Сhарtеr 25: Speak Саrelesslу, and Your Тоnguе Will Ве Рluckеd
Соnsоrt Shu’s facе turned deathly раle. If nоt fоr fоrсing hеrself tо hоld оn, she would hаvе cоllapsed tо the grоund right then and therе.
Thе Emрrеss’s words madе it clear thаt shе knеw this mаtter was rеlаtеd tо her.
Not оnly thаt, the Emрress had sеen through whаt she intended tо dо.
With just а few wоrds, shе had given her а lessоn.
Нow terrifуing such an Еmprеss wаs.
Нua Shu did nоt say аnything morе. Shе simрly turned and walked back into thе rоom.
Consort Shu stооd there, watсhing thе Empress’s retreating figure, unaware that her fingernails had pierced her palms.
Her maid, Zhiluo, quickly stepped forward to support her mistress, asking with concern, “Your Highness, are you alright?”
Consort Shu’s strength completely drained away, and she leaned heavily on Zhiluo.
She forced a bitter smile.
Only now did she realize her mistake—she had acted too hastily.
It made her actions seem absurd and laughable.
Master and servant made their way out. It wasn’t until they returned to the Hall of Auspicious Beginning that Consort Shu finally erupted.
“The Empress has been lying in wait all along,” Consort Shu muttered, her hands trembling as she huddled on the bed, tearing at the bedding as if venting her frustration.
“What a schemer she is! Zhiluo, did you see how the Emperor turned and left without even glancing at me!”
“Has the Emperor noticed something?”
“Is the Emperor going to cast me aside?”
Consort Shu rambled frantically, yet dared not raise her voice too high.
Zhiluo watched with alarm. Aside from the period after losing her child, Her Highness had never been so distraught before.
“Your Highness, how could that be? The Emperor is merely troubled for the moment!” Zhiluo knelt by the bed, trying to soothe her.
“Your Highness, you must not fall into the Empress’s trap. She is deliberately trying to provoke you. The angrier you become, the more you play into her hands.”
Hearing her words, Consort Shu stopped her tantrum. Instead, she buried her face in the bedding, tears streaming down.
Her voice trembled, “Anyway, the Emperor didn’t pursue it further. Madam Qin had her tongue plucked out. She should know that if she wants to keep her life, she must behave herself.”
“Exactly, Your Highness. The Emperor trusts you. Besides, such talk is common in the rear palace. Who knows where the First Prince heard it? The Emperor didn’t investigate further, perhaps because he has heard it himself.”
As Consort Shu’s personal maid, Zhiluo naturally knew where her mistress’s worries lay. Mentioning the Emperor was the only way to truly put her at ease.
Consort Shu indeed calmed down considerably. However, recalling how the Empress had mentioned her father and the Emperor’s slight displeasure, she still felt uneasy.
“My father once taught the Emperor. Could it be that the Emperor feels he was lacking in some way?”
Zhiluo turned to pour a cup of tea and handed it to her. “How could that be? Hasn’t the Emperor praised the Grand Tutor many times and honored him as a teacher? If there is any wariness, it should be toward the Empress’s maternal family. I’ve heard that in court, many have submitted memorials criticizing Grand Tutor Hua.”
“You’re right. The Emperor and I share a childhood bond. How could the Empress ever shake that?” Consort Shu clutched the teacup, murmuring repeatedly.
Suddenly, she thought of something else. “Send a reliable person to keep an eye on Madam Qin. See if she can write.”
A wet nurse was actually of little consequence, and the blood-written letter had already reached her hands.
Yet Consort Shu still couldn’t rest easy. She had to eliminate all potential disasters, to prevent the Emperor from suspecting her.
……….”Your Highness, Consort Shu’s complexion was absolutely dreadful yesterday. I heard she was utterly terrified when she returned,” Nanny Wen said, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
Previously, she had thought Consort Shu was one of the few sensible people in the palace, but who would have thought—appearances can be deceiving.
This time, she had schemed meticulously, even attempting to use the First Prince. Her intentions were truly despicable.
“Your Highness, we should have forced Nanny Qin to reveal the mastermind behind it all at the time,” Yun Yue added from the side, placing some medicinal herbs into the bathing pool.
Hua Shu lay on the recliner, gently fanning herself with a round fan, and smiled. “What is there to say about Consort Shu? It’s just the words of a servant.”
Moreover, the Emperor had no such intention.
This indicated that the Emperor did not wish to pursue the matter openly. By directly punishing Nanny Qin, he had actually issued a warning.
As to whom it was directed at, that went without saying.
The words of a mere servant could not shake Consort Shu’s position.
For now, the matter concerning the First Prince had been resolved first, which would also stir up various speculations in the rear palace. This way, things could remain quiet for a while.
Hua Shu stood up, gazing at the steam rising from the bathing pool.
Nanny Wen smiled and said, “Your Highness mentioned wanting flowing water, and Eunuch Wang worked diligently. He even had someone specially fetch hot spring water, saying it would be better for Your Highness’s health.”
Hua Shu chuckled, set down the fan, removed her outer garment, bent down to test the temperature, and adjusted to it.
“Tell him not to go to such trouble. It’s hot now, and flowing water is more comfortable. I don’t want anyone accusing me of extravagance,” Hua Shu said.
“Everyone, leave,” Hua Shu said as she shed her clothes and stepped into the pool.
She submerged herself in the water, moving as gracefully and agilely as a fish.
After playing to her heart’s content, she turned over, facing the sky, floating on the surface of the water, and relaxed.
She couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.
It had been a long time since she had felt so comfortable.
Hua Shu closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of sunlight warming her body. She lifted her feet slightly and dove backward into the water.
But at that very moment, she felt something grab her arm and pull her upward.
The sudden pressure nearly made Hua Shu swallow a mouthful of the medicinal broth.
She surfaced, her eyes flashing with anger as she looked up and met a pair of dark, profound eyes, in which she caught a flicker of tension.
Hua Shu raised her head, water droplets sliding down her body and dripping onto his hand—warm, yet he released his grip as if it were scalding.
Instead, Hua Shu took hold of his wrist. “When did Your Majesty arrive?”
She examined the man before her, dressed in black and gold dragon robes. Due to his earlier actions, one of his sleeves was completely soaked.
Chu Ze lowered his gaze. In truth, he had arrived a while ago. Seeing her floating in the pool, he found it rather absurd.
She was probably the first person in the rear palace to use a pond as a bathing pool.
“I just arrived. The Empress should be more careful and not leave herself unattended,” Chu Ze’s tone carried a hint of reproach.
Hua Shu held his hand, drawing closer and leaning against the edge of the pool.
“Your Majesty is worried about me.”
Although some herbs had been added to the water, the scene beneath was still visible.
Chu Ze was a normal man; it was impossible for him not to react. He turned his head away. “If you’ve soaked enough, get out.”
Soaking for too long could easily lead to catching a chill.
His words were indeed spoken out of concern, but they came out sounding more like an order.
Hua Shu curled her lips into a smile and tightened her grip on the Emperor’s hand slightly.
She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “How about Your Majesty attending to me instead?”Hua Shu’s fingertips lightly brushed against Chu Ze’s Adam’s apple, watching it bob.
In that very moment, water splashed in the pool.
Her body was pressed against the pool’s edge by the Emperor, the cold stone sharply stimulating her back.
Her legs, submerged in the water, were easily pushed apart.
She could not break free.