Chapter 219: Dragon’s Seed (Part 1)
It was late at night that even the residence of Prince Rui was immersed in sleep and when it was all quiet, suddenly someone came in. It was Tie Yi who suddenly had something to report. Usually at such a time, Tie Yi would not come over to disturb. Shen Miao was sleeping at the deepest when she felt Xie Jing Xing getting up and walking out of the door. After a moment, he seemed to be talking outside with someone and in half a moment, sounds of clothes rustling was heard. She opened her eyes and saw that Xie Jing Xing was standing in front of the study table wearing clothes. She took a look outside again and saw that it was in the middle of the night and did not know why he looked like he was about to go out at such a timing.
“What had happened?” She asked.
Xie Jing Xing saw that she was awake and said, “Something happened in the Palace. I will enter the Palace to take a look. You should sleep first. There is no need to wait for me.”
Hearing that, Shen Miao’s sleepiness was mostly scattered away. For Xie Jing Xing to leave in such a late night, one could tell that this matter is very serious and moreover it was a Palace’s matter. She said, “What is it? Is it serious?”
“The Empress pushed Consort Jing into the pond.” Xie Jing Xing said as he wore his outer robes, “The specifics could not be said clearly in a short time.”
Shen Miao was relieved. For Xie Jing Xing to run to the Palace in the middle of the night, she had thought that there was an assassin in the Palace. When she heard about the matter, her heart was settled but after thinking about it, she said in surprise, “Why would Her Ladyship the Empress push Consort Jing into the pond?” Shen Miao had seen Empress Xian De before and also seen Consort Jing. When facing this type of person like Consort Jing, Empress Xian De simply disdain to even compete and Empress Xian De did not have an impulsive temperament. If it is said that Consort Jing pushed Empress Xian De into the water, Shen Miao would believe it but saying that it was Empress Xian De who took that action was something that Shen Miao did not believe at all.
“The Lu family is currently in the Palace.” Xie Jing Xing said, “They love to pester endlessly. I will go over first to take a look.”
Shen Miao quickly got up, “I will go too.”
“It is too late.” Xie Jing Xing disagreed, “You should sleep. Nothing will happen.”
Shen Miao shook her head, “Since you will be entering the Palace, this is not a simple matter. Anyways, I will not be able to sleep and for you to let me stay in the residence myself, I would let one’s imagination run wild. It is better to go over with you. Moreover if anything happen, one could maybe even help.”
Xie Jing Xing thought for a moment, “Never mind it. I would not feel rest assured leaving you here alone. Let’s go.”
Shen Miao quickly got up and changed clothes.
Because it was really late, all the servants were resting so Xie Jing Xing and Shen Miao only brought Tie Yi and Cong Yang along. Both of them rode the carriage onto the streets of Long Ye and there was not even a single person on the road. Xie Jing Xing’s expression was somewhat cold and Shen Miao was seriously lost in thoughts.
Even if Empress Xian De pushed Consort Jing, there was no need to call Xie Jing Xing into the Palace in the middle of the night. To put it in a bad way, even if Consort Jing lost her life because of this, that was a fight between the females in the Inner Palace and one could directly dismiss the people from the Lu family. Moreover Emperor Yong Le was currently tearing all pretenses from the Lu family, so how would he let the Lu family make a big fuss?
When Shen Miao was in Ming Qi, she had also seen concubines who would hinder another because of jealousy. The pushing into the pond by Empress Xian De to Consort Jing was the most inferior set up, so what did it need Xie Jing Xing to take a trip to the Palace? Shen Miao felt that this matter was not that simple. However Tie Yi said that the person who came over from the Palace with the Imperial decree did not speak clearly thus no one knew the specifics of the situation.
Both of them were deep in their own thoughts thus in a moment of time, they reached the gates of the Palace. Deng GongGong, who was always beside Emperor Yong Le, was waiting at the gates of the Palace. Upon seeing Xie Jing Xing, he was joyful but became startled when he saw Shen Miao coming down from the carriage. However he was not bothered by this and smiled, “Your Highness the Prince of First Rank has finally arrived. His Majesty is in the Palace waiting for you.”
