"Mother... I know I was wrong..."
Folgochun knelt on the ground, glancing nervously at Qian Shengyan sitting at the head of the table, then lowered his head, looking as if he was about to cry.
Geng sat to one side and advised, "Your Majesty, I have investigated thoroughly. This matter is indeed not the princess's fault. It was Qiqige who provoked her first. She even instructed her maid to steal the princess's things and showed great disrespect to the princess."
At the opportune moment, Folgochun sobbed twice. Qian Shengyan was truly helpless and pinched her forehead, saying, "Consort Yu, there's no need to speak up for her. There are rules in the palace, and Folgochun was in the wrong in this matter."
"Yes, daughter knows her mistake and will never do it again." This time, Folgochun was very obedient, mainly because Qiqige, as a Mongolian princess, could roam freely on the grasslands, but was a complete landlubber.
The children in the palace had long since learned to swim thanks to Qian Shengyan's instruction, but Qiqige couldn't swim at all. After being pulled out of the water, she vomited water, coughed, and fainted. She hasn't woken up yet.
“Oh dear, rules are rules, but people are flexible. Besides, the princess didn’t do it on purpose. It was just that the Mongolian princess who lost her footing and fell down!” Madam Geng was very protective of her daughter. “Your Highness, please let the princess get up. If she keeps kneeling, she’ll hurt her knees.”
Qian Shengyan: ...
No, when Yinzhen heard about it this morning, he just said "oh" and that was it. Now that she wanted to reprimand him, Gengshi quickly came over to protect him...
Is this the consequence of having only one princess in the entire palace?
"Your Majesty, Princess Hehui and Princess Duanrou request an audience," Green Willow said as she entered.
Qian Shengyan couldn't help but sigh again. This must also be to plead for Foerguochun.
As expected, Duanrou knelt down as soon as she entered, saying that Huaiyue was standing up for her. She said that Qiqige was always bullying her by making veiled accusations, and they couldn't stand it anymore. Hehui also said that Huaiyue didn't push anyone; she just scared Qiqige, and Qiqige fell into the pool backwards by herself.
Qian Shengyan was exasperated by the girls' chatter, but she still forced herself to punish Fuerguochun by making him write a thousand-word self-criticism and apologize to Qiqige.
Since he had been ill, it was only right that they apologize. He Hui and Duanrou were very loyal and wanted to accompany Fuerguochun. Geng Shi also said that she could come along.
Qian Shengyan: ...
It doesn't feel like they're going to apologize; it feels more like they're going to bully others by abusing their power.
Fortunately, Qiqige seemed genuinely guilty. When she woke up in the afternoon, she accepted Folgochun's apology gift and let it go without saying anything more.
Here, Qian Shengyan met Consort Ru.
Yesterday, Aruhan was dressed as a Mongolian girl, but today she changed into a qipao and tied her hair up in a bun. However, she was probably not used to wearing platform shoes, so she only wore a pair of boots. She knelt down respectfully and earnestly and kowtowed three times to Qian Shengyan.
Qian Shengyan did not wake her. She slowly took a sip of tea, chuckled, and asked directly, "Consort Ru, I have a question. I wonder if Consort Ru could enlighten me?"
"It is my honor to be able to answer Your Majesty's questions," Aruhan said, bowing her head.
"How come I didn't know when I gave you a dress or arranged for you to serve the Emperor?" Qian Shengyan laughed again, but her laughter was full of sarcasm. "As for me, I was being led around by your maids back then, busy searching for Consort Ru all over the garden."
After she finished speaking, Aruhan didn't dare to lift her head. She lay prostrate on the ground, trembling as she stammered, "Yes, yes..."
"How is it?" Qian Shengyan asked calmly, completely disregarding Aruhan's embarrassment and fear.
They're bullying her, why should she care about them?
Now you're scared? How could you lie so smoothly back then? You even dragged her into it. If you have the guts to do it, you should have the guts to take responsibility.
"It was Qiqige who gave me these clothes, and it was she... she told me to go to the room and lie down then." Aruhan's voice was choked with sobs. "I didn't want to, but... but Qiqige said it was the Imperial Noble Consort's idea. I knew she was close to the princess, and I thought... I thought..."
"Oh, so the one who led me all over the courtyard looking for you must also be one of Qiqige's maids?" Qian Shengyan said, raising her eyes to look at a maid kneeling behind Aruhan.
The palace maid was trembling and prostrated herself on the ground.
Aruhan gritted her teeth as well. A decisive woman, she immediately rose from her knees and slapped the maid behind her. "I thought she was loyal, but I never imagined she would do such a thing behind my back!" After slapping her, she turned and kowtowed heavily to Qian Shengyan. "Lübing was bribed and deceived, and she even disrespected Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort! I beg Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort to do justice for me and punish this vile servant!"
Green ice...
Qian Shengyan sneered: "Oh? It seems that Consort Ru is unaware of these matters?"
"This concubine...this concubine was unaware of the truth, but it is also my fault that I was deceived by this lowly servant and caused Your Majesty's dissatisfaction," Aruhan said through gritted teeth.
“Heh,” Qian Shengyan picked up her tea and took a sip: “Then let’s lock him up first, and send him to the Imperial Prison after we return to the palace. We can also ask him how he got involved with Princess Qiqi.”
Aruhan's face hardened, but she had no choice but to lower her head: "Yes."
"That Qiqige colluded with palace maids, deceived the Emperor, plotted against me, and even tried to ruin your promising future. Are you willing to confront her and testify before the Emperor? I believe the Emperor will definitely stand up for me and Consort Ru." Qian Shengyan asked with a half-smile.
Aruhan was suddenly startled: "No!"
Before she could finish speaking, the teacup in Qian Shengyan's hand was smashed over, shattering right in front of her. The broken pieces of porcelain instantly grazed her cheek, leaving a bloody mark on her brow bone.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
