Chapter 90: Vengeance for the Smallest Grievance
Upon seeing Fan Bing appear, Ping Le’s face instantly lost all color.
“Why are you in this Princess’s side room?”
Fan Bing lowered his head, stammering.
“I said I was looking for a colorful parrot… you don’t believe me?”
All around, gazes felt like thorns on his back.
They fell intensely upon him and Ping Le.
Fan Bing couldn’t continue, his face flushing red with anxiety.
“Really, it’s a real colorful parrot, it can talk…”
“Absurd!” Ping Le’s eyes widened in disbelief as she glared at him, shouting sternly, “Where would a colorful parrot come from at Moonlit Lake? You… you foolish wretch! Guards, seize this dog and send him to the authorities!”
Fan Bing’s eyes widened in shock at her words.
“Princess!”
Had the Princess lost her mind?
Had she forgotten? They were on the same side!
“Princess, you must protect me.”
Ping Le’s anger surged to her head.
This fool Fan Bing, useless for success and only good for failure!
“The Imperial Son-in-law trespassed into the women’s quarters of the Prince’s Mansion, intending to commit impropriety against this Princess. He deserves death, and begging anyone is useless…”
Li Zhao’s lips curved slightly upwards.
It seemed Ping Le’s mind was clouded by the poisonous substance, had she gone mad?
Not to mention Fan Bing was the current Imperial Son-in-law, but not hers, and when did it become her turn to dispose of him as she pleased?
“Imperial Sister, speak with caution.”
Ping Le’s mind was in utter chaos, not yet fully clear from the confusion.
Under the public gaze, the feeling of “being caught in the act” made her feel utterly humiliated, and she couldn’t heed anyone’s advice.
“Take this person away for this Princess!”
“Stop!” Li Huan finally couldn’t stand it any longer.
He looked at Ping Le with a cold face.
“Look at your behavior, where is even a shred of the demeanor of an Imperial Princess?”
Seeing that her Imperial Brother not only didn’t support her but instead reprimanded her, Ping Le became enraged.
“How have I lost my princess’s grace? When the Imperial Brother took a beauty on his birthday, he was praised. I haven’t done anything, so why am I not like an Imperial Princess and have disgraced the royal family?”
Li Huan pursed his lips and reminded her in a deep voice.
“Ping Le. There are things one should do and things one should not. As a Princess, you should be cautious with your words and actions. Your current loss of composure is truly undignified! If you continue to make a scene, don’t blame this Imperial Brother for being heartless… This is Prince Duan’s Mansion, and you are not allowed to be presumptuous here!”
Ping Le froze, as if she had thought of something.
“Imperial Brother. I know, it’s Xue Liu, it must be that lowly Xue Liu who harmed me.”
Her eyes held an abnormal gleam, and her voice was rapid and astonished, making people afraid.
“Imperial Brother, don’t marry her, you can’t marry Xue Liu, she will kill you. Hurry and drive her out, out of the Prince’s Mansion. And him…”
Ping Le suddenly turned her head and pointed coldly at Fan Bing.
“This person must have been bribed by Xue Liu, they are in cahoots, plotting against me together.”
Fan Bing felt immense bitterness in his heart.
Ping Le was selfish and malicious; at critical moments, she would definitely drag others down with her.
But he, the scapegoat, truly had no way to express his suffering…
He had a moment of wicked thought, wanting to watch Ping Le’s dissolute appearance for a little longer…
How could he have expected it to lead to such a disaster?
At that time, Wen Jia suddenly appeared with her maid. He wanted to leave but had no way out.
In front were Ping Le’s maids guarding, and behind were Wen Jia and her maids, plus some onlookers who had come to join the fun, helping Wen Jia find his servants…
If Ping Le knew he was hiding outside the bathhouse, wouldn’t she skin him alive?
With no way out, in his panic, he had no choice but to hide in the room through the half-open window.
He thought he could hide for a moment, temporarily avoid the storm, and then quietly leave once everyone dispersed.
Who knew that that fool Wen Jia would jump into Moonlit Lake to commit suicide, causing such a commotion.
“Princess, please listen to me, I can explain. Princess, Your Highness, listen to me…”
Fan Bing was extremely anxious, while Ping Le wished she could kill him on the spot.
“Guards, take him away.”
She was accustomed to being overbearing.
Li Zhao, however, did not indulge her.
“In front of this Prince, does Imperial Sister intend to silence a witness?”
On the day of the Spring Flower Banquet, he had done just that.
Thinking of this made Ping Le angry, and she snorted coldly.
“This Princess is innocent, how can there be talk of silencing a witness?”
Li Zhao smiled faintly, his dark pupils reflecting Ping Le’s angry face.
“Since you are innocent, why not let the Imperial Son-in-law finish speaking? Furthermore, Fan Imperial Son-in-law is not a servant of the Princess’s Mansion, how can Imperial Sister arbitrarily kill him?”
