Chapter 332

Chapter 332 Xie Run looked through the shadows of the trees and only saw two blurry figures. But just from the conversation, she could tell they were Consort Wen and Jieyu An from the Xia Dynasty. Dantao was afraid the two would disturb Xie Run and was about to go remind them, but Xie Run stopped her. Xie Run's voice was faint. "No rush, let's listen first." On the other side, Consort Wen said in a low voice, "I wonder what you mean by that, sister?" "What do I mean?" Jieyu An's voice was somewhat charming and coquettish, and even her cold, sarcastic words sounded especially pleasant. "Eleventh Sister, you're the best at playing dumb. It was like that in the Xia Dynasty, and now that you're in the Yu Dynasty, it's still the same." "The day before yesterday I went to find you, but you couldn't see me. Yesterday I went to find you again, and you were still busy..." Jieyu An laughed. "You haven't even been attending to the Emperor. What are you so busy with all day? Could it be you're busy sneaking around with someone?" Consort Wen's face changed color from fright. "What nonsense are you talking?! This is the Yu Dynasty. How dare you spout such nonsense freely?!" Jieyu An said nonchalantly, "I was just speaking casually. Look how frightened Eleventh Sister is!" "The Yu Dynasty is different from our Xia Dynasty. The Emperor doesn't even mind that you're a widow, so why would he doubt your innocence because of a few careless words from me?" Consort Wen's face flushed red with anger, her whole body trembling. "You're just like you were in the Xia Dynasty—making baseless accusations to ruin people's lives... How can you be so vicious?!" Before coming to form a marriage alliance, Consort Wen's mother had been accused by a consort in the Xia Dynasty's harem of sneaking around with another man. The Xia Emperor, without asking right from wrong, had immediately ordered both to be strangled to uphold the dignity of the inner palace. It was only because the Crown Prince arrived in time and reminded the Xia Emperor that he still had a daughter serving as Empress in the Yu Dynasty. If Consort Wen's mother were killed, they would lose a piece to use against the Yu Dynasty's Empress. Although Consort Wen's mother ultimately survived, Consort Wen had personally witnessed the Emperor storming in with a white silk cord to strangle her mother, and she had been terrified by the sight. Now, suddenly hearing Jieyu An accuse her of sneaking around with someone, she was so frightened her very soul trembled, and anger surged within her like tidal waves. But Jieyu An was unconcerned. "I'm vicious? Second Sister managed to sit on the Empress's throne in the Yu Dynasty's palace—who knows how much blood is on her hands. Why don't you go call her vicious?" Consort Wen was not good at trading insults, and after a long pause could only choke out: "You're just jealous!" "Jealous that my sister and I hold high positions while you're only a lowly Lady of Handsome Fairness. So you deliberately provoke me, trying to make me make a mistake." Consort Wen said angrily, "Ben Gong will not stoop to your level." With that, she turned and left. Jieyu An stepped forward two paces and grabbed her. "Sister, it's not that I'm jealous of you. It's clearly you who holds a grudge over what happened in the Xia Dynasty. Now that you've gained a high position, you want to take the chance to get revenge on me!" Consort Wen angrily flung her hand away. A splash was heard, as if something heavy had fallen into the lake. Consort Wen stood frozen in place, while the palace attendants beside her were already shouting: "Save her! Jieyu An has fallen into the water!" The attendants on scene fell into chaos. Through the shade of the trees, Chunjuan asked Xie Run, "Your Ladyship, shall we..." Xie Run said, "No rush. There should still be someone who hasn't appeared yet." She stood inside the pavilion, while Jieyu An and Consort Wen stood at the water's edge, a considerable distance between them. There was also tree shade blocking the view in between, so the two might not have noticed Xie Run. Xie Run thought this show was probably not being performed for her benefit. Sure enough, before long, the Emperor's procession appeared at the water's edge. Jieyu An was pulled out of the water. Xie Run also walked forward, supported by Dantao. Just as she reached the shore, she heard Jieyu An say in a weak, trembling voice: "It is this concubine's fault!" She glanced at Consort Wen, looking both wronged and resigned. "This concubine had a disagreement with Eleventh Sister. I tried to pull Eleventh Sister, but accidentally fell into the water myself." Consort Wen also instinctively defended herself: "It wasn't this concubine! She fell in on her own!" Having spent many years in the Xia Dynasty's harem, Consort Wen saw through Jieyu An's scheme at a glance and blurted out: "She deliberately threw herself into the water to frame this concubine!" Jieyu An quickly added: "Yes! This concubine deliberately fell into the water, just wanting Eleventh Sister to feel some pity for me..." The two spoke one after the other. Consort Wen's words were all about shifting blame, while Jieyu An's were all about accepting guilt—forming a stark contrast. Anyone unaware of the truth would immediately suspect Consort Wen. But the Emperor merely frowned slightly. "Send both of them to Fengyi Palace." Both Consort Wen and Jieyu An looked up with expressions of surprise. The Emperor said in a deep voice, "What? Do you need me to settle this dispute for you?" In that instant, both Jieyu An and Consort Wen realized that this Emperor was not their Imperial Father. His way of handling matters was completely different from their Imperial Father's. The Emperor refused to take the bait, and no matter how many tricks Jieyu An had, she had nowhere to use them. Suddenly, someone spoke up: "This concubine greets Your Majesty." The Emperor raised his eyes, and his heavy gaze fell on Xie Run, softening by several degrees in an instant. He beckoned to her. "My beloved consort, why are you here?" At Xie Run's appearance, Consort Wen was surprised and bewildered, while Jieyu An was much more composed. Xie Run moved with light, graceful steps, smiling as she walked toward the Emperor: "I had nothing to do, so I came to the pavilion to laze about—and unexpectedly got to watch a show." The Emperor chuckled softly and took the initiative to hold Xie Run's hand. "If you enjoy watching, I'll have a troupe summoned another day to perform for you all day long." Xie Run replied, "It's hot these days; watching a full day of opera wouldn't be comfortable either." "You're so particular!" Though the Emperor's words were dismissive, they were filled with affection. This left Consort Wen and Jieyu An feeling somewhat uneasy inside. The Emperor glanced at the two kneeling on the ground. "Shi'an, take them to the Empress for disposition." Eunuch Shian immediately responded, "Yes." The Emperor then took Xie Run's hand and led her to the Imperial Study. Xie Run felt something was off. This entire scene today was fraught with strangeness. Jieyu An seemed to have anticipated the Emperor's arrival, deliberately dragging Consort Wen into a performance for him. The Emperor had come, but he seemed to have seen through everything, paying no mind to the conflict between the two and directly sending them to Fengyi Palace for 'disposition.' That word was quite intriguing. As Xie Run was pondering this, the Emperor spoke up, "What are you thinking about? So absorbed?" Xie Run said, "...Thinking about Taotao." "You're lying." Xie Run quickly corrected herself, "Thinking about Your Majesty." "Lying again. I'm right here beside you; what is there to think about?" With no one else in the Imperial Study, the Emperor stretched out his arm and pulled Xie Run into his embrace, seating her on his lap. Xie Run obediently said, "Then I won't think anymore." Finally, a genuine smile appeared on the Emperor's face. "It's been a while since we've seen each other. Have you thought of me?" "Of course I have." Xie Run answered without hesitation. At a time like this, how could she hesitate?