Imperial Consort De smiled as brilliantly as peach blossoms. “Since you claim to be considering my interests, why didn’t you properly manage your daughter-in-law? You deliberately let her come here, then deliberately let people discover it, and finally claim that I govern too leniently. Is this your way of considering my interests?”
Lianpin was about to speak when Imperial Consort De suddenly raised her voice. “Enough! Save whatever you have to say for when His Majesty arrives. I have no time to listen to your chatter.”
With that, she sat down on the chair brought by the palace servants and no longer spared Lianpin and Mu Tianxiang a single glance.
Lianpin stood in place, appearing respectful but actually unmoved.
How could Emperor Delong be so easily summoned?
They waited a full quarter-hour before Emperor Delong arrived with a frost-covered expression, his eyes sweeping over the faces of Imperial Consort De, Lianpin, and the others. “What earth-shattering matter could possibly require me to personally come to this inauspicious place?!”
His tone was stern, clearly showing he was furious to a certain degree.
Imperial Consort De had already risen when Emperor Delong arrived. “Your Majesty, it is not that I deliberately acted thus, but the matter is of great importance. I had no choice but to request Your Majesty’s presence.”
Emperor Delong seated himself in the chair, his tone cold. “What exactly is this matter?”
“Your Majesty, today Sister Lianpin summoned the Sixth Prince’s consort to the palace. Shortly after the Sixth Prince’s consort entered the palace, she came here to visit Mu Ruiniang. Given Mu Ruiniang’s special status, when the steward of the Cold Palace discovered this, she naturally reported it to me. After I hurried over and reprimanded the Sixth Prince’s consort a few times, Sister Lianpin, in her urgency, wanted to take the Sixth Prince’s consort away. I thought this inappropriate, but Sister Lianpin said I was being too harsh with the Sixth Prince’s consort. I pondered that since Mu Ruiniang committed treason and betrayed the country, and the Sixth Prince’s consort is, after all, Mu Ruiniang’s direct niece, if there are still unknown complications in this matter, with the Western state now eyeing us like tigers, wouldn’t this be inviting wolves into our home? Though I am merely a woman who does not understand court affairs, I do know the principle of not overlooking any suspicious detail. This is why I had people disturb Your Majesty. I humbly beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Emperor Delong’s expression remained cold as his eyes turned toward Lianpin.
Lianpin hastily defended herself: “Your Majesty, Imperial Consort De sister has wronged me. I merely saw that the Sixth Prince’s consort had come here unintentionally and seemed not to have done anything improper, so I was preparing to take her back to Frost Cloud Hall to properly instruct her. If Tianxiang truly had some issue with Mu Ruiniang, Your Majesty would not have allowed her to marry Qin’er. Imperial Consort De sister, don’t you agree?”
Imperial Consort De sneered coldly and looked toward Mu Tianxiang.
Emperor Delong also looked at Mu Tianxiang kneeling on the ground. Zhao Quansheng, who had followed along, understood Emperor Delong’s intention and questioned Mu Tianxiang: “Sixth Prince’s consort, why did you come here? What did you do after arriving? Speak truthfully, without any concealment!”
Mu Tianxiang replied: “Imperial Father, after entering the palace today, I lingered in Mother Consort Lian’s Frost Cloud Hall for two quarters of an hour, then followed Fu Qu, who serves beside Mother Consort Lian, to stroll around. Halfway through, Fu Qu felt somewhat unwell, so I sat under a tree in the garden to wait for her. Soon after, I heard two palace maids discussing something. I found it too absurd and moved away, but who would have thought I would end up here. I did not recognize this place and only had some vague idea when I got close. However, when I prepared to leave, it was already too late—I was discovered by the steward.”
Imperial Consort De coldly shouted: “How absurd! You are a prince’s consort—when two palace maids are gossiping, couldn’t you silence them and forbid their wild discussions? Are you saying that I govern the inner palace too loosely? What exactly were those two palace maids discussing that made you avoid them? Otherwise, why would you need to leave?”
