Volume 2 Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Consort De’s Secret
“What is it?” Ye Hongyi took Xie Siyin’s cup and refilled it for her.
“Siyin wishes to… bring Jian Chen to the palace.” Xie Siyin looked towards Ye Hongyi nervously with hope in her eyes.
When Ye Hongyi heard Xie Siyin’s request, his grip on the teapot tightened as if he wanted to snap the pot handle off. However, his expression remained gentle and unchanged.
“It’s not like we haven’t considered this idea, but you know how terrible the consequences would be if someone found out,” said Ye Hongyi with a sigh.
“Siyin knows that this is very dangerous, but Jian Chen’s condition is getting worse. I’m afraid that he doesn’t have much longer to live. Siyin only wishes to be able to accompany him during his last days, even if Siyin can only get a glance at him once a day! Your Majesty, Siyin is begging you! Cough cough…” Perhaps it was because she had become too stirred up, but she had an abrupt coughing fit that caused her face to turn even paler.
“Don’t be so anxious, let us think about it… let us think…” Ye Hongyi put down the teapot and sat up straight on the chair. His thick eyelashes concealed the iciness in his eyes.
“Your Majesty…” Xie Siyin looked towards Ye Hongyi with tearfilled eyes as she waited for his reply.
“Fine, after all, we owe you two. We will think of a way to have Jian Chen be put into the group of guards. However, you must promise us that you won’t do anything to arouse anyone’s suspicions. Otherwise, you know the outcome!” Ye Hongyi gave her a stern warning.
“Siyin kowtows in thanks to Your Majesty!” Upon hearing this, Xie Siyin immediately got up and knelt down to him while shedding tears of gratitude.
“What need is there for the word thanks between us? Hurry and rise. Yue Chan!” Ye Hongyi helped Xie Siyin up from the ground as he called for Yue Chan.
“This servant kowtows in salute to Your Majesty,” said Yue Chan respectfully after she ran in.
“Hurry and help your master back to her room to rest. Look after her carefully!”
Yue Chan immediately got up to support Xie Siyin and help her towards the bedroom.
Once the sight of Xie Siyin’s delicate figure vanished behind the bedroom door, Ye Hongyi’s gentle gaze immediately froze over. He left Ordinance Palace and called An Bingshan to the imperial study.
“An Bingshan, pay a visit Palcho Monastery and have Imperial Physician Zheng increase Jian Chen’s drug by a large amount! We want him to be dead within five days!” said Ye Hongyi coldly, his eyes shining with cruel light.
“Your Majesty wants to get rid of Jian Chen? Then Her Highness Consort De’s drug…” An Bingshan responded with surprise and puzzlement.
“Continue with it! Everyone that betrays us must die! We gave her a chance, she was the one who couldn’t tell good from bad. If it weren’t for Xie Zhong, that old man, we wouldn’t have to go through such lengths either! Withdraw!” said Ye Hongyi fiercely. He only exhaled once An Bingshan left and continued sitting on the throne, looking exhausted.
Of the entire Inner Palace, who truly loved him? And who did he truly love? Ye Hongyi repeatedly asked himself this. The only answer he got was Yao Mowan!
During the entire dinner, Ye Junqing was completely silent. He only spoke when Yao Mowan got up to leave.
“This prince has found out that Eunuch Zheng and Yun Er hadn’t gone back to their old homes. No one even saw them leave the palace. Why would false information like that be recorded on the register? They’re all Moxin’s closest aids, there is definitely a reason behind this!” said Ye Junqing seriously as he kept an eye on Yao Mowan’s expression.
“What is Prince trying to say?” Yao Mowan slowly sat back down as she asked this in a disagreeing tone.
“Could it be that you don’t find this suspicious? It’s not just Eunuch Zheng and Yun Er, even the news about Nurse Sun returning to her hometown is false. If they hadn’t left the Imperial Palace, and they can’t be found in the palace, then that means they’ve likely been killed! Who exactly did it? And what was their motive? Could it be that you’re not curious about this?” Ye Junqing looked towards Yao Mowan in surprise. This wasn’t the reaction he had been expecting.
“There’s nothing strange about this. Eldest Sister had probably offended quite a lot of people in the palace while she was alive. After she died, those people with hidden grudges would naturally vent their anger on the people around her. Those three were unfortunate,” replied Yao Mowan calmly without a trace of a ripple in her eyes. However, her heart clutched with pain.
