"Is the matter settled?" Emperor Cheng asked, looking down at the memorial with a furrowed brow.
Kong Xingzhu responded weakly, "It... it is settled..."
He had not seen Yun Erman from beginning to end. It was Yun Laosi who interfered, insisting on going to rescue his brother himself, and then saddling him with a burden.
"Since it's settled, why haven't you left yet?" Emperor Cheng asked sullenly.
His mood was utterly terrible. His son and daughter dared to sneak out of the palace behind his back, running faster than rabbits. Did they still have any regard for him as their father...
Kong Xingzhu hesitated for a moment, then spoke of Han Chijiao, "Your Majesty, it was Marquis Gu who sent Yun Laosi to the northern frontier to capture the barbarian princess. She is currently in my custody. Would you like to see her?"
Yun Laosi had said that this barbarian princess might change the situation in the northern frontier and was a key figure, so it would be safer to hand her over to His Majesty...
Unexpectedly, Emperor Cheng waved his hand without a second thought, "Whoever captured her, hand her over to them. Why bring her before me?"
He knew Gu Mingyan was intelligent and a master strategist. There must be a reason for him to personally capture Han Chijiao, so he didn't want to interfere.
Kong Xingzhu: "..."
It seemed he really had to go to Dashui Village.
"Your... Your Majesty, I heard that Marquis Gu went to Dashui Village, so I plan to depart for the princess's location immediately after bidding farewell to His Highness the Crown Prince!" Kong Xingzhu mumbled.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Cheng’s cold eyes swept towards Kong Xingzhu, and he asked angrily, "Don't you know Heng'er has already run off? Let him run, but he even abducted Xinling. These two siblings are becoming more and more outrageous..."
Kong Xingzhu: "???"
What was going on? Wasn't His Highness in the Eastern Palace?
As far as he knew, His Highness the Young Prince was most obedient to His Majesty, always doing as he was told and being very well-behaved. Why had he suddenly become rebellious?
"Your Highness... why did His Highness leave the palace?" Kong Xingzhu asked curiously.
"I want to ask you!" Emperor Cheng threw down the memorial with a 'bang' and rushed to Kong Xingzhu. "Aren't you his personal guard? Did he want to leave the palace from the very beginning?"
Kong Xingzhu: "???"
Your Majesty, this minister is wronged.
He had traveled day and night, making a long trip to the northern frontier, and knew nothing of what had happened in the palace. Now His Majesty was going to question him, he was too innocent...
"This minister... this minister knows nothing!" Kong Xingzhu shook his head.
"Get out!"
"Yes!"
Kong Xingzhu retreated dejectedly.
What was this all about? If the young prince left the palace, he would have nowhere else to go but Dashui Village...
Since he had to go there anyway, he might as well set off now.
Kong Xingzhu returned to the inn, carried the unconscious Han Chijiao to the carriage, prepared some food and travel expenses, and then hastily left the capital.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Emperor Cheng held the letter left by Xiao Jinheng and glared fiercely at Eunuch Zhao, not knowing how to scold him...
"Your... Your Majesty, it is all this servant's fault. His Highness the Crown Prince heard that Prince Ming had gone to Dashui Village and was staying with the old Yun family, so he became extremely anxious and insisted on going to see for himself. He feared you would not agree, so he devised a plan to escape the palace and return to the village privately. As for why Princess Xinling left the palace with him, this servant does not know!" Eunuch Zhao explained listlessly.
After hearing this, Emperor Cheng narrowed his eyes. "Feng'er also went to Dashui Village? Heh heh, it seems Consort Xian is becoming impatient and is determined to capture Heng'er before she stops..."
To put it bluntly, Xiao Jinfeng was merely a pawn in Consort Xian's hands. To contend for power and position, she would do anything.
"Yes, Your Majesty. What should we do now? Should this servant send people to protect His Highness the Crown Prince?" Eunuch Zhao asked.
Emperor Cheng put away the letter and pondered for a moment. "No need to trouble yourself. Marquis Gu is in Dashui Village. With him protecting Heng'er, Feng'er would not dare to act recklessly..."
Just then, a young eunuch entered. "Reporting to Your Majesty, Consort Xian has arrived!"
Consort Xian?
Emperor Cheng's brow furrowed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
If his guess was correct, this woman was here to test him again.
"Let her in!" Emperor Cheng said indifferently.
A moment later, a graceful figure appeared at the entrance of the hall. Consort Xian was wearing a goose-yellow satin robe, with sparkling golden ornaments on her head. Holding a brocade handkerchief, she moved with light steps and slowly walked in...
Although she was middle-aged, her skin was extremely well-maintained. With willow-leaf eyebrows and apricot-shaped cheeks, she was clearly a great beauty in her youth.
"This concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty!" Consort Xian walked up to Emperor Cheng, curtsied, and her charming demeanor could not be concealed.
Emperor Cheng chuckled and lightly supported her. "My dear consort need not be so formal."
"Your Majesty, this concubine woke up early this morning and brewed some tremella soup for you. It was simmered over a slow fire, sweet and glutinous, nourishing the lungs and blood. Please try it..."
As Consort Xian spoke, she opened the food box, served a bowl of tremella soup for Emperor Cheng, and handed it to him with a smiling face.
Emperor Cheng took the large bowl and took a shallow sip. His brow furrowed even tighter.
Pah, what was this taste? Compared to his sticky bean buns and sorghum porridge, it was far too different...
Seeing this, Consort Xian's expression panicked. "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Is the tremella soup I brewed not to your liking?"
As she spoke, she glanced at the desk where he was working, scanning the memorials and various documents on it.
"The taste is very good, but I am getting old and don't have much of a sweet tooth!" Emperor Cheng casually handed the large bowl to Eunuch Zhao. "Old Zhao, I bestow this tremella soup upon you. You must drink it all in one go!"
Eunuch Zhao: "..."
Your Majesty, you are too much of a schemer. Everyone in the palace knew that Consort Xian's cooking was the worst. If he drank this soup in one go, he would surely get diarrhea.
"Hmm?" Emperor Cheng narrowed his cold eyes and glanced at Eunuch Zhao. "What, you don't dare to accept what I bestow upon you?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"No... no!" Eunuch Zhao shook his head repeatedly and drank the tremella soup in one gulp while holding the large bowl.
Consort Xian snorted inwardly, a slight smile forming on her lips.
His Majesty was afraid she had poisoned the soup, which was why he made Eunuch Zhao drink more of it.
So be it. Once things turned around, she would have hundreds of ways to kill this old emperor and let her son inherit the throne...
"Your Majesty, the New Year is approaching. Do you not plan to bring His Highness the Crown Prince back for a reunion?" Consort Xian asked with a smile.
Her useless son had run off to Dashui Village, and she didn't know if he had found the Crown Prince. He hadn't even written her a letter.
Emperor Cheng heard this and let out a faint cold laugh. "Why is Consort Xian suddenly mentioning him?"
Just now, he had smilingly called her his dear consort, but now he suddenly called her Consort Xian, indicating that Emperor Cheng was angry.
Consort Xian opened her mouth, about to say something, when a loud shout suddenly came from outside the hall...