Mu Tianxiang hung her head so her expression couldn’t be seen, but her body trembled slightly, clearly indicating that Imperial Consort De had hit the mark.
Zhao Quansheng asked again: “Sixth Prince’s consort, how do you respond to what Imperial Consort De said?”
Mu Tianxiang’s body trembled even more violently. “Imperial… Father, Imperial Father, I… I dare not answer.”
Seeing this, Qin Shuying had already guessed something.
This Mu Tianxiang truly had great audacity!
And Lianpin, who had originally planned to scheme against Mu Tianxiang, now it seemed…
Lianpin frowned. “Tianxiang, His Majesty is wise and perceptive—how could he be fooled by a few words from others? What do you have to worry about? Speak quickly!”
Emperor Delong’s gaze was piercing as he remained silent.
That look made Mu Tianxiang shiver the moment she raised her eyes—His Majesty seemed to know everything already!
Zhao Quansheng’s eyes flickered, and all the young eunuchs and palace maids withdrew completely.
Mu Tianxiang quickly lowered her gaze and stammered: “Imperial Father, I heard those palace maids gossiping, saying that the Empress is not actually a daughter of the Wen family, but rather Lin Yuan, a consort of the late emperor. They also said that this matter was stirred up by Madam Liang using the ice sculpture banquet incident, and that Mother Consort Lian had coordinated with Madam Liang at that time, with the purpose of bringing this matter to light, so that His Highness the Crown Prince’s… status, status… I only heard this much… I am guilty…”
Lianpin was immediately frightened and fell to her knees with a “thud.” “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please see clearly—I knew nothing about this, I knew nothing!”
Qin Shuying knelt down behind Lianpin. This Mu Tianxiang was truly ruthless enough!
Imperial Consort De was stunned, as if bewildered by this unexpected turn, pointing at Mu Tianxiang and stammering: “You, you, you—do you know what nonsense you’re spouting…”
Mu Tianxiang knelt on the ground, trembling all over.
Emperor Delong’s posture and expression remained unchanged. Imperial Consort De was terrified and quickly knelt down as well. “Your Majesty, I am guilty—I failed to maintain proper discipline…”
As the one who governed the inner palace, allowing Mu Tianxiang to hear such gossip from palace maids was indeed a failure of proper discipline.
Emperor Delong maintained the same expression and posture while Zhao Quansheng stood to the side like a wooden statue.
Neither Imperial Consort De nor Lianpin dared to speak, all kneeling on the ground in trembling fear, not daring to argue or make a sound.
Imperial Consort De and Lianpin usually relied on Emperor Delong’s tolerance to engage in wordplay before him, and Emperor Delong didn’t particularly mind their squabbling. But now, seeing Emperor Delong’s expression…
Fear surged in the hearts of Imperial Consort De and Lianpin. Emperor Delong’s gaze, that…
After a long while, Emperor Delong finally spoke: “Mu Tianxiang, you’re saying this matter was orchestrated jointly by Madam Liang and Lianpin?”
Mu Tianxiang answered tremblingly: “Imperial Father, that’s what I heard the palace maids saying.”
Emperor Delong’s eyes narrowed. “So it seems my empress has become someone anyone can discuss at will?”
Mu Tianxiang dared not answer, nor did Imperial Consort De and Lianpin. Qin Shuying knelt on the ground, sighing inwardly.
Mu Tianxiang, oh Mu Tianxiang—Lianpin finds you an eyesore, and you find Lianpin an eyesore. You can fight your own battles, so why must you drag me into the water?
Could it be that because His Majesty has always been merciful, not implicating the Seventh Prince and Princess Fu’an despite the Mu family’s great crimes, you think you can act however you please?
No one answered Emperor Delong’s question, and he seemed not to have expected an answer anyway. As if speaking to himself, yet also as if asking a question, he said: “I have long said that some people never understand gratitude or propriety. Yet you always said people are not born evil—that given opportunities, they will change. Now, look and see—were you right, or was I?”