The worse the emperor's health became, the more trouble Zhang Tingyu's family would cause.
Not only was the relationship between him and his wife strained, but his older sons also harbored many complaints about him. Staying at home every day felt like walking through a vat of boiling oil; he was disliked by everyone.
Madam Zhang has been running around trying to find a solution for her youngest son these past few days, but to no avail. She won't be allowed into the palace, and even the families close to Sun Miaoqing won't let her in.
She hadn't experienced such neglect and humiliation in years, but these past few days she had tasted it all. For her son's life, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and go to him.
He was so anxious that several blisters appeared on the corners of his mouth, and he felt uncomfortable all over, but he dared not get sick. He kept urging Zhang Tingyu to come and apologize to him.
Zhang Tingyu was helpless; he hadn't had a good time at the Grand Council either. Those who had previously joined him in criticizing the empress's interference in politics and the "hen crowing at dawn" were now the same people giving him the cold shoulder and deliberately making things difficult!
He did make a terrible mistake; Consort Cheng's influence in the imperial court and harem was far greater than he had imagined.
He had spoken to the emperor privately, secretly, and he wasn't the one leading the discussion in the court. Later, however, the rumors spread like wildfire throughout the capital, with everyone claiming it was his idea.
Things have come to this point, and begging for mercy is useless. It's better to leave things as they are; at least we can maintain a good reputation. Even if Consort Cheng wants revenge, she can't go too far.
What goes around comes around. In the face of power, even mothers and children may not get along, let alone those who are not related by blood.
Zhang Tingyu is still somewhat useful.
*
Imperial Garden
After having dinner, Da Pangju, supported by Su Peisheng, took a walk in the garden. He walked unsteadily for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and his back was already soaked with sweat.
"At this time last year, my legs were still quite nimble, and I could walk for half an hour without feeling tired. But now, I'm already panting after just a few steps."
"The scenery of the Imperial Garden remains the same, but I am not quite the same as I was before."
Su Peisheng said, "In my heart, you have always been the same as you were back then, without the slightest change."
The chubby orange chuckled, "I'm getting old. I'm nowhere near as capable as I used to be, able to work through the night on government affairs."
"You have gray hair now, and look at the wrinkles on your face, they're even deeper than mine."
Su Peisheng laughed and said, "How could this servant compare to His Majesty?"
Big Fat Orange smiled and said, "Let's go to Fubi Pavilion. It's been a long time since I've seen those koi."
Su Peisheng looked at the sky; it was overcast and not a single star could be seen.
"The artificial hill and rocks over there at Fubi Pavilion are messy, and the path is winding. It's getting dark now, and the fish are all asleep. How about I accompany you there tomorrow?"
Big Fat Orange rarely showed such a good mood, so how could it agree? It said directly, "Shut up, I'm not so sick that I can't even walk."
Su Peisheng slapped himself twice, told the eunuchs carrying lanterns to keep up, and carefully helped the emperor walk towards Fubi Pavilion.
As the group walked along the road, they suddenly heard a muffled, heavy breathing sound, intermittent and weak. Even though there was no wind, the sound of flowers and grass being tossed about could be heard.
Big Fat Orange stopped and said in confusion, "That sound seems to be coming from behind the artificial hill."
"Perhaps it's just the stray cats in the palace causing trouble. Your Majesty, please wait a moment, this servant will have them chased away."
After Su Peisheng finished speaking, he instructed his apprentices beside him, "You two go and see what's going on."
Two eunuchs went over with lanterns and discovered that it was a pair of wild mandarin ducks sweating profusely in the flower bushes.
The eunuchs and palace maids were so engrossed in their activities that they didn't even notice someone approaching.
Xiao Yuanzi and another eunuch exchanged a glance, never expecting that they would witness such a thing.
The emperor was still waiting for a reply; there was no way to hide it anymore. But if they really sent them away like this, and the emperor got so angry that he fell ill, the two of them would also be held responsible.
Helpless, Xiao Yuanzi stayed there to prevent the two from discovering that they had escaped and causing an even bigger scandal, while the other went to report, trying to be as subtle as possible.
Just as the chubby orange cat arrived angrily with Su Peisheng, the people in the flower bushes had finished. They then noticed the figure nearby and were startled and at a loss for what to do.
The red mandarin duck bib that was originally hanging on the person's belt was somehow knocked away in the midst of their confusion, and it directly covered the fat orange man's face.
Su Peisheng was so frightened that he forgot to help the emperor remove his undergarment.
Big Fat Orange took off the bellyband covering his face and looked at it. He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood and fell straight backward.
Su Peisheng hurriedly shouted, "Your Majesty, summon the imperial physician! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"
He ordered his men to carry the emperor back, then glanced with disgust at the two stunned figures in the flowerbed. "Keep them under guard until the emperor decides what to do with them."
"Also, be careful not to let word get out about what happened tonight."
"Yes, Master."
*
When Sun Miaoqing received the news and rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Imperial Physician Lu had already finished treating the chubby orange.
Before long, Consort Hua also rushed over. After looking at the Emperor, she questioned him.
"His Majesty had been showing signs of improvement these past two days, so how did he suddenly become so ill? Su Peisheng, what kind of eunuch are you? You don't care about His Majesty's health at all."
Su Peisheng knelt down and replied, "It's all my fault. After dinner, His Majesty wanted to take a stroll in the Imperial Garden to clear his mind. Who knew... who knew he would run into..."
Consort Hua asked, "What did you stumble upon?"
[Hua Pangpang's disguise is quite convincing. Besides Sun Yingying's red mandarin duck bodice, what else could he possibly stumble upon...?]
Consort Hua was furious. When she heard that the emperor was dying, she was so happy that she didn't care about anything else.
It was already quite an achievement that she suppressed her overwhelming joy and put on a sorrowful expression on the way here.
However, Consort Sun... also has a red mandarin duck bodice...
Consort Hua realized she had discovered something and quickly covered her mouth. She was afraid that if she hadn't been a step faster, she would have burst out laughing.
Sun Miaoqing glanced at Linglan, instructing her to take the others out with her, and then said,
"Sister Shilan, don't be angry. The Emperor's affairs are of utmost importance."
Su Peisheng recounted everything about the bushes in the Imperial Garden in detail.
"His Majesty's health cannot withstand too much emotional fluctuation. How could he not be furious when he suddenly encounters such a thing?"
"This servant has already ordered people to keep Lady Sun and that madman under guard separately. I beg Your Highnesses to decide how this matter should be handled."
Sun Miaoqing said, "It would be best if His Majesty dealt with this matter personally after he wakes up."
Consort Hua had also mentally prepared herself, "What my sister says is true. They actually had an affair in the Imperial Garden and were even seen by the Emperor."
"It must have happened more than once or twice. We should have someone investigate thoroughly; there might be something else going on here."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
