Chapter 284: Chapter 283: Apology
Days passed, one after another.
The harem remained calm and tranquil, not even a ripple on the surface.
Everyone, it could be said, was on their best behavior.
It was hardly surprising—the Emperor, upon his ascension, had issued a death sentence for the first ti! This was no laughing matter! Anyone daring to stir up trouble at this ti was surely tired of living.
That day, Ying Yue brought gifts from Noble Consort to visit Consort Yun Pin again.
The last ti Noble Concubine Shih had sent gifts, Consort Yun Pin had refused them.
But now, Ying Yue had returned.
"Greetings, Consort Yun Pin!"
Consort Yun Pin gave her a complex look.
"Rise," she said.
Ying Yue rose gracefully, her composure serene, and turned to present an exquisite sandalwood box.
"These are the latest fashions, all the rage in the Capital City!"
"Noble Consort personally had them collected to present to Consort Yun Pin!"
The unspoken intention was to apologize! Ying Yue didn’t voice these words, but everyone understood.
Consort Yun Pin was conflicted.
Previously, Noble Concubine Shih had publicly picked a fight with her and had her beaten. Now, after Consort Yun Pin herself had been punished by the Emperor and stripped of her consort title, Noble Concubine Shih was coming to apologize.
Was I soone to be summoned and dismissed at will? Or did it an that in Noble Consort’s heart, I held just such a position? Her coming to apologize was already a great condescension. Could I not refuse?
Consort Yun Pin was inwardly torn.
Ying Yue continued, "Consort Yun Pin, please accept these gifts!"
"Our Noble Concubine also said... ’After the new Fine Ladies enter the palace, there will be even less favor for us older ones! It would be better for us sisters to interact more and alleviate our boredom!’"
Consort Yun Pin’s heart lurched at these words.
Was this... Noble Consort hinting that with new Fine Ladies entering the palace, I would receive even less favor, making it easier to bully ? If I didn’t comply, I would offend her, and my life would beco even harder! Was this... a threat?
A faint smile touched Consort Yun Pin’s lips.
Yes, it was! But even if it was a threat, I have no power to resist!
After long deliberation, she finally instructed Cai Die to accept the box.
Then she stepped forward with a smile.
"What Noble Consort has said is true; I will accept it then!"
Ying Yue’s smile grew even broader.
"That’s more like it!"
Accepting the box signified that all past grievances were to be forgotten. They were still on the sa side!
Regardless, Consort Yun Pin had no other choice.
Ying Yue departed, feeling greatly relieved. After reporting to Noble Consort, Noble Concubine Shih indeed laughed and said, "She is indeed smart!"
"The new Fine Ladies will soon enter the palace! If she wants to live well, she must depend on !"
Ying Yue eagerly smiled in response.
"Yes!"
April was half gone in the blink of an eye.
The Emperor, engrossed in state affairs, had only visited the harem three or four tis.
Apart from the Empress’s residence, he only visited Xia Jieyu.
Consort Zheng Pin gazed at the now-declining Xifu Palace and gave a cold smirk.
"Ying Yue has run to Yaoyue Palace twice already!"
"It seems Noble Concubine Shih’s good days are over!"
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so desperate as to try and win over Consort Yun Pin. For such a proud person to apologize to Consort Yun Pin, what inner tornt must she have endured? In the past, such a thing would have been inconceivable. Countless people used to seek favor from Noble Concubine Shih. Why would she ever have cared about a re Consort Yun Pin! Ha! So, in the end, Xia Jieyu is still the most favored! Xia Jieyu!
Consort Zheng Pin’s eyes suddenly flickered, then she exhaled deeply.
Luckily... new Fine Ladies will soon enter the palace! The harem will undoubtedly beco much livelier!
Hong Yun stood by, daring not to say anything.
「Ningshou Palace」
The Empress Dowager also had so awareness of Lady Xi’s matter.
