Ever since someone proposed to come to this side because the scenery was better and in the name of hearing screams, the Crown Princess Consort Liu Yue realized that this was a conspiracy.
However, with most people having the same intention, Liu Yue and the Crown Prince's wife, Lady Qin, looked at each other, and with the mentality of facing whatever comes their way, they followed the others to this courtyard.
Who would have thought that upon entering the courtyard, Liu Yue actually saw her husband, Huo Ling, whom she expected to be in the banquet hall.
Although this was the juncture of the inner and outer courtyards of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, it didn't mean that Huo Ling, as the Crown Prince, should be here.
At that moment, the expression on the Crown Princess's face was so cold that it could not be concealed.
The emotions of a qualified noblewoman are often hidden behind an indifferent expression, usually only revealing a hint of clues between the corners of the eyes and eyebrows. However, the changes in Liu Yue's emotions at this moment were clear to the most astute person. Many people thought that the Crown Princess was angry because she saw the Crown Prince here and guessed what was likely to happen; however, only Huo Ling, who knew Liu Yue, knew she was angry because someone actually dared to plot against him.
Her hand hanging at her side clenched into a fist, afraid that she would cause trouble for the person who originally proposed coming over the moment later, Liu Yue closed her eyes to control her emotions and then asked, "Your Highness, what are you doing here?" She had to first clarify the situation, no matter what, before she knew what she should do.
She could not have imagined that someone dared to make a move against Huo Ling. Thinking about what might have happened to the Crown Prince, whom she could hardly scold, made Liu Yue grit her teeth and almost fail to control the expression on her face.
"I'm fine," Huo Ling hurriedly spoke and reassured Liu Yue with a glance, demonstrating with actions that he was indeed fine. Even now, he was not used to using "I" this way, and he still used "I" and "me" interchangeably, and for that his blunt father-in-law had written notes to him about it - as if this could show his selflessness.
But at this moment, Liu Yue's emotions stabilized because of this. Huo Ling only changed his way of speaking when he was nervous, so if it was the same as usual, it naturally meant that Huo Ling was really fine and not just trying to comfort her.
The fist clenched at her side gradually loosened, but her face still looked serious; it seemed as if she was still angry about what she had guessed - this was a posture for others to see.
After Liu Yue calmed down, Huo Ling sympathetically exchanged a glance with his aunt, the wife of the Crown Prince, Lady Qin, and then looked at the women remaining in various states of shock, contemplation, and wishing they did not exist. He snorted, "Why did you gather in such a way? Did you all come to prepare to watch me change clothes?"
When the two groups met, only one person - besides the inconspicuous Xiao Anzi - faced everyone, and yet Huo Ling's momentum was stronger than all of them. When everyone was stunned by Huo Ling's unexpected question, he crossed his arms, and even his voice gradually turned colder. "Have you no shame? Do you all just come here to watch me change clothes?"
With Huo Ling's assertiveness, those with thin skin blushed, while others covered their foreheads with hands, afraid to faint from his provocation in the next moment. They did not expect His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, to be so bold.
With such a question from Huo Ling, some women's faces turned red, and many people heard his words and felt uncomfortable, and some had realized that the rumors were somewhat biased. His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, was even more... well, let's say, unpredictable.
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet and silent; meanwhile, everyone's thoughts were floating, but unfortunately, no one dared to step forward to question Huo Ling, which left Huo Ling slightly unhappy. He had been ready, but it turned out that no one was brave enough to confront him.
Just as Huo Ling was ready to wrap it up and end it with a few words and let them go back where they came from, a woman in a blue embroidered vest and of average appearance stepped forward.
She bowed to Huo Ling and, considering that Huo Ling did not recognize her, she introduced herself, "My husband is Zheng Yangwen, the Adjutant Governor (second-rank)." The folds on the white satin skirt on her body made a beautiful arc with her movement, and at the moment when she straightened her body, those shallow folds disappeared.
"Zheng Yangwen? I understand." In fact, Huo Ling had no recollection of where he had seen Zheng Yangwen before, but he knew what the position of the Adjutant Governor was. However, this didn't mean that Huo Ling would change his attitude. Without changing his expression, he casually raised his chin, "What do you want to say to me?"
Huo Ling's expression was calm, and his voice was even calmer, but in his heart, he was somewhat hopeful - hoping that this woman could give him a "surprise" and was capable of fighting.
The text has been translated faithfully into English:
"Huo Ling felt that the prefect's consort was talking nonsense disrespectfully and allowed a few close female friends to testify. Although some timid women did not speak out, there were women who were not afraid to confirm the prefect's consort's words."
