Chapter 447

Chapter 447 Xie Run's head throbbed at the sight of these three women. She couldn't be bothered with pleasantries and cut straight to the point: "Has some life-or-death crisis occurred in the palace that warrants all of you rushing to Ben Gong's chambers at the crack of dawn?!" If anything happened, why not go to Consort Jingshu first! The Emperor was about to personally lead the campaign, and Xie Run had opened with talk of life-or-death matters. The others still had some sense and dared not respond carelessly. Only Lady Hua—who might as well have been born without a brain—spoke up. She blurted out: "The Emperor is about to personally lead the campaign—how is that not a life-or-death matter?!" She even added a mild rebuke: "Noble Consort Zhao enjoys the Emperor's favor, yet she can still sit here so calmly?!" Consort Wen and Lady Xian, hearing her words, both wore wooden expressions. Clearly, neither had expected this. Hua Yu was indeed Hua Yu—after half a lifetime of turmoil, she still had the same temperament. The smile on Xie Run's face vanished instantly. She snapped coldly: "How dare you!" Having been through so many ordeals, Hua Yu's courage had been worn down considerably. At Xie Run's sharp rebuke, her body instinctively trembled. She shrank her neck, all the boldness she'd shown moments ago gone. But Xie Run wasn't about to let her off. "The Emperor is divinely wise and brilliant. Even if he personally leads the campaign, he is certain to return victorious!" "And you speak of life-or-death matters—are you cursing the Emperor?!" Hua Yu's face went pale with fright. "Of course not! That's not what I meant!" Xie Run continued: "Furthermore... are you trying to teach Ben Gong how to conduct herself?!" Her gaze swept over and landed on Hua Yu, who felt as if needles were pricking her back. She hastily explained: "This concubine wouldn't dare!" "You wouldn't dare?" Xie Run gave a light laugh. "You've already spoken such reckless words—what's a mere question or two to Ben Gong? What wouldn't you dare do?" Lady Xian interjected with a sardonic tone: "This isn't the first time Lady Hua has spoken such heartless words." "The Emperor hasn't even set out on campaign, and she's already cursing him—utterly senseless!" Consort Wen, watching the two suddenly clash, was thoroughly confused. She hesitated for a long while before raising her voice slightly to ask: "Noble Consort Zhao, is the Emperor truly going to personally lead the campaign?" At her question, the other two ceased their squabbling and turned their attention back. Xie Run looked at her with deep, inscrutable eyes. "Xia is merely putting up a desperate last stand. Whether or not the Emperor personally leads the campaign, unifying the realm is only a matter of time." Consort Wen's throat tightened, and a bitter expression crossed her face. Though she had a weak disposition, she had always been clever and never involved herself in harem affairs. This time, she had come with Lady Xian and Lady Hua, but her thoughts were entirely different from theirs. Xie Run only reminded her coolly: "Consort Wen, do not be too indecisive." "The Empress and your mother, Consort Yun, both died at the hands of Xia—this is a great blood debt. Have you already forgotten?" And now she was afraid of Xia's downfall? Utterly senseless. Xie Run felt that the Empress's sincere affection had been wasted on this sister. At Xie Run's words, Lady Xian and Lady Hua both turned to look at Consort Wen, shock evident in their eyes. Neither had expected that Consort Wen, who had come with them, still harbored feelings for Xia in her heart! Both women shifted their seats, trying to put some distance between themselves and Consort Wen. Consort Wen, struck by Xie Run's pointed words, flushed crimson and sat as if on pins and needles: "This concubine does not harbor loyalty to Xia, but Xia is, after all, the land that raised me..." Xie Run's expression darkened, and she roared: "Guards! Escort Consort Wen back to her palace!" A wave of nausea churned within her, and she could barely contain her fury: "Consort Wen has shown disrespect to her superior and insulted Ben Gong. Her monthly allowance is docked for one month, and she is placed under House Arrest for one month." Consort Wen looked up, bewildered, at Xie Run. "Noble Consort Zhao, sister..." "Ben Gong would never presume to be your sister. I fear that even in death, I would find no peace in the underworld." With that, Xie Run waved her hand to have Consort Wen taken away. At the words about finding no peace after death, Consort Wen burst into tears. But Xie Run felt nothing—only that those tears were sickening. If she were the Empress, having such a sister, she would be vomiting blood in the underworld every single day even after death. Consort Wen knew she had provoked Xie Run's wrath. Rather than be dragged out, she took her leave on her own. Lady Xian and Lady Hua remained seated in place, shrinking their necks and not daring to make a sound. Neither had ever seen Xie Run fly into such a rage. She had suddenly punished Consort Wen without even giving her a chance to explain. Both of them had long had their courage worn thin by the ups and downs of the palace. Seeing Xie Run's dark expression now, they dared not speak another word. Xie Run couldn't be bothered with these two fools either. She only said coldly: "Whether the Emperor personally leads the campaign—once the court confirms it, we will know soon enough." "No matter where the Emperor goes, we need only wait peacefully in the harem." "When the good news arrives and the Emperor's rewards come down, you won't be forgotten." "Instead of worrying yourselves into a frenzy here, you'd do better to think about what you can do for the Emperor!" With Xie Run's words, it was as if a light had switched on in both their heads. Lady Xian, having achieved her goal, was about to leave when she heard Hua Yu beside her murmur softly: "But the battlefield changes in an instant, fraught with danger... The Emperor's person is priceless—how can he be allowed to face such peril?!" Xie Run gave Hua Yu a deep, heavy look, and only after a long moment did she release the breath she had been holding in her chest. "The Emperor's willingness to fight alongside our soldiers is a blessing for the Yu Dynasty, and a testament to His Majesty's wisdom." "Lady Hua seems to have forgotten General Hua, who charges into battle on the front lines." Lady Xian covered her mouth with a light laugh. "One really shouldn't forget one's roots." "If not for General Hua charging into battle on the front lines, how could Lady Hua have so quickly been restored from Baolin back to the rank of Charging Consort?" "Now you worry about the dangers of the front lines—have you ever thought that your own brother has already been fighting there for years?" Hua Yu dared not speak after being scolded by Xie Run, but upon hearing Lady Xian's words, anger surged through her. She blurted out instinctively: "The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, the pillar of the Yu Dynasty—how could anyone else compare?!" Xie Run and Lady Xian both stared at Hua Yu in shock. Such words could be spoken by anyone—except Hua Yu. That "anyone else" was Hua Yu's own elder brother. The brother who, after their father's death, was the only one who could serve as Hua Yu's pillar of support, who had backed her up time and again—General Hua! Lady Xian laughed in anger and flicked her handkerchief. "I was just wondering why today felt so unlucky—turns out it's a gathering of ungrateful wolves." She rose and bowed to Xie Run. "Noble Consort, I shall not stay longer. I'm afraid of catching some bad luck." Xie Run: "...You may go." Lady Xian left Zhaohua Palace without delay, leaving only Hua Yu sitting in place, shrinking her neck. She lowered her head, silently regretting her hasty words. Xie Run raised a hand to cover her face and took a deep breath. "Someone, escort Lady Hua back." Hua Yu's brother wasn't dead yet, and it had little to do with her anyway. If the woman wanted to despise her own brother, that was none of Xie Run's business. After the three left Zhaohua Palace, what had happened there spread throughout the harem. Of course, that was Xie Run's doing. Those three had come to her doorstep at dawn to bring her trouble—how could she let them have an easy day?!