Chapter 123
Jiang Yun Zhu was halted when she saw the white jade hairpin. Had he always kept this hairpin with him?
Indeed, Shen Feng Ming kept carrying it with him, wanting to give it to her, but he was afraid that she wouldn't accept it.
So now, did she want it?
He was a little nervous. Yes, he was indeed tense, like an uncouth youth.
Jiang Yun Zhu paused a bit.
"En." She agreed.
When the summer wind blew, Shen Feng Ming's face was full of smiles. He inserted the white jade hairpin into her hair.
The warm white jade hairpin complemented the black hair perfectly.
It looked pretty. The hairpin was pretty. The person was pretty. Shi Liu thought this at the side. Iif Commissioner-in-chief Shen wasn't present, she would have screamed a long time ago.
Shen Feng Ming felt it looked pretty and raised his eyebrows and eyes lightly.
He had breakfast with Jiang Yun Zhu before leaving.
After leaving the restaurant, his expression immediately became cold and severe. He couldn't imagine what would have happened if Jiang Yun Zhu hadn't escaped yesterday. How happy he was earlier was how furious he was now.
"Chief!" A group of Qilin guards had already been waiting for him.
Shen Feng Ming immediately got on his horse and went to the palace. He would pry open the mouth of that eunuch yesterday.
Soon, he arrived at the Cining Palace.
"Official Shen, the Empress Dowager asked me to hand over these four people to you." Attendant Qi had already been waiting for Shen Feng Ming at the gate of the palace. Seeing him coming, she pointed to the four people who were tied up next to her.
All four of them had their jaws dislocated and their hands and feet bound. It was impossible for them to commit suicide.
One of the four was the eunuch from yesterday. There was also a palace maid. If Jiang Yun Zhu was there, she would be able to recognize immediately that she was the palace maid who brought her food yesterday.
The four of them were scared out of their wits. Some exchanged tears, regretting what they did yesterday, while others were full of despair, wishing for a quick death.
It was a pity that after entering the Division, they couldn't die even if they wanted to.
The Empress Dowager was indeed the Empress Dowager. Even though she had neglected the palace affairs for so many years, she quickly caught all the spies in Cining Palace.
"Attendant, please help me thank Royal Grandmother." Shen Feng Ming said.
"Yes. The empress dowager also said once there are results, tell her. The palace had been peaceful for too long." Attendant Qi said.
Shen Feng Ming immediately understood what she meant, "En."
Afterward, he had the four of them carried to the Division.
In the time for a cup of tea to brew, the four of them confessed everything. They were the ones that Noble Concubine Wu placed in Cining Palace. What they did yesterday was under Xiao Li Yu’s instruction. It didn't seem to have anything to do with Lin Ting An.
He was there by chance.
Was it a coincidence? Shen Feng Ming got up and went into the palace to meet the Empress Dowager.
In Chonghua Palace, Xiao Li Yu didn't sleep at all last night. Now she was depressed. She thought yesterday would develop as she expected, Shen Feng Ming would see Jiang Yun Zhu sleeping with another man and then kill her in a fit of rage. Or, in the worst case scenario, dislike her.
But who would have thought that Jiang Yun Zhu, a woman, could kill a strong guard and escape.
The plan completely failed.
It was fine if it ended like this. But since yesterday's incident, everything in Cining Palace seemed normal. There was no news about it. How can it not be worrying?
What happened yesterday, Xiao Li Yu did it without telling Noble Concubine Wu. What if... Xiao Li Yu became more and more uneasy the more she contemplated.
At this time, the empress dowager had already understood the whole story. Calm as ever, she said, "Invite his Majesty over."
"En." Attendant Qi withdrew and invited Emperor Qinglong.
Not long after, Emperor Qinglong came to greet the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager ignored his greeting and said directly to Shen Feng Ming, "Feng Ming, speak."
Emperor Qinglong immediately knew that the Empress Dowager was angry. Who was it that made the empress dowager angry? He stood up straight and looked at Shen Feng Ming.
Shen Feng Ming presented yesterday's matter as well as the confessions of those four people to him.
After Emperor Qinglong read it, it was Xiao Li Yu's scheme to harm Jiang Yun Zhu. He had a good impression of Jiang Yun Zhu, but it was far from the level where he would be angry because of her. However, after reading the case file, he remembered an incident before.
His previously favorite Imperial Concubine Su. He went to her palace that day with great interest. But seeing her tussling with a guard, he was so furious that he immediately killed her.
Looking at it now, how similar was that incident to this incident.
Emperor Qinglong experienced numerous winds and waves. Once he contemplated again, he immediately recalled many suspicious points. How could he not understand that he was being plotted against!
Dare to plot against him! Emperor Qinglong immediately became mad and shouted loudly, "Bring that despicable woman and Tenth princesses here."
Noble Concubine Wu felt her brows twitching since yesterday, as if something bad was about to happen. She carefully recalled the events of these days and didn't think there was anything amiss.
Just then, the guards came to capture her.
"Why does the emperor want to arrest me? What did I do wrong?" She said calmly. Her aura was the max until she saw Xiao Li Yu being brought out. Then her face was full of panic and her heart skipped a beat.
The two were quickly taken to the Cining Palace.
"This concubine pays my respects to the Emperor and the Empress dowager." Noble Concubine Wu was anxious, but she didn't show it!
Compared with her, Xiao Li Yu was quite lacking. She was bowing, but trembling. Obviously having a guilty conscience.
"Despicable woman." Emperor Qing Long slapped the table and scolded.
With this sentence, it was as if the sky was falling and the earth was collapsing. Noble Concubine Wu's face instantly turned from red to white. For so many years, Emperor Qinglong had never said harsh words to her. But today, he called her a ‘despicable woman’. How could she not be startled.
