mtl008 Chapter 542 Calculation
Chapter 542 Calculation
In Fengqi Palace, Ruhan laughed so hard that she trembled: "Your Majesty, didn't you see Eunuch Li's face? It was blue, then red, then red, then black..."
Ru Ping also smiled, but slightly restrained her smile: "Your Majesty, will His Majesty be angry if you do this?"
Lan Qingwu curled his lips slightly: "He's angry? I'm still angry! Today, the Queen Mother is sick and he appoints a concubine. Tomorrow, if there is no new heir to the throne, and Queen Mother Li is sick again, he will have to sleep with another woman! These women are pitiful people, but unfortunately they are in the harem. In my current situation, I can't tolerate it!"
Of course, she would not hand the Emperor Shenwu over to him. Those women had already entered the palace and were not being treated unfairly, but Lan Qingwu wanted to use this opportunity to tell the Emperor Shenwu that his approach was not feasible, as it would only treat the symptoms and not the root cause, and would only gradually increase the appetite of others.
Ru Ping added, "Your Highness the Crown Prince was right today. The Empress Dowager has now learned to show weakness and no longer acts harshly towards Your Majesty. Your Majesty, out of consideration for his biological mother, will always show some respect!"
Lan Qingwu was also very troubled: "Since ancient times, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has always been a problem. Originally, there was no conflict of interest between the Queen Mother and me. She used to like me very much. But now, just for the sake of my mother's family and Queen Duanhui, she has to dislike me!"
The prince originally came today to discuss the results of the handling of the imperial mausoleum drawings with Lan Qingwu, but happened to meet Li Xiang who came to convey the imperial edict.
Lan Qingwu didn't really care about this. She said to the Crown Prince, "In this life, we have no control over our births, we are born ignorant and confused, and we also have no control over our death, we die without knowing anything! I have thought again and again that your father is in good health and will live a long life, while I am weak and will definitely pass away before him. When that happens, how can I decide where to be buried? If all else fails, you are still here!"
At that time, the prince said in a panic: "Mother...Father will always be with you!"
Lan Qingwu shook her head. "My Queen Mother has done some research. The royal family, especially the emperor, has their own secret formulas for maintaining their health. Most of them live long lives! Chu Ming, don't be sad. My Queen Mother doesn't mind talking about life and death!"
Thinking of the Crown Prince's final silence, Lan Qingwu asked, "Just now, the Crown Prince said he wanted to leave the palace, right?"
Ruhan nodded: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said he needs to leave the palace to do some business!"
In De'an Palace, Concubine Wan was also gossiping with Concubine Jiang: "Sister Concubine, you say, this one has been appointed as a concubine, and this one has been given the title of talented woman, isn't it time for the Empress to come out?"
Imperial Concubine Jiang's tone was slightly helpless. "That's right! Isn't the Empress Dowager's fuss just for His Majesty to see? In the morning, the Black Feather Guards surrounding Fengqi Palace were all withdrawn. A young eunuch also said that he saw Li Xiang, the chief steward of Qianzheng Hall, go to Fengqi Palace. This should be His Majesty's decree to lift the ban! But the gate of Fengqi Palace is still closed, and there is no movement inside the palace! This... whether the house arrest has been lifted or not, I can't tell!"
Outside the palace, the seventh prince Zhou Chengjing came to Chunfeng Tower to meet a new painting friend named Zhao Botong. The two met more than two months ago and admired each other's talent and character, so their interactions became more and more frequent.
Today the two of them met at Chunfeng Tower. The Seventh Prince had a special private room here. The three of them, including the master and servant, were welcomed by the waiter into the private room on the third floor.
After serving fragrant tea and exquisite snacks, the Seventh Prince dismissed the guests. He had a worried look on his face because his mother was under house arrest. Although his brother, the Crown Prince, had assured him and his sister that nothing was wrong, how could the Seventh Prince not be worried?
Therefore, even though the Seventh Prince came out of the palace to meet his good friend, he was somewhat absent-minded. Perhaps it was because the private room was warm, but the Seventh Prince gradually felt a little weak. He yawned softly. The little boy had grown into a graceful gentleman, looking quite like a noble young man. His eyebrows resembled Lan Qingwu, and were even more delicate and unrealistic.
The Seventh Prince looked at the hourglass beside him and said, "It's still early. I'll go in and take a nap. When Master Zhao arrives, wake me up immediately!"
The eunuchs and the attendants who followed him bowed hurriedly in response.
He Huan helped the Seventh Prince lie down, then went to the door to chat with the guards.
When the Seventh Prince woke up again, he felt a splitting headache. He stroked his brow gently and cried out before opening his eyes, "He Huan! He Huan! Why am I so dizzy?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he found something wrong. His hand touched something soft and tough. The Seventh Prince struggled to open his eyes, and the scene in front of him left him stunned.
