Volume 1 Chapter 8: This Prince's Consort Is Not Simple
Die by her hand?
Lu Er was greatly shocked: "What exactly happened? Everything was fine, yet one fainted from poison and the other lost consciousness. The Empress Dowager is ruthless—she directly wanted to bury you both alive. If not for a strange twist of fate where she lifted your coffin lid, I wouldn't have had time to dig you out even if I tried."
Gong Jinxing coughed lightly, somewhat uncomfortable: "What else could it be? General Hua has always been aligned with the Marquis Fugui Manor and is Xie Lingyu's person. Xie Lingyu arranged for this Hua family daughter to marry into the Shezheng Wangfu. What purpose could that serve? Do I even need to say it?"
Lu Er rubbed his nose: "Alright, I admit it was unnecessary on my part. But wasn't it forced by the circumstances? Think about it—when the time came for the wedding night, you lift the veil only to reveal an old woman's face. An old cow eating tender grass—you'd become the biggest joke in Xiliang."
Gong Jinxing's gaze sharpened: "What old woman?"
Lu Er grinned mischievously: "As soon as I returned from the Prime Minister's residence, the bridal sedan arrived. I didn't have time to explain in detail. Want to hear?"
Gong Jinxing pursed his thin lips and remained silent.
Lu Er continued on his own: "Today, I arrived at the General's Manor ahead of the bridal sedan. Following your instructions, I sneaked into the bride's courtyard. At the time, the room door was locked, with two servants guarding it closely—one young servant and one old woman. Just as I was about to circle around to the back window to act, the two guards at the door suddenly and inexplicably collapsed.
Then, the Princess Consort extended a hairpin through the door crack, easily picked the lock, and poked her head out to sneak a look before slipping out. I was startled at the time, not knowing what had suddenly happened, so I stayed crouched on the roof, not daring to move for a while.
Then, the Princess Consort lifted the unconscious old woman as if she were a chick, dressed her in the phoenix crown and wedding robes. Right then, I understood—she was timing her escape from the marriage, planning to swap herself with the old woman."
"Wouldn't that be perfect? Saves you the trouble."
"Only you, the Prince Regent, can look down on others—how can others look down on you? Her fleeing at the last moment—isn't that slapping you in the face? Besides, at the time, I thought this new Princess Consort looked naive and lively, quite amusing. Anyway, even if you escaped this ordeal, the Empress Dowager would surely go to great lengths to push someone else onto you. Might as well just make do and marry her."
Gong Jinxing snorted through his nose: "So you knocked her out and stuffed her into the bridal sedan?"
"I certainly couldn't let her succeed. So when she finished covering the old woman with the veil and tried to escape over the wall, I decisively played a trick, secretly using a hidden weapon to seal her acupoints.
Anyway, at that time, I attacked from behind—definitely didn't expose my identity. You must never tell her about this. Such a fierce woman—I don't want to provoke her."
Gong Jinxing curled the corner of his lips: "Don't worry, she's lost her memory. She won't come after you."
"Lost her memory?" Lu Er's voice suddenly rose.
Gong Jinxing glanced at the door and nodded: "Yes, at least she temporarily doesn't remember recent events."
"How do you know?"
Gong Jinxing's expression stiffened, and he evasively replied: "Ever since she woke up, she's been opposing Xie Lingyu everywhere, acting recklessly. The only plausible explanation is that she's forgotten her identity and purpose."
"Xie Lingyu tried to silence her by killing her. Anyone would be furious and humiliated."
Gong Jinxing's words held no persuasive power whatsoever. Lu Er thoughtfully stroked his chin and asked curiously, "Your wedding night seems to have quite a story. So brutal, both sides wounded. Could it be that the blow on her forehead was from you?
Moreover, I heard that when you emerged from the coffin, there were still traces of color on your face. Is that woman so fierce that she kissed you right inside the coffin?"
Faced with this barrage of questions, Gong Jinxing looked visibly uncomfortable. He awkwardly cleared his throat twice and changed the subject: "I think you should be more concerned about the background of this Hua family's young lady."