Huo Ling, who regained his composure, quickly responded, "Oh, you are talking about your family discussing my third sister-in-law, the Princess of Deyang County." Huo Ling suddenly remembered that the Crown Princess had mentioned to him before that the prefect had an unmarried son who seemed to be a couple of years older than his niece.
If the prefect's family was really discussing with his third sister-in-law, thinking of the Princess of Changning, who had just been lying on the soft bed and not conscious, and thinking of the sinister intentions of the person behind the scenes, Huo Ling suddenly felt that he himself had become more significant.
Encountering this kind of scheme for the first time, Huo Ling felt a bit proud, but he remembered the current situation and did not easily show his emotions.
Unable to determine whether the prefect's consort and the prefect's consort Zheng Yangwen were involved, Huo Ling asked expressionlessly, "So? What do you want to say?"
The prefect's consort repeated, "My husband's consort just said she heard the voice of the Princess of Changning." Standing upright, the questioned prefect's consort did not even shake the tassel hanging by her temple. "Would you like us to see what is in the room?" She did not believe that even the Crown Prince, who couldn't even walk properly, could have time to deal with the "stuff" in the room behind Huo Ling. As long as they were allowed to enter the room behind Huo Ling, even without catching anything on the spot, some rumors would be enough to give the Crown Prince a headache.
"Or are there things in the room that we cannot see?"
Combining the request made by the prefect's consort and her previous remarks, many women who thought they had guessed something widened their eyes. They knew that there must be something extraordinary in the room behind Huo Ling. Who knew it would turn out to be the Princess of Changning.
Thinking of the relationship between the Princess of Changning and the Crown Prince Huo Ling, and looking at the recent fiery debate with the Princess of Deyang about the marriage proposal, many people secretly regretted why they had appeared here to join in the fun. Was this kind of fun something they could handle?
Unable to advance, unable to retreat, this was no longer a mess that could be avoided simply by pretending to be confused.
Everyone was certain that the Princess of Changning was lying in the room behind Huo Ling, and she might even be disheveled, but Huo Ling, who seemed to be prepared to defend his position like a 'gate of a key fortress', did not budge, appearing to resist, "Do I not care about my face?"
Huo Ling's behavior was rare in the eyes of the normally reserved prefect's consort, but he remembered what occasion it was, so he did not easily show his emotions.
The prefect's consort believed in the abilities of the person behind her, and when she saw Huo Ling's pupils contract in response to her remarks, she was sure. However, she had never thought that even the Crown Prince, who often gave the Emperor a headache, would easily allow them to give him a headache.
Huo Ling could leave without raising an alarm, it was completely feasible for Qingyu Guards to take him away without attracting attention. But was he the kind of person who wouldn't treat others properly even if they plotted against him? Huo Ling, who dared to think and act, naturally was not like this. So he stayed, just did not expect these shameless people behind him to involve not only his sister Ayye, but even a noble family of the second rank, for some unknown reason.
Realizing how influential he was, Huo Ling couldn't help but chuckle, "I never thought I would have such a strong presence."
Having understood everything, Huo Ling no longer had the intention to play along with the other party.
He didn't need any so-called evidence, he was certain that there was something wrong with the prefect, regardless of evidence. Huo Ling ignored the subtle and sting-laden words of the prefect's consort and directly raised his chin to the consort of the imperial son on one side, "Aunt, trouble you."
"You are being too harsh," the consort of the imperial son bowed her lips, "This is because of my mistake, it's my fault."
The consort of the imperial son who stood behind the Crown Princess walked out, her twelve-foot-long embroidered skirt swayed elegantly as she moved forward, as if some fierce beast was gradually awakening along with the Consort of the Imperial Son with the shocked female companions surprised at the sight of her. This was not a metaphor. When some female companions were surprised to think of a fierce beast due to the Consort's presence, the guards, who had been assembled following the secret order, had already surrounded the courtyard. Many people had not reacted, and then saw the guards, who suddenly appeared, swiftly subduing the prefect's consort, whose hands were tied behind her back, as well as the woman who had shown a change of expression among the female companions. Even the woman who pretended to be in a faint was awakened and controlled directly.
Screams and curses were heard from the women, some of whom actually fainted.
"Qin Shi, how dare you!"
Being unexpectedly subdued, the Consort of the Imperial Son twisted her voice when she was turned over to the ground, not showing the expected demeanor, "Have you thought about the consequences?"
"It should be you who thought about the consequences," the Consort of the Imperial Son walked up to the fallen Consort of the Imperial Son and looked at her distorted face with a smile, "What gave you and the people behind you the illusion that the Duke's manor is a place where you can act recklessly?"
