Chapter 356

Chapter 356 Noble Lady Xian had been soothing the Sixth Prince, but even she was startled by Xie Run's imposing demeanor. It was quite remarkable—the Sixth Prince, who usually wouldn't stop crying once he started, was actually calmed down by Noble Lady Xian this time. He opened his big grape-like eyes and looked timidly at Noble Lady Xian, Xie Run, and the others. After punishing the servants, Xie Run turned back and saw Noble Lady Xian holding the Sixth Prince. "Judging by how negligent these people were today, one can only imagine how much drinking, gambling, and disregard for their masters goes on in normal times." "These matters will likely require the Department of Punishments to interrogate them one by one." Noble Lady Xian took the Sixth Prince's hand, her voice full of distress: "Sister Consort Zhaode, you see?" "I said I wasn't mistaken!" She said indignantly, "That day I saw frostbite on the Sixth Prince's hands, but the wet nurse made excuses that he'd scraped them while playing. She refused to let me see them and even mocked me!" "A legitimate prince being cared for so poorly that he develops frostbite—who would believe it if this got out?!" The more Noble Lady Xian spoke, the angrier she became. "I should report this to the Emperor and Empress and have these people severely punished!" Xie Run said, "Although winter came early this year, the Sixth Prince wouldn't have developed frostbite if his caretakers hadn't been negligent for so long." As she spoke, Xie Run suddenly remembered that the Emperor had found time to visit the Sixth Prince not long ago. And he hadn't even noticed the frostbite on the Sixth Prince's hands. Xie Run found this absurd as well. Half the blame lay with the servants who had grown too bold and bullied their young master, and half with the Emperor for being a neglectful father. She could only hope that Noble Lady Xian wouldn't say the wrong thing when she saw the Emperor and provoke his wrath. Xie Run said, "The people who were attending to the Sixth Prince have all been punished, but the Sixth Prince still needs someone to care for him." Noble Lady Xian wiped her tears and said softly, "Sister Consort Zhaode, what if I were to care for the Sixth Prince for a while?" "Absolutely not!" Xie Run refused without hesitation. She smiled faintly at Noble Lady Xian: "Ben Gong can clearly see that Noble Lady Xian cares for the Sixth Prince. But sometimes, being too eager only invites suspicion." "As the saying goes, 'Haste makes waste.'" Noble Lady Xian was stunned, a hint of disbelief in her eyes: "Is Your Ladyship suggesting this was all my scheme?!" She stood up agitatedly to defend herself, but was pulled back by the palace maid beside her. "Consort Zhaode, please see clearly—my mistress was so worried about the Sixth Prince that she lost her head and started speaking nonsense!" "It's getting late now, and it truly isn't appropriate for my mistress to stay too long in the Princes' Residence." With that, she quietly tugged at Noble Lady Xian. Although Noble Lady Xian felt wronged, she was still someone who heeded advice. She set the Sixth Prince down. Unwilling to leave just like that, she couldn't help asking one more question: "May I ask how Sister Consort Zhaode plans to arrange for the Sixth Prince?" "He's young, and suddenly being separated from familiar people might frighten him." Xie Run said, "That's no concern of yours." Xie Run had intended to offer Noble Lady Xian some guidance. Everyone knew she wanted to raise the Sixth Prince, but she couldn't be so obvious about it, or she'd end up attracting trouble. But Noble Lady Xian didn't understand and thought Xie Run was suspecting her instead. Xie Run lost all interest in continuing the conversation. Having hit a wall, Noble Lady Xian had no choice but to bow to Xie Run and take her leave. Xie Run had someone gather some of the Sixth Prince's daily necessities and personally carried him back to Zhaohua Palace. The procession was grand, and news of it spread throughout the Six Palaces in no time. The Empress was the first to send word. Tinghe: "Her Majesty the Empress was furious when she heard about this. Unfortunately, she's unwell and couldn't personally punish those wretched servants." "Her Majesty said that Consort Zhaode has full authority to handle this matter. If anyone has any complaints, they can come speak to Her Majesty directly." At that moment, Taotao was playing with the Sixth Prince on the couch. Though the two brothers weren't very familiar with each other, young children didn't stand on ceremony. Xie Run said to Tinghe, "The people in the Princes' Residence have already been dealt with. But the attendants for the Sixth Prince will need to be newly selected." "Ben Gong doesn't trust those palace servants, so I've brought the Sixth Prince to Zhaohua Palace to care for him for now. But this isn't a long-term solution—ultimately, I'll need to petition the Emperor and Empress to find a proper arrangement for the Sixth Prince." Tinghe bowed: "This servant will relay Your Ladyship's words to Her Majesty the Empress." Xie Run nodded slightly and had Dantao escort Tinghe out. The Emperor arrived at Zhaohua Palace two hours later. He didn't have anyone announce his arrival and went straight into the main hall. Xie Run was discussing with Dantao and the others how to arrange for the Sixth Prince, and had specifically instructed someone to open the storeroom and select items suitable for a young child. Seeing the Emperor, Xie Run quickly rose