, and cut to the chase: "What have you found out about the Seventh Princess?"
Lan Huaien took the record from the table and presented it to you. He composed himself and said, “Your Highness, I must first apologize for not asking for your permission before investigating Yongning Palace.”
Seeing that Yan Chao remained silent, he continued, "Your Majesty, I have found three people: Su Xing, a eunuch from Li's former palace; Zhang Chao, the head eunuch serving Consort Zhuang; and Fang Xiu, Consort Zhuang's personal maid. Because Your Highness did not want to alert them and feared that Consort Ning would find out, I devised a plan to lure them out of the palace for interrogation."
Yan Chaozheng looked at the confessions, his brow furrowing slightly, but he remained silent.
“The gold beads on Li’s hairpin did not fall off normally, nor were they accidentally torn off by the Seventh Princess. There is indeed a problem with the workmanship.”
Yan Chao nodded: "There's something fishy about the inlay craftsman's side. I'm investigating."
"Li's eye ailment was severe. The sun was so bright that she couldn't open her eyes. While the palace servants were serving tea, the eunuch Su Xing took off a gold bead and stuffed it into the Seventh Princess's hand. He then coaxed her into putting it in her mouth. Originally, the bead could have been spat out, but when Li turned around while holding the princess, she choked on it. Accomplice to him was Zhang Chao, a eunuch from Consort Zhuang's palace. He had another identical gold bead on him. If the princess was lucky enough to survive, he would find another opportunity to make her swallow the bead directly. He rushed to call the imperial physician first, but deliberately delayed on the way, which is why the princess died due to lack of timely treatment. All the details are in the confession."
Yan Chao carefully examined the confessions and found that the two men's motives for murdering the Seventh Princess were actually quite reasonable: Su Xing claimed that Li Shi usually mistreated the palace servants and beat his brother to death, so he harbored resentment towards Li Shi and plotted to frame Li Shi with the death of the Seventh Princess; Zhang Chao claimed that he was instructed by Consort Ning to frame Li Shi and help Consort Ning seize the position of Empress.
The arrangement was indeed meticulous. If we stop here, Li will be defeated; if we reopen the case, the mastermind will turn out to be Consort Ning; if we investigate further, there will probably be no way to prove anything.
After reading it, Yan Chao frowned deeply: "Is this tantamount to playing you too? Is there nothing else?"
"Your Highness, I can guarantee that everything they said is true. All that's missing now is the mastermind behind it all." Lan Huaien looked directly into her eyes, trying to find a trace of disbelief and suspicion in them.
But Yan Chao remained calm: "If the confession is true, then someone is using Consort Ning's name to threaten Zhang Chao into doing things. I wouldn't use this to suspect the Consort, nor can I release this evidence publicly. By the way, are the two still alive?"
Lan Huaien said, "They have already been tortured, and they are eager to die. Even if we release them now, they will only cause trouble."
Yan Chao closed her eyes, her body stiffening slightly. She moved her lips, but no sound came out. Lan Huaien, however, immediately understood.
The person behind this is incredibly ruthless. If the truth isn't uncovered, the current information will only reverse the situation. Clearly, Yan Chao cannot take that risk.
The inability to investigate further meant that the misunderstanding between her and Consort Ning could not be resolved. However, she needed to remind Consort Ning to be wary of those in Yongning Palace who might have ulterior motives.
"Let's stop for now and wait and see. Remember to handle the aftermath properly."
"Your subject understands."
She flipped through the pages and suddenly remembered something: "Isn't there someone else? Where's Fangxiu?"
Lan Huaien poured her another cup of tea before taking out a few more testimonies and saying, "She was an accident and has nothing to do with this case. It is an old matter that may be extremely important to Your Highness."
.
Yan Fei finally finished school and ran all the way back to Zhaoyang Palace, with the palace servants following behind him, panting. When he reached the steps, he touched his flushed face, gestured for the servants to be quiet, and then turned and tiptoed up the steps.
He had originally intended to surprise his mother, so he quietly lifted the curtain and went around the screen, only to find her bent over her desk writing something. He watched from afar, not daring to disturb her, and could only stand there holding his breath.
After a long while, I heard my mother seemingly muttering to herself: "...Then let's watch you be abandoned by everyone. What you owe us, you will eventually have to pay back..."
He noticed his mother's unusually grim expression, and his heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, he felt a sense of fear. He slipped, tripped over the screen, and fell.
Sun suddenly snapped out of her daze, looked up and saw it was him. She was half surprised and half displeased: "Why didn't you say you were coming back? What kind of behavior is it to barge in like this?" As she spoke, she put away the paper and pen.
Yan Fei took out a few pieces of candy and handed them over, stammering, "Sixth Uncle had someone buy these candies from Anju Lane outside the palace. They're so delicious. I saved a few for my mother."
Looking into her son's clear eyes, Madam Sun couldn't bear to refuse and silently accepted the gift. She reached out and patted her son's head, instructing him, "You should go to the East Palace less often these days, and don't say anything about Zhaoyang Palace if your sixth uncle asks you about it."
Yan Fei looked up into her mother's calm and deep eyes, and asked in a daze, "Why?" Seeing that her mother didn't seem to want to answer, she asked again, "Mother doesn't like Sixth Uncle, does she?"
Madam Sun's gaze lingered for a moment, then she nodded: "Yes." She paused again and said, "I already have Crown Prince Zhaohuai, and later I had Fei'er, so I can only like Your Highness and Fei'er."
Yan Fei's innocent face now held a thoughtful expression, showing a maturity beyond his years. He felt that these affections should be different, but for a moment he couldn't think of a way to refute them. What exactly was different?
Madam Sun emphasized again, gently but firmly: "Your mother will not harm you, promise your mother first."
