Chapter 155: Dust Settles - Resuming Three Chapters a Day Starting Today

"That is because the safflower was placed by this old woman, and I was the one who had it sent into the courtyard." Consort Xian walked out of the room.

"Consort Xian—"

"There is only the Lay Buddhist Jing'an here, no Consort Xian," Consort Xian said slowly.

"Sister has been practicing asceticism here and has long since ceased to care for worldly affairs. How could sister help Feiyue and commit such a heinous act? Is sister truly practicing asceticism here at all?"

The Empress's words were somewhat venomous.

"Mother Empress, Consort Mother is certainly not such a person." Driven by his desire to protect his mother, Prince Jiang Chen naturally would not let the Empress slander her like this.

"Empress," the Emperor said, "the Lay Buddhist is already a person detached from the secular world. Why must you use your words to wound others?"

"Your Majesty," the Empress said, "I spoke out of turn for a moment, but I was only feeling heartache for Yun'er's child. However, why would sister do such a thing?"

"Amitabha. Your Majesty need not speak on this old woman's behalf; Her Majesty the Empress is right. This old woman simply could not bear to watch Feiyue suffer so greatly. When she begged earnestly, I could not harden my heart. As someone who has taken vows, to take a life is a grave sin indeed. I beg Your Majesty for punishment!"

"Sister, you—"

"Enough," the Emperor interrupted the Empress, saying, "The matter is already quite clear. Although Xiao Xiao is merely a servant, I specifically sent him to wait upon Feiyue. Aside from doing his utmost to care for Feiyue, he would never dare to do such things. Now that both Feiyue and the Lay Buddhist have clarified everything, it is evident that Xiao Xiao was indeed unaware."

"Your Majesty," the Empress said, "although this matter has been brought to light, Xiao Xiao was after all sent to wait upon Feiyue. Now that Feiyue has suffered a miscarriage, it is also due to this servant's inadequate care and failure to notice. While capital punishment may be spared, he cannot escape lesser penalties."

Prince Jiang Yang stepped forward and said, "Imperial Father, Xiao Xiao has already been wronged yet subjected to such brutal torture. This level of suffering is already shocking to witness, and Your Son believes this charge of dereliction of duty is sufficient."

The Emperor nodded and said, "Indeed. Xiao Xiao has always served Feiyue diligently. Had he been remiss in any way, Feiyue would not protect him. Furthermore, on account of this incident, Xiao Xiao has indeed suffered greatly. Enough, let this matter concerning Xiao Xiao end here!"

Since the Emperor had spoken, naturally no one else would punish me. However, the matter concerning Han Feiyue had not yet concluded, and what I should be concerned about at this moment was Han Feiyue's plight.

Consort Xian was a nun, so the Emperor would not heavily punish her. But as for Han Feiyue—

Sure enough, my affairs were now trivial. I heard Gong Wu'e say, "Imperial Father, since she harmed the Crown Prince's child, she must naturally be punished."

"Shut your mouth!" Lu Ning scolded Gong Wu'e, "When it comes to deciding this matter, it is not your turn to interrupt!"

Rebuked by Lu Ning, Gong Wu'e did not back down. She said, "Empress Dowager, Wu'e knows that Elder Sister is the person you hold in the palm of your hand, but this matter is of utmost importance. Surely the Empress Dowager is not intentionally shielding Elder Sister, are you?"

"I shall make my own judgment on this matter." The Emperor said to Gong Wu'e with a trace of impatience.

From the very beginning, Han Feiyue was personally chosen by the Emperor to be the Crown Princess—first because of her special background, and second because she served as a counterbalance against the Gong family. Now that Han Feiyue had confessed to this act, it made the Emperor extremely uneasy. Pressured by this incident on one hand and the Empress Dowager on the other, it was indeed a difficult decision for the Emperor.

"To put it bluntly, from the very beginning, it was all of you stirring up trouble and keeping Feiyue in a state of constant anxiety, which is why things reached this point. If she had not despaired of the Crown Prince, how could she not have wanted this child?" Lu Ning sighed.

"The Empress Dowager speaks incorrectly," the Empress said. "If Feiyue did not want this child, no one could have stopped her. How can this matter be blamed on me and Wu'e?"

