She was very certain that the Empress Dowager had been extremely displeased with her recently. She was still very pleased with what happened previously at Cining Palace. But now, when she thought about it, she still felt a little frightened. She must not alarm the Empress Dowager this time lest the Empress Dowager should get dirt on her and ask the Emperor to punish her. Even if she were not punished, the Empress Dowager might get His Highness to divorce her. That would be troublesome.
As such, she would rather believe in her aunt at this moment. Her aunt had always doted on her. Furthermore, no matter how lacking in power the Empress was, she could still speak in the Emperor’s ears. She believed that as long as her aunt, the Empress, spoke up for her, whatever Consort Mo said would be made useless even if she had the glibbest tongue in the world.
When she thought of that, she brought her servants to the Empress’s palace without any fear.
She entered the palace using the invitation the Empress gave her. However, before she reached the Empress’s palace, a eunuch stopped her and brought her to the Emperor’s imperial study. The eunuch, with a cold expression, arranged for her to kneel on a tall cushion. Her maids were all chased out of the palace. She looked around and found that she was surrounded by eunuchs and maids she did not recognize. They stood in two neat rows. Ling Rui’er realized at that moment that the fat is in the fire.
It seemed that she was about to be punished.
The sun grew hotter and hotter, making her feel warm and itchy. Her skin had always been sensitive to direct sunlight. Red rash appeared on her face under the intense sunlight. She was itchy and uncomfortable bud did not dare to move. While she was usually proud and arrogant, she knew that her head might fall if she was not careful inside the Emperor’s imperial study.
Her legs grew more and more tired. She secretly glanced at the entrance of the palace. Feng Yuxuan was not there. On her way here earlier, she had sent someone to ask Feng Yuxuan for help. However, it’s been three or four hours but he was still not here. She was extremely worried and was no longer as arrogant as before. If the Emperor were to be angry with her, there would be no one who could save her.
She was shocked and frightened. The more she thought about it, the more afraid she grew. She could not even kneel any longer.
Finally, just as she was could not hold back her fear any longer, she saw a few familiar figures from the palace approaching from a distance. One of them was her aunt, the Empress. Hot and emotional tears filled her eyes. Her aunt was still the best, who had come over immediately upon hearing that she was being punished.
“Aunt, Aunt, Mother!” Ling Rui’er was practically speaking gibberish. Tears fell onto the dry and hot floor scorched by the sun. Ling Rui’er scooted forward on her knees as if she were clutching on to the last straw. She could not move any longer after moving a little on the scorching hot floors.
She looked up tearfully and pleaded with the Empress with her eyes.
The Empress approached Ling Rui’er slowly and stood in front of her. The sun cast a long shadow behind the Empress’s slender body. As the Empress stood with the sun behind her, Ling Rui’er could not make out the Empress’s expression clearly. She could only vaguely see a warm smile on the Empress’s face. Ling Rui’er grew even more upset, feeling as if she were the one who had suffered an enormous grievance.
“Rui’er, why did you get rid of the child in Second Consort Mo’s belly. Is that really a child of royal lineage?” The Empress looked at Ling Rui’er. There was a flash of darkness in her eyes. She did not ask Ling Rui’er what was going on but asked straightaway why Ling Rui’er had gotten rid of the child. That was as good as getting Ling Rui’er to admit to what she had done.
However, Ling Rui’er was very emotional right now and did not notice that. She laid on the ground, sobbing her heart out and cried, “Aunt, I am His Highness’s legal consort. How can His Highness, His Highness, have an illegitimate eldest son before I give birth to the legitimate eldest son? This… This. What will the Ding General Manor be like? Aunt, do you not understand why I did this either?”
Ling Rui’er was afraid that the Empress would scold her because of this, so she reminded the Empress that the throne might end up in King Chu’s hands because the Empress did not have a legitimate eldest son. King Chu was the eldest son, which was why he was in the running.
However, this was not something a subordinate or a niece should say. As such, Ling Rui’er appeared to be very rude and had managed to scatter salt on the Empress’s wounds. The Empress’s expression darkened and an insuppressible rage rose in her eyes. However, the Empress hid the rage she felt and turned around, not saying anything. She then brought her servants with her into the imperial study.
Emperor Zongwen’s imperial study was filled with files. Emperor Zongwen sat behind his desk reading the files. He would pick up a brush and write on the files from time to time. Lead eunuch, Liu Xi waited by the side and would pour tea for the Emperor from time to time, refilling his cup. The room was very quiet and only the sounds of turning pages could be heard.
A little eunuch stood at the door and gestured secretly to Liu Xi. Liu Xi saw that Emperor Zongwen was not paying attention and he quietly made his way to the door. He saw the Empress and her servants standing at the door and hurriedly went up to greet her.
“What is His Majesty doing?” The Empress asked softly. She still looked slightly ill and appeared not to have fully recovered. It had been some time since Liu Xi saw her and he noted that she had a few more wrinkles at her eyes. He knew that she was like this because she was worried about King Yan. Liu Xi smiled carefully and answered, “His Majesty is reading reports.”
Liu Xi was self-aware and did not mention Consort Yan since the Empress did not. This was not something he could meddle in any case. Earlier on in the Imperial Study, Lord Mo had cried while talking about what happened. The imperial physician had said that Second Consort would not be able to have children in the future. Even if she were to survive, she would no longer be able to have a child. Liu Xi could not help but sigh. Consort Chu usually looked weak and dainty but she was really vicious.
“Go and tell His Majesty that I have made iced green bean soup and brought it over. Would His Majesty like to have some?” The Empress smiled slightly, being polite enough to Emperor Zongwen’s lead eunuch who served the Emperor personally.
