However, in his rage, Emperor Ming Yuan ordered Mu Ru the eunuch to summon Yuan Qingling to see him.
Prince Sun looked at Yuan Qingling with pity, feeling embarrassed to make her face the emperor's anger on his behalf. He had heard that Fifth Prince was recovering from his injuries in the palace, so he should go tell Fifth Prince first to find a way to retrieve the Princess of Chu.
When Yuan Qingling entered the hall, Emperor Ming Yuan didn't even lift his head. He just said indifferently, "Kneel down!"
Yuan Qingling knelt down as instructed and greeted, "Greetings to Father Emperor!"
The hall was in disorder. Mu Ru the eunuch was tidying up the spilled inkstone, memorials and other things that the emperor had smashed to the ground in fury at Prince Sun.
On the ground, there was also a string of southern pearls, less than five feet away from where Yuan Qingling knelt.
Emperor Ming Yuan asked in a calm tone, "Just now, Mu Ru came back to report that you said you lost a string of southern pearls I rewarded you. Where did you lose it?"
"Replying to Father Emperor, I lost it in Qian Kun Palace," Yuan Qingling replied.
"Then take a look, is this string on the ground the one you lost in Qian Kun Palace?" Emperor Ming Yuan asked again.
Yuan Qingling took a glance and said, "Yes."
"This string of pearls was sent to me by someone from the Empress's palace. Are you saying the Empress's people stole your pearls?" There was a trace of displeasure in Emperor Ming Yuan's voice.
But it seemed he was still giving her a chance.
Yuan Qingling slowly shook her head. "No, your daughter-in-law knows who took them."
"Oh?" Emperor Ming Yuan sneered coldly. "You know who stole them?"
"I know. I saw who took them," she insisted on using the word "took".
"Who was it?" Emperor Ming Yuan was laughing angrily.
Yuan Qingling was silent for a moment. "Xi Mama!"
Emperor Ming Yuan slammed the table in fury. "Absurd!"
Mu Ru the eunuch quickly said, "Princess, you must not speak nonsense. Do you know Xi Mama is by the Retired Emperor's side?"
Yuan Qingling said with difficulty, "I know..." Her words trailed off, conveying a sense that she didn't dare to ask because she knew Xi Mama's status.
Emperor Ming Yuan stared at her coldly. These words were simply preposterous. No one would believe them if spoken out.
But it was precisely because they were so absurd that it gave Emperor Ming Yuan an illusory feeling that there was a possibility they could be true.
Yuan Qingling was not foolish enough to falsely accuse someone by the Retired Emperor's side.
Emperor Ming Yuan calmed down instead.
Auntie Bao had said the pearls were sent by Xi Mama. In other words, she was also conveying those words. If Yuan Qingling wanted to secure Fifth Prince's future, why would she rely on others?
She should have delivered them herself to show sincerity.
Yuan Qingling remained kneeling with a thorough serenity on her face.
She had tossed this thorny issue back to Emperor Ming Yuan.
It was up to him whether to summon the Retired Emperor's people to ask about this matter.
After careful consideration, Emperor Ming Yuan ordered, "Issue an edict summoning the Empress and Xi Mama to the study."
The palace maid left to pass on the order.
Before Xi Mama and the Empress arrived, Consort Xian came instead.
Consort Xian could no longer sit still. Having learned that Yuan Qingling had sent the pearls to the Empress, she knew the situation was slowly changing. She could not keep staying in Qingyu Palace on sick leave.
Being on prolonged sick leave would make even that wretched daughter-in-law look down on her.
She had come out this time not because of the pearls, but to show her face so people would know she was not dead yet.
Consort Xian brought over some tonic tea. Upon entering the hall, she saw Yuan Qingling kneeling in front and a string of pearls on the desk. Seeing the emperor's angry expression and Mu Ru the eunuch keeping silent, she felt uneasy.
She knew the emperor was angry because Yuan Qingling had sent pearls to the Empress. Although she knew this matter would implicate her own son, she still felt a flash of malicious joy at Yuan Qingling being punished.
She maintained the smile on her lips. "Your Majesty, this subject knows you have been busy with state affairs and worrying over the Retired Emperor's illness. So I made this tonic tea to bring over."
