Consort De's words implied, or rather, explicitly stated, that she wanted justice. Zhang Yu looked at her, comforted her for a moment, and then said, "I will have someone investigate. Focus on your injury and don't overthink it." Nie Shaoguang, being astute as she was, didn't say anything more.
Zhang Yu instructed Ling Xiao to carefully examine Nie Shaoguang, and then ordered someone to fetch an imperial physician. They quickly left the tent. Lü Yuan and Lü Chuan were already by his side, so Zhang Yu instructed them, "Lü Chuan, investigate thoroughly and see what's going on."
Lü Chuan accepted the order and immediately set about carrying it out.
After Lü Chuan left, Zhang Yu gave Lü Yuan another instruction, "Take men and arrest Consort An, and interrogate her carefully." This seemed completely unrelated to his previous words and quite inexplicable. Lü Yuan simply agreed and, like Lü Chuan, immediately went to carry out the order.
Chapter 23 Disposal
Zhang Yu personally oversaw the investigation and ordered a thorough investigation. News of Consort De's injury and the Emperor's fury quickly spread. Consort Shu, Feng Hui, and Consort Gu Yunqi were chatting and drinking tea when they heard the palace servant's report; their expressions changed instantly.
Gu Yunqi glanced at Consort Shu, then looked at the kneeling palace maid and asked, "Has Consort An been arrested and interrogated?" The little maid replied softly, "Yes." Gu Yunqi finally looked at Feng Hui.
It's true that Consort An had suffered under Consort De's rule before, being slapped in the face by the head maid who addressed her as Consort De in front of all the other concubines. It's understandable that she couldn't swallow that insult. However, while Consort An might be somewhat unaware of her place, she…
Gu Yunqi thought that An Qiutong hadn't been in the palace for long and had no support. Although His Majesty had favored her twice initially, it was nothing more than that, and nothing much happened afterward. She might have been arrogant when she had His Majesty's favor, but once she lost it, where would she find the courage? If we were to really compare, the rift between Consort Shu and Consort De was probably much deeper than that.
Gu Yunqi was quick-witted, but Feng Hui remained calm and unconcerned. Sensing Gu Yunqi's attention, she simply dismissed the maids and said slowly, "Consort De has suffered such a great shock and injured her body; we should go and visit her."
She met Gu Yunqi's gaze for a moment, then looked away, a cryptic smile spreading across her face as she stood up. Despite some other thoughts swirling in her mind, Gu Yunqi also stood up, a chill running down her spine because of Feng Hui's smile and her own suspicions. Looking at Feng Hui again, her feelings were completely different.
·
Everyone was busy with the matter of Consort De's injury, so Ahao didn't have any scheduled activities and didn't want to trouble others. She ate something casually, and then Princess Zhang Xin came over and said she wanted to take her horseback riding.
"I promised you I'd take you with me, and I keep my word! I told my brother that you'd come with me. So, after we set off tomorrow, just stick close to me. I'll take you around, and we'll hunt rabbits, deer, pheasants, and birds—it'll be so much fun! If we're lucky, we might even encounter a snow fox; those are extremely rare creatures."
As Zhang Xin spoke with Ahao, she became engrossed in her beautiful anticipation for tomorrow, her face beaming with longing. Ahao remembered when she met Zhang Xin at the palace, she recalled that Zhang Xin had mentioned wanting to play together sometime. At first, she hadn't paid much attention, thinking the little princess was just saying it casually, but it turned out the princess had taken it to heart, and Ahao felt a warmth in her heart.
"Yes, I will definitely follow Your Highness tomorrow." Ahao smiled and agreed to Zhang Xin's words. She added, "I wonder how Consort De is feeling. She is probably not in a good position to move around right now. Your Highness, why don't you rest for a while? I remember we have plans for tonight. You need to be well-rested to have fun."
Zhang Xin sat down on the couch where Ahao was resting, leaning halfway down. She tilted her head and looked at Ahao, smiling, "Since Your Majesty values this matter, Consort De will certainly not be wronged. However, you're right, if I run around at this time, I'll only cause more trouble. I have to behave myself, lest Your Majesty thinks I'm difficult and suddenly changes his mind, disagreeing with my going out to play tomorrow. What would I do then?"
