Chapter 28: I Don’t Want to See Him Anymore part 1
After the caning, the Seventh Prince was in so much pain he couldn’t walk. He was half-supported, half-carried back to Shuicui Palace by the palace attendants.
Although the attendants had intentionally held back their strength when dealing with a prince, the Seventh Prince had been pampered since birth and had never endured such suffering.
In the past, if he made a mistake, Consort Dowager He would at most slap his palm a few times. He had never imagined he would receive a caning like today.
Therefore, his injuries, coupled with his haggard expression, made him look particularly unwell.
Seeing her son’s face as pale as paper, his body limp and weak, being carried back by the attendants, Consort Dowager He immediately panicked. She threw her arms around the Seventh Prince and asked with a trembling voice, “What happened?”
The Seventh Prince didn’t answer, but limply collapsed in her arms, weakly calling out, “Mother Consort,” before burying his head.
His appearance was truly frightening. Consort Dowager He held her son and wept, crying out, “My son… you were fine when you went out this afternoon. How could you end up like this in just a couple of hours?”
She looked up and snapped at the attendants, “Are you all dead? How did you look after the Seventh Prince! Who was the bastard that…”
Before she could finish, a palace attendant suddenly trembled and replied, “Consort Dowager, it was His Majesty who ordered the Seventh Prince to be caned ten times.”
Consort Dowager He’s cursing stopped abruptly. She looked up in astonishment and subconsciously asked, “What?”
Just as the attendant was about to force himself to continue, a eunuch in a green robe suddenly stepped forward, crossed his hands, and reported, “Consort Dowager, His Majesty has a verbal edict.”
Consort Dowager He was stunned. She quickly straightened up, changing from a sitting to a kneeling position, and helped the Seventh Prince kneel on the reed mat beside her, her brow furrowed. “I wonder what His Majesty’s edict is?”
She had been so concerned about the Seventh Prince that she hadn’t paid attention to her surroundings. Now, looking closely, she realized that most of the people who had escorted the Seventh Prince back were unfamiliar faces.
She did recognize the eunuch in the green robe; he seemed to be one who served before the Emperor.
“His Majesty said that although there were no casualties at the flower-viewing banquet that day, the Seventh Prince should still be properly punished.” The green-robed eunuch said with a stern face, “Since the Consort Dowager is busy and has no time to discipline the Seventh Prince, then We, as his elder brother, will discipline him personally.”
Consort Dowager He’s face turned pale and then green. He had already been punished, and yet the Emperor hadわざわざsent this verbal edict. It was a deliberate attempt to embarrass her!
She, a閒得發慌of the late Emperor, what could she possibly be busy with? Even if she were busy, could she be busier than the Emperor, who managed a thousand affairs a day? At the attendant’s words, she couldn’t help but recall the flower-viewing banquet at Wanchun Palace.
The Emperor had casually said that she should punish him, but how could she bear to punish her own son? She had also harbored a sliver of hope, thinking that the Emperor was just saying it and wouldn’t actually care.
Who would have thought that he would hold it in for over half a month and only act on it today?
Consort Dowager He took a deep breath, her back straightening. She bowed down and said warmly, “This consort obeys. This consort is deeply grateful that His Majesty took the time out of his busy schedule to discipline the Seventh Prince.”
Then, she looked up at the green-robed eunuch and said warmly, “I’ll trouble the Chamberlain to help convey a message. This consort will definitely discipline the Seventh Prince well in the future and not let him cause any more trouble.”
The green-robed eunuch nodded, bowed to Consort Dowager He, and then gestured with his hand, leading his people away.
After urgently summoning the imperial physician to treat him, Consort Dowager He coaxed her son to sleep, and her tense emotions finally eased a little.
He Xunling came in from outside and saw her sitting alone at the table, frowning. She couldn’t help but ask, “Second Aunt, I saw many palace attendants by the Hai Pond just now. Judging by the direction, they came from Shuicui Palace. What happened?”
Consort Dowager He was secretly grieving, and just as she was lamenting that she had no one to talk to, He Xunling arrived. So, she poured out her troubles, sighing, “The Seventh Prince has never suffered like this in his life.”
He Xunling dared not comment lightly on the Emperor’s actions. After comforting Consort Dowager He for a long time, she frowned and guessed, “Why would His Majesty suddenly care about the affairs of my aunt’s palace? Did someone say something to His Majesty?”
Consort Dowager He was also stunned when she heard this. After thinking about it carefully, she felt that what she said was very reasonable, so she nodded and said, “You’re the thoughtful one…”
She turned to look for the palace attendant who had been following the Seventh Prince, but she couldn’t find him.
A coarse-looking palace servant replied, “His Majesty had all those who were close to the Seventh Prince caned and dealt with.”
Consort Dowager He was completely frightened. She shot up and asked, “What exactly happened today?”
