Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 54

Eunuch Zhang stood before the gate of Jingren Palace and solemnly said, “The empress dowager has summoned your master. Please inform her.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xin immediately panicked. Today was the day the city gate walls were being constructed, and His Majesty was currently outside the palace questioning the Minister of Works. If the empress dowager chose this time to hold her accountable and the evidence from the marquis of Chun’nan had not been delivered, it would be indefensible.

Eunuch Zhang said, “Why are you standing there in a daze? Don’t you know that the empress dowager is waiting?”

“Please wait, we’ll prepare right away.”

No one dared to delay when summoned by the empress dowager. Qin Ling, supported by Zhu Lan, hurried to Cining Palace.

“Chenqie pays respects to the empress dowager.”

Empress Dowager Chu half-squinted her eyes to look at Qin Ling. Although her complexion appeared pale, she didn’t seem as weak as the rumors said. Empress Dowager Chu twirled the beads in her hand and gestured for Eunuch Zhang to hand the letter in his hand to Qin Ling.

Qin Ling lowered her gaze and accepted it, immediately recognizing Qin Rong’s handwriting. The letter was filled with love poems and passionate words that Qin Rong had written during her secret meetings with Chu Jiangya. A woman’s affection was laid bare, but nothing was mentioned about what Chu Jiangya had done to her. Qin Ling didn’t need to guess; she knew Chu Jiangya had manipulated Qin Rong into writing those words.

Empress Dowager Chu’s gaze carried a cold, chilling tone. “Second Miss Qin has such remarkable literary talent.”

The Empress Dowager’s words struck a chord, and Qin Ling could no longer pretend to be ignorant. She knelt and softly said, “My younger sister has acted against decency and committed a grave mistake. Chenqie truly has no face to face Your Ladyship.”

Empress Dowager Chu’s voice gradually grew louder. “When Jiangya was still young and gaining fame, there were always beautiful women around him offering their affections. But who would have thought that even at a family banquet, he could fall victim to someone’s schemes? This Qin girl truly has cunning methods. She dares to use even such insidious drugs as Yu’an San. Today, I will ask you, who gave her the audacity?”

Qin Ling didn’t refute a single word, and her brows and eyes became even more submissive. “Your Ladyship, please calm your anger. It’s all due to my inadequate guidance that my younger sister committed such actions.”

Seeing her admit guilt, Empress Dowager Chu’s tone softened slightly. “Yesterday, Jiangya’s marriage with Ninth Miss Luo has been settled. Both families are concerned about the rumors circulating in the capital. Since you serve the emperor in the palace, this matter affects the dignity of the imperial family. We have decided not to hold Qin Rong accountable. However, her misconduct cannot go unpunished. The Luo family’s suggestion is that once Second Miss Qin enters the residence, she should not bear any offspring. Do you understand?”

Qin Ling looked up. “Chenqie doesn’t understand Your Ladyship’s intention.”

Empress Dowager Chu retorted, “The Luo family’s willingness to accept your sister is already an act of great tolerance. What is it that you still don’t understand?”

Qin Ling bit her lip and said, “But… my younger sister has already exchanged engagement tokens with someone else. How can she enter the Chu family’s door?”

As soon as the words fell, Empress Dowager Chu’s expression changed.

Empress Dowager Chu looked down upon Qin Ling’s submissive kneeling posture and spoke disdainfully, “So, it turns out Jieyu Qin has long prepared a way to absolve her sister, who has corrupted societal morals.”

“Your Ladyship, you have misunderstood.” Qin Ling met the empress dowager’s gaze, neither angry nor intimidated, and spoke softly, “Upon hearing that Sixth Young Master Chu and Ninth Miss Luo were considering marriage, my brother and I were perturbed and anxious that Qin Rong’s foolish actions would ruin the relationship between the two families. That’s why we hastily arranged a marriage for her…”

Before Qin Ling could finish, the empress dowager suddenly threw the teacup at her. With a muffled sound, blood seeped from Qin Ling’s forehead.

“Deceptive words and expressions!” Empress Dowager Chu stood up, her voice stern, “Jieyu Qin, you have already reached the age of maturity, yet you act against traditions and take unorthodox actions. It’s only because you rely on someone’s protection. The Qin family’s moral integrity is corrupt. Both you and your sister only know how to employ these seductive methods. It’s pitiful that the eldest prince, who is still young, has been raised by you.”

The empress dowager seemed impervious to any pleas or arguments as she commanded, “Bring the eldest prince to me.”

