Chapter 222: Secret Matter
"Thank you, Rongying!" The Concubine Chen said sternly, "If you continue to talk nonsense, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Xie Rongying's eyes fell on Concubine Chen. She didn't think that Concubine Chen's anger was due to her status and power, but rather that she was furious because a long-buried secret had been exposed.
"Favor?" Xie Rongying stared at Concubine Chen without blinking. "For someone like Her Majesty, who is so reckless, there's no need to even mention favors."
The Concubine Chen's eyes widened. Just as she was about to speak, Xie Rongying continued, "I asked Your Majesty to come here in person today, not because I want to do anything to you, but because I want Shangguan Jing not to die an unjust death."
At this moment, Concubine Chen felt as if Xie Rongying was strangling her throat, even though the force was very light.
However, Princess Chen felt much more at ease when she thought that no one else would know the secret.
"Don't want to be an unjustly dead ghost?" The concubine sneered: "So, you want to kill Shangguan Jing?"
Xie Rongying chuckled softly, her eyes falling to the ground, her voice light and strange: "He wants to kill me, so why can't I take his life?"
Concubine Chen's face froze, she stared at Xie Rongying intently, gritting her teeth and saying, "What on earth are you going to do!?"
Xie Rongying raised her head and said calmly, "Didn't I tell you that I asked Her Majesty to come here in person because I didn't want Shangguan Jing to die an unjust death?"
"Xie Rongying!" The concubine looked at Xie Rongying's composure, and the uneasiness that had just been suppressed rose again at this moment: "You really don't..."
"Your Majesty is even better at putting on an act than I am." Xie Rongying interrupted Concubine Chen with a deep smile: "Are you really worried about Shangguan Jing, or are you afraid that I will hand Shangguan Jing over to the emperor, or are you afraid that Shangguan Jing will say something to the emperor?"
Cracks slowly appeared on the gloomy face of Concubine Chen. Seeing this, Xie Rongying's eyes showed some relief.
She continued, "After all, in the emperor's heart, the queen has always been a gentle little white rabbit. She has a pitiful life and a pitiful experience. She regards the emperor as her only lifeline in this world. Even if she wants to fight for him, it is only to gain his love."
"But is Your Majesty really Shangguan Jing's cousin?" Xie Rongying stared at Concubine Chen with a smile: "Your Majesty, dare you swear on the Second Prince that if you were not Shangguan Jing's cousin, the Second Prince would not live past the age of twenty?"
The Concubine Chen's face was completely hideous.
Xie Rongying snorted softly, "Your Majesty wouldn't dare." Her gaze fell on Shangguan Jing again as she spoke, "Since I don't want you to die an unjust death, then I'll make it clear to you."
Shangguan Jing felt a chill down his spine, and as he listened to what Xie Rongying said, the feeling of uneasiness grew stronger.
"Since you want everything to be clear, then what I said is a bit far-fetched." Xie Rongying was probably a little tired. She leaned back in her chair with her eyelids half closed. Her voice was much lower than before, but it was still audible to those present.
"Xie Rongying!" Chen Fei shouted angrily, wanting to rush forward to rush towards Xie Rongying, but Huai'an, who had already approached her, pressed his shoulder with one hand. Chen Fei struggled in vain and could only threaten Xie Rongying: "Xie Rongying, do you know that if you frame me, your entire Xie family will not have an easy time!?"
Xie Rongying didn't even blink as she continued, "During the Jingyou era, your father was still the General of the Cavalry, and the emperor was still the Prince of Yu. Back then, your father and Prince of Yu were very close."
She raised her eyes and met Shangguan Jing's. "Given your age, you should still have some recollection of your father's close relationship with Prince Yu, right?"
How could Shangguan Jing not remember?
At that time, the Shangguan family in Bian Jing had to give some face to everyone. As long as his father came back from the border, the people of the entire Bian Jing would know that a victory had been won at the border.
The late emperor would also reward countless silks and satins to the Shangguan Mansion.
At that time, the Shangguan family was extremely prosperous in Bianliang.
How could Shangguan Jing not remember?
"Later, the Liao invaded, and the late emperor ordered your father to go to war. The Liao were different from the Jin, more treacherous and cunning. At that time, your father and the current emperor were like brothers. It can be said that your father trusted the current emperor more than the late emperor, so he handed your cousin to the current emperor's care."
"Xie Rongying!" Concubine Chen's pupils widened as she stared at Xie Rongying in disbelief: "Don't talk nonsense!"
Gu Xun said coldly: "Huai'an, tell her to shut up!"
