Yuan Yunzhong stood with his back to the Emperor, his gaze towards Prince Ning sharp as a blade.
Prince Ning’s heart caught in his chest.
Yuan Yunzhong knew!
Yuan Yunzhong knew he was trying to tarnish Song Jiyun’s reputation!
Why was Yuan Yunzhong always one step ahead?!
Frustration and humiliation roared through his chest.
Head hot, he bowed to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I admire The Song Clan and wish to take Miss Song as my consort."
Qianqing Palace fell silent as the grave.
*
Song Jiyun left the Xinbei Warehouse and ran into the young eunuch who had delivered the imperial decree to her home last time.
The young eunuch was so anxious he was covered in sweat, saying, "Miss Song, please hurry to the palace with me, the Emperor wishes to see you."
Song Jiyun was startled, quickly stuffing a red envelope into the young eunuch’s hand, saying, "Thank you for making this trip. Go have a cup of tea, I’ll change my clothes and follow you into the palace."
"No need," the young eunuch said hastily, "The Emperor is waiting for you in Qianqing Palace!"
After finishing, he looked Song Jiyun up and down, saying, "You look just fine as you are, when we enter the palace, I’ll have palace maids help you freshen up your hands and face."
Song Jiyun’s heart pounded, yet she kept a smiling face and said, "Then let’s go to the palace."
The young eunuch nodded vigorously and only on the way did he find a chance to reveal to her, "As for why you are summoned to the palace, I don’t know. But Lord Yuan is also inside, you’re sure to be fine."
Could it be that Yuan Yunzhong went into the palace to make moves against Prince Ning and it backfired?
Song Jiyun couldn’t help but speculate, thinking of countermeasures in her heart.
But once inside the palace, she was taken to a side room next to Qianqing Palace to wait, and after nearly half a Shichen, a palace maid led her into a side hall of Qianqing Palace.
From afar, she heard a commotion. As she entered the side hall, she found Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, the Empress, Noble Consort Wan, and even the Emperor in his imperial robe, as well as Yuan Yunzhong in casual clothes, all present.
The Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager surrounded the Emperor with incessant chatter that was hard to understand, but the disapproving tone was thick, whereas Noble Consort Wan stood with arms crossed, coldly watching the Queen huddle like a quail off to the side.
She was bewildered.
She looked towards Yuan Yunzhong for help.
Yuan Yunzhong gave her a ’find a chance to slip away’ look, then greeted the Emperor with respect and declared loudly, "Miss Song has arrived."
The side hall quieted down.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager both gave an awkward cough.
Noble Consort Wan handed a blue and white porcelain octagonal bowl to Song Jiyun, saying, "You tell me, from which period is this imperial ware?"
Song Jiyun, keeping a calm demeanor, took a close look and said, "I have limited knowledge, but judging from the glaze and body, with its low and shallow footring, the glaze is smooth and lustrous, the colors rich and vibrant, and with natural gradation, the colors filled between double lines, which is a decorative technique of painted porcelain hearts."
She lifted the bowl to examine the bottom under the light, "There’s no date mark. It should be an imperial piece from the Yongle period."
Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Wan jumped up, saying, "You all hear that, you all hear that. Everything in the palace is registered, there are no Yongle period dishes in my quarters. How could the Eldest Imperial Son’s pastries come from me?"
"Your Majesty!" She said seriously, "You must thoroughly investigate this matter and give me an explanation."
The Empress didn’t speak, the Empress Dowager glanced at Yuan Yunzhong, but it was the Empress Dowager who gave Noble Consort Wan a sidelong glance, saying, "It’s just a bowl, what does it prove? And you even had the gall to bring Miss Song from outside the palace. Are you saying we don’t have enough people enjoying the spectacle already?"
But Noble Consort Wan wasn’t intimidated, retorting, "The deed is done, why fear the mocking eyes of others?"
She called Qin Fang in forcefully, saying, "Go to the Imperial Supervision and Construction Department and check thoroughly where this bowl came from. If you can’t give me a satisfactory answer, we’ll let the Division of Prudential Regulation investigate. You might as well go to Tianshou Mountain and keep company to the late emperor."