Xie Jing Xing let Deng GongGong walk in front and Shen Miao followed behind. After thinking a while, she then asked Deng GongGong, “Deng GongGong, is Her Ladyship the Empress well?”
“Her Ladyship the Empress is well. Many thanks for WangFei’s care.” Deng GongGong said with a smile.
Shen Miao’s gaze slightly moved. The Empress was fine but such a big fuss was created, did it mean that it was related to the other person?
Sure enough when she thought of that point, she heard Deng GongGong speaking, “However Her Ladyship Consort Jing has not yet woken up.”
Xie Jing Xing sneered, “What kind of tricks is Lu Jing playing?” He had an annoyed expression on.
Deng GongGong smiled and did not say anything more but Shen Miao felt that there was some meaning to that smile.
After entering the Palace, the place that Deng GongGong took both of them straight to was Jing Hua Palace. Jing Hua Palace was where Consort Jing was staying and it was already in the middle of the night but Jing Hua Palace was brightly lit and all the palace maids were kneeling in the middle of the hall. With a look, Shen Miao could see that Emperor Yong Le and Empress Xian De were also present. Both of them were sitting in the hall but one was unable to see any difference with Empress Xian De as she was the usual calm but Emperor Yong Le’s face was as cold as frost.
Shen Miao went in with Xie Jing Xing and Deng GongGong quickly reported. When Emperor Yong Le saw that Shen Miao also came over, his expression was also slightly startled but Empress Xian De stood up and smiled as she walked over to Shen Miao before speaking familiarly as she held Shen Miao’s hands, “Previously one heard that your health is not good and wanted to let you come to the Palace to chat. Who knew that so many things had happened? One did not expect that you would come over at such a late night.”
Shen Miao smiled, “One did not know what has happen for His Highness to enter the Palace, thus one just come along.”
Empress Xian De asked her, “Is one’s health recovering?”
Shen Miao said, “It is fully healed. Many thanks for Your Ladyship’s kindness.”
Empress Xian De then smiled, “Then BenGong is relieved.”
At Xie Jing Xing’s end, he was looking at Emperor Yong Le and said seriously, “Imperial Older Brother, what had happened?”
Everyone knew that Empress Xian De would not push Consort Jing into the water and Consort Jing had not yet awake but Emperor Yong Le had already taken action against the Lu family, without even caring of the Lu family’s face, so why would he call Xie Jing Xing into the Palace because of Consort Jing’s health?
Emperor Yong Le said coldly, “The Lu family was just here.”
“They came?” Xie Jing Xing frowned, “When I entered, one did not see the people of the Lu family.” The Lu family was annoying troublemakers and their tails are already up in the skies. Today Consort Jing had fallen into the water and the Lu family had been suffering losses under the Emperor’s hands, so they would definitely take this opportunity to kick up a fuss and would not let Empress Xian De off. For the Lu family not to show even a shadow, could it be that they had already kick up a fuss on their way here?”
“They are not afraid that something would happen to Consort Jing.” The one that spoke was Empress Xian De, “They are secure in the knowledge that one has backing.”
Shen Miao heart moved. Secure in the knowledge that one had backing? What is the meaning of those words?
Just as she was thinking, she saw an Imperial Physician coming out. He walked to Emperor Yong Le and bowed, “Replying to Your Majesty, Her Ladyship Consort Jing has gotten a cold after falling into the water. Fortunately the foundation of her health is good thus the Dragon seed in her womb is safe. After taking two doses of medication and rest, both mother and child would be safe.”
Consort Jing was pregnant?
Shen Miao and Xie Jing Xing was stunned. Unconsciously Shen Miao looked towards Empress Xian De and the lips of Empress Xian De raised slightly higher and she looked the usual calm and magnanimous but Shen Miao felt that no matter how she look, that smile was of satire. She then looked at Emperor Yong Le, his gaze was ice cold and his expression had sank into the water, no matter how one looked, he did not seemed to be happy.