The next moment, Huai'an placed the long sword in his hand on Chen Fei's neck and said coldly, "If you say another word, don't blame me for being blind."
Concubine Chen's body trembled slightly. She knew that Xie Rongying's people were not trying to scare her.
But the more Concubine Chen prevented Xie Rongying from speaking, the more Shangguan Jing became certain that what Xie Rongying said was true.
Xie Rongying continued, "After your cousin entered Prince Yu's mansion, she cried every day, worried about your father who was away at the battle. Although she didn't visit the prince every day, she would go to him every five or six days to ask for news about the General of the Cavalry."
In a room on the second floor of Fulou, Chang Ning served tea to the official and then stepped aside.
"Uncle, please." Zhao Yu picked up the teacup while speaking. When he glanced sideways, he saw a strange emotion on Emperor Ren De's face.
Xie Rongying on the stage continued, "At first, the prince could understand that your cousin's daily concerns and tears were due to her worry about your father. After all, all the prince knew was that your father was the only relative your cousin had in the world."
"It wasn't long after Princess Yu passed away at that time. Calculating the time, it should have been about half a year."
"Perhaps the veteran officials in the court all know that when the emperor was still Prince Yu, he and the princess were particularly affectionate. After all, they were a young couple who had experienced many ups and downs over the years. Prince Yu has been immersed in grief since the princess's passing. He originally wanted to take good care of his good friend and cousin, but unexpectedly, his feelings have also been touched."
"But it's understandable that the prince is truly moved. After all, what man can remain unmoved by the woman who cooks for him every day? Moreover, your cousin's personality is somewhat similar to that of the late Princess Yu."
"The best means in this world is sincerity. Seeing the woman who takes care of him and worries about General Shangguan every day, the prince can't help but feel distressed."
"I think at that time the emperor was thinking that since Shangguan Yan had entrusted him to take care of this cousin, then taking this cousin into his own room would also be considered a form of care."
"What's more, at that time, your father and the official family were indeed brothers who had been through thick and thin together. If he knew that your cousin had married him and had found a home, he would be happy too."
"When your father returned to Bianjing, it was already March of the following year, and your cousin was already pregnant."
After Xie Rongying finished speaking, she looked at the pale Consort Chen. "Actually, everyone only knows that the emperor had a concubine who later entered the palace and was named Consort Chen. But many people don't know the Consort Chen's real name."
Concubine Chen stared at Xie Rongying intently.
"That day in Kaifeng Mansion, my aunt was strolling around and saw Concubine Chen and Master Qi heading to the front hall together. She was a little confused at the time, thinking that the Feng family had all died out, so how could there still be someone who looked a bit like the Feng family?"
"Later, my aunt brought this up with my mother, and she told me that something had happened between the Yan and Feng families, and a girl from the Feng family had escaped."
Xie Rongying stared at Concubine Chen with a smile: "Do you think I'm right, Feng Qingyun?"
Feng Qingyun——
The anger on Concubine Chen's face gradually hardened, and the complex emotions in her phoenix eyes condensed.
Xie Rongying was satisfied with Concubine Chen's reaction. She smiled and said, "After the Feng family fell into decline, you were the only one left alive in the world. I wonder if you really became Shangguan Yan's concubine by accident, or if you used some tricks to become Shangguan Yan's concubine."
When Xie Rongying said this, it seemed like she had a hidden meaning.
In the room on the second floor, Emperor Ren De held the teacup tightly in his hand when he heard Xie Rongying talk about Shangguan Yan's concubine.
Zhao Yu glanced at Emperor Rende and whispered, "So the Concubine Chen's surname is Feng?"
How could Emperor Ren De not hear Zhao Yu's sarcasm? Before, when he was in Prince Yu's mansion, everyone knew that he had a concubine. Later, after she entered the palace and was named Concubine Chen, everyone knew that he only had one Concubine Chen in his harem.
The second prince was born to Concubine Chen.
This mother and son had almost no presence among court officials or the general public, and no one was curious about the woman's name.
Everyone only knew that there were Concubine Chen and the Second Prince in the harem, but no one would have thought that this mother and son would have other ambitions.
After all, in the eyes of everyone, Concubine Chen was just a concubine, and she had no backers except Emperor Ren De.
In addition, the crown prince had already grown up, and the concubine rarely appeared in the sight of the noble families.
Therefore, even Emperor Ren De would not have thought that this woman who had been gentle and kind to him for more than ten years would have ambitions. What shocked him the most was that this woman was not Shangguan Yan's cousin, but Shangguan Yan's concubine.
The feeling of being deceived for half his life made Emperor Ren De furious.
