Chapter 333

Chapter 333 Xie Run handled it with practiced ease: "I was thinking that the weather is getting hotter, and whether Your Majesty might be using too much ice to cool down. I was also thinking that with Your Majesty handling state affairs day after day, you must not overwork yourself. And then I thought—it's been so long since Your Majesty last visited me and Taotao. I wonder if you still remember what Taotao looks like?" The two of them were practically an old married couple by now. This kind of talk, Xie Run could produce a long string of it off the top of her head. The Emperor listened with great satisfaction, playing with her hand. "You'll have to bear with some hardship during this time, but I will never forget you and your son." Xie Run assumed the hardship the Emperor referred to was the fact that he kept staying overnight at Fanghua Palace and never came to her own palace. Xie Run thought about it and decided it was better to just stay quiet. In the imperial study, the Emperor had no other improper intentions. After a moment of being affectionate, the Emperor patted Xie Run's hand. "Since your calligraphy isn't good, you can come grind ink for me instead." Xie Run smiled. "That's a fine assignment." "How so?" "I get to stay by Your Majesty's side the whole time, and you won't grow tired of me." The Emperor was quite pleased by this flattery. Xie Run ground ink for about half an hour before Eunuch Shian led people in. "Your Majesty, the Empress has already punished Consort Wen and Jieyu An." The Emperor kept his head down, focused on reviewing memorials, his voice deep: "Speak." Eunuch Shian said: "Consort Wen treated her subordinates poorly and has been demoted to Fei rank, confined to house arrest for one month. Jieyu An committed the offense of showing disrespect to her superiors and having eyes for no one—she has been demoted to Lady of Beauty." Xie Run's hand, grinding ink, paused. The Empress's punishment was severe. The two had merely gotten into a small quarrel, yet both were demoted. Jieyu An was demoted two ranks in one go, from Lady of Handsome Fairness down to Lady of Beauty. Consort Wen had also fallen directly out of the Four Consorts, becoming an ordinary second-rank Fei. If the Empress kept punishing people this way, who knew how many demotions the imperial consorts could withstand. Would they all eventually go down to zero and start over? The Emperor's brush never stopped moving; only after finishing his final stroke did he raise his hand. "You may go." That meant he had no objection to the Empress's punishment. Xie Run didn't try to hide her curiosity and asked softly, "Your Majesty, Consort Wen and Jieyu An were likely just jealous of each other and scheming against one another. Isn't demotion too severe a punishment?" "Are you pleading for them?" "Of course not." Xie Run said with a smile. "I'm just a little curious. This doesn't seem like the Empress's usual temperament." The Emperor looked at her with a smile for a long while before saying, "It's not severe." He stroked Xie Run's hand and suddenly said, "When will Suisui give me another prince?" Xie Run was taken aback, not knowing how the conversation had veered in this direction. She smiled lightly. "These things depend on fate." In truth, Taotao was only a little over a year old and needed the most comprehensive protection right now. Xie Run didn't want to get pregnant at this time. If she became pregnant, she would need protection herself, and with Taotao on top of that—wouldn't she become a target? The Emperor saw through her thoughts at a glance and didn't press the matter. "Never mind, there's no rush." "It's just that I've been wanting to raise your rank, but I've been hard-pressed for an excuse." Xie Run: "..." A phrase suddenly popped into Xie Run's head: If one is truly favored, why would raising rank require an excuse? There was no need to look for examples from other dynasties—one only needed to look at how the Retired Emperor had doted on Noble Consort Rou and Noble Consort Chen in their day. But that thought lasted only a moment. Xie Run didn't want to become Noble Consort Rou—favored in her prime, then losing favor, half a lifetime trapped in love, half a lifetime trapped in power. Noble Consort Chen went without saying. But she also knew that given the Emperor's personality, those words weren't necessarily false. He wanted to raise her rank; he was just lacking a reason. Xie Run was puzzled for only a second before the answer came to her instantly. The Empress's punishment of Consort Wen and Jieyu An might well have been a case of killing the chicken to scare the monkeys—to intimidate the Six Palaces and keep them in line. As for wanting to raise her rank—perhaps he needed her, as a high-ranking consort, to help the Empress keep the lower-ranking consorts under control. One could see this from how the Emperor appeared to value Princess Cirui by granting her the first-rank Fei position, yet still let Xie Run hold a rank above her. Xie Run smiled it off. "Your Majesty is teasing me?" Just as she finished speaking, she suddenly saw Eunuch Shian leading servants in with tea, accompanied by a young palace maid in pink palace attire. Xie Run glanced at her casually and looked away. Then she suddenly heard Eunuch Shian shout, "Assassin!" She stood frozen in place. Having been here for so long, this was the first time Xie Run had heard the word "assassin." Having been pampered for so long, her reactions had slowed. She looked up and saw the palace maid lunging at the Emperor with a dagger. The guards at the door simultaneously drew their blades and charged in. Xie Run's mind reacted faster than her body. Instinctively, she shouted, "Your Majesty, be careful!" She