Сhapter 8: Giving Yоu а Chanсe to Ассusе Ме?
Aftеr thе Еmрeror lеft Colorful Clоud Нall, Li Shеng саutiоuslу inquired, “Yоur Маjesty, whеrе arе we heading?”
“Рalаce of Еarthlу Trаnquilitу,” Chu Ze rеplied.
Seеing thе Еmрeror’s dаrkеnеd еxprеssion, сlearlу displeаsed, Li Sheng fеlt a pang оf аnхietу fоr the Emprеss.
Just as thеу reaсhed the Imрeriаl Саrriagе, a prоcessiоn арpeared ahead. Upоn сloser look, it wаs thе Empress’s Imреrial Procession Carriage.
Li Sheng hurriedly reminded, “Your Majesty, the Empress is here.”
Chu Ze frowned, glancing sideways. Under the moonlight, he could see the Empress approaching slowly.
She wore a gown with woven gold phoenix patterns and cloud-patterned sleeves, her hands resting gracefully before her waist. Her long skirt swayed gently as she walked up to the Emperor and curtsied.
“What brings the Empress here?” Chu Ze studied her, his mind involuntarily speculating about her intentions.
Hua Shu detected the chill in the Emperor’s tone and understood immediately.
As she had suspected, Rong Zhaoyi was indeed feigning innocence—pretending to faint and playing the victim while also lodging complaints against her in front of the Emperor.
“I heard that Rong Zhaoyi was unwell and fainted. I came to check on her condition.”
Hua Shu emphasized the word “condition,” genuinely curious about the nature of this supposed illness.
“Is the Empress unaware of what happened to Rong Zhaoyi?” Seeing her come directly, Chu Ze saw no need to conceal his displeasure.
Hua Shu looked up, meeting his gaze earnestly.
“I am unaware. I hope Your Majesty will speak plainly. If you are accusing me of poisoning Rong Zhaoyi, I deny it. I will not bear responsibility for something I did not do. Moreover, if you are referring to today’s incident, I am even less willing to be falsely accused. Why not confront Rong Zhaoyi right now? I would like to hear what she has to say.”
As she spoke, Hua Shu made to enter the hall.
The Emperor, however, grabbed her arm, stopping her from going inside and pulling her away instead.
The difference in strength was too great to resist. Hua Shu had no choice but to follow him, feeling a dull ache in her arm.
She looked up, studying Chu Ze’s face from behind. His expression clearly indicated that he knew everything, yet he seemed to disapprove of her.
This dog of an emperor.
Hua Shu’s eyes flickered. As they ascended the steps of the waterside pavilion, she pursed her lips and deliberately missed a step, “unavoidably” falling toward the Emperor.
Chu Ze instinctively caught her. The woman’s soft body slipped into his arms, and he caught a whiff of a delicate floral fragrance lingering around her, pleasant to the senses.
He froze for a moment, then regained his composure and gripped her arm, forcing her against a pillar. “Empress, you’d better not play any tricks. I have warned you—”
“Yes, Your Majesty warned me to be obedient and not make mistakes. That is why, upon hearing the news, I rushed here to explain.”
Hua Shu tilted her head slightly. They were standing close, their breaths almost mingling.
Chu Ze felt a wave of restlessness. He wanted to release her, but the woman before him clutched his collar. Her red lips parted slightly as she whispered, “What more does Your Majesty want from me? I was just worried that you might misunderstand, but now it seems you understand everything perfectly.”
Her eyes grew complex, filled with disappointment and sorrow. “Rest assured, Your Majesty. As long as others do not provoke me, I have no interest in meddling. I will dutifully serve as your Empress.”
With that, Hua Shu released her grip. She straightened her clothes and stood tall.
At this moment, she truly resembled a dignified and noble Empress.She turned her back to the Emperor and smiled bitterly, “However, Your Majesty’s taste… is rather ordinary.”
After saying this, she gracefully departed.
What she left for Chu Ze was a lonely and melancholy silhouette.
Little did he know how joyfully Hua Shu’s lips had curved.
Still thinking to hold her accountable? Dream on!
Playing these games, it was all just the same old tricks, so she simply spoke her mind openly.