Qin Fang’s smile became strained.
The Empress Dowager’s face grew even uglier as she scolded Noble Consort Wan, "Is this your place to speak?"
Noble Consort Wan paid no attention to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager then directly ordered Qin Fang, "Go call someone from the Imperial Supervision and Construction Department."
Qin Fang stood there indecisively, not daring to casually glance around with his eyes.
The Emperor stammered, "Imperial Great Grandmother, Grandmother, this matter, it must be investigated thoroughly. Otherwise, there will always be those with ill intentions stirring up trouble."
The Empress Dowager was so angry she could hardly contain herself.
Noble Consort Wan, on the other hand, knew when to stop.
The Emperor’s intention to protect Noble Consort Wan was obvious.
The Empress Dowager angrily walked away with the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
The Emperor then comforted Noble Consort Wan, "Never mind, don’t be angry. The Eldest Prince had an upset stomach, the Imperial Great Grandmother is worried."
Noble Consort Wan snorted coldly, saying, "If it weren’t for the sake of the Imperial Great Grandmother’s wholehearted protection of the Eldest Prince, I certainly wouldn’t let it go at that."
The Emperor hurriedly poured a cup of tea for Noble Consort Wan.
Song Jiyun was stunned as she watched, then looked at Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong gave a slight nod, saying, "Your Majesty, since this matter has been clarified, we shall take our leave first with Miss Song."
But the Emperor stopped Yuan Yunzhong, saying, "I must talk to you about Prince Ning." He also subtly signaled Yuan Yunzhong with his eyes.
Having no other choice, Yuan Yunzhong had to stay.
Noble Consort Wan didn’t get angry either, her smile brimming as she left the side hall with Song Jiyun.
"The Emperor has always wanted to bestow marriage upon you and Lord Yuan," Noble Consort Wan said meaningfully. "Don’t let down the Emperor’s expectations."
She must be warning her against speaking out of turn!
Song Jiyun replied, "As a commoner, I was able to prove my innocence in the Glazed Factory, all thanks to the Emperor’s grace. I have always wanted to express my gratitude to the Emperor, but unfortunately, he is hard to meet. Today I was fortunate enough, and I am deeply grateful."
She tactfully promised that she would not speak out of turn; her visit to the palace was to express her thanks.
Noble Consort Wan nodded with satisfaction and left.
Song Jiyun heaved a sigh of relief, exited Shenwu Gate, and returned to Pocket Alley, where she hurried to clean up.
But she had not yet dried the droplets from her body when Xiang Zhan ran in frantically, "Owner, something’s wrong! There was a person hiding in your sedan chair, and by the looks of it, it’s a Young Eunuch. No matter how we asked him, he did not speak. When pressed, he only said he wanted to see you. You must go and see him quickly! The curfew is almost upon us."
Once the curfew began, the people in the city could no longer move about, meaning the Young Eunuch, even if he had left the palace without permission, could not be returned to the palace.
If he stayed here overnight and it turned out that this Young Eunuch was guilty of some offense, it would be difficult for them to clear their names.
Hearing this, Song Jiyun also became anxious. She quickly wiped off, changed her clothes, and did her hair before going to the hall.
It wasn’t just any Young Eunuch; it was the Eldest Imperial Son dressed in a Young Eunuch’s clothing.
"How did you leave the palace?" Song Jiyun couldn’t help but laugh and cry, contemplating whether to give him a formal bow when the Eldest Imperial Son already had grabbed her sleeve, saying, "I, I’m hungry, I want to eat mung bean cakes."
Song Jiyun’s heart instantly softened.
The child must have been too afraid to eat anything in the palace.
She immediately ordered Xiang Zhan to ask the kitchen to make some comforting food, and had Zheng Quan buy a few outfits suitable for the Eldest Imperial Son to wear. Lastly, she sent Wang Hua to find Yuan Yunzhong, "Ask him to come right away."
As to what to do about this situation, Song Jiyun felt that she needed to hear Yuan Yunzhong’s opinion.
He was more familiar with palace matters than she was.
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