Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The early summer sun was warm, filtering through the high clouds and falling on this serene courtyard, gradually warming Rong Tang's hands and feet.

He wasn't surprised that Su Huaijing knew about these things. He used to think that an antagonist should have a growth process and couldn’t have reached an invincible height right from the start.

But in this life, it seems that first there was Shen Feiyi, then Sheng Chengli, and Su Huaijing, even if not overpowering from the start, has had a growth that is equally astonishing.

He was like a weed growing in a dark, sunless valley, not noticeable at first glance among the vitality around, but once you let your guard down and look back, you'd realize that all the grass leaves in the valley are branches growing from him.

Its roots hidden underground, complex and entwined, enveloping the entire valley.

Giving no one a chance to breathe, he had long become the master of this valley.

This realization brought Rong Tang a sense of surprise, but also an uncontrollable worry.

—Because the matter Su Huaijing spoke of, the truth was not as the old folks in the palace saw it.

Even Sheng Chengli’s favor from Emperor Renshou in his previous lives was aided by this incident.

The reason was simple, the Shu Consort was wronged.

The Shu Consort, from a foreign tribe and skilled in the use of fragrances, was blamed after the eldest prince's demise. The head of the Imperial Medical Bureau resigned, accepting responsibility and retired. Initially, no one in the palace suspected the incense.

But when the Shu Consort got pregnant, Emperor Renshou secretly planned to bestow her the honor of the Imperial Bedchamber during a visit to the Empress, leading to the discovery of an old packet of herbs in a hidden part of her chambers.

At first, it wasn’t a big deal, as it's common for ladies in the harem to use fragrances and nobody should have been worried.

At that time, the chief maid in the Shu Consort's palace panicked upon seeing the packet of herbs, knocking over a half-human-height vase, which aroused the suspicions of the head of the Imperial Household Department.

The concerns were reported to Emperor Renshou, a ruler prone to suspicion. He immediately summoned the Imperial Medical Bureau for identification.

The head of the Medical Bureau, who had treated the eldest prince a few months earlier, changed color upon smelling the fragrance and immediately knelt down.

Emperor Renshou then realized that his favored consort had hidden something.

The head physician explained that there were herbs in the south with a unique fragrance. Combined with several other spices into incense, daily usage could strengthen the body and consolidate vitality, especially beneficial for those inherently weak.

Emperor Renshou frowned and asked, "Isn't that a good thing?"

However, the physician added that everything has its opposites and interactions, particularly in medicine. If the incense was made according to ancient secret recipes, it was indeed beneficial. But if someone mixed in the Huanli grass from the extremely cold lands of the northern border, it would become poisonous. Long-term exposure initially stimulates the body's defense mechanisms, giving the illusion of robust health and vitality, reducing fatigue, and seemingly curing the illness. But once the mechanism wears off, the accumulated toxins and the consequences of physical overexertion appear together.

For a patient with a weak constitution, it could easily lead to sudden death.

As the head of the Medical Bureau finished speaking, the hall fell into a deadly silence. After a long pause, Emperor Renshou ordered the maid who knocked over the vase to be brought in.

The maid was frantic and upon seeing the Emperor, knelt and repeatedly claimed, "It was all the Consort’s orders, I know nothing, I know nothing."

From that point, no further investigation was needed. The Emperor, in a rage, banished both the Shu Consort and her son, the Fifth Prince, to the Cold Palace.

Originally, all the eunuchs and maids serving in the Noble Consort's palace were to be executed. But when the Noble Consort heard the emperor's verdict, she did not argue. Covering her pregnant belly, she knelt quietly before Emperor Renshou and said, "The palace servants are innocent. This matter is solely my doing. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and spare their lives.”

Consequently, in Guangde Palace, only the chief maid was executed, while the rest were either sold out of the palace or transferred to other palaces.

This past event was written in the novel, and when Rong Tang read it, he couldn't help but exclaim in awe!

No wonder the Noble Consort was the male protagonist's biological mother. For other consorts, having full evidence of harming the prince would mean death by silk scarf, a mercy beyond the law. But for the Noble Consort, despite having complete evidence, the emperor still condescended to hear her plea.

Even without arguing, her mere words persuaded Emperor Renshou to release her servants.

It was absurdly implausible.

Even though Rong Tang knew this was the author's way of giving the male lead a privileged background by creating an empress-like mother, he still found it ridiculously far-fetched.

The emperor and the Noble Consort's last encounter was poignant: she, pregnant, still radiant, had removed her jewels and luxurious clothes, kneeling in simple elegance, not pleading for herself but for her long-time companion to spare the innocent servants.

Emperor Renshou would often dream of her frail silhouette and her lingering fragrance in the middle of the night.

When the Noble Consort died at her most sinful moment, Emperor Renshou did not investigate her cause of death.

However, when Sheng Chengli emerged from the Cold Palace, old events resurfaced, and Emperor Renshou realized that back then in Guangde Palace, the Noble Consort wasn’t admitting guilt but was disheartened.

She did not plead for herself because she felt cold-hearted towards her partner.

A rather clichéd plot: the wronged favorite consort, pregnant and tragically dying, still kindly and gently seeking grace for others in her final moments.

Such an image was irreplaceable by any number of favored consorts that came after.

Sheng Chengli used this to maximize Emperor Renshou's guilt towards the Noble Consort and her son.

