Chapter 101: Self-Inflicted Misfortune
Xiao Zhao and Ru Yi’s eyes widened in anger, their faces flushing red under the scorching sun. Their fists clenched tightly, wishing they could rush forward and argue with Yuan Qingzhu immediately.
In Tan Qiu Courtyard, Xue Yuechen dismissed the servants, who were all indignant as well…
Jinshu held back Xiao Zhao and shook her head.
Xue Sui gently smoothed her clothes, looking at the old women who had come to apprehend her, her gaze like a cold arrow.
“Move aside!”
In a short time, Xue Sui’s mind churned with thoughts as she quickly weighed the pros and cons.
A stratagem of self-inflicted injury—placing Consort Yuan in an unjust position. Although it could garner sympathy, it was ultimately an act of weakness.
Waiting for the enemy to exhaust themselves—if she could cleverly lay a trap, allowing Yuan Qingzhu to expose herself through constant agitation, then she could reap the benefits.
A stratagem of provocation—directly beating the person out. It could vent her anger for the moment, but it also made it easy to fall into a passive position. The advantage was that it could ignite Yuan Qingzhu’s rage. Given her arrogant nature, she would surely act impulsively, revealing many flaws, making it easy to seize an opportunity and counterattack.
Physical pain?
Mental torment?
Retreating to advance?
Advancing to defend?
Xue Sui quickly parted the crowd and walked onto the bluestone steps that were higher than the ground.
“Guards! Please escort Consort Yuan out of Tan Qiu Courtyard!”
Xiao Zhao, however, responded crisply, “Yes!”
Everyone was stunned, as if frozen in place, unable to react for a moment.
Yuan Qingzhu was even more so.
Her expression froze, and then her face turned ashen as she pointed at Xue Sui and angrily questioned her.
“Ru Ren Xue, do you know what you are saying?”
Xue Sui slightly raised her chin, her expression proud.
“Firstly, matters of the Prince’s Mansion’s inner court have always been decided by the Princess Consort. I have never heard that a consort has the authority to assist in management. The Prince detests those who act on their own, overstep their authority, and confuse the mansion’s rules and order.”
“Secondly, based solely on a scented sachet, you conclude that I intend to harm someone. Are you joking, Consort Yuan? You have neither clairvoyance nor the guidance of an immortal. By what right do you claim it is an evil object, and thus it becomes one?”
Yuan Qingzhu sneered, “Whether it is an evil object or not, the Prince will decide when he returns to the mansion.”
Xue Sui’s expression was icy, neither angry nor pleased, but her voice was like frost in the cold night.
“That is a matter for after the Prince returns to the mansion! Consort Yuan entered uninvited, arbitrarily searched Tan Qiu Courtyard, showing no decorum—Xiao Zhao!”
Xiao Zhao had been waiting impatiently. Hearing her mistress’s command and seeing Yuan Qingzhu still standing there like a wooden post, she immediately strode forward, grabbed her arm, and forcefully pulled her over.
“Please, Consort Niang Niang…”
Her voice was full of mockery, and she secretly applied force, striking several major acupoints on her, such as the Yamen and Fengchi.
Seeing this, the other maids and old women wanted to step forward to help, but upon seeing that Yuan Qingzhu did not resist at all under Xiao Zhao’s “support,” not even struggling, they found it difficult to intervene and silently followed them out the door…
Madam Liu and the maid from Mu Yue Residence, seeing the situation was unfavorable, also quietly retreated amidst the chaos.
Xue Sui caught a glimpse of them with her peripheral vision, gave a cold smile, and did not stop them.
“Close the door!”
Xiao Zhao then released Yuan Qingzhu and, with a slight push, slammed the door of Tan Qiu Courtyard shut.
“Bang—”
The loud noise, like a thunderclap, jolted Yuan Qingzhu back to her senses.
“There are evil spirits, there must be evil spirits in Tan Qiu Courtyard!”
Just now, when Xiao Zhao subdued her, she felt a strange force spread through her body. She instantly felt numb, her limbs completely unresponsive. She was so frightened that her mind went blank, as if her soul had been drained, and she even forgot to call for help.