to her feet: "Your Majesty, why didn't anyone announce your arrival?" The Emperor raised his hand, his voice deep and unhurried: "Where's Little Six?" Xie Run: "The two children are playing right now. Would Your Majesty like to go in and see them?" The Emperor nodded. Xie Run dismissed the attendants and accompanied the Emperor to the adjoining side chamber. The Emperor didn't disturb the two children at play but stood to the side, watching quietly. Xie Run stood beside him, watching the Emperor while also keeping an eye on the two children from the corner of her eye. Taotao was carefree by nature, cheerful all day long. A younger brother, suddenly arriving, filled him with joy. He brought out all his little toys and laid them out on the couch to share. "This one's for you!" He pushed a worn-out tiger he'd grown tired of toward the Sixth Prince, then dug out his favorite little wooden sword from the pile. "This one's for me!" Then he shoved the gold neck ring, which he found heavy and disliked wearing, over to the Sixth Prince. Xie Run watched, silent for a long moment, and the look she gave her chubby eldest son turned somewhat strange. The Emperor, who never minded the children himself, naturally knew nothing of the inner workings. He only felt a surge of emotion swelling in his chest. He suddenly took Xie Run's hand and said with deep feeling, "You've raised Taotao well. At such a young age, he already knows to be a kind elder brother to his younger sibling, to look after him with care, and to part with what he truly treasures without hoarding it for himself. That temperament comes from you!" Xie Run broke into a cold sweat. If the Emperor knew the truth, he would never say such a thing. That boy looked honest and simple, but he was actually sly as a fox—just like the Emperor. Where would she ever get so many schemes? After watching for a while, the Emperor didn't go in to play with the children either. After all, he was never the type to personally soothe and entertain little ones. He sat in the main hall, his expression cooling considerably, and asked, "Where are the attendants who served the Sixth Prince?" Xie Run replied, "Those who served him closely, I've sent to the Department of Punishments. The rest have been punished according to palace regulations." The Emperor was silent for a moment. "No need for interrogation. Tell the Department of Punishments to beat them all to death." "As for the rest, send them all to Yeting for hard labor." Xie Run was inwardly startled, but she could tell the Emperor was still in a fury and dared not say much. "Then I'll send word at once." The Emperor beckoned to Xie Run. "Come walk with me outside." Xie Run stepped forward to stand before him, a calm smile on her face with a hint of playfulness. "Your Majesty commands, and I dare not refuse." He took her hand, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips as his mood lightened. The two strolled ahead while the attendants followed far behind. The Emperor asked, "What made you think to go to the Princes' Residence? When I heard the news, I thought someone had misreported it." He wasn't doubting Xie Run—he simply felt that acting so impulsively wasn't like her. She wasn't one to meddle in others' affairs either. Xie Run admitted frankly, "The Princes' Residence has always been managed by Her Majesty the Empress. I wouldn't dare pry into it on my own. If not for Noble Lady Xian tipping me off, even if I'd had a year or more, I would never have known the attendants were so audacious." "Noble Lady Xian?" Xie Run said, "It was Noble Lady Xian who came to my door today, saying she'd noticed the wet nurse neglecting the Sixth Prince a few days ago. When she tried to see him, the wet nurse even spoke rudely to her." "She swore an oath and begged me to go take a look. Though I have a gentle nature, I can't bear to see an innocent child suffer such wrongs. Hearing that, my anger flared as well." "But when I arrived at the Princes' Residence, the first thing I saw was two eunuchs at the gate gambling with dice." "When I reached the Sixth Prince's bedchamber, there wasn't a soul in sight—only the Sixth Prince, just woken from sleep, crying and trying to climb down from his bed." Xie Run stopped there. "It was Noble Lady Xian who, seeing this, couldn't help but pick him up and soothe him for a long while." The Emperor's brows drew down, his expression unreadable. "Why has she suddenly taken an interest in the Sixth Prince?" Xie Run said, "That, I wouldn't know. If the chance arises, shall I ask her next time?" After walking a bit further, Xie Run added, "The Sixth Prince is still young and truly needs someone meticulous to care for him. My bringing him to Zhaohua Palace on a whim was already against protocol. That Your Majesty did not punish me is my good fortune." "But my abilities are limited. I can barely manage caring for Taotao alone, and I fear I couldn't look after two young children at once without letting both Taotao and the Sixth Prince suffer." Among the high-ranking consorts, only Xie Run had a son raised by her side, and she'd been the center of attention for it. If she were to take in the Sixth Prince as well, the harem would be in an uproar, and everyone would see her as a thorn in their side. The Emperor asked, "What do you think of Noble Lady Xian?" Xie Run gave a helpless smile. "Your Majesty, I'm afraid that's a difficult question for me to answer." The Emperor shot her a sidelong glance. "Trying to fob me off again?" "Not at all!" Xie Run