twisted sideways and threw herself into the Emperor's arms, turning her shoulder toward the assassin. It looked like she was shielding the Emperor, but in truth, Xie Run had her own selfish motives. In that instant, Xie Run thought that even if the assassin killed her, she could only stab her shoulder—there was no way she'd reach her heart. As long as her heart wasn't struck, she wouldn't die. She couldn't die, and the Emperor couldn't die either. In that flash of lightning, Xie Run was also surprised at how much had raced through her mind in that moment. The Emperor saw Xie Run throwing herself in front of him in panic, and surprise was barely concealed in his eyes before it settled back into calm. He shielded her and retreated backward. In the chaos, the assassin was quickly subdued. Xie Run's right arm had been cut by a dagger. The Emperor held her and called for the imperial physicians, who quickly bandaged the wound. In truth, the injury was not severe, but the Emperor appeared furious, frightening the physicians so much that they trembled continuously. By the time everything was settled, the sun had already set. The Emperor said to Xie Run, "Rest well. I will ensure the culprit is brought to justice." Xie Run said softly, "Your concubine is fine." The Emperor's voice grew heavier: "I told you to rest, so rest. You are badly injured—do not move about!" Xie Run glanced at the gash on her arm and fell into silence. Was it really that serious? The Emperor raged in the outer chamber, punishing many people and ordering Jing Wu to investigate. A group of imperial physicians and palace attendants stood outside, all shrinking their necks. Xie Run was drowsily drifting toward sleep when Xiaoshu suddenly lifted the curtain and came out, tears in her eyes but a smile on her face: "Lady, good news!" Xie Run lazily opened her eyes: "What good news?" "His Majesty said you rendered meritorious service in rescuing him, and has specially promoted you to Consort De." Xiaoshu said with excitement in her eyes: "Also, His Majesty has discovered that the assassin is connected to the Xia Dynasty envoys and has already sent people to arrest them!" Xie Run lowered her head and glanced again at the wound on her arm, feeling increasingly puzzled. She hadn't had time to think it through earlier, but now hearing that the assassin was linked to the Xia Dynasty, it was as if a fog had lifted. The imperial study was so heavily guarded, and the palace maids within were rigorously selected—they would not be easily replaced. Yet today, Eunuch Shian had suddenly brought in that unfamiliar young maid. During the assassination attempt, the Emperor's face had shown little alarm. Xie Run recalled the various details of today's assassination attempt and became increasingly convinced that there was more beneath the surface. Xie Run gave a weak smile: "Go and thank His Majesty on my behalf. Tell him I am too badly injured to go and express my gratitude in person." Xiaoshu was visibly taken aback but still nodded. Soon, Xiaoshu returned with the Emperor's words. "His Majesty said you are too badly injured to be moved for now, so you should stay in Zichen Hall for the time being, and return to Zhaohua Palace once your wounds have improved." "His Majesty also said that during this period, you need not receive anyone else, so as not to disturb your recovery." Hearing these words, Xie Run was now certain that this assassination had been orchestrated by the Emperor himself to frame the Xia Dynasty. The purpose was easy to guess—he wanted to send troops, and pinning a black pot on the Xia people would give him a just cause for war. In the harem, many had already been frightened by the demotion of Consort Wen and Jieyu An due to their quarrel. Then suddenly came word that the Emperor had been attacked, and that Bright and Pure Consort had risked her life to rescue him and was gravely wounded, earning promotion to Consort Zhaode. For a time, the barrage of news left people overwhelmed. Some envied Xie Run's good fortune—she just happened to encounter the assassination and was promoted in rank for no apparent reason. Others quietly remarked that they wouldn't have the courage to gamble their lives for a higher rank. Bright and Pure Consort's promotion to Consort De was earned with her life—she deserved it. As gossip swirled through the Six Palaces, word somehow spread that the assassin had been arranged by the Xia Dynasty envoys. The Emperor was furious and had already sent people to pursue the Xia envoys. At this, everyone unconsciously turned their gaze toward Fengyi Palace. The Empress—she was a Xia Dynasty princess. Her kinsmen had attempted to assassinate the Emperor—how would she respond? Before the Empress could react, Consort Wen and Beauty An could no longer hold back and hurried to Fengyi Palace to plead for leniency. Consort Wen: "Elder Sister, Sixth Imperial Brother actually dared to assassinate the Emperor—are they trying to get us killed?!" Beauty An lowered her eyes, appearing obedient and gentle: "Empress, this matter is suspicious. The imperial study is heavily guarded, and Sixth Brother has no connections here—how could he have the means to arrange someone to enter and assassinate?" The Empress sat at the head. Against the light, Beauty An could not make out the expression on her face, but felt a flutter of unease in her heart. The Empress said in a cold, indifferent voice: "So what are you trying to say?" Beauty An quickly said: "This may not be Sixth Imperial Brother's doing. Empress, why not go and plead with the Emperor first? At the very least, buy some time so Sixth Imperial Brother can have a chance to prove his innocence." The Empress's face turned cold: "Ben Gong helps him stall the