Now that she had regained consciousness, a cold sweat broke out on her back.
“Ru Ren Xue, what evil sorcery did you use?”
It was quiet inside; no one answered her.
Yuan Qingzhu became even more convinced that there were ghosts in Tan Qiu Courtyard.
She dared not force her way in again. She looked down at the two scented sachets clutched tightly in her hand, as if grasping a lifeline.
“Fortunately, I have the evidence. Quickly, Lian Xin, tell Steward Qiu to send someone to invite the Prince back to the mansion…”
The maid Lian Xin bowed her head and accepted the order.
At this time, people from various rooms and courtyards came to watch the excitement.
They surrounded the area, three layers deep and three layers out.
As soon as the incident unfolded, people began to whisper.
In the crowd, a maid wearing a green cloth skirt and a plump figure, not far behind Yuan Qingzhu, muttered softly.
“If the Prince returns and it is confirmed that the medicinal materials in the scented sachet are indeed fine, what then?”
Another maid replied, “If the scented sachet is fine, how did the Princess Consort manage to coax the Prince into staying overnight for days?”
The maid in green said again, “That’s not necessarily true. If Ru Ren Xue were truly malicious, she wouldn’t be so blatant and let people notice so easily. In my opinion, this scented sachet is probably fine…”
These words reached Yuan Qingzhu’s ears, and her heart tightened.
If the scented sachet was fine, then the problem was hers.
Not only would Xue Shi be innocent, but Madam Liu would also be punished, and she herself would be put on the spot by Xue Shi, falling into an embarrassing situation.
Listening to the discussions, Yuan Qingzhu’s heart pounded.
She gritted her teeth and hardened her resolve.
“Call Lian Xin back!”
Then, she whispered a few words to the head maid, Ming Xue.
Ming Xue understood, nodded slightly, and quickly went to carry out the task.
–
Imperial City.
As Li Huan exited Chengtian Gate after the morning court, he saw A Ji, a servant from Qi Wu Courtyard, pacing back and forth with his sleeves tucked up, looking anxious and uneasy.
Li Huan frowned slightly.
Before he could speak, A Ji, with sharp eyes, had already seen him and ran over in three quick steps.
“Your Highness!”
Li Huan: “What is it?”
A Ji bowed and cupped his hands, stepping back two paces.
Li Huan knew from his demeanor that what he had to say was not suitable for others to hear.
He turned back, cupped his hands, and smiled slightly at the several officials in official robes.
“Minister Zhang, Minister Xie, I have an urgent matter at my mansion and must take my leave.”
The officials repeatedly cupped their hands and bowed respectfully.
“Your Highness, please proceed. We bid you farewell.”
“Please!”
Li Huan walked to the side, and A Ji eagerly recounted everything that had happened at the mansion.
“Your Highness, please hurry, or the matter will escalate.”
Upon hearing the words “witchcraft and evil sorcery,” Li Huan’s expression had already changed.
“Prepare the carriage.”
To the east of Chengtian Gate, Li Zhao walked over with his eunuchs and guards, watching coldly as Li Huan boarded the carriage of Prince Duan’s Mansion.
He let out a silent sneer and asked Guan Ya.
“What did that servant say?”
Guan Ya, who had been a spy in the imperial palace in his early years, understood a little lip-reading.
Upon hearing this, he lowered his head and said softly, “Replying to Your Highness, he said that Sixth Miss Xue used witchcraft and evil sorcery, intending to harm Prince Duan…”
The words “witchcraft” caused Li Zhao’s expression to change drastically.
One Love Silk Gu was not enough; did Xue Ping’an want to use a second one to control Li Huan?
A strange coldness flashed in Li Zhao’s eyes.
This scoundrel, so ambitious…
He needs to be properly dealt with!
–
The atmosphere in Prince Duan’s Mansion was heavy.
Although it was still midsummer with the heat not yet dissipated, it felt as if dark clouds were pressing down, as if a storm was about to break. The air was stifling and hot, making it difficult to breathe.
