Chapter 325: The Empress's Trap (2)

"Rest assured, my lady. General Su is determined to protect Miss Qing, even... defying the Empress in public. Although he eventually rescued Magistrate Gao's family, the Magistrate's concubine was still... killed."

Dead? It's a good thing Su Ling was there, otherwise the Empress would likely have torn Little Sister apart! Qingfeng's impression of Su Ling improved even further at this moment. This sudden situation left her bewildered. "Mo'er is just a delicate, fragile young woman; how could she have provoked martial arts assassins?"

Fuling shook her head. "This servant doesn't know the specifics either. I only know it has to do with a bounty hunter named Ao Tian."

Fuling's expression was grave, looking even more worried than she was. Qingfeng felt a warmth in her heart; she patted Fuling's hand and smiled. "Regardless, Su Ling is sincere toward Mo'er, which should be a good thing. Look at you, all long-faced."

Qingfeng wore an air of nonchalance, as if she believed things would work themselves out. Fuling became even more anxious. "My lady, General Su has completely offended the Empress this time. The Empress cannot possibly swallow this insult. If she cannot trouble Miss Qing and General Su, she will surely settle this score with you. Now that you have a prince, in the future..."

"Alright, say no more. We will just be more careful from now on." Qingfeng cut off what Fuling was about to say, simply because among the dozen guards who escorted her back to the palace, three had not left but were standing guard at the hall entrance. She didn't know if these so-called martial arts experts truly had hearing superior to ordinary people, so it was best to be cautious.

Fuling followed Qingfeng's gaze. The half-open window looked directly toward the courtyard gate, and Ming Ze's tall back entered her view. For some reason, Fuling averted her eyes, feeling a bit guilty, and asked softly, "My lady, those guards?"

Qingfeng pushed the door open slightly and said in a clear voice to Ming Ze, who was standing outside the courtyard gate, "Guard Ming, this palace has returned safely. You may return to report."

Ming Ze remained standing outside the hall, his characteristically cold voice replying flatly, "This subordinate is under orders to protect the safety of Consort Qing and the prince."

Both Qingfeng and Fuling were stunned. Their minds went blank for a moment. Under orders to protect? That meant... he would have to remain at Qingfeng Hall indefinitely?

In recent days, because the Empress was in a foul mood, everyone in Yilan Palace spoke and acted with extreme caution. It was time to deliver the evening meal, and several palace maids peered outside the room. Sister Shui Xin was not there, and no one wanted to go in and court disaster. Just then, Yiyue walked over with a worried expression. The young maids quickly cleared a path and pleaded in low voices, "Sister Yiyue, when you go in, please ask the mistress if she wishes to have the evening meal now."

Yiyue glared at them fiercely and walked into the room cautiously, but she dared not enter the inner chamber. She stood behind the screen and said softly, "My lady, Consort Qing returned to the palace today. The Empress Dowager sent word asking you to join her after the evening meal..."

"I'm not going! Get out!"

Before Yiyue could finish, a crisp crashing sound came from the inner chamber, followed by Xin Yuening's sharp rebuke. Yiyue's shoulders jolted violently in fright, and she hurriedly bowed and retreated outside.

Hearing Xin Yuening's low shout, the young maids guarding outside had long since run far away. Yiyue ran out in a disheveled state, just in time to see Shui Xin walking over with a bowl of sweet soup. Yiyue looked at her with a mournful, pitiful face. Shui Xin smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "Report that the mistress caught a cold a few days ago, and if she feels better later, she will go over."

"Alright." Hearing Shui Xin's instructions, Yiyue breathed a sigh of relief, smiled gratefully at Shui Xin, and walked toward the courtyard exit without daring to pause.

Shui Xin entered the inner chamber and saw Xin Yuening sitting alone before the vanity mirror, her face clouded with gloom. The hairpins and jade ornaments that had been on the table were scattered on the floor. Her slender fingers were gripping the solid wood table legs, making a creaking sound; it was clear she was in a fit of rage. Shui Xin placed the sweet soup on the table, completely unaffected by the anger, and said, "Lily and tremella soup. Please have some."

