Chapter 429: Chapter 429: Incredibly Stupid
In a daze, Consort Ru stared intently.
Who else could it be but Xiao Lansi?
Seeing that familiar face, Consort Ru felt a wave of affection she had never experienced before.
’At a time like this, she’s probably the only one willing to set foot in here!’
"Lanxi!" Consort Ru seized her hand, clutching it like a drowning woman grasping a lifeline. "You—you’ve come at the perfect time! Come with me! Your father dotes on you so; perhaps he’ll listen to you! He—"
"Mother."
Xiao Lansi ignored the grip on her wrist, which was tight enough to cause her pain. She gently patted the back of Consort Ru’s hand. Her voice was quiet, but her tone was firm as she spoke.
"We can’t go."
Consort Ru froze. A flicker of hostility appeared in her wary eyes.
"What? Are you afraid of being dragged down by Cheng Xuan too?!"
Her voice rose, sharp and aggressive—a stark contrast to her usual gentle, amiable demeanor.
But Xiao Lansi’s expression remained unchanged, as if she found nothing strange about the other woman’s behavior.
"If you want my brother to live, you must not go and plead for him."
Her words struck the heart of Consort Ru’s greatest fear, finally snapping her back to her senses.
Xiao Lansi glanced around, and the palace attendants tactfully withdrew.
She then stepped closer and advised in a low voice, "Mother, Father has already issued this decree during the morning court, in front of all the civil and military officials. If you go and plead with him now, what position does that put him in?"
The Emperor’s word is final!
Can he really retract an imperial edict just because one of his consorts begs him to?
It would be a mockery!
Consort Ru understood this, of course. She had simply lost her head in a moment of panic. Xiao Lansi’s words helped her regain a sliver of rationality.
Her eyes were rimmed with red, and hot tears streamed down her face.
"But... am I supposed to just do nothing!?"
’How could I possibly do that!’
Xiao Lansi took a handkerchief and wiped away her tears, every movement the picture of consideration.
"Of course not. You are my brother’s last hope now. I said you can’t go and plead for him *now*, but I never said you should give up on him."
Consort Ru gazed at her, her vision blurred by tears.
’She never imagined her seemingly soft, timid adopted daughter could be so calm and clear-headed in a crisis.’
It made her feel an unwitting sense of dependence on the girl.
"Then... what are you suggesting...?"
Xiao Lansi gently patted her shoulder and sighed. "Right now, the only thing you can do is atone for my brother’s sins."
"Atone?" Consort Ru was baffled.
"Yes." Xiao Lansi paused, seemingly weighing her words. "Father has always doted on my brother. If he weren’t absolutely furious, how could he bear to issue such a decree? But with so many eyes watching, His Majesty had to make a statement, leaving him no other choice. You are fortunate not to have been implicated. But for that very reason, you must be the one to proactively admit fault."
There were some things Xiao Lansi left unsaid, but Consort Ru understood them all the same.
She was Xiao Chengxuan’s mother. When a son makes a mistake, how can the mother truly absolve herself of all blame?
It was only that matters of the court had not been directly brought into the inner palace.
But in private, there would surely be no end to the nasty gossip.
In fact, life would not be easy for Consort Ru from now on.
"Only by doing this can Father vent his anger, and it will also leave a path open for my brother’s future."
Consort Ru finally understood.
She took a deep breath.
"I understand."
Xiao Lansi blinked, her gaze still soft and timid as she looked at her.
Consort Ru turned away, weary.
"From this day forward, I will not take a single step out of this place. I will spend my days chanting sutras and praying to atone for the sins Cheng Xuan has committed."
A look of heartache surfaced on Xiao Lansi’s face.
She took Consort Ru’s hand and said softly,
"Mother, my brother can only rely on you now."
Consort Ru had never felt such despair.
But she had no other choice.
As Xiao Lansi helped her back to her chambers, she finally remembered something and slowly looked up.
"When His Majesty issued the decree, did anyone try to dissuade him? Did anyone speak up for Cheng Xuan?"
Xiao Lansi shook her head. "I was only thinking about the trial for Mr. Xu Jie’s case today. I was worried, so I came to the palace to see you and my brother. I never expected to hear he was in trouble the moment I arrived..."
Consort Ru closed her eyes.
’It’s true.’
’They were just women of the inner court; how could they know what happened in the throne room?’
Xiao Lansi paused. "...I can’t speak for others, but Mr. Jiang probably wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Still, I’m afraid that alone wasn’t enough."
One case led to another, and the evidence against Xiao Chengxuan was damning. Even with all his skills, Jiang Zhao Yuan was powerless to help.
Consort Ru was silent for a long moment before letting out a sudden, cold laugh.
"Besides the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Supervision Office, even the Dingbei Marquis Mansion had a hand in this! They’re determined to see Cheng Xuan dead!"
Xiao Lansi’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Consort Ru didn’t notice. In her heart, she had already branded them all as mortal enemies.
"And especially Shen Yanchuan! That man, Ye Heng, suddenly appearing in the Capital City was obviously a setup! Shen Yanchuan has been hiding all these schemes, just waiting for a day like today!"
’No matter how she thought about it, Consort Ru could only reach one conclusion: Shen Yanchuan knew all along that Xiao Chengxuan was behind the assassination attempt. He had been lying in wait for a long time, just for the chance to take his revenge today!’
Xiao Lansi lowered her gaze, hiding the disgust in her eyes.
She had only heard today about the two previous assassination attempts on Shen Yanchuan.
’She truly couldn’t believe her second brother could be so foolish!’
’Of all the people to target, he just had to try and kill the Heir of Duke Dingbei!’
’Falling to such a state... he had it coming!’
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