Once the topic came up, Zhang Xin once again thought about how Zhang Yu had promised her a trip out of the palace, but ultimately didn't give her the chance. For a moment, she couldn't help but complain to Ahao, "My brother is good in every way, and he's usually very kind to me, but he bullies me all the time, which is very bad."
"Take that time not long ago, for example. He was the one who said that as long as I made the Empress Dowager happy, he would allow me to leave the palace for two days. What a rare opportunity! But I clearly made the Empress Dowager very happy, and he went back on his word. What happened to the rule that a ruler's word is law? It's unbelievable!"
Every time Zhang Xin recalled it, she felt heartache and regret, and couldn't help but sigh, "If you didn't want me to go out, you could have just not given me that promise! It's one thing to refuse to keep your promise, but you even had to scheme against me, forcing me to give up the opportunity on my own. Is this something His Majesty the Emperor should do?"
As she spoke, Zhang Xin became increasingly agitated. She reached out and grabbed A-Hao's arm, holding her hand, and asked pitifully, "Just because I'm a little clumsy, does that mean I have to be bullied like this?" Her emotions shifted rapidly; one moment she was pitiful, and the next she was sighing. "This time, my brother initially didn't agree to let me come along, but thankfully, thankfully I tried my best!"
Song Shu watched as Zhang Xin seemed capable of putting on a whole show on her own, finding it both amusing and laughable. She thought for a moment, and only spoke after Zhang Xin had finished, saying, "If the little princess is referring to that incident, forgive my bluntness, but His Majesty probably didn't intend to hold a grudge against Your Highness. However…"
Zhang Xin blinked and looked at Ahao with a puzzled expression. Seeing her pause, she continued, "The little princess shouldn't have said those things before His Majesty left... His Majesty probably heard it."
Ah Hao wanted to say that even she heard it, so His Majesty must have heard it too. Perhaps it wasn't intentional bullying, but just a little teasing. But thinking like that, it was hard not to wonder if His Majesty really went that far... If he really did, he seemed quite different from the person who was always getting angry.
She never expected it to be like this, but Zhang Xin couldn't remember what she had said at the time. Hearing A-Hao say this only made her more tearful. She suddenly sat up, still clutching A-Hao's hand, and pitifully asked, "Even you're siding with my brother, speaking up for him. Are you trying to kill me?"
As she spoke, Zhang Xin collapsed back onto the small couch, seemingly in despair and pain, closing her eyes and muttering repeatedly, "Are you trying to kill me? Are you trying to kill me?" She only muttered a few words before falling fast asleep.
Ah Hao chuckled silently, took a blanket and covered Zhang Xin with it. Recalling Zhang Xin's words from a moment ago, she argued inwardly, "This really can't be considered speaking up for His Majesty... right?"
·
Before nightfall, all the officials who had gone hunting had returned, and everyone had a bountiful harvest, with Prince Ning's entourage being the most successful. By this time, the matter of Consort De falling from her horse had been concluded, and of all the concubines involved, only Consort An Qiutong was implicated.
Zhao Jian returned at a moderate time. He dismounted, ignored everything else, tossed the riding whip to the soldier who led the horse to the stable, and went back to his tent to wash up. While changing, a servant whispered to him from behind a screen about Consort De's injury.
"His Highness said that the Heir Apparent should remember to express his opinion later, and follow His Majesty's wishes." After explaining, the attendant added this sentence. Zhao Jian's movements of straightening his clothes slowed down a beat. Remembering his father's special reminder, he asked, "Who is this Consort An?"
The attendant raised his head slightly, then lowered it again, and replied, "In early August, the Prince and the Crown Prince presented the palace with all sorts of rare treasures, exotic items, and a group of beauties. This Consort An was one of them, and because she was favored by His Majesty, she was given the title of Consort."
Zhao Jian understood and said nothing more. He changed into a clean robe and had just stepped out from behind the screen when Zhang Yu's messenger arrived, asking him to come over. Zhao Jian nodded and followed the young eunuch.
