Chapter 5779: Scrutiny and Schemes (Part 1)
Inside Jinyang Palace, laughter and joyous sounds filled the air. The old king was currently holding little Mo Xiao, grinning from ear to ear. His little grandson was practically a miniature version of his son when he was small—chubby and utterly adorable. The old king doted on him immensely.
"This concubine greets Your Majesty, Empress." Li Ruiying entered and performed a very proper bow, her eyes lingering with a faint smile on Qiao Mu, who was sitting beside the Empress, exchanging pleasantries.
"This, then, must be the renowned former Crown Princess?"
Empress Zhao, who was holding her daughter-in-law's hand, slowly let her smiling face turn cold. Her gaze, filled with displeasure, turned towards the old king who was holding his grandson, conveying a silent message: Look at the low-class concubine you favor, how utterly lacking in decorum.
"No manners," Empress Zhao coldly reprimanded. "Are you not going to pay respects to His Majesty and Her Majesty of Shenzhou?"
Li Ruiying bit her silver teeth, her glistening eyes looking towards the old king. As the king's favored concubine, by status, she was the former Crown Prince and Crown Princess's concubine-mother! Now, Empress Zhao, in front of the king, was so disrespectful to her, even demanding that she bow to juniors. What kind of bandit's logic was this?
Unexpectedly, the old king was having such a good time playing with the little one that he didn't even glance her way. Li Ruiying fumed, her face cycling from green to white, then white to grey, a flash of hatred darting through her eyes. Damn it! She had tried many times before; the king, who usually doted on her, would cower like a little mouse in front of Empress Zhao and the Empress Dowager! He wouldn't lift a finger to stand up for her.
"Empress, although the former Crown Prince and Crown Princess are now the Emperor and Empress of Shenzhou, aren't they still juniors in your presence?"
Empress Zhao scoffed at her. "In my presence, naturally they are. But you are not!" This Li Ruiying woman, barging into her Jinyang Palace so impudently, and she expected a pleasant reception? Perhaps she hasn't woken up from her dream?
The old king couldn't help but cough, saying, "Consort, do not be rude. Quickly pay your respects to His Majesty and Her Majesty of Shenzhou." The old king kept winking at Li Ruiying, urging her to quickly perform the salutation. He was hinting to Consort Li: Do not court death!
"Your Majesty!!" Li Ruiying stubbornly twisted her body. She was about to act coy and say something else when she felt her body inexplicably fly outwards. Qiao Mu, impatient with affected displays, simply sent her out of the main hall with a vine whip.
Li Ruiying tumbled onto the stone slab outside the door, only then realizing that someone had actually swept her out!
"Your Highness." Third Aunt was so scared her heart almost leaped out of her chest. Her old eyes nearly split open. She rushed to Li Ruiying's side, her hands trembling as she helped her up. Li Ruiying was currently in a dazed state, holding Third Aunt's hand, supporting her delicate body, and shakily standing up.
"Your Majesty!!" Li Ruiying, finally realizing she had been flung out the door, let out a cry of grievance that penetrated to her very bones. She twisted back into the doorway, like a weeping willow in the wind, squeezing out several glistening tears from her bright eyes. Before she could even fully utter, "Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for this concubine," she was whipped out again...
The king helplessly rubbed his forehead, powerless to intervene. He had told her not to court death in front of the young Crown Princess! What's wrong with her? Why can't she understand my words, or read the hints I'm giving her??
"Silence!" the king roared, standing up and walking towards the door. "I didn't call for you to come here? Who told you to come to Jinyang Palace on your own accord?" The king, his back to Mo Lian, Qiao Mu, and the others, roared at Consort Li.
Li Ruiying's Miscalculation
At the same time, he kept winking and gesturing at Consort Li, indicating that she should leave immediately to prevent the situation from escalating. However, Li Ruiying completely failed to grasp the king's meaning. Seeing the king frantically winking at her, Li Ruiying cried out even more pitifully, "Your Majesty, the former Crown Princess is so rude in your presence, she..."
Li Ruiying hadn't even finished her sentence when she realized the king had actually kicked her. Consort Li, caught completely off guard, tumbled out of the palace hall, her face utterly bewildered.
"Your Highness!" Third Aunt exclaimed, rushing forward to help her up.
The king, however, roared at her, "You thoughtless creature! When your master is acting foolishly, don't you know to persuade them? All of you, get back to Zhuhua Palace! You are not to come out without my command."
Li Ruiying was thrown out, and she was still completely dazed as she left. She hadn't even finished what she wanted to say when she was personally ordered out by the king. This had never happened before. When had the king ever spoken to her so harshly?
"Your Highness, please don't be like this anymore!" Third Aunt's white hair seemed to be bristling with anxiety. Her own mistress couldn't see clearly, but she saw everything clearly. Earlier, the king kept winking at the consort, and the meaning was all too obvious. He was telling the consort not to continue making a fuss; if she continued, even the king might not be able to save her. But the consort was unobservant, completely failing to see the king's spasmodic blinking, and kept crying and making a scene. The king had no choice but to personally sweep her out. This was to save the consort's life!
Third Aunt opened her mouth to speak, but then heard two intermittent voices from outside the corridor.
"Consort Li will be out of luck, won't she?"
"Just now, I saw her carriage heading straight for Jinyang Palace, pfft. The young Crown Princess will certainly not tolerate her impudence."
Li Ruiying clenched her fists in anger. These mere palace maids could actually criticize their mistress behind her back?
"Speaking of which, even Consort Zheng, who was once favored, couldn't last more than a few moves against the young Crown Princess back then."
"Poor thing, I heard she left no remains."
"And she was branded as a wicked concubine who ruined the country."
Each sentence reached Li Ruiying's ears, instantly calming her exploding emotions. Although her fists were still tightly clenched, Li Ruiying forcefully suppressed her emotions to calm herself.
Upon returning to her Zhuhua Palace, she said to Third Aunt, "Previously, people in the palace kept silent about the once-favored Consort Zheng, everyone completely avoiding the topic. Now, find those two gossiping palace maids and inquire again. After you've found out, deal with them for me!"
Third Aunt's face was filled with worry. "Your Highness, the King wanted to protect you earlier, which is why he made you leave quickly. In this old servant's opinion, Your Highness, it's best not to confront the two from Shenzhou."
"They've entered the palace?" A delicate rebuke came from behind the curtain.
Princess Huaizhu lifted the pearl curtain and hurried to Li Ruiying, crying out in surprise, "Aunt, what happened to you?" Why is Aunt so dirty, her hairpins dishevelled, as if she's been beaten?
Li Ruiying gave an awkward laugh. "I'm fine, Aunt. Why are you here?"
Princess Huaizhu grabbed her hand and said, "Just now, I heard Aunt talking. Has that wild village woman, Qiao Lin's sister, entered the palace? Has Qiao Lin also entered the palace? Are they here to discuss marriage with the Crown Prince??"