Emperor, and he takes the chance to flee back to Xia, leaving Ben Gong alone to bear the Emperor's wrath?" "Beauty An, do I look like someone who is tired of living?" Beauty An was choked for a moment: "Empress, even if you do not trust Sixth Imperial Brother, you should trust the Emperor and the Crown Prince!" By "Emperor and Crown Prince," Beauty An meant the Xia Dynasty's Emperor and Crown Prince. "Before the mission, Father Emperor and Crown Prince Brother gave repeated instructions for Sixth Imperial Brother to maintain good relations with Yu Dynasty and never offend the Emperor. How would Sixth Imperial Brother dare to defy Father Emperor and Crown Prince Brother's orders?!" The Empress looked at her coldly: "As long as Father Emperor lives, the ambitions beneath never cease. The Crown Prince is venomous, most fond of saying one thing while doing another. Even if Sixth Imperial Brother did not do it, the Crown Prince is likely not uninvolved." Beauty An was furious: "How dare you speak of Father Emperor and Crown Prince Brother in such a manner?!" The Empress did not care for idle talk. She raised a hand. Immediately, a palace attendant lifted the curtain and entered, carrying a tray. Beauty An swept her eyes over it—on it lay a white silk cord, poisoned wine, and a dagger. Her legs nearly gave way on the spot. "What are you trying to do?!" She could no longer maintain her composure and cried out, "I am the Emperor's consort, a princess of the Xia Dynasty! Even if you are the Empress, how dare you strike or kill me at will?!" The Empress replied, "So you do remember that you are the Emperor's consort?" "Based on your defense of the Xia Dynasty assassin just now, I can charge you with colluding with the assassin and plotting against the Emperor's life!" "Even if I were to pour a cup of poisoned wine down your throat, what could you do about it?!" Lady An's face turned pale with fear, and she turned to flee, saying, "I will go see the Emperor!" But after only two steps, she was intercepted, dragged back, and forced to kneel on the ground. Tinghe glanced over the tray and said, "A dagger, poisoned wine, or a white silk cord? Why not choose one, Thirteenth Princess?" "I will not choose!" Lady An said angrily. "You lowly maid—you were merely the lowest-ranking palace maid in the Xia Dynasty palace, and now you dare to threaten me?!" Tinghe said expressionlessly, "Indeed, you are a princess. A cup of poisoned wine would at least preserve your dignity." With that, Tinghe had already made the choice for Lady An and ordered someone to pinch her chin open. Lady An was truly frightened now. She quickly looked at the Empress and pleaded, "Elder Sister Empress, spare my life! Spare my life! I do not want to die—please let me go!" The Empress's deep gaze rested on her face as she slowly rose, supported by Nanny Li. She looked down at Lady An from above and said, "It is not impossible to spare your life. It depends on how you conduct yourself." Lady An said, "Please instruct me, Elder Sister Empress!" The Empress said, "The Emperor believes that the Xia Dynasty intends to wage war against the Yu Dynasty and thus resorted to assassination. But you have also said that Imperial Father and the Crown Prince repeatedly urged for peace between the two nations, and that no conflict should arise." "Since you bear the mission of a peace marriage, you must naturally also bear the responsibility that comes with it. The assassination was entirely the Sixth Prince's own doing, and has nothing to do with Imperial Father or the Crown Prince." Lady An seemed to understand something and nodded repeatedly. "Yes! It was the Sixth Prince who wanted to assassinate the Emperor. Imperial Father and the Crown Prince knew nothing—everyone was kept in the dark. It was the Sixth Prince who sought to ruin the diplomatic relations between the two nations!" A faint smile finally appeared at the corner of the Empress's lips. "In that case, use the connections Imperial Father gave you to quickly write a secret letter recalling the Sixth Prince." "Once the Sixth Prince is dead, this matter will have nothing to do with Imperial Father or the Crown Prince. You will also be credited for your service. I will certainly have the Emperor promote you to Fei. What do you think?" Lady An did not believe the empty promises the Empress was offering her in the slightest. But catching a glimpse of the poisoned wine, white silk cord, and dagger on the tray, her heart trembled, and she immediately lowered her head. "Very well, I will write it now." After Lady An finished writing the letter, a palace attendant took it and presented it to the Empress for review. Lady An said softly, "The letter can be delivered to Nanny Huo at Chuxiu Pavilion. She has her own ways of sending it out." The Empress nodded slightly, and someone immediately took the letter away. Lady An breathed a sigh of relief and quickly asked, "Elder Sister Empress, may I now return to my own palace?" The Empress glanced at her and said, "No." "The Sixth Brother is not far from the palace. Once he enters the palace, he will likely want to see you. It is better that you stay here in Fengyi Palace for now." Lady An's heart trembled. She felt that this matter was not so simple. But she had no power to resist now. Consort Wen, who had been silent nearby, watched as Lady An was led away. When they were alone, Consort Wen could not help but ask the Empress, "Elder Sister, today you sent me to see Lady An. Did you already anticipate that we would be demoted in rank?" "Is all of this the Emperor's intention?" Seated upon the Phoenix Throne, the Empress looked down at Consort Wen and said, "I have always known that you are not foolish—merely somewhat timid and indecisive."