Chapter 57: Cutting and Giving Up
Seeing that Chen had finished her consultation and Concubine Sun's face was not looking good, Zhu Yuhuan stepped forward and bowed, as if to help Concubine Sun out of trouble, saying, "Huanhuan greets Grandma, and greets the Concubine."
The palace maids had already moved the chair prepared for Princess Shunde to the Empress Dowager's side. Empress Dowager Zhang immediately waved at Zhu Yuhuan and said with a smile, "How are you? Are you feeling better?"
Zhu Yuhuan immediately leaned on Empress Dowager Zhang's shoulder and said coquettishly, "Huanhuan has recovered a long time ago. Why doesn't grandma want to let Huanhuan go back?"
When Concubine Sun saw Zhu Yuhuan coming, she looked him up and down unconsciously. Seeing that Zhu Yuhuan was indeed safe and sound, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
When she saw Empress Dowager Zhang today, she knew that she would not get any good results here, and might even bring humiliation upon herself. However, Zhu Yuhuan was safe and sound, and even acted like a spoiled child in front of the Empress Dowager as usual. This meant that the princess had not been truly hurt, and perhaps the young master would not be too angry...
Empress Dowager Zhang embraced her precious granddaughter affectionately and said with a smile, "You have suffered too much. You didn't know how serious it was until you were sick before. You must at least grow fatter here with me before I can bear to let you go back."
Zhu Yuhuan pretended to be dissatisfied and said, "Grandma is not raising piglets."
Everyone was amused by her. Empress Dowager Zhang tapped her nose and said, "People are treacherous. You are young and don't know it. There are too many bad people out there. If it weren't for grandma, how could they protect you?"
Zhu Yuhuan said with a smile: "Don't worry, grandma. From now on, Huanhuan understands that you should not have the intention to harm others, but you must be on guard against others."
Concubine Sun, preoccupied with matters of the past, immediately sensed the underlying meaning. She forced herself to join in the banter, feeling a pang of irritation. Seeing that Empress Dowager Zhang was only speaking to the Xu family mother and daughter and Zhu Yuhuan, she understood even more clearly her attitude. She must have already concluded that all this was the work of her, the Concubine, and most likely demanded that Zhu Zhanji conduct a thorough investigation, with no hidden agenda.
Ever since the young master ascended the throne, the empress dowager has repeatedly favored the three members of the Hu family, mother and daughter, and even issued an imperial decree stating that the order of the harem cannot be changed.
Zhu Hanjia didn't understand what was going on. She just walked over to Zhu Yuhuan and asked cautiously, "Everyone said that Big Sister met with bad guys. Was she hurt?"
Zhu Yuhuan smiled and stood up, turning around before taking Zhu Hanjia's hand and saying, "It's okay. Look, isn't big sister safe and sound?"
Seeing that Zhu Yuhuan was truly safe and sound, Zhu Hanjia finally smiled and said, "I'm glad that Big Sister is okay. The ladies in the palace are all very worried about you now that they know about it. It's just that Second Sister was confined by Mother and can't come to visit Big Sister."
Zhu Yuhuan knew that this was all a punishment for asking her younger sister to pass on the message, so she just smiled and said, "In a few days, big sister will go to plead with Tongtong, and then the three of us sisters will go out to play together." She pretended to glance around casually, and seeing that Wang Zhen was a little nervous, she vaguely guessed that Concubine Sun's visit this time might not be that simple.
Zhu Hanjia nodded like a chick pecking at rice, and said enviously, "It would be great if Big Sister could take me and Second Sister out of the palace to play together, but Daddy said Big Sister is going out of the palace to do business and can't take us with her..."
Before Zhu Yuhuan could say anything, Empress Dowager Zhang said with a half-smile, "From now on, you must bring the Jinyiwei with you when you travel. Otherwise, if you run into bandits or horse bandits again, how will your parents be at ease?"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Sun felt very disappointed and had to get up and say goodbye, taking Zhu Hanjia, who had only spoken a few words to Zhu Yuhuan, away with her.
The only person she could plead with now was probably this young master. After all, if Princess Shunde really wanted to pick it up high and put it down gently, she would have come out to smooth things over long ago...
Zhu Yuhuan glanced at Concubine Sun's back and immediately stood up and said, "Grandma, Huanhuan has something to say."
Empress Dowager Zhang waved her hand, pretending she didn't know Zhu Yuhuan wanted to go find Concubine Sun, and said, "Go ahead."
