Chapter 653: Chapter 433 What, Chen Yuan dares to talk back to his mother concubine!
“Presumptuous! Chen Yuan, how dare you talk back to this palace!”
Listening to Chen Yuan’s righteous and firm attitude, Yang Noble Consort felt offended and immediately scolded him.
No matter what, she was the Noble Consort; how could she tolerate being talked back to by a mere external official?
Chen Yuan’s demeanor remained neither servile nor overbearing, and he felt no fear from Yang Noble Consort’s scolding; how could she harm him for talking back to such a shallow woman?
She deserved to be defied fiercely!
What was there for Chen Yuan to fear?
“This is the humble official’s response; this is all I have to say. Noble Consort, please take care, I bid you farewell!”
Chen Yuan bowed his hands and turned around to leave directly.
Yang Noble Consort’s tone choked, and her figure wavered slightly. When she summoned Chen Yuan to the palace, she had never expected him to be so unyielding, showing no concern at all.
He spoke back to her bluntly!
Not giving her any regard whatsoever.
Watching Chen Yuan’s retreating figure, Yang Noble Consort’s eyes were filled with rage and a murderous intent. If news of today’s events spread, her reputation would be completely ruined.
What was most important was that she had no way to handle Chen Yuan.
He was reasonable and dignified, neither servile nor overbearing, and behaved with integrity. Even if the matter reached the Emperor, she would not benefit from it; the Emperor nowadays was no longer the one who used to dote on her.
He had shifted his focus entirely to state affairs and cultivation in recent years, seldom visiting the Harem, even going several months without seeing her.
Had she been able to seek Jingtai’s sympathy before, she would not have resorted to summoning Chen Yuan into the palace to forcefully persuade him with words.
“Your Highness, please calm your anger!”
“Your Highness, please calm your anger!”
Several maidservants quickly knelt down, fearing Yang Noble Consort’s wrath would turn towards them.
“Mother Consort, Pingyang shall also take her leave.”
After performing her curtsies, Pingyang Princess ignored the dangerous gaze of Yang Noble Consort and left composedly.
Leaving Chunhua Palace, Chen Yuan did not rush to leave but purposefully meandered through the Harem, wanting to check out the place Jiang He had told him about.
However, it wasn’t long before Pingyang Princess caught up with him, causing him to stop in his tracks.
“Chen Green Envoy, do you have other matters to attend to?”
Pingyang Princess looked at Chen Yuan with a hint of suspicion in her eyes.
Could there be other dignitaries in the Harem who had summoned him besides her mother’s call?
Given Chen Yuan’s tough character, could he be planning to confront someone else?
“Nothing particular. I simply thought the scenery here was nice when I came, and I would like to take another look,” Chen Yuan said with a smile, not revealing any other purpose. If he were found out,
it would make it difficult for him to act in the future.
Pingyang Princess’s eyes moved thoughtfully, then she spoke a moment later:
“Indeed, the Harem has many places with fine scenery. If Chen Commander wishes to visit any place and does not mind, Pingyang would be happy to show you around.” The most update n0vels are published on NoveI(F)ire.net
“Your Highness grew up in the Harem and naturally knows some places well. Since this is so, Your Highness may decide.”
There was still some time before the ancestral sacrifice ceremony; there was no need to rush.
He felt Pingyang seemed to be more intelligent than her brother; if he slipped up, she would easily notice, so he preferred not to go rather than raise her suspicions.
“Very well, then Chen Green Envoy, please follow Pingyang for a walk.”
Looking at the palace beauty in front of him, Chen Yuan nodded,
During their leisurely stroll, Chen Yuan and Pingyang Princess talked about many things. He had thought Pingyang wanted to lobby for her uncle or perhaps threaten him because he had confronted her mother earlier.
However, to his surprise, Pingyang did not steer the conversation in that direction at all.
Instead, she brought up the previous Ascension Battle, expressing her admiration for Chen Yuan and saying he had earned glory for the court, serving as a role model for the younger generation of Great Jin.
Chen Yuan: “Your Highness flatters me; I merely took advantage of the situation.”
Pingyang smiled and said:
“Back in Chunhua Palace, wasn’t Chen Commander very firm? Why so modest now?”
Seeing that she did indeed bring the conversation around to this topic, Chen Yuan felt at ease, then spoke with a serious face:
“If someone gives me respect, I return it tenfold. The Noble Consort was aggressive and domineering. Naturally, I would not humble myself to beg for mercy. Moreover, the court’s trial of Yang Hucheng was a matter of strict laws, which is a good thing.”
“A good phrase, ‘if someone gives me respect, I return it tenfold.’ Is the next thing Chen Green Envoy going to say ‘If someone offends me, I must retaliate’?”
Chen Yuan did not confirm.
But sometimes silence is the best response.
His nature was indeed so.
For him, anyone who provoked him would be dealt with ruthlessly, because he always remembered one thing: mercy towards an enemy
is cruelty to oneself.
“If Pingyang were Prince Sima Ke, she would surely not hold a grudge over this matter with Chen Green Envoy.”
This statement could be considered Pingyang Princess’s way of subtly distancing herself from Fourth Prince Sima Ke, not wanting Chen Yuan to view her with hostility as well.
Hearing this, Chen Yuan looked at Pingyang Princess with some surprise.
From what he had heard, the relationship between the Fourth Prince and Pingyang Princess should be strong; after all, some said that Pingyang Princess remained unmarried to this day
to help Sima Ke secure the position of the Crown Prince.
“Her Highness is clear about enmity and gratitude; I admire that,” Chen Yuan replied.
“I’ve heard… does Chen Green Envoy have quite a connection with Master Li from Shuanghe Temple?” Suddenly, Pingyang Princess switched topics, seemingly asking casually.
But to Chen Yuan, this was likely the real reason she had sought him out.
He immediately denied:
“Where did Your Highness hear such gossip? Shuanghe Temple seems to be a nunnery; how could I have any relation to it?”