frightfiction Chapter 1669 The favor bestowed upon Chuxiu Palace has come to an end.
Chapter 1669 The favor bestowed upon Chuxiu Palace has come to an end.
Nangong Xuanyu's eyes were dark and unfathomable.
In the past, if Li Changde had mentioned these things, he might have simply thought they were the gratitude and piety of an ordinary official's daughter towards a monk. He would have just heard it and let it go, without thinking too much about it.
After entering the Prince's residence, Consort Kang was well-behaved, gentle, and timid, and never did anything out of line. He did not associate her with the words "deep-thinking" or "unforgettable past feelings for the lecherous monk."
But now...
Many images flashed through the emperor's mind—
Feng's pitiful appearance masked her guilty conscience.
Previously, Lady Chu would rather die than reveal her lover's "fierce" nature...
This series of cuckoldry accusations constantly attacked Nangong Xuanyu's inviolable dignity as an emperor and a man!
Every green hat reminded him of the wicked thoughts that might be hidden in the hearts of those seemingly docile women in his harem!
Once trust is broken, everything seems suspicious...
Nangong Xuanyu sneered, "A woman's infatuation is sometimes the most foolish and stubborn thing in the world."
Li Changde felt a chill run down his spine and lowered his head even further.
Your Majesty's words...
"How can a life-saving grace be so easily forgotten?"
Nangong Xuanyu's voice was full of sarcasm: "Because of your admiration for Buddhism, you once asked Xingchen to copy scriptures to pray for your parents' well-being? Ha!"
"Consort Kang has been in the Prince's residence for many years, gentle and timid, and indifferent to worldly affairs. I never knew she had such a devout past, and had dealings with a lewd monk!"
“Now that the ‘high monk’ who saved her life and whom she admired for his Buddhist teachings has been condemned as a traitor by me and executed, she happens to fall ill and never recover.”
"Li Changde, tell me, is there really such a coincidence in the world?"
Li Changde's forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, and he dared not utter a single word.
His Majesty's words have directly linked Consort Kang's illness to Xingchen...
If he responds, whatever he says could backfire.
Clearly, the emperor did not need Li Changde's answer.
It is better to be wrongly suspicious than to be wrongly believed.
Especially after a series of scandals erupted in the harem, shattering the emperor's dignity, any woman who had ever been involved with Xingchen would become a thorn in Nangong Xuanyu's side!
However, there is no concrete evidence to prove that Consort Kang was the mother of the Fifth Prince.
Emperors may be suspicious and ruthless, but they cannot be completely unreasonable or disregard human ethics.
Nangong Xuanyu couldn't very well say that he suspected Consort Kang of having an affair with Xingchen, and that's why he punished her.
But... reason is reason, and inner conflict is inner conflict.
In the end, Nangong Xuanyu said nothing and waved for Li Changde to leave.
As if granted a pardon, Li Changde said, "This servant takes his leave."
He has served His Majesty since he was a child and knows His Majesty's temperament well.
His Majesty is not a cold-hearted or cruel person. Even if he does not love the concubines who have served him for many years, he still has some affection for them.
When ordinary concubines made minor mistakes or engaged in inappropriate words or actions, His Majesty rarely reacted immediately. More often than not, he silently kept his dissatisfaction, doubts, and disgust in his heart.
Until one day, the last straw broke the camel's back.
Perhaps it was just a trivial matter that caused all the emperor's accumulated dissatisfaction to erupt!
At that point, there will be no room for maneuver, and any explanation or pleading will be in vain.
Just like... the former Consort Dun.
When Lady Wang occasionally became arrogant or made inappropriate remarks, His Majesty would simply laugh it off or give her a slight reprimand.
But His Majesty remembered all her indiscretions, and they accumulated over time. In the end, Lady Wang was banished to the Cold Palace, never to see the light of day again.
People in the palace all said that Lady Wang shouldn't have used an ink stick to secretly harm Consort Yue. But Li Changde understood that Lady Wang ended up like that because His Majesty had already remembered everything in his heart.
Now, Consort Kang has also been remembered by His Majesty...
Although His Majesty will not strip Consort Kang of her title and will maintain her outward appearance of dignity, the already meager affection Consort Kang holds for His Majesty has come to an end.
The favor bestowed upon Chuxiu Palace has come to an end!
As long as this thorn remains, His Majesty will never again feel any affection for Consort Kang, let alone show her any favor.
The imperial harem was filled with beauties, many of whom were young, beautiful, from respectable families, and devoted to the emperor.
Your Majesty is the ruler of the world, possessing the four seas. Why force yourself to get close to a woman who was saved by a lewd monk and may even be grieving and harmed by his death?
If Consort Kang had remained obedient and well-behaved, she would likely have spent the rest of her life quietly, caring for the sickly Fifth Prince while holding her position as a consort.
This is already the most lenient ending His Majesty has given to Consort Kang, considering their past relationship and the Fifth Prince.
Li Changde was standing at the entrance of Yangxin Hall, thinking about these things, when he saw Fuqu carrying a food box and walking from the other end of the palace road.
As she approached, Fuqu stopped, curtsied to Li Changde, and gave him a polite smile: "Eunuch Li."
Li Changde asked politely, "Miss Fuqu, does Her Highness the Imperial Noble Consort have any instructions?"
Fuqu smiled and said, "Your Majesty was concerned about His Majesty's recent hard work, so she specially ordered the kitchen to stew a bird's nest soup with blood bird's nest and sent it to Your Majesty to replenish his energy."
Li Changde's heart skipped a beat.
The Imperial Noble Consort's concern came at just the right time.
His Majesty is still troubled by Consort Kang's past actions, and is filled with suspicion and distrust towards the women in the harem. The Imperial Noble Consort's concern may be able to slightly melt away the chill in His Majesty's heart.
Thinking of this, Li Changde's smile became more genuine: "The Imperial Noble Consort is truly considerate. His Majesty will surely be pleased to know this."
"Please wait a moment, young lady. I'll go in and inform them."
Fuqu nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Li."
"His Majesty."
Li Changde entered and bowed, saying, "Fuqu from Yongshou Palace has arrived. She said that the Imperial Noble Consort was concerned about Your Majesty's hard work and specially ordered the small kitchen to stew bird's nest soup to warm Your Majesty's stomach."
Nangong Xuanyu's slightly furrowed brows twitched slightly when he heard Shen Zhinian's name.
Li Changde's investigation has long since cleared Nian Nian of wrongdoing.
In the harem filled with betrayal and suspicion, only Nian Nian was the pure land in his heart.
The emperor's tone softened slightly: "Bring her in."
"Yes."
Fuqu entered carrying a food box and bowed respectfully: "This servant greets Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!"
Nangong Xuanyu said, "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Fuqu lowered her head and said, "Your Majesty said that His Majesty works hard reviewing memorials. This bird's nest soup has been simmered over a low flame for a long time and is very nourishing. Please take good care of your health."
"The Fourth Prince was still talking about his father today, and it took the Empress a long time to coax him to sleep."
These few simple words, without any deliberate flattery, reveal Shen Zhinian's deep concern.
Xiao Huizi had already tested the bird's nest for poison and presented it to the emperor.
Looking at the steaming soup, Nangong Xuanyu couldn't help but think of the neglect he had experienced these past few days.