Chapter 112 Unwarranted Thoughts

Chapter 112 Unwarranted Thoughts

As the sun sets, its afterglow still illuminates the earth.

The heat has decreased sharply, but the rising heat from the ground makes it unbearably muggy.

On the stone bridge in the inner palace, Xue Qingning and the fourth imperial concubine Su Muyun walked side by side.

"Who do you think is using us as pawns?" Su Muyun thought about what had happened today and couldn't swallow her anger.

“We are just women, how would we know about these intricacies?” Xue Qingning said softly.

"If you want to know, you'll have to ask the Fourth Prince to investigate for you. Men are the best at understanding these things."

"This is clearly an attempt to sow discord between your mother and Consort Wei."

Su Muyun nodded: "They even want to use someone else to do their dirty work. They really have ulterior motives."

Why would someone behind this do these things?

Xue Qing gazed at the bridge and said, "In my opinion, someone is afraid of your fourth son and is taking this opportunity to cause trouble and displease the Emperor!"

Su Muyun immediately understood, "You're so clever, I didn't even think of that."

Xue Qingning: "It's not that I'm smart, but you're too caught up in the situation to see clearly. I'm an observer, so I naturally have a clearer perspective."

Su Muyun: "It seems we must tell Xie Zhuo about this so he can prepare in advance and avoid being in such a passive position as we are today."

The two walked across the stone bridge toward the front hall.

Su Muyun said suspiciously, "When Consort Wei looked at that replica silk robe, I always felt that there was something wrong with the look in her eyes."

"They were just as surprised as we were."

Xue Qingning chuckled: "You have a good eye. I was too busy watching the fun!"

"I've been wronged, how can I not be suspicious?" Su Muyun lowered her voice:

"I think the person who sent the robe to Princess Jing was the Sixth Prince."

Xue Qingning glanced at her, "You finally realized it. Didn't I say that Xie Yu and Princess Jing were acting strangely at Father Emperor's birthday banquet?"

“You’ve always been smarter than me, and you have a deeper understanding of people. I can’t compare to you in that respect,” Su Muyun said. “However, if they’re going to do this, then we’re in for a good show.”

“At the beginning of the year, when I went out of the city to pay respects to my grandfather, I found that they had gone to the Animal Park together.”

"Beast Taming Garden?"

*

Inside the Hall of Harmony, the palace servants lit the lanterns.

The lamps illuminated the hall, casting an orange-red glow.

"Everyone, get out!" Consort Wei stood in her bedchamber, waving her hand, her face clearly showing signs of fatigue.

The palace servants filed out, leaving only Xie Yu in Consort Wei's bedchamber.

He rested his chin on one hand, leaning lazily against the chaise longue, holding a copy of "The Three Strategies" in one hand, his eyes flashing.

Knowing what Consort Wei was about to do, he covered his face with the book, letting the fragrance of ink fill his nostrils.

"You sent the robe, didn't you?" Consort Wei asked solemnly, already sitting opposite him.

His usually gentle and kind voice carried a stern questioning tone and a long-suppressed anger.

Xie Yu gently pinched the book between his fingers, his voice calm: "I had a palace maid deliver it, and no one else saw it during the process."

"You think all those women are as careless as your father? Your father isn't easily fooled. He just didn't want to get involved in these trivial matters, which is why he let you get away with it."

"With so many people, if there's even one person among them who's meticulous, what you've done won't be kept secret."

Xie Yu: "So what? Helping her was just a simple thing for me. Should I just stand by and watch her get soaked in the rain?"

"You can go through your mother and let her handle it."

"Today, the house is full of women, and the rain outside is so heavy." Xie Yu thought of the shimmering silk robe and felt a little annoyed. "Mother, how come that silk robe was so valuable, and I didn't even know?"

“In your eyes, anything that doesn’t interest you is beneath your notice. Even if I say it, you won’t take it to heart.”

Xie Yu had nothing to say.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only the flickering light causing it to sway unsteadily.

“Tell your mother,” Consort Wei said, her brows furrowed, “have you developed feelings for Princess Jing that you shouldn’t have?”

Xie Yu tore the book off and threw it aside, completely shedding his lazy demeanor.

"Mother!? You're overthinking it?"

Consort Wei tightened her grip, her expression growing even more grave. "You and she have always had things to say to each other, and I have never stopped you. I've always considered you friends."

"But what happened today..."

“She will always be my third sister-in-law? Mother, don’t overthink it.” Xie Yu interrupted Consort Wei.

Consort Wei stopped herself from speaking and compromised, saying, "Alright, since you insist, I won't doubt you. I'll just consider you...rare friends."

Xie Yu reached for a book and covered his face with it again.

Consort Wei kept staring at him: "Today I showed you the Prime Minister's daughter, who is the princess that your mother carefully selected for you."

"Your mother and uncle have discussed it and also asked the Emperor for his opinion. They both believe that this marriage is the best choice for you."

"And the sister of that Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat next door, let's marry them both!"

Xie Yu listened intently, then opened the book again, sat up, and faced Consort Wei.

"Mother, now is not the best time to discuss marriage."

"Now is your best opportunity. We are weak and must rely on external forces."

"What if I fail? Wouldn't that be ruining the girl's life?"

"If you're determined to compete, how can you have any reservations? Besides, it's all a gamble. Do you think Prime Minister Li doesn't understand that?"

"Then why include the sister of the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat?"

Consort Wei: "Last time, Princess Jing looked at you for a long time. She should know your preferences. That girl is pretty and charming, so I took the liberty of making her your wife."

"Besides, her brother is a close attendant of the emperor, and he can convey a lot of important information to you immediately."

"It's not entirely useless."

Xie Yu's face showed a lot of helplessness. He stood up and said, "I don't want any of them. After this matter is settled, if I am still alive, I will definitely marry and have children."

Seeing that he was about to leave, Consort Wei stood up to stop him, saying, "Yu'er, I know you are kind-hearted and afraid of implicating the two young ladies."

"But fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and no one can guarantee a smooth life, so why are you so insistent?"

"You should prioritize the bigger picture!!"

Xie Yu looked at his mother, whose face was now filled with worry and anxiety, a face that was usually gentle.

He apologetically patted Consort Wei's frail shoulder, "Mother, I know what I'm doing. Let's call off this marriage for now, okay?"

Consort Wei looked at Xie Yu, hoping he would achieve great things, but also worried that he was not capable enough. She desperately wanted to help him, which seemed a bit too greedy.

He certainly wouldn't be happy marrying a woman he doesn't love.

*

Three days of assisting in the inner palace were completed in the blink of an eye, and Shen Nanzi successfully completed the task assigned by Consort Wei.

Consort Wei was very satisfied: "It's still early, go back and rest early, tomorrow's sacrificial ceremony will be another hard day."

The women, exhausted from three days of work, all bid farewell to Consort Wei.

Shen Nanzi also led Qinghe out of the palace, and the carriage creaked and groaned as it traveled along the stone road.

The weather was hot, so the carriage curtain was pulled to one side, letting the outside wind blow in to cool off.

A mournful meow reached Shen Nanzi's ears; it was the sound of hunger.

Having worked with cats and dogs frequently, her heart ached when she heard this.

"parking!"