Chapter 1823

Empress Chen took Consort Jing back to the Fengzao Palace.

First, she had the two palace maids and two eunuchs who were with Consort Jing taken out and beaten, twenty strokes each. It wouldn't kill them, but they would certainly be bedridden for a few days.

Consort Jing, disheveled, was washed and tidied up by the palace maids of the Fengzao Palace. Only then did she come out to see Empress Chen and express her solemn gratitude.

"Consort Jing, you are too polite, sit down and speak."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving my life."

Empress Chen gave a light laugh and waved her hand; the palace servants all withdrew.

"I only stepped forward to protect you for the sake of Uncle Lou."

Consort Jing was shocked and surprised. Thinking about it carefully, it was also within reason.

"He came to you?"

Empress Chen gave an 'en' sound and nodded, "Learning that you were going to enter the palace, Uncle Lou knew he couldn't stop you, so he sent a message to me, asking me to save your life at the critical moment. It was close... fortunately, I arrived in time. Consort Jing, your life was not meant to end!"

Consort Jing smiled instantly, and tears followed.

Crying and laughing, her mood was fluctuating.

"In the end, I owe him!"

Empress Chen gave a cold snort, "I won't ask about the matters between you two. But to make such a scene is really inappropriate; you are both too imprudent. Knowing there was a danger to your lives, you still dared to..."

She ultimately didn't say the words 'have an affair'.

After all, he was her Uncle Lou.

A niece should not speak of an uncle's faults.

She took a deep breath, "The Empress Dowager will certainly not let this matter rest. I advise you, for a long time to come, you must behave yourself and not give others a handle. You must also manage the people around you well. Don't be so foolish as to be bribed by others and know nothing."

Consort Jing's face turned pale, and she bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reminder. I wonder how Your Majesty intends to explain this to the Empress Dowager?"

"You don't need to worry about this matter; I have my own ways. I only ask that you behave yourself and strictly follow palace rules and national laws. Even if you don't care about your own life, at least think of Prince Rui. Prince Rui hasn't married yet; if something happens to you at this time, what will you have him do? Where will he have a foothold?"

Consort Jing bit her thin lip, unable to argue, and could not argue. She could only honestly listen to the lecture.

Empress Chen vented her frustrations, and her mood became a little smoother.

She was very angry about today's matter.

Angry at Uncle Lou, angry at Consort Jing.

These two were both willful and reckless, doing things without considering the consequences.

Couldn't they just endure it?

She didn't want to say more to Consort Jing, "It's getting late, I won't keep you. After you go back, think carefully about how you will walk your path in the future."

Consort Jing stood up to take her leave, leading the four palace maids and eunuchs who had been beaten out of the palace and back to the Prince Rui Mansion.

Along the way, she didn't say a word.

When she returned to the Prince's Mansion, the hearts of everyone in the mansion finally settled. As long as Consort Jing could return safely, everything would pass.

Empress Dowager Sun became angrier the more she thought about it, especially annoyed at Empress Chen.

Being old and in poor health, plus being in a foul mood, she fell ill that very day. This immediately alarmed Emperor Yuanding.

Emperor Yuanding rushed to the Kunning Palace to visit, and when Empress Chen learned the news, she also hurried over.

The Emperor and Empress met at the Kunning Palace.

Empress Chen took the initiative, "Learning that Mother was unwell, I was very worried. Has the imperial physician arrived, and what did they say?"

Emperor Yuanding was worried about Empress Dowager Sun's health and was anxious to see her, so he only nodded to Empress Chen and entered the sleeping quarters.

Empress Chen followed closely behind.

First, she inquired of the imperial physician.

The imperial physician said that Empress Dowager Sun was depressed, overthinking, and coupled with the hot weather, she had fallen ill. Medicine had already been prescribed.

The most important thing was for her to think more openly and not worry.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanding felt relieved, "Mother, if you have something on your mind, why not tell me? I will share your worries."

