The sleeve of her right arm still bore the hole from the grey hawk’s sharp talons, and she did not care at all.
To outsiders, it seemed Consort De had lost the Emperor’s favor and had been confined. Whether she could keep her life in the future was another question; it was truly tragic.
But the reality was quite the opposite. Consort De enjoyed a carefree existence, a sense of inner peace she had not felt since Brother Ming had died.
In the Imperial Animal Garden, she didn’t have to concern herself with worldly affairs, didn’t have to shoulder any burdens or responsibilities; she didn’t have to care about anything, which was an unprecedented relief.
Sometimes she felt she was just like the beasts here, trapped in a small space, destined to stay here until old age and death, never able to see the vast outside world again.
At this moment, the tall palace gate that connected the Imperial Animal Garden with the Imperial Garden had been opened.
Consort De didn’t look back as she stepped directly into the Imperial Garden, with the palace gate closing slowly behind her.
Separated by a wall, one side was tranquil while the other was noisy...
Inside the Xu Mansion.
Xu Hu listened as the Emperor ordered the withdrawal of the Imperial Guards and the cancellation of his confinement for reflection. He respectfully expressed his gratitude for the Emperor’s grace, though his brow was still furrowed with worry.
He politely invited Zhang Qing to have a cup of tea.
Zhang Qing, with his hands tucked in his sleeves, didn’t refuse. He followed with a beaming smile toward the Hanging Flower Hall.
Along the way, Zhang Qing casually remarked on how the entire Xu Family, from top to bottom, was exceptionally loyal and admirable. He sighed at Consort De’s pure loyalty, believing in His Majesty’s justice even though she had been framed.
He raised his hands to the sky, praising His Majesty’s wisdom for seeing through the ploys when Zhao Zhong and several others accused Consort De, remaining unmoved until Consort Zhen finally confessed, vindicating Consort De.
Xu Hu’s heart started pounding as he asked what that meant.
Zhang Qing slapped his forehead, "Look at my memory, His Majesty has released Consort De. By now, she should have already returned to Huaying Hall. I forgot to tell the Great General."
Xu Hu was overjoyed and couldn’t stop thanking him.
Although he firmly believed in his daughter’s character, certain that she would never harm the Imperial Heir, and that His Majesty was not a man to confuse right and wrong, he was incredibly worried until things were settled.
Even though His Majesty only asked him to reflect behind closed doors that day, a sign of his trust, the subsequent deployment of Imperial Guards outside the Xu Mansion had left him feeling extremely anxious.
He was afraid after all. Afraid something might happen to his daughter, his only daughter.
Now that he knew his daughter was safe, Xu Hu was elated, bursting into unrestrained laughter.
In his joy, he immediately threw an arm around Zhang Qing’s slender shoulders, treating him like a brother, inviting him to drink.
Zhang Qing hastily declined, saying he still had duties to attend to, and that a cup of tea would suffice.
Xu Hu was not offended and bellowed like a bell for someone, ordering them to brew the two taels of Iron Goddess tea that His Majesty had gifted years ago for Chief steward Zhang, boasting magnanimously while his hearty laughter echoed throughout the Xu Mansion.
Zhang Qing chuckled and demurred a couple of times before he arrived at the Hanging Flower Hall. After a bit of polite back and forth, they finally took their seats.
Only after the tea was served did Xu Hu tentatively ask what had been discovered in the palace inquiry, who had dared to plot against the Imperial Heir.
This Zhao Zhong, the damned traitor, was one of those who framed his daughter. Nevertheless, with his keen senses, he was aware there must be someone behind it all. If he found out...
Zhang Qing’s eyes flashed with a hidden gleam as he feigned surprise and said, "Could it be the Great General is not aware? Understandable, since you have been ordered to reflect upon your actions, you might not be aware of what’s been happening outside. The real mastermind behind the plot to harm the Imperial Heir is someone else, like, like..."
He pretended to forget and turned to Da Zhuang, inquiring, "Who was it again?"
