sbdcsierra Chapter 1341: 2 heavy blows, banished to Xinzheku to work (169 million)
Chapter 1341: 2 heavy blows, banished to Xinzheku to work (169 million)
As expected, Nangong Xuanyu didn't even glance at Concubine Dun's face, which was full of hints and expectations. His voice was calm and even contained a hint of impatience. "In that case, you should take the Third Prince back and take good care of him."
"I will go for a walk with the Imperial Concubine."
It was decisive and there was no room for maneuver, not even a polite refusal.
The carefully maintained smile on Concubine Dun's face froze in an instant, and the blood color faded little by little until it turned pale.
She could clearly feel the vague glances of pity or ridicule from the palace servants around her...
Great embarrassment and disappointment instantly filled Concubine Dun's heart.
Her nails dug deep into her palms, barely maintaining her shaky dignity. She lowered her head deeply and said in a dry voice: "...Yes."
"I'll take my leave..."
Concubine Dun hurriedly grabbed the Third Prince's hand and turned around in an almost embarrassed manner.
After her disturbance, the peaceful and leisurely atmosphere just now was gone.
The rare gentleness in Nangong Xuanyu's eyes completely disappeared, and he returned to his bottomless calmness.
He glanced at Shen Zhinian, who was standing beside him with a calm expression, and said, "The wind is blowing, let's go back."
"Yes."
The group returned to Yongshou Palace in silence.
The fourth prince was already so sleepy that his eyelids were fighting each other, and his little head was nodding slowly. The wet nurse coaxed him gently and took him to bed.
The palace maid tactfully retreated to the outer room and waited to be summoned.
The inner room was brightly lit with candles, and only the emperor and his concubine were left.
Nangong Xuanyu took off his outer robe and was about to reach out to embrace Shen Zhinian in his arms, but she dodged him sideways without leaving a trace.
Shen Zhinian sat in front of the bronze mirror, unpicking the hairpins from her bun. Her tone was inarticulate, as if she was just casually saying, "Your Majesty is truly blessed with beautiful women."
"Just now, Concubine Dun was so sincere and caring. She was worried about the Third Prince catching a cold and was concerned about Your Majesty's hard work. She even prepared the newly acquired Junshan silver needles and was looking forward to Your Majesty moving to Yikun Palace."
Nangong Xuanyu paused and looked at Shen Zhinian's calm profile in the mirror, feeling that this was really an unexpected disaster.
He was originally getting along well with Nian Nian and A Xu, but Concubine Dun came uninvited and ruined the atmosphere.
He had been particularly tolerant and had not reprimanded him for the sake of the Third Prince. Could this still be considered his fault?
But as an emperor, Nangong Xuanyu naturally would not explain these things in front of his concubines, and he was even more unwilling to argue with Shen Zhinian about this.
A hint of helplessness flashed across his eyes, the corners of his lips curled up, he took a step forward and approached from behind, loosely wrapping his arms around Shen Zhinian.
The emperor rested his chin lightly on the top of her fragrant hair, looked into her eyes through the bronze mirror, and chuckled softly, "Are you jealous, Nian Nian?"
Shen Zhinian didn't stop removing the hairpin. She looked back at Nangong Xuanyu in the mirror, her tone still calm: "I dare not."
"I simply feel that Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune and grace, and that all the six palaces are blessed with it."
These words sounded high-sounding, yet contained a hint of subtle mockery.
How could Nangong Xuanyu not hear it?
He chuckled softly, tightened his arms, and his warm breath brushed Shen Zhinian's ears: "You're so stubborn."
"Nian Nian is just jealous, but she refuses to admit it."
Shen Zhinian was held by Nangong Xuanyu and couldn't break free, so she simply let him do what he wanted and just glanced at him with reproach in the mirror.
His eyes flickered, filled with resentment and anger, which made Nangong Xuanyu's heart move slightly.
The unhappiness caused by Concubine Dun just now disappeared in an instant.
The two of them laughed and joked for a while, and then the subtle atmosphere disappeared without a trace.
The candlelight was dimmed, the curtains were drawn, and there was a warmth and tenderness that could not be told to outsiders...
The next morning.
Nangong Xuanyu stood up and prepared to attend the morning court.
Li Changde brought palace servants to help him put on court robes, with gentle and careful movements.
In other palaces, it was the empresses and ladies who got up early in the morning to serve His Majesty.
But in Yongshou Palace, His Majesty was never willing to let the Imperial Noble Consort get up early, so he had to do this.
On the way to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Nangong Xuanyu sat on the majestic dragon sedan chair and suddenly said calmly: "...I went to the Imperial Garden last night, but it was just a sudden impulse. However, Concubine Dun happened to 'encounter' me with the Third Prince..."
The emperor hadn't finished speaking, but Li Changde had already understood what he meant and immediately bowed and said, "I understand."
"I will go check right away to see who passed before the Emperor yesterday and whose mouths were not tight-lipped."
Nangong Xuanyu said "hmm" and said no more.
Li Changde, however, knew everything clearly.
Which concubine in the harem didn't want to compete for favor? Secretly inquiring about the emperor's whereabouts in the hope of a "chance encounter" was nothing new.
As long as it is not excessive or out of line, most of those who serve in the imperial court will turn a blind eye.
After all, everyone knows that when the water is too clear, there will be no fish.
But now, Empress Dunfei's "chance encounter" has obviously displeased His Majesty, and the nature of the matter is different.
Now that His Majesty has spoken, we must investigate carefully to find out where this news leaked from!
After the morning court session, Nangong Xuanyu returned to the eastern warm room of the Yangxin Palace to rest for a while and review the urgent memorial that had just been submitted.
Li Changde walked in quietly and stood aside with his head lowered.
When Nangong Xuanyu put down his red brush and picked up his teacup, he stepped forward and bowed, reporting, "...Your Majesty, I have investigated thoroughly."
"It was Xiao Wuzi, the eunuch serving in the Imperial Court, who accepted the money from Xiao Tianzi, the eunuch in charge of the Yikun Palace, and leaked the news last night that Your Majesty was visiting Yongshou Palace and wanted to take a walk in the Imperial Garden."
At this point, Li Changde apologized, "I failed to discipline my subordinates, allowing such a short-sighted person to take advantage of the opportunity and disturb Your Majesty. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"
When Nangong Xuanyu heard this, there was not much surprise on his face, but a hint of sneer flashed across his eyes.
He took a leisurely sip of warm tea before saying calmly, "In that case, that little Wuzi no longer needs to serve before the Emperor. Drag him away and give him twenty lashes of the cane, then send him to work in the Xinzheku."
Twenty lashes of the cane were enough to keep a person out of bed for a month. The Xinzheku was the most miserable and tiring place in the palace.
This penalty was equivalent to ending Xiao Wuzi's future.
Nangong Xuanyu's eyes swept over Li Changde, his tone still calm: "You are not strict with your subordinates, which is dereliction of duty. I will fine you one month's salary as a warning to others."
Li Changde suddenly felt relieved and even secretly grateful.
He had already taken the position of Grand Chamberlain, and his monthly allowance was no longer in short supply. His Majesty's punishment was clearly a high-handed and gentle punishment, and it did not shake his position or trust.
Li Changde immediately bowed, his voice filled with fear and gratitude: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace!"
"I will strictly discipline my subordinates in the future and will never make such mistakes again!"
Nangong Xuanyu waved his hand, signaling him to leave.
Li Changde bowed again and quietly left the warm room, but a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
Although His Majesty did not punish him severely, he was very clear about the meaning of this warning.