……

However, Yue Rong's death and the Noble Consort's wrongful accusation should not have occurred at this point in time.

Yue Rong died on the fourth day of the first lunar month in the tenth year of the Qingzheng era, a cold winter night, falling into the icy lake of the Imperial Garden.

The Noble Consort's vindication also took place in the autumn of the Qingzheng's tenth year, during the royal hunting expedition, when the true culprit behind the scenes was finally revealed due to certain events.

Rong Tang was unclear about the specifics of the former incident, but the latter was a 'coincidence' he had orchestrated.

Rong Tang looked at Su Huaijing, who still smiled gently, his grin hiding unfathomable depths like the deep sea, yet Rong Tang felt no fear, only concern.

He feared Su Huaijing didn’t know that the Noble Consort was actually wronged.

If so, his actions could very likely… aid Sheng Chengli.

He pursed his lips, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, contemplating how to tell him about this.

Su Huaijing tilted his head, endearingly asking, “What does Tang Tang want to ask?”

In this courtyard, just the two of them, nearing noon, with the wind and clouds dispersed, the sunlight fell on the courtyard filled with pear trees. Rong Tang hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Do you think… the Noble Consort killed the eldest imperial son?”

Su Huaijing blinked, once again surprised by the question Rong Tang dared to ask.

He thought Rong Tang should be asking him what position he held to speak of his profiting, but Rong Tang was asking him about the secret he told Ke Hongxue.

He expected Rong Tang to be fearful, to avoid, to ask why he did this, but Rong Tang instead asked a question of moral judgment.

Su Huaijing couldn't see through his little Bodhisattva.

Yet, he felt once again indulgently pampered by him.

With so many doubts surrounding him, anyone else would have been suspicious and wary. He deliberately exposed these doubts to Tang Tang, yet Rong Tang seemed to turn a blind eye.

Tang Tang was so smart, could he really not see them?

He clearly... was instinctively and purely trusting him, covering for him, indulging him, regardless of his wife’s identity, stance, or purpose.

Su Huaijing’s lips curved upwards as he countered, “What does Tang Tang think?”

Rong Tang felt a sense of relief in his heart and quickly replied, “I don’t think so.”

“Hmm.” Su Huaijing nodded, holding his hand as they left the courtyard towards the dock, “I don’t think so either.”

“The Noble Consort is a very clever woman. If she wanted to harm the prince, she wouldn’t have left so many clues,” Su Huaijing said. “Anything too smooth is the most suspicious. To find the mastermind, just look at who benefits.”

“It's been two years since His Majesty ascended the throne, with the legitimate son of the Middle Palace still alive, and the favorite concubine’s illegitimate child still young. An incense poisoning case toppling the two most threatening princes – to say this was the Noble Consort’s doing is simply too foolish,” Su Huaijing murmured softly.

Hearing this, Rong Tang’s furrowed brows relaxed, unconsciously squeezing Su Huaijing's hand, not sure if it was subconscious or a form of praise.

Su Huaijing then chuckled, “Consort Yi, Lady Ru, Noble Consort Hui… anyone could be a suspect. Coincidentally, one of them is the Second Prince's mother, and another the Third Prince’s.”

“The Fifth Prince has such a clever and decisive mind, what does Tang Tang think?” Su Huaijing lowered his eyes, glancing at him with a smile in his eyes, yet a cold edge hidden beneath, “A mere nanny’s death in exchange for an impeachment document, leaving behind suspicions, and then lightly bringing this storm in the Song Garden to the inner palace. He just threw a stone in the water, and the ripples have already reached the shore.”

If it wasn't for his natural aversion, if his emotions weren't swayed by Rong Tang, Su Huaijing even thought he might admire Sheng Chengli.

Capable of restraint, understanding how to lie low, smart enough, and ruthless enough.

Striving for supremacy is a perilous path with little chance of survival, and once embarked upon, there is no turning back. Alone and unsupported by either a political faction or influential relatives, all he could gamble on was Emperor Renshou's guilt and affection.

Unfortunately, it might have been a bit too hasty.

Su Huaijing, leading Rong Tang, walked towards the central island of the lake. Along the way, they passed a courtyard where a banquet was in progress. Suddenly, guests began streaming out, most of them students from the Linyuan Academy, their faces unable to hide their excitement and curiosity, all heading in the same direction.

Rong Tang focused his gaze and spotted Lu Jiaxi among the crowd.

Su Huaijing smiled at Rong Tang and said, “Tang Tang, it seems that what Master Ke said was not quite right.”

He beckoned Lu Jiaxi over and asked, “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

Lu Jiaxi, brightening upon seeing them, bowed respectfully to Rong Tang and replied, “To the pond, they are draining the water!”

“Oh? For what purpose?” asked Su Huaijing.

Lu Jiaxi answered, “It’s Magistrate Mu! He’s investigating a case. He says the death of Nanny Yue might have hidden circumstances!”

Su Huaijing smiled, letting him go, and turned to Rong Tang, speaking in a light and pleasant tone, “Master Ke always says that Magistrate Mu only cares about his little apprentice. But in my view, that apprentice in Magistrate Mu’s heart might not be as important as a single finger of Ke Hongxue.”

He tilted his head and asked innocently, “Tang Tang, shall we go watch the drama?”

It would be a pity not to witness firsthand the scene he had specially arranged for his little Bodhisattva.