Emperor Ming Yuan said indifferently, "Set it down."
Consort Xian put down the tea and glanced at Yuan Qingling. She hesitated and said, "The Princess of Chu is also here? Then I shall not disturb Your Majesty."
Emperor Ming Yuan said, "Since you are here, this matter also concerns your son, so sit down."
Hearing it was related to the King of Chu, Consort Xian was so angry she wished she could skin Yuan Qingling alive and devour her raw.
She suppressed her anger, the smile never leaving her lips. "Yes!"
She moved to sit down, her mind racing. The emperor must think Yuan Qingling was currying favor with the Empress on Fifth Prince's behalf. Fifth Prince would never do such a thing. At this time, he should protect himself wisely. How could he be so aggressive in seeking advancement?
He really married an unvirtuous wife.
If Fifth Prince was shunned and banished by the emperor again because of this, she would definitely not let Yuan Qingling off.
How could she end up with such a woman? If the marriage with Chu Mingcui had gone smoothly back then, would things be like this today?
The more Consort Xian thought about it, the angrier she felt. She already harbored the desire to crush Yuan Qingling's bones and scatter her ashes.
Yuan Qingling knelt upright, fully aware of Consort Xian's murderous gaze yet unaffected by it. This matter alone made Consort Xian dislike her, disregarding anything else.
"Announcing the Empress's arrival!" A eunuch proclaimed from outside the hall.
Emperor Ming Yuan waved his hand to gesture acquiescence. Mu Ru the eunuch hurried out. Seeing the Empress coming with Auntie Bao while Xi Mama had just arrived, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the emperor summons you!"
He looked towards Xi Mama. Xi Mama's expression was calm and undaunted.
Mu Ru the eunuch said, "Mama, please enter."
The Empress and Auntie Bao walked ahead while Xi Mama followed behind. The three entered the study together.
Seeing the Empress arrive, Consort Xian quickly stood up to salute. "This subject pays respects to the Empress."
The Empress glanced at Consort Xian indifferently. "Consort Xian is also here."
She walked right past, casting a cold look at Yuan Qingling before disregarding her. She greeted Emperor Ming Yuan with a curtsy, "Your Majesty, I'm here."
"Sit," Emperor Ming Yuan waved his hand.
Xi Mama also came forward to salute. "This old servant greets Your Majesty!"
Emperor Ming Yuan still treated the mama respectfully. Xi Mama had watched him grow up. In the past, she had not hesitated to speak up for him before the Retired Emperor. If this matter today was purely Yuan Qingling's slanderous accusations, he would certainly not absolve her of guilt.
"No need to be so courteous," Emperor Ming Yuan said gently.
Xi Mama moved back to stand at the side, meeting his gaze directly without even glancing at Yuan Qingling.
Emperor Ming Yuan began questioning. "Xi Mama, were these pearls sent by you to the Empress's palace?"
Without any hesitation, Xi Mama replied, "Replying to Your Majesty, yes I was the one who sent them."
"Did the Princess of Chu ask you to send them?" Emperor Ming Yuan continued asking.
Xi Mama nodded. "Yes."
Emperor Ming Yuan's gaze swept over Yuan Qingling's face coldly. He asked again, "When the Princess of Chu asked you to send them over, did she convey any message?"
Auntie Bao's expression changed instantly.
Xi Mama said, "The princess said she had two strings of pearls while the Empress had none, so she should present one string respectfully to Her Majesty the Empress."
"Anything else?"
Xi Mama shook her head. "Nothing else."
Mu Ru the eunuch said, "Mama, think carefully, did she also ask you to relay a message to the Empress, to say good words on behalf of the King of Chu before His Majesty?"
Xi Mama shook her head again. "She said no such thing."
Emperor Ming Yuan's expression turned cold. "Empress?"
Empress Chu was taken aback. "She didn't mention wanting me to speak for the King of Chu!"
Emperor Ming Yuan laughed coldly. "Is that so? Then I must have misheard. Isn't that right, Auntie Bao?"
Auntie Bao knelt down with a thud, her face pale. She stammered a few times, "Replying to Your Majesty, this slave...this slave must have misheard."
