Chapter 31.1 - One corpse, two deaths
The banquet hadn’t been affected by these events and instead, became even livelier.
The emperor’s mood was better and his face was full of happiness.
The guests only heard the never ending sounds of imperially bestowed gifts by the emperor.
It was only until towards the end of the banquet that the emperor’s personal eunuch Liu Jin hurried in and spoke in the emperor’s ear lowly with an anxious expression.
It’s unknown what Liu Jin said but the emperor’s face changed immediately.
He suddenly stood up, unbelievingly growled, “What happened?!”
The zither players and dancers all immediately stopped, lowered their heads and withdrew.
In a moment, the lively atmosphere became deadly silent.
Everyone looked uneasily at the emperor, not understanding why the emperor was suddenly so angry?
Even the empress and imperial consort Rong didn’t understand.
The empress asked softly, “Emperor, what happened?”
The emperor had no time to even deal with her and only had a dark face on, he coldly ordered Liu Jin, “Follow this highness to Liuhua palace.”
After he finished speaking, he immediately left as the empress’ face showed a hint of strangeness as her lowered fists couldn’t help but tighten.
This was all taken in by the imperial consort Rong but she only raised a brow and hid the emotions in her eyes, gently comforting, “Big sister, we should hurry too, what if something bad did happen.”
Following her reminder, the empress hurriedly stood up with the help of her senior aide to head towards Liuhua Palace with the imperial consort Rong.
The leftover people all faced each other, Liuhua Palace?
Isn’t that the palace of consort Ying? Could it be that something happened to consort Ying?
Consort Ying had entered the palace a year before and was a businessman’s daughter who had been brought into the palace by the emperor from the South.
Her beauty as well as her innocent and bubbly personality meant that she was doted on by the emperor. Almost immediately after she was brought back by the emperor, she was sealed as consort Ying and the doting she received never lessened.
In only half a year, it was found that she was pregnant.
After the emperor found out, he was beside himself with joy and there were even rumours that consort Ying’s fetus would be the crown prince, could it be that something happened to the baby?
Reflecting on what had just happened, everyone couldn’t help but turn towards the second prince Xiahou Rui but not too obviously, as they only stole glances at him.
But Xiahou Rui stayed steady, light from the coloured glass hid his coldly handsome face and obscured his expression.
But Xiahou Liuyun to his side couldn’t hold it in any more and viciously glared at everyone which made everyone immediately stop looking at him.
“Second brother, let’s hurry and go see too.”
Xiahou Rui gravely nodded because everyone’s eyes on him felt uncomfortable.
If consort Ying couldn’t successfully give birth to the child, the one to gain the most would be him.
Furthermore, when consort Ying first entered the palace, emperor-father was already suspicious of him because of that matter, so he had only given him a warning. His emperor-father hadn’t really believed he would harm consort Ying, however, it would be hard if someone purposely framed him.
Therefore, in these few months, he had spared no expense in protecting the consort and her child just to ensure its birth.
No matter who ultimately sat on the seat of crown prince, he didn’t care nor take seriously.
But he definitely wouldn’t let those ill-intentioned people frame him!
His dark eyes were like ink as his long legs strode aside Xiahou Liuyun and the other princes towards Liuhua Palace.
Behind them, without the emperor, no one else had the heart to continue on the banquet.
And from the moment the emperor left, Lou Qufeng had begun analysing the current situation, thought a bit, then lightly pushed Lou Qingwu before placing a command plate in her hands.
“Qingwu, you should follow too. If there’s any news, tell your father first.”
**
TL note:
Empress’ senior aide - (嬷嬷 mo mo) really old female servants, one of them’s probably the empress’ wet nurse but saying momo straight up looked a bit weird so I’ll just call them her senior aides or her servants depending on the situation. They’re female servants who most likely have not married and will probably spend the rest of their lives serving their masters.
Leave a comment wishing me to get better because I’ve been coughing really badly lately :(
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