Jiang Cheng, upon hearing Liu Liu's words, especially the word "廢" (feì - discarded/abolished), immediately shook his head in disagreement. "The Empress will not be deposed. His Majesty is a wise ruler; he will understand the Empress's kindness and other virtues."
"This has nothing to do with being a wise ruler. I wish to know why you are protecting me. I hear you are the most senior eunuch in the harem. Because you once served His Majesty, he treats you with great kindness, yet why do you protect me? Is it because my father asked you to?"
"Replying to Your Ladyship, the Prime Minister has been upright and just his entire life. He has never asked me for anything. I am protecting Your Ladyship because I see that you have a kind heart and cannot bear to see you harmed by others. Please do not overthink it."
Jiang Cheng replied respectfully. Liu Liu could not find the slightest clue in his words; it seemed as if he genuinely helped her out of sympathy. But did she need sympathy? She couldn't help but smile and shake her head. xxs1
"Alright, Jiang Cheng, you may all withdraw. I am truly tired."
"Yes, Your Ladyship," Jiang Cheng turned and instructed the eunuchs under him to escort the two wicked eunuchs to the Jing Shi Fang in the back palace to receive their punishment. Those two servants, recalling Jiang Cheng's ruthless methods, had already fainted from fear.
In an instant, the entire harem knew that Jiang Cheng was protecting the Empress. They also knew that Jiang Cheng had acted out of sympathy for the Empress's plight. Most importantly, for a considerable time, no servant dared to disrespect the Empress.
In the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace, the young Princess Feng Wuyang laughed, her hands and feet animatedly gesturing as she looked at her mother.
"Mother, you see that Jiang Cheng, that servant, is quite sensible. Second cousin is finally a little better off. Imperial Brother is truly excessive, bestowing Huaqing Palace upon Second Cousin. I told you to let Mother betroth Second Cousin to Second Brother, but Mother insisted she participate in the selection?"
The Empress Dowager was already angry. Upon hearing Feng Wuyang's words, her face turned green. She looked at her daughter with a sinister gaze. "Feng Wuyang, your skin is itching again. If you dare to speak nonsense again, Mother will immediately have your Imperial Brother marry you off."
The young princess, upon hearing her mother's words, immediately plastered a smiling face and begged for mercy. "Mother, I dare not. Please don't let Imperial Brother betroth me. I will obediently listen to Mother, alright?"
Seeing her apology and coquetry, the Empress Dowager's anger subsided somewhat.
The Emperor's actions also caused her, Liu Liu's aunt, considerable embarrassment. However, she understood her own son. If he were to be serious about something, and she went against him, Liu Liu would ultimately be the one to suffer. Therefore, for now, she could only accept it.
However, she believed that Liu'er would definitely move into the Central Palace.
"Do not speak carelessly again. Your cousin is already the Empress. The imperial decree has been issued, and the wedding will be in three days. If you have this good mood, it would be better to spend more time with her. Do not speak rashly. If Mother hears even a single word, Mother will have your Imperial Brother marry you off immediately."
"Alright, alright, I will be obedient," Feng Wuyang dared not say another word. She raised both hands and swore. She did not want to get married; she hadn't found someone she liked yet, so how could she get married? This book is from Xiaoxiang Academy, please do not reproduce it!
The Empress Dowager smiled faintly. Fortunately, she had reminded that servant Jiang Cheng. He was indeed sensible. However, this servant had never been so obedient to her words before; this time, he had carried it out without any flaws.
She supposed, as he had said, he was sympathetic to Liu Liu's predicament. The Empress Dowager's thoughts churned, but there were other matters to attend to. She heard that the Emperor had bestowed many items upon the other consorts, but none upon the Empress. She ought to bestow some items upon her.
"Qing'an," the Empress Dowager called out. Qing'an, the head eunuch of Cining Palace, rushed in quickly, kowtowing and asking, "What does Your Ladyship command?"
"Immediately send my bestowals to the Empress. Send them according to the list, and add one extra of each item. I cannot allow the Liu family to be looked down upon. Furthermore, prepare everything needed for the wedding, the phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes, without any omissions. The Empress lacks the guidance of female officials for the wedding matters. You lead a few people there and ensure everything required for the wedding is handled for the Empress."
"Yes, Your Ladyship, rest assured. This servant will handle matters perfectly," the head eunuch Qing'an, upon hearing that the Empress Dowager had entrusted such an important task to him, naturally knew it was due to her trust in him.
The Empress was from the Liu family. If the wedding were handled shabbily, it would naturally cause the Empress Dowager to lose face. Qing'an's mind began to formulate his plans.
"Go," the Empress Dowager nodded. Because of Liu Liu's grievances, she had not slept well all night and felt listless. She waved for Qing'an to go and handle the matter. Feng Wuyang, who had been sitting beside the Empress Dowager, quickly stood up, flicked her handkerchief, and curtsied. "Mother, Your Highness, I am going to see Second Cousin."
"Mm, go accompany her. She must be feeling unwell. Don't be fooled by Liu'er's outward strength; perhaps her heart is more fragile than anyone else's."
"Alright," Feng Wuyang replied. In truth, she didn't believe her second cousin would be upset. That person was very cold and detached. Making her fall in love with Imperial Brother was the difficult part; where did this fragility come from? However, it was better not to speak, lest she annoy Mother.
The young Princess Feng Wuyang and the head eunuch Qing'an, leading a group of servants, headed towards Huayang Palace. Their arrival drew much attention because the Empress Dowager had bestowed many valuable gifts upon the Empress.
Among the most coveted was the phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes embroidered with gold thread on a crimson background. These were exclusively for the Empress; other consorts could only wear pink and light green, and they lacked the phoenix coronet and robes.
Informants had already sent this news to Consort Shu and Consort De. The two women spent a considerable amount of time in a fiery rage within their respective palaces.
Meanwhile, the Emperor was playing chess in Yongyuan Palace, paying no heed to the events unfolding in the harem, yet privy to them all.
"The palace is quite lively these past two days," a melancholic voice revealed a low, husky male tone. The speaker was Nangong Yue, the imperial physician. Nangong Yue's medical skills were excellent, but his personality was eccentric.
He would absolutely refuse to treat ordinary people. Yet, such a person was treated by the Emperor as a brother. Because, like Jin Shaoyuan, he had been Feng Xie's childhood companion. Coupled with Feng Lie, the four had grown up together, and were thus very close in private.
Nangong Yue possessed a face of unparalleled beauty. Even the Emperor, a man, was sometimes captivated by him. He often sighed, wishing Nangong Yue were a woman. Then he wouldn't have to bother searching for women; he could simply bring him into the harem.
Every time Feng Xie made such remarks, Nangong Yue would fall out with him, refusing to speak to him for at least a month. Therefore, the Emperor no longer made such jokes.
But Nangong Yue was truly impossibly beautiful. Anyone who saw him was inevitably drawn to him. His arched eyebrows were like distant mountains, his proud nose exquisitely stubborn, his thin lips delicate and perfect, his skin flawless. His long hair was casually draped over his shoulders.
For years, he always wore a white robe, yet such a perfect man was imbued with a restrained melancholy. His eyes always held a hazy depth, as if his entire being were a wandering soul, making him unfathomable.