Chapter 442: The Chaotic State of Affairs Entering the Twelfth Lunar Month
It couldn’t be helped. This matter truly was a bit big. All in all, it was greatly harmful with no benefit. Moreover, in this world, the great majority of people all exceptionally avoided ghosts and spirits like taboo, fearing the supernatural. Towards ghosts, not that many people would feel it was good, regardless of what kind of person they were when alive. For the imperial court and inner palace, these all weren’t the most important. Rather, it was the matter of the Imperial n.o.ble Consort being a wandering ghost for more than twenty years. Who knows what all she has seen. If one really were to let Le Cheng Emperor meet her, based on Le Cheng Emperor’s att.i.tude towards her, afraid, regardless of what she says, Le Cheng Emperor will all believe. When time comes, blowing some wind into the ear, then making up some stories, don’t know how many people will suffer a calamity. And even if not making up nonsense, how many people’s hands were clean? And who can guarantee that they didn’t get seen by that ghost………….
The matter of the Imperial n.o.ble Consort’s spirit still being present, the reason why it became known to all, obviously was because of a certain three. Originally, it could’ve been avoided, but unfortunately, Le Cheng Emperor at the time, his entire mind was all on the Imperial n.o.ble Consort’s matter.
That’s why, too many people didn’t want this matter to happen, and further wanted the Imperial n.o.ble Consort to thoroughly disappear.
Due to these various reasons, the memorandums put forwards practically had Le Cheng Emperor’s imperial desk buried.
It was probably because everyone was all thinking that ‘the law won’t punish the ma.s.s’. With this many people, his Majesty can’t just have them all punished, right?
However, those court officials that actually held power instead didn’t have any movement. Additionally, it was just those princes that had been conferred as a w.a.n.g that didn’t submit a memorandum. The officials can publicly oppose this matter, but they can’t. If they dare to submit a memorandum, they will certainly get scolded into a dog in seconds and meet with disdain. Moreover, it won’t just be them suffering, but also their consort mother.
However, for Le Cheng Emperor, was this something that he will give up on just because the officials opposed? Obviously, no. In the beginning, he perhaps would still hesitate, but now, with this many people opposing, he instead became increasingly stubborn, even somewhat possessed.
He was the Emperor, possessing the world. The more people opposed him, naturally the more it swept his imperial might, so how can he not be angered.
Le Cheng Emperor directly issued a decree, and at the same time, even severely punished the court officials that were making the most ruckus.
If Le Cheng Emperor were to know that there were that many people that wanted to let the Imperial n.o.ble Consort disappear, would he have regretted not being careful?
What the situation was like outside, Li Hong Yuan naturally knew, but he didn’t care in the slightest, ‘recuperating’ in his manor for three days. During this time, aside from some special matters, the rest were all handled by Jing Wan.
Three days later, Li Hong Yuan entered the palace to pay his respect to Le Cheng Emperor. And regarding the Imperial n.o.ble Consort’s matter, he didn’t mention a single word of. Afterwards, he took a stroll through the inner palace. From the Empress, to n.o.ble Consort Su, to Shu Consort Qin, not a single one was left behind. As for Xian Consort Wei, who was that?
The Empress had actually woken, but her spirit was quite bad. Originally, after resting for a period of time, she can more or less recover, yet in the end, it was just ‘trying to steal the chicken, only to end up losing the rice to lure it’. Originally, she was still thinking of supporting her son onto the throne, while she become that Shezheng[1] Empress Dowager, ‘listening to the politics behind the hanging screen[2]‘, but now, she might not necessarily be able to outlive Le Cheng Emperor. For the Empress, there was probably nothing more of a blow than this.
Reasonably speaking, Li Hong Yuan shouldn’t have been able to see the Empress. However, the Empress unexpectedly forced herself to meet with him.
The Empress, rather, didn’t say anything, just staring at him as she sized him up, the time even a bit long, and in the end, with unclear implications, had Li Hong Yuan sent out.
Li Hong Yuan knew, the Empress was having suspicions, but so what?
