Xiao Jingheng's handling of Prince Rui, although it won the approval of the ministers and people under heaven, Noble Consort Chen had quite a lot of opinions on this matter.
She questioned Xiao Jingheng why he did not kill Prince Rui to vent his anger. Xiao Jingheng also helplessly said, "How could I not want to? But I also have my own helplessness."
Noble Consort Chen shook her head with tears, "So my father and brothers died in vain just like that?"
"No, I will not let your father and brothers die in vain. I promised you I will avenge the blood debt of your family."
Xiao Jingheng called out towards the door, and Jiang Deshun immediately led in several palace maids.
Each of them held a large black box in their hands, covered with a white cloth on top.
Xiao Jingheng put his arm around Noble Consort Chen’s slender shoulders, leaned in close and lifted the white cloth on top,
When Noble Consort Chen saw clearly what was inside, she screamed in fright,
"Ah! This...this is!"
Xiao Jingheng supported her and wanted to lift another one, but was stopped by Noble Consort Chen who held her chest,
"Your Majesty, I can’t stand to see these dirty things..."
What was placed in those black boxes were not other objects, but heads covered in blood.
The one Noble Consort Chen had just seen belonged to Prince Rui's Consort.
During the night banquet at the imperial harem, Noble Consort Chen had met Prince Rui’s Consort a few times before.
At this moment, she was so frightened her appearance lost its color, shrinking into Xiao Jingheng’s arms shivering,
"Didn’t Your Majesty spare their lives?"
"Spare them? Hmph." Xiao Jingheng grunted, and said majestically without anger:
“If I spared them, how could I face you? There were so many eyes staring in the previous dynasty, I could not rashly move against Prince Rui. But I must avenge your father and brothers!”
He spoke these words with true feelings, every word carried anger, as if Noble Consort Chen's family were also his own family.
Having lost her father and brothers, Noble Consort Chen was extremely sad,
but her beloved man also deeply loved her, how could she bear to blame this man?
She leaned closer against Xiao Jingheng.
Hearing him continue, "The Empress has lost virtue, I plan to promote your status after returning from the southern tour."
Noble Consort Chen was astonished for a while. Above the position of Imperial Consort was Imperial Noble Consort.
The position of Imperial Noble Consort was equal to Vice Empress, completely different from the status of an ordinary consort.
The deaths of her father and brothers were difficult for Noble Consort Chen to accept.
Although it was Xiao Jingheng who gave the decree to kill them, he was also under the pressure of state affairs and Prince Rui's scheming,
after all, it was not Xiao Jingheng's true thoughts.
Loving Xiao Jingheng as Noble Consort Chen did, how could she bear to blame this man who also deeply loved her?
"Status and such, I do not care about those. As long as Your Majesty can always be by my side, I will be content."
The rainy season in Suzhou had lasted for nearly a month.
After the Ning family and Prince Rui matter settled down, the weather gradually cleared up.
Looking at the sunny sky outside the window, Xiao Jingheng said,
"The rain has stopped. Tomorrow I will have the Empress sent back to the palace. I know you are very sad over the death of your father and brothers. I am also upset. For the upcoming southern tour, I will accompany you and you will accompany me. After all, no matter how sad we are, we still have to live this life."
Noble Consort Chen was intoxicated in the fantasy bubbles Xiao Jingheng created for her day after day, unable to extricate herself.
It seemed that as long as her young lover still had feelings for her,
she could dissolve and overcome even the most difficult days on her own.
*
On the other hand,
while the Empress was worshiping Buddha in her room, Shuang Ruo rushed in in a panic,
"Empress, this is terrible! His Majesty plans to confer the title of Imperial Noble Consort on Ning after returning to the capital!"
"What did you say!?"
When the Empress heard this, she was so shocked that her soul nearly left her body.
The Buddhist prayer beads she was holding were forcibly pulled apart by her, the wax Buddha beads rolled all over the floor, making crisp popping sounds.
"Imperial Noble Consort? The position of Imperial Noble Consort is equal to Vice Empress. Throughout history, it has only been established when the Empress passed away or was seriously ill! I am still alive and well, is His Majesty treating me as if I were dead?!"
She nearly shouted out these words, frightening Shuang Ruo to quickly close the doors and windows, and came forward to persuade,
"Empress, you can’t say such ominous words. You are His Majesty’s legal wife. Even if the position of Imperial Noble Consort is highly regarded, she is nothing but a concubine..."
"Did everyone not know that during Saint Ancestor Emperor's reign, Empress Jia Ning was driven to despair and suicide by Imperial Noble Consort Duanyu? When she was still a consort, she already dared to show me disrespect many times. If she becomes Imperial Noble Consort in the future, won't she overturn the roof over my head?!"
As she spoke, the Empress became increasingly annoyed as she kept hearing rustling noises outside,
"What's the noise outside?"
Shuang Ruo said awkwardly, "The rain stopped... His Majesty said that he will send you back to the capital tomorrow. The servants are packing..."
The Empress slumped to the ground in despair and wailed,
"Your Majesty...do you despise me so much? I am your Empress, your legal wife!"
"Empress, please don't be too heartbroken. Now that things have come to this, once we return to the capital, we must still notify the Duke to join forces with the ministers to persuade His Majesty. Maybe His Majesty will change his mind..."
"No need to alarm the previous dynasty!"
The Empress wiped away her tears, suddenly got up, and ran to the wardrobe like a madwoman, throwing the magnificent clothes inside all over the floor.
"Empress, what are you doing?!"
The Empress ignored her, and finally took out a locked brocade box from the innermost part of the wardrobe.
The key was hidden in a box of empty rouge powder on her dresser.
She took out the key with trembling fingers, unlocked it, and took out a wrinkled yellow paper from inside.
Seeing this object, she laughed hysterically again,
"Hahaha! Ning wants to take my place with this ghost-suppressing talisman? You’re delusional, you’re dreaming!!"
Saying so, she urged Shuang Ruo impatiently,
"Go, go call all the concubines to me! Say that I will return to the capital tomorrow and they should come to bid farewell!"
After Shuang Ruo withdrew, the Empress held the obituary, reading its contents over and over again.
The smile on her face became increasingly distorted and sinister,
"Ning Wanshuang, you dare to use this to try to replace me as Empress? Crazy! You wish!!"
