Chapter 137

"I really am a bit jealous." Lan Xiang, though smiling, had an inscrutable look: "Could she not be the Heir Apparent's sweetheart?"

Xiao Jingyuan couldn't be bothered to waste words with her, coldly saying: "Where is she?"

"Why are you so anxious about her, Heir Apparent? Do I look like I'd eat her? I'm just keeping her to keep me company." Lan Xiang gave a half-smile, but her eyes were icy.

She rose slowly from the Noble Consort's couch, swaying in a splendid pomegranate-colored palace robe, lotus steps light, she approached Xiao Jingyuan's side, gently laying her hand on his shoulder, faintly suggestive.

Xiao Jingyuan possessed an exceptionally handsome visage, clad in a narrow black cloud-patterned brocade, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist, austere and ascetic, making one want to drag him down from the clouds and crush him.

The woman exhaled like orchids, speaking near his ear: "It's rare for the Heir Apparent to visit; won't you catch up with me?"

Xiao Jingyuan, not knowing what he thought of, his eyes flashed, and he repulsed her hand with disgust: "I have no past with Your Highness to reminisce about; please conduct yourself properly."

Lan Xiang caught his disgust, as if a needle pricked her heart, and she sneered: "The more you want to see her, the less I'll let you have your way!"

Even regretting, why didn't I just scratch that vixen's face just now?

"Unless, Heir Apparent, you beg me?" Lan Xiang chuckled, "I'd like to see just how far you'd go for her."

The once pure and gentle Lan Xiang is gone forever.

Xiao Jingyuan is hardly one to yield to threats; he stepped forward, fixing her with a dangerous stare: "Noble Consort, you'd best obey, or I'll lay bare all your secret misdeeds before the Emperor. My patience is limited—where is she?"

Lan Xiang's heart gave a thump; she momentarily faltered, then recalling the imperial heir in her womb, she regained composure and snapped angrily: "How presumptuous! I am the Noble Consort—how dare you threaten me?!"

Originally keeping Lan Xiang was merely to counterbalance the Empress; likewise, the Emperor's favor toward Lan Xiang serves the same purpose.

Thus he repeatedly tolerated her, turning a blind eye to her covert deeds.

But Lan Xiang herself fails to see clearly, believing the Emperor truly loves her. Indeed, she harbors no deep affection for the emperor, who is over fifty.

Xiao Jingyuan originally had no intention of doing anything to Lan Xiang, but she went and meddled with someone she shouldn't have—she's seeking her own doom!

His cold, harsh gaze swept over Lan Xiang's still-unrounded belly, as if looking at something troublesome.

This woman, now bearing the imperial heir, indeed has reasons to be cautious.

Lan Xiang felt the man's gaze fall on her belly, a chill ran up her back, and she put on a stern but timid front: "I am weary, the child in my womb cannot withstand fright; if anything goes wrong, the Heir Apparent cannot bear the responsibility—please leave."

Having learned of Shen Shuangning's importance to the Duke's manor and to Xiao Jingyuan, how could Lan Xiang possibly let her go easily?

Only by keeping this "hostage" in her grip will the other side hesitate to act; before she devises a counterplan, Shen Shuangning can only remain under her watch.

Xiao Jingyuan's gaze shifted, without changing expression, he glanced at the sinister-looking eunuch behind Lan Xiang, Zheng Mao.

The eunuch met his gaze.

Just then Lan Xiang turned her gaze back, and Zheng Mao quickly lowered his head.

Lan Xiang didn't notice what passed between them in that instant glance; she was solely focused on driving Xiao Jingyuan away, for she truly feared his gaze.

"What are you standing there for? See him out!"

Zheng Mao hurried over, his face cold, and said to Xiao Jingyuan: "Heir Apparent, please go."

Before leaving, Xiao Jingyuan warned Lan Xiang in a cold tone: "If she comes to any harm, the Brocade Palace will be buried with her; if you doubt me, feel free to test it."

Only after his silhouette vanished from the hall doors did Lan Xiang collapse onto the Noble Consort's couch, clutching her pounding chest, a wave of palpitations, but soon after came a torrent of fury.

"How outrageous!" This bears no resemblance to what she had imagined!

By the time Zheng Mao returned, Lan Xiang, beside herself with rage, had smashed half of the Brocade Palace to pieces, the floor a mess.

Zheng Mao stood with bowed head at the door, advising: "Please calm your anger, Your Highness, and take care of your health."

Over the years, Lan Xiang has seen countless attendants come and go, but only Zheng Mao has remained constantly by her side: he handles affairs efficiently, knows how to speak with propriety, and never displeases her.

By now, Zheng Mao is undoubtedly her trusted confidant and right-hand man, and she even harbors an inexplicable reliance on him.

Seeing him, Lan Xiang couldn't help but reveal a fraction of the vulnerability hidden within her shell, slumping onto the couch: "What do we do? He knows everything; he won't let me off easily."

Unless absolutely necessary, she also doesn't wish to offend the Prince of Yan's manor and Xiao Jingyuan; that would be unwise.

But she just couldn't hold back her temper... yet Lan Xiang is never one to regret; climbing from the deep palace to high rank, she possesses a ruthless streak.

Zheng Mao wore an appearance of utter loyalty, saying: "Anyone who displeases Your Highness deserves death; that Miss Shen Fourth is a calamity—I'll send her to see King Yama right now!"