It seemed that Consort Jing had woken in the room as a delicate voice called out, “Your Majesty. ChenQie wants to see His Majesty.” Xie Jing Xing looked at Emperor Yong Le with a smile but not a smile but Emperor Yong Le turned his head to look at Empress Xian De. Empress Xian De smiled gently, “Your Majesty should take a look at Consort Jing. The child is always innocent.” She then looked towards Xie Jing Xing, “His Majesty most likely will be talking to you in a while so you can wait here.” She then said to Shen Miao, “After so much time, BenGong also want to return to change. WangFei can accompany BenGong back. One feared that one would be tired in such a late night, Wei Yang Palace has hot tea prepared.”
Empress Xian De was so dignified that one could not see any single wrong but the calmer she was, the more it made one’s heart upset. Shen Miao saw that a large part of Empress Xian De’s skirt was damp and guessed that she was just beside Consort Jing by the pond and when Consort Jing fell into the water, Empress Xian De’s clothes became wet. However because of the constant caring for Lu Jing, she did not care to change into clean clothes.
She nodded her head, “Alright.”
Emperor Yong Le stared at Empress Xian De and did not speak while Consort Jing, who was in the room calling, became even more delicate. Empress Xian De said, “It is better for Your Majesty to take a look earlier. It is not Consort Jing that would be tired but the child in Consort Jing’s womb.” After finishing, she pulled Shen Miao and left without caring what expression was on Emperor Yong Le’s face.
Once exiting Jing Hua Palace, the air outside seemed to be much more refreshing. The hustle and bustle of the summer was about to pass and it would not be long later for the weather to gradually cool down and enter the beginning of autumn. The flowers were blooming beautifully in the summer but after some more days, it would be cool and deserted.
Shen Miao’s head was hanging down as she thought about the strange atmosphere between Emperor Yong Le and Empress Xian De. She felt that Empress Xian De showed some exhaustion today that when she was in Jing Hua Palace, she was somewhat confrontational towards Emperor Yong Le. This was different from the usual calm Empress Xian De’s personality. Was it perhaps due to Consort Jing’s child?
That’s right. Empress Xian De did not have children. When Shen Miao first entered the Palace, she had discovered that Emperor Yong Le was at his prime but did not have any descendants of his own. There were a lot of followers of the Lu and Ye family in court and other than the powers that were left by the Late Emperor, the other reason was because there was no descendants. No matter how one looked, an Emperor who did not have any descendants would not last long.
But Consort Jing was pregnant now? If Consort Jing gave birth to a son, could it be that the future Monarch would be fixed? Then this country would be tied to the Lu family at the end. Emperor Yong Le would definitely not one to see an external relative holding on to exclusive power. It was no wonder that when Emperor Yong Le was not at all happy upon hearing that Consort Jing was pregnant. However the reason Empress Xian De was unhappy, most likely because of the position of an Empress but due to the jealously of a female’s heart.
The person on the spot was baffled but the onlooker saw everything exceptionally clearly. Shen Miao was also the same. The gaze that Empress Xian De looked at Emperor Yong Le was the same as how she initially looked at Fu Xiu Yi. She loved deeply one’s own husband but at the end, it was another female that was pregnant with one’s husband’s child. No matter how calm Empress Xian De was, there would be a trace of unhappiness in one’s heart.
She was after all only a female.
“WangFei of First Rank?” Empress Xian De’s voice sounded. Shen Miao recovered to her senses and as Empress Xian De was looking at ther, she smiled somewhat tolerantly, “You were too lost in thoughts and one is unable to hear BenGong’s words.”
Shen Miao quickly apologised, “One has offended Your Ladyship.”
“There is no need to be as such.” Empress Xian De did not seem to take it to heart. “It is so late already, it is natural for one to get lost in one’s thought when tired. WangFei do not need to blame oneself.”
As Shen Miao walked, she could not help but asked, “Your Ladyship, one would like to ask you about a matter.”
“Please ask.”
“Was it really you who push Consort Jing into the water?”
Empress Xian De slightly hesitated before smiling towards her, “What does WangFei think?”
“Your Ladyship the Empress would definitely not do such a thing. Consort Jing did not just enter the Palace and Your Ladyship had lived together with her peacefully for so many years so one would not deal with her at such a moment like this.” Shen Miao said, “So one is curious why did Your Ladyship accept this crime?”