Although the witchcraft and evil sorcery had not been confirmed, rumors had already spread throughout the mansion, known to everyone.
At this moment, the door of Tan Qiu Courtyard was tightly shut.
Yuan Qingzhu lay on a rattan chair under the shade of a tree by the door.
Two maids fanned her vigorously, but the summer breeze was hot and offered no coolness.
Her cheeks were flushed red from the heat, and her clothes were soaked with sweat, clinging to her. However, to make Li Huan see her diligent efforts upon his return, she forced herself to endure and patiently guarded the entrance, fearing that Xue Sui would seize the opportunity to escape.
Moreover, because she had been subdued by Xiao Zhao earlier, she felt fear. Without any need for pretense, under the scorching sun and intense heat, she appeared weak and dazed, as if truly under a spell…
Meanwhile, Xue Sui was inside, leisurely enjoying iced drinks, feeling cool and comfortable, as if nothing had happened.
Thinking of Yuan Qingzhu enduring the scorching sun, Jinshu couldn’t help but laugh.
“Consort Yuan wanted our mistress to be punished, but she ended up being roasted here herself…”
The corners of Xue Sui’s mouth curved upwards, revealing a faint smile. She said nothing.
“His Highness Prince Duan has arrived!”
Jinshu heard the announcement and glanced out the window.
She turned back to Xue Sui and said, “He’s back!”
Xue Sui said, “The show is about to begin.”
This Yuan Qingzhu was three years older than Ping Le.
As they were cousins, they often played together with Ping Le when they were young.
But Yuan Qingzhu back then was timid and fearful, following Ping Le like a palace maid, nowhere near as arrogant and overbearing as she was now.
She had never attacked Xue Sui before.
Originally, Xue Sui had no intention of being ruthless.
Unfortunately, proximity to the corrupting influence of power had twisted the minds of those close to Ping Le, making them cruel and unscrupulous.
Today, then, she would let this Consort Yuan taste the bitter fruit of her own making.
–
As soon as Li Huan’s carriage arrived at the mansion gate, Yuan Qingzhu had already received the report.
Therefore, before Li Huan arrived, she had already slumped weakly onto the rattan chair, appearing as if she were on her last breath and could die at any moment.
The crowd gathered around.
Some pointed and whispered.
Several maids and old women from Shu Yu Pavilion wiped her sweat, crying out dramatically and heartbrokenly calling for Consort Yuan.
Li Huan glanced from afar.
His steps faltered slightly, his brow furrowed, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.
Seeing the Prince appear, the crowd automatically parted, creating a path.
Li Huan walked steadily through, his expression stern.
“What is going on?”
Seeing this, a nanny from Shu Yu Pavilion quickly stepped forward and knelt with a “plop,” crying, “Your Highness, you must uphold justice for Consort Yuan…”
Then, before Li Huan could speak, she recounted what had happened with embellishments, her expression and tone as if she had “personally witnessed a ghost,” speaking with great conviction.
“Consort Yuan, upon hearing that someone in the mansion was practicing witchcraft, became anxious and rushed to demand an explanation. Unexpectedly, Ru Ren Xue not only refused to admit guilt but also ordered the servants of Tan Qiu Courtyard to use evil sorcery to control the consort and drive us out. Fearing that they would flee after committing their crime, the consort waited in the scorching sun, only waiting for Your Highness to return and preside over justice.”
Li Huan glanced at the tightly shut door of Tan Qiu Courtyard.
“Guards, knock on the door—”
Before he could finish speaking, the door of Tan Qiu Courtyard opened from within.
Jinshu, with her back straight and dignified demeanor, stepped over the threshold and walked up to Li Huan, bowing respectfully.
“This servant, Jinshu, requests Your Highness to uphold justice for our Ru Ren.”
After speaking, she glanced at Consort Yuan, her eyes filled with righteous indignation.
