Speaking of the princes, the Emperor thought of the King of Chu and could not help but sigh, "Little Three has always been in poor health. He is recuperating outside. Jiangnan's spring-like weather is beneficial for his recovery. I wonder when he will return."
"Your Majesty need not worry. The King of Chu will return when he has recovered his health," everyone said to comfort the Emperor, seeing his worried expression.
Xiao Man ate in silence. This King of Chu, who had been absent from the imperial capital for years, was able to make the Emperor so preoccupied; he was indeed quite capable.
Just then, a young palace maid approached Xiao Man with a wine pot. Yin Zhu immediately stopped her.
"Miss, allow me to pour wine for the honored lady."
"My lady does not drink wine," Yin Zhu said, blocking the maid without hesitation. She would not allow any irrelevant person to approach Xiao Man, nor would she give anyone an opportunity to take her lady away from the general.
The young palace maid lowered her head and retreated. Her gaze then shifted towards a certain direction, and she shook her head. The person she looked at was none other than Consort Xian.
Consort Xian inwardly seethed. The military faction had caused her son endless trouble recently. She had intended to find an opportunity to speak with Xiao Man privately, preferably to reach a reconciliation. However, Xiao Man was entirely uncooperative. Must she watch the Xiao family make things difficult for her son?
Halfway through the banquet, many people secretly slipped away to sober up, while others, bored, went off to play. Xiao Man, being blind, sat obediently in her seat, occasionally chatting with Xiao Zhen. The father and daughter were having a very pleasant conversation.
Yin Zhu, on the other hand, acted like a mother hen fiercely guarding her chicks, vigilantly preventing anyone with ulterior motives from approaching Xiao Man. Even when Xiao Ling came to offer a toast, Yin Zhu stood beside her, glaring watchfully, afraid that Xiao Ling might do something to harm Xiao Man.
"Eldest Sister, this maid of yours is entering the palace for the first time, isn't she? So nervous."
Hearing this, Xiao Man smiled, "Third Sister, don't laugh at her. She truly is entering the palace for the first time, and everyone present is of noble birth and status. How could she, a mere maid, afford to offend them? Moreover, I am blind, and she fears I might inadvertently offend someone, hence her nervousness."
"She is indeed loyal," Xiao Ling said with a smile, "just not very sharp."
"One's attendants don't need to be sharp, only loyal is enough," Yin Zhu placed a teacup into Xiao Man's hand. "My lady, drink tea."
"Indeed, loyalty is enough," Xiao Ling agreed. However, if outsiders were to scheme against Xiao Man, it was not something a mere maid could prevent.
Just as boredom set in, a eunuch hurried to the Emperor's side and whispered something to him. Upon hearing it, the Emperor's expression changed drastically, and he flicked his sleeve and left.
The officials below looked at each other, bewildered as to what had happened. The Empress's face was full of surprise. She rose and followed him, and where no one could see, a trace of schadenfreude curved her lips.
Yuqing Palace.
Consort Yu, who was currently favored by the Emperor, was sobbing on the bed. Guards stood at the door and bowed as the Emperor arrived with his retinue.
"What is going on?"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you must deliver justice for your concubine." Consort Yu pounced on the Emperor, "Prince Qin... Prince Qin, in his audacity, trespassed into my palace and attempted to commit an indecent act against me."
The Emperor's face turned ashen with rage. He looked at Consort Yu with a stern expression, "Who did you say?"
"Your Majesty, Prince Qin harbors wicked intentions. He trespassed into the harem and attempted to commit an indecent act against me. Your Majesty, you must deliver justice for your concubine."
"Your Majesty, this matter should not be made public," the Empress immediately stated. "It is a private family matter to be handled discreetly. If it were to spread, it would become a royal scandal. A prince assaulting a consort; this is an act against natural order."
"Summon Prince Qin."
Nangong Yu was summoned to the harem. A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes, "Eunuch Hu, why has Father Emperor summoned this king to the harem?"
Eunuch Hu glanced at Nangong Yu and lowered his voice, "Your Highness, you should think about how to protect yourself. Consort Yu accuses Your Highness of trespassing into the harem and attempting to commit an indecent act against her."
Nangong Yu's expression turned cold. He looked in a certain direction, saw a branch sway, but no one appeared. Nangong Yu followed Eunuch Hu into Yuqing Palace.
"Your humble son greets Father Emperor, Mother Empress."
The Emperor sat in the place of honor, his gaze chilling, "Little Four, did you leave the banquet hall during the feast?"
"Replying to Father Emperor, yes."
"Where did you go? What did you do?"
"Replying to Father Emperor, this son drank too much wine and went to the imperial gardens," Nangong Yu stated frankly.
"How long were you there? Is there anyone to bear witness?" The old Emperor's voice was unreadable, but from Nangong Yu's understanding of him, the Emperor was on the verge of an explosive rage. Su Dan Novel Network
"I was there for two quarters of an hour. During that time, I encountered the daughter of Duke Chen, who was also in the imperial gardens with her maid. We spoke for a while."
"You are lying! You never went to the imperial gardens. You trespassed into my palace and attempted to commit an indecent act!" Consort Yu accused him, enraged.
Nangong Yu glanced at Consort Yu, whose clothes were disheveled, "Even if I were the most shameless, I would not touch a married woman, let alone one who is my own father's woman!"
"It was clearly you, it was clearly you who trespassed into my palace!"
"Oh, Consort Yu claims I trespassed into your palace. May I ask, at what time, what were you wearing, and what evidence do you have?"
"It was the third watch of Xu Shi. I recall, the third watch bell had just chimed when you barged in from outside."
Nangong Yu listened and asked, "And what did you do after you barged in?"
"You... you are shameless!" Consort Yu trembled with anger and crawled to the Emperor's feet. "Your Majesty, you must deliver justice for your concubine! Prince Qin harbors wicked intentions. If he dares to covet your woman today, he will dare to covet your throne tomorrow!"
Nangong Yu's expression remained calm, "Father Emperor, your humble son is wronged. I have never set foot in the harem, nor have I attempted any indecent act against this Consort Yu. I beg Father Emperor to investigate."
"Your Majesty, it was Prince Qin. This concubine saw it with her own eyes. If it weren't for the sudden arrival of a palace maid, startling him, he would have succeeded!"
"Who was the palace maid who discovered Prince Qin?"
"It was this servant," a trembling figure knelt in the corner.
"Lift your head," the old Emperor said sternly.
The palace maid timidly raised her head. "Did you see Prince Qin?"
"This servant, I only saw a back. He jumped out of the window, wearing clothes identical to Prince Qin's."
"So, you did not see the person's face?"
The palace maid shook her head. "No... did not see."
"Summon the daughter of Duke Chen."
The daughter of Duke Chen was named Pei Qianyun. It was said that Duke Chen had wanted a son, but his wife had only given birth to this daughter. He considered his daughter worthless, hence he named her Pei Qian. When the Duchess heard this, she was displeased and added the character "Yun," making it Pei Qianyun. Although Duke Chen was deeply regretful about only having a daughter, he doted on and meticulously educated her, never mistreating her.