After Prince Qi left Chengqian Palace, he did not leave the palace but went to the back palace, to Consort De's palace. The Emperor protected his life, while Consort De protected her position.
Due to the rumors outside, Consort De had not slept soundly for many nights. She was tormented but had no outlet for her anguish. She could not imagine that the son she had painstakingly raised for nineteen years was not her own! Su Dan Novel Network.
"Your Highness," Aunt Le pushed aside the curtain and entered.
Consort De turned over. "What is it?"
"His Highness Prince Qi is outside the hall. He looks unwell."
Upon hearing this, Consort De grew anxious. Without bothering to dress or put on her shoes, she rushed outside. "What happened to Yi'er? Did he get into another fight and get hurt? Is it serious?"
"Your Highness, your clothes, your shoes..." Aunt Le followed, carrying clothes in one hand and shoes in the other.
Consort De stopped abruptly halfway, hesitated for a moment, then turned back. Aunt Le quickly helped her put on her clothes and shoes.
"Tell him to go back. At this hour, running to the back palace is improper."
"I have already told him, but His Highness refuses to leave. He looks as though he's been bullied."
"What? Who dares to bully my son?" Consort De, ignoring her discomfort, hurried out. As soon as she stepped out, she saw someone squatting by the gate in the distance, hugging his knees, like a stray dog abandoned, cowering by the roadside.
"Yi'er?"
Upon hearing Consort De's call, Nangong Yi choked back a sob. "Mother Consort, they all say you've abandoned me."
Consort De quickly stepped forward and realized how disheveled Nangong Yi was. His hair was messy, his clothes dirty, and his shoes were nowhere to be seen. His face was bruised and swollen, and he reeked of alcohol, nearly making her faint.
"What is going on? Who bullied you? Was it Xiao Man?"
Nangong Yi's eyes were red, and his voice choked. "Mother Consort, have you abandoned me?"
Consort De looked at Nangong Yi's pathetic state, and it reminded her of his childhood. Nangong Yi was always mischievous and prone to fights, returning in a similar state each time. She felt both heartache and helplessness.
Consort De slowly pulled Nangong Yi's head into her embrace. "How could Mother Consort abandon you?"
"Mother Consort, they all bully me. They say I'm a bastard, that you've abandoned me. I am clearly your son, raised by you through thick and thin. Please don't abandon me."
Consort De's eyes immediately turned red. Whether Nangong Yi was her biological son or not, he was the child she had raised with all her heart, and he was her son!
"Mother Consort will not abandon you!"
"Mother Consort, I'm so scared. Whenever I go out, everyone points fingers and calls me a bastard, saying I've taken someone else's place. Mother Consort, I was just playful, why do people insist on framing me like this? And trying to sow discord between us?" Nangong Yi cried his heart out, as if he had suffered immense injustice.
Consort De also felt unwell. She too was exhausted by the rumors. This was why she had avoided Nangong Yi when he visited in recent days. She had never realized that Nangong Yi was also a victim. In this conspiracy, they were both victims!
"Yi'er, my Yi'er, stop crying. Mother Consort will not abandon you."
"Mother Consort, please don't leave me. Father has elder brothers, but I only have you."
"Mother Consort will not leave you. Mother Consort will never leave you."
Consort De ordered someone to help Nangong Yi inside and had a maid bring hot soup for him to bathe. Watching Nangong Yi's sleeping face, Consort De was filled with a mix of emotions.
"Your Highness, I will stay guard here. You should go rest."
"Bring the medicine," Consort De shook her head and instructed.
Aunt Le handed Consort De the medicine for bruises and swelling. Consort De took it and carefully applied it to Nangong Yi. Seeing him frown in pain in his sleep, her movements became even gentler, for fear of hurting him.
Aunt Le let out a sigh of relief. Her Highness had been so troubled by the rumors that she hadn't slept well for days and even refused to see His Highness. Now that things were cleared up, her Highness seemed to feel better.
"Your Highness, I've asked the imperial kitchen to prepare some congee. Would you like to eat some first, or wait until His Highness wakes up to dine with you?"
"Let's eat together when Yi'er wakes up," Consort De said. After finishing applying medicine to Nangong Yi and tucking him in, she turned to leave.
"Your Highness, let me help you with your makeup."
Consort De nodded and sat at the dressing table. Although her complexion was poor, the panic in her eyes had disappeared.
"His Highness has always been filial to you and the most obedient. Please don't worry, His Highness will always be filial to you."
Consort De chuckled softly. "I have come to understand. Whether he is my biological son or not, he is the child I raised with my own hands, no different from a biological son. As for..."
Consort De's expression darkened slightly. Aunt Le understood, she must be thinking of the child who was swapped. Although people outside hadn't said who the swapped child was, they had probably guessed that child was dead. As for who killed him, it was easy to guess it was the Empress Dowager.
"Your Highness, you must look forward," Aunt Le said softly. Although Consort De was in charge of the six palaces, the Empress Dowager held great authority. Many concubines in the back palace were her people. Prince Qi was possibly her biological child. If for no other reason, she had to consider Prince Qi's welfare and not openly defy the Empress Dowager.
"Yi'er is my child!" Consort De said slowly. "Whether he is biologically mine or not, he is my child, and I am his only mother!"
"Indeed, Your Highness was raised by Your Highness with great care and effort, taught hand-in-hand. For years, the Empress Dowager interfered, and I thought she doted on His Highness. I never imagined her intentions were malicious. Fortunately, His Highness does not believe her, and Your Highness can be at ease."
Consort De did not respond. She looked at herself in the mirror. Nearly forty years old, she was still exceptionally well-preserved. She hadn't harbored much dislike for the Empress Dowager before, as she was still young when the Empress Dowager broke off her engagement with the Jin family. Moreover, it was only natural for the Empress Dowager to seek a better life; people strive for higher places, and water flows to lower levels.
However, the Empress Dowager should not have, should not have, entangled with her elder brother again after breaking the engagement. And not only that, she used her illegitimate son to swap for her child and murdered her child!
Consort De closed her eyes, concealing the hatred in her eyes. The revenge for her murdered child was irreconcilable. Since Prince Qi was raised by her, he was her child. As for her own child, she would avenge him!
"Your Highness, Cining Palace has sent word, asking you to come over," the maid Qingruo said as she entered.
Consort De glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. Qingruo was sent by the Empress Dowager to serve her. Before, she thought the Empress Dowager cared for her, but now she understood. Qingruo was the Empress Dowager's spy, placed beside her to monitor her!