Hong'an Xiangzhuang - 7

Hong'an Xiangzhuang - 7

Behind the screen, Zhao Yuankai held his breath, his face flushed with anger.

How could the royal inner quarters be allowed to be inspected so casually?

The hall was deathly silent, with sandalwood smoke swirling upwards, weaving a hazy veil between the two.

Shi Anwan slowly leaned back in her chair, her fingers once again twirling the prayer beads.

Didn't they say before that the Third Sister of the Yun family was timid and easy to bully? How come she's so difficult to deal with?

At this point, the true intentions have been revealed.

Shi Anwan could not allow government officials to interfere in the royal household, lest any gossip spread.

Yun Yixia could not possibly admit that Chen Mama's death was related to her.

Good heavens, the conversation just died like that.

Shi Wan looked down at Yun Yixia, her expression shifting. Zhao Yuankai, who was behind the screen, almost rushed out, but was held back by the nanny beside him to prevent him from being exposed.

"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Kang requests an audience!"

A eunuch suddenly announced from outside the hall, and the atmosphere inside the hall eased somewhat.

"Please come in quickly!"

Shi Anwan glanced at Yun Yixia and saw that she stood up to greet her politely, her face still showing that "neither joy nor sorrow" expression.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty, wishing you boundless blessings and peace!"

Zhao Yunkang strode into the hall, dressed in casual clothes with a few dried mud spots on the hem.

"You came quickly!"

Shi Anwan glared at her youngest son reproachfully. He used to be indifferent, but now that Yun Yixia has become the Princess Consort of Kang, his attitude is more proactive than before.

"Your subject has learned that Your Majesty has summoned Xiaxia to the palace. I fear that she may not know the proper etiquette and offend Your Majesty, so I have come to apologize."

Zhao Yunkang glanced at the screen, his tone respectful, but his attitude was not exactly friendly.

They had just finished discussing "cooperation" and were still in the exploratory phase when the Empress Dowager pulled this stunt, which will put him in a difficult position later.

Not to mention "Zhao Family Shop" and those terrifying intelligence networks hidden in the shadows.

Take Yun Yixia for example. She produced many high-yield crops, which solved the problem of "not having enough to eat" for many people. For Daqing, she has done more good than bad.

"You brought this up..." Shi Anwan looked at Yun Yixia, "The two nannies, Fang Hui and Yang He, once taught the Yun family etiquette, but they died a few days after returning to the palace."

Princess Consort Kang, do you have anything to say?

"Mother Empress!!!"

Zhao Yunkang took a step forward, and his mother's words became increasingly outrageous.

Between him and Yun Yixia, it was never that she wanted to marry him, but that he wanted to marry her.

"Your Majesty, the two old women left the Yun residence safely and died before I married into the Kang Prince's residence."

Everyone in Xijing City says I'm "unlucky," "bring misfortune to my family," and a "jinx."

I'm confused too!

Why would the Empress Dowager still allow me to become the Princess Consort of Kang?

Yun Yixia looked up at Shi Anwan and calmly but subtly pointed out that this arranged marriage was forced by the royal family and was not her wish.

Staying indoors and not going out only brings more troubles.

Do you really think she's someone who can be easily manipulated and molded?

"How dare you!!!"

The golden bricks of the main hall reflected the dazzling sunlight. Shi Anwan sat upright on the rosewood phoenix chair, her fingertips digging into the gaps of the lotus pattern on the armrest, the pale blue veins on the back of her hand slightly raised.

"Yun Yixia, do you know that marrying into the royal family is an immense honor?"

Shi Anwan's voice grew slower and slower, while her aura intensified.

"Your Majesty, have you ever heard this saying?"

Yun Yixia looked around. Beneath the magnificent exterior, the sky was still and the earth was closed, the air thick with cold and gloomy energy.

"What is honey to you is poison to me."

She stood upright in the main hall like a bamboo shoot, her head adorned with a nine-phoenix crown inlaid with jewels, her cloud-like hair weighed down, and long pearl tassels hung down on both sides, swaying gently with her breath.

The cloud and phoenix pattern woven with gold thread cascades down from the shoulders, and the vermilion crown and robe are tied with a jade belt around the waist, which is so slender that it can be grasped in one hand.