After speaking, she cast a glance at the maid next to her. The palace maids were all astute, and a glance conveyed the empress dowager’s intentions. The old momo walked behind Qin Ling and placed her hand on her shoulder. Exerting force, she pressed downward, applying immense pressure. In an instant, Qin Ling felt like her knees were about to shatter.

Empress Dowager Chu did not call for a halt, and the momo did not stop either. The surroundings fell silent, except for Qin Ling’s faint breathing.

While sipping her tea, Empress Dowager Chu looked toward the entrance as if waiting for someone to arrive. As expected, Xiao Yu appeared within two hours.

However, Empress Dowager Chu didn’t expect that, behind Xiao Yu, two men were dressed in prisoner’s clothing.

Expressionless, Xiao Yu walked past Qin Ling, and the guards behind him kept the two men in prisoner’s attire kneeling on the ground. Xiao Yu casually brushed aside the momo’s hand resting on Qin Ling’s shoulder in passing.

“This son pays respect to Imperial Mother.”

The Empress Dowager asked, “Why has the emperor come at this time?”

“We heard that Sixth lang was framed at the family banquet, so We specifically instructed the marquis of Chun’nan to investigate the matter thoroughly.” Xiao Yu pointed to the man kneeling on the right and spoke coldly, “This man’s name is Qi Lian. On the surface, he sells rouge and powder in the red light district, but in reality, he is involved in the illegal trade of prohibited drugs. He was the one who supplied the Yu’an San. Before We could extract half the information, he confessed that he was acting on someone else’s orders to tarnish Second Miss Qin’s reputation. He admitted to secretly planting the Yu’an San to Second Miss Qin.”

With this, Empress Dowager Chu understood the emperor’s intentions today. This incident should’ve tarnished the reputation of the Qin family’s women, making them unsuitable to become imperial consorts and bear the imperial heirs. This outcome already satisfied her. As for Qin Rong, it would be best if she remained under control, but if she couldn’t be controlled, it wouldn’t matter. After all, she was just an illegitimate daughter expelled from the family. Her own actions would determine her fate.

However, Qin Ling hastily marrying off Qin Rong brought about a new turn of events with the investigation by the Imperial Guards. The significance had changed. Qin Rong’s unscrupulous seduction of Sixth Young Master Chu and her being framed had now become two completely different matters.

Empress Dowager Chu looked at Xiao Yu, and a scene from when she received him in the Cining Palace flashed before her eyes. With a frail body, the seven- or eight-year-old child kneeled before her, calling her “Imperial Mother” and seeking protection. But what about now?

Suppressing her seething anger, Empress Dowager Chu spoke with a hint of sarcasm, “Your Majesty is occupied with state affairs. It’s difficult for him to be concerned with such trivial matters.”

Xiao Yu glanced at Qi Lian and spoke softly, “It is necessary to thoroughly investigate the matter for the sake of Sixth lang‘s reputation.”

Qi Lian immediately raised his trembling hand and pointed to the man beside him, saying, “It’s him! He ordered me to do these things.”

The other man also raised his head and spoke in a muffled voice. His face was disfigured due to the torture, and a cloth was wrapped around his throat. Eunuch Zhang could tell at a glance that it was a method used by the Imperial Guards to prevent prisoners from talking.

The man vaguely began, “This lowly one’s surname is Du, given name Huai. I used to engage in maritime business. A few years ago, I encountered pirates while at sea and was in grave danger. It was the former chief steward of the Chu family, Sun Chengwen, who came to my rescue and saved my life. Since then… I have been working for Sun Chengwen. A few days ago, Sun Chengwen came to me and said that the Qin family’s illegitimate daughter was trying to associate herself with Sixth Young Master and needed to be taught a lesson…”

“Nonsense!” Empress Dowager Chu slammed her palm on the desk, cutting off Du Huai’s words. Then, pointing at Du Huai, she said sternly, “The Sun family has served the Chu Household for generations. Who are you to make baseless accusations and deceive the emperor? It’s all crimes of treason and false accusation. Zhang Chuan, have this man dragged away and have his tongue pulled out.”

Empress Dowager Chu’s gaze was fierce, and her fingertips trembled slightly with anger. Eunuch Zhang was shocked to see the empress dowager, who usually dressed with dignity, displaying such a furious and aggressive demeanor.

As Zhang Chuan was about to act, a crisp sound of joints echoed in the air. Everyone held their breath, and at that moment, Xiao Yu had already drawn the short dagger from the side of the guard. In a flash of cold light, Du Huai’s throat sprayed out fresh blood.

A piece of living flesh fell to the ground.

Xiao Yu stood with the knife in his hand and spoke calmly, “This wicked man speaks nonsense, provoking the wrath of the empress dowager. His crimes are unforgivable, and he cannot escape the punishment of having his tongue cut. We will personally handle this.”