He paused slightly, his gaze implying something.
“Or does Imperial Sister believe she can now arbitrarily deal with Wen Jia’s Imperial Son-in-law?”
The more casually he pressed her.
The more annoyed Ping Le became, unable to contain her fury.
Li Huan watched the two of them stalemate, the farce escalating in his mansion, and had to intervene.
“This was originally a small matter. The Imperial Son-in-law was looking for a bird and accidentally entered this place. Ping Le, after drinking, did not know what she was doing. It was a misunderstanding, there’s no need for everyone to make such a fuss, let’s just let it go…”
Li Zhao raised his eyebrows and said unhurriedly, “Imperial Brother, Wen Jia is also your sister. What kind of unbearable incident did she witness that she was so ashamed and angry that she jumped into the lake to commit suicide in your mansion? Doesn’t Imperial Brother owe her an explanation?”
Ping Le was startled: “Wen Jia jumped into the lake? Why would Wen Jia commit suicide?”
Li Zhao’s expression was stern, and he mocked coldly.
“Do you not know what Imperial Sister did?”
Ping Le finally understood!
That scoundrel Fan Bing must have been hiding in the room, peeking at her…
She was so angry she could have ground her teeth to dust.
In reality, even if she and Fan Bing came out of the same courtyard, without being caught in the act, no one could convict them.
But people have mouths, and no matter how arrogant, vicious, or capable Ping Le was, she couldn’t stop others from gossiping…
Therefore, Li Zhao was not in a hurry.
The one in a hurry was Ping Le.
She was eager to prove her innocence, pointing at Fan Bing and cursing.
“Explain clearly, why exactly were you in this Princess’s room?”
Fan Bing looked at Ping Le’s fierce, knife-like gaze, his heart chilling by half.
Based on his understanding over the years, he knew that offending Ping Le would likely not end well.
Back then, Ping Le, for her own selfish reasons, could manipulate the Emperor to betroth Princess Wen Jia to him, the son of a low-ranking official in the capital, which showed her vicious methods.
After this incident, Ping Le would surely settle the score with him, and he feared his entire family would be ruined.
Looking at the Crown Prince, who was just and upright, perhaps he could save his life.
Fan Bing weighed the pros and cons and suddenly spoke.
“Replying to the Princess, as I said before, I was looking for a colorful parrot. When I walked into the garden, I heard bird calls from this room. I didn’t know the Princess was resting here, and I didn’t see any maids or guards, so I mustered the courage to enter the courtyard…”
Ping Le’s face changed drastically.
Fan Bing stared into her eyes and continued, “That bird was very good at imitating people, its calls were as delicate and melodious as a woman’s…”
Saying this, he lowered his head, “I don’t know if Princess Wen Jia heard this bird call, and happened to see me mistakenly enter this small courtyard, thus causing a misunderstanding…”
“Shut up!”
Ping Le’s face changed dramatically.
This scoundrel was trying to clear himself while deliberately being vague, thus framing her!
Ping Le’s qi and blood surged, stars flashed before her eyes, and she simply grabbed the maid’s hand, feigning a faint on the spot.
Seeing this, Li Huan quickly said in a deep voice.
“Summon the Imperial Physician quickly!”
With Ping Le’s fainting, even Li Zhao couldn’t help but smile.
Again?
Li Zhao, seeing her resorting to the same trick, naturally decided to kick her while she was down.
“Today is Prince Duan’s great joy, the entire mansion is celebrating, yet the Princess faints at this moment, which is inauspicious. Guards, immediately send for the Imperial Son-in-law to escort the Princess back to her mansion.”
Li Huan glanced at him.
Li Zhao asked, “Imperial Brother, am I speaking reasonably?”
Li Huan smiled and cupped his hands, “The Crown Prince is discerning.”
–
Lu You’an did not come to Prince Duan’s Mansion today.
As an Imperial Son-in-law, he did not like to attend banquets with Ping Le.
Perhaps he had the troubles of all Imperial Son-in-laws – outwardly honored, but inwardly subject to criticism and gossip.
Lu You’an, upon learning of Ping Le’s fainting, rushed over in great anxiety.
In the courtyard, he saw Princess Wen Jia, Li Fuyin, who had just changed her clothes and emerged.
They had not seen each other for a long time.
Ping Le was very sensitive about it.
So he actively avoided any occasion where he might see Wen Jia.
But fate played a cruel trick, and after such an embarrassing situation, they stood facing each other at opposite ends of a long staircase, with no way to avoid each other.
Lu You’an lowered his gaze and bowed slightly, “Greetings, Princess.”
Wen Jia’s hands unconsciously clenched her sleeve cuffs, her fingertips turning white from the force.
She opened her mouth, her throat feeling as if it were choked with cotton wadding.
Then, she heard her own voice, as cold and detached as a wandering spirit.
“Imperial Son-in-law, you are too kind!”
Lu You’an nodded and passed her, a faint cold sweat appearing on his back.
