mtlumby2d Chapter 1702 I Won't Take the Blame (Bonus Chapter for January Tickets)
Chapter 1702 I Won't Take the Blame (Bonus Chapter for January Tickets)
The less trouble, the better.
After much deliberation, only Chuxiu Palace remained.
The head of Chuxiu Palace is Consort Kang, who has fallen out of favor. In addition, the Fifth Prince is weak and has little influence in the palace, so his residence is deserted.
Consort Kang is mild-mannered and timid, and His Majesty dislikes her. It is feared that things will not improve for her in the future.
Placing Consort Qin, who had also fallen out of favor and been convicted, there would neither offend the favored concubine nor make things too ugly.
As for whether it will offend Consort Kang?
Li Changde didn't care about a concubine who was in dire straits herself.
He then closed the imperial edict and continued, "...From this day forward, Consort Qin shall move to the Shuiyue Pavilion on the right side of the Chuxiu Palace."
"Please pack your valuables and come over."
Qin Guiren's personal maid, Lüying, was struck dumb. She knelt down with a thud and cried out, "Eunuch Li, please tell His Majesty that our Lady... our Lady is innocent!"
"Those rumors were definitely not spread by you, my lord!"
"Your Highness has always been extremely respectful to the Imperial Noble Consort, how could you have committed such an evil deed? We beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
Consort Qin swayed slightly, staring at Li Changde and saying, "Eunuch Li, I... I, Qin Shuyan, swear to heaven that this was absolutely not my doing!"
"I am the daughter of the Governor of Shandong Province. I received strict family education from a young age and know the consequences of my actions. I am also aware of the strict palace rules. How could I possibly use such underhanded means to slander the Imperial Noble Consort and curse the imperial heir? This is a frame-up!"
"Please convey to Eunuch Li that I wish to see His Majesty and confront those so-called 'evidence' face to face!"
Qin Guiren's voice was filled with deep grievance, yet it still exuded authority.
Even after falling out of favor and being demoted, her deep-rooted pride and the confidence brought by her family background prevented her from being completely defeated.
Li Changde was a smart man; he knew that even if Consort Qin had lost power, her family background was still there.
Moreover, who can predict the ups and downs of life in the harem? Perhaps one day Consort Qin will regain favor.
Therefore, his attitude was still respectful, and he bowed slightly, saying, "Noble Lady Qin, this servant is merely a messenger. His Majesty's mind is made up, and the imperial decree is here. Please accept the decree, Noble Lady Qin."
Consort Qin closed her eyes.
The Empress Consort of Chuxiu Palace is weak and out of favor. Going there is no different from being banished to the Cold Palace.
Luying was extremely anxious and wanted to beg again.
Consort Qin raised her hand to stop Lü Ying.
She took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently, forcing herself to calm down.
Consort Qin knew that things had come to this point, and there was no point in crying out for justice to Li Changde.
The imperial edict was as weighty as a mountain; Li Changde was merely following orders.
It's true that the Qin family is powerful, and ups and downs in the harem are commonplace. But right now, with His Majesty in a fit of rage, she's like a fish on a chopping board.
If they continue to be ignorant of propriety and offend those in the imperial court, they may not even be able to live comfortably in a side hall of the Chuxiu Palace.
Consort Qin suppressed her anger and grievances, and looked at Li Changde, saying, "Eunuch Li, I am willing to move the palace, but I have a request."
Li Changde slightly raised his eyes: "Please speak, sir."
"I want to see the Imperial Noble Consort."
Consort Qin said, enunciating each word clearly, "There are some things I must tell Her Majesty the Imperial Noble Consort in person. Please ask Eunuch Li to convey my request, or grant me permission to go to Yongshou Palace to request an audience."
Li Changde's eyes flickered slightly as he quickly weighed his options.
Is Consort Qin unwilling to accept her fate and wants to follow in the footsteps of the Imperial Noble Consort?
