Chapter 122: How Could The Person Inside Possibly Be The Third Prince?
“Your Highness, what were you just doing?” Imperial Consort Feng stepped forward and demanded.
“I have been attending to Father Emperor the whole time. Father Emperor has finally fallen into a stable sleep with great difficulty. Imperial Consort, it’s best to keep your voice down to avoid waking Father Emperor.” Crown Prince was courteous and seemed not to take Imperial Consort Feng’s earlier provocation to heart.
The previous Imperial Clan Member walked a few steps forward to the front of everyone, bowed to Crown Prince, “Your Highness, this morning Imperial Consort gathered us Imperial Clan Members together, saying that Your Highness had violated etiquette and moreover had concrete evidence, specially asking us to come as witnesses.”
“Chu Zhou, you dare!” Imperial Consort Feng heard the meaning in his words and couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows in anger, shrilly shouting.
“Imperial Consort, calm down. Your humble subject is just telling the truth. Otherwise, why would we appear at the gate of Lu Quan Palace so early in the morning?” Chu Zhou asked loudly.
“Good, good, good. This palace notes it. I hope you won’t regret today’s choice in the future, hmph!” Imperial Consort Feng had thought her plan was foolproof and naturally didn’t care about losing one Chu Zhou. After throwing out a harsh remark, she no longer looked at him and instead turned her spearhead back toward Crown Prince.
“When we came over earlier, we seemed to hear inappropriate sounds from the side hall. I wonder if Your Highness can explain it to us?”
“Side hall?” Crown Prince shook his head slightly, turned around a bit to look at Eunuch An behind him: “Who was on night duty in the side hall last night?”
Eunuch An was not young, and standing at the door, he had been exposed to the most drug. He had just been splashed awake by Crown Prince with water and was still weak all over. Being able to stand here was all by forcing himself. Having been in the palace for many years, he naturally understood that Imperial Consort Feng had likely made a move against Crown Prince last night.
He was purely the Emperor’s man and never took sides among the princes, but the events of last night made him harbor deep hatred toward Imperial Consort Feng and Third Prince. Naturally, he wouldn’t give Imperial Consort Feng any handles to grab, so he answered: “Recently, Your Majesty has had trouble sleeping, so no one has been arranged for night duty for some time. Therefore, there was no one in the side hall last night.”
“Impossible,” Imperial Consort Feng shrieked again: “We heard sounds from the side hall when we came over just now. How could there be no one? Men, go in and search for this palace. This palace wants to see how you will explain to Your Majesty when someone is found!”
Eunuch An’s heart skipped a beat seeing her so aggressive. He had been unconscious all night. Could it be that what Imperial Consort Feng schemed against was not only Crown Prince, but also included him?
It had to be said that living long-term with people who liked scheming and plotting had made him suspicious and paranoid too.
As Imperial Consort Feng’s words fell, the previous guards hardened their scalps and walked over again. The Guard Leader saluted Crown Prince and said: “Your Highness, please allow your humble subjects to go in and check. This is our duty. Please understand, Your Highness.”
Crown Prince stared at him for a while, then sneered: “It seems you came prepared and must enter the side hall. Since that’s the case, go ahead! I won’t leave either. I’ll stand right here and watch to see what person you can find.”
After speaking, he stood to the side expressionlessly, face stern and silent.
Consort Feng, like a fighting cock that had won a fight, arrogantly instructed the guards to enter the side hall and capture the person. In her complacency, she completely failed to notice that Crown Prince had been unnaturally calm from beginning to end.
Her overlooking it didn’t mean others did. The Imperial Clan Members who came along now regretted it like Chu Zhou. Originally, although they supported Third Prince, they had never brought it out into the open. But with today’s incident, their stance became clear. If Third Prince succeeded, it would be fine, but if not, their fate would absolutely be miserable. They knew all too well the treatment of Imperial Clan Members abandoned by the Imperial Family.
Now, the way they looked at Chu Zhou carried malice. This person was too cunning, defecting without even a greeting, leaving them no time to react.
Chu Zhou had already distanced himself from these people and stood alone. He was sensible and didn’t approach Crown Prince. He knew clearly that although starting today he stood with Crown Prince’s side, it could only preserve his current status at most. As for the merit of assisting the dragon, he shouldn’t even think about it.
“Ah~” Suddenly, a woman’s startled cry came from the side hall, immediately attracting everyone’s attention. Those clan members weighed their thoughts again, and the balance in their hearts began to sway once more.
Imperial Consort Feng had a face full of joy, her hands excitedly clenched together, stretching her neck impatiently toward the side hall.
Soon, the guards who had gone in ran out even faster than they went in, each with flushed faces, as if they had seen something indescribable.
“Why is there a woman’s voice inside?” Imperial Consort Feng strongly suppressed her excitement in her heart, trying to use a calm tone to ask.
The Guard Leader walked over awkwardly, using his eyes to signal that things had changed.
However, Imperial Consort Feng, immersed in excitement, completely missed his eyes that were about to twitch from blinking, and asked again: “This is His Majesty’s sleeping palace. How could a woman appear in the side hall? Where is the person? Why not bring the person out?”
The Guard Leader closed his eyes, suddenly feeling utterly exhausted. He lowered his head and said in a flat voice: “The people in the side hall are Third Prince and Consort Zhao. When your humble subjects went in, the two were copulating passionately, the scene intense. I’m afraid they can’t be brought out for the time being.”
All the Imperial Clan Members including Chu Zhou widened their eyes. Chu Zhou was surprised that Crown Prince could achieve this degree imperceptibly, confirming his defection was the right choice. The other Imperial Clan Members all had the same five big words in their minds: “Everything is over!”
“What?” Crown Prince’s voice rang out, mixed with surprise and anger, “Repeat what you just said? Who are the people in the side hall? What are they doing?”
“Reporting to Crown Prince, it is Third Prince and Consort Zhao. When your humble subjects went in, they were copulating.” The Guard Leader answered in the same flat voice.
“This, how is this possible?” Crown Prince abruptly turned back to look at Imperial Consort Feng, asking with surging anger: “This is the unusual commotion that Imperial Consort mentioned? Hm?”
“No, impossible! How could it be Third Prince inside? You actually dare to ruin Third Prince’s reputation like this. This palace sees you are tired of living!” Imperial Consort Feng’s voice was even more incredulous than Crown Prince’s. She even lifted her skirt and walked into the side hall.
In no time, sounds came from inside: her furious roar, the crisp sound of a palm slapping skin, plaintive crying, and a man’s low murmurs.
As if heaven felt this wasn’t chaotic enough, suddenly from the main hall of Lu Quan Palace came Eunuch An’s heart-wrenching shout: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty, Imperial Physician, quickly summon the Imperial Physician!”
Everyone was stunned by this shout. The quickest to react was still Crown Prince. He swiftly turned around and staggered into the main hall.
Chu Zhou was the second to react. He glanced at the main hall, had a thought, and quickly instructed the guards to go find the Imperial Physician.
Thanks to peace-aD, caroletu, Falling Leaves Know Autumn-aD, Song of the Goat, and Eyes’ Story for the votes, thanks to caroletu for the tip. Thank you all for your continued support, thank you!
