Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 52

After the situation escalated, Qin Suizhi took Qin Rong back to the Qin residence, while Chu Jiangya went to the Duke of Ying’s residence to apologize.

It was later concluded that this incident had its reasons, and Chu Jiangya had been framed. Not only did the Duke of Ying not blame Chu Jiangya, but he also planned to finalize the marriage between the two families as soon as possible.

Qin Rong felt helpless, but Qin Ling could sense a chill running down her spine.

Although Qin Rong had a twisted mind, Chu Jiangya was not someone easily manipulated. It was clear that Chu Jiangya had intentionally forced himself upon Qin Rong. This whole situation was a setup from the beginning.

Qin Ling took a deep breath and asked, “Tell me, what is the story behind ‘Yu’an San’?”

Qin Rong shook her head and said, “I don’t know, I really don’t know… When I woke up, those drugs were on me, but I never used them…”

Qin Rong looked at Qin Ling, her expression showing signs of anger, and cried out, “Mother has passed away, Father has taken a concubine, and there is no mention of my marriage. My eldest brother has never liked me, and I have no other options… Sisetr, please help me…”

“How do you want me to help you?”

“Sister, you are favored among the Six Palaces. If you persuade His Majesty, I can naturally become his lawful wife. Qin Rong grabbed the corner of Qin Ling’s clothes and said, “The Chu family holds a high position in the capital; surely you’re well aware of that. As long as I become a wife of the Chu family, it will be a good alliance between the Qin and Chu clans. The eldest prince can also rely on them for support.”

Qin Ling looked at her and sneered, “Did Chu Jiangya teach you those words too?”

Qin Rong’s expression froze as if someone had struck a nerve. Indeed, Chu Jiangya had subtly implied such things to her before.

Enraged, Qin Ling raised her voice sharply, “So you do know the status of the Chu family! Who is Chu Jiangya? He is the legitimate heir of the Chu family, a descendant of the empress dowager! You have done such things and yet dare to dream of becoming his lawful wife. It’s utterly ridiculous!”

“But haven’t you done something ridiculous too?” Qin Rong’s eyes turned red, and she tilted her neck back, saying, “Before entering the palace, didn’t you refuse to marry anyone other than Young Sir Zhu? Now that you’re favored and the eldest prince is kept in the Jingren Palace, why can’t you help me?”

“Are you threatening me?”

With a plop, Qin Rong knelt and said, “Rong’er was reckless with her words. It’s Rong’er’s fault.”

Qin Ling remained silent momentarily before saying, “Qin Rong, you cannot marry him.”

Qin Rong covered her face with both hands and wailed, “But I have given everything to him. I have given him everything! If I don’t marry him, what else can I do?”

Qin Ling said, “Chu Jiangya is not sincere towards you. If you persist in your delusion, not only will the Chu family not spare you, but the Duke of Ying’s residence will also not let you off the hook.”

Qin Rong said, “Sister, Chu Jiangya is not like that. His heart belongs only to me. He even said that he wants me to bear his legitimate son…”

Qin Ling pursed her lips and remained silent, feeling a sense of familiarity in those words.

Qin Rong’s crying grew louder, and Qin Ling couldn’t even hear the footsteps outside the door.

Qin Ling lowered her gaze and looked at her, her expression as cold as silver frost in midwinter. “Empty promises are the least trustworthy. If he can betray you once, he can betray you a second time.”

Every word in Qin Ling’s words felt like a blade, not only piercing the helpless Qin Rong but also reaching the man standing at the door.

Qin Rong cried until her bun became disheveled. “That’s not true! Yesterday, Chu Jiangya quietly told me that he actually wanted to marry me. It’s just that Madam Chu constrains him… that’s why he’s considering a marriage proposal from Ying’s residence,” Qin Rong sniffled and said, “If you refuse to help me, why bother finding these reasons? I can become a concubine in the Chu family. After all, Chu Jiangya has also said that regardless of my status, his treatment toward me won’t change.”

