As soon as Emperor Liang entered Guanju Palace, he frowned.
“What happened?”
Consort Chen sat in the seat of honor with an expression as cold as frost, holding Ye Liujin close. She did not rise to greet him; instead, she gave a cold snort and turned her head away.
She was able to hold her ground in the inner palace not because of the Emperor’s favor.
However, Ye Liujin still got up obediently to pay her respects.
Emperor Liang waved his hand dismissively to excuse her and paced over to Lady Rong.
“What happened to your face?”
On the floor knelt Xiao Cong, his clothes dripping with water; the blood-stained Lady Rong; and the shivering Rong Chan.
The scene was truly unsightly.
“This concubine is fine.”
Lady Rong did not take the opportunity to complain. Instead, she signaled Emperor Liang with her eyes: Hurry, save Cong'er!
Hearing Emperor Liang’s inquiry, Consort Chen said in a cold, biting tone, “I hit her.”
“However, the one I intended to hit was that vile creature, Xiao Cong. She threw herself forward and took the blow instead.”
“This ruse of self-injury is truly effective. Look,” Consort Chen pointed her henna-stained finger at the three kneeling on the floor, “my son’s soul has been snatched away by the Rong family. Not only does he want to take Rong Chan as his wife, but he even wants to recognize Rong Shuiyue as his mother!”
“Consort Chen!”
“Your Ladyship!”
“Imperial Concubine Mother!”
The three spoke in unison, interrupting Consort Chen.
Emperor Liang's face was so dark it looked like ink could drip from it. “Cong'er is your son. How can you say such things?”
“You hold the Phoenix Seal; your every word and action should be an example for the Six Palaces. If a concubine makes a mistake, you may punish her, but how can you make a joke out of the imperial bloodline!”
Lady Rong desperately suppressed the panic in her heart and blurted out, “If Your Ladyship develops a rift with the Third Prince because of me, then even if I die, I will find no peace.”
Consort Chen also knew she had lost her composure. Feigning a dry throat, she gave a light cough and stood up, gritting her teeth. “Does Your Majesty know why I hit Cong'er today? And why is he soaked like this?”
She explained the sequence of events to Emperor Liang.
Finally, she cast a cold, disdainful glance at Xiao Cong. “I also feel this marriage is ill-suited. Your Majesty might as well withdraw the decree and let the two of them marry others separately.”
This vile creature is not worthy of Liujin.
“No!”
The color drained from Lady Rong’s face. She crawled forward on her knees and knelt at Consort Chen’s feet.
“The marriage between the Third Prince and Miss Ye was granted by Your Majesty's imperial word. How can the decree be withdrawn just because of Rong Chan?”
“Your Ladyship, please rest assured. I will certainly restrain Rong Chan. I swear that I will never let Rong Chan see the Third Prince again.”
It seemed as though she was unwilling for Rong Chan to marry Xiao Cong.
But Ye Liujin understood. She was afraid that Xiao Cong would lose the powerful support of the Ye Family.
Although her Aunt shared the surname Ye, the current heads of the Ye Family were Elder Sister Ye Liuyu and Elder Brother Ye Liuzheng.
If she married another prince, the Ye Family would not necessarily stand behind Xiao Cong.
“I am willing to take Chan'er as my wife.”
Seeing Consort Chen waver, Xiao Cong was overjoyed. His Imperial Father and Imperial Grandmother doted on him; they would surely grant his wish.
Seeing Lady Rong’s intentional obstruction, the tiny bit of goodwill he had felt for her earlier vanished completely.
“My marriage is for my Imperial Father and Imperial Concubine Mother to decide. Since when has it been a Lady's place to meddle?”
“Even if you are Chan'er's Aunt, you cannot go over her biological parents' heads to break off her marriage.”
“You…”
Lady Rong opened her mouth to say something, but only bitterness filled her heart. The wounds on her face seeped beads of blood, making her look even more wretched.
She simply turned her hand and struck Rong Chan’s arm, scolding with a sob, “My Rong family was once a scholarly lineage. How could we produce a shameless girl like you?”
Rong Chan was knocked sideways by the blow, only steadying herself by pressing her palms against the ground. She did not defend herself; she merely kept her lips tightly pressed together as tears fell like pearls from a broken string.
"Imperial Father, your son's heart is true to Chan'er; I will marry no one but her."