Da Zhuang stepped forward and said, "Chief steward, it’s still unknown, but it’s said that the one manipulating these events is a servant frequently seen in Noble Consort’s Huaqing Palace. They know exactly when and on which days the servant goes to Huaqing Palace, but the specifics of the business the servant conducts are unknown. As for whether there is a mastermind behind the scenes, there is still no definitive conclusion, so one dares not say."
"Oh, indeed we still don’t know..." Zhang Qing feigned realization and turned his head, saying, "Great General, don’t be anxious, this case is complicated and not yet concluded. Once we have Consort Zhen’s testimony, His Majesty will immediately release Consort De. As for whether there is a mastermind behind the scenes, it seems the truth will soon emerge. Stay calm and patient."
He picked up the tea cup with a smile and raised it in salute, saying, "Let’s not talk about these matters and just enjoy our tea, just enjoy our tea! The tea here at the Great General’s is truly exceptional, fragrant and sweet in every sip—I owe it to the Great General’s generosity." Saying this, he took a satisfied drink.
Xu Hu’s eyes sparkled momentarily as he politely said, "This tea was bestowed by His Majesty; if anyone is to be thanked, it’s His Majesty’s grace."
He lowered his gaze and took a drink from his tea cup, pondering the deeper implications of these words.
People sent by His Majesty never waste words, especially not someone as crafty as Zhang Qing.
These few sentences revealed some details—while saying there were no conclusions, each one pointed meaningfully to something else.
In his heart, he was sure it had Xue Ping’s involvement.
The two enjoyed their tea and the conversation was quite jovial and pleasant.
Da Zhuang left for a while in the middle and came back shortly after, whispering a few words to Zhang Qing.
Zhang Qing set down his tea cup and slapped his thigh, exclaiming, "Oh dear, I had completely forgotten."
He stood up and excused himself, saying, "Great General, His Majesty is highly concerned about your health and has specially sent Chu Yuanzheng to examine and treat you. I’ve been so engrossed in our delightful conversation that I forgot all about it, allowing the Great General to entertain me with tea while you’re unwell—I am truly at fault."
Xu Hu was completely stunned; since when was he sick?
Even with his quick reflexes, when this statement came out, he had trouble keeping up.
Before he could react, Zhang Qing gestured to Da Zhuang, saying, "Quickly invite Chu Yuanzheng in to examine and treat the Great General."
They had left the palace when Chu Yuanzheng was off duty, and he had been drinking tea up until now, waiting for the person to arrive.
"Yes," Da Zhuang responded and hurried off.
After Da Zhuang left, Zhang Qing heaved long sighs and bowed in apology to Xu Hu, rambling on about how His Majesty knew he had difficulty disciplining his subordinates, how he had worked hard over the years, and that it was very difficult, especially with Consort De being wronged and urging him not to become ill with worry.
Looking at Xu Hu, whose face was flush with health, he blatantly lied, saying, "Look at the Great General’s complexion; it is truly too poor, anxious and overheated to the point of affecting the head. When people are anxious and restless, it’s easy for the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys to develop problems. You must take good care of yourself; waiting too long to seek treatment might be too late."
While Xu Hu was still in a daze, Zhang Qing finished speaking without allowing any interruptions, describing the situation with such gravity it was as if he’d been diagnosed with an incurable disease.
A group of Military Generals burst in from outside, just in time to hear these last few statements, and immediately became anxious, rushing into Hanging Flower Hall. Their voices could be heard before they arrived, loudly questioning whether it was Zhao Zhong and Noble Consort Xue’s outrageous treatment that had made him ill.
Someone cautioned that referring to Noble Consort Xue as one raised by a bitch might be disrespectful, and the crowd quickly changed their tune, saying it was Xue Ping who was raised by a bitch.
.....................
The autumn wind rustles and shakes: Young Masters, your typing chicken would like to take a day off on New Year’s Eve (January 31), to rest like a donkey in a production team, lying down to munch on some grass Have pity on your typing chicken; its feathers are all but gone, as it’s getting a laser hair treatment