EBE Chapter 393 Shooting Yourself in the Foot 2
Chapter 393 Shooting Yourself in the Foot 2
Princess Yuqing went around to Emperor Xuan's side.
While massaging her father's shoulders, she said, "Father, I've adopted a goddaughter who looks a lot like me. She's General Lu's granddaughter. Yesterday, I took her out for a stroll, and we happened to be caught in a downpour. Since we were close to my fourth brother's villa, we went in to take shelter from the rain. We also took the opportunity to see my fourth brother's concubine. Guess what?"
"what happened?"
"I've only been here for half an hour when my fourth brother and his wife arrived one after the other. My fourth brother was afraid I'd take advantage of his beloved concubine, while his wife seized the opportunity to go and check on her, since she had never set foot in that villa, never drunk tea served by a concubine, and had never even seen her face..."
"My fourth brother is keeping a mistress hidden away. The key is that Consort Nalan is not ugly at all. Even with a mask on, she has a stunning beauty. No wonder my fourth brother is infatuated with her. He even scolded his wife in front of me and forbade her from entering the villa. I was angry just listening to it. Father, don't you think it's infuriating?"
"It's infuriating! Fourth Sister-in-law is Fourth Brother's lawfully wedded wife, how can he treat her so harshly for a dancer of unknown origin?" King Jing said indignantly, appearing to be standing up for his sister-in-law.
In fact, he also thought that Prince Chen was blind to have taken a liking to Jiang Zijin.
That's no kind of person.
It's likely that Prince Chen always thought the Princess Consort was his mother's person, and that she married into the palace to spy on him.
That's really not the case.
When he got married, Prince Su was still alive.
The Queen Mother completely disregarded her and her son, choosing a princess for them from among the eligible women.
However, Prince Chen himself harbored resentment and regarded his queen as an enemy.
Now he's colluding with Jiang Zijin again.
Emperor Xuan frowned slightly. "Choose a day to have Princess Chen bring that woman into the palace so that the Empress and Consort Chen can see her and give her a good talking-to."
Now that the prince is married, it's no big deal for him to have a few pleasing women.
But taking it too seriously is not good.
He even mistreated his wife for the sake of a dancer of unknown origin, disregarding ancestral customs and traditions.
They're doing this even though they're nothing yet.
If I were to sit in that position in the future, what would happen? Do you expect me to make a dancer the empress?
How is that any different from a seductive concubine who bewitches an emperor?
It's like inviting a wolf into the house.
Compared to the other young man, the Emperor found the other one more pleasing to the eye.
He would massage his wife's shoulders, something he had done for Consort Zhen as well.
Moreover, the Mu family's daughter's magnanimity, cultivation, appearance, and talent are far superior to those in the Chen Prince's mansion.
Princess Yuqing smiled slightly. "Father, there is one more thing, but I am not sure if I should say it."
"If you shouldn't say it, then don't say it."
"Father..."
Princess Yuqing pouted, adopting a girlish demeanor.
"Say it all at once." Although the emperor disliked the empress, he doted on this daughter immensely.
Although he had other children with the former empress, they all died young.
Yuqing was his first child, so he naturally valued her very much.
Moreover, this daughter has been very lovable since she was a child. She doesn't like to cling to her mother, but she clings to him more.
The bond between them was arguably the deepest among all the children.
Naturally, the tolerance towards her is the greatest.
For example, right now, after saying all that, all he wanted to do was speak up for Xiao Wu and prevent him from taking this concubine.
Princess Yuqing sat back down opposite her father and said, “Father, yesterday when I took Miaomiao to my fourth brother’s villa, Miaomiao said that Consort Lan looked a lot like her third sister. My fourth brother’s wife also said that she looked alike, both in her speech and figure. I was thinking that no one has ever seen what that woman looks like. If she were to be switched and a spy from an enemy country were to sneak in, that would be terrible.”
King Jing immediately chimed in, "I heard that my fourth brother was assassinated in Yucheng. The assassins were a group of dancers, and the ones who saved him were also dancers. Could it be that they staged it themselves?"
At this moment, Emperor Xuan's expression was already quite grim.
He looked at Yuqing and asked, "Who is your goddaughter's older sister?"
“She is the daughter of Minister Jiang, the girl who broke the marriage agreement between the Zhou and Shen families, and the woman who went to Sansheng'an to become a nun on your orders but then ran away,” Princess Yuqing said cautiously.
She noticed that her father's expression had become even more unpleasant.
He glanced at his father and added, "This woman's name is Jiang Zijin. Her maternal grandfather was Minister Qi, who has already been beheaded."
The emperor's face turned even uglier, as black as the bottom of a pot.
Jiang Yunze failed to properly educate his daughter, and the little girl was far too audacious, actually defying the imperial decree and fleeing the temple.
The crime is unforgivable.
If it weren't for the fact that Jiang Yunze was unaware of the situation and that the information was still useful, it would have been better.
How can he be allowed to remain in his position as Vice Minister?
Princess Yuqing and Prince Jing exchanged a glance, not daring to say anything more.
Accompanying you is like accompanying a tiger.
Even the gentlest tiger can have a tantrum, and the worst thing is when a violent storm hits them.
In an instant, it turned into a docile little lamb.
Emperor Xuan looked at Princess Yuqing and said, "Since you had suspicions yesterday, why didn't you investigate yourself?"
"To be honest, I also wanted to expose her, but my fourth brother is very protective of her. He even beat his wife. There are many experts in that villa, and I'm afraid he'll kill her to cover it up. Besides, I have a child with me, and I don't want her to be frightened."
"You still know fear? Since you knew that woman was suspicious, why didn't you immediately send someone to arrest her after she came out?" Emperor Xuan did know his daughter somewhat.
He was physically weak, but loved to play.
He always turns a blind eye.
After getting married, he became much more restrained, especially after Cao Chong and Jia Yue passed away.
She's started doing nothing again, and she's even taken on a goddaughter.
Can a princess just casually adopt a goddaughter?
It's time to find her a new husband.
Princess Yuqing had no idea that her father, the emperor, had such thoughts.
He was preoccupied with figuring out how to play this cat-and-mouse game.
“Father, think about it. None of us know what Fourth Brother’s concubine looks like. What if she really is Jiang Zijin? I’ll leave the manor and she might find a substitute and put on that mask. Wouldn’t that be a waste of time?”
"Or, what if Consort Nalan really is disfigured? If I rashly try to pull off her mask, wouldn't that offend her? Then my fourth brother will come to you to complain about me again."
Seeing that his father remained silent with a sullen face.
After Princess Yuqing finished speaking, she excused herself to visit her mother and slipped away.
King Jing followed closely behind.
She secretly rejoiced, thankful that her elder sister was there.
Otherwise, he might have inexplicably brought a woman back with him.
Among all the imperial heirs, the eldest sister held a different place in the emperor's heart.
Sometimes he thought that if his elder sister were a man, the position of Crown Prince of Liang would surely belong to him.
The kind that no one can shake.
"Elder sister, do you think Father Emperor believes it?"
Princess Yuqing shook her head, "I believe you."
Her father was suspicious, and she wasn't sure if he would believe her completely.
But once the seed of doubt is planted, it will take root and sprout.
My father will definitely send someone to investigate.
.......