A delicate young girl, clad only in a light red nightgown, was kneeling at the Seventh Prince's feet. Her face was pale and she was trembling. The Seventh Prince could vaguely see her snow-white skin beneath the nightgown. His own clothes were completely gone.
The Seventh Prince was stunned for a moment. He couldn't remember what had happened, or why this woman was in his room! He Huan didn't know why she didn't come in either.
When the woman saw the Seventh Prince regain consciousness, she sobbed softly, "Please, sir, let me go! I simply walked into the wrong room. I've already admitted my mistake. Why are you treating me like this?"
The woman was extremely heartbroken and cried, "My family had just arranged a marriage for me, and this happened! My dear, please just pretend that what happened today never happened, or I will die!"
The woman got out of bed in a panic to look for her clothes, but the Seventh Prince accidentally caught a glimpse of a glaring red color.
The Seventh Prince was shocked. Of course he knew what this was. Although he had not experienced it himself, he had heard a lot about it in the palace.
The Seventh Prince's heart was pounding. "Please wait a moment, young lady. If I have truly been rude, I will take responsibility. I must return home and inform my parents, who will certainly propose marriage to your family. May I ask your maiden name? And to what family are you born?"
This is the truth but also a test. If this woman had planned this in advance, she would pretend to be embarrassed and finally agree reluctantly!
Unexpectedly, the woman cried even harder, shaking her head in fear: "No! No! No! My father will beat me to death if he finds out about this! My family has strict discipline, my father will give me white silk..."
The woman was trembling with fear. "Please, sir! Let's just pretend this never happened! You and I are just strangers. Let's just assume that this is all my fault today! Just consider it a kindness you did me! I'll save my life!"
"Sir, just pretend you haven't seen anyone today!"
The Seventh Prince was really at a loss. He didn't expect that the woman would put on her clothes so quickly, kneel down on both knees in front of him, kowtow and beg for mercy, and after saying these words, she wanted to rush out.
The Seventh Prince's remorse and guilt reached a peak at this moment. He casually threw on his pajamas, stood up, and grabbed the woman's wrist: "You..."
The woman seemed to be burned. She hurriedly shook off the Seventh Prince's hand and stepped back. Her face was covered with tears, and her clear eyes looked at the Seventh Prince stubbornly: "If you continue to pester me, I will commit suicide right now!"
The woman retreated to the table, reached out and smashed the teacup, ignoring the cold gleam of porcelain pieces, and clenched her right hand and placed it on her left wrist.
The Seventh Prince had no choice but to retreat: "Don't hurt yourself! I just want to be responsible for you! Put down the porcelain piece in your hand! If you want to leave, go ahead!"
The woman lowered her eyes and sobbed softly, "My family has already found a marriage for me. I don't want to cause any more trouble because of this matter. I can handle the rest of the matter myself! There's no need for you to meddle in my affairs! I just hope we never see each other again!"
At this time, He Huan came in from outside: "Master, are you awake? I just heard some noise..."
He Huan pushed the door open and walked in: "Master, please forgive me! I don't know how I fell asleep just now... This..."
He Huan stared at the new woman in the room with wide eyes: "What's going on? Master..."
The woman lowered her head even more, holding the porcelain shard tighter in her hand, and uttered a desperate voice, "Sir!"
The Seventh Prince said in a deep voice: "He Huan, move aside! Let this girl out!"
Going out and returning home temporarily wouldn't be a big problem. It would be easy for the Seventh Prince to investigate someone in the Imperial City. He would then find out which family the person was from, investigate thoroughly, and then ask his father, the Emperor, and his mother, the Empress Dowager, to grant him a marriage. With an imperial decree granting the marriage, the girl's family wouldn't make things difficult for him. That was what a real man should do!
He Huan watched helplessly as the woman covered her face and cried as she walked away. He looked at the Seventh Prince at a loss: "Master, this..."
The Seventh Prince's temper flared up. "How could you possibly fall asleep in the outer room? Someone accidentally entered my bedroom! And where's Guard Lan? What kind of tea is in this room? I felt dizzy after drinking it and I don't even remember what happened!"
He Huan was scolded bitterly. "Guard Lan received a letter more than half an hour ago and left. He asked me to report to the master. I saw that the master was asleep, so I thought I would wait a while before speaking to him. I didn't expect that I fell asleep too! I don't know why, but I was too sleepy to open my eyes just now... Master, that girl just now..."
The Seventh Prince frowned and said, "I will definitely be responsible for that girl..."
The Seventh Prince stared at the glaring red on the messy bed. Suddenly, his pupils shrank slightly. The next moment, he raised his head and said in a cold tone, "He Huan, quickly capture that woman! Bring her to my room!"