Zhu Yuhuan left the gate of Renshou Palace, caught up with Concubine Sun, and said, "Empress Sun!"
Before Concubine Sun even boarded the carriage, she heard Zhu Yuhuan's voice. Unable to resist, she asked, "What's wrong?" Seeing Zhu Yuhuan glance around, she asked everyone to step aside. Then, she continued, "Princess...what do you want to say to me?"
Zhu Yuhuan looked at her and said, "Father promised to investigate this matter thoroughly and will definitely give me an explanation. The Jinyiwei are investigating under the emperor's order and will definitely show no mercy."
Concubine Sun subconsciously clenched her hands hidden in her robe sleeves and forced a smile, "Of course. These bandits dared to murder the princess. They are truly audacious."
"Yes, if they dare to kill the princess today, they will dare to kill the emperor tomorrow." Zhu Yuhuan stared at her closely and asked, "How did Empress Sun know that they were coming for the princess?"
Concubine Sun's expression remained calm as she said, "There's been so much talk out there, everyone saying I'm trying to harm the princess. It's hard for me not to know."
Zhu Yuhuan knew that she was lying. After all, with Sun Mengqiu's personality, if she knew the rumors outside, she would have run to Renshou Palace to visit Zhu Yuhuan to prove that she had a clear conscience. How could she wait until the other concubines had finished asking about each other's well-being before coming late?
Zhu Yuhuan simply warned earnestly, "Empress Sun, you are more fortunate than my mother. It will be better for you to take the initiative to draw a clear line between yourself and these things."
Concubine Sun's expression froze, and she unconsciously revealed a hint of sadness. She said softly, "The Empress did nothing, leaving the princess to fight alone. Isn't the princess resentful?"
Zhu Yuhuan didn't expect her to ask this, but he answered seriously: "I don't blame you. If my mother was alone, would she still give birth to Tongtong and me? Everything now is not what she wanted, so why waste her life on this? I will naturally have my own opportunities."
Concubine Sun was stunned for a moment, then gave a bleak laugh and said, "The princess' heart is indeed as hard as iron, but... the princess can't let go of the queen, and neither can I. How can I abandon my loved ones like this?"
Zhu Yuhuan said meaningfully, "It is the Queen's duty to restrain her relatives. If Empress Sun really wants to accomplish great things, how can she not let go?"
Empress Dowager Zhang was the Empress Dowager, and her two brothers had never held any important official positions, mostly honorary titles, and rarely even discussed political affairs. Yet, the Sun family was so capable of murdering Princess Shunde. Empress Dowager Zhang had always been reluctant to depose the empress and reinstate her, and now that this incident had occurred, Empress Dowager Zhang naturally completely disliked Concubine Sun.
Zhu Yuhuan could understand why the Sun family was willing to take such a risky move. First, whether this matter succeeded or not would affect Zhu Yuhuan's reputation. If it succeeded, the ever-active Zhu Yuhuan would disappear, and what kind of turmoil could Hu Shanxiang stir up by herself with a little girl? If it failed, in order to let the limelight of this matter fade, Zhu Zhanji would inevitably restrain Zhu Yuhuan. Second, Zhu Zhanji wanted to protect Concubine Sun and the unborn royal heir. Even if he found out something, he would not really make a big deal about it, which would only wrong the Empress and Princess Shunde.
What's the fear of temporary rumors? What's the fear of Empress Dowager Zhang's disapproval? Rumors will always be covered up by other rumors. Empress Dowager Zhang is so old, she will pass away one day. When that time comes, the emperor will make the decision, and the position of empress and empress dowager will eventually fall to the Sun family.
Concubine Sun was slightly stunned, then finally understood. She smiled bitterly and said, "If the princess can't do it, how can I do it?"
Zhu Yuhuan stared at her for a long time and said, "Then don't use the excuse of fighting for the throne to harm innocent people."
Concubine Sun was shocked and almost thought that Zhu Yuhuan had already known the Sun family's plan. She just said, "I once made an agreement with the princess that I would not harm innocent people. I remember that."
Now that Zhu Yuhuan is in Renshou Palace, it's probably difficult for him to do anything. If he wants to divert attention from the Sun family, he only has this much time. The Sun family is her home, and her brothers are all her family. How can she really abandon them?
Seeing her reaction, Zhu Yuhuan knew that the Sun family did have a backup plan against Wu Miaosu, and he felt a little relieved.
When the enemy comes, we will fight them with our generals; when the water comes, we will block it with earth. It's nothing more than that.
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