Yun Yixia slightly raised her chin, the shadow of her long tassel occasionally sweeping across her eyebrows and eyes. Her almond-shaped eyes were surprisingly bright, making people feel ashamed of themselves.

"Yun Yixia, you really have guts!"

Shi Anwan stood up and walked down the steps of the imperial palace, her pearl-embroidered shoes making a heavy knocking sound on the golden bricks.

"Mother!"

Zhao Yunkang stepped forward and stood between the two women, looking up at his mother, not understanding why she was making things difficult for Yun Yixia.

In his view, Yun Yixia was low-key, avoided trouble, and was very capable.

This kind of woman will thrive no matter where she is!

Being confined to the royal backyard actually hinders Yun Yixia's abilities; no wonder she always wants to leave...

"You go back first!"

Shi Anwan closed her eyes and endured it, Zhao Yunkang waved his hand behind his back, and Yun Yixia politely took her leave.

“Yun Shi, Yuan Kai is the heir of the Kang Prince’s Mansion, and he is my grandson.”

If anything happens to him... I will not let him off lightly!

"I will remember."

Shi Anwan spoke before Yun Yixia turned around. She bowed and greeted her, looking perfectly fine but incredibly infuriating.

"You get the hell out here!!!"

Zhao Yun Kang looked at the screen with his hands behind his back. Zhao Yuan Kai was so frightened that he hiccuped, lowered his head, and walked out with trembling legs, not daring to look at his father's gloomy face.

"you……"

Shi Anwan wanted to say something, but seeing the room full of people, she waved her hand impatiently, and Zheng An immediately led the people out.

"What are you trying to prove by putting on airs in front of me?"

"Royal Grandmother~"

Zhao Yunkai stumbled to his grandmother's side, secretly glancing at his father. He noticed that his father's face was even more pale, and he was so frightened that he turned his back to her.

"Powerful?" Zhao Yun Kang was furious. "When have I ever been powerful in front of you?"

"How did his mother enter the Prince's mansion, how did he come to be... how much of that was your doing... do you really think I don't know?"

"Leaving aside the past, let's talk about the present!"

"Zhao Yuankai, you suspect that Granny Chen was killed by the Princess... Where is your evidence?"

"You're acting all wronged after making baseless accusations against someone?"

"say!!!"

Zhao Yunkang shouted sternly, and Zhao Yuankai jumped up in fright, saying in a trembling voice, "No!"

“No evidence!” He pointed at his son, “yet you dare to use the Empress Dowager’s influence to pressure the Princess.”

In the future, what will be the difference between you and those spoiled brats who run rampant on horseback and commit crimes under the guise of their family's wealth?

"Even if you go to the government office to beat the drum to appeal for justice, I will consider you to have acted uprightly and acted in accordance with righteousness."

"But you chose the worst and most despicable way!"

"Enough!!!"

Shi Anwan stood up, shielding her grandson behind her, glaring angrily at her son below. Her lips moved, but she didn't know what to say.

The mother of her grandson was someone she forced upon her youngest son.

She was also involved in enabling the former Princess Kang to become pregnant.

As a result, her youngest son became estranged from her and stayed in northern Xinjiang for a long time, never returning.

The more Shi Anwan felt guilty towards her youngest son, the more she spoiled her eldest grandson.

"Mother, are you going to continue protecting him and letting him do whatever he wants?"

Zhao Yunkang stood below with his hands behind his back, looking up at his mother who had given birth to him.

"I...I didn't do anything..." Shi Anwan's tone softened. "I just called you over to ask you a couple of questions, is it really necessary for you to be so angry?"

"Mother!" Zhao Yunkang closed his eyes briefly, "This wedding was not what she wanted!"

After marrying into the Prince's mansion, she never interfered in the affairs of the front and back courtyards, nor did she meddle in any of the Prince's matters.

She stayed in Qinfang Garden every day, never leaving the main gate or the inner gate, avoiding everything she could.

If he were Yun Yixia, he would retaliate with swift and decisive action, ensuring that the person he disliked would never appear in front of him again.

"I see!"

Shi Anwan glanced at the mud spots on her youngest son's clothes and waved him away.

