Yu Jin was confident he could outmaneuver Noble Consort Xian.
Based on his superficial yet not shallow understanding of Noble Consort Xian, he knew she would be displeased that he had entered the palace yesterday without visiting Yuquan Palace.
In the past, she might not have shown this displeasure, but after her failed scheme against Jiang Si, things were different.
Noble Consort Xian would likely complain to Emperor Jingming, who, valuing filial piety, would promise her that he’d deal with Yu Jin.
So Yu Jin timed his palace visit carefully, proactively offering to see Noble Consort Xian.
This was the first trap he had set for her.
Seeing him arrive just after she had complained, anyone would think: he came to visit only because the Emperor reminded him.
Thus, when Noble Consort Xian confronted him about this in front of Emperor Jingming, it would leave the impression that she had misunderstood him without reason.
Piquing Noble Consort Xian’s interest with a private conversation, ensuring no one else would hear those words, was all part of Yu Jin’s plan.
Everything requires evidence, especially eyewitness accounts.
In her domain, with no one to corroborate her story, how credible would Noble Consort Xian’s words be to Emperor Jingming? Especially after leaving an unfavorable impression.
One could say that the current situation was meticulously calculated by Yu Jin.
As a married man with a daughter, he could be daring but not reckless. He couldn’t rely solely on blind courage for his actions.
“It’s my fault for angering Noble Consort so. I request Father Emperor to punish me,” Yu Jin said.
Seeing this, Noble Consort Xian trembled with rage, her chest heaving violently. “You beast… how dare you lie so blatantly…”
Emperor Jingming, displeased, gently reminded her, “Noble Consort Xian, Seventh is still a prince. If he’s done something wrong, point it out, but don’t let these servants witness such a spectacle.”
Noble Consort Xian was nearly coughing blood from anger.
She had already pointed it out! This beast didn’t even acknowledge his mother, but His Majesty didn’t believe her!
Wait, His Majesty didn’t believe her—
Noble Consort Xian’s face grew paler as if losing all support, swaying unsteadily.
As she slumped, she suddenly regained her composure.
In the current situation, it was clear His Majesty didn’t believe her words. If she insisted on pursuing this against that wretched son, she would only embarrass herself further.
“I lost my composure. It’s just that Seventh hurt my feelings…” Noble Consort Xian forced a smile.
Emperor Jingming glared at Yu Jin and barked, “What are you standing there for? Quickly apologize to your mother!”
Yu Jin bowed to Noble Consort Xian and said loudly, “It’s entirely my fault for upsetting Noble Consort. Please don’t hold it against me, Noble Consort. If you fall ill from anger, it would be my sin.”
Emperor Jingming smiled, “There’s no overnight grudge between mother and son. Noble Consort, Seventh didn’t grow up in the palace, so he’s unfamiliar with the rules. Be more understanding; it’s not worth getting angry at him.”
What else could Noble Consort Xian say? She could only nod.
“Do you have any other business?” Emperor Jingming glanced sideways at Yu Jin.
Yu Jin honestly shook his head, “I originally came to have a heart-to-heart with Noble Consort, but now there’s nothing left to say.”
“If you have nothing else, then get out. Stop standing here angering your mother.”
Yu Jin stood up, lowering his eyes respectfully and responding with a “Yes.”
Emperor Jingming coldly swept his gaze over the palace servants, then nodded slightly to Noble Consort Xian, “I still have matters to discuss with my ministers, so I’ll take my leave. My beloved consort, rest well and try not to get agitated again.”
He had been called here twice in one day; if this continued, even if Noble Consort Xian could handle it, he wouldn’t be able to.
Noble Consort Xian’s lips quivered, unable to voice any words of retention. She could only watch helplessly as Emperor Jingming left, even hearing him call out, “Seventh, wait a moment.”
Soon, only her people remained in Yuquan Palace. Noble Consort Xian, her face ashen, smashed a teacup to the ground and instructed her trusted old maid through gritted teeth, “Summon Prince Qi to the palace.”