Stretching out the embroidered shoes with pearls hidden under the skirt, she stepped on the face of the Consort of the Imperial Son. Qin Shi's expression was calm as if nothing had happened, "But I have to thank you for helping me draw out the nail." If it weren't for the consort of the imperial son, who would have known that the steward, who had been loyal and even saved her husband's life, was the "nail"?
"Qin Shi!"
"Are you very angry?" Qin Shi sneered expressionlessly. "It should be me."
The Crown Princess Yu was very angry because Huo Ling had been plotted against, but Qin Shi, the Consort of the Imperial Son, was even more furious. It's just that her many years of self-restraint allowed her to control her emotions, and no one noticed that Qin Shi, who had been quiet all along, was about to explode.
In her firm and imposing Dinguo Manor, regardless of how many families were involved behind the scenes and how many people were involved, it was not a reason for her to shirk responsibility. Feeling slapped in the face, she did nothing right away, but waited until Huo Ling made it clear. It's clear how well she could control herself.
The female companions who were controlled were at least the wives of fourth-ranked officials, not to mention their own families were not easy to deal with, but Qin Shi had prepared in advance when she gave the order. Dinguo Manor was not a place where they would easily tolerate the other party's strength.
Moreover—
Huo Ling walked down the steps and, walking at an unhurried pace, came in front of the consort of the imperial son, with Qin Shi yielding to the side.
"Are you plotting in secret, and do I have to respond with trickery?” Huo Ling, who never followed the usual way, sneered coldly, “Have you thought about whether you are up to it?” In fact, Huo Ling had never played any conspiracy or trickery, and he was worried that he might not be able to handle it. He directly chose to do things his own way. "What? Do you want to see what's in the room behind me?"
Looking at the consort of the imperial son, who had footprints and swelling marks on her face from being stepped on by Qin Shi—evidence of how forcefully Qin Shi had done it—Huo Ling squinted and said, "Since you have repeatedly asked, I naturally can't deny your request."
Huo Ling didn't have to give an order, as Xia Anzi, who was standing quietly on the side, stepped out from the shadow and, with skillful movements, walked up the steps and, in front of the female companions who were restrained or frightened and unable to maintain their composure, pushed the loosely shut door. As the door was pushed open, sunlight poured in at an angle, and the floating dust danced in the sunlight, as if something that should have been covered up was revealed between the interplay of light and shadow.
Subconsciously looking up, the consort of the imperial son was unable to free herself and could not see the 'thing' she wanted to see. Eventually, it was Huo Ling's kind heart that lifted her collar and, with the help of the guards restraining her, she finally saw the situation in the room that had been opened.
Neat soft tap, exquisite furniture, an empty room, and the scent of gardenia that leaked out from the open room... There was nothing, there was neither the 'person' the consort of the imperial son wanted to see nor the things she wanted to see.
"How, how could this be?!" The consort of the imperial son was stunned, unable to speak. "No, it's impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Huo Ling suddenly let go, and the consort of the imperial son, who was caught off guard, fell to the ground. When the consort of the imperial son tried to get up, her guards, who were keeping a close eye on her, applied more force, pressing her to the ground once again.
Clapping his hands, Huo Ling looked relaxed, "Nothing is impossible. Just like you won't be the consort of the imperial son tomorrow." He walked back to the side of the Crown Princess Yuh, and, under her worried gaze, Huo Ling held her waist, resting his head against her neck. "Don't worry, you should be more confident in your husband. Am I the kind of person who easily capsizes?"
Embracing Yuh from behind and stopping her from voicing her worries, Huo Ling looked at the women who were controlled, some resigned, some unwilling, some calm, some unconscious. "I know, in the mouths of others and in your eyes, I am just a waste as the Crown Prince."
"To be honest, I also think I am a waste, but who made me the Crown Prince now?” Huo Ling smiled, his eyes curved, “So, the Crown Prince is very angry, and the consequences are very serious. Are you prepared to accept the serious consequences?"
Although Huo Ling's words did not show any hint of threat, many still conscious people couldn't help but shiver.
What 'gnashing their teeth and feeling powerless but unwilling to act against you' meant was clear when you looked at Huo Ling's current performance. Only those with close enough relationship to him and some confidence dared to say this in front of Huo Ling.
“No way, father has long been accustomed to my anger, and those who are destined to have more contact with me in the future should also get used to it.” Huo Ling directly took Qin Shi's words as a compliment, "For those who can't get used to it, they should go wherever it's cool. Fewer of them is no less, more of them is no more."