Will the Imperial Noble Consort meet with her?
What will happen if we meet?
However, this could be a good opportunity to observe the situation in the inner palace.
Although His Majesty issued an edict of punishment, he did not forbid Consort Qin from meeting with others. Her request to see the Imperial Noble Consort was in accordance with the rules.
What if the Imperial Noble Consort also wants to meet the culprit?
Thinking this to himself, Li Changde showed no sign of it on his face and respectfully said, "I should not interfere with Your Excellency's request. However, I am on official duty and need to escort Your Excellency to Chuxiu Palace for accommodation immediately."
"If you wish to see the Imperial Noble Consort, you may go to Yongshou Palace to request an audience after you have made your arrangements."
"As for whether the Imperial Noble Consort will grant an audience... that is beyond my ability to predict."
This was a very tactful statement; it neither hindered Consort Qin nor made any promises.
Consort Qin understood.
Li Changde will not help her relay the message, but he will not prevent her from seeking an audience.
She nodded, said no more, and turned to instruct Lüying: "Pack your things, take only the essentials. Leave the bulky and frivolous items behind."
Green Ying choked back tears and said, "My lady..."
Consort Qin waved her hand: "Go."
"Yes……"
Luying dared not delay. Wiping away her tears, she hurriedly led several pale-faced palace maids to begin tidying up.
Li Changde retreated to the outer corridor of the hall to wait, his expression inscrutable.
A moment later, Consort Qin came out from inside: "Let's go, Eunuch Li."
Li Changde bowed and said, "Please, sir."
The group silently passed through the many palace walls and headed towards the long-abandoned Chuxiu Palace.
Shuiyuexuan has a small courtyard and simple furnishings.
Without even glancing around, Consort Qin simply instructed Lüying to tidy things up.
After Li Changde and the others left and the palace gates closed, she said, "Now that we're ready, let's go to Yongshou Palace to pay our respects."
"My lord, are you really going to..."
Lüying hesitated for a moment: "We have suffered such a great calamity today. If we were to go and ask to see the Imperial Noble Consort again, wouldn't that be humiliating ourselves?"
Consort Qin said, "His Majesty is furious and will not see me."
"Only the Imperial Noble Consort is responsible for this matter. If she is as intelligent as people say, she should have seen through the trick."
"Even if the Imperial Noble Consort doesn't believe me, I will make her know that I, Qin Shuyan, am not the one who harmed her. I will not take the blame for this!"
Seeing Consort Qin's appearance, Lüying felt both distressed and worried: "My lady, you must be exhausted from moving palaces today. Why don't you rest for a while and recover your strength before you go?"
Consort Qin shook her head: "The longer we delay, the more time others will have to smear me. Going now might offer a glimmer of hope."
"Besides, do you think Chuxiu Palace is a good place to rest?"
Having been in the palace for quite some time, they naturally knew that Consort Kang, the head of the Chuxiu Palace, was a mild-mannered woman who had fallen out of favor.
Now that Consort Qin has moved in while still under investigation, what will the Empress think? She might not welcome her...
The two left Shuiyue Pavilion and walked outside.
Inside the main hall.
Consort Kang's lips were tightly pressed together, and her eyes were somewhat gloomy.
Caiju came in and said, "Your Highness, after Consort Qin settled in Shuiyue Pavilion, she took Lüying and left."
"Judging from the direction... they're heading towards Yongshou Palace."
Consort Kang's expression darkened further.
Qin Shuyan entered the palace in a grand manner last year, was immediately promoted to the rank of concubine, and held the position of principal wife in Yonghe Palace. She was stunningly beautiful and flamboyant.
Now, however, she has become a disgraced noblewoman, banished from favor, and thrown into the Chuxiu Palace like a discarded shoe.
That old fox Li Changde's intention in sending people here couldn't be clearer.
He didn't care that Consort Kang had lost the Emperor's favor, nor was he afraid of offending her.