"Exactly!" Gong Wu'e chimed in. "At the time, Elder Sister herself admitted she had someone else in her heart. Perhaps she didn't want to bear a child for the Crown Prince because of that person?"

"Quiet!" Lu Ning was thoroughly enraged. "It is you who are stoking chaos everywhere and throwing the Eastern Palace into turmoil. If you say another word, this grieving woman will have Muyan slap your mouth."

Startled, Gong Wu'e hurriedly hid behind the Empress.

"Enough, say no more. Mother Empress, Empress, and Feiyue, shall we discuss this matter?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"This grieving woman has no objections."

The Emperor then said to Jiang Chen, "Chen'er, I'll borrow the study in your Huayang Palace."

"Your Son obeys the Imperial Decree."

"Long Zhan, guard the door. No one is permitted to approach and disturb us."

"This Subject obeys the Imperial Decree."

Han Feiyue walked out, supported by Muyan, and headed toward the study.

For a moment, only Jiang Yun, Jiang Yang, Gong Wu'e, and I remained.

"Get up first," Jiang Yang walked up to me and said. With others present, it was naturally inconvenient for him to help me up.

"This servant—"

Before I could finish, I saw Gong Wu'e notice us, walk over, and say, "A criminal dog of a servant, what qualifications do you have to stand up?"

Jiang Yang did not even look at Gong Wu'e, merely saying, "Imperial Father has made himself very clear, Third Sister-in-law. Do you have any other objections?"

"Ninth Younger Brother, protecting a servant so fiercely is truly touching, isn't it, Your Highness?"

Jiang Yun remained silent. With things turning out this way, he was naturally deeply unhappy.

Ignoring Gong Wu'e, Jiang Yang said to me, "Imperial Father has absolved you of guilt. You may rise and return to Cuiwei Palace first."

"This servant does not wish to leave. I want to know what the final outcome will be for the Crown Princess."

Jiang Yang nodded and said, "Then you may stand up first."

"Understood!" Kneeling like this was indeed wearing me down. When I pressed my hands to the ground to stand, the back of my hand was suddenly stepped upon.

"Ah—" I couldn't help crying out in alarm. At that instant, Jiang Yang, in his anxiety, pushed Gong Wu'e away.

Whether intentional or accidental, Gong Wu'e stumbled and fell directly to the ground when pushed by Jiang Yang.

Seeing this, Jiang Yun immediately rebuked, "Jiang Yang, how dare you show disrespect to your Third Sister-in-law?"

"It was an impulsive moment on my part. I beg Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law for forgiveness."

Gong Wu'e climbed back up, pointed at Jiang Yang, and said, "Ninth Younger Brother, you have a lot of nerve! How dare you push me?"

"Third Sister-in-law, I acted on impulse."

"Impulse? All for a dog of a servant? Ninth Younger Brother truly treats him differently, doesn't he?" Gong Wu'e's words carried a hidden meaning.

Clearly, Gong Wu'e had deliberately stepped on my foot, knowing full well my hand was injured, and then intentionally changed the subject. She was utterly detestable.

"It was this servant's hand that hurt, causing me to pull back and make Her Ladyship fall. It is this servant's crime."

"Ha! Ninth Younger Brother protects you, and you protect Ninth Younger Brother. Such a deep bond between master and servant!" Gong Wu'e said with a sinister smile.

"This servant—"

Just as we were speaking, the Emperor, Lu Ning, the Empress Dowager, and Han Feiyue returned.

"Imperial Grandmother, Imperial Father, has a conclusion been reached regarding Feiyue?"

Without even looking at Jiang Yun, Lu Ning said to Han Feiyue, "Feiyue, return to Cining Palace with this grieving woman."

"Yes."

Muyan supported Han Feiyue, and they left with Lu Ning.

"Imperial Father, Mother Empress—" Jiang Yun looked bewildered.

The Emperor said, "This matter has come to an end; no one is to bring it up again. Chen'er, take good care of your Consort Mother. Inspect all food and clothing properly. I do not wish to pursue the matter of the safflower any further. Prepare the imperial sedan to return to Yangxin Palace."

"Your Sons respectfully send off Imperial Father!"

"This Consort respectfully sends off Your Majesty!"

As soon as the Emperor left, Gong Wu'e eagerly asked the Empress, "Aunt, what happened? Did the Emperor really not punish Han Feiyue?"

