freenovelworld Chapter 215 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 28
Chapter 215 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 28
Wen Yuan stood by the window, gazing intently out the window. Fang Lan approached lightly and reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Consort Xuan just tripped and fell on the back path, and Consort Hui—Shen Yingying—has been confined to Suiyu Pavilion by the Emperor."
Wen Yuan sneered, her tone laced with sarcasm: "It's nothing more than framing someone. Anyone with eyes can see it's the Empress's doing."
Fanglan nodded in agreement, "Your Majesty is wise."
Jingfu, who was standing to the side, hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Your Majesty, isn't this framing us?"
Wen Yuan turned around, her gaze gentle yet sharp: "Jingfu, you must understand, as long as Hongxi and Hongxu are here, we will be invincible in this harem. As for those framing, without evidence, who knows if it's true or false? The Emperor won't punish me for these things."
Upon hearing this, Jingfu felt somewhat relieved and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty is right."
Wen Yuan smiled slightly, a sly glint in her eyes: "By the way, the eldest princess is getting older, and the Emperor hasn't decided on her marriage yet. Why don't we invite the Emperor over tonight and discuss it properly?"
Fanglan immediately understood and bowed her head, replying, "Yes, Your Highness, this servant will make the arrangements immediately."
That evening, Zhen Huan sent someone to invite the Emperor over. The Emperor had just rekindled his old flame with Zhen Huan and was planning to go to Yongshou Palace, but unexpectedly, Fanglan suddenly came to deliver a message.
"Your Majesty, Consort Jin requests your presence, saying she has important matters to discuss," Su Peisheng reported in a low voice.
The Emperor frowned, wondering: What's wrong with Wen Yuan? He waved his hand, signaling Fang Lan to come in.
After bowing respectfully, Fanglan said softly, "Your Majesty, Consort Xin came to see Her Majesty today and discussed some matters. Her Majesty specifically requests your presence to discuss them."
The Emperor pondered for a moment, then sighed, "Very well, I haven't visited Consort Jin in a while, let's go to Chuxiu Palace tonight."
Su Peisheng felt a chill in his heart. He and Jinxi had already consummated their relationship, and he was already tied to Consort Xuan's fate. Now that the Emperor had changed his mind at the last minute, Consort Xuan was likely to be disappointed.
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will send someone to inform Consort Xuan immediately," Su Peisheng replied in a low voice, sighing inwardly.
In Yongshou Palace, Zhen Huan awaited the Emperor's arrival, plotting how to use the evening's events to her advantage. However, she received news that the Emperor would not be coming.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has gone to Chuxiu Palace tonight, you don't need to wait for him," Xia Zi said cautiously.
This was a thankless task. Originally, it would have been enough to just send a lowly eunuch, but Su Peisheng valued Zhen Huan and sent his own apprentice to deliver the message.
Zhen Huan frowned, her face instantly darkening. Seeing this, Jinxi quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, and then had Huanbi reward Xia Zi before finally asking him to leave.
"Your Majesty?" Jinxi called softly, noticing Zhen Huan's pale face.
Zhen Huan chuckled self-deprecatingly, her tone tinged with helplessness: "Since the Emperor isn't coming, let's get some rest."
Huanbi said indignantly, "That Consort Jin, really, didn't she know the Emperor was coming to Yongshou Palace today? Why did she have to..."
"Alright!" Zhen Huan coldly interrupted her, "It's good that the Emperor isn't coming; be careful, the walls may have ears."
So much had happened that day that Zhen Huan was restless and unsettled. The Emperor hadn't come to visit her either, all of which filled her with anxiety. She gripped the quilt tightly in her hands, inwardly cursing: "Consort Jin, you truly have cunning!"
When the emperor stepped into the hall, he saw Wen Yuan teaching Hongxi to trace characters, Shu He writing with Hongxi, and Consort Xin sitting beside them, a picture of maternal love and filial piety. He raised an eyebrow, wondering, "It seems there really is something going on."
"Your Majesty, I greet you. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace." Wen Yuan and Consort Xin rose and bowed.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed with ten thousand years of happiness and peace." Shuhe and Hongxi put down their pens, their childish voices ringing out.
The Emperor took Wen Yuan's hand and helped her sit down beside him, saying gently, "Please get up, there's no need for formalities."
After Wen Yuan and the Emperor were seated, Shu He and Hong Xi got up and walked to the Emperor's side. Xin Gui then slowly got up and sat on the stool below.
She knew in her heart that she was of lowly status and that she was only using Consort Jin's words to bring up the marriage of the eldest princess to the emperor.
After the Emperor had spoken with Shuhe and Hongxi for a while, he noticed their expressions and ordered them to be taken away to rest.
Inside the main hall, Wen Yuan glanced at Consort Xin and tentatively said, "Logically speaking, the marriage of the eldest princess should be proposed by Her Majesty the Empress. However, Her Majesty the Empress has been very busy lately, so Consort Xin asked me to inquire with His Majesty whether it is time to look for suitable matches for the eldest princess?"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor frowned slightly and glanced at Consort Xin: "The eldest princess has indeed reached the age to consider marriage."
Seeing that the Emperor was not displeased, Wen Yuan continued, "And the Third Prince, he is almost nineteen years old. Has the Emperor not yet chosen his primary consort?"
The Emperor felt a pang of embarrassment; he had indeed overlooked this matter. His eldest son, the Third Prince, had yet to be married, a fact that filled him with remorse. However, he showed no outward sign, simply stating, "I will discuss this matter with the Empress Dowager."
Seeing that the Emperor's expression was normal, Wen Yuan felt relieved and continued, "Your Majesty, I am also concerned about the First Princess and the Third Prince. After all, they are Your Majesty's children, and I hope they can both find a good home."
The Emperor nodded, his tone gentle: "You are thoughtful. I will arrange for someone to look at potential wives for the eldest princess, and I will also decide on the primary consort for the third prince as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Consort Xin's eyes flashed with joy, and she quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Consort Jin."
The Emperor waved his hand, indicating that she didn't need to be so polite. Wen Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that her goal for the day had been achieved.
The following day, the Emperor went to Shou Kang Palace to discuss the marriage of the Third Prince with the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager suggested, "I have met the eldest daughter of Dong E before. She is the daughter of Minister Xierda. She is very good-looking and dignified. She is a good candidate."
The Emperor pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Silda's daughter is indeed quite good; I will consider it."
Seeing that the Emperor's attitude had softened, the Empress Dowager continued, "Shuhe is also approaching the age of marriage. The Empress has been busy with affairs lately and may have been negligent. Consort Jin and Noble Lady Xin are concerned about the eldest princess's marriage. Your Majesty may ask them to help with the selection."
The main reason is that this matter was brought up by Consort Jin and Noble Lady Xin, and helping the eldest princess to find a match became a thankless task. She was just worried that the emperor would anger Yixiu, so it was not a bad thing to get rid of this matter now.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure: "As the head of the harem, the Empress should be concerned about the marriages of her children. It is truly inappropriate to have someone else do it for her."
The Empress Dowager sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness: "Yixiu is, after all, Chun Yuan's younger sister, and the Emperor should be more lenient with her. As for the eldest princess's marriage, since Consort Jin and Noble Lady Xin have already begun the process, let them continue to handle it."
The Emperor nodded, his tone decisive: "In that case, the marriage of the eldest princess will be left to Consort Jin and Noble Lady Xin to choose. As for the third prince's primary consort, I will decide as soon as possible."
The Empress Dowager smiled slightly, her tone tinged with relief: "It's good that the Emperor understands."