"Your Majesty, I don't know how I have angered you. I am terrified." Noble Concubine Wu quickly fell to her knees and said aggrievedly.
"You don't know. I think you understand in your heart!" Emperor Qinglong said angrily.
Concubine Wu still looked aggrieved.
Of course, Emperor Qinglong wouldn't say that he had been schemed against as it would damage his dignity. He threw the case file presented to him by Shen Feng Ming on Noble Concubine Wu and let her read it by herself.
When Noble Concubine Wu saw it, her face turned pale with shock. At this moment, she finally understood why Xiao Li Yu had such an expression and why Emperor Qinglong was so angry. She was filled with regret and hate. Regretted that she spoiled Xiao Li Yu too much and hated how Xiao Li Yu was so stupid.
The same trick was actually used twice. Truly not fearing that others wouldn't suspect you!
But it was too late to say anything at this time. What Xiao Li Yu did was irrefutable because of the witness and material evidence.
She immediately admitted her mistake, saying that she did not teach Xiao Li Yu well and she was willing to accept any punishment. She never mentioned anything about Imperial Concubine Su.
Emperor Qinglong didn't want to mention it either. But those who should be punished must be punished.
Noble Concubine Wu hadn’t teach her daughter properly and she removed her position as Noble Concubine Wu and became Concubine Wu.
Xiao Li Yu, as a princess, did such absurd things. She was demoted from Princess Yuyang to Princess Yuxin.
Princesses have ranks. According to the Xia Dynasty's custom, princesses born out of empresses were extremely noble. Their title would the word ‘Yang’.
Noble Concubine Wu was favored. Although Xiao Li Yu wasn't from the legitimate line, Emperor Qinglong made an exception and granted her the title of Princess Yuyang, but now she had been demoted to Princess Yuxin. At the same time, she was fined to be grounded for half a year and to copy the ‘Woman's Precepts’ every day until she corrected herself.
This punishment wasn't insignificant, especially for Noble Concubine Wu. She was demoted from a noble concubine to a concubine. The treatment was worlds apart. In particular, this seemed to be a signal that Noble Concubine Wu was about to fall out of favor. Then Sixth Prince?
Only then did Noble Concubine Wu panic. How could the emperor be so heartless! She worked so hard for so many years to sit on the noble concubine's position. Now it disappeared overnight. How could it do!
She wanted to plead with the emperor, but Emperor Qinglong didn't want to listen to her anymore. He simply kicked her out.
Noble Concubine Wu returned to Chonghua Palace and slapped Xiao Li Yu on the face. She glared at her bitterly. If she wasn't her own daughter, she would definitely kill her.
Xiao Li Yu covered her face, feeling lost. How did it end up like this?
"Starting tomorrow, you will stay in the palace and copy books," Noble Concubine Wu stated. She no longer expected her to help. Just wait for an opportunity to marry her off and let her fulfill her obligations as a princess.
Xiao Li Yu felt wronged in her heart, but dared not speak.
This matter quickly spread throughout the palace and the capital. Everyone wondered why the emperor suddenly disliked Noble Concubine Wu.
Some people said that it seemed to be related to Qilin Guards.
Commissioner-in-chief Shen ah! Everyone thought to themselves, but no one dared to speak out. If it was related to that person, it was possible.
Thinking of the bloody storm in the capital city last year, everyone shuddered. Was the capital city going to have another turmoil?
At this time, in Cining Palace, Emperor Qinglong had already left. Only the Empress Dowager and Shen Feng Ming remained.
The Empress Dowager asked Shen Feng Ming to sit down and said slowly, "Yesterday, you and County Master Yunrong..." She knew that Jiang Yun Zhu consumed that kind of medicine yesterday and it was Shen Feng Ming who took her away in the end. Then he and Jiang Yun Zhu...
Shen Feng Ming knew what she wanted to ask and directly answered, "Royal Grandmother, I don't want to disrespect her."
Then he solemnly knelt down, "I beg Royal Grandmother to take the decision and reward us with a marriage."
He already knew Jiang Yun Zhu's intentions. So he wanted to ask the Empress Dowager to reward marriage and he can be with her forever.
When the empress dowager heard the first sentence, her face was calm. But when she heard the latter sentence, she frowned. Jiang Yun Zhu invited a doctor and offered medicines for her. She liked her very much. If Shen Feng Ming wanted to marry her as his side concubine, she would immediately agree.
But the main wife… Selfishly speaking, she felt that Shen Feng Ming deserved better.
"Royal Grandmother, one must know that I don't care about status." Shen Feng Ming stated.
"I know." The Empress Dowager stretched out her hand to support him. She knew that he didn't like those powers and interests. That’s why she doted on him dearly and loved him. But it was because of this that she felt...
"Grandmother, I only love her." Shen Feng Ming directed to the Empress Dowager word by word without getting up, letting her know what he thought.
There may be many good misses in this world. They may be exceedingly beautiful, or they may have beautiful shapes, but they have nothing to do with him. He loved her and wanted to be with her.
When he sees her, he would feel happy and feel that life seemed to be brighter.
Thinking of Jiang Yun Zhu, Shen Feng Ming's expression changed unconsciously. He was no longer so cold. There seemed to be stars shining in his eyes.
The Empress Dowager had never seen him like this before and was stunned for a moment.
Shen Feng Ming never begged her, nor told her what he wanted. He was like a cold sword.
But now, he wanted that girl.
Finally some real damn consequences for those who touch MC. I still want Lin Ting An to suffer though.
ReplyDeleteI'm so here for the romance arc.
He's suffered so much, from childhood to adult. Just granted his only wish, grandma.
ReplyDelete