“That’s what you think? It never occured to you that they may have been killed to silence? You’ve never doubted Moxin’s cause of death?” Ye Junqing furrowed his brows as he continued to press on. He still remembered the palace maid he had seen in the side wing of the old Cold Palace. Although she had been so terrified that her words were a mess, Ye Junqing had heard and seen enough to know that there was some secret hidden about Yao Moxin’s death.
“It couldn’t be that Prince suspects His Majesty of killing Eldest Sister, right? I heard that His Majesty had almost had a complete falling out with the Empress Dowager and had nearly broke off all relationships with the Benevolent Prince when he made Eldest Sister the empress. They also say that Eldest Sister was completely infatuated with His Majesty, so there’s no reason for His Majesty to harm Eldest Sister! If Prince truly has too much free time, you can carry Fluffy out to take a walk and enjoy the flowers. After all, it isn’t good to be so tense all day.” Yao Mowan looked towards Ye Junqing with pity in her eyes.
“This prince doesn’t think it was His Majesty. However, isn’t it possible for one of the consorts in the palace to have done it?” How could he possibly suspect Ye Hongyi? Moxin had done everything for Ye Hongyi’s sake. Even if Ye Honyi had a hundred thousand reasons, he would never hurt Moxin. Ye Junqing’s eyes darkened slightly as a faint ache filled his heart.
“Oh? Which site? Not yumeabyss? 🙁 If you’re reading this then either you’re super bored or you’re reading on a site that copied this content without information. Please read on yumeabyss to support the translator, Chiyo. Otherwise she won’t be motivated to translate anymore~” said Yao Mowan with a sincere expression.
“Oh? Which consort? Since we are living under the same roof, based on this friendship, as long as Prince points out that person, Mowan will definitely make that person suffer a life worse than death before making sure that she dies without a corpse!” said Yao Mowan with a sincere expression.
“Why don’t you seem concerned at all? Moxin is your Eldest Sister, don’t you care about how she died?” Ye Junqing was a little angry since she was treating his words like a joke.
“It’s not that Mowan isn’t concerned, but Mowan is certain that there is nothing suspicious about Eldest Sister’s cause of death,” replied Yao Mowan calmly.
“Then how do you explain Nurse Sun and the others?” Ye Junqing still wasn’t persuaded.
“I heard that Prince still hasn’t found out whether they’re alive or not. Even if they had died, Mowan wouldn’t find it strange. After all, these ladies chambers are filled with vengeful ghosts. A bunch of people dying isn’t anything strange!” Yao Mowan didn’t feel as unconcerned as she pretended to be. She won’t let the people that died for her die in vain. She’ll carve these grudges into her heart, and one day, she’ll have Ye Hongyi pay for every single one in full!
“But they’re different from other people! They’ve once looked after Moxin! Could it be that you don’t care where they are?” Ye Junqing looked at Yao Mowan angrily.
“In Mowan’s eyes, they’re the same.” Yao Mowan suddenly got up. She couldn’t continue talking about this anymore. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from slamming the table, from rushing out and trying to kill Ye Hongyi with her bare hands.
“You heartless, cold-blooded woman!” Ye Junqing shouted in disappointment.
“It’s not like it’s only been a few days since Prince has known Mowan. You should already know what kind of person Mowan is. You’re right, Mowan is cold-blooded and heartless.” Yao Mowan could see the disappointment in Ye Junqing’s eyes. For some reason, her heart ached with pain. She wanted to explain herself, but she didn’t know where to start.
“This servant kowtows in greeting to Your Majesty!” Ting Yue’s voice suddenly came from outside. Yao Mowna immediately retrieved the hurt in her eyes, then, as tears spilled down her face, she threw a plate of vegetables towards Ye Junqing, because there had to be a reason for the indignance on Ye Junqing’s face.
“Yao Mowan! You go too far!” Ye Junqing was startled by Yao Mowan’s sudden action and immediately stood up and shouted at her. This was the scene Ye Hongyi saw the moment he walked in the doors.
“Your Majesty, Ye Junqing is bullying Wan er! He said Wan er is cold-blooded and heartless! Wuuwuu…” Yao Mowan wiped her tears as she ran towards Ye Hongyi like she was seeking comforting.