Xin Yuening turned her head away and huffed, "I'm not eating. Nothing tastes like anything right now." Recalling the message the Empress Dowager had sent earlier, the anger she had been unable to vent for days finally erupted. "I am furious! Is there something wrong with Su Ling's eyes? To openly oppose me for the sake of an ugly freak! I was right from the start—the women of the Qing family are all monsters. If they weren't monsters, how could they have bewitched the Emperor, Lou Xiyan, and Su Ling so thoroughly!"

"That woman named Qing Mo is indeed not simple."

Xin Yuening did not notice the interest in Shui Xin's eyes or the faint admiration in her tone, as she continued to fume to herself. "The women of the Qing family—none of them are simple characters. It's all your fault. You said earlier that there was blood in Qingfeng's sedan chair and she might have miscarried, but look what happened—the child was born perfectly fine, and it's a boy! Since we hired people to do it last time, we should have killed her and that child. Now, this has only made the Emperor dote on her even more. Su Ling and Lou Xiyan must also value her because she bore a son, thinking she is qualified to contend with me, which is why they dare to disregard me so brazenly now."

"It was this servant who failed to consider everything thoroughly. However, my lady need not be angry; it's not necessarily a bad thing that the child was born."

"Not a bad thing?" Xin Yuening stood up abruptly from her chair, her bright eyes staring at Shui Xin as if they would spit fire. "That is a prince! Su Ling and Lou Xiyan are both protecting him; they will surely support him to be the Crown Prince in the future. How can I tolerate him!"

"My lady, please calm your anger. The position of Crown Prince will only belong to Prince Jing. And besides..." Shui Xin's voice dropped, and her naturally soft voice sounded chillingly cold. "One who has never possessed something will not feel heart-wrenching pain upon losing it. But if one thinks they are already holding happiness in their hands, only to have it cruelly snatched away—that is true agony."

Xin Yuening pursed her lips, still feeling resentful. "That makes sense, but that child always makes me feel uneasy!" The familiar cold glint in Shui Xin's eyes made Xin Yuening's heart leap with joy. She lowered her voice and asked, "Have you... already thought of a way?"

Shui Xin lowered her eyes, concealing the cold light, and smiled slightly. "Rest assured, my lady. This time, this servant will devise a foolproof plan; there will be no more slip-ups."

She really had a way?! Grabbing Shui Xin's arm, Xin Yuening asked urgently, her eyes full of hope, "What is the plan? Tell me quickly!"

"Lure the tiger away from the mountain."

"Lure the tiger away from the mountain?" Xin Yuening's willow brows furrowed. How to lure it, and who was the tiger?

Shui Xin turned slightly, effortlessly shaking off Xin Yuening's grip. She lowered her head and whispered into Xin Yuening's ear, "In twenty days or so, it will be the little prince's one-month celebration. At that time..."

"My lady, it is time for the evening meal," Fuling said, instructing the young eunuch to set the dishes while speaking softly toward the inner chamber.

After the bumpy journey in the morning and a short nap in the afternoon, the little one was crying to be fed again. Just after being fed, his little eyes, which had been rolling around, were half-closed again, looking drowsy. Qingfeng laughed. "Why does he want to sleep again?"

Shen Yao stepped forward and said softly, "My lady, please have your meal first. This servant will coax the little prince to sleep."

"That will do." Handing the child in her arms to Shen Yao, Qingfeng walked out to the hall to eat.

Although the cooks at the villa had gone to great lengths to prepare her meals, it was not the Imperial Kitchen, and the options were limited. Qingfeng had grown accustomed to those simple delicacies. Just as she entered the flower hall, she saw the large table laden with rare delicacies. There were five or six bowls of soup alone, each looking rich in ingredients and extremely elaborate. Qingfeng wondered, "Why are there so many soups?"