The surrounding palace servants, hearing this, all felt a chill in their hearts and pitied Shen Shuangning immensely.

Eunuch Zheng is the executioner of the Brocade Palace; if she falls into his hands, how could she fare well?

Just as the palace folk thought, given the Noble Consort's usual temperament, she would surely deal harshly with Shen Shuangning—

The next moment, however, the Noble Consort suddenly rose to her feet and called out to Eunuch Zheng.

"Don't move her; keep a close watch on her for me, don't let her escape."

Lan Xiang ultimately heeded Xiao Jingyuan's warning and dared not do anything further to Shen Shuangning.

Zheng Mao instantly dropped his ferocity and replied respectfully, "Yes."

The Brocade Palace lies east of the imperial palace, well situated and expansive; aside from the Noble Consort's main hall, there are six side halls and countless large and small annexes.

Eyes of the Noble Consort are everywhere; it can almost be said to be walls of bronze and iron.

At this moment Shen Shuangning is confined in a rather dim annex; the window paper exudes an aged musty smell, and inside there are only a table, chairs, and a cot—nothing else.

The windows are shut tight, blocking daylight; the door is locked, and outside a eunuch keeps guard, from time to time footsteps and murmurs are heard.

She is essentially being treated as a prisoner.

Shen Shuangning sits on a hard chair; the swelling pain in her fingertips throbs outward, and even a slight bend makes her gasp in pain.

She does not know that Xiao Jingyuan has been here.

Every moment she lingers within these palace walls adds a fraction of danger, but for now she cannot reach the outside world, leaving her with no alternative.

Shen Shuangning furrows her brows, calmly analyzing her present situation.

Even if Xiao Jingyuan has a hundred tricks, once he enters the strictly guarded imperial palace he will inevitably be hampered.

The rear palace is inherently a place of right and wrong; if he forcibly takes someone, he gives others leverage—let alone rescuing her, he might even drag himself into a mire.

Shen Shuangning also thought of Jingyu; perhaps Jingyu could help her... but as soon as the idea arose, she felt a sliver of hopelessness.

If even Xiao Jingyuan cannot get her out, how could Jingyu manage? After all, Lan Xiang never regards that princess highly.

Perhaps only if the Emperor speaks will the Noble Consent release her.

Shen Shuangning quietly walked to the window, moistened her fingertip with saliva, gently poked a hole in the old window paper, then leaned over to look outside.

Her heart sank sharply.

The number of people guarding her had obviously increased.

Lan Xiang is ambitious and crafty, imprisoning her in the palace; it's unlikely she merely wants the Liu clan to submit so simply.

Her mother has always protected her shortcomings; if Lan Xiang uses her as leverage, no one knows what her mother might do.

"Mother, please don't act foolishly......" Shen Shuangning sat back down and murmured.

This feeling of being controlled by others is utterly hateful!

Elsewhere.

Jingyu learned from Xiao Jingyuan that Shen Shuangning had fallen into Lan Xiang's hands; his expression changed instantly, and he immediately set out for the Brocade Palace to rescue her.

Xiao Jingyuan, however, said: "Even if you go, Your Highness, you might not even be able to enter the Brocade Palace. Better to go see the Emperor."

Only then did Jingyu realize, and he hurriedly set off for the Heavenly Purity Palace.

But unfortunately, Emperor Xuānwen's health was poor; he was resting, and no one could see him.

Hai Gonggong, seeing Jingyu's anxious face, could only advise: "The Emperor ordered that no one be seen; I dare not disturb him. Your Highness, please return for now; I will relay your message once the Emperor awakens."

Jingyu had no choice but to go to the Brocade Palace himself first.

As Xiao Jingyuan had predicted, he was turned away at the door.

Jingyu's face turned cold as he said: "The Noble Consort uses me as an excuse, luring Ningning into the palace and then detaining her—what exactly does she intend?!"

The palace maids and eunuchs at the gate were all tight-lipped; no matter how loudly she questioned them, they remained silent.

Time trickled by; before she knew it, the sky had grown dark.

Footsteps sounded outside the door.

Shen Shuangning immediately steadied herself and heard the eunuch outside call out, "Zheng Gonggong."

Immediately after, there was a click, the door opened, and Zheng Mao, dressed in eunuch robes, walked in.

Upon seeing him, Shen Shuangning instantly became alert and stood up.

Another eunuch was watching at the doorway.

Zheng Mao glanced at her, his expression unchanged, lifted his hand and placed the food box on the table, then said lightly: "The consort pities the Fourth Miss, fearing you might go hungry, so he has sent some food. Fourth Miss, don't starve yourself—the consort still needs your counsel."

Zheng Mao lifted the lid of the food box, didn't linger, and walked straight away with his hands behind his back.

The door was shut again, locked, and silence returned.

Naturally, Shen Shuangning dared not touch anything sent by that vicious woman.

Yet the wafting aroma gave her a faint sense of familiarity.

Shen Shuangning walked over to look, and inside the food box was actually a roasted rabbit?

How could such a thing exist in the palace?

In an instant, Shen Shuangning recalled the wild rabbit that Xiao Jingyuan had roasted for her in the mountains back then.

She lifted it out, and thus saw the note pressed underneath.

Only a few short words: "Eat at ease, I'll wait."

The strokes were sharp, a familiar handwriting.

Shen Shuangning's tense nerves inexplicably relaxed considerably.