Empress Dowager Chu’s figure swayed, almost unable to stand. Xiao Yu’s tone was still respectful, and his eyes had no killing intent. However, the bloodstains on the blade seemed to tell her he was no longer the third prince who relied on her protection to survive. The throne of an emperor was built upon a pile of bones. His hand had severed people’s futures and claimed their lives.

He would not tolerate anyone who harmed his people.

Xiao Yu loosened his grip, and the short dagger fell to the ground. He glanced at Qin Ling and asked, “Why are you kneeling here? Get up.”

The surroundings were deathly silent, and no one dared to raise their eyes or even breathe. He reached out and pulled Qin Ling to her feet. 

This grand play in Cining Palace ended with Empress Dowager Chu suffering from a sudden illness.

Qin Ling, although able to walk, felt as if her knees were shattered. Every step she took was excruciatingly painful. Just as she left Cining Palace, she collided with Li Yuan, who was walking toward her. Li Yuan still had the same appearance: autumn-like eyes and a gentle and affectionate demeanor.

Li Yuan kneeled in a courtly manner and softly said, “I have seen Your Majesty.”

Qin Ling was about to kneel as well, but before she could do so, her legs trembled, and she fell to the ground as if she had lost her strength.

Xiao Yu quickly supported her as he lowered his head. At that moment, he saw the bloodstains on her forehead and under her skirt. He didn’t need to ask to know that she had been subjected to torture by the empress dowager.

Xiao Yu had experienced the battlefield profoundly and was a true emperor who had witnessed the chilling moonlight illuminating bones. The aura of killing and decisiveness had never left him. It had simply transformed with the passage of time and change in his status, becoming a skillful maneuver hidden within his gentle demeanor, allowing him to rule the world with benevolence and restraint.

But at this moment, Qin Ling saw the killing intent still in his eyes.

“Where else are you injured?”

Qin Ling whispered, “Only my knees, nothing more.”

Xiao Yu lowered his gaze to conceal his anger and said to Eunuch Sheng, “Summon the imperial physician.” Then he carried Qin Ling in his arms.

With her feet off the ground, Qin Ling panicked. She anxiously said, “Your Majesty, what are you doing? Please put me down quickly.”

He not only didn’t put her down but walked even faster. Qin Ling clenched his golden-threaded lapel and whispered, “Your Majesty, this is not proper.”

Xiao Yu nodded and looked at her, his cold eyes filled with anger. “Do you think We care about propriety?”

Qin Ling couldn’t answer that question and could only obediently nestle on his shoulder. But as her gaze shifted, she happened to meet Li Yuan’s and the others’ eyes across the distance. The meaningful looks from those around them made her heart sink.

Being favored in the palace was a grave taboo, let alone in the current situation. Qin Ling reminded him boldly, “There are still people watching behind us…”

“Then let them watch.”

As Xiao Yu sent her to Jingren Palace, the Minister of Revenue came with accounts to calculate money. Meanwhile, the imperial physician cautiously said, “Your Majesty, the injury is not severe, but it has affected the bones. It will require some time of rest and recuperation to heal.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu’s face immediately darkened.

On his way to Yangxin Hall, Eunuch Sheng couldn’t help but shake his head. The Minister of Revenue had no foresight, venturing without consulting the almanac. Today, he wouldn’t get any good fortune for his actions.

Later that night, Qin Ling’s lower legs swelled visibly, with bruises extending down from her knees. The surrounding areas were covered in scabs, and the imperial physician prescribed an ointment. When it was first applied, it felt cool and soothing, but after half a day, the cooling sensation turned into an unbearable tingling itch. Like ants crawling, it was extremely uncomfortable. Qin Ling feared there would be a scar, so she dared not scratch, but the piercing sensation was difficult to endure. She couldn’t bear it any longer and gently circled her fingers around the affected area.

Since her legs were in such a state, she could no longer attend to the emperor’s desires. Therefore, Zhu Lan and Zhu Xin had already extinguished the lights for Qin Ling. With her eyes closed, she softly asked, “Is Yun’er here?”

Zhu Lan replied, “Don’t worry, my lady, he’s here.”

***

Xiao Yu finished reviewing the documents past the period of hai (9-11 pm). When he raised his head, all the attending palace maids were busy in an orderly manner, adding oil, changing incense, and so on. Eunuch Sheng, with sharp eyes, immediately noticed that His Majesty was focused on observing the legs of the palace maids. He approached slowly and said, “It is late at night, does Your Majesty wish to retire to Jingren Palace?”

Xiao Yu threw down his brush and replied, “Yes.”