Chapter 38

The early summer sunshine is very warm. It passed through the clouds thousands of miles high, descending upon this quiet courtyard. Rong Tang’s hands and feet slowly warmed up.

He wasn’t surprised that Su Huaijing’s knew about these things. Previously, he thought that a main villain must go through a growth process and wouldn’t reach an extraordinary high level immediately upon entering the scene.

However, in this life, it seemed that Chen Feiyi came first, followed by Sheng Chengli. If Su Huaijing didn’t become unparalleled right away, his growth was still astonishing.

He is like a weed growing in a valley devoid of sunlight. At first glance, he blended in with the surrounding vitality, not standing out. But once vigilance was lowered, a glance back would reveal that all the grass blades in the valley were extensions of him.

His roots were hidden underground, intricate and intertwined, spreading to cover the entire valley.

He had long been the master of this valley, allowing no one the chance to breathe.

This realisation gave Rong Tang a sense of surprise, but also an uncontrollable worry.

——Because what Su Huaijing said was not what the elder in the palace saw.

Sheng Chengli, even in his previous two lives, had been favoured by Emperor Renshou, aided by this incident.

The reason was simple: Concubine Shu had been wronged.

Concubine Shu was of a foreign descent and also skilled in using incense. After the death of the Emperor’s eldest son, the head doctor of the imperial physician’s courtyard took the blame and resigned, subsequently returning home. Initially, no one in the imperial palace thought about the incense.

But when Concubine Shu became pregnant and had gone to the empress’ place to pay her respects, Emperor Renshou concealed it from her and ordered the Imperial Household Department to grant her the privilege of using the pepper rooms. It was then that a packet of herbs was discovered in a hidden compartment in the bedchamber.

It wasn’t a big deal at first. It was common for imperial concubines to use incense, and there was no reason for concern.

But when the head maid in Concubine Shu’s palace saw the package of herbs, she panicked and knocked over a vase that was half the height of a person. This then aroused the suspicion of the head of the Imperial Household Department.

The other party reported his doubts to Emperor Renshou. The Emperor was very suspicious and immediately called upon the imperial doctor to identify the herbs.

The head doctor at that time was one of the doctors who had treated the Emperor’s eldest son a few months ago. When he smelled the scent, his expression changed, and he immediately fell to his knees.

Emperor Renshou then knew that his beloved concubine was hiding something.

The imperial physician’s courtyard said that there are herbs in the south which have an unusual fragrance. When combined with other ingredients to make incense, it had the effect of strengthening the body and consolidating vitality and being exposed to it every day, greatly benefiting those who are congenitally weak.

Emperor Renshou frowned and asked, “Isn’t this a good thing?”

The head of the imperial physician’s courtyard said, however, that all things have mutual enhancement and inhibition, and this is especially true for items used in medicine. If this herb was used to make incense according to the secret recipe handed down from ancient times, it would be a good thing. However, if someone mixed it with huanli grass that grows in the extremely cold places of northern Xinjiang, it would become toxic. Prolonged exposure to the incense smoke would initially stimulate the body’s defense mechanisms, giving patients the illusion of vigour and rarely feeling tired in the first few months, as if all their symptoms were cured. They would become more excited and emotional. However, once it passes through the immune system, the toxins accumulated in the body and the consequences of over-exhaustion will surface together.

If the patient’s physical condition was already poor, they could easily die suddenly.

After the head doctor finished speaking, the palace fell into absolute silence. Emperor Renshou was taciturn for a long time before ordering someone to bring forth the head palace maid, who had knocked over the vase.

The maid was all flustered. As soon as he saw the Emperor, she knelt on the ground and said, “All were orders given by Concubine Shu. This slave knows nothing—nothing.”

At this point, no further investigation was needed. The Emperor was furious and sent Concubine Shu and the Fifth Prince to the cold palace.

