Hearing the deep mockery in Situ Chuanqiong's words, Leng Yuanxiang's small face instantly turned from white to red.
She awkwardly got up from the ground, "You were the one who just told those people to scare me first, that's why I said that to make them retreat. I didn't mean to..."
"That's not what I care about!" Situ Chuanqiong interrupted Leng Yuanxiang's explanation, "Are all the things you said at Yunding Tower today true?"
"You... you know everything..."
A hint of embarrassment appeared on Leng Yuanxiang's flushed face. Although she had already decided to break up with Situ Chuanqiong, being discovered by her ex-boyfriend in the scene where she was proposed to by her current boyfriend made her flustered.
"What? Shouldn't I know? Were you planning to elope with some other man before telling me?" Situ Chuanqiong became even angrier.
"What do you mean 'other man'? Don't speak so rudely," Leng Yuanxiang said sternly, "Situ Chuanqiong, I gave you chances long ago, and you gave up yourself. It was you who hurt me and disappointed me again and again, that's why I officially broke up with you!"
"Don't talk to me about breaking up! I don't understand, and I don't want to understand," Situ Chuanqiong waved his hand, "I only know that you are my concubine, and you can only be with me in this life. Unless I don't want you anymore, you can never leave me!"
"How can you be so unreasonable!" Leng Yuanxiang angrily slammed the table, "Even if it's not a breakup, then I'll divorce you, okay? Or you can cast me out, anyway, I'm going to pursue my true love..."
"You're dreaming!" Situ Chuanqiong's anger grew, and he roared, slamming the table and standing up. He then shouted outside the door, "Guards! Take this woman back and punish her to reflect on her mistakes in the cold palace! She can come out when she's figured things out!"
"As you command!" The door quickly opened from the outside, and several guards who had escorted Leng Yuanxiang in made a gesture for her to "please."
"You can't do this to me, Situ Chuanqiong, you scumbag! You wronged me first, and you won't even let me pursue true love! You're an old-fashioned, feudalist! I must have been blind to believe your nonsense back then. You can't lock me up, this is my human right..." Leng Yuanxiang yelled, refusing to leave.
"Drag her away!" Situ Chuanqiong grew more enraged with every word she spoke, making a quick gesture to the guards.
The guards stopped being civilized and each grabbed one of Leng Yuanxiang's arms, quickly dragging the struggling woman away from the Emperor's sight.
A while later, Wang You walked in from outside and advised Situ Chuanqiong, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. The Empress might be intentionally provoking you. She will realize how good you are to her in time."
"You don't need to speak for her, I know my own mind about some matters!" Situ Chuanqiong asked displeasedly, "Have they found out what's happening over there? What's the specific situation?"
Wang You deliberately struggled for a moment before saying, "The Empress told that Yan Yue that she was an unfavored young daughter of a merchant family, so she disguised herself as a man at first. Later, after spending more time together, she revealed her true identity to him."
"They've known each other for so long, and that Yan Yue had no idea?" Situ Chuanqiong was somewhat disbelieving.
"He probably didn't. I inquired, and Yan Yue often escorted the Empress to the entrance of an ordinary residence and never went inside. He always thought that was her home."
"She even set up another residence for illicit affairs?" Situ Chuanqiong frowned.
"It... it was arranged by Prime Minister Leng," Wang You replied truthfully.
"Good heavens, Leng Guang! He's helping his daughter deceive the Emperor! No wonder there haven't been any suspicious messages from my side for so long. It turns out Leng Guang was involved!"
"I don't know about that. Perhaps Prime Minister Leng just helped arrange the residence and wasn't aware of the Empress's affairs?"
"How could that old fox Leng Guang not know? He knew too well, that's why he helped arrange a residence for my daughter," Situ Chuanqiong told him, "Wang You, don't underestimate Leng Guang."
"Your servant is not as thoughtful as Your Majesty; my vision is shallow," Wang You subtly flattered him.
Situ Chuanqiong said no more and was the first to walk out of the room, preparing to return to the palace.
...
The Imperial Study.
"Wang You, how is the situation in the cold palace?" Situ Chuanqiong asked.
"Your Majesty, the Consort Leng has been in the cold palace for over half a month. Her relationship with Noble Consort Qin, who is also in the cold palace, is... not very good," Wang You racked his brain to come up with such a neutral term.
"Qin Mingzhu is still in the cold palace?" Situ Chuanqiong asked in confusion.
"Your Majesty, have you forgotten? You later confined Noble Consort Qin for another six months," Wang You reminded him.
"Ah, yes, I remember," Situ Chuanqiong recalled that indeed there was such a matter.
At that time, the Pengxi Kingdom had provoked them repeatedly, and the Qin family had also raised private troops. Moreover, with Leng Yuanxiang out of the palace and Chu Yulan off to the battlefield, he felt like he had no one to talk to. In a fit of anger, he took it out on Qin Mingzhu and confined her for another six months.
Wang You looked at Situ Chuanqiong's expression, "Your Majesty, in two days, Noble Consort Qin's confinement period will be over. Do you decide..."
"Release her when the time comes!" Situ Chuanqiong waved his hand.
"Understood. Then what about Consort Leng..." Wang You continued to ask.
"Did she say she knows her mistakes?" Situ Chuanqiong asked.
"This... your servant has not heard, but it's possible that the Empress is shy and can only say it in front of Your Majesty!" Wang You said deliberately.
"She dared to elope with some other man and she's shy? It seems she hasn't been confined long enough. Keep her confined for a while longer." Hearing this, Situ Chuanqiong became angry.
"Your servant obeys." Wang You took the order and then said, "Your Majesty, there's another matter. According to the journey, the Empress should be returning to the capital in about five days. Should we arrange a welcoming ceremony?"
"Lan'er is coming back?" Situ Chuanqiong was quite pleased to hear this news, "Yes, that's necessary. You give the order to prepare well and reward the three armies!"
"Yes! Your Majesty, your servant will go and prepare immediately!" Wang You was also very happy.
"It seems you care most about the Empress?" Situ Chuanqiong said, looking at Wang You's expression.
"Your servant cares about Your Majesty. Whichever concubine Your Majesty cares about most, your servant cares about most," Wang You pretended to be flustered at being exposed and hurriedly explained.
"You don't need to be nervous, this is very good!" Situ Chuanqiong liked it best when Wang You showed his emotions. It was reassuring to employ someone whose joy and anger were visible.
Wang You bowed and retreated. After leaving the room, he immediately resumed his expressionless demeanor. As the Emperor's personal eunuch, guessing the imperial will was very important.