Chapter 219: Dangerous Words
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, even the blue stone slabs of Shangjing City were coated with a thin layer of frost.
On the eaves of the Eastern Palace, several glazed lamps swayed with the north wind, making clattering, strange noises.
Inside the warm pavilion, Li Zhao was transcribing scriptures, tossing sheet after sheet into the incense burner.
The moment the flames licked the corners of the paper, he saw the crimson corners of his eyes in the bronze mirror, sharp and burning like a beast’s.
“Your Highness.” Ye Xiao pushed open the door of the pavilion, standing with his hands clasped in the shadows.
“Speak.” Li Zhao did not turn his head.
“A message has arrived from the palace. His Majesty has ordered the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to match horoscopes and select an auspicious date for Your Highness’s marriage to the Third Miss of the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion…”
Seeing Li Zhao’s stern and silent expression, Ye Xiao’s voice gradually lowered.
“Prince Duan’s plan this time is meticulous, with every move deadly. Your Highness must not fall into disarray and be tricked by Prince Duan…”
Li Zhao watched the candlelight flicker on his desk and let out a cold laugh.
He knew very well Li Huan’s intentions.
Li Huan would inquire about the Love Silk Gu from Shopkeeper Qiu, and he must have his suspicions.
Thus, imprisoning Xue Sui and then instigating the Emperor to bestow a marriage was to force him into a dilemma…
If he saved her, he would be defying His Majesty’s will, bearing the charges of disobeying an imperial decree and disregarding familial ties, accumulating countless weaknesses. How could he then secure the position of Crown Prince?
If he did not save her, then Xue Sui would die, or the Love Silk Gu would kill her, or make her wish she were dead.
This method was truly insidious, with each step interlocking perfectly.
Li Zhao slowly turned around, his gaze deepening.
“Guan Ya, go tell Director Liu of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau that I dreamt of Xuanwu carrying a candle last night, signifying an inauspicious marriage.”
Guan Ya bowed and retreated.
Lai Fu watched his master crumple half a scripture into a ball, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, but he dared not say a word.
Since Consort Xiao’s death, the court and country had been like a frozen lake, seemingly calm, but with turbulent currents beneath the ice.
At this critical juncture, countless people were watching the Eastern Palace. Every word and action of His Highness would be scrutinized, and a single misstep could lead to eternal damnation…
“Lai Fu,” Li Zhao suddenly said, “help me change my clothes…”
Lai Fu was startled but dared not ask, only lowering his head in assent.
Li Zhao left the Eastern Palace and went directly to Jiaofang Palace.
Empress Xie had not been feeling well since falling ill during the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet and was resting on a warm kang.
Upon hearing that her son had come to visit, she quickly had Aunt Yu help her up. She then touched up her rouge in the bronze mirror and softly instructed, “If the Crown Prince asks, tell him I merely caught a chill and it’s nothing serious.”
Aunt Yu knew her Ladyship was afraid of worrying the Crown Prince and sighed softly, agreeing gently.
“Your Son greets Imperial Mother.” Li Zhao strode in and bowed.
Empress Xie looked at him, sat up slightly, and asked with a smile, “Why does the Crown Prince have time to visit Imperial Mother today?”
Li Zhao walked over and sat by her couch. “Your Son heard Imperial Mother was unwell and was very worried, so I came to visit…”
Empress Xie smiled and said, “You are thoughtful. As long as you are well in all things, Imperial Mother will be well.”
Li Zhao: “Your Son is unfilial, causing Imperial Mother worry.”
Empress Xie sighed.
She knew Li Zhao’s temperament and, without waiting for him to ask, recounted the matter of Emperor Chong Zhao bestowing a marriage to the Third Miss Guo.
As expected, Li Zhao showed no surprise. He frowned slightly and said, “Imperial Mother, please understand. Your Son has been preoccupied with the Qing Hui Hall case recently and truly has no time for marriage matters.”
Empress Xie frowned slightly and said, “Since ancient times, matters of marriage have always followed the parents’ orders and the matchmaker’s words. You are no longer young, and it is a grace for Imperial Father to arrange a consort. Imperial Mother cannot interfere…”
After speaking, she gave Aunt Yu a look.
“Wait outside the palace.”
“Yes!”
After the palace servants had all withdrawn, Empress Xie’s voice suddenly lowered.
“Tell Imperial Mother the truth, what is going on between you and Consort Xue?”
Li Zhao’s throat bobbed, and the hand hidden in his sleeve tightened slightly.
“This matter is a long story…”
Empress Xie raised her chin slightly and slowly picked up her clear tea.
“Speak, however long it is, Imperial Mother will listen.”
Li Zhao: …
His relationship with Xue Liu was complicated, and the secret of the Love Silk Gu could not be revealed to Empress Xie.
Otherwise, with her protective love for her son, would she easily spare Xue Sui?
After a moment of thought, he said, “It is Your Son who has feelings for her; she has never had feelings for Your Son.”
Empress Xie’s expression darkened. She raised a finger and pointed at his forehead, her face full of anxiety.
“You are truly foolish. How can you ruin your future for your own personal feelings?”
Li Zhao’s heart ached. He suddenly lifted his robe and knelt, kowtowing.