The young eunuch led Zhao Jian to the outside of Consort De's tent, where everyone who should and shouldn't be there had arrived. Zhao Jian's gaze swept over Song Shuhao, who was standing beside Zhang Yu, and he slightly pressed the corners of his mouth together.
"Your Majesty, I greet you. May Your Majesty be well!" Zhao Jian knelt on one knee and bowed his head to Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu reached out to help him up, and then smiled and said, "Young Master Zhao, you've worked hard. I should have let you rest properly, but this matter has been delayed for quite some time. I'm afraid it would be better to resolve it as soon as possible."
Zhao Jian's expression was unclear, but everyone heard him say, "Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. I am fine. If Your Majesty needs anything, please give your orders."
Zhang Yu put his hands behind his back and said, "Consort De fell off her horse today and injured her right hand. I ordered people to investigate and found out that some villains were secretly causing trouble. However, that person claimed to be innocent and asked to see you. I thought that she was originally one of your people, so I sent someone to invite you to come and see for yourself."
His words were spoken lightly, yet he deliberately mentioned that the person was Zhao Jian's man, clearly intending to force him to deal with the person personally. As soon as Zhang Yu finished speaking, An Qiutong was brought in.
Within half a day, when Ahao saw her again, she no longer possessed the arrogance she had displayed while riding on horseback. At this moment, An Qiutong, the beautiful woman, was disheveled, her hair was disheveled, and her face was covered in red and white patches, looking extremely wretched.
Upon seeing Zhao Jian, An Qiutong almost threw herself at him, wishing she could hug his leg. She immediately cried out, "Your Highness, I am innocent! I am wronged! Please, Your Highness, do justice for me!"
Zhao Jian glanced down at An Qiutong, his eyes devoid of any emotion. Zhang Yu raised his hand, and someone stepped forward to roughly pull An Qiutong away from Zhao Jian's feet. Zhao Jian looked up again and said to Zhang Yu, "Since Your Majesty has investigated thoroughly, and since I am unaware of some of the details, I'm afraid this matter still requires Your Majesty's full authority to handle."
“That makes sense. But…” Zhang Yu pointed at An Qiutong, “She was originally your person, so you should have been informed. I think it would be better to leave her to you to deal with. I’m sure you are just as fair and won’t be biased.”
Zhang Yu pressed him relentlessly. Zhao Jian remembered his father's prior instructions and his heart sank. He said, "To dare to plot against Consort De is truly a vicious and venomous person. There is no benefit in keeping such a person alive."
Out of the corner of his eye, Zhao Jian caught sight of the soldiers guarding the vicinity. He took two steps closer and drew a long sword from their waists. In that instant, memories surged forth irresistibly, a scene somewhat similar to his own. He had once drawn his sword against another person; what had he felt then?
But what he never imagined was that, despite all his efforts, all he received in return was her words—"Prosecutor Zhao, if there is an afterlife, let's not meet again." At that time, he didn't know there really would be an afterlife. They eventually met again.
Seeing Zhao Jian approach An Qiutong with a knife, Song Shuhao knew what was about to happen and dared not look any longer. This was no longer just about Consort De... She heard someone gasp in surprise and felt Ling Xiao beside her tighten his grip on her hand, so hard that it hurt her palm.
A living, breathing person, just like that, is gone. Just hours ago, she was vibrant and alive. Hours later, she died a wretched death, and no one mourned her. Ah Hao couldn't help but think that she absolutely didn't want it to be like this.
In the end, Prosecutor Zhao took action, personally ending An Qiutong's life. Zhang Yu glanced at him indifferently, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Ahao's body trembled slightly, and he had his own thoughts. Prosecutor Zhao, however, did not dare to look at Song Shuhao. He dropped the blood-stained long knife, his expression turning solemn, and strode away after Zhang Yu gave the order.
When Ahao looked up again, An Qiutong had already been dragged away, leaving only scattered bloodstains that hadn't been cleaned up. Zhang Yu went into the tent, spoke a few words to Consort De, and then came out again. Ahao patted Ling Xiao's hand to comfort her and followed Zhang Yu.