Although Emperor Jingming had reprimanded that wretched son earlier, in reality, she had already lost.
For someone who valued filial piety so much, the Emperor had merely given a light rebuke after her severe accusations against her son. If this wasn’t a slap to her face, what was it?
And that wretched son? From the moment he came to Yuquan Palace, it was all to scheme against her, to make her lose face in front of the Emperor!
Noble Consort Xian was acutely aware that Emperor Jingming was growing impatient with her.
This wasn’t the Emperor’s fault. Even if the Empress had called him over twice in half a day, he would have grown impatient.
If there was anyone to blame, it was that cold-hearted, ungrateful wretch!
As Noble Consort Xian fumed, she heard a cat’s meow.
“Meow—”
She looked towards the sound and saw a white cat standing amidst the shattered porcelain, lowering its head to sniff at the spilled tea.
“Where did this beast come from?” Noble Consort Xian, who greatly disliked cats and dogs, immediately changed her expression.
The trusted old maid quickly reminded her, “Noble Consort, this is His Majesty’s Jixiang!”
Noble Consort Xian froze, belatedly remembering.
Recently, a trend of keeping cats had swept through the palace, all because the Emperor had gotten one. As above, so below.
Since the white cat belonged to Emperor Jingming, the palace servants didn’t dare chase it away. They all waited for Noble Consort Xian’s reaction.
Noble Consort Xian found cats and dogs extremely annoying but didn’t know what to do at the moment. She ended up in a staring contest with the white cat.
The white cat meowed once, glanced at Noble Consort Xian, and then gracefully padded away.
Noble Consort Xian thought she saw contempt in that fat cat’s eyes, but she couldn’t possibly chase after it to hit it. She could only take a deep breath, feeling that this day couldn’t get any worse.
Emperor Jingming called Yu Jin to stop, walking ahead with a stern face while scolding, “You rascal, is this how you visit Noble Consort Xian when you said you would?”
Yu Jin kept his head low, his face full of grievance, “Son didn’t expect—”
Emperor Jingming turned his head to look at him, “What exactly did you say to your mother? I know Noble Consort Xian well; she’s not one to lose her temper easily.”
There’s a difference between being quick-tempered and being easily angered. Noble Consort Xian was the type who wouldn’t speak out even if she was hurt by anger. How did this rascal manage to anger her to such an extent that she accused him of being unfilial in front of so many palace servants?
Unfilial behavior was a serious offense. If Yu Jin was truly proven to be unfilial, he would be in big trouble.
Emperor Jingming wasn’t blindly favoring Yu Jin, but such a big fuss over a mere mother-son quarrel seemed unnecessary.
The Emperor found both his troublemaking son and Noble Consort Xian vexing.
She was already a grandmother; how could she be so harsh to her son? If it were the Fourth Prince—
With this thought, Emperor Jingming felt a subtle dissatisfaction towards Noble Consort Xian. Of course, he kept these feelings hidden, not showing any outward sign of them.
No matter what, angering one’s birth mother was still the son’s fault; this was indisputable.
“I—” Yu Jin hesitated for a moment, his face slightly reddening, “I just mentioned Noble Consort’s attitude towards me compared to Fourth Brother… I didn’t expect Noble Consort would—”
He gave a self-deprecating smile, “I shouldn’t have brought it up. Please rest assured, Father Emperor, it won’t happen again.”
Emperor Jingming had intended to scold him more, but seeing Yu Jin like this, he suddenly couldn’t continue.
Objectively speaking, Noble Consort Xian did show some favoritism…
“Alright, in the future, don’t bring up sensitive topics. How does it look to be publicly accused of being unfilial by your birth mother?”
“Yes, Father.”
Emperor Jingming suddenly stopped walking.
Yu Jin looked at him, puzzled.
“We left Jixiang behind.”