Xiao Cong could not bear to see Rong Chan suffer such a grievance. With a roar, he shielded her behind his back.
Consort Chen had already turned away in despair, but upon hearing Xiao Cong’s words, her grip on Ye Liujin’s hand tightened.
"Cousin," Ye Liujin felt for Consort Chen, but this wound had to be ripped open eventually; more disappointment today meant less pain in the future. "Earlier, Sister Rong said there was nothing between the two of you. I wonder if there has been some misunderstanding?"
She bowed to Emperor Liang and said gently, "Your Majesty, I have lived in the capital for many years. Thanks to Your Majesty’s favor and my Aunt’s care—if I may be so bold—I have always regarded Your Majesty and my Aunt as my own parents. I truly do not wish for this matter to sour the bonds of our family."
"Sister Rong possesses the beauty of flowers and the moon; my own common appearance cannot compare. It is only natural for Cousin to feel such adoration."
"If the two truly cherish one another, I am willing to fulfill their wishes, but…"
She turned to look at Rong Chan, a smile lurking in her eyes though her face was etched with confusion. "Sister Rong, we are close friends, yet I have never heard you mention this. Are you truly in love with him, as Cousin says?"
Rong Chan kept her body curled inward, her mind in a state of upheaval. She had never expected things to reach this point.
She had indeed intentionally "encountered" Xiao Cong frequently, taking the opportunity to say ambiguous things and shedding a few tears to express her innermost feelings. In her mind, Xiao Cong would surely come to feel pity and affection for her over time.
Once Xiao Cong ascended the throne, even if she couldn't be Empress, she could still be a highly favored Noble Consort.
But… who would have thought Xiao Cong would break his engagement to marry her now!
Behind Ye Liujin stood the Ye Family, who commanded an army of two hundred thousand, and Ye Chenfei, the most favored consort in the harem. No matter how stupid she was, she wouldn't dare to blatantly steal Ye Liujin's betrothal!
"Sister Rong?" Seeing the blood drain from Rong Chan's face, Ye Liujin felt a surge of satisfaction.
"I did not!" Rong Chan blurted out without hesitation, looking up.
"I do not know why the Third Prince would have such a misunderstanding. Since entering the palace, I have strictly observed etiquette and have never crossed any lines with the Third Prince. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth."
Her head struck the floor heavily; the crisp sound seemed to signify her resolve.
Ye Liujin found it amusing. She wondered if Rong Chan felt like she had dropped a rock on her own foot.
Emperor Liang’s expression shifted, seemingly weighing the truth of Rong Chan’s words.
"Chan'er, you…" Xiao Cong turned to look at her in disbelief.
"Your Highness!" Rong Chan interrupted him quickly, cursing in her heart: Shut up, you idiot!
"I do not know what I have done to give Your Highness such a misunderstanding. Your Highness keeps saying we share mutual feelings, but may I ask—when did I ever say I loved you? Have I ever given you a token of affection?"
She wept sorrowfully, tears streaming down her face.
Xiao Cong was dazed. She truly hadn't directly declared her feelings, but hadn't those words implied exactly that?
"I truly envy Sister Liujin. To have a husband like Your Highness in the future is truly enviable, unlike me…"
"Your Highness is brilliant in both civil and military arts, a dragon among men. Though Sister Liujin is a bit willful, she is innocent and lovely; Your Highness must cherish her."
"I treat Your Highness as a confidant and often can't help but share my thoughts with you, though I wonder if Sister Liujin would be angry."
She was naturally as beautiful as a hibiscus covered in morning dew; her soft smile and pitiable appearance had once left Xiao Cong's entire body feeling weak and entranced.
Seeing the dazed look in Xiao Cong's eyes, Rong Chan struck while the iron was hot.
"If Your Highness insists that I deliberately seduced you, then I can only use my death to prove my innocence."
With that, she lunged toward a pillar in Guanju Palace.
Ye Liujin was quick. The moment Rong Chan rushed forward, she raised her foot and kicked her right in the chest.
Rong Chan was kicked back several feet. She didn't hit the pillar, but her chest throbbed with immense pain, and a metallic taste rose in her throat. She glared at Ye Liujin with hatred.
Ye Liujin clutched her own chest, blinking with a look of lingering fear.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness. I finally managed to save Sister Rong."
Rong Chan could no longer endure it and fainted.