That day afterwards, Song Zhao did not continue to cry and make trouble after all.
She lowered her head sadly, only saying that she wanted to be quiet for a while, and asked Xiao Jingheng to give her some time to calm down by herself.
When Xiao Jingheng returned to Chaoyang Palace that day, although he did not say a word while reviewing the memorials, anyone could see the anger brewing in his heart.
Xiao Yinzi knelt at the door of Chaoyang Palace, hitting his own mouth over and over again, kneeling and begging Xiao Jingheng for forgiveness.
After all, he was Jiang Deshun's disciple. When serving tea to Xiao Jingheng, Jiang Deshun also carefully said,
"Your Majesty, Xiao Yinzi was really muddled about this matter. Don't let him cause trouble for Your Majesty outside at this time. Allow this slave to take him back and discipline him well."
"Discipline?" Xiao Jingheng suddenly stopped writing and put down the vermilion brush. He angrily said:
"Is this the good disciple you have taught? It seems I don't need to bother you anymore!"
After saying that, he swept out his sleeves and stood under the corridor shouting at Xiao Yinzi:
"I said that anyone who mentions her past affairs to Consort Zhao will end up dead! Considering that you have served me for many years, I will allow you a whole corpse."
Hearing this, Xiao Yinzi was so frightened that his face turned pale. He kept kowtowing and begging Xiao Jingheng for his life.
But Xiao Jingheng completely ignored him and turned around to go back to the main hall.
Seeing this, the people in front of the emperor knew Xiao Yinzi had no hope of surviving. They went up to arrest him and silently dispose of him.
Just at this moment, Xiao Fuzi came to Chaoyang Palace.
He paid his respects to Xiao Jingheng according to protocol outside the door. Seeing that it was him, Xiao Jingheng hurriedly asked:
"Did something happen to Consort Zhao?"
Xiao Fuzi said, "The Consort is very upset. Consort Hui heard about this and has already rushed to Chang Le Palace to comfort her."
As he glanced at the terrified Xiao Yinzi, he added:
"The Consort is kind-hearted and afraid that Your Majesty will vent your anger on Xiao Yinzi because of this matter. Even in her grief, she still told this slave to come and ask Your Majesty to show mercy.
The Consort said that as the daughter of a traitor, she is already burdened with sin and misfortune. If someone else dies because of her, she will feel even more uneasy. So the Consort earnestly asks Your Majesty to pardon Xiao Yinzi. He did not mean any harm after all."
With Xiao Fuzi conveying this message on Song Zhao's behalf, Xiao Jingheng finally relaxed:
"Forget it. Take him away to be caned fifty times as a warning."
Then he instructed Xiao Fuzi: "Go back and take good care of the Consort. I will go see her later."
Fifty heavy strokes is nearly fatal.
After being punished, Xiao Yinzi had to be supported back to his room. He could only lie on the bed, unable to move at all.
Jiang Deshun brought medicine to him and asked with concern:
"How is it? Can you still endure it?"
Seeing Jiang Deshun, Xiao Yinzi couldn't help bursting into tears:
"Master... I have served His Majesty with you for many years, handling everything carefully without any mistakes. But today His Majesty didn't give me any chance. If it weren't for Consort Zhao speaking up for me, I'm afraid I would already be..."
"Nonsense!" Jiang Deshun scolded him harshly, "In this palace, our lives are in the hands of our masters. No matter how the master wants to punish you, you have to accept it. Moreover, you were clearly in the wrong first. What do you have to complain about?"
Xiao Yinzi complained bitterly while sobbing, "But I didn't say anything to Consort Zhao... Those words were all said by Consort Yao and the others..."
"This is the palace. As servants, we cannot distinguish right from wrong in front of our masters. Haven't you understood this after following me for so many years?"
Jiang Deshun sighed briefly, pointing to his broken leg, shaking his head helplessly:
"My leg is broken, so it has been difficult for me to handle affairs. I should retire next year. At that time, you will take my place and become the head eunuch. So you cannot have any resentment towards His Majesty. In the future, you must devote yourself fully to your duties and handle your affairs carefully. Do you understand?"
At this point, even if Xiao Yinzi didn't understand completely, he had to understand.
He wiped away his tears and nodded unwillingly, "Master's teaching is right. Disciple understands."
In the next few days, Xiao Jingheng's heart was almost completely trapped in Chang Le Palace.
He would visit Song Zhao every day.
Although Song Zhao no longer cried, her mood remained very depressed. All day she had no interest in eating or drinking.
In just over ten days, she looked much more haggard and had lost a lot of weight.
Now pregnant, such self-neglect was bad for both her and the unborn prince.
So Xiao Jingheng summoned Yun Shan and asked her why Song Zhao was tormenting herself like this.
At first, Yun Shan was very panicked and did not dare tell Xiao Jingheng what she had heard from Song Zhao.
But forced by Xiao Jingheng's prestige, she could only cry and say:
"My lady says...if the child is gone then it's gone. She is the daughter of a traitor. Any prince born to her would also be a traitor's descendant. My lady says this child will only embarrass Your Majesty and shame the imperial family."
"Nonsense!" Xiao Jingheng said quite helplessly: "Just because of some unimportant things in the past, how could she think like this?"
Yun Shan said, "It is also because I am incapable and cannot properly advise my lady. Your Majesty should make time to stay by my lady's side more. After all, only when you are there will my lady eat a bite. When you don't come, my lady just hides alone on the couch crying. I really feel heartbroken seeing it..."
How could Xiao Jingheng not want to persuade Song Zhao?
But the knots in her heart could not be untied for her in just a few words from Xiao Jingheng.
A few more days passed, and Zhang Imperial Physician said to Xiao Jingheng:
"Your Majesty, Consort Zhao is depressed and anxious. She has difficulty swallowing food during the day and cannot sleep at night. Looking at her previously healthy body, it has now become severely weakened. If the Consort continues like this, I'm afraid...it will be difficult to ensure the royal heir is safely born!"
Hearing this, Xiao Jingheng became even more anxious.
When Ning Wanshuang heard that Xiao Jingheng had not eaten all day because of this matter,
she brought food she had cooked herself to Chaoyang Palace that evening, persuading him to take care of the dragon body and eat something no matter what.
But Xiao Jingheng did not eat a bite of the food, only drinking a lot of alcohol.
Seeing this, Ning Wanshuang could not conceal her distress and said, "I have heard about Consort Zhao's matter. Actually, being sent to the cold palace does not bother her. It's just that as the daughter of a traitor, this has become a knot in her heart. She is privately afraid that in the future, Your Majesty will be shamed because of her and her children."
Xiao Jingheng sadly clasped his forehead, "But I have never thought that way."
"It doesn't matter if Your Majesty thought that way or not. What's important is that Consort Zhao has pushed herself into a dead end that she probably can't get out of for a while."
Ning Wanshuang moved closer to Xiao Jingheng and thoughtfully massaged his tense temples. She suddenly proposed:
"I remember that earlier this year, the only daughter of Lord Luo, the Left Imperial Censor of the Inspectorate, fell ill beyond cure and sadly passed away. At that time, Your Majesty even personally summoned him to express condolences."
Seeing Xiao Jingheng silent, Ning Wanshuang tentatively continued:
"Actually, the Luo family lineage is clean. At Lord Luo's age, it would be difficult for him to have any more children. I was thinking that if Consort Zhao could become Lord Luo's daughter, then she would no longer be considered a traitor's daughter."
