Chapter 280: Too Pitiful
A flicker in Consort Yan’s eyes, she raised her slender hand to lightly pat his chest, and softly said, “Your Majesty, don’t be angry. Being angered is bad for your health.”
“I don’t want to be angry either. She is just womanly kindness.”
“Right, right. Your Majesty doesn’t need to pay attention to.”
“Your Majesty, something bad happened.”
Before Consort Yan could finish speaking, the panicked voice of the Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review came from outside the door.
Upon entering and seeing Consort Yan, he was slightly stunned, but quickly reacted, thinking of the matter that occurred, and hurriedly stepped forward.
“Why are you making such a fuss? I’m alive and well. What’s bad about me?”
Emperor Qin’s complexion was very ugly, and he scolded without distinguishing right from wrong.
The Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review thought of Emperor Qin’s unpredictable mood during this time, and his neck shrank back involuntarily.
He immediately knelt down, kowtowed, and said, “Your Majesty, that’s not what I meant.”
Consort Yan stood up. “Your Majesty, since the Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review has business with you, this concubine will take her leave first.”
After speaking, she directly turned around.
Emperor Qin pulled her hand. “No need to avoid.” He then turned his cold face to the Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review. “Whatever the matter is, say it directly.”
The Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review didn’t dare delay any longer. “The Crown Princess fainted in front of the Drum for reporting grievances, and many commoners saw it. This official originally planned to have someone carry the Crown Princess into the Grand Court of Judicial Review and find someone to treat her, but the commoners surrounded her and wouldn’t allow this official’s people to get close.”
“What?” Emperor Qin stood up in surprise. “Then why haven’t you quickly found an Imperial Physician to treat her? If something happens to her, I will hold you accountable.”
The Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review was stunned.
The Crown Prince had already entered the prison, but why was His Majesty so concerned about the Crown Princess.
According to convention, after a prince enters the prison, his family members are either guilty and neglected by Emperor Qin, but now it seemed the opposite.
“Why are you still standing there coldly? Hurry up and go for me. With so many commoners watching, do you want the commoners to see the Royal Family’s joke?”
It turned out he was afraid of being laughed at. The Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review immediately reacted and said, “This official will go right away.”
After speaking, he directly walked out.
After the Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review left, Emperor Qin paced back and forth in the Imperial Study Room, his face full of anxiety.
Consort Yan slightly lowered her eyes, but soon raised them, comforting Emperor Qin. “Your Majesty, don’t worry. This concubine believes those commoners are reasonable people and won’t speak ill of the Royal Family.”
Emperor Qin’s gaze, dark as ink, glanced at Consort Yan, deep like a forest in the darkness, inscrutable.
It was the first time Consort Yan had seen this look in Emperor Qin’s eyes.
Because usually Emperor Qin appeared to only know about taking elixirs and researching immortality, paying little attention to other government affairs.
Moreover, since she had gained favor, he had always been gentle and affectionate toward her, never looking at her with such an expression.
“Your Majesty, what’s wrong? Did this concubine say something wrong?” Consort Yan blinked, looking innocent.
Emperor Qin restrained his emotions and quickly reverted to the affectionate Emperor Qin, stepping forward to embrace her waist. “My beloved consort said nothing wrong.”
But in the place Consort Yan couldn’t see, his gaze was icy cold.
A flicker in Consort Yan’s eyes, she also embraced his waist in return.
“That’s good. This concubine thought she had said something wrong. Your Majesty, actually this concubine thinks that now the Crown Princess is making such a big fuss. Although this concubine hasn’t known the Crown Princess for long, this concubine knows a little about her matters. She was poisoned and only got better today. If she continues making a scene, won’t it let those commoners see the Royal Family’s joke? Your Majesty, why not see her in person? Whatever matters we have, we can close the door and resolve them. Why let others see the Royal Family’s joke?”
Emperor Qin was silent for a few seconds, then said, “My beloved consort is right.”
After speaking, he directly instructed Eunuch Li on the side. “You go to the Grand Court of Judicial Review to convey my decree: once the Crown Princess wakes up, bring her back to the manor. Without my decree, she is not allowed to go out, and must await my decree.”
“Yes.” After receiving the decree, Eunuch Li directly went out.
A flash of brightness in Consort Yan’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared.
She walked to a corner, picked up a plum blossom cake, and placed it by Emperor Qin’s mouth. “Your Majesty, you’ve been so angry, you must be hungry. Eat something to calm down.”
Emperor Qin grabbed her hand, a smile on his lips, head against Consort Yan’s ear as he whispered something. Consort Yan was stunned, her ears instantly turning red.
She coquettishly said, “Hateful.”
Various sounds soon echoed in the palace.
**
In front of the Drum for reporting grievances at the Grand Court of Judicial Review.
“You say this Crown Princess is too kind. The Crown Prince hurt her so much before, yet now she’s fallen ill here just to seek justice for the Crown Prince.”
“Who says otherwise? She’s too pitiful.”
“I heard she lived in the countryside for a long time, so she doesn’t know things in the Capital. Even His Majesty has issued a decree; how can one woman shake His Majesty’s sacred will?”
“Alas, speaking of it, she’s a pitiful person. If Grand Tutor Ling knew, who knows how heartbroken he would be for this daughter.”
While they were discussing animatedly, a shout suddenly came from behind. “All disperse, or you’ll be arrested for assembling a mob and thrown into prison.”
The crowd turned back and saw about twenty soldiers in armor behind them.
These ordinary commoners had never seen such a formation. They were just there for the spectacle and didn’t want to be thrown into prison, so they all scattered.
But some bold ones stood to the side, secretly watching.
“By His Majesty’s order, the Crown Princess is weak in body. Take her back to the Crown Prince’s Manor to recuperate well. The Imperial Physicians will also go to treat the Crown Princess properly.” Eunuch Li’s duck-like voice shouted loudly.
The Imperial Physician nearby stepped forward respectfully. “This official obeys the decree.”
Soon someone came forward to lift Jiang Ruanxi. Yushui stepped forward to block in front of Jiang Ruanxi upon seeing this. “What are you doing?”
These people ignored her, twisted her hand, and the others lifted Jiang Ruanxi onto a stretcher.
Suddenly, Jiang Ruanxi opened her eyes and shouted loudly in panic, “What are you doing?”
She had pretended to faint originally to incite public outrage. If they carried her back to the Crown Prince’s Manor, she definitely wouldn’t be able to come out afterward, and all her previous efforts would be wasted.
Her face pale, she flailed her hands wildly, hitting the soldiers, but those people seemed to feel no pain and ignored it directly.
At some point, two women had appeared, each pressing down on one of her hands. Jiang Ruanxi struggled in vain, a bit of despair in her eyes involuntarily. “This palace will tell His Majesty that you’re torturing this palace.”
Thinking that this last path was about to be blocked, if she had no way to come out again, then Wei Chang in the heavenly prison could only wait to die, her heart ached immensely.
Tears fell uncontrollably, but her mouth was still shouting heart-wrenchingly.
“Crown Princess, you are the Royal Family’s daughter-in-law. You making such a scene is losing the Royal Family’s face.” Eunuch Li stepped forward to Jiang Ruanxi’s side.
Jiang Ruanxi was stunned, but thinking of what would follow, she really wouldn’t have a chance to come out. No longer minding anything else, she struggled to get up but was held down firmly, and could only look at Eunuch Li with tear-filled eyes.