"Mother, farewell!"

Zhao Yunkang turned and left without even glancing at Zhao Yuankai.

He hated the former queen, and he hated her son just as much.

"Father..."

Zhao Yuankai watched his father walk away, his eyes filled with tears, hoping he would turn back and look at him one last time.

Even just one glance?

"Grandmother, does Father not like me?"

He collapsed onto the embroidered stool, covering his face with his hands and weeping.

“Your father is reserved, even I can’t see through him.” Shi Anwan stroked her eldest grandson’s fluffy head. “Has Yun ever made things difficult for you in the Prince’s mansion?”

"No!" Zhao Yuankai hugged himself. "I don't go to Qinfangyuan. She has never come to find me on her own initiative."

Except for the day Chen Mama died... when her father came, she followed him...

"Stay away from her from now on!"

Shi Anwan beckoned Feng Cha over and inquired about the young master's daily life and the condition of the surrounding nannies.

Upon hearing that it was Granny Chen who accompanied the young master to find the troublemaker, she instantly understood why her eldest grandson suspected Yun Yixia of being the murderer.

The Yun family is quite capable; instead of causing trouble for the heir apparent, they target those around him.

It can intimidate children without crossing the royal line.

The balance must be just right; too much would be reckless, too little would be insufficient.

"Um!"

Zhao Yuankai responded sullenly, feeling wronged and heartbroken, sensing that his father disliked him even more.

Under the sunlight, a palanquin walked out of the palace, its canopy hanging low, the purple crepe fabric fluttering in the breeze, the tassels rustling softly.

Yun Yixia sat upright, her hands tucked into her wide sleeves, her gaze calmly fixed on the palace buildings that were slowly moving past outside the carriage.

Before the last vermilion gate leading out of the palace, the procession suddenly stopped.

A eunuch was standing in front of the carriage with his head bowed. He took two steps forward and bowed deeply. His voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

"By order of His Majesty, I summon Princess Consort Kang to the Imperial Study for an audience!"

A few crows cried out from afar outside the high walls, their hoarse cries breaking the silence of the palace.

"knew!"

Yun Yixia's face remained calm and expressionless. Her fingers, which were resting on her knees, curled slightly before slowly relaxing.

The palanquin slowly turned and headed towards the Imperial Study.

The houses here have black tiles and white walls, without any rich ochre or red colors, giving them a more refined and scholarly feel.

The eunuchs walked back and forth in the corridor, their robes stirring up the wind without making a sound.

"Hibiscus, wait for me outside!"

Yun Yixia stepped down from the carriage, the tassels of her phoenix coronet clinking slightly, making a soft, clear sound.

She straightened her sleeves slightly and stepped onto the not-so-high stone steps.

Mu Jin opened her mouth behind her wife, subtly glancing at several hiding places, and secretly clenched her fists.

Every position is the best place to launch an attack, and their skills are no less than hers.

Above the door of the Imperial Study hangs a plaque inscribed with the three characters "Yangxinzhai" (养心斋), written by the current emperor himself. The calligraphy is powerful and vigorous, penetrating the very wood.

The Yangxinzhai (Hall of Nourishing the Mind) does not "nourish the mind" at all; instead, it exudes a murderous aura and is full of ambition.

The eunuch leading the way stopped at the bottom of the steps, and Yun Yixia lifted her skirt and walked up. The eunuch lifted the curtain and invited her inside.

A scent mingled with aged books, fine Huizhou ink, and a faint hint of ambergris wafted towards me.

The room was brightly lit, with a wide south-facing window. On the rosewood desk were piles of memorials, a jade brush rest, a Duan stone inkstone, and a red gold tiger-shaped seal casually placed to one side. The three floor-to-ceiling bookshelves were filled with thread-bound books.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects and wish you a long and peaceful life!"

"Get up!"

Zhao Yunxian stood with his hands behind his back in front of a huge map, dressed in a black robe with dark cloud patterns, and the collar and sleeve edges were embroidered with dragon patterns in gold thread.

Hearing footsteps, he did not turn around, but stared at a certain point on the map, as if there were endless secrets hidden among the mountains, rivers and cities.

"promise!"