All the eunuchs and maids serving in Concubine Shu’s palace were supposed to be executed, but when Concubine Shu heard the Emperor’s verdict, she didn’t utter a word in defense. She just placed her hand on her pregnant belly and knelt down quietly in front of Emperor Renshou, saying, “The palace staff are innocent. This matter is entirely this concubine’s doing. I beg Your Majesty for leniency and allow them to live.”

Thus, among the eunuchs and maids in Guangde Palace, only the head maid was beaten to death with a stick, while all the rest were sold or sent to other palaces.

This past incident was written in the novel. When Rong Tang read it, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Bastard!”

Aside from that, Concubine Shu was the male protagonist’s biological mother. If the other concubines were proven guilty with a compilation of witnesses and material evidence of harming a prince, being condemned to death by hanging from a piece of white silk would be an extrajudicial mercy. But as for Concubine Shu, even with everything in place, the Emperor still condescended to come and listen to her rebuttal in person.

Even if she didn’t refute, with just one simple word from her, Emperor Renshou actually let her servants off.

How utterly outrageous!

Even if Rong Tang knew that the author wanted to give the male protagonist a “cheat” and wrote an imperial concubine mother that was as pure as the white moon for him, he still felt that it was incredibly absurd.

During the final meeting of the Emperor and his concubine, one was sitting and the other was kneeling. She still had charm despite being a pregnant woman. She removed all her jewellery, took off her silks and satins, and knelt on the ground with an image that was so elegant, it was almost indifferent. She didn’t say a word about her injustice, but she begged her husband, who’d been with her for many years, to let the innocent servants go.

When Emperor Renshou dreamed in the middle of the night, he would always recall that delicate figure and that refreshing fragrance.

Concubine Shu died when her guilt was most profound; Emperor Renshou didn’t investigate the cause of her death.

But when Sheng Chengli emerged from the cold palace and many past events surfaced, Emperor Renshou suddenly realised that in the Guangde Palace back then, Concubine Shu hadn’t admitted her guilt but; was instead, bitterly disappointed.

The reason she didn’t cry injustice for herself was because she felt disappointed with her spouse.

In a rather old-fashioned trope, the pure and innocent concubine was framed and died tragically while pregnant. Before her death, she was gentle and kind enough to seek grace for others.

Such an image was irreplaceable, no matter how many future beloved concubines came after.

With this, Sheng Chengli directly dragged Emperor Renshou’s guilt towards Concubine Shu and her son to its peak.

……

But Yuerong’s death and Concubine Shu’s injustice should not have happened at this point in time.

Yuerong died on the fourth day of the first lunar month in the tenth year of Qingzheng. In the freezing winter, she’d fallen into the cold lake in the imperial garden late at night.

The vindication of Concubine Shu was also in the tenth year of Qingzheng. In the autumn, when the imperial family was hunting, the mastermind behind the scenes managed to be exposed due to some circumstances.

Rong Tang didn’t know specifically what happened in the first incident, but the latter incident was a ‘coincidence’ orchestrated by him.

Rong Tang looked at Su Huaijing, who was still smiling softly. Beneath the smile belied a deep sea, but he didn’t feel afraid, just worried.

He feared Su Huaijing wasn’t aware that Concubine Shu had actually been wronged in this incident.

If this was the case, his actions were likely to…… turn into a boost for Sheng Chengli.

He pursed his lips and frowned slightly, pondering how to tell him about this matter.

Su Huaijing tilted his head and said, “What does Tangtang want to ask?”

It was only two of them in this courtyard and noon was fast approaching. The wind and clouds had dispersed, leaving the sun to shine on the courtyard full of pear trees. Rong Tang hesitated for a moment before he asked, “Do you think…… the Emperor’s eldest son was killed by Concubine Shu?”

Su Huaijing blinked, once again surprised by what Rong Tang had asked.

When he felt that Rong Tang should be asking him what position he was in before he could reap the benefits, Rong Tang asked what secret he’d told Ke Hongxue.

He felt that Rong Tang should be afraid and avoid. When he should be asking why he’s doing this, Rong Tang asked about a judgement of right and wrong.

Su Huaijing couldn’t figure out his little Buddha.

But once again, he feels that it