Chapter 444

Chapter 444 Xie Run assumed she had come, like Concubine Shen, to ask about the Emperor and Bai Fu. But unexpectedly, what she asked about was Taotao. "I saw the Fifth Prince on my way here. He looks spirited and healthy—no wonder His Majesty dotes on him most." Xie Run looked at Consort Jingshu warily. "Why bring up the Fifth Prince out of nowhere? The Seventh Prince you're raising isn't bad either—he's quite healthy now, isn't he?" Consort Jingshu smiled. "The Fifth Prince turns six after the new year. Shouldn't he be going to the Princes' Residence soon?" Xie Run couldn't help but want to roll her eyes. So this was her way of urging her to take charge of the Six Palaces. Even after the new year, Taotao would only be four. But Consort Jingshu, using the nominal age calculation, had conveniently added two years to him. Making it sound like he had no choice but to go to the Princes' Residence. Xie Run said, "Ben Gong has discussed it with His Majesty. He'll go to the Princes' Residence after his birthday next year." Consort Jingshu mused, "His birthday next year? That's still some time away." Xie Run shot her a sidelong glance. "Have you finished handling today's matters, Sister Consort Jingshu? How do you have such leisure to come all the way to Ben Gong's place?" Consort Jingshu said, "Upon suddenly hearing that His Majesty will personally lead the expedition, this concubine is deeply unsettled." "But this sister has no standing before His Majesty and dares not ask, so I came to inquire with you, elder sister." "Elder sister is well-informed—surely you must know something?" In recent days, Consort Jingshu had increasingly reverted to her true nature. Every few words, she'd lace in some sarcastic remark. Xie Run was used to it by now, though she couldn't always resist snapping back. Xie Run smiled. "I'm afraid I'll disappoint you, sister. Ben Gong knows nothing either." If even the court couldn't dig up any information, what right did she have to know? Seeing she couldn't extract any information, Consort Jingshu brought up another matter. "Elder sister Xie should already know about Lady-in-waiting Bai seeking favor in the imperial garden?" Xie Run's expression betrayed nothing as she said calmly, "Seeking favor is hardly a transgression." Consort Jingshu said meaningfully, "Elder sister, have you forgotten? We're still in mourning for the Retired Emperor." "Lady-in-waiting Bai just came out of house arrest and immediately tried to seduce His Majesty. As Noble Consort, shouldn't you properly teach her the palace rules?" Xie Run thought: "...Do I look that stupid, that I'd be provoked by your few words?" The Emperor had never publicly declared three years of mourning. The Retired Emperor had been gone for over half a year now, and the Emperor had observed mourning for that long. Among emperors of various dynasties, more than half a year of mourning was more than enough. Even if the Emperor didn't want to play the filial son and decided to grace the harem, the court officials would only praise him for thinking of himself—who would dare criticize him?! How overbearing would Xie Run have to be to police the Emperor's mourning period? Consort Jingshu leaned back lazily. "Elder sister, you've misunderstood me. This sister is thinking only of your welfare." "Since you're so concerned for my welfare, why don't you think a little more and personally go instruct Lady-in-waiting Bai yourself?" Consort Jingshu sighed. "This sister does have the intention, but I fear elder sister is only putting up a brave front while secretly reluctant to part with her." "After all, this sister isn't like you—I don't know my own strength. If I were to implicate you, it would be good intentions gone awry." After all this verbal sparring, Xie Run had rarely lost to Consort Jingshu—but this time she did. She truly didn't dare let Consort Jingshu go after Bai Fu. As Consort Jingshu said, she didn't know her own strength. If she ended up killing Bai Fu, the responsibility would fall on Xie Run. That evening, the Emperor didn't summon anyone to attend him, staying alone in Zichen Hall to rest. Bai Fu, too, had finally lost her former confidence, conducting herself with a measure of caution and propriety. Three more days passed, and Concubine Fang happened upon the Emperor while practicing the zither at Huixin Pavilion. When Xie Run heard, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. The palace intrigue had finally returned to normal. That night, the Emperor went to see Concubine Fang. Since no tablet had been formally flipped, as long as no pregnancy occurred in the harem, no one would gossip about where the Emperor slept. Everyone assumed the Emperor was going to favor Concubine Fang, and the next day they all waited to see which way the wind blew. But unexpectedly, early in the morning, Concubine Fang came to Xie Run in tears... to confess her guilt. "This concubine was reprimanded by His Majesty—I should not have been alluring and frivolous, playing wanton music to seek favor during the Retired Emperor's mourning period." "This concubine has erred. I beg the Noble Consort to punish me!" Xie Run, holding a ledger, looked utterly bewildered. "Stop kneeling on the floor. Get up and speak first." Concubine Fang quickly shook her head, crying like a tear-soaked mess. "This concubine dares not. I am laden with sin, and only beg Your Ladyship to mete out punishment." "Only after receiving punishment can this concubine's inner guilt and torment be somewhat relieved." "His Majesty personally rebuked me, yet my sins remain unabsolved. I beg Your Ladyship to punish me!" Xie Run could see it now—the Emperor was being a bastard again. Could it be that, unable to bed anyone during the mourning period, he was full of pent-up frustration and had resorted to finding excuses to discipline people instead? Xie Run sighed. "Seeking favor during the Retired Emperor's mourning period does violate palace rules. You'll be confined to your quarters for one month and copy twenty volumes of the Heart Sutra." Concubine Fang nodded eagerly. "This concubine will return and copy them diligently while reflecting on my mistakes. I will never again overstep in the slightest." Xie Run: "..." In truth, Concubine Fang had merely sought favor—it wasn't really a major offense. Even when Xie Run doled out the punishment, she felt it was too harsh. Yet she looked utterly grateful and moved... What exactly had the Emperor done? Concubine Fang's punishment spread throughout the Six Palaces by afternoon. No one dared to go to Zhaohua Palace to probe for information, so they instead went to Concubine Fang's residence to "pay their respects." After a stream of visitors came and went, the events of last night were fully revealed. It turned out that when the Emperor went to see Concubine Fang last night, it wasn't for favor at all—he spent a full hour reprimanding her. The Emperor scolded Concubine Fang relentlessly for an entire hour, scaring the wits out of her; she couldn't sleep all night. It was also the Emperor's order that she come to Zhaohua Palace to beg forgiveness. When she came crying this morning to plead for pardon, she was terrified that Xie Run wouldn't punish her, for then the Emperor would personally mete out the sentence. After Xie Run heard the whole story... she found it hard to put into words. But she did understand one thing. "The Emperor truly intends to observe three years of mourning for the Retired Emperor." This display was also meant to discourage those who sought to curry favor. In Fanghua Palace, Bai Fu was also unusually quiet. Caiyue asked softly, "Mistress, given Concubine Fang's situation, do you still plan to dance?" Bai Fu excelled at dance, having trained hard since childhood to achieve her graceful figure. In her past life, during her peak of favor, she often danced for the sovereign, earning countless praises—they said her dance rivaled that of Consort Yang. She took pride in that. During these six months of house arrest, Bai Fu had endured hardships she'd never faced in her previous life. Once a person falls into the mud, everyone will step on you.