protested with a touch of pride, then said plaintively, "Your Majesty is always wronging me." "Today it was Noble Lady Xian who reported the matter. I took her to see the Sixth Prince's quarters, and only then did I deal with the offenders." "Now that Your Majesty wishes to choose someone to care for the Sixth Prince, if I speak well of Noble Lady Xian, it would seem I'm recommending her. But if I speak ill of her, word would get out that I'm two-faced." "So I'll say nothing, to avoid stirring up trouble." As she spoke, Xie Run playfully tugged at the Emperor's sleeve, hoping he wouldn't press further. The Emperor smiled and let the matter drop. Xie Run knew then that the Emperor already had his own judgment. The Emperor said, "I have you to thank for today's affair. Let Little Six stay with you for a couple of days. Once the Empress is feeling better, we'll discuss the rest." When the two returned, Taotao and the Sixth Prince were both fast asleep on the couch. Xie Run took one look and saw that Taotao was surrounded by all his favorite toys, while the Sixth Prince had a few scattered small toys nearby—all ones Taotao didn't like to play with. She muttered a complaint: "What a messy pile, like lying in a pigsty." The Emperor raised an eyebrow. "Why not have someone tidy things up?" "Taotao insists on sleeping with these things. If anyone tried to clear them away, he'd probably start wailing at the top of his lungs." Xie Run had no idea when her son had developed this peculiar habit. Nanny Xu stepped forward and said, "Your Ladyship, just now the Western clock in the hall chimed once and startled the Sixth Prince into tears. This servant quickly had it moved out and comforted the Sixth Prince for a while before he finally cried himself to sleep." Xie Run glanced up and saw that the spot where the Western clock had stood was indeed now empty. Xie Run had never learned the skill of telling time by the sky, so her palace had the most timekeeping Western clocks of all. When Taotao was little, he had loved staring at the Western clock. Xie Run hadn't expected it to frighten the Sixth Prince. Xie Run said, "Tell the attendants to be more careful. From now on, when the Sixth Prince is present, don't leave any objects that make noise, lest they startle the child." The Emperor watched from the side. "Has Little Six always been this timid?" "Only the personal attendants would know such things; this consort isn't really aware. But children have weak souls and are easily startled awake by sounds—that's quite normal." The Emperor nodded, thinking that the Third Princess, raised by Ritualist Hui, had the same temperament. In Ritualist Hui's case, the Emperor felt the child had been raised too delicately, which was why she was so timid. But with the Sixth Prince, the Emperor felt it was the attendants' failure to care for him properly that had fostered his timidity, and he mentally added another mark against those servants. That was the end of the matter. The Sixth Prince ended up staying at Xie Run's residence for half a month. Rumors began spreading through the palace, saying that raising one prince wasn't enough for Xie Run—she wanted to raise another to solidify her position. Others said Xie Run deliberately found fault with the staff at the Princes' Residence, all to bring the Sixth Prince into her own care, so she could raise him into uselessness and prevent him from ever competing with the Fifth Prince. Whatever the variation, the core accusation was that Xie Run's motives for raising the Sixth Prince were sinister. In truth, one couldn't blame people for such malicious speculation. With only two healthy princes in the entire imperial palace, both now residing in Zhaohua Palace—who wouldn't be envious? Xie Run only wanted to get rid of this hot potato, the Sixth Prince, as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the Emperor hadn't issued any decree, and those with other intentions dared not make a move. Except for Noble Lady Xian. She had been dragged away by her personal maid that day, and afterward, presumably having been given some guidance, she'd finally shown a bit of sense and stopped acting like she couldn't wait to raise the Sixth Prince. But her desire was there all along, and she couldn't suppress it for long. Just a few days later, she couldn't resist visiting under the pretext of calling on Xie Run to see the Sixth Prince. At first, Xie Run didn't stop her, but Noble Lady Xian's visits became too frequent to bear. Never mind Xie Run—even the servants of Zhaohua Palace were none too pleased. Now that Xie Run held the Management of the Six Palaces, the staff at Zhaohua Palace were already run off their feet. When Noble Lady Xian came, she'd need at least one or two people to serve tea and water, didn't she? And someone had to keep her company in conversation—a waste of time with no benefit to be gained. So Xie Run found an opportunity to make things clear, telling Noble Lady Xian to stop coming to Zhaohua Palace for now and instead go petition the Emperor for a decree. Once the Emperor's decree came down, Xie Run would hand the Sixth Prince over to her palace without a single word of objection. But just one day later, someone came to deliver news to Xie Run. "Your Ladyship, Noble Lady Xian specially made a bowl of soup and went to the Imperial Study to request an audience with the Emperor. But she was left waiting outside the Imperial Study for two hours, and in the end, she didn't even get to see the Emperor before being sent away."