"Uncle, have some tea to cool down." Zhao Yu spoke again.
Emperor Rende stared at Zhao Yu coldly and said in a deep voice, "Is this the stage you built?"
"Is the emperor's uncle dissatisfied with this scene?" Zhao Yu asked back.
Emperor Ren De sneered and remained silent.
Zhao Yu added, "Don't worry, uncle. The main event is coming soon."
Emperor Ren De could have stood up and left to interrupt what was about to happen on the stage, but when he thought that Concubine Chen was not Shangguan Yan's cousin but a concubine, he loosened his grip on the teacup and placed it back on the table.
Seeing this, Zhao Yu looked down at the stage through the bead curtain with a gloomy expression, and his sight fell on Xie Rongying's profile.
Thinking of what Xie Rongying had said to him, a subtle curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Why hasn't Your Majesty taken action against the emperor after all these years of planning?"
"Waiting for an opportunity."
"Timing? What timing?"
"A chance to take action against him with justification."
"Justifiable? Your Highness, are you overthinking it? The emperor's throne wasn't obtained justifiable, so why do you need justifiable? Your Highness is only trying to take back what belongs to you, yet you still need to find a suitable reason and opportunity for yourself?"
Yes, he just wanted to take back what belonged to him, so why did he need to find a suitable reason and opportunity for himself?
At this moment, the sound from the stage brought Zhao Yu back to his senses.
"It all started when the Empress Dowager used the Shi family to send someone close to my father, and then I disrupted the Shi family's plan. Finally, when I thought the farce was over, Empress Chen allowed me to enter the palace, repeatedly testing the waters. You wanted to bring the Xie family under your wing, and use me to deal with the Empress Dowager."
Xie Rongying's voice was much louder when she said this, and she raised her eyebrows slightly: "Does the emperor know the ambition of the Concubine Chen?"
The Concubine Chen's face was as gloomy as water, and her heart was in turmoil.
Before she came here, she had always had a feeling of uneasiness. She thought Xie Rongying would use the incident with the Empress Dowager to threaten her, and she had already thought of a countermeasure on the way here.
Even if the matter came to the emperor's attention, the Concubine Chen was not very afraid.
Compared to what Xie Rongying said, Emperor Ren De would not believe it at all.
Of course, Concubine Chen also knew that Xie Rongying would not bring Shi Yang's affairs to the Emperor Ren De, after all, it was Xie Rongying who did everything.
She simply framed the Empress Dowager for Shi Yang's death.
But how could Concubine Chen have imagined that the "story" mentioned in Xie Rongying's letter was not something that happened between them, but something that happened many years ago.
"I'm not sure if you, Empress Chenfei, were involved in the Empress's use of the Shi family to deal with my father, but I can roughly guess that after I dealt with the woman sent by the Shi family to seduce my father, the Empress sent someone to invite me into the palace. I know everything about what the Shi family did."
"He also knows everything I did." Xie Rongying stared at the Concubine Chen without blinking. "He used me to make Shi Yang die in the palace of the Grand Empress Dowager, giving the Emperor the opportunity to deal with the Grand Empress Dowager. He then eliminated the Grand Empress Dowager and was free to deal with the King of Wei."
"And when I discovered that the Yongyi Marquisate and Shangguan Yan were colluding with foreign enemies, the Empress took control of the situation with lightning speed, having Shangguan Jing disguise himself as the Crown Prince and try to kill me. Her goal was to get the Xie family to hold the Crown Prince hostage. And now with the Dongchang Marquisate getting involved, the Empress, facing pressure from the court officials, will definitely put pressure on the Crown Prince."
"If the Queen could accurately grasp the Emperor's intentions at this time, secretly send Shangguan Jing to approach the Crown Prince, and then take his life, the Second Prince wouldn't have to fight for it anymore. The future of Dayin would belong to the Second Prince."
"Empress Chen, am I right?"
As Xie Rongying spoke, she shook her head again and sighed softly, "That doesn't seem quite right. The Second Prince has always been seen as a threat-free existence by everyone. For years, the Emperor and the Crown Prince have focused their attention on the Empress Dowager and the King of Wei, little knowing that you, the Empress Dowager, and the Second Prince are the most powerful."
"Thank you, Rongying!" Concubine Chen finally spoke: "Do you think that in this world, whoever knows more will win? Then do you know that the more you know, the faster you die?"
"According to your Majesty, everything I said is correct?" Xie Rongying chuckled, staring at the Concubine Chen with a smile: "Then I dare to ask your Majesty Chen, is the Second Prince really the emperor's bloodline?"
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