Chaрtеr 13: Тhis Моney Is for Рrinсess Suisui
Impеrial Phуsiсiаn Wаng swаllоwed hаrd, his vоiсе trembling.
“Cоnsort Ning did indeed suffer аn еxtеrnаl imрасt, but what trulу саused her misсаrriagе was the abоrtifaсient she drank hаlf an hоur agо…”
Shаngguan Lin narrоwed his eyеs.
Ехаctly аs Suisui hаd sаid, withоut the slightest disсreрancу!
Shangguan Lin’s vоice wаs icy cоld. “Теll me, whо оrdered yоu to liе аnd frame Сonsort Сhen?!”
Imреriаl Phуsician Wаng slowly rаisеd his hаnd, pointing in the direction beside Shаngguаn Lin, his voice shaking.
“It wаs Сonsort Xiаn! It wаs Consort Xian who ordered me to do this!”
“Consort Ning’s pregnancy was too weak and absolutely could not be preserved. After Consort Xian learned of this, she devised this plan.”
“She ordered me to deliver the abortifacient to Consort Ning, and she also instructed me to conceal the truth about Consort Ning’s miscarriage when I saw Your Majesty, shifting all the blame onto Consort Chen!”
Seeing the truth exposed, Consort Xian immediately knelt down, begging for mercy.
“Please, Your Majesty, see clearly! This matter has nothing to do with your humble consort!”
“I have served Your Majesty for over ten years. Does Your Majesty not understand me? How could I possibly do such a thing?!”
Shangguan Sui pressed close to Consort Chen and, upon hearing this, curled her little lips disdainfully.
[Hmph~ Never done it before? Haven’t you done plenty of wicked deeds?]
[First poisoning the First Prince, and then targeting me and my mother in the rear palace! How utterly despicable!]
[Maybe after the First Prince, it’ll be me next…]
What? Consort Xian also poisoned the First Prince?
Consort Chen was so startled by this sudden revelation that she felt dizzy.
Had she just learned some earth-shattering secret?
Beside her, Shangguan Lin was so furious his head ached.
First the First Prince, and now Suisui.
Was Consort Xian planning to wipe out all his children?!
This was truly too much!
Shangguan Lin took a deep breath.
Of course, he knew that since Marquis Zhenbei had not yet been dealt with, he could not punish Consort Xian for now.
But he simply could not swallow this anger!
Shangguan Lin swept his gaze over the crowd, his voice cold.
“Consort Xian has framed a fellow consort. She is hereby stripped of her authority to assist in managing the Six Palaces and confined to Linqing Hall. Without my permission, she is not to take a single step outside the palace!”
Consort Xian instantly froze.
Since entering the palace, she had never received such severe punishment!
Tears immediately gushed from her eyes as she opened her mouth to say something.
But Shangguan Lin sharply cut her off, “Take Consort Xian away at once!”
Several eunuchs immediately bowed in acknowledgment and dragged the weeping and wailing Consort Xian out.
After dealing with Consort Xian, Shangguan Lin turned his gaze to Consort Ning, who was trembling on the bed.
“Consort Ning is demoted to the rank of Daying and confined to her palace, not permitted to leave again.”
Consort Ning lay on the bed, biting her quilt, tears streaming uncontrollably at these words.
She shouldn’t have trusted Consort Xian…
She shouldn’t have thought of framing Consort Chen…
[Whew! Daddy can still tell right from wrong~]
[Hmph, anyone who bullies my mother will be punished!]
[But this punishment for Consort Xian is too light! If it weren’t for my daddy’s clear judgment, who knows how much worse things could have gotten…]
Hearing Suisui’s inner thoughts, Consort Chen couldn’t help but reach out and hold Suisui’s little hand.
Her precious Suisui truly loved her.
Shangguan Lin’s gaze also fell upon Shangguan Sui.
This morning, he hadn’t gone to fetch Suisui at the usual hour as he had the previous few days, mainly thinking that since Suisui had spent the whole day running around with him yesterday, she must be exhausted.
He wanted to let her sleep well today and fetch her a bit later.But when he arrived at Bihua Palace at the hour of Si, he didn’t even catch half a glimpse of Suisui.
Consort Chen wasn’t there either.
Only then did he realize they had gone to the Imperial Garden.
Looking at Suisui’s still somewhat displeased little face, Shangguan Lin couldn’t help but find it amusing.
After a brief moment of thought, he spoke in a deep voice, “Consort Chen has always been gentle and refined. I hereby grant her the authority to assist in managing the Six Palaces. Until the Empress returns to the palace and the Empress Dowager comes back from Spirit Mountain, all matters of the Six Palaces shall be entrusted to Consort Chen.”
“Today, Consort Chen has been wronged. I specially bestow upon her ten thousand taels of gold and a thousand bolts of brocade.”
At the mention of gold, Shangguan Sui’s eyes instantly lit up.
