Li Yu had truly witnessed Yanwan’s wicked streak, witnessing how she twisted Jinzhong around her little finger with just a few words.
This kid was usually sharp as a tack, yet unexpectedly he was so easy to talk to in front of her, letting Jinzhong be sent off with a casual explanation.
Yanwan picked up an orange slice and put it into her mouth. Seeing that Li Yu actually dared to glare at her, she asked deliberately, “I heard that Grand Chief Eunuch Li and Sister Suoxin are from the same hometown. Regarding Sister Suoxin and Physician Jiang, could we ask Grand Chief Eunuch Li to lend a helping hand?”
*Glaring at me, are you? Then don’t blame me for continuing to pierce your heart,* she thought—after all, Suoxin was inside the room.
Li Yu gave her a sideways glance, raised his hand to adjust his collar, and said with a half-smile, “You had better meddle less in this matter. Suoxin is Noble Consort Xian’s person. If her master doesn’t release her, even my help will be useless—unless the Emperor bestows a marriage.”
Yet how could the Emperor bestow a marriage for a mere servant? The key to this matter still rested with Noble Consort Xian!
Yanwan was startled. Didn’t Li Yu like Suoxin? Why was he advising her to meddle less?
Before she could figure it out, she heard Li Yu say in a cold voice, “You shouldn’t spend all day thinking about others either. I heard Noble Lady Hai dislikes you. Once Noble Lady Hai gives birth, she will become a master of the Concubine rank. You had better think about your own situation instead!”
Though Li Yu’s words were unpleasant, Yanwan knew he was reminding her. In the original story, Hailan indeed was promoted to the rank of Concubine after giving birth.
Yanwan picked up an orange slice and ate it absently. Her sudden silence made Li Yu somewhat unaccustomed. Turning his head to see her lovely face filled with gloom, he could not help but feel regret in his heart.
*She’s just a young girl after all. Why did I scare her? Surely she isn’t frightened, is she?*
Li Yu was at a loss for what to do. Yet, mindful of Jinzhong standing beside them, he did not know how to comfort Yanwan, left only to stare at her anxiously.
Jinzhong stood to one side with his arms crossed, his eyes dark as he sized Li Yu up, his inner mood so gloomy it could practically drip water.
No wonder he had felt Li Yu was acting somewhat unusual lately.
Aside from giving Suoxin some preferential treatment, his master had never been so pleasant toward any other palace maid.
As the Grand Chief Eunuch before the Imperial Presence, countless young maids wished to attach themselves to him, even if only to become palace companions. After all, Li Yu not only possessed striking looks, but he also held significant power in this palace.
He truly had not expected this kid to actually target Yanwan!
Just as Jinzhong was dark-mindedly scheming how to kill Li Yu without raising suspicion, the Emperor’s summons echoed from within the hall.
Before following Li Yu into the inner chamber, Jinzhong reached out in annoyance and tapped Yanwan’s forehead. Seeing her still give him a sweet, unwitting smile made him feel both hatred and affection for her.
Inside the inner chamber, the Emperor sat on the soft couch with a grim face, his fingers unhurriedly twirling the bodhi beads.
Ruyi was at the side comforting the weeping Noble Lady Hai, while Suoxin and Jiang Yubin stood respectfully to one side.
“Li Yu, go to the Empress’s palace to convey my oral edict: Noble Lady Hai’s pregnancy-stabilizing tonic was actually spiked with drugs meant to harm the mother’s body. As the mistress of the central palace, the Empress failed to fulfill her proper duties, nearly placing Noble Lady Hai and her child in peril. Have the Empress uncover the real culprit as quickly as possible—do not disappoint me!”
Ruyi’s face froze. Exchanging a glance with Noble Lady Hai, neither of them had expected the Emperor to let the Empress investigate this matter—how could that do!
In the event that the drug was placed by the Empress herself, what kind of outcome could be investigated if the matter was handed over to her?
