Chapter 20
When Yun Jing said he was leaving, he meant it. He went straight to the carriage, ready to depart. No matter what the Prime Minister and his wife said, he ignored them. He turned to Qiu Chi, who had yet to board, and said, “Princess Consort, if you are not getting in, then I will leave without you.”
Qiu Chi spread her hands and said to the Prime Minister and his wife, who wanted her to persuade Yun Jing, “You see? I’m helpless, too. After all, he’s the kind of prince who can leave me hanging on our wedding day to perform the ceremony with another woman. If you don’t dare to speak to him, what can a helpless, lowly daughter of a concubine like me possibly say?”
The Prime Minister and his wife were successfully rendered speechless. They recalled the rumors that Qiu Chi had ruined the wedding scene.
But Qiu Chi paid them no more mind and boarded the carriage, where Yun Jing’s expression had darkened another shade.
Once the carriage left the Prime Minister’s Manor, Yun Jing said with a grim face, “There was no need to mock me again on top of everything else.”
Qiu Chi feigned innocence. “Was I not speaking the truth?”
“You really refuse to suffer the slightest disadvantage. And after I just stood up for you.”
Qiu Chi scoffed. “Were you standing up for me? Clearly, you just have a problem with the Prime Minister’s Manor yourself. Besides, do I need you to stand up for me? I’m not Cui Yueyue. Would you have stood up for Cui Yueyue?”
That last sentence silenced Yun Jing completely.
He would not have stood up for Cui Yueyue. Even if he had eventually learned that she didn’t like him and wasn’t favored in the Prime Minister’s Manor, he still wouldn’t have defended her. At most, he would have simply ignored the matter.
With the homecoming visit turning out like this, the Prime Minister’s wife naturally hurried to send a request for an audience at the palace.
Although she wasn’t afraid of being blamed, Yun Jing’s words had clearly shown a hint of protectiveness toward Qiu Chi. This was something she had to discuss with Cui Mingyu.
Cui Mingyu was already in a foul mood. The Emperor had taken a young palace maid to his bed without a word and even made her a Imperial Concubine without telling her, which greatly displeased her.
For a palace maid with no power or backing to be directly promoted to Imperial Concubine was a clear sign of the Emperor’s fondness for her.
While Cui Mingyu didn’t love the Emperor, she enjoyed the envious gazes of others when she had his exclusive favor.
Now that her monopoly on his affection was broken, she naturally couldn’t stand the sight of Lian'er.
Upon receiving her mother’s request, she immediately summoned her to the palace.
She had originally intended to discuss how to deal with Lian'er, but when she heard her mother describe how Yun Jing had defended Qiu Chi, she smashed her cup in a fit of rage.
“Is what you said true, Mother? Did King Jing truly defend her so much?”
The Prime Minister’s wife nodded. “Of course, it’s true. There’s no need for me to invent such a story to deceive you, Your Ladyship. Given King Jing’s dislike for her, he shouldn’t have accompanied her on her homecoming visit at all. Who would have thought he would actually go with her?”
“Yes, why would he go with her?”
Cui Mingyu recalled how Yun Jing had defended Qiu Chi when she had reprimanded her, and her anger flared even more.
“King Jing loves me. It’s impossible for him to have a change of heart in such a short time. That little hussy must have done something. I will write him a letter later to arrange a meeting. Let’s put her matter aside for now. Mother, have you heard about the Emperor taking a palace maid to his bed?”
The Prime Minister’s wife had a different opinion. “Of course, I’ve heard. But it’s not a major issue. She’s just a palace maid; she poses no threat to you. The priority now is to figure out King Jing’s attitude. You didn’t see her, but she is very different from before.”
Cui Mingyu snorted coldly. “I may not have seen her today, but I saw her arrogant demeanor when she came to the palace. And that palace maid—I simply cannot swallow this insult!”
“A palace maid who leaped to the rank of Imperial Concubine will surely be watched by countless people. Your Ladyship should calm down and enjoy watching them fight amongst themselves.”
“I certainly won’t dirty my own hands.”
After deciding to incite others to deal with Lian'er, Cui Mingyu wrote a letter to Yun Jing and had it delivered into his hands.
Qiu Chi happened to be there. “Oh, a letter from your old flame. Your attitude today must have upset her. Aren’t you going to hurry up and see what she wrote?”
Yun Jing glared at Qiu Chi, letter in hand.
Qiu Chi pulled out her knife. “Have I been too kind to you lately, making you think I’m easy to bully? You dare to glare at me?”
Yun Jing stared at the knife that had appeared from nowhere, feeling a mix of speechlessness and curiosity. “Where did you get that knife from?”
There was no place on Qiu Chi’s body where she could have hidden a knife.
Qiu Chi smiled. “Minding other people’s business can lead to a sudden death. Are you sure you want to know?”
Yun Jing was silent for a moment before rising with the letter in hand. “I’m going to the study.”
In the study, Yun Jing opened Cui Mingyu’s letter.
Of course, Cui Mingyu didn’t question him directly. Instead, she wrote about the Emperor taking Lian'er to his bed, every line filled with sorrow and disappointment over the matter.
Then, she mentioned his visit home that day, saying she was very relieved to know he had accompanied her sister back. Yet between the lines, there was an unavoidable hint of mournful grievance.
She also pleaded on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Manor before finally asking if they could meet, claiming that the matter with the Emperor and Lian'er was too much for her to bear.
After reading the letter, Yun Jing was filled with pity and immediately took up his brush to reply.
He first comforted her, then assured her that he wasn’t angry with the Prime Minister’s Manor. He promised to bring Qiu Chi back to the manor tomorrow, where the two of them could meet.
When Cui Mingyu saw Yun Jing’s reply, she smiled with confidence.
She knew it. There was no way Yun Jing could have a change of heart so easily.
After burning the letter, she got up and went to find the Emperor.
The Emperor was in the imperial study at that moment, with Lian'er attending to him at his side. From time to time, she would glance at him with a shy, adoring gaze, which the Emperor found very pleasing.
When the eunuch announced the Noble Consort’s arrival, the Emperor felt a pang of guilt. Lian'er rose gracefully and said, “The Noble Consort must have important matters to discuss with Your Majesty. It is inconvenient for me to be here, so I will withdraw to the inner room for now.”
Lian'er’s tact and sensibility made the Emperor feel both pity and satisfaction. He nodded, gesturing for her to go to the inner room, before allowing Cui Mingyu to enter.
As soon as Cui Mingyu entered, she said, “Your Majesty, Father caught a slight cold today. I must go home for a visit.”
Her face showed a mixture of worry and anger, mixed with just the right amount of grievance.
Even if he was growing a little tired of her, two and a half months of exclusive favor were not for nothing. The Emperor naturally felt a surge of protective pity. “Since my beloved consort has asked, how could I possibly refuse? The Prime Minister need not attend court tomorrow either. He should rest well at home. My beloved consort may also stay at the manor for a few more days to accompany her parents. Is my beloved consort satisfied with this arrangement?”
A smile bloomed on Cui Mingyu’s face. “Your Majesty is so considerate of me. Of course, I am satisfied. Then I shall go home tomorrow…”
She paused, then added with a huff, “While I am home these few days, I’m sure other sisters will keep Your Majesty company. But Your Majesty must still think of me in your heart. Otherwise, I will be very angry.”
The Emperor laughed heartily. “Since my beloved consort has said so, how could I dare to disobey?”
Post a Comment