Chapter 428.1: Wishing to Visit, Imperial Villa
Li Hong Yuan ‘hesitated’, and afterwards, swiftly got lost.
What did he come for? Alright, it was purely just coming to put on a play. Of course, it didn’t have anything to do with Noble Consort Su, but rather putting on for Le Cheng Emperor to see———–Even if he was unhappy inside, he still cared about his ‘own consort mother’, afterwards giving Noble Consort Su and her son a bit of hope in passing, and then, have it ruthlessly shattered. Even if the two of them vomit blood, it still won’t have anything to do with the living Enma, no? And even if they know that he was just putting on a play, so what? Li Hong Yuan right now simply didn’t care. In reality, if Li Hong Yuan wants to thoroughly shed all pretense of cordiality with them, for him, it was just a matter of one line. However, it was them that needed him, not daring to tear faces with him. Even if knowing his true colors, and even if on the inside, they hated him to the point of wanting to tear him apart alive, in private, they still didn’t dare to do anything.
Truthfully speaking, if not for the following war, even if thoroughly tearing that thin layer of window paper[1] now, Li Hong Yuan all wouldn’t care.
(T/N: Referring to the war that’s about to break out on the northeast border, the one involving He Shi Hai’s family.)
As for whether or not Le Cheng Emperor will suspect, after all, the living Enma did suddenly ‘become obedient’, Li Hong Yuan naturally had a way to let his old man feel it was reasonable. Even if not reasonable, he would still make up a reasonable excuse. In any case, this wasn’t the first Le Cheng Emperor made justifications for his son.
Can only say, Li Hong Yuan’s image has long deeply penetrated into heart. Especially before Le Cheng Emperor, he has truly disguised himself too well.
Li Hong Yuan paused midway, turning to head to Ganlu Palace. Although going now, the possibility of seeing the Imperial Noble Consort was very small, he nevertheless still wanted to go see.
As for whether or not continuously running to Ganlu Palace two days in a row will cause gossip, this completely wasn’t in his scope of consideration. In any case, he was boldly the ‘living Enma’.
Learning that Shu Consort Qin was awake and that Gong Jiu was currently applying the needles for her, Li Hong Yuan directly entered the inner hall. She was similarly leaning against the same beauty recliner from yesterday, but the moment their eyes met, Li Hong Yuan just knew, this was Shu Consort Qin. However, from her subtle expression, one can tell, she probably knew that he’d seen the Imperial Noble Consort.
Reasonably speaking, previously, for Shu Consort Qin to have been able to accept having a ‘ghost’ in her body, it was because of knowing that this ‘ghost’ can’t take hold of her body, but now, it wasn’t the same anymore. The Imperial Noble Consort had inadvertently took control of his body once, then perhaps there will be a second or third time, meaning that there was the risk of ‘the turtledove occupying the magpie’s nest[2]‘. Can one be certain that she would still be indifferent?
“Greetings to your Highness Shu Consort.” Li Hong Yuan greeted.
Li Hong Yuan although was a bit of a bastard, but in his bones, there was actually still the best upbringing, a meticulous appearance with not a hair out of place, and a perfect bearing. As long as he was willing, he was just the best example of etiquette, letting other be unable to pick out the slightest flaw, let alone obvious mistakes.
“Quickly rise.” Shu Consort Qin’s expression was the same as usual, unable to make out any differences. Just, the poisoning this time ultimately damaged her core, making her appear much weaker.
Shu Consort Qin on the surface appeared as such, but exactly what she was thinking inside, it was still very difficult to determine. After all, she was someone that has lived in the palace for twenty to thirty years. Although she wasn’t particularly favored, but under the circumstances of having no children, she was still able to stably sit in her position from beginning to end, thus it was more than enough to show that her thoughts and skills both weren’t ordinary, and controlling her emotions further wasn’t anything difficult. No matter how sharp Li Hong Yuan’s eyes were, he still couldn’t read the mind. However, what Shu Consort Qin’s true thoughts were inside, Li Hong Yuan simply didn’t care. As the saying goes, ‘block when soldiers come and cover when water comes[3]‘. Things still won’t be able to escape from his control.
After applying all the needles in hand, Gong Jiu finally got up, “Greetings to wangye.”
Li Hong Yuan lifted his hand, “How’s her Highness Shu Consort’s condition?”
“Replying to wangye, the situation at present is still considered favorable. Afterwards, after carefully nursing for a period of time, should be able to recover seventy to eighty percent.”