“Consort Yuan is distorting the truth and bullying the weak. She trespassed into Tan Qiu Courtyard with her people, rummaged through everything, took away Ru Ren’s Calming sachet, and falsely accused Ru Ren of poisoning and harming Your Highness, intending to have Ru Ren punished. Ru Ren had no choice but to close the door tightly, waiting for Your Highness to return and preside over justice…”
Both sides presented their own accounts, each requesting the Prince to make a judgment.
Li Huan asked, “Where is Ru Ren Xue?”
Jinshu lowered her eyes and replied respectfully:
“Ru Ren was already suffering from heatstroke. Recently, she was overcome with anger and, with a moment of carelessness, fainted…”
Li Huan frowned slightly.
Why is she like Ping Le?
Hmph! There seem to be quite a few people fainting easily lately.
Li Huan asked again, “Has a medical officer been summoned?”
Jinshu glanced at Yuan Qingzhu, wiped her eyes, and said, “Consort Yuan guarded the door and did not allow us to leave. Ru Ren has only been in the mansion for a short time, her status is low and her words carry little weight, so we could not invite a medical officer… Fortunately, our Ru Ren has some knowledge of pharmacology, and Tan Qiu Courtyard has a good stock of medicinal materials. This servant and the others found some calming pills for Ru Ren to take. However, Ru Ren has only just regained consciousness and is still very weak, so she is unable to rise to pay her respects to Your Highness. We beg Your Highness’s forgiveness.”
These words were logical and watertight.
Li Huan nodded expressionlessly and then looked at Yuan Qingzhu.
Yuan Qingzhu’s breathing was rapid, and she was sweating profusely from the heat. Without needing to pretend, she was already extremely uncomfortable.
“Your Highness… this little Xue Shi wants to take Your Highness’s life…”
Li Huan looked at her.
His face showed no expression.
“The sun is strong, let’s go inside.”
–
Yuan Qingzhu was carried inside.
It was unclear what means she used, but she insisted that she had been affected by Xiao Zhao’s evil sorcery and even vomited a mouthful of blood in front of Li Huan. The bright red blood dripped onto the ground, exceptionally striking.
After she had been crying and complaining in Tan Qiu Courtyard for a while, Xue Yuechen rushed over upon hearing the news.
At Madam Zhou San’s house, Xue Yuechen had already turned pale with fright upon hearing that there was a problem with the scented sachet. She didn’t have time to sit for long and urged the coachman to hurry.
She knew in her heart that although Li Huan had been spending more time in Mu Yue Residence after receiving the scented sachet, if witchcraft was involved, not only would Xue Liu be in grave danger, but she, the Princess Consort, would also be implicated.
Xue Yuechen, anxious and worried, rushed to Tan Qiu Courtyard. Before she could even understand the full story, she saw the shocking bloodstains on the ground…
Her mind buzzed, and she almost lost her balance.
Fei Cui, who was beside her, quickly reached out to support her arm.
“Princess Consort, you must stand firm at this time.”
Xue Yuechen took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, clutched her handkerchief, and walked steadily forward, bowing to Li Huan and saying, “Your servant greets Your Highness.”
Li Huan turned to look at her flushed cheeks.
“Wasn’t it the celebration for the newborn at Madam Zhou San’s house? Why did the Princess Consort return so urgently?”
Before Xue Yuechen could speak, Yuan Qingzhu began to cry, looking heartbroken.
“Princess Consort! Ru Ren Xue gave you the scented sachet to lure you into seducing the Prince, clearly intending to harm you, and then harm the Prince!”
“Consort Yuan, mind your words!” Xue Yuechen’s face darkened, and she looked coldly at Yuan Qingzhu. “Without evidence, Consort, do not make baseless accusations. Groundless suspicion and malicious slander in the Prince’s Mansion’s inner court are grave taboos!”
“This servant is not speaking nonsense. The maid who subdued me just now was seen by everyone. Moreover, this servant has other evidence.” Yuan Qingzhu pointed at the scented sachets and said loudly:
“Whether there is witchcraft or not, it will be known with a single investigation.”
The second update will be a bit late~~
It’s the New Year, you understand, haha.
It’s sunny in Chengdu today, what about you? How is the weather this New Year?
