This matter was clearly not simple. It was unknown if it was related to the shadowy figures, or if they intended to fish in troubled waters.
She shook her head and carefully tended to Xiao Feng. Whether it was so, would be clarified.
Indeed, it was clarified.
This matter had nothing to do with the shadowy figures. It was Ru Pin’s jealousy, instigated by other concubines, that led her to want to kill Xiao Feng to make Sheng Leng Shuang suffer.
In Ru Pin’s opinion, Sheng Leng Shuang shamelessly desired to seduce His Majesty, hoping to enter the palace as a consort.
It was also because of Sheng Leng Shuang’s presence that His Majesty would not promote her rank and would not help her family, causing her to endure constant mockery in the palace.
Therefore, she deliberately arranged to send that eunuch to Consort Ning, intending to frame Consort Ning after dealing with Xiao Feng, so as to eliminate Consort Ning as well.
Upon learning the truth, Sheng Leng Shuang looked at the heavily injured Ru Pin with disgust, thinking the woman was truly brainless.
“You yourself acted improperly, always thinking of seeking benefits for your family, solely focused on advancing your rank, yet you blame others. No wonder His Majesty dislikes you.”
She had truly seen it all.
Ru Pin glared at her hatefully, “Do you dare to say you have no improper thoughts towards His Majesty?”
Sheng Leng Shuang said without hesitation, “I truly have no improper thoughts towards His Majesty. Do you think I am like you, scheming against the current Emperor for power and status, yet believing yourself to be so clever, claiming it’s love for the Emperor?”
This blatant contradiction left Ru Pin embarrassed and resentful, “Sheng Leng Shuang, then why are you unwilling to reconcile with Prince Ming Rui? Your willingness to reconcile would imply you have ulterior motives regarding His Majesty.”
Zi Cheng dared not look at his uncle’s expression. At this moment, he wished he possessed the power of invisibility, so he could vanish from his uncle’s sight.
This preposterous assertion had simply refreshed his worldview.
This was his aunt, the one his uncle intended to spend his life with. Did he dare to have any thoughts?
If he had even the slightest thought, his aunt could poison him before his uncle could deal with him.
Mo Ling Xi merely cast a cold glance at Ru Pin. Consort Ning looked at Ru Pin as if she were an idiot. No wonder none of the palace concubines liked Ru Pin.
Sheng Leng Shuang acted as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world, “Whether I reconcile with Prince Ming Rui or not is my business, and it’s not for a mere palace concubine like you to dictate.”
“Also, you are, to put it bluntly, a hypocrite. Why pretend to be so pitiful?”
Ru Pin’s face flushed red, and she said fiercely, “Sheng Leng Shuang, what are you so proud of? Prince Ming Rui favors you now, but he won’t favor you for long.”
“I will cherish my wife for a lifetime,” Mo Ling Xi said coolly.
Sheng Leng Shuang spread her hands towards Ru Pin, “See? I don’t even need to say anything, Prince Ming Rui has already stated his position. What’s the use of all the things you’ve done?”
Ru Pin spat out a mouthful of blood. She knew clearly that she was finished, and so was her family. Yet, she was truly unwilling to accept it.
Although she had a humble background, in terms of appearance and talent, she was far superior to Sheng Leng Shuang. However, His Majesty never even glanced at her, nor did he ever summon her.
“I only regret not being able to kill your son and make you suffer for a lifetime.”
Sheng Leng Shuang’s gaze turned cold. She cupped Ru Pin’s chin with one hand and forced a pill into her mouth, “Since you like to make others suffer so much, why not suffer yourself? I’m sure you’ll be quite happy.”
She flung Ru Pin away and meticulously wiped her hands with an embroidered handkerchief.
“What did you give me? What did you give me?” Ru Pin tried to spit it out but couldn’t.
Sheng Leng Shuang looked down at her, “A little something that will make you suffer to the point of wanting to die. Don’t worry, it won’t kill you from the pain.”
“You harmed my son so severely, how could I let you die so easily?”
At this moment, Ru Pin felt fear towards Sheng Leng Shuang, “You can’t do this! You can’t do this! I am His Majesty’s concubine, and you, a commoner, cannot do this!”
“Your Majesty, save me! Your Majesty, save me!”
Sheng Leng Shuang looked at Zi Cheng with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “Your Majesty?”
Zi Cheng shivered and said obediently, “Aunt, do as you please. You can deal with whomever you wish.”
As long as it’s not me.
He was truly afraid of the poisons in his aunt’s hands.
Sheng Leng Shuang was somewhat satisfied. She sat regally in a chair and looked at Ru Pin, “You heard him. His Majesty has issued an oral decree, allowing me to deal with you as I please. Tell me, what does it matter that you are His Majesty’s concubine?”
Ru Pin’s face turned ashen, “Impossible, impossible!”
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you cannot treat me like this! I followed you when you were the Crown Prince.”
She crawled towards Zi Cheng, but a strong eunuch pressed her to the ground.
Zi Cheng said with disgust, “Do you think I am unaware of what you and your family have been doing in secret? If it weren’t for your past connection when I was the Crown Prince, do you think you and your family would still be alive today?”
Ru Pin’s body went limp, her eyes vacant. So His Majesty knew everything.
She suddenly burst into laughter and tears. She had thought her actions and those of her family were well-concealed, and His Majesty would never know. But in reality, His Majesty was fully aware.
How ridiculous!
Just then, Ru Pin suddenly clutched herself in pain, drawing bloody streaks on her skin, “It hurts so much! My whole body hurts so much!”
It felt as if something was gnawing at her flesh, causing her to wish for death.
No one present showed any sympathy for Ru Pin.
Sheng Leng Shuang merely glanced and then said to Zi Cheng and Mo Ling Xi, “This matter is not that simple. How did Ru Pin know that the eunuch could make bows and arrows? And why was that eunuch so obedient to her?”
“Also, why did that eunuch change his mind at the last moment?”
Mo Ling Xi and Zi Cheng had also noticed these questions.
Zi Cheng asked Consort Ning to return to her palace, “Recently, you should stay in your palace to avoid any further mishaps.”
Consort Ning understood this was a form of house arrest and showed no dissatisfaction. For her, house arrest was a good thing, preventing those concubines from coming to mock her.
She bowed and retreated with her head maid.
Zi Cheng said, “Uncle, Aunt, now only the eunuch can provide answers, and perhaps we can understand these issues. I’m wondering if it’s possible that Ru Pin was being used?”
Judging from Ru Pin’s words, it was likely that some concubines in the harem harbored great resentment towards Aunt, misunderstanding his relationship with Aunt, and thus wanted to make things difficult for her.
Sheng Leng Shuang and Mo Ling Xi also knew they had to wait for the eunuch to confess honestly.
“I will try to enter the palace less often from now on. As for Xiao Feng, once he has recovered from his injuries, I will find him a private tutor outside the palace,” Sheng Leng Shuang said.
Mo Ling Xi and Zi Cheng both understood her concerns.
“Wife, I will resolve this matter properly. Comparatively, Xiao Feng can receive a better education in the palace,” Mo Ling Xi said.
Sheng Leng Shuang understood this point all too well. The software and hardware facilities available in the palace were top-notch. Xiao Feng’s education in the palace could lead to the greatest possible improvement.
“I’m just worried about similar incidents happening again. The human hearts in the palace are more terrifying than those outside. Xiao Feng was lucky this time, but what about next time?”