“Nothing stays the same,” Qin Ling looked at her and shattered her wishful thinking with her words, “Once he marries the legitimate daughter of Ying’s residence, do you think he will neglect his lawful wife for you? Today, you deceive yourself, offering yourself to become Chu Jiangya’s concubine. What about tomorrow? Moreover, if he truly cared for you, how would you have a bottle of undisclosed fertility medicine on you?”

At the mention of fertility medicine, Qin Rong was utterly stunned. After a moment, she placed her hand on Qin Ling’s knee. “Please, let’s not talk about it anymore…”

“Becoming a concubine, it sounds so easy,” Qin Ling continued, “If you become a concubine to Chu Jiangya, it’s equivalent to telling the world that the Qin family lacks moral integrity. Do you know that lacking moral integrity implicates not just a few individuals?”

Jiang Lanyue had already caused harm to Qin Suizhi once, and Qin Ling would never let anyone harm Qin Rong too.

“I won’t, I won’t bring trouble to Father, nor will I implicate you and Brother!” Qin Rong said.

Qin Ling sneered at her.

Won’t she?

Today, she was willing to use Zhu Ze’s matter as a threat. What wouldn’t she be capable of in the future?

“But Sixth lang truly cares for me…”

“Why would Chu Jiangya choose you over a noble daughter of a prestigious family? Genuine affection cannot arise from calculated feelings.”

Just then, a few sharp coughs could be heard from behind the folding screen, sounding like Eunuch Sheng.

Qin Ling’s heart sank, and she immediately turned around.

The man stood with his hands behind his back, his expression dark and unclear. It seemed that he had heard every word she had just said in her fit of anger.

She shouldn’t have revealed her emotions in the palace, but she had been so angry just now that her temples were pounding uncontrollably, and she couldn’t suppress her anger.

Qin Ling couldn’t help but clench her fist.

When someone is unlucky, even drinking cold water can get stuck between their teeth…

Qin Ling turned around, her tone changing accordingly. “I have seen Your Majesty.”

Your Majesty.

Qin Rong was greatly shocked at the words. This was still her first time meeting the emperor. She lowered her head and looked at the eunuch’s attire she was wearing, tightly gripping the sleeve cuffs. Nervously, she said, “This… This servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yu walked straight over and casually took a seat, his gaze directly falling upon Qin Ling.

Qin Ling knelt and solemnly said, “The events that occurred at Chu’s residence last night were all due to my failure in discipline. I cannot shirk my blame and truly have no face to face Your Majesty.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Rong also knelt, her heart instantly rising to her throat. She knew the person before her was the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and her life and future destiny were all within his thoughts.

With this in mind, Qin Rong clenched the trembling fingers hidden in her sleeve and explained in a low voice, “This servant has made a mistake, but this servant and Young Master Chu have long had mutual affection. I never intended to harm anyone with medicine. I truly don’t know what happened after the tea banquet yesterday, and I really can’t remember…” Qin Rong seemed afraid that the emperor wouldn’t believe her, so she quickly made an oath, “This servant’s words today are all true. If there are any falsehoods, I am willing to be punished for deceiving the emperor.”

After speaking, Qin Rong’s face turned pale. She held her breath and waited for the verdict.

But Xiao Yu seemed as if he hadn’t heard her words at all. He only turned his head to Eunuch Sheng and said, “Take her to the side hall and wait.” The disgust in his tone couldn’t be concealed anymore.

Eunuch Sheng bowed and complied.

Qin Rong stood up in fear, not daring to say anything more, and could only bow and take her leave.

In the hall, only Xiao Yu and Qin Ling, who remained in a long kneeling position, were left.

With only her left, Xiao Yu’s eyebrows softened slightly. “Speak.”

When one makes a mistake, how can they not follow the rules? Qin Ling did not stand but nodded and continued, “My younger sister developed an affection for Young Master Chu and indulged in a secret relationship, resulting in a grave mistake. This cannot be denied or argued. However, there is one point that I, your humble servant, dare not admit. No matter how disregarding of etiquette my sister may be, she would never dare to administer drugs to Young Master Chu in the Chu’s residence. The origin of the Yu’an San is definitely not from my sister. I hope Your Majesty can see this clearly.”