Lu Er replied carelessly, "What's there to investigate? The General's mansion has only this one legitimate daughter."
Gong Jinxing fixed his bright eyes on Lu Yuanqi, a flicker of cat-and-mouse cunning flashing through them: "Not necessarily. I want the most detailed intelligence, including the people she interacts with daily and her usual whereabouts. Not the slightest clue should be overlooked."
"You suspect her?"
Gong Jinxing wearily closed his eyes again: "Perhaps this identity as the legitimate daughter is merely a facade. Could it be that this princess consort of mine has another identity?"
"You mean Xie Lingyu arranged for a spy, borrowing the identity of the General's daughter?"
"Have you ever heard of the Hua family's eldest daughter possessing such skills?"
Lu Er shook his head: "Although General Hua's family has always resided in Limuguan and only recently returned to the capital, I inquired as soon as Xie Lingyu issued the marriage decree. As far as I know, the princess consort is skilled in music and needlework. It might be barely believable that she once practiced martial arts, given her upbringing in a general's household, but I've never heard she knows any medicine."
"This princess consort of mine, if not hiding her talents and concealing her abilities, must be someone else entirely. Her identity is likely not simple."
"Now that you mention it, I also find it suspicious. Especially that assassin who broke into the palace today—according to Qingzhou, he emerged from her room. Not only was his skill impressive, but the hidden weapon he threw in the critical moment had tremendous power and toxicity. It was even more formidable than the Heaven-Shaking Thunder made by the northern desert people—unprecedented."
Gong Jinxing snorted coldly: "Do you believe General Hua could raise such a formidable daughter? If he could manufacture weapons of such power, he would have long presented them for rewards and merits."
Lu Er said doubtfully, "But if she really is a spy planted by Xie Lingyu, why would she flee the marriage? And why would Xie Lingyu also want her dead?"
Gong Jinxing murmured a low "hmm": "This is precisely what I cannot understand. Especially given her abilities, escaping the General's mansion would be effortless. Why wait until the wedding sedan was at the door, catching General Hua off guard? It wasn't a good time to escape, and it would bring disaster upon the General's mansion.
Caution ensures longevity. Before uncovering her true identity, we must be careful and vigilant, not easily trusting."
"What about the poison in your body?"
"This is a good opportunity to test her. I have my own considerations."
Lu Er nodded: "Alright, I'll order someone to investigate immediately. You rest for now. I'll go to the front courtyard to observe General Hua and his wife's attitude toward the princess consort. Whatever her identity, there are bound to be clues."
In the palace reception hall.
Hua's father and the General's wife, Lady Lian, had been sitting on cold benches for quite some time, without even a sip of tea.
The Prince Regent's residence was ablaze with lights today, servants bustling about in an orderly fashion, paying no heed to the presence of the two visitors.
Faced with such obvious neglect, the couple dared not utter a word.
Over the years, the general's mansion had declined. It was only thanks to Lady Lian's efforts to curry favor and flatter the Fugui Marquis Manor's Xie family that they managed to preserve their former glory and were transferred back to the capital from Limuguan for official duties. However, Hua Xieyi's father's standing in the imperial court had plummeted.
Even a lowly servant in the Prince Regent's residence looked down their nose at others, let alone the fact that the Empress Dowager and Gong Jinxing had always been at odds.
Hua Xieyi arrived at the front hall. Without pausing to admire the intricately carved beams and resplendent gold decorations of the residence, she first peeked inside to catch a glimpse of the original owner's parents.
Upon seeing Hua Xieyi, the two, who had been keeping their heads bowed and eyes lowered, immediately straightened up and put on airs. Yet, their suspicious gazes scrutinized Hua Xieyi from head to toe three times over.
Hua Xieyi wanted to take the initiative and call out "Father, Mother," but the words felt awkward and unfamiliar on her tongue, so she swallowed them back.
She waited for Lady Lian to tearfully embrace her, sobbing "my child," thinking she would then acknowledge these parents as her own.
But Lady Lian did not even shift in her seat, her gaze even carrying a hint of disgust.