lcionline Chapter 281 Palace Secrets: Trying to Use Her Hands
Chapter 281 Palace Secrets: Trying to Use Her Hands
"Young Madam, why did Consort Jing suddenly summon you?"
Yu Ling's voice was filled with worry, and she tightened her grip on Chu Ruohan's arm slightly.
"do not know."
Chu Ruohan gently shook her head, "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. We'll find out when we get there."
Consort Jing was the birth mother of Prince Su.
The Crown Prince and Prince Su are currently locked in a fierce battle, and undercurrents are surging in the court.
The war in Pingzhou is intense, and the external enemies have not been eliminated, yet these people still have time to think about internal strife...
Chu Ruohan sneered inwardly, but she also understood the helplessness of being unable to control her own destiny.
She had only just moved into "Jing'an Residence" when Consort Jing sent someone to summon her the very next day; the timing was far too coincidental.
Could it be related to the Pingzhou battlefield? Or to Gu Junze?
The new house is very close to the palace, only a 15-minute walk away.
Consort Jing was quite "considerate," considering that she was pregnant, and specially sent a sedan chair to pick her up.
The sedan chair stopped outside the gate, lavishly decorated, with the eunuchs carrying it standing respectfully with their hands at their sides.
Chu Ruohan's gaze fell on the sedan chair, but a sense of vigilance arose in her heart.
The roads in this palace are not entirely smooth.
What if the sedan chair bearers "accidentally" lurch forward, or "just happen" trip over something...
She is currently pregnant, and one wrong step could lead to utter ruin.
"Thank you, father-in-law."
Chu Ruohan nodded slightly to the eunuch who came to deliver the message.
"I've been feeling rather stuffy lately, so I think it's good to get some exercise and clear my head."
She did not choose to ride in a sedan chair, but decided to walk into the palace.
The head eunuch paused for a moment, then bowed and replied, "Yes, Madam Gu, please."
With a mix of trepidation and extreme caution, Chu Ruohan, supported by Yu Ling, walked step by step toward the magnificent golden cage.
Inside Qingyun Palace, incense smoke curled gently, and the palace was magnificent and opulent.
Consort Jing sat upright at the head of the table, her well-maintained face bearing a graceful smile, but her sharp eyes scrutinized Chu Ruohan as she slowly entered.
"Your humble servant, Lady Chu, greets Her Highness Consort Jing. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Chu Ruohan followed the rules, curtsied, and performed the gestures with perfect form, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Oh dear, child, you're already so heavy-set, why are you doing such a grand gesture? Get up and sit down."
Consort Jing raised her hand, her tone friendly, as if she were a true elder who cared about her juniors.
"Thank you, ma'am."
Chu Ruohan got up and sat down on the embroidered stool next to her, only sitting on one side, her back straight.
The palace maids quickly served tea and snacks; the exquisite white jade teacups exuded a delicate tea fragrance.
Consort Jing picked up her teacup and gently stirred the foam on the surface.
"I didn't call you here for anything important, I just wanted to talk to you."
She put down her teacup, looked at Chu Ruohan, and her gaze was gentle.
"Everyone yearns for the wealth and glory of the palace, but once they actually live there, they realize that it's just a cage that they can see but can't touch. It's so stifling that it's hard to find even one person they can confide in."
Chu Ruohan lowered her eyes, her fingertips tightened slightly, and she only touched the teacup to her lips without actually drinking it.
She listened quietly without responding.
Consort Jing's gaze fell subtly on Chu Ruohan's slightly protruding belly, a complex and unfathomable light flashing in her eyes.
"Speaking of which, if the Empress Dowager were still alive, how happy she would be to know that you are pregnant!"
Consort Jing's tone carried a hint of melancholy.
Consort Jing's family was only distantly related to the Empress Dowager; their relationship was not particularly close.
However, when the Empress Dowager was alive, she was an extremely clear-headed woman who skillfully balanced the court and the harem. She never interfered in politics easily, nor did she show favoritism to any of the princes.
Unfortunately, as the princes grew up and became more powerful, they also developed their own agendas, making the situation no longer entirely under the Empress Dowager's control.
Chu Ruohan remained constantly on high alert.
The fact that Consort Jing suddenly summoned her could not possibly be just for casual conversation or to reminisce about the Empress Dowager.
What is her purpose?
Sure enough, after a few perfunctory pleasantries, Consort Jing changed the subject.
"I've heard that the Doctor Qian currently serving in your household is the grandson of Tian Wenzheng, the former head of the Imperial Medical Academy?"
Chu Ruohan felt a chill run down her spine, but her face remained impassive.
"That's right, Your Majesty."
Consort Jing sighed softly, a look of regret on her face.
"I was deeply saddened to hear of the Tian family's plight. Tian Yuanzheng was an honest and upright man with superb medical skills and a kind demeanor."
"Back then, when Her Majesty the Empress was pregnant with the Crown Prince, the pregnancy was very unstable. It was thanks to Tian Yuanzheng's miraculous healing that His Highness the Crown Prince was saved."
These words sound like a lament, but every word seems to have a hidden meaning.
Chu Ruohan's heart skipped a beat.
Why did Consort Jing suddenly bring up this old story?
He even specifically pointed out the connection between Tianyuan Zheng and the Empress and the Crown Prince?
Consort Jing picked up her teacup, took another sip, and seemed to have mentioned it casually.
"It's strange, but shortly before the Princess passed away, the Crown Prince was only a month old and needed careful care. Yet, Tian Yuanzheng suddenly submitted a memorial requesting to retire to his hometown."
"At that time, it was the Empress who made the decision and granted his resignation..."
That's where they stopped talking.
It touched on the point briefly, yet it was enough to provoke deep thought.
Chu Ruohan instantly understood what Consort Jing meant.
Could the massacre of the entire Tian family have been orchestrated by the Empress?
Was the purpose to silence them?
Is it because Inspector Tian may have learned some secrets that were unknown to others back then?
Chu Ruohan lowered her eyes, concealing the turmoil within them.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has ordered the Dali Temple to thoroughly investigate the Tian family case."
She steadied herself and spoke slowly.
"I believe that the Dali Temple will handle this matter impartially, investigate the truth, and restore justice to the Tian family."
Unexpectedly, Consort Jing chuckled upon hearing this, "Fairness?"
"The Court of Judicial Review? Do they dare to investigate even the Empress?"
Consort Jing stood up, straightened her sleeves, and the smile on her face faded, returning to her usual noble and aloof demeanor.
"We've had enough tea, and I'm getting a little tired."
She casually gave instructions to the palace maid beside her.
"Let's escort Madam Gu out of the palace."
"Yes, ma'am."
The palace maid bowed in response.
"My wife, please retire."
Chu Ruohan rose and bowed, then turned and left Qingyun Palace with the palace maid.
Stepping out of the palace gates, the afternoon sun was rather dazzling.
Chu Ruohan narrowed her eyes slightly, but her heart was ice-cold.
Consort Jing's words today, though seemingly unintentional, were in fact a veiled attack, clearly intended to use her to direct the blame at the Empress.
This is an attempt to win her over, or rather, to win over Gu Junze behind her, to work together against the Crown Prince's faction.
Just as I was pondering this, I reached a corner of a palace path lined with peach trees and bumped into someone.
The man, dressed in a brocade robe, stood tall and straight, with his hands behind his back, under a blooming peach tree.
Hearing footsteps, he immediately turned around.