And in Yucui Palace, n.o.ble Consort Su similarly appeared not that well, but to be able to see Li Hong Yuan, she was still quite happy. Setting aside those unhappy matters, n.o.ble Consort Su expressed her concern, as well as her worries the last few days, yet she didn’t dare to say more, even if on the inside, she actually resented Li Hong Yuan for not pleading for her, just fearing that she might accidentally provoke his certain nerve again. In her current situation right now, she can be said to very much need this son.
n.o.ble Consort Su even hoped to be able to return to the past. Just, as the mother, when carefully facing her son, she should understand, it was already impossible. Facing Li hong Yuan coldness, n.o.ble Consort Su once again shed tears. However, this time, Li Hong Yuan didn’t have any reaction at all. This made n.o.ble Consort Su’s heart directly sink to the bottom of the abyss.
Because of Li Hong Yuan falling unconscious first, and afterwards the matter of the Imperial n.o.ble Consort, such big matters, it naturally had Princess Min Xiang’s incident pressed down, and the bad influences towards Rui Qinw.a.n.g as well as n.o.ble Consort Su, also reduced quite a bit. However, towards the Imperial n.o.ble Consort, n.o.ble Consort Su was unable to be guiltless. When it comes to the strong desire of wanting to let the Imperial n.o.ble Consort thoroughly disappear, if she was second, then no one would dare to be first. As such, n.o.ble Consort Su’s mental pressure didn’t lighten, instead becoming heavier.
Li Hong Yuan’s goal in entering the palace actually was still Shu Consort Qin.
To construct the altars that met the requirement need at least three months, and if unfavorable———–This matter certainly will have people causing trouble. The scope of involvement was too big, so Li Hong Yuan also didn’t dare to guarantee that every single place will be absolutely safe. Moreover, right now, it was winter. Certain places simply weren’t suitable for carrying out large scale construction. As such, it was very difficult to say how long it will take. That’s why, even if the plan was smoothly being carried out, the rest still can’t ignore. If by chance, the altars were done, but she was unable to hold on until that time, it will inevitably be too late.
He didn’t say much, just having that special jade pendant given to Shu Consort Qin, “Troubling Shu Consort to keep this on you at all times. Three days later, this prince will meet her.”
Shu Consort Qin realized Li Hong Yuan’s meaning a moment later, shallowly smiling as she accepted the jade pendant. Just, don’t know whether she had hid too well, or towards the Imperial n.o.ble Consort ‘possessing’ her own body, she completely didn’t care, or perhaps, towards the Imperial n.o.ble Consort, she very much trusted.
As soon as he exited Ganlu Palace, Li Hong Yuan just ran into Xian Consort Wei that came to ‘check on’ Shu Consort Qin. His gaze emotionlessly swept past her, just like a flower, a tree, or a wall flas.h.i.+ng by his eyes, not leaving the slightest trace. His steps didn’t slow down, maintaining an unchanging pace, directly leaving.
Xian Consort Wei watched his increasingly shrinking back, tightly clenching her handkerchief, her expression strange. If originally it was just feeling unresigned and longing, then now, it was just strong hatred, because of getting ignored, and because of being unable to obtain.
Under this kind of chaotic state of affairs, in a blink of an eye, it entered the twelfth lunar month.
[1] This is the t.i.tle given to the acting regent, although the word Shezheng itself literally just means ‘acting regent’. Generally the Empress Dowagers won’t received this t.i.tle, even if they are ruling in place of their young son. That’s because usually there’s the saying of ‘the inner palace forbidden from interfering in politics’, but when the Empress Dowager holds majority of the power, it’s pretty much tacitly accepted. Just like how in Kang Qinw.a.n.g’s faction, majority of the officials only support him because of the Empress.
[2] Think of it like the puppet master behind the scenes. This phrase is actually more literal in a way that for situations like these, usually behind the throne in the court hall there will be a s.p.a.ce set up divided by a hanging screen, where the Empress Dowager will sit to listen to the court sessions. Below is an image depicting this from the Qing Dynasty.