Chapter 33 - 3#
The Empress Dowager was originally drinking tea when, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a red pouch hanging from the waist of the palace maid serving her. Instantly, she flew into a rage, grabbing the teacup and smashing it viciously onto the maid’s head.
The scalding tea made the palace maid tremble, but she dared not make a sound, immediately kneeling on the ground.
“Get out!”
The female official immediately spoke up, driving the palace maid out, then ordered someone to clean up and bring a fresh cup of tea.
This time, she personally delivered it to the Empress Dowager’s hand.
The Empress Dowager’s brow was furrowed. Time had not left many marks on her, but in just these few days, she seemed to have aged several years.
This was undoubtedly harsh.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in her heart, and took a few sips of tea before calming down.
“Where is the Emperor?”
The female official bowed her head respectfully.
“He went to Shangyu Garden.”
The Empress Dowager laughed sarcastically: “He left such a mess, how nice of him, actually running off to Shangyu Garden to relax!”
Her fingers clenched into fists, her nails breaking, yet she felt no pain.
Burning in the Empress Dowager’s heart was only endless fury towards Emperor Jingyuan.
That day, the panicked Consort Zhang cried and begged her for mercy, and the Empress Dowager indeed wanted to save her life.
For no other reason than this was Shoukang Palace.
This was the Empress Dowager’s territory!
What did Emperor Jingyuan mean by wanting to kill someone in Shoukang Palace? Even if the Empress Dowager disliked Consort Zhang, if anyone was going to act, it should be the Empress Dowager!
However, at that moment, Emperor Jingyuan’s sudden movement was shockingly fast.
His arm moved only slightly, and immediately a miserable scream rang out from the bed.
Consort Zhang’s wretched scream, the image of blood spurting out, the squelching sound of flesh being dug out, and finally that small piece of flesh…
Ugh.
The Empress Dowager couldn’t help but dry heave a few times, gripping the teacup with too much force, crushing it.
“Empress Dowager!”
The female official panicked and was about to come forward to deal with it, but the Empress Dowager released her grip, letting the fragments fall to the ground.
A few drops of crimson blood also fell.
The Empress Dowager allowed the female official to pick out the fragments from the wound on her palm, her tone grim: “The Emperor slapped my face like this. If I swallow this anger, how can I let this go?”
She swept a cold glance at the female official.
“Have you found out?”
“In the past few months, Consort Zhang had no contact with His Majesty, except for the end of last year. However, Consort Zhang frequently summoned her lover every month, mostly in her own palace, and sometimes in Xie Fang Hall.”
“Xie Fang Hall…”
The Empress Dowager murmured.
Things happened too fast that day, and some memories were blurred, but the Empress Dowager remembered the conversation between Consort Zhang and the Emperor clearly.
Consort Zhang was threatening Emperor Jingyuan.
The Empress Dowager had to mock Consort Zhang’s arrogance and overestimation of herself, but the Emperor’s subsequent actions vaguely confirmed that her words were true.
The Emperor really cut out her tongue.
Did Consort Zhang have something on the Emperor?
It was a pity that Consort Zhang died too quickly, and the people in the entire palace were buried with her.
And the Empress Dowager couldn’t even refute anything. After all, that day, holding that small piece of flesh, Emperor Jingyuan said so lightly.
“Ha, it seems this child has little to do with me.” Then, he looked at Ning Hongru, “Send it, Consort Zhang’s body, and that lover, all to the Zhang residence.”
The Emperor’s blood-stained pleasure was so crazy, as if he didn’t care about the affair at all.
Ning Hongru responded calmly, “Yes.”
Emperor Jingyuan knew from the beginning that Consort Zhang’s child was not his.
After saying this indifferently in front of the Empress Dowager, the Noble Consort, and the Virtuous Consort, the Emperor took his knife and went out.
Even if the Empress Dowager knew he was going to slaughter the people in Consort Zhang’s palace, she could do nothing!
Not unable, but could not.
Who could stop Emperor Jingyuan’s open and aboveboard punishment?
Consort Zhang, according to palace rules, deserved to die!
After the possibility of learning from Consort Zhang was gone, the Empress Dowager was only glad that the investigation she ordered was faster, and they did find something.
She remembered Xie Fang Hall.
This was Emperor Jingyuan’s residence in the past.
Empress Dowager Caisheng disliked Emperor Jingyuan. Whenever he appeared before her, she would try her best to kill him.
The late emperor had no choice but to place Emperor Jingyuan in Xie Fang Hall, the palace complex furthest from the central palace.
Out of sight, out of mind.
After Empress Dowager Caisheng passed away, the late emperor showed little affection for the Ninth Prince, letting him be.
If it was that place…
Given the Emperor’s nature, he had an unusual desire for control over his own territory, so it would be normal for him to know about Consort Zhang’s affair.
But since he didn’t mention it before, it meant he didn’t care.
However, the cruel treatment of Consort Zhang undoubtedly matched what the Noble Consort had said before.
…The Emperor, I’m afraid, really has someone in his heart.
And because of that, he cared.
Men, sometimes, care more about the so-called “white moonlight,” the unique one, than women do. Ridiculous, clearly these complexes come from themselves, yet they always love to say it’s a woman’s problem.
But it wasn’t a palace concubine, nor a palace maid, so what else, those damn eunuchs?
The Empress Dowager showed a look of disgust, impossible!
…Could it be, not someone in the palace, but someone outside?
The Empress Dowager pondered. Recently, Emperor Jingyuan had visited Shangyu Garden much more often than before.
While thinking this, she said casually: “Go and do what was mentioned last time.”
The female official bowed respectfully: “Yes.”