Back then, he was extremely reluctant to marry a princess, which was why he painfully refused Wen Jia.
He had originally intended to achieve something great, but in the end, he did not change his fate…
“Father!”
From inside the room, two children saw Lu You’an and ran towards him like birds returning to their nest.
Lu You’an avoided Wen Jia’s gaze and crouched down to embrace his children.
“How is your mother?”
The two children were still young and spoke one after another, but couldn’t explain clearly.
The maid beside them dared not speak and kept her head down.
But there was always someone who feared the Imperial Son-in-law might not know, and soon a kind person came and told Lu You’an everything that had just happened, clearly and thoroughly.
Lu You’an’s face turned pale with each passing moment as he listened.
When he looked back, Wen Jia had already walked far away.
His eyes dimmed, and he said no more, letting someone lead him to see Ping Le.
Ping Le’s fainting earlier was merely a tactic; before the Imperial Physician could arrive, she had “awoken.”
Now, exhausted in body and mind, her liver fire raged, and she was in the room, gritting her teeth and cursing.
“Good for you, Li Fuyin, you little slut, daring to step all over me…”
Hong Xing asked doubtfully, “Princess Wen Jia has always been timid and fearful. If no one instigated her, she wouldn’t dare to openly oppose the Princess…”
Ping Le snorted coldly, “Wasn’t Xue Liu the one who saved her? Hmph! Ten years have passed, and Xue Liu has truly become capable! Daring to openly challenge this Princess, she’s gone too far!”
Lu Lian lowered her head, not daring to say more.
She felt that Princess Wen Jia jumping into the lake to commit suicide wasn’t exactly opposing the Princess, was it?
After all, when Wen Jia saw her own Imperial Son-in-law in Princess Ping Le’s room and heard such shameful sounds, how could she not have a misunderstanding?
Hong Xing glanced at her and continued along with the Princess, “If the Crown Prince hadn’t intervened today, things wouldn’t have become so awkward. After all, Prince Duan should protect the Princess…”
Ping Le now not only detested Li Zhao.
Even thinking of Li Huan made her angry.
“I didn’t see him protect me at all; he believed whatever others said.”
Hong Xing dared not say more…
In fact, in that situation just now, let alone Prince Duan, even she couldn’t help but suspect if the Princess had done something with Fan Bing in the room after the poison took effect…
She wondered what the Imperial Son-in-law would think upon hearing this…
“Princess, the Imperial Son-in-law has arrived!”
Lu Lian’s timid voice startled Hong Xing.
Ping Le’s gloomy expression was very unpleasant.
Hadn’t the Imperial Son-in-law heard everything she just said?
Her heart felt like it was burning, but she quickly regained her composure, forcing a slight smile.
“Husband, why have you come?”
Lu You’an handed the two children to the wet nurse, signaling them to leave, then looked at Ping Le, who was lying on the bed looking frail.
After standing quietly for a moment, he said, “You two go out as well.”
This was said to the two maids.
But the maids were the Princess’s maids, when had they ever listened to his orders?
Hong Xing and Lu Lian both looked at Ping Le.
Lu You’an’s lips curved upwards at the corner, revealing a hint of mockery.
Ping Le’s heart tightened, and her temper flared.
“Didn’t you hear what the Imperial Son-in-law said? Get out!”
Hong Xing and Lu Lian were so scared their insides turned cold, their faces filled with terror.
The Princess was the master, and everything was to be done according to her wishes, this was what Ping Le had said.
Listening to her was wrong, and not listening to her was also wrong—
Lu You’an had not spoken a word from beginning to end. He waited quietly until Hong Xing and Lu Lian closed the room door and left. Only then did he approach the bedside, look at Ping Le, and point to the teacup on the low table.
“Do you want some water?”
Ping Le shook her head, “Husband…”
Lu You’an interrupted her, “What did the Imperial Physician say?”
Ping Le glanced at him coquettishly, “An old ailment, nothing serious. It’s just that they made me so angry, husband, didn’t you see how detestable the Eastern Palace was…”
Lu You’an’s expression was blank, “If the Princess is alright, then let’s return to our mansion. Today is Prince Duan’s great joy, and it’s not appropriate for us to disturb the mansion.”
His tone was calm, revealing no discernible emotion.
However, Ping Le felt an unprecedented sense of unease.
From the Imperial Garden Spring Flower Banquet last time to the storm at Prince Duan’s Mansion this time, the Imperial Son-in-law had clearly lost a lot of weight.
Last time, his eyes still held concern and pity; even when she was indulging herself during her poisoning, he had been tolerant.
He believed whatever she said.
But this time, the Imperial Son-in-law’s gaze was too calm, so calm it frightened her.
Xue Sui: Is it abusive enough?
Wen Jia: Not enough…
Xue Sui: Then shall we continue?
Li Zhao: …Let me do it!
Xue Sui: Okay, let’s abuse the Crown Prince.
