kvmb Chapter 333 Instigation
Chapter 333 Instigation
Shen Qingtan recognized the suddenly appearing guards as people from Zhao Yi's side.
"How is Second Master?"
Just as the guard was about to speak, he sensed something and said with deep sorrow, "Second Master has encountered an accident. Please accept my condolences."
Shen Qingtan's mind went blank. She looked at the guard blankly, seemingly unable to understand what he was saying.
Seeing Shen Qingtan's bewildered expression, the guard continued, "I failed to bring the Second Master back to the capital. Please punish me, Second Madam."
After saying this, the guard knelt on the ground.
With a "bang," the sleeve stove crashed to the ground.
"Second Grandma, Second Grandma..."
Liu Yue helped Shen Qingtan into the house.
The guards followed closely into the room.
The person hiding in the shadows left silently.
-
Imperial Palace, Yangxin Hall.
The guard knelt on the ground and reported to the Emperor of Northern Qi: "Your Majesty, the guard who served the Crown Prince has returned and informed the Princess Consort of his death."
The Northern Qi emperor suddenly looked at the guard: "You said Zhao Yi is dead?"
The secret guard relayed the conversation he overheard to the Emperor of Northern Qi without missing a single word.
When the Northern Qi emperor heard the words, "Your subordinate failed to bring the Second Master back to the capital," his brows furrowed deeply: "It seems that Zhao Yi has indeed passed away."
If someone dies from an epidemic, their body must be cremated.
This is why Zhao Yi's secret guards were unable to bring the person back to the capital.
The Emperor of Northern Qi was somewhat troubled. He had originally planned to use Zhao Yi to restrain the Great Zhou and allow Northern Qi to recuperate. Now that Zhao Yi was dead, things had become more complicated.
Eunuch Liu said from the side, "Your Majesty, things are not without hope."
The Northern Qi emperor looked at Eunuch Liu, signaling him to continue.
Eunuch Liu said, "His Highness has passed away, but the Princess Consort is still in the capital. If the Great Zhou seeks justice from the Northern Qi, we can ask the Princess Consort to intervene."
He paused, then continued, "Before that, you should posthumously confer titles upon the First Prince and order the Ministry of Rites to hold a funeral so that the First Prince can be buried in the mausoleum. In this way, the First Prince can be considered to have returned to his ancestral lineage, and the Great Zhou cannot rightfully take the Princess Consort back."
After pondering for a moment, the Emperor of Northern Qi felt that this matter was feasible and planned to discuss it with his imperial tutor after the court session the next day.
-
At Zhaohua Palace, Consort Shu received two letters from outside the palace.
She has connections in the Imperial Household Department; the eunuchs who go out of the palace to make purchases will pass messages to her.
Consort Shu opened the letter in her hand. This letter was sent by an informant planted in Zhao Yi's residence. The letter stated that Zhao Yi was dead.
She opened another letter, this one from Lin Yi, which explained that a hundred miles from the capital, the guards had killed Zhao Yi, who was on his way to the capital.
Once he has quelled the plague, he will secretly push for the Great Zhou to attack the Northern Qi, and then join forces with the ministers to force the Northern Qi emperor to hand over the imperial tutor.
After reading the letters, Consort Shu threw them into the stove and burned them.
"Your Highness, has Lord Lin come to report the good news?" Hongqiao squatted down next to Consort Shu and massaged her legs.
Consort Shu curled her red lips and said, "It's a happy occasion." She said in a fake tone, "As for this Zhao Yi, some say he was short-lived, since he should have died long ago, but he lived for more than twenty years. Others say he was tough, since he died young."
“It would be a good thing if he died. If he knew about Princess Yizhen, he might cause you trouble.” Hongqiao said slowly, “You are not afraid of him, but too much trouble will always be a worry.”
Consort Shu did not take Zhao Yi seriously, but Hong Qiao was right. If Zhao Yi lived well and avenged his mother, she would inevitably have to dirty her hands.
“This is because his birth chart is too weak to support the wealth and honor he is destined for.” Consort Shu lowered her eyes, looking at her well-maintained, delicate hands, her nails painted with red nail polish. “The princess he left behind has a rather unusual background; we can make use of her. You can arrange for Arong to stir things up and make her resent Yan Heqing.”
Yan Heqing is the name of the imperial tutor.
Hongqiao replied, "Yes." She suddenly remembered something: "Arong sent a message back that Liuyue, who serves the Crown Princess, ordered a few people to tidy up the study. They saw Liuyue move a gilded box to a partitioned room in the study and didn't let them interfere, guessing that there might be some secret inside."
This is a request for instructions, asking whether or not to move that box.
Consort Shu said thoughtfully, "Tell Arong to be careful, so that no one catches her."
Hongqiao understood; Consort Shu wanted to investigate the contents of the box.
-
The next day at noon, Arong arrived at Lanxue Garden carrying a food box.
Tingxue happened to come out of the house and reached out to Arong: "Give me the food box."
Arong saw that Tingxue's eyes were red: "Sister Tingxue, go wash your face. I'll deliver the meal to the Princess Consort."
After thinking for a moment, Tingxue did not stop Arong. She took a handkerchief and pressed it to the corner of her eye before heading to the servants' quarters with her head down.
Arong lifted the curtain and pushed open the door, only to hear sobbing. She entered the room and saw Shen Qingtan sitting on the couch by the window, her long black hair cascading down to her waist, nothing adorning her hair, and wearing a simple blue robe.
Liu Yue tilted her head to wipe away her tears, sobbing softly.
"Your Highness, this servant brings you breakfast." Arong approached Shen Qingtan and only then noticed her expression, which was one of utter grief. She must have been sleepless all night; her eyes were bloodshot. "Would you like to eat a bite or two to tide you over?"
Shen Qingtan seemed not to hear and did not look at Arong.
Arong looked at Liuyue beside her and said, "Sister, please advise the princess to take care of her health."
Liu Yue wiped her eyes with her sleeve, sniffed, and said, "Put the food box on the table first, and I'll persuade the princess to eat some later."
“Okay.” Arong placed the food box on the table, seemingly infected by the sadness in the room, her eyes filled with sorrow: “I heard that the Princess Consort and the Crown Prince were very loving in Da Zhou. Now that the Crown Prince has had an accident, the Princess Consort is very sad and probably has no appetite. I will stay outside and wait for her. When the Princess Consort wants to eat, if the food is cold, you can give me the food box and I will go to the kitchen to get some hot food to bring over.”
Liu Yue forced herself to stay alert: "Thank you for your trouble."
“It’s all I should do.” Arong bit her lip and complained, “There are so many officials in Northern Qi, why didn’t the Imperial Tutor send them? He just picked the Crown Prince to deal with the plague. If the Imperial Tutor hadn’t deliberately targeted him, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have gotten into trouble.”
Liu Yue suddenly looked at A Rong: "Targeting?"
Arong realized she had misspoke and quickly covered her mouth, stammering, "I...I..."
Liu Yue interrupted her, "Your Highness has no grudge against the Imperial Tutor, so why would the Imperial Tutor deliberately target Your Highness?"
Ah Rong stammered, "Sister, I...I was just talking nonsense..."
Liu Yue said sternly, "If you dare to speak ill of your master, I'll cut your tongue out."
"I...I'll talk..." Ah Rong was forced to her feet and hurriedly said, "The death of His Highness's birth mother is related to the Imperial Tutor. I heard it was his suggestion because His Majesty listens to the Imperial Tutor the most...Now the Imperial Tutor is deliberately sending His Highness there. I wonder if it is related to the death of Princess Yizhen."