The Empress replied, "The Emperor has issued an imperial decree stripping Han Feiyue of her status as Crown Princess, reducing her to a commoner, and banishing her from the imperial palace on an auspicious day. Without a decree recalling her, she is forbidden to enter the palace for eternity."

"Just banished from the palace? Just like that—"

Gong Wu'e's words were cut off by the Empress, who took her hand and said, "The Emperor has made his final judgment on this matter; you should let it rest. Come, follow this empress back to Kunning Palace first."

"Yes, Aunt."

"Yun'er, you come along with Mother Empress as well."

"Mother Empress, when will Feiyue leave the palace?"

"Your Highness, Han Feiyue disregarded marital bonds and harmed your child. Why do you still care about her?" Gong Wu'e said discontentedly.

"Wu'e, as a wife, one must know how to be magnanimous. Now that Han Feiyue has been reduced to a commoner, Yun'er is loyal and righteous, so naturally he wishes to see her off a final way. You need not be so petty."

"Yes, Aunt."

"When Han Feiyue departs, this empress does not yet know. If Yun'er truly wishes to find out, you may make a trip to Cining Palace."

"Then Your Son takes his leave!"

"Hmm!"

After Gong Wu'e and the Empress left, Jiang Yang said to me, "Can you return to Cuiwei Palace now?"

I nodded and said, "For matters to reach such an ending is perhaps the best possible outcome for the Crown Princess."

Jiang Yang remained silent.

Seeing Consort Xian about to return to her room, I stepped forward, bowed to her, and said, "This servant thanks the Lay Buddhist."

"Amitabha, you need not thank me. I have done nothing."

Whether there was more to the story need not be spoken aloud. Since Consort Xian refused to admit it, I naturally could not expose her.

Consort Xian looked at me and added, "Now that the matter in Huayang Palace has settled, you should return to wherever you came from. Amitabha."

"Consort Mother—" At this moment, Jiang Chen walked over, bowed to Consort Xian, and said, "Consort Mother, today has brought much disturbance, and Your Son has come specifically to check on you."

"I am fine." Without another word, Consort Xian turned back into her room, and the door was immediately closed tight.

I looked at Jiang Chen and thought of Consort Xian; the dynamics between Consort Xian and her two sons were truly difficult to fathom.

Seeing that Consort Xian had closed her door and refused to come out, Jiang Chen said to Jiang Yang and me, "Ninth Younger Brother, Xiao Xiao is severely injured. How about I summon an imperial physician to examine him?"

"Sixth Brother, the incident in Huayang Palace has already displeased Imperial Father. It is best to handle Xiao Xiao's matter by returning to Cuiwei Palace promptly."

"That is true as well. Then Ninth Younger Brother should hurry back. Xiao Xiao's injuries can likely brook no further delay."

"Sixth Brother, I take my leave."

Jiang Yang and I returned to Cuiwei Palace together. Along the way, I thought to myself that Han Feiyue had finally achieved her wish to leave the palace and live a life of freedom. Though it lacked the immense wealth and prestige of the imperial court, she would at least live the life she yearned for most.

For this matter to conclude in such a manner—even if it temporarily let villains like the Empress achieve their petty goals—Han Feiyue got her wish, and I escaped death to return once more to Cuiwei Palace. Such an outcome was far better than anything I dared to hope for.

"Is there a hidden story behind Third Sister-in-law's affair?" Jiang Yang suddenly asked me on the way, likely having deduced something himself.

"This servant is dull-witted and truly unable to guess. But since the Emperor has declared this matter closed, Ninth Imperial Highness need not investigate it further."

"Mm. You suffered great grievance in this affair. Mother Consort is still unaware of this. First return to my quarters, rest your body for a bit, and then return to serve Mother Consort in Cuiwei Palace."

"Many thanks, Ninth Imperial Highness, but this servant had best return to Cuiwei Palace early. If I am late, Her Ladyship might issue a reprimand."

Jiang Yang suddenly grabbed my wrist, causing me to wince in pain. Though initially irritated, seeing me frown caused him to soften his expression. He said, "How can you serve Mother Consort looking like this? You are not allowed to push yourself further. If you fear gossip, once we return, I will have Jialin come over."

Daring not say another word, I could only submit.