The Emperor’s outburst was sudden, so the palace servant naturally didn’t know the reasons. He just roughly described what he had seen. As for the rest, he couldn’t say anything even if he racked his brains.
After pondering with her head down for a long time, Consort Dowager He thought to herself, Could it be that His Majesty doesn’t like the Seventh Prince going to the Empress Dowager’s to play?
The Emperor’s heart was unpredictable. Although she wasn’t sure if her guess was correct, Consort Dowager He still ordered, “In the future, unless my elder sister summons you, take the Seventh Prince to Wanchun Palace less often.”
In the days since He Xunling had entered the palace, all she had seen was a scene of peace and harmony. Even if there were occasional disputes, they were not a big deal.
This was the first time she had directly faced the Emperor’s wrath.
She tugged at Consort Dowager He’s sleeve and said in a low voice, “Second Aunt, in all the days I’ve been in the palace, I’ve actually only seen His Majesty a few times.”
Consort Dowager He said warmly, “His Majesty is busy with state affairs. How can it be so easy to see him? In that case, you should often send him some pastries, so that His Majesty will remember you.”
“But…” He Xunling hesitated, struggling for a while before saying, “That day, my eldest aunt asked me to make some food and send it to Zichen Palace. I waited in the side hall for a long time, but I never saw His Majesty.”
A few wisps of wind blew in. Consort Dowager He stroked her niece’s soft hair and smiled helplessly, “If you go a few more times, you’ll eventually have a chance.”
With that, she fell silent for a moment.
She suddenly remembered a time when her elder sister was ill, and she, as the younger sister, had entered the palace to care for her.
It was then that she was noticed by the late Emperor and was made a Jieyu.
When they were still in their maiden chambers, her relationship with her elder sister was not harmonious. It was only after they both entered the palace that they reconciled due to the loneliness of the deep palace.
He Xunling nodded blankly and said softly, “Aunt, Xunling understands.”
Consort Dowager He nodded and patted her affectionately, comforting her warmly, “Don’t worry, your eldest aunt naturally likes you too.”
When he was suddenly summoned at night, Jiang Jiayan knew that His Majesty must be asking about the progress of the Hanoi matter.
Therefore, he took the time to prepare everything thoroughly before taking the scroll to Zichen Palace.
The setting sun hung low in the distance, but the eleven-bay width of Zichen Palace still made it feel bright. However, a row of candles had already been lit outside, and the corridors and outer compartments were brightly lit.
Seeing the silence in the hall, Jiang Jiayan couldn’t help but ask.
“His Majesty is in a bad mood today. Secretary Jiang must be careful in his report,” Wu Mao reminded him in a low voice.
As he entered the main hall, he saw that the Emperor was not sitting upright as usual, but was leaning against a soft couch with his eyes closed, his brow slightly furrowed, as if he was not very happy.
Hearing the footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the person at the head of the hall, and asked flatly, “How is the progress?”
His Majesty had called him over, indeed, for the matter of Hanoi.
Jiang Jiayan’s expression brightened. He presented the scroll he had brought and said with his eyes lowered, “Replying to Your Majesty, everything that has been found so far is on this scroll.”
Gu Zhen scanned it ten lines at a time. When he saw the three words Xiahou Jin, his gaze paused for a moment, and his speed slowed down slightly.
This Xiahou Jin was his aunt’s eldest son. They had even played together when they were children. However, his aunt had extremely high expectations for this eldest son, several times stricter than what he, the Crown Prince, had to endure. Because he was always called away to do his homework while they were playing, over time, they no longer played with him.
Wen County was a lower county. For someone of his aunt’s status to be willing to send her eldest son to a lower county to gain experience, Gu Zhen’s voice was quite flat, “Aunt really has high hopes for him.”
Generally speaking, for someone of his status, when he reached the age, it would be very good to rely on his family’s protection to find a casual job in the capital. But Xiahou Jin was willing to endure this hardship, intending to produce a good record so that his future promotions would be more confident, lest he be criticized for his background.
The Grand Princess of Runan was favored by the late Emperor and had a vast fortune. As her eldest son, Xiahou Jin did not lack money, nor was he involved in the corruption case in Hanoi.
However, on closer inspection, there was a suspicion of harboring.
Gu Zhen’s fingertips landed on the three words Xiahou Jin and slid back and forth several times, as if he had made up his mind, and he tapped heavily, “In that case, let’s first dismiss him from his post, and then take him to the Grand Court of Justice for a trial.”
The late Emperor’s methods were strong and decisive. Although he had not deliberately taught him anything, Gu Zhen had learned a lot from him by osmosis. What no one knew was that he had learned the late Emperor’s strong methods to the fullest.
📖 Advance Access: Complete Novel
- Option 1: Note your email on PayPal/Ko-fi.
- Option 2: Email proof to beezzzreads@gmail.com.
- Option 3: Comment below.
Recommended Reads
