Chapter 382.4: Strange Object, More Chaos
Chapter 382.4: Strange Object, More Chaos
It was a very special piece of jade, lustrous and translucent, the color slightly yellow, yet the inside was scattered with blood red vein lines that appeared like cracks. It didn’t appear to be blended in, but rather cracks completely getting embedded in the middle. However, the surface was also incomparably smooth. Based on the current craftsmanship level, humans were unable to make something like this.
Jing Wand felt it was unusual, but she wasn’t in disbelief either. After all, under the heavens, the world was full of extraordinary things. “It appears quite beautiful, Ah Yuan…………what’s wrong, is there something not right?”
Li Hong Yuan put away the emotions on his face, “Nothing, just recalled, this was something left behind by the Imperial Noble Consort. The only thing in my hand that was left behind by her.”
If it was just like this, Li Hong Yuan naturally wouldn’t care, but in his past life, nearing his death, this piece of jade was on him. Originally, there shouldn’t be anything strange about it either. However, ever since he moved out of this place at seven, aside from occasionally entering here in the first year, afterwards, he never entered this place again. In his past life, after he ascended the throne, he just sent palace maids to clean up this place. He for the most part never got involved personally. As for whether or not this chest ended up in his hands, he already forgotten, but he was a hundred percent certain that this piece of jade didn’t. Yet, in the few years prior to his death, this piece of jade strangely appeared by his side, and he even constantly carried on him. However, thinking back to it now, how this piece of jade appeared, he was unable to recall no matter what. Something that made him care to the point of not leaving his side at all times, there was no reason for him to forget its history. The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he felt. It was just like appearing from thin air, and he himself didn’t suspect at all. Moreover, at the time, he seemingly completely forgot that this was something his birth mother left behind. Yet, at this moment, the instant he saw it, he just clearly knew its origins.
There was something wrong with this piece of jade!
Li Hong Yuan had the jade taken into his palm, deciding to carry on him in the future too. As for dealing with it and not what, he simply never considered it. After all, to have been able to strangely appear by his side once, it can also happen a second time. As such, he might as well directly keep by his side. Of course, things of unknown origin, he won’t let Jing Wan touch.
The Imperial Noble Consort’s only remnant, Jing Wan naturally won’t extend her hand either.
“Since it’s a treasure, at the time, when you moved out from here, how come you didn’t take it with you?” Jing Wan asked as she locked the chest back up again. At this point, they certainly won’t take it with them. It was best to return it to its original place. As for what will happen to it in the end, there was no need to bother too much.
“Forgot, or perhaps hid it when I was even younger, so that time when moving out, didn’t remember it.”
Jing Wan nodded, “Probably, small children are quite forgetful to begin with. Fortunately her Highness has kept it all this time, else one might not know where it will be.”
“En.” Li Hong Yuan somewhat distractedly responded, looking to the jade in hand from time to time.
Seeing his birth mother’s only remnant, slightly feeling a bit abnormal was also human nature.
After inspecting a few times, Li Hong Yuan still discovered some differences. He remembered, in his past life, the red veins inside were ‘alive’. That kind of feeling was really like as if it was flowing. But now, the veins inside although weren’t rigid, it was still the characteristic of what a normal good jade should have. What was not normal seemingly was just in his past life.
When it was more or less time, the two of them left the side hall holding hands.
Li Hong Yuan didn’t wish to stay long in Yucui Palace, so just proposed to take his leave.
Noble Consort Su’s complexion at this time was somewhat not good, and unsure if it was because of this that she didn’t try to keep them.
Afterwards, Jing Wan learned that Princess Min Xiang had already left the palace an hour earlier. Looks like, it was most likely this pair of mother and daughter having a fight.
After leaving Yucui Palace, Jing Wan suddenly recalled, perhaps they should go see Shu Consort Qin. Back in the Empress’s palace, she seemingly didn’t notice the other party’s presence. Thus, she brought this up with Li Hong Yuan.
Li Hong Yuan nodded.
As such, they turned towards Ganlu Palace
Shu Consort Qin, as usual, maintained a neither close nor distant attitude, smiling warmly, “Didn’t expect that the two of you would actually come to this consort’s place.”
Truthfully speaking, Shu Consort Qin’s attitude, if not for a certain someone informing her, she wouldn’t suspect in the slightest that this Shu Consort was actually working together with a certain someone. Moreover, to just let the Empress fall ill like that, exactly how did she achieve it? Truly too incredible. “Last time entering the palace, one should’ve paid your Highness a visit, but because of a small accident, one left the palace ahead of time. Thinking that there’s nothing important right now, one thus just came to see your Highness, hoping your Highness doesn’t blame.”