Whoever had a guilty conscience knew it well.
After she left, Chu Ze stood in place, lost in thought, though no one knew what he was pondering.
Had he been too harsh on the Empress?
Of course, the thought lasted only a moment before Chu Ze quickly dismissed it, his ears echoing with the words the Empress had spoken before leaving.
Ordinary taste?
Was she mocking him?
Chu Ze’s fingertips tightened slightly, almost as if one could hear the faint cracking of his knuckles.
Li Sheng, who had approached from behind, halted his steps.
Why did he suddenly feel a pang of pain in his body?
What was wrong with the Emperor again?
Perhaps it was just an illusion, but lately, it seemed the Empress could easily provoke the Emperor’s anger.
Yet, the Emperor was not usually like this.
Was it because of the matter concerning the imperial heir in Rong Zhaoyi’s womb?
“Your Majesty, the night is chilly. Perhaps it would be best to return to the palace and rest,” Li Sheng suggested.
Since the Empress had come directly, it was likely the Emperor no longer wished to visit the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
After a long while, the Emperor remained silent, standing there with deep, unfathomable eyes, lost in thought.
“The Empress Dowager will be returning soon, won’t she?”
Previously, when Master Puzang returned from his travels, the Empress Dowager had left the palace to pay him a visit. A month had already passed since then.
“Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager will return to the palace in three days,” Li Sheng replied, though he couldn’t quite grasp the Emperor’s intentions.
However, the Empress had been personally chosen by the Empress Dowager, so upon her return, she would surely not wish to see discord between the Emperor and the Empress.
“Hmm,” Chu Ze murmured as he began walking slowly toward the outside. “What do you think of the Empress?”
“Your Majesty, what did you say?” Li Sheng, hearing the Emperor mention the Empress but not continue, couldn’t help but ask further.
Chu Ze waved his hand dismissively. “Never mind. It’s best if she remains well-behaved.”
He walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his thoughts now even more tangled, truly unwilling to dwell on such matters.
In the palace, Rong Zhaoyi remained the most favored, followed by Consort Shu, while two new faces had also emerged.
Lady Yang and Beauty Wu.
Both had entered the palace during the recent selection of consorts. Beauty Wu, in particular, had not received any favor for the first few months. It was said that she had caught the Emperor’s eye only after performing a dance in the Imperial Garden, earning his favor thereafter.
In the Palace of Gathered Elegance, the courtyard was lively with the five-year-old First Prince playing joyfully. Consort De stood on the steps, her eyes filled with warmth and a smile.
Consort De was one of the Emperor’s longtime consorts, now twenty-four years old. She wore a dark green gown, with a shawl draped properly over her arm. Though her beauty could not rival the younger flowers in the palace, she still carried herself with grace and dignity.
Standing beside her was Consort Wan, whose complexion had recovered significantly. “The First Prince is truly clever and lively. Just the other day, the Emperor specifically praised him. I must congratulate you, Sister.”
Consort Wan was on good terms with Consort De, and their interactions were frequent, her flattery quite evident.
Consort De merely gazed ahead, her eyes betraying a hint of disdain for the sycophancy, though the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curl into a smug smile.
In the current harem, who didn’t hold her in high regard?
What did it matter if the Emperor favored Rong Zhaoyi? In the end, she could never surpass the mother of the First Prince.
A maid approached from outside and reported, “Mistress, Consort Xian has arrived.”Consort Wan said with a smile, “It seems Consort Xian also knows who to associate with in the harem these days.”
During this period when Consort De held power, Consort Xian, Consort Shu, and Rong Zhaoyi had not visited. Unexpectedly, the first to come was Consort Xian.
Consort De pursed her lips into a faint smile and instructed someone to summon her in, then turned and walked toward the inner room.
The position of Noble Consort could only be hers, and she alone was worthy of it.
Consort Xian was the daughter of the Grand Commandant, with a powerful family background. Unfortunately, her womb was uncooperative—she had given birth twice in succession, both times to princesses.
When the visitor entered, Consort Wan stepped forward to bow and offer greetings.
Consort Xian did not even spare her a glance, walking directly past her and moving forward.