As if not aware of how terrible his words were, Huo Ling waved in the direction of the half-moon gate, "Why have you been watching for so long and not come forward to say hello? Is this how your mother taught you to treat your elders?"
Climbing over the half-moon gate, the climbing ivy grew lush and green, and many branches hung down, hiding the person who was standing at the half-moon gate.
As Huo Ling's voice fell, the Princess of Changning, dressed in a pale pink dress embroidered with peach blossoms, stepped out from the shadows and calmly entered everyone's line of vision.
Her makeup and service were the same as when she came to attend the banquet, proving that the Princess of Changning had not encountered anything that would damage her appearance. What was more important was—what better way to prove Huo Ling's innocence than the way the Princess of Changning had come in unaffected and as she walked in from outside.
The Princess of Changning County, Huo Ling, the Princess Consort, Liu Yue, and the Lady of the World Prince each performed a ceremony, then proceeded to explain the reason for their presence here: "Mother and the Lady of Dingguo are chatting happily, so as not to disturb them, I had to come out for a walk." At this, the Princess of Changning County looked a little embarrassed as she pursed her lips. "I heard some commotion and came over, who knew I would see the Lady of the World Prince at that exact moment..." as she stepped on the face of the Lady of the Superintendent Chamberlain.
Suppressing the rest of her words, the Princess of Changning County hurriedly apologized to Huo Ling, "Your Highness, I was wrong. Please, do not tell my mother that I couldn't restrain my curiosity."
"What are you telling your mother?" Huo Ling tilted his head and waved his hand nonchalantly, "Looking for excitement? Do you need any excitement?"
Receiving three consecutive questions, the astute Princess of Changning County immediately realized Huo Ling's meaning. She quickly showed her gratitude towards Huo Ling, then briskly walked to stand by the side of the Princess Consort, Liu Yue, with her attendant maid.
Princess Consort Liu Yue smiled reassuringly at the Princess of Changning County and lightly patted her shoulder, "Don't worry, we won't tell Princess Deyang."
"Thank you, Your Highness." The Princess of Changning County looked very grateful, "Thank you so much. Really, thank you." Only she knew what these two "thank yous" really meant.
Thinking about the malicious calculations of the Superintendent Chamberlain's family she had almost married into, the Princess of Changning County felt such deep hatred that she almost cried. However, Princess Consort Liu Yue calmed her down. Otherwise, she didn't know how some people present would have interpreted her actions.
The calm and harmonious attitude of the Princess of Changning County and Princess Consort Liu Yue was evidence enough without the need for interrogation. When the Lady of the Superintendent Chamberlain, who had fainted and then woken up, opened her eyes, she saw the other party who should have been "caught in the act" - the Princess of Changning County.
At that moment, the Lady of the Superintendent Chamberlain, seeing the unharmed Princess of Changning County, finally realized that the situation was beyond her control. However, like everyone facing impending doom holding onto a glimmer of hope, the Lady of the Superintendent Chamberlain actually attempted to manipulate and coerce Huo Ling, who was already beginning to yawn out of boredom, "Your Highness, have you considered the consequences? Do you really want to do this?"
Huo Ling yawned, then rolled his eyes heavenward, "Why do people always fail to understand what I'm saying?"
"Are Superintendent Chamberlains worth a lot of money? Oh, it seems like second-ranking officials are indeed valuable, but have you ever thought of one thing? Because my father, the dear Emperor, was willing to let him be a Superintendent Chamberlain."
"Don't think you're so important. Great Zhou absolutely cannot afford to lose you. Remember, overthinking is not a good thing, and it can easily lead to irreparable delusions."
"No need for my father to take action. I can handle all of you by myself."
Author's Note:
1. The title should really be "Lady of the World Prince" and not "Princess Consort," for the following reasons (consider this an educational note). The title of "Prince" originated from the pre-Qin era, originally referring to the heir of a vassal lord (the son who would inherit the title or throne). Qin Shihuang changed "vassal lord" to "Emperor," and subsequently, the heir of the Emperor was referred to as the Crown Prince. Therefore, the title "Prince" became the term for the son of a prince or vassal. The legitimate wife of an Emperor is known as the Empress, and thus, the legitimate wife of a Crown Prince was demoted to the title of "Princess Consort," not "Princess." The legitimate wife of a prince or vassal is known as the "Princess," and for the wife of the son of a prince, using the title "Princess Consort" would be a violation of etiquette and customs. The title "Princess Consort" lacks historical basis, and in ancient classics, the rightful wife of a prince's son is consistently referred to as the "Lady of the World Prince." Thus, every time I see "Princess Consort" in novels and TV dramas, I don't even know what to say.