[Hehehe, gold is good~ So shiny and beautiful~]
[Mother has never had much money, and she doesn’t have many jewels either, but from now on, she’ll be rich and noble~]
[Father is really quite nice after all!]
The “quite nice” Shangguan Lin, hearing these thoughts, couldn’t help but curl his lips.
He wanted to reach out and hold Suisui in his arms to play with her.
But at that moment, Eunuch Chen approached and whispered a message in his ear.
Shangguan Lin had no choice but to give up on the idea of playing with Shangguan Sui for a while.
He walked over to Shangguan Sui, reached out to pinch her little cheek, and then hurried off to the Imperial Study.
After the Emperor left,
the consorts immediately bowed deeply to Consort Chen.
“Congratulations, Sister Consort Chen!”
Even the dullest person could see it now.
The Emperor doted immensely on the Fifth Princess and Consort Chen.
Anyone who opposed them would be opposing the Emperor.
Consort Chen wore a gentle and appropriate smile. “Sisters, there’s no need to be so formal.”
“We are all in the rear palace together, so naturally, we should support one another.”
“As long as no one causes trouble for me, I am not one to meddle in others’ affairs.”
[Mother is truly amazing! First giving a sweet treat, then a warning.]
[Combining kindness with authority—Mother is so clever! I love Mother! Mwah~]
Consort Chen unconsciously tightened her grip on Shangguan Sui’s hand.
Her Suisui truly understood her.
The consorts quickly nodded in agreement.
Of course, they all understood as well.
Consort Chen was telling them that she would not pursue today’s matter further, but she also did not want anyone causing trouble in the future.
If anyone provoked her, she would not be easily bullied.
Thinking of this, cold sweat broke out on the backs of the consorts.
Fortunately, when Consort Xian framed Consort Chen today, they had not spoken up.
Otherwise, Consort Chen might not have let them off so easily.
Who would have thought that Consort Chen, who usually kept to herself and remained silent, could be so shrewd…
Consort Chen looked at their expressions and nodded in satisfaction.
After exchanging a few more casual words, Consort Chen took Shangguan Sui back to Bihua Palace.
As soon as the palanquin was set down at the palace gate, Qing Ping hurried out to greet them.
“Your Highness, I was truly frightened this time. I heard that Consort Xian and Consort Ning conspired to frame you today. Thankfully, the Emperor saw through it clearly, so nothing happened.”
Consort Chen chuckled lightly upon hearing this. “But I’m fine, aren’t I?”
She truly didn’t like bringing palace maids along. Thinking it was just for flower viewing, she had left Qing Ping in the palace to handle miscellaneous matters.
Who would have thought something like this would happen?
Qing Ping quickly added, “Please allow this servant to accompany you more often from now on.”
“Oh, and Your Highness, today the Second Young Master sent some things from outside the palace.”
Consort Chen’s brows twitched slightly. “What things?”
This was the first time Changqing had taken the initiative to send something.
The Lou family was very strict in its upbringing. Fearing accusations of collusion between the court and the rear palace, her father only allowed one letter per month.The three entered the hall, and Qing Ping promptly handed the box received today to Consort Chen.
When the box was opened, it contained five hundred taels of broken silver.
Qing Ping said, “The Second Young Master said this money is for Princess Suisui.”
Consort Chen’s brow twitched slightly.
For Suisui?
Why would Changqing think of giving Suisui silver?
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Sui immediately grew excited.
“Ah-ba ah-ba—”
[Woo-hoo! Little Uncle is such a great person! I like Little Uncle~]
[Anyone willing to give me money can’t be all that bad!]
Consort Chen was amused by Shangguan Sui.
“Since it’s from your Little Uncle, I’ll leave it for you to keep.”
Shangguan Sui took it and placed the five hundred taels of silver together with the box of Eastern Pearls sent by The First Prince.
Holding the box tightly, Shangguan Sui wore an expression of pure happiness.
[Life may be bitter, but money clears the way~]
[I love money, money loves me, may wealth come from all directions~]
Consort Chen shook her head helplessly, “Little money-grubber~”
“Your Highness, Imperial Physician Xu has arrived,” Qing Ping reported at that moment.
“Summon him in.”
Soon, Imperial Physician Xu entered the hall carrying his medicine chest, knelt, and paid his respects.
Consort Chen said calmly, “No need for formalities. Go examine the princess—why is it that after three or four days, her throat still hasn’t recovered?”
Imperial Physician Xu nodded, placed his hand on Shangguan Sui’s small wrist, and frowned deeply.
Noticing Imperial Physician Xu’s hesitation, Consort Chen spoke up, “Imperial Physician Xu, just speak the truth.”
“Could it be that Suisui’s illness…”
Imperial Physician Xu shook his head, his voice calm and firm, “Reporting to Your Highness, according to the pulse reading—”