"Yes. Fei'er understands." Yan Fei replied sullenly.
What was he about to say? It seems that Sixth Uncle had a falling out with Consort Yongning and doesn't go to the inner palace much anymore, while Shuying goes there often. He misses Shuying a little.
.
Xu Shuying was suddenly summoned by the emperor.
She accepted the imperial decree in a daze, completely bewildered, and allowed the palace servants to arrange her changing clothes and makeup. Only after ensuring that her appearance was perfect did she board the sedan chair. She was in a daze the whole way until the moment she was about to step into the warm pavilion of the Qianqing Palace. Suddenly, she felt uneasy and so nervous that her steps were trembling.
The hall was bustling with activity. The emperor was playing with the baby in Princess Yongjia's arms, while Princess Xin, sitting to the side, had a child over a year old nestled in her arms. There was also a woman in palace attire whom the emperor didn't quite recognize, but guessed she was one of the concubines in the harem.
The only familiar face in the entire warm pavilion was Prince Chang Le, Yan Fei, who stood properly reciting the Book of Poetry to the emperor. When Shu Ying entered the hall and saw everyone listening attentively to his recitation, she didn't dare to disturb them and simply bowed and stood aside.
"...The Southern Mountains stand tall and majestic, the winds blow fiercely. All the people are prosperous, why am I alone suffering? The Southern Mountains stand firm and imposing, the winds blow gently and softly. All the people are prosperous, why am I alone not thriving!"
The teacher at Wenhua Hall explained the meaning. Yan Fei always studied diligently, and his recitation was full of emotion. In addition, he could connect the meaning to the poem. After finishing the poem, he was so moved that his eyes even welled up with tears.
The emperor put his arm around Yan Fei and patted his shoulder: "It was my fault. I shouldn't have made you recite this poem. But Fei'er is really great. Here's a snack as a reward."
Princess Yongjia turned her head and looked at Yan Fei with emotion: "Fei'er is honest, filial and kind. This is not only due to the merits of her teachers, but also because of the Emperor's careful upbringing."
The emperor smiled, pointed to the center of the hall, and said to Yan Fei, "Look who's here?"
Shuying hurriedly bowed, but paused when she reached the address of the concubine. Only after being reminded by Princess Yongjia did she realize that it was Consort Jing, and she then apologized in fear.
The emperor didn't blame her, only casually remarking, "I remember when you served Prince Chang Le, you were quite lively and bold, but now you've become so reserved." Seeing that she was about to bow her head in apology again, the emperor waved his hand and continued, "I heard from Fei'er that you also read poetry with him. Do you know what that poem was called?"
Shu Ying lowered her eyes and replied under Yan Fei's encouraging gaze, "Your Majesty, the Prince just recited the poem 'Liao E' from the Lesser Odes of the Book of Songs."
The Emperor chuckled and joked, "Not bad, not bad at all. No wonder you were able to teach Consort Ning to read. It seems I didn't just give the Crown Prince a concubine, but rather hired a tutor for Consort Ning."
Everyone laughed.
Shu Ying trembled with fear: "Your Majesty flatters me, I am unworthy of such praise..."
She stood alone in the middle, the laughter piercing her body with waves of pain, feeling as if she were being pricked by needles, while her cheeks uncontrollably burned.
Seeing her expression, Yan Fei recalled how she had blushed when she was pursuing him, and couldn't help but chuckle. He stepped forward and affectionately took her arm, saying to the Emperor, "Grandfather, please don't tease Shuying; she'll get shy."
The emperor laughed and said, "I summoned her because I knew she was shy."
Yan Fei was puzzled and blinked, "Why?"
"I doubt Consort Ning offered any advice," the Emperor said abruptly, glancing at Shuying with his eyes, but then said to Princess Yongjia, "Yongjia, you should mention it to her."
Princess Yongjia replied with a smile, looking at Shuying: "Xu Xuanshi has been in the Eastern Palace for more than half a year now, and she is also someone the Crown Prince has chosen. It's about time she made some moves. Look at all the children in this hall, only the ones from the Eastern Palace are missing."
Consort Jing and Princess Xin echoed this sentiment.
Shuying's face changed color instantly, but because she kept her head down, no one could see it, assuming it was just youthful shyness. She bit her lip, unsure how to respond, and couldn't utter a single word.
She was no longer shy; instead, she was afraid.
Princess Yongjia joked, "Look at your slender figure, could it be that the Crown Prince is so used to eating alone that he has forgotten to share his food with you?" Everyone burst into laughter again.
Yan Fei felt somewhat uncomfortable upon hearing this and retorted softly, "Aunt, Sixth Uncle would never do such a thing."
Everyone initially took it as a joke, but seeing that the child was serious, they found it even more adorable and funny.
It was Consort Ning who rescued Shuying, and upon hearing the news, she immediately came to request an audience. The Emperor, who had no intention of making things difficult for her, relented and allowed her to take Shuying away.
Shuying had been sullen all the way back to Yongning Palace with Consort Ning, and finally couldn't hold back anymore, throwing herself into her arms and bursting into tears.
Consort Ning held her tenderly and comforted her softly.
"Shuying, shall I send you out of the palace?"
"Your Majesty, I am all alone and helpless outside the palace. Now, only Your Majesty is willing to protect me. Please let me enter Yongning Palace and serve you as a palace maid!"
Consort Ning wiped away her tears and sighed, "The situation in Yongning Palace is not much better than that of the East Palace, and it is even worse than that of Zhaoyang Palace."
Shuying sobbed, unable to speak. She always had a vague feeling that Consort Sun of Zhaoyang Palace no longer wanted her. Prince Changle had long since changed his patrons, and in all this time, the Consort had never asked her once.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
