roccoschili Chapter 149 Four Rumors
Chapter 149 Four Rumors
As the music of string and wind instruments began, dancers filed in, their flowing sleeves fluttering as they gracefully danced, gradually warming up the atmosphere of the banquet.
Several familiar concubines mingled and drank, and even Qin Rong'er personally toasted her.
Chu Qingyin returned the toasts in return, and after drinking quite a bit, her cheeks became flushed.
Lu Zhiheng, sitting opposite her, suddenly noticed the red marks on her neck and frowned slightly.
She had only been back in the palace for a few days, yet Pei Yuanling was already so impatient, and she didn't even bother to conceal herself when she went out.
For no apparent reason, a nameless anger welled up inside him, making him feel restless and agitated.
Empress Wang was constantly watching the two of them. When she noticed the strange look in Lu Zhiheng's eyes, she became even more certain that their relationship was unusual.
After several rounds of drinks, Prince Lu seemed to have drunk too much. His face was flushed, he was sitting slouching, and he was muttering something under his breath.
He sat up straight, his hazy gaze lingering on Chu Qingyin, and suddenly laughed out loud.
Pei Yuanling sat in his high seat, perhaps in a bad mood and not drinking. Hearing his laughter, he frowned. "Why is my brother laughing?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. A story suddenly came to mind, and I found it amusing, so I couldn't help but laugh," said Prince Lu, raising his wine cup in a boisterous manner.
"What story is so funny? Why don't you tell me, so that I may hear it too?"
Pei Yuanling frowned, a hint of anger creeping into his voice. Upon seeing this, all the dancers in the waterside pavilion immediately knelt down.
The music stopped, and everyone realized His Majesty's anger. They looked at each other, not daring to utter a sound.
Prince Lu was taken aback, realizing that it was inappropriate to discuss his thoughts here, and for a moment he was at a loss for what to do.
Pei Yuanling, however, had no intention of letting him off the hook. He frowned and sneered, "Speak."
Empress Wang sensed the tense atmosphere and quickly tried to calm things down, saying, "Your Majesty, what are you doing? Prince Lu only laughed a couple of times, why get so angry?"
Pei Yuanling sneered, his gaze sweeping over the two people sitting opposite him.
He knew perfectly well what Empress Wang was up to.
"I just remembered that there was a high-ranking official in the previous dynasty whose daughter was a concubine in the palace. He often visited her in the palace, and later he brought his son-in-law into the palace. Over time, the son-in-law became involved with one of the concubines in the palace..."
Prince Lu was ashamed. His voice lowered, and before he could finish speaking, he knelt down on the ground with a thud, begging for forgiveness repeatedly: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did not mean to mention this matter."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.
How could Prince Lu be so reckless, daring to utter such treasonous words in front of His Majesty!
"Not intentional?"
Pei Yuanling narrowed his eyes, his expression somewhat chilling. "Whether it was unintentional or deliberate, does Your Highness have no evidence whatsoever?"
In recent days, rumors have been circulating in the palace that Consort Qiao had some ambiguous relationship with Grand Secretary Lu Zhiheng while she was away from home. Some even went so far as to say that the two had been intimate.
To make matters worse, Prince Lu brought up the scandalous affair of the previous emperor at this very moment. Wasn't this just slapping His Majesty in the face in public?
Chu Qingyin also sensed something amiss from the words of the Prince of Lu and secretly thought to herself that something was wrong.
Pei Yuanling was naturally suspicious, and she had finally managed to dispel his doubts a few days ago. Now that Prince Lu had brought it up in public, she realized that he was trying to sow discord and kill her.
No, we absolutely cannot let ourselves be smeared like this.
Rumors are more dangerous than tigers. If we hesitate and fail to refute them now, we will surely suffer endless troubles in the future.
Thinking of this, Chu Qingyin quickly put on a flustered and panicked look, stood up and knelt down, "Please, Your Majesty, see the truth."