Fuling glanced outside the door, where a slightly plump figure was kneeling on the ground, calling out loudly, "This servant pays respects to Consort Qing. May the Consort live for a thousand years."

Xu Ji? She had only returned to the palace at noon, and he was already rushing to show his devotion; his news was certainly fast. She glanced at him without telling him to rise, and Qingfeng replied flatly, "Why have you come?"

Xu Ji raised his head, his face full of humble, fawning smiles. "This servant heard that the Consort returned to the palace today and specially prepared some nourishing soups. Not knowing the Consort's preferences, I prepared a few extra."

"You are certainly thoughtful."

Sensing the coldness and weariness in Qingfeng's tone, Xu Ji dared not rise. He knelt and shuffled forward a few steps, smiling. "Naturally. The Consort is of golden status; this servant must do my utmost. Moreover, the Empress Dowager and the Empress, along with other consorts, will be coming to visit you and the little prince shortly. You must eat more to have the energy."

The Empress Dowager and the Empress were coming? Qingfeng felt a jolt of alarm. She wasn't afraid of the Empress Dowager—if not for the monk, then for the Buddha; with the little one there, the Empress Dowager certainly wouldn't do anything to her. But the Empress... was she coming to cause trouble this time?

Qingfeng's expression shifted slightly, and Xu Ji felt secretly pleased. He said softly, "The Empress Dowager is currently having her meal; she will likely come after the evening meal. The Consort can dine in peace."

It was impossible for Xu Shuping to be completely at her disposal after being by the Empress's side for so many years. If this sister and brother could lean toward her in the future, it would be a good thing. Qingfeng curled her lips into a faint smile and raised her hand slightly, signaling him to rise. "Very well, I accept your intentions. You may withdraw."

"Yes." Certain that Qingfeng knew his usefulness, Xu Ji did not linger. He bowed and immediately retreated.

"You all withdraw as well." After dismissing the young eunuchs around her, Qingfeng immediately called out softly to Ruyi behind her, "Ruyi."

"Yes."

"Go to Xiao Yu and get the finest June tea. While you're at it, see what the Emperor is doing. If there are no ministers there discussing state affairs, go in and pay your respects."

Pay respects to the Emperor? Ruyi was stunned for a moment. The mistress wanted her to go fetch reinforcements, right? Understanding the mistress's intent, Ruyi replied cleverly, "This servant will go at once."

Xin Yuening was narrow-minded by nature. Zhen Zhen shouldn't have any deep hatred for her, yet for years she had never stopped wanting to harm her. This time, Su Ling and Mo'er had implicated her uncle's family in such a major incident; she certainly wouldn't let it go. Qingfeng looked worriedly toward the inner room at the little one sleeping soundly, her heart tightening, terrified that she wouldn't be able to protect him.

A bowl of hot soup was handed to Qingfeng. "Drink some soup first." Fuling's gentle voice sounded in her ear. Qingfeng smiled with relief; it was fortunate that Fuling was always by her side.

Qingfeng didn't eat much to begin with, and with other things on her mind, she hastily drank a bowl of soup and stopped eating. Fortunately, the child was very well-behaved and kept sleeping, not requiring any effort from Qingfeng. However, Ruyi had been at Ganyang Hall for over an hour and still hadn't returned, making Qingfeng increasingly restless.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived."

"May the Empress Dowager live for a thousand years."

At the third quarter of the Xu hour, a high-pitched announcement accompanied by the greetings of the servants rang out in Qingfeng Hall.

Qingfeng lay half-reclined on the bed and did not get up to receive her. She wondered to herself: Xin Yuening didn't come?

"Everyone rise." The Empress Dowager walked quickly, and in a moment, she had entered the room.

Qingfeng feigned weakness, leaning on Fuling as she hurriedly rose and said, "Empress Dowager, why have you come? I should have gone to pay my respects to you."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 326 =====