How could this be? The Seventh Prince had entered the palace today specifically to visit Noble Consort Xian. How did he manage to upset her?
Thinking about Yu Jin’s talent for causing trouble, Emperor Jingming became uncertain once again.
He knew the relationship between this mother and son was rather cold. The Seventh Prince might have said something to anger Noble Consort Xian.
With this in mind, Emperor Jingming stood up and said to Han Ran, “Commander Han, please wait a moment.”
Han Ran naturally didn’t dare say anything, not even showing a hint of curiosity.
Curiosity kills the cat, after all. As one of the few who knew about the Emperor’s deposed Crown Prince being cuckolded, he lived in constant fear, never sleeping soundly, always worried that the Emperor might have him eliminated on a whim.
He didn’t want to know anything about royal affairs.
Emperor Jingming set off for Yuquan Palace. For some reason, the white cat that usually ignored the Emperor leaped onto his sedan chair, tagging along to watch the commotion.
There was indeed quite a scene at Yuquan Palace.
The Imperial Physician had arrived before Emperor Jingming, concluding that Noble Consort Xian had suffered from a fit of anger.
The palace maids were busy feeding her water, patting her back, and offering soft towels. Everyone was in a flurry of activity until the cry of “His Majesty has arrived” rang out. Suddenly, everything seemed to freeze, with a moment of silence.
Emperor Jingming entered and surveyed the scene before looking at Noble Consort Xian.
Compared to the pale and haggard woman he had seen this morning, Noble Consort Xian now had a sickly blue-black complexion, looking even worse.
His gaze shifted to Yu Jin.
Yu Jin hurriedly bowed to Emperor Jingming, “Son greets Father Emperor.”
“What happened here?” Emperor Jingming asked sternly.
Was Noble Consort Xian angered by Seventh Prince?
How stupid would the Seventh Prince have to be to anger his birth mother like this in front of so many palace servants?
Yu Jin lowered his eyes, looking ashamed, “It’s all my fault, Father. I should have come to visit Noble Consort yesterday when I entered the palace, but due to being busy, I delayed until today, which angered Noble Consort…”
Noble Consort Xian, who had recovered somewhat, heard this and laughed coldly, “Now that His Majesty is here, you’re playing the filial son? Saying you were delayed due to being busy? It was only after His Majesty reminded you that you remembered Yuquan Palace even existed!”
“I didn’t—”
Noble Consort Xian’s voice grew colder, with a sharp edge, “You didn’t? You still won’t admit it in front of His Majesty. It’s clear that lying through your teeth has become second nature to you—”
As she was scolding, Noble Consort Xian suddenly felt something was amiss and instinctively looked at Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming’s expression was somewhat strange as he said helplessly, “I was the one who just said that.”
Noble Consort Xian: “…”
Emperor Jingming’s face turned serious, “My beloved consort may have misunderstood. Seventh Prince’s request to enter the palace today was specifically to visit you, not because I said anything to him after leaving Yuquan Palace.”
He had wanted to say something, to scold his son a bit, but this little brat didn’t give him the chance.
Noble Consort Xian looked utterly disbelieving.
Emperor Jingming grew more helpless, “Does my beloved consort think I would deceive you?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Noble Consort Xian’s face cycled through red and white, as colorful as a painter’s palette.
The Seventh Prince hadn’t come to Yuquan Palace because of His Majesty’s reminder.
She couldn’t help but look at Yu Jin, and at that moment, Yu Jin looked back at her.
Their eyes met, and Noble Consort Xian saw a faint mockery in his gaze.
All of Noble Consort Xian’s embarrassment turned into fury. She pointed at Yu Jin and said, “Your Majesty, do you know what this unfilial son said?”
“What did he say?” Noble Consort Xian’s current state somewhat surprised Emperor Jingming.
In his impression, Noble Consort Xian had always been dignified and steady. He had never even heard her raise her voice. How was it that she now seemed to be developing into a shrew?
Noble Consort Xian seemed to sense Emperor Jingming’s astonishment and calmed herself a bit before saying coldly, “He said he has no mother-son relationship with me and that from now on, he won’t consider me his birth mother!”
Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at Yu Jin in shock.
Emperor Jingming was no exception. He stared intently at Yu Jin and asked, “Seventh, did you say such things?”
Yu Jin lifted the hem of his robe and knelt on one knee, “Son never said such things.”
Noble Consort Xian’s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Yu Jin, “You scoundrel, even at this point you won’t admit it?”
Yu Jin glanced at Noble Consort Xian in surprise, thinking to himself, why should he admit it? He wasn’t stupid.
Kneeling on the cold stone floor, Yu Jin lowered his gaze to stare at his shadow reflected in the tiles. His voice was as calm as still water, “Father Emperor, I did indeed upset Noble Consort today, but how could I say such rebellious words? I’m not insane.”
Emperor Jingming couldn’t help but nod.
Indeed, Seventh Prince was quite clever. Even if he truly thought such things, he wouldn’t say them out loud, would he?
Seeing Emperor Jingming nod, Noble Consort Xian nearly coughed up blood in anger. Her lips trembling, she said, “Your Majesty, this wretched child is lying. I’ve been by your side for so many years, am I someone who would make baseless accusations?”
Emperor Jingming raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing.
To say Noble Consort Xian was making baseless accusations wasn’t quite right, but she had just believed it was he who had reminded Seventh Prince. It seemed there might be a misunderstanding between mother and son.
Women, after all, could be petty and prone to misunderstandings. He knew this well, given the many women in the harem.
Although Emperor Jingming thought this, Noble Consort Xian’s public accusation against her son was still a serious matter.
The Great Zhou Dynasty ruled through filial piety, and the royal family should set an example. He couldn’t ignore this.
Emperor Jingming once again turned his gaze to Yu Jin, who was kneeling on the ground, and said irritably, “Seventh, what exactly did you do today to anger your mother so greatly?”
Hearing this, Noble Consort Xian felt something was off and laughed coldly, “Your Majesty shouldn’t say it like that. Prince Yan doesn’t acknowledge me as his mother.”
At this point, Yu Jin raised his head, his face showing a hint of grievance, his gaze as pure as spring water, “Father Emperor, I truly never said such things. If you don’t believe me, you can ask these palace servants.”
Emperor Jingming’s expression turned stern as he surveyed the room, “Did any of you hear Prince Yan say those words?”
The palace servants immediately knelt, looking at each other uncertainly.
Seeing this, Emperor Jingming frowned deeply.
Pan Hai shouted, “Are you all deaf? His Majesty is asking you a question!”
A palace maid tremblingly said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant… this servant didn’t hear…”
Several others then admitted they hadn’t heard anything either.
Emperor Jingming looked at Noble Consort Xian.
At this moment, Noble Consort Xian’s lips were trembling, and she almost couldn’t speak again.
By now, she had deeply felt the cunning and malice of that wretched son.
“Prince Yan claimed he had something to discuss and asked me to send all the servants away. Those words were said when it was just the two of us,” Noble Consort Xian said, suppressing her anger, her voice slightly raised. “Your Majesty, would I fabricate such a thing to slander my son?”
Emperor Jingming hesitantly looked at Yu Jin.
Yu Jin wore an injured expression and calmly said, “Son did indeed have words to say to Noble Consort in private. My brother-in-law’s recent misfortune moved me, and I wanted to have a good talk with Noble Consort. I didn’t expect… Never mind, whatever Noble Consort says must be true. I’ll accept the punishment.”
After all, only the two of them were present during the conversation. Who said what wasn’t important; what mattered was who Father Emperor believed.
Between an enraged consort and a grievously wronged son, who to believe was rather obvious, wasn’t it?