Before Li Yu could respond, Ruyi gave Hailan’s shoulder a comforting pat, stood up, and curtsied to the Emperor, saying in a solemn voice, “Your Majesty, handing this matter over to Her Majesty the Empress is likely improper. Everyone in the palace knows Her Majesty dislikes Hailan. Moreover, Hailan is pregnant; if she gives birth to an imperial prince, it will inevitably threaten certain people. I request Your Majesty to personally investigate this matter thoroughly and grant Hailan justice!”
The moment her words fell, silence descended upon the room. Li Yu did not dare to speak at this moment either, seeing that the Emperor’s face had already darkened.
The Emperor glared at Ruyi with a dark expression. Seeing her stubborn face gazing at him without backing down a single inch, a flash of disappointment could not help but cross his eyes.
He had thought that after entering the Cold Palace once, she would have shown some improvement. He had not anticipated that her way of doing things would remain as ill-timed as ever. How could she utter such absurd claims aloud?
Furious in his heart, the Emperor naturally would not spare anyone’s feelings. Raising his eyes to sweep over the frail, weeping Hailan at the side, his thin lips curved, though the words that came out were completely merciless.
“A mere Noble Lady like Hailan—is she even worthy of threatening anyone? Could a concubine son born of a Noble Lady actually cause even the Empress to feel wary? I know you share a deep sisterly affection with Noble Lady Hai, but that is no reason for you to frame the central palace!”
“Your Majesty, I did not…”
Ruyi’s expression changed drastically, disbelief flashing in her dark eyes, her plump lips tightly pressed together.
The Emperor actually viewed her this way! She had even given up the position of Empress to Fucha Langhua—why would she frame her?
Before Ruyi could explain, the Emperor raised his hand to stop her. Sweeping his gaze over Noble Lady Hai, who did not dare make a sound beside them, a hint of suspicion toward Ruyi arose in his heart.
The Emperor’s eyes flickered, and he simply decided to go with the flow, saying, “Very well. Since you cannot trust the Empress, then this matter shall be handed over to you, Ruyi, to investigate. You must uncover the person behind this harm—I shall never treat them with leniency!”
Seeing the Emperor’s cold expression, Ruyi pressed her lips tightly together, filled with deep regret inside. Even if she truly suspected the Empress, she shouldn’t have spoken it aloud so openly.
Hongli had always valued face, and making Fucha Langhua the Empress had not been Hongli’s wish in the first place.
If he discovered that the Empress was actually a ruthless woman behind closed doors, he would surely feel heartbroken and disappointed.
She loved Hongli deeply—how could she bear to make him heartbroken?
Thinking of this, a difficult decision formed in Ruyi’s heart. If this matter was truly done by the Empress, she was willing to plead for mercy on the Empress’s behalf.
“Yes, please rest assured, Your Majesty. I will certainly investigate carefully and give an account to Your Majesty, as well as to Noble Lady Hai.”
Seeing her agree, the Emperor stood up directly, turning a blind eye to her affectionate, gazes, and said to Hailan on the side, “Hailan, with Ruyi investigating this matter, you may rest easy. I shall have Jiang Yubin take full charge of your medical record. Take good care of your body and bear me a healthy little prince.”
Hailan looked at the Emperor with tears in her eyes, a smile breaking across her lovely cheeks as she curtsied slightly to the Emperor.
“Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will take good care of myself and our little prince.”
The cold, stern expression on the Emperor’s face finally revealed a smile, and he stepped forward to personally support her to sit on the soft couch.
Looking at his thoughtful gestures, a thought suddenly flashed through Ruyi’s mind: it felt as though Hailan and the Emperor were the real family, while she seemed like an outsider instead.
She lowered her eyes, her fingers nervously tugging at the hem of her dress, the smile on her face turning stiff as well.
The Emperor paid no mind to Ruyi’s stiffness, leaving the Palace of Earthly Honor after delivering his instructions.
What transpired tonight quickly spread throughout the Imperial Palace.
Upon learning of this, the Empress was exceedingly furious. As the mother of the nation, the affairs of the inner palace should naturally be handled by her, yet the Emperor had handed them over to Noble Consort Xian.
Does the Emperor favor Noble Consort Xian to such an extent?!