flstandardbreds Chapter 150 Consort Lin Regains Favor
Chapter 150 Consort Lin Regains Favor
"What cursed prince?"
Seeing that Emperor Jing's expression was not good, Consort Chen hurriedly argued, "Your Majesty, you must stand up for me! Consort Lin was just talking nonsense."
"Your Majesty, Consort Lin spoke rudely. I was merely reprimanding her on behalf of the Empress Dowager."
Emperor Jing slightly raised his eyes and glanced at Consort Chen, who silently withdrew her outstretched hand.
"I'll ask you one more time, what curse on the prince?" Emperor Jing questioned.
"His Majesty."
Dong Qing, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up and knelt down with a thud. She cried with tears in her eyes, "Your Majesty, Consort Chen is jealous of Consort Li's pregnancy with the Emperor's child and cursed her. My lady tried to advise her, but Consort Chen even hit her, saying that my lady shouldn't be wandering around since she's been neglected and that it's bad luck."
Dongqing was very quick-witted this time, and with a few words, she pinned all the blame on Consort Chen.
"What nonsense are you spouting, you palace servant?"
Consort Chen was furious. "Your Majesty, she must have been instructed by Consort Lin to frame me."
Consort Lin, kneeling on the ground, remained kneeling upright, both fragile and dignified.
Emperor Jing frowned deeply. The number of children in the harem was already small, so if Consort Chen really said those things, she would certainly be guilty.
"Consort Lin."
Emperor Jing's voice was indifferent yet tinged with suspicion.
"You tell me."
Consort Lin slowly raised her head and looked into Emperor Jing's eyes. As their eyes met, memories of the past flashed through her mind.
He once said, "Zhaoruo, you are very much to my liking."
But that was all in the past. Consort Lin paused for a moment and said, "As a concubine in the harem, it is my duty to advise Your Majesty. What Dongqing said is all true."
For no apparent reason, looking into those eyes, Emperor Jing couldn't help but believe her.
"Why are you kneeling like that when the ground is so cold?"
With Dong Qing's help, Consort Lin slowly got up. The moment she stood up, she stumbled and fell towards Emperor Jing. Emperor Jing caught her without hesitation.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still between the two of them.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Consort Lin hurriedly left Emperor Jing's embrace, her words sounding like those of a little girl who had done something wrong.
Emperor Jing was momentarily stunned.
Everyone was taken aback, especially Consort Chen. She couldn't believe that Emperor Jing had let her off so easily based solely on Consort Lin's and her maid's testimonies. But what she didn't expect was yet to come. "Little Wei Zi, convey my decree: Consort Chen has humiliated the prince and bullied the concubines. She is to be confined to the palace for ten days and have her salary reduced by half a year."
"Your Majesty..." Consort Chen's eyes widened suddenly, clearly indignant. She wanted to say something more, but she met Emperor Jing's intimidating gaze.
Consort Chen swallowed hard, not daring to say anything more.
"Your Majesty, please." said Eunuch Wei.
Consort Chen glared at Consort Lin fiercely, then angrily flung her sleeves and left.
Amidst the rumbling thunder, the rain intensified, showing no signs of stopping.
"I remember you loved watching the rain the most."
Emperor Jing and Consort Lin stood side by side, watching the torrential rain.
"Your Majesty still remembers."
Consort Lin's voice carried a hint of sorrow: "The paulownia tree, the midnight rain, how can one know the bitterness of parting?"
Every word struck Emperor Jing's heart. The Consort Lin before him seemed somewhat different from the Consort Lin of the past. The former Consort Lin was aloof yet stubborn, and now she was still the same, but seemed to have gained more gentleness.
Emperor Jing slowly turned around, looked down into Consort Lin's eyes, and asked, "Are you trying to show weakness to me?"
Consort Lin simply looked at Emperor Jing; though she didn't speak, her eyes said it all.
"Does it still hurt?"
Emperor Jing reached out to touch Consort Lin's injured cheek; his fingertips were warm, but Consort Lin's cheek was icy cold.
"With Your Majesty's care, I am not in pain."
These words pleased Emperor Jing greatly, and a rare smile appeared on his lips.
"Little Wei, go and tell Consort Li that I will not be going to her palace today."
This rain came at just the right time.
……
Rong'en Palace.
"Your Majesty..." Qingyu hesitated for a moment, but still managed to finish her sentence.
"Just now, Eunuch Wei came to say that His Majesty is not coming."
Consort Li paused for a moment while drinking tea, but her expression did not change significantly.
"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, so I will naturally be considerate."
Qingyu seemed unwilling to accept this, "Your Majesty shouldn't have helped Consort Lin. I just found out that His Majesty went to Consort Lin's palace. What if she's ungrateful?"
The room was filled with the fragrance of incense. Consort Li gently stroked her slightly protruding belly, her eyes lowered, and her tone was somewhat helpless. "But I have no better way. My belly is getting bigger and bigger. Consort Chen is domineering and has the Empress Dowager backing her up. There will only be more and more young concubines in the harem."
"But Your Highness will have a prince in the future!"
Seeing Qingyu's confusion, Consort Li chuckled, got up and walked to the window to look at the heavy rain outside. "Although His Majesty has few children, he is not without any. The eldest prince born to the late Empress is both the eldest son and the legitimate son. I am not so foolish as to think that my child can inherit the throne."
Consort Li was a shrewd woman. Her family, particularly her father and brothers, had contributed greatly to her favor with the emperor, and now that she had an heir, she could be considered a future ally. As for the emperor's wishes, she couldn't control them, but having more allies was naturally better than having more enemies.
"only……"
"Your Majesty, but what is it?"
Consort Li didn't say the second half of the sentence, but although she was aware of the situation, it didn't mean she was without ambition. If given the opportunity, she would definitely seize it.