Shu Consort Qin helplessly laughed, “This child is rather honest………”
Shortly after, they just idly chatted a few words. Li Hong Yuan just drank tea to the side the whole time, appearing rather carefree and relaxed. Just, aside from the initial greeting, he didn’t say another word. No matter how one looked, it was all a bit……………
“Alright, this consort won’t keep you two any longer. If we keep going, old six will start throwing a tantrum.” Shu Consort Qin slightly joked.
Jing Wan was about to say something, when outside, the eunuch by Le Cheng Emperor’s side came to pass on an imperial decree.
Having no choice, Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan also went along to receive the imperial decree.
The so called imperial decree was also just a verbal decree. However, the things brought along………..
Shu Consort Qin received the phoenix seal with both hands, helplessly sighing, “The tree wishes for stillness, yet the wind never stops.”
It was indeed so. Noble, De, Shu, Xian, the four consorts, had Noble Consort as the head. However, Le Cheng Emperor’s imperial harem just has two consort. The Empress’s body was unwell, so even if not having the palace affairs given to the people by the Empress’s side to handle, the phoenix seal should still be handed over to Noble Consort to handle the official affairs, then have Shu Consort assist. Yet now, it was skipping over Noble Consort, with the phoenix seal landing in Shu Consort’s hands. In the end, it was probably still because of balance.
(T/N: De, Shu, Xian all translate to virtuous with different nuances, so it’s just easier to leave them as their pinyin.)
One practically can imagine, in the following days, Kang Qinwang’s influence will shrink, and Gong Qinwang’s influence will expand. The usually peaceful Ganlu Palace will also become lively, and some things, even if Shu Consort Qin doesn’t want to get involved in, it will still voluntarily come look for her. There will always be those people that won’t easily let her off, especially Gong Qinwang, still don’t know how he will jump up and down.
If Shu Consort Qin really is someone that likes her current days, then the following days really will make her uncomfortable.
“Your Highness……..” Jing Wan was feeling a bit guilty, because she was the main culprit. If not for her, her own husband wouldn’t have let the Empress fall ill. And if the Empress didn’t fall ill, Shu Consort wouldn’t have to accept this hot potato, still comfortably living out her days.
Shu Consort Qin made out Jing Wan’s worry, slightly feeling warm inside. Really is a good child. Lightly smiling, “It’s fine, although disliking, but still able to deal with. This place of mine, afraid, very soon, will have people coming. You two best leave the palace.”
Even if staying behind, they were unable to help, and might even add to the troubles instead, so it was still best to obediently leave the palace.
After leaving the palace, and climbing onto the qinwang manor’s horse carriage, Jing Wan let out a sigh, “In the following days, it probably won’t be peaceful again.”
“When does Wan Wan feel it has been peaceful before?”
“Indeed, in this battle for the throne, for every day it doesn’t end, one will unable to obtain peace. Even if it ends, it’s all possible for there to still be chaos for a period of time.”
“It won’t affect Wan Wan.” What he did was precisely for the sake of holding up a piece of sky for Jing Wan. If he were to still let her worry and get troubled along with, then how incompetent would he be.
“I know.” Jing Wan was lazily lying on Li Hong Yuan’s knees. “Oh right, Ah Yuan, Princess Min Xiang and her fuma seemingly don’t get along?”
“Nothing more than just Min Xiang being arrogant and domineering. The specifics, I don’t know either. If you’re interested, you can look for An Yi to ask.”
In Jing Wan’s eyes, An Yi was just the head of special assignments under this living Enma, both needing to handle the work on the surface, and also the matters in the dark. Even various gossips, he all needed to look after. It really was hard on him. “…………Ah Yuan should increase his monthly salary.” Jing Wan teased.
“Isn’t Wan Wan in charge of these things? Besides, it’s just having some information collected and organized, how strenuous can it be?”
Jing Wan momentarily fell silent. About that, seemingly all the food and clothing expenses, An Yi all didn’t need to look after, all going through the manor’s public account. Afterwards, every month, there was also at least a thousand taels in salary. If going out on a special mission, there was also an additional allowance. For ordinary upper class high officials, as a bodyguard, to be able to have ten taels a month as salary was already not bad. Even if a qinwang manor, and even the kind that had power and influence, two hundred taels a month was all very good. Calculating like this, Jin Qinwang Manor was practically just the high salary among high salaries, and seemingly not considered to be treating them unfairly. Jing Wan managed to clear her conscience.
The procession stopped, “Master, General He family’s young master is blocking the path.”