However, the Empress Dowager had seen plenty of ladies who courted death. Being sentenced to death was what she deserved.
Ultimately, the Empress Dowager didn’t take it to heart!
What the Empress Dowager was most concerned about was still the royal selection.
"Sister Qing, among the list of Fine Ladies, are there the nas of those children from the Shih Family?"
Sister Qing replied with a smile, "Naturally! Once they are of age, they must all be considered for selection!"
The Empress Dowager sighed in relief.
"I heard the Empress is investigating sothing... the backgrounds of the Fine Ladies!"
"What’s there to investigate!" The Empress Dowager was sowhat puzzled.
Sister Qing then explained the details of Lady Xi’s matter.
The Empress Dowager frowned. "Soone sneaked into the palace?"
Sister Qing hastened to say, "There’s no need for alarm, Empress Dowager. The Emperor has already detained that Little Eunuch for interrogation!"
"I expect the Emperor will handle this matter!"
The Empress Dowager nodded.
"Alas!" she sighed. "It’s lonely at the top! The Emperor’s position, though arduous, is coveted by countless people! The slightest lapse, and those people will exploit any opening!"
Sister Qing smiled and comforted, "Your concerns are unnecessary, Empress Dowager!"
"Although the Emperor is young, he acts with such composure and astuteness that even the high-ranking and veteran ministers in court cannot get the better of him. You can be at ease!"
The Empress Dowager sighed. "There’s no other way then!"
「Mid-April.」
Imperial Censor Zhou rushed back to the Capital City at top speed.
He entered the city that sa night and, without even unloading his belongings, went directly to the palace for an audience with the Emperor.
In the Imperial Study Room.
Zhou Lin reported systematically, "Emperor, upon investigation, Lady Xi’s identity is confird. Prefect Chen of Fengshui Prefecture did indeed have a daughter selected to enter the palace as a Lady!"
Zhao Junyao asked, "What about the Chen Family, then? Is there anything suspicious about them, such as..."
Zhou Lin shook his head. "Emperor, I have investigated thoroughly and have yet to find anything improper regarding Lord Chen!"
"Except..."
Zhao Junyao’s heart skipped a beat. "Except what?"
Zhou Lin thought for a mont. "Except that in the year Lady Xi entered the palace, Lord Chen embezzled six hundred taels of silver. Other than that, there are no issues! He lives a simple life, with no notable achievents or major faults, barely qualifying as a competent official!"
Zhao Junyao nodded. "But... Lady Xi..."
He still felt sothing was amiss; could it really just be a coincidence?
After thinking for a while, he asked again, "What about Prince Yan? And the Ninth Imperial Uncle? Is there any link between them?"
Zhou Lin answered with a bowed head, "There hasn’t been much contact. Of course, we cannot rule out that any connections are... hidden too deeply! Although I am an Imperial Censor, I was ultimately acting alone and my authority is limited. It was impossible for
to dig to the very bottom of things in just over ten days. If Prince Yan is indeed involved in sothing, his plans would surely be ticulous and extrely covert. It’s not sothing I could uncover in such a short ti!"
Zhao Junyao understood this perfectly well.
He was silent for a long while and finally waved his hand. "Alright, I understand. You may leave now!"
Zhou Lin cupped his fist in salute. "Yes!"
Zhao Junyao paced back and forth in the Imperial Study Room for a long ti. After a while, he looked up and gave an order. "After court tomorrow, summon the Minister of War to see !"
Li Shengan bowed and complied.
Zhao Junyao stood by the window for a while before finally sitting down.
Let’s leave this matter for now, he thought. If there truly is sothing, I need evidence, don’t I? The charge of treason is too severe. Imperial Uncle... would he really do such a thing? Impossible, surely!
By the end of April, tranquility still lingered in the harem.
The entry of the Fine Ladies, originally scheduled for April, was postponed to May.
Then, at the end of April, another piece of major news broke, sending shockwaves through the long-tranquil harem!
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