“Imperial Mother, Your Son’s feelings for her are sincere. Now that she is unjustly imprisoned, Your Son cannot stand by. Please, Imperial Mother, pity Your Son’s sincere heart and help Your Son mediate with Imperial Father…”
“Mediate? In full view of everyone, Prince Duan personally testified, and your Imperial Father has already determined that the Xue clan is a spy from Xizi. Furthermore, the Xiao family is relentlessly making a fuss in the Imperial Court…”
Empress Xie had not finished speaking. Seeing his brows furrowing tighter, she felt a pang of pity.
She released her hand and sighed heavily.
“If you truly wish to save her, there is only one way: obey the imperial decree, marry the Third Miss Guo, let the Guo family become your support, thereby counterbalancing Prince Duan and the Xiao family, and then slowly find a way to clear Xue Shi’s name…”
Li Zhao’s pupils contracted.
“Imperial Mother!”
–
Xue Mansion.
Outside the servants’ quarters, several coarse maids, under the guise of washing clothes, were whispering to each other.
The autumn rain outside was drizzling, but it could not extinguish the fire flickering in their eyes.
“I heard our Sixth Miss is a spy from Xizi, who used underhanded means to fool the nobles…”
“No wonder she’s so opinionated, she must have wicked intentions…”
Madam Qian, holding the Tenth Young Lady, passed by the covered walkway. Hearing these words, she trembled with anger.
“Fifty slaps to the face for each of you gossiping servants!”
The Tenth Young Lady had never heard her mother lose her temper so much. Seeing her mother’s face flushed red and her hands on her hips, she tightly clutched her mother’s clothes, too scared to make a sound.
The maids fell to their knees with a thud, constantly begging for mercy.
“Third Madam, spare us! We old servants were just repeating what we heard, and we spoke carelessly for a moment. We will never dare to do so again…”
Madam Qian sneered, “Heard from others? You dare to slander your masters without proof? You unruly things! If I don’t teach you a lesson today, will the Xue Mansion be overrun by your troublemaking in the future?!”
Saying this, she gestured to the maid beside her to act.
The maid, with a forced smile, stepped forward and began slapping the maids’ faces.
The sounds of slaps and the maids’ cries were particularly noisy against the backdrop of the autumn rain.
In Shou An Courtyard, Old Madam Cui’s eyes were tightly closed, her lips murmuring incantations, her prayer beads being spun rapidly in her hands…
Xue Yueying stood before her, clutching a handkerchief and sneering.
“I said long ago she was a jinx, but Grandmother doted on her like a treasure. Now look, she’s implicated the Xue family’s century-old reputation and will be branded as a traitor…”
Xue Yueman’s long-suppressed jealousy and resentment finally had an outlet.
“Grandmother, Fourth Sister is right. If Sixth Sister truly colluded with Xizi, our entire household will be implicated! We should distance ourselves from her as soon as possible to avoid ruining our reputation…”
Xue Yue E, still resentful about Xue Yueying and Prince Wei’s affair, chimed in sarcastically upon hearing this.
“Fourth Sister’s scandalous deeds didn’t ruin the Xue family’s century-old reputation…”
“How can that be the same?” Xue Yueying sneered, her eyebrows raised. “Poisoning Consort Xiao is a crime punishable by extermination of the entire clan…”
“Silence!” Xue Yue Lou entered, holding Ming Ge’er.
“Sixth Sister is in prison, her life and death unknown, yet you are here kicking her while she’s down. Truly sisters by blood! Have all of you had your consciences eaten by dogs?”
“Second Sister is pretending to be a Bodhisattva.” Xue Yueying laughed indifferently. “Who are you putting on a show for? If you’re so capable, go to the Golden Palace and beg for mercy for Sixth Sister!”
Xue Yue Lou was so angry her eyes blazed. “Haven’t you done enough scandalous things yourself? Illicit relations without a proper match, an affair with Prince Wei, raising an illegitimate child – which of these isn’t an act that ruins the family’s honor?”
Xue Yueying let out a cold snort, deliberately twisting her waist as she approached, with a reckless and flippant demeanor as if she had nothing left to lose.
“Second Sister, why are you so anxious to jump around? Are you afraid that if Sixth Sister falls, you’ll have no one to rely on?”
Ever since being publicly humiliated by Gu Jie and having her scandal spread throughout the city, Xue Yueying had become like a different person, tearing off her former gentle facade and no longer caring about the dignity of a young lady from a noble family.
Amidst the shouting and arguing, Shou’an Hall was filled with a foul atmosphere, like a marketplace brawl.
“All of you, shut up!”
Old Madam Cui’s cane suddenly struck the ground heavily.
“Are all of you trying to force this old woman to death?”
Xue Yue Lou quickly stepped forward and helped the old madam sit down.
Madam Qian then entered with a pastry box, forcing a smile through her anger and sarcastically remarking.
“What a lively scene. If outsiders were to hear this, they would think that the young ladies of our Xue family were all raised in a den of common ruffians, only knowing how to tear each other apart…”
“Third Aunt, you can’t say that.” Xue Yueying tilted her head up, her eyes full of mockery.
“When Gu Wulang beat me black and blue, and I suffered cold glances at my husband’s home, who cared about me? Who spoke a single good word for me?”
“Enough!” Old Madam Cui said heartbrokenly, glaring at her.
“If you still don’t know how to restrain yourself, then get out and return to Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion. Don’t disgrace your maternal home!”