“Yes, I will let His Majesty know immediately.” Liu Xi took a few steps back bowed. Then, he turned and entered the study.
“Did the Empress come?” said Emperor Zongwen behind his desk. He did not look up.
“Yes, Her Majesty said she brought you your favorite iced green bean soup. She made it personally.” Liu Xi said, bowing his head as he walked up to Emperor Zongwen’s side.
“Then let her in lest she should try to make trouble.”
Emperor Zongwen’s words were not very nice for he seemed to be sarcastic and ridiculing the Empress. There was something hidden in his words that not even Liu Xi understood. As such, Liu Xi pretended to not understand. He went back to the entrance and said respectfully to the Empress, “Your Majesty, His Majesty invites you in.”
“Many thanks, Eunuch Liu.” The Empress was very polite, unlike her usual self. She only brought a palace maid who held the iced green bean soup in.
After greeting the Emperor, the Empress took the bowl of green bean soup from the palace maid and placed it on Emperor Zongwen’s table. She said gently, “Your Majesty, the weather is hot. I prepared some green bean soup for you. It was soaked in the cold water from the well. It will help to dispel the heat.”
“You have worked hard, Empress.” Emperor Zongwen looked up from his desk and put the file in his hand down. He smiled lightly and took the bowl from the Empress. He took a few sips from it and placed it to the side.
“Your Majesty, did Rui’er… do something?” The Empress looked up carefully and asked when she saw that the Emperor was done with the soup. She had made the Emperor angry again and again recently. This time, she had fallen ill because of what happened to Feng Yulei but the Emperor had only visited twice and had not visited again. The Empress felt upset when she thought of that.
However, this was not the time to get upset.
“Number One’s Second Consort fell pregnant. Consort Yan not only ordered for the Second Consort to be injured and miscarry, but she also did not allow the Second Consort to hire a physician. She even dragged the Second Consort to the shed. If Subordinate Mo had not gone there fast enough, the Second Consort would have died. Number One really married a nice woman. I heard that she’s educated, elegant, and gracious. Why is she so vicious and evil? I will have someone investigate who told me that.”
Emperor Zongwen appeared to be distant. He put down the bowl and looked at the Empress slightly angrily. His eyes were deep and dark and the Empress almost did not dare to look into his eyes.
He was really angry!
Ling Rui’er was really a troublemaker. Nowhere was peaceful with her around.
The Empress had wanted to make use of Ling Rui’er against the Empress Dowager. However, it seemed that the girl was an incompetent bungler.
“Your Majesty, Ling Rui’er is too young and insensible. She is also newly married and deeply in love with King Chu. That’s why she did something like that. Or perhaps there’s something else that we do not know about. Look, King Chu is the father of the child in Second Consort Mo’s belly. He didn’t say anything. Does it mean that there are other factors in this whole incident?”
The Empress smiled warmly and picked up the bowl where Emperor Zongwen had placed on the edge of the table. She turned around and placed it on the tray the palace maid behind her held.
It did not matter what happened to Ling Rui’er as long as it did not damage the reputation of the daughters of Ding General Manor. If others were to find out that a young lady from the Ding General Manor appeared to be kind and gracious but was actually evil and vicious, who would dare to marry a daughter from the Ding General Manor in the future? Which family would want to ally with the Ding General Manor through marriage? This would cause great damage to the power of the Ding General Manor.
“Empress, are you here to plead on behalf of Ling Rui’er?” Emperor Zongwen’s eyes grew even colder and he spoke to the Empress coldly.
“I do not dare. I was just thinking that this matter should be discussed when King Chu returns. After all, this is a matter of his manor and only he knows what exactly happened.” The Empress said with a slight smile. She did not appear unhappy because of Emperor Zongwen’s attitude. The incident had happened so suddenly and she had only thought of this plan after thinking about it for a long time in her palace.
No matter what the truth was, Ling Rui’er would be divorced if Feng Yuxuan pushed the blame entirely on Ling Rui’er. Feng Yuxuan and his connection to the Ding General Manor would be broken. As such, the Empress would very much like Feng Yuxuan to push the blame on to Ling Rui’er.
The Empress knew very clearly what was happening in her own home. Her two elder brothers were both supporting Feng Yuxuan after the fall of Feng Yulei. If Ling Rui’er were to give birth to a son, then King Chu’s connection to the Ding General Manor would become extraordinary. His connection with the Ding General Manor would be stronger than hers.
When she thought of that, the Empress could not hold back the anger she felt. However, what came after that was sadness and sorrow. She and the Empress Dowager both came from the Ding General Manor. Now, there was Ling Rui’er as well. They all had their own plans and plots. The Ding General Manor’s support went from one prince to another, because no matter what, they were all connected to the Ding General Manor.
The Ding General Manor really had no place to speak of in all of this. They would follow anyone who could bring them wealth and power. The so-called family relations were as thin as a thread.
“Number One went to check on the new army at the western mountains. He won’t return for another two weeks. Are you going to make Ling Rui’er wait for another two weeks as well?” Emperor Zongwen asked.
The Emperor was rather solemn and the Empress could not stand any longer. She knelt down with a thump and said, “Your Majesty, I do not dare. I am just trying my best to be a mother and an aunt. I am too embarrassed to see anyone after what happened at King Chu’s Manor. But even though I want to hide, this matter cannot be hidden. That is why I came to tell you about it. If you feel that I am wrong, please punish me. Otherwise, my elder brother will think that I am just thinking of the royal family and have forgotten completely about my maternal family.”