The Empress Dowager laughed coldly.
Tit for tat, she wasn’t someone who would swallow a loss.
…
“Go rest after dealing with these.”
Inside the Zhidian Si, Jiang Jinming instructed Jingzhe and then leisurely went to rest.
With Jingzhe around, Jiang Jinming was very idle. The other managing eunuchs were somewhat jealous.
The Zhidian Si used to be arguably the busiest place.
Who would have thought that now Jiang Jinming, this old fellow, was taking it easy!
The remaining work was not much, and it was something Jingzhe was already familiar with. He quickly organized everything, and there was nothing left to do.
Just as he was hesitating whether to read a book here or go back to rest, Laifu peeked in from outside the door, obviously looking for him.
Jingzhe: “What is it, did something happen?”
Laifu shook his head hurriedly. He had a good relationship with Shi’en, but not much friendship with Jingzhe.
“Someone is looking for you outside, saying they are from the North Wing.”
Someone from the North Wing?
Since Mingyu left the North Wing, he had only returned once, to visit Chen Mingde.
Jingzhe: “I’ll go take a look.”
In any case, the North Wing was where he came from. The person coming to find him… could it be Sanshun?
It really was Sanshun.
From inside the door, Jingzhe saw the tall Sanshun standing outside from a distance.
Jingzhe was startled and hurriedly said, “Did something happen to Grandpa De?”
Sanshun waved his hands repeatedly and shook his head, “No, no, Jingzhe, Grandpa De asked me to come, saying that if you have time, please go back for a visit.” Then, he smiled naively.
Jingzhe stepped out: “Let’s go.”
Sanshun was stunned: “Now?”
Jingzhe: “I really have nothing to do, let’s go.”
He dragged Sanshun away with him. On the way, afraid that Sanshun was hiding something, he specifically asked about Chen Mingde’s health.
Sanshun had no guard against Jingzhe. He answered whatever was asked. Soon, Jingzhe figured out what had happened in the North Wing recently.
There was no problem with Chen Mingde’s health. Rather, he should be quite strong.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to fight evenly with Mother Ming.
Jingzhe never thought that the disheartened Mother Ming would be so troublesome after regaining her spirit.
After listening to the battle between Chen Mingde and Mother Ming, the North Wing was already in sight.
Jingzhe: “Sanshun, you are by Grandpa De’s side, you must be careful.”
Sanshun rubbed the back of his head and nodded silently.
As soon as he entered the door, Lidong smiled at him. Qitui stood by the side, looking not very well, but seeing Jingzhe, he managed to show a good face.
Lidong said enthusiastically, “Haven’t seen you back for a long time, how have you been recently?”
Jingzhe nodded perfunctorily and quickly left with Sanshun.
After Jingzhe entered Chen Mingde’s room, Qitui behind him looked at Lidong sarcastically and said faintly, “Wanting to associate with people, without seeing if they look up to you.”
Lidong: “Brother Qitui, you can’t treat me like this just because Baqi is seriously ill.”
He smiled.
“This has nothing to do with me.”
Recently, Baqi was so ill that he couldn’t get out of bed.
Qitui snorted coldly and didn’t look at him.
Qitui and Baqi had a good relationship and were inseparable these years. After Baqi fell seriously ill, Lidong replaced him as the gatekeeper, which made Qitui very unhappy.
Inside the room, Chen Mingde was coughing.
This was an old ailment for many years, not easily cured.
“Sit down and talk.” Chen Mingde greeted Jingzhe, “Sanshun, you too.”
The two sat down obediently.
Chen Mingde had a garment draped over his shoulders, and his old, cloudy eyes looked at Jingzhe for a few moments: “You look good.”
Jingzhe: “It’s all thanks to Grandpa De.”
“What does this have to do with me?” Chen Mingde waved the hand holding the snuff bottle, indifferent, “This is all your own fortune.”
Jingzhe smiled but didn’t speak, knowing that his and Mingyu’s smooth departure from the North Wing was partly due to Chen Mingde’s help.
He was a person who always remembered.
“Grandpa De asked Sanshun to find me, is there anything urgent?” Jingzhe took the initiative to say, “As long as it’s something I can help with, please just ask.”
Chen Mingde shook his head. After a long while, he reached out and pointed at Sanshun: “If I die in the future, please take care of Sanshun more. This child is stubborn and too silly. If no one watches him, something will happen.”
Jingzhe’s face changed slightly, and he saw Sanshun stand up: “Sanshun can take care of himself, and can also take care of you.”
“Sit down.”
Chen Mingde said lightly.
Sanshun sat down again with his head down.
Jingzhe: “Grandpa De, you shouldn’t say such things.”
His gaze subconsciously looked out the window. Although the window was closed, the direction facing it should be Mother Ming’s residence.
“It doesn’t have much to do with her.” Chen Mingde shook his head, “I’m old. This body, at most, can last another year or so, and then I won’t make it.”
Chen Mingde had been seriously ill before. Although he survived, his body inevitably suffered from lingering ailments. Living to this age was already beyond his expectations.
Chen Mingde invited Jingzhe over, seemingly just for this matter. After entrusting him, he smiled, “It’s rare for you to come back once, and having stayed in the North Wing for so many years, I’ll give you a gift.”
He looked at Sanshun.
“Go, open the third box at the bottom of the wardrobe, and give the bundle inside to Jingzhe.”
Sanshun went and retrieved a somewhat old bundle. After that, Chen Mingde didn’t keep Jingzhe, waving his hand to let him go.
Jingzhe came out carrying the bundle and exchanged a look with Sanshun.
The tall Sanshun lowered his head.
Patter, patter, patter, patter—