She raised her face, her eyes filled with tears, and said sadly, "When I was stranded outside the palace, although I went through many dangers, I always kept myself pure and never crossed any lines with Lord Lu. Moreover, I only hoped to return to Your Majesty's side. Heaven can bear witness to my sincere feelings for Your Majesty!"
"I never imagined that after going through so many hardships and finally returning to the palace, I would have to bear this slander and implicate Lord Lu in unfounded speculations, suffering this undeserved calamity. I really don't know how to prove myself. Perhaps Your Majesty would like to send me to the Cold Palace to silence the gossip."
Chu Qingyin spoke earnestly, tears welling in her eyes, her pitiful appearance evoking pity.
Seeing her like this, Pei Yuanling felt even more heartache. When he heard her mention being banished to the Cold Palace, he couldn't help himself. He took a few steps forward, helped her up, and held her in his arms.
“Yinyin, this is not your fault, you don’t need to be like this.”
"But... but now that such rumors are circulating, I really have no face to live anymore." Chu Qingyin covered her face and sobbed softly, making it hard for anyone to scold her anymore.
Just then, Prince Lu, emboldened by some unknown source, suddenly looked up and said, "Your Majesty, this matter has been the subject of much gossip in the palace for days. I was only drunk today and spoke without thinking. But I believe that His Majesty is wise and will not be disturbed by such nonsense, therefore..."
As Prince Lu spoke, he secretly glanced at Pei Yuanling's expression. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his back was already soaked with cold sweat.
Pei Yuanling's face was terribly gloomy, and his eyes were like torches as he coldly swept over the crowd.
In an instant, the entire waterside pavilion fell into a deathly silence; no one dared to even breathe.
After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "How can such rumors be allowed to run rampant in my harem? Issue my decree that from this day forward, the harem shall be strictly controlled, and anyone who spreads rumors or false statements shall be severely punished!"
After saying that, his gaze fell on Lu Zhiheng, intentionally or unintentionally.
Lu Zhiheng's eyelids twitched slightly, and he simply stood up, bowing respectfully to the head of the table: "Your Majesty, the innocent are innocent, and I am utterly loyal and have never done anything that violates the proper etiquette between ruler and subject or moral ethics."
The man was dressed in casual clothes, stood upright, and had a calm expression.
A gentleman is open and honest; he seemed utterly unafraid of being hurt by these unfounded rumors.
"Although rumors are said to stop with the wise, since such rumors have already spread, I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly, clear my name and that of the Noble Consort, and restore peace to the harem!"
Pei Yuanling looked at Lu Zhiheng, pondering to himself.
Although he was annoyed by these rumors, he also understood Lu Zhiheng's current importance to the court.
Moreover, punishing court officials based solely on unfounded rumors would inevitably discourage them.
But since the rumors involved Chu Qingyin, he couldn't completely let it go.
"A thorough investigation is certainly necessary."
Pei Yuanling said coldly, "I want to see who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes and daring to disrupt my harem and court!"
The emperor's sharp gaze calmly swept over everyone present, and the crowd remained silent, not daring to utter a single word.
Qiao Qingling, standing in the corner, turned pale upon hearing these words.
Although this matter was handled meticulously, it's hard to say that no clues will be left behind. If anything is discovered, she will be completely finished!
Seeing this, Empress Wang was filled with indignation.
She had intended to use the rumors to incite Pei Yuanling's dissatisfaction with Chu Qingyin and Lu Zhiheng, but she never expected things to develop to this point.
She's just a substitute, so why does she hold such a high place in Pei Yuanling's heart? Could it be that he really thinks of Consort Qiao as Chu Qingyin?
After calming herself down, she coughed lightly and said gently, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I think there may be some misunderstanding. I am willing to assist Your Majesty in finding out the truth and restoring order to the harem."
Pei Yuanling glanced at Empress Wang and said coldly, "This matter is indeed due to the Empress's poor discipline. Rumors are rampant in the palace, and you bear an inescapable responsibility."
"In that case, I'll leave this matter to you to investigate. If you can't find out the truth, then you don't need to come see me!"