Empress Dowager Sun was still holding back her anger and glanced at Empress Chen, who was standing to the side, "Ask your good Empress, ask her what she has done."

Emperor Yuanding turned his head to look at Empress Chen, "Empress, what have you done to provoke Mother? As Empress, as a daughter-in-law, have you forgotten even the basic filial piety?"

Empress Chen looked innocent and aggrieved, "Your Majesty, please see clearly! Early this morning, I came to pay my respects to Mother. It just so happened that Consort Jing was also there. Consort Jing was very noisy, disturbing Mother's peace, which led to her being unwell. I was furious on the spot, ordered people to beat those serving Consort Jing, and took Consort Jing back to the Fengzao Palace to reprimand her. Everyone in the Kunning Palace knows this. I don't know what I did wrong to make Mother dissatisfied. I ask Mother to tell me, and I will certainly correct it."

Emperor Yuanding was stunned and felt surprised; was it just that? Then what was Mother's intention in saying those things?

He looked toward Empress Dowager Sun.

Empress Dowager Sun felt slightly guilty, but then her temper flared up, and she said angrily, "Even if the Empress was not wrong, that Consort Jing is truly unbearable. There are rumors that she had an affair with an outsider, and I intend to sentence her to death; Emperor, do you support this?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanding immediately frowned.

"Mother, Consort Jing having an affair with an outsider, is there evidence for this?"

Empress Dowager Sun was anxious; evidence, evidence, why did everyone mention evidence?

"How could there be evidence for such a thing? Do you have to wait until the rumors spread, and the whole capital is laughing at the late Emperor, before you are willing to issue an edict to execute her?"

"That is not what I meant. Consort Jing is a concubine of the late Emperor and has Prince Rui. If I am to execute her, there must be a justifiable reason. Otherwise, the Government Affairs Hall will certainly not agree. Mere rumors are not enough for me to issue an edict to execute a concubine of the late Emperor."

Consort Jing's weight was not heavy, and it wouldn't matter if she died.

However, Prince Rui's weight was very heavy.

Moreover, Prince Rui was still a child and needed his biological mother's care. Furthermore, before the late Emperor died, he specifically instructed that Consort Jing and her son be kept safe.

Under these circumstances, Consort Jing's weight became exceptionally heavy and could not be easily executed.

Even less could she be executed because of a rumor without evidence, from an unknown source.

"There is no smoke without fire!" Empress Dowager Sun gnashed her teeth, "Consort Jing could not keep herself, tarnishing the late Emperor's reputation, so she deserves to die. Regardless of whether there is evidence, as long as there are rumors, she should be executed."

"That cannot be! If people were executed just because of rumors, wouldn't killing become very simple? I could just hire a few people to spread rumors about those concubines, and they would all have to die!"

Empress Chen couldn't help but speak boldly.

Empress Dowager Sun was extremely furious, "Empress, this is none of your business. Could it be that you want to guarantee Consort Jing?"

"Mother, you misunderstand. I am just worried, worried that once this precedent is set, others will follow suit, fabricating rumors to kill with gossip. This method is both vicious and low, and one must guard against it. For the peace of the harem, I believe Consort Jing's matter needs to be handled cautiously."

"The Empress is right." Emperor Yuanding took the lead in expressing his stance, "This trend must not grow; without evidence, I will not issue an edict to kill. I hope Mother will forgive me."

He knew clearly in his heart that ever since he ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Sun had dreamed of killing Consort Jing and Consort Xiao. It was only because the late Emperor had left a will that she had restrained her murderous intent.

At the moment, the court struggle was at a critical juncture, and he did not want to create extra complications.

It was best to handle Consort Jing's matter coldly.

It was certain that the Empress Dowager was unhappy.

He thought for a moment and instructed Empress Chen, "Mother is unwell, Empress, take more care, and accompany Mother more to talk and comfort her."

"I will obey!" Empress Chen agreed readily.

Empress Dowager Sun was so angry she rolled her eyes!