Chapter 434

Chapter 434 Consort Jingshu spoke frankly of her own selfish motives, adding, "Ben Gong does have selfish intentions, but ultimately, it is for the Seventh Prince's good." "What benefit does it bring the Seventh Prince to be so deeply entangled with Beauty Wu?" "Beauty Wu knows full well she cannot see the Seventh Prince, yet she repeatedly puts on a show, casting herself as a pitiful, devoted mother yearning for her child." "But if she truly cared for the child, shouldn't she be happy that he is doing well?!" "All this frantic maneuvering—is it only so the world knows she has been wronged, knows she is the Seventh Prince's birth mother, and, conveniently, accuses Ben Gong of stealing her son?!" Consort Jingshu had long seen through Beauty Wu's little schemes, and so she was both furious and contemptuous: "At first, Ben Gong never forbade her from seeing the Seventh Prince. She should also know that Ben Gong has done her utmost for him." "To speak boldly—if we speak of genuine devotion to the Seventh Prince, even his own birth mother may not surpass Ben Gong." "It is only because she is insatiable, trying to use her status as the Seventh Prince's birth mother to influence him and those around him, that Ben Gong could no longer tolerate her." Having vented this torrent of accusations, Consort Jingshu seemed to release the pent-up frustration she had held for so long. Beauty Wu felt she had suffered a great injustice; Consort Jingshu felt equally wronged. Yet precisely because of her status, she had no chance to voice her grievances and could only swallow them down. She had certainly never treated the Seventh Prince with the slightest neglect, nor had she ever targeted Beauty Wu. But Beauty Wu, insatiable time and again, staged one act after another, bringing Consort Jingshu a mountain of infamy. Beauty Wu braving wind and snow to Yongning Palace was not the first time. Outsiders, unaware of the inner truth, only said that Consort Jingshu was harsh and cold-hearted, deliberately tormenting Beauty Wu. Xie Run listened to Consort Jingshu's tearful complaints before speaking slowly: "Ben Gong has only just arrived at Xiangyun Pavilion and hasn't even had a cup of hot tea." "A proper Lady of Beauty, yet only three palace maids attend her, and two of those show signs of laziness and deceit." "She has her selfish motives, and you have yours. Today, let us not speak of sentiment, only of reason." "The affairs of the Six Palaces are under your management. Xiangyun Pavilion is understaffed, and the palace attendants are negligent—does this not count as a failure on your part, Consort Jingshu?" Hearing these words, Consort Jingshu suddenly understood what was in Xie Run's mind. Consort Jingshu: "You suspect Ben Gong of deliberately tormenting her?!" Xie Run's gaze was clear and upright. "Perhaps not deliberately, but certainly not unintentionally either." "Hmph." Consort Jingshu did not evade. "You and I have both managed palace affairs; you know well that the people in this palace all kowtow to the mighty and trample the weak. She is incompetent and without virtue, cannot keep her attendants, and has no silver to grease palms—who would serve her willingly?" "What is Ben Gong's status, and what is hers? Does she even deserve Ben Gong to personally deal with her?" Xie Run: "You did not personally deal with her, but you shut her out and openly expressed your displeasure." "The palace attendants first feared that she had borne a prince, so they showed her a modicum of respect. But as your contempt and disregard became clear—whether to curry favor with you or to avoid offending you—they naturally followed the prevailing wind and turned against Beauty Wu." "You knew this all along, yet never intervened—that is dereliction of duty." "You yourself said we have both managed palace affairs, so should you not have known all this?" "When those above have a preference, those below will surely follow suit." "If something happens to Beauty Wu one day, even if you wash your hands clean of it, some karmic consequences cannot be washed away." The bonds of affection and grievances between mother and child do not follow reason. Consort Jingshu turned her head away, somewhat unconvinced, yet she knew clearly that Xie Run was right. It was precisely for this reason that, alongside her resentment and hatred of Beauty Wu, there was also a measure of guilt. Just moments ago, when she had been rebuking Beauty Wu, she could still stand tall and righteous, concealing that guilt. But facing Xie Run's calm, understated questioning, she suddenly lost all words. "As you rebuked Beauty Wu—if one truly loves the Seventh Prince, one should not let his birth mother live in such hardship." "When the Seventh Prince grows up and learns of the discord between his birth mother and his adoptive mother, how will he reconcile himself?" "Indeed, that rift is one you planted with your own hands." Consort Jingshu flushed with a mix of shame and anger: "Noble Consort Zhao is so kind-hearted—why not take over managing Beauty Wu from now on?!" "After all, you too share the responsibility of managing the Six Palaces!" Xie Run: "Ben Gong does have a duty to manage her, but only within the scope of that duty. There is no need to consider so-called mother-son bonds." Both women knew well that care rendered within the bounds of duty was merely to ease one's own conscience; it would not grant Beauty Wu even two more days of life. Xie Run did not care whether the Seventh Prince resented or felt grateful toward her, but Consort Jingshu certainly did. Xie Run: "Ben Gong cares not whose selfish motives are at play—only that no more deaths occur this year." In just two or three short months, if the palace were to hold four funeral rites in succession, it would sound terribly bad. Consort Jingshu remained stubborn and unyielding. Xie Run: "At the very least, let her survive this winter." "Do not forget—the Emperor has not yet registered the Seventh Prince under your name." Consort Jingshu abruptly raised her head to look at Xie Run, her eyes slightly reddened. Originally, Xie Run had not intended to say this, for fear of piercing Consort Jingshu's heart. But if she did not say it, Consort Jingshu would only sink deeper into her own tunnel vision. Some words, said too often, only breed resentment. Xie Run gave a few instructions to Dantao, asking her to make some arrangements at Xiangyun Pavilion so that Beauty Wu's remaining days would be more comfortable. After lingering for a moment, Xie Run left with her people. Consort Jingshu had not wanted to stay a single moment longer in Xiangyun Pavilion, much less look at Beauty Wu's face full of petty schemes. Yet after sitting in Xiangyun Palace for a long while, she had to admit that Xie Run was right. She had raised the Seventh Prince with genuine affection, and that had given her a weakness, and a stubborn obsession. Those with weaknesses could never be as bold as they once were. Xie Run's final words had not only struck her weakness but had also shattered her defenses. After the two left Xiangyun Pavilion, Beauty Wu's days became more comfortable. Xie Run had merely instructed the various departments to replenish what Beauty Wu lacked according to the rules, but Consort Jingshu deliberately added a full double to Beauty Wu's original allowance. When she set her mind to something, she could do it beautifully. Fearing criticism, Consort Jingshu arranged for the extra portion to be deducted from her own allowance, and also sent someone to deliver many precious medicinal herbs to Beauty Wu. For a time, the whispers in the palace shifted somewhat. But Beauty Wu was not satisfied, taking Consort Jingshu's actions as a sign of fear. Once her illness improved somewhat, she braved the wind and snow to go to Yongning Palace. Her little schemes had never been well concealed. In the past, when Consort Jingshu was strong, she would sneak visits, and even if she could not see her, she would still make the trip, making sure everyone knew. Now that Consort Jingshu had taken a step back, she would take a step forward, going straight to the gates of Yongning Palace.