“I hope Your Majesty can see this clearly.”

Qin Ling’s words clearly hid some underlying meaning.

The Chu family insisted that Qin Rong had initiated the affair, portraying Young Master Chu as a pitiful victim. With the existence of witnesses and evidence, the empress dowager wouldn’t give her a chance to breathe. Such an incident would not only be a disgrace for an ordinary family but even more so for a royal relative. The empress dowager could easily use this opportunity to deal with the Qin family. Finding the source of the Yu’an San was the only possible way to prove her innocence, but with mere Qin family connections, this couldn’t be investigated quickly. The only one she could rely on was him.

The Imperial Bodyguards can dig three feet into the ground in the capital city overnight. If they want to investigate, they will surely uncover the truth.

But she feared he wouldn’t be willing to favor her. After all, Qin Rong had willingly entered into a secret relationship with Young Master Chu long before, not under any coercion. Just this fact alone was unforgivable.

With this in mind, Qin Ling nodded slightly, choosing her words carefully, “I have failed your benevolence, and I am willing to accept punishment.”

In that instant, Xiao Yu seemed to be transported back three years ago. The sky was shrouded in a misty rain, and she was kneeling before him in the same manner, dressed in her embroidered white robes and removing her hairpin to beg for forgiveness.

But at that time, he didn’t know that the rain would become a permanent barrier between them, and that would be the last time they would ever meet.

Xiao Yu’s chest tightened, and he strode to her, supporting her. It sounded nice to say he was supporting her, but it felt more like dragging in his anger.

“When did I say I would punish you?”

“Your Majesty…” Qin Ling responded, raising her eyes. Tears that had been carefully prepared rolled down her cheeks, sliding silently onto his wrist.

Drip.

The touch burned his heart.

Xiao Yu truly didn’t expect her to cry.

He slowly released her, raising his hand to wipe away her tears clumsily. But these tiny teardrops seemed endless as if they would never stop flowing. He lowered his head, gazing at the shimmering water in his palm, lost in thought.

The empress had never shown grievances toward him, except for that one time when she wanted to plead for Su Huai’an… But at that time, he was still angry. He had never comforted her with soothing words.

“I am aware of Young Master Chu’s misconduct in this matter,” he said, supporting her shoulders and pulling her into his embrace. He tried softly, coaxing her, “Don’t cry anymore. I will investigate for you.”

Upon receiving his promise, Qin Ling, knowing when to stop, wrapped her arms around his waist and thanked him repeatedly in his ear.

Xiao Yu’s promise was not something he would go back on. That very night, Lu Ze was escorted from his bed by his servant and roamed the chilling streets of the capital city throughout the night.

Yu’an San was a type of medicine that couldn’t be openly discussed. It was commonly circulated in places like the imperial medical institute and brothels. With Lu Ze’s abilities, finding clues wouldn’t be difficult. However, Qin Ling still felt uneasy, despite her thoughts and considerations.

The Chu family had wanted to lure Qin Rong into a trap, but they wouldn’t take action themselves. Even if Lu Ze had found out that Qin Rong was not the one who had purchased the medicine, she would still have been framed because there had been a complicated relationship between her and Chu Jiangya.

Chu Jiangya had already been engaged and couldn’t marry Qin Rong as his lawful wife. If Empress Dowager had decided to make Qin Rong become Young Master Chu’s concubine, would she have had any room to refuse?

Clearly, she wouldn’t have.

Qin Ling pondered and realized that if she didn’t want to be manipulated by the empress dowager, there was only one solution: finding a suitable marriage for Qin Rong as quickly and discreetly as possible. If the Chu family was able to propose a marriage alliance with Ying’s residence at that time, the Qin family could also consider such an option. It would have been better for Qin Rong to marry beneath her status than to become someone’s concubine.

Therefore, Qin Ling sent another letter back home.