Li Hong Yuan slightly creased his brow, “Can’t recover completely?”
“This commoner is incompetent.” In front of Li Hong Yuan, for people like Gong Jiu and them, they never made excuses for anything.
“Wangye is asking for too much. Even if a sage doctor, afraid would still have times when helpless to do anything. Doctor Gong’s skills already surpass the mass. If not for him, this consort afraid would’ve already been gone. To be able to mostly recover, it’s already quite good.” Shu Consort Qin said with a shallow smile. Actually, Shu Consort Qin knew that the one Jin Qinwang truly cared about wasn’t her. Even though he would still let someone do their best to treat her, he won’t personally come to show his concern. However, this was also human nature. In the end, between the two of them, there ultimately weren’t any relations.
Li Hong Yuan didn’t say anything either. After all, what Shu Consort Qin said was also the truth.
“Why did wangye enter the palace today?” Shu Consort Qin didn’t continue down this line either, changing the subject.
Princess Min Xiang and the fifth fuma’s matter actually wasn’t really that secretive of a matter. Even if Le Cheng Emperor issued a sealing order, at most it was just not letting the commoners know about the follow-up situation. Princess Min Xiang had seized the people with great fanfare and even ‘paraded through the streets’. Many people all saw. And the things that happened in the princess manor, truthfully speaking, although princesses didn’t have any impact on the battle for the throne, and for the most part, didn’t participate in it, it didn’t mean that these people will just get completely ignored. That’s why, the princess manor, in a certain sense, was just a sieve, with too many holes and leaks. That’s why, in this matter, it wasn’t just the fifth fuma’s family. It genuinely wasn’t able to be kept hidden.
After Shu Consort Qin finished listening, she looked to Li Hong Yuan and smiled, not saying anything. It was obvious, in her eyes, this matter was just Li Hong Yuan’s handiwork.
As for how Le Cheng Emperor handled it, believe that very soon, one will be able to know. There was no need to specifically inquire anything. One will be able to know from just seeing.
Li Hong Yuan’s main goal was just seeing whether or not he can still see his own mother. Since he was unable to, and with Shu Consort Qin, there also wasn’t anything to say, he naturally just prepared to leave. “Your Highness should properly rest, this one will take one’s leave first.”
Shu Consort Qin nodded, but hesitated for a moment, “Asking wangye to take care of oneself more, even if it’s for………..regardless of who it’s for.”
Li Hong Yuan naturally understood. Judging from this meaning, Shu Consort Qin seemingly didn’t have any ill-feelings either. “Don’t worry your Highness, in this lifetime, this prince very much cherishes one’s life.”
After leaving Ganlu Palace, Li Hong Yuan was somewhat silent on the way out of the palace. Although in Eunuch Mu’s eyes, he didn’t feel there was any place that was different.
After exiting the palace, standing before the horse carriage, just as he was about to get on, he suddenly turned around, “The person sent to White Dragon Temple, have they sent back news?”
“Replying to wangye, Grandmaster Liao Chen isn’t at White Dragon Temple. Half a month ago, he’d gone out to travel around again. However, according to White Dragon Temple’s head monk, they’ve already received news. Grandmaster Liao Chen will return in three to five days. In the letter that Grandmaster Liao Chen sent back, it also stated that if a noble personage seeks him, then to tell the noble personage to calmly wait.” An Yi said.
From the looks of it, these last words were specifically for Li Hong Yuan to hear, else the head monk wouldn’t have let Li Hong Yuan’s people pass back these words.
Moreover, Grandmaster Liao Chen has always been elusive. Every time he goes out to travel around, it would at the very least take three to five months. Being away for a year or so was all very normal. To come back after only half a month, no matter how one looks at it, it was all like specifically coming back for Li Hong Yuan.
However, for An Yi and them, no one knew exactly why their master was looking for Grandmaster Liao Chen.
Li Hong Yuan climbed onto the horse carriage, closing his eyes to rest.
[1] In ancient times, before the invention of glass, windows and doors were pasted with paper to block the wind. The paper allowed light to come in but was able to block the wind and rain. It’s a special kind of paper painted with oil, similar to the ones used to make paper umbrellas back in the day.
[2] An idiom based on the story of ‘The Turtledove and the Magpie’s Nest’. In the story, the turtledove doesn’t know how to build its own nest, so it goes to watch the magpie build its nest, but ends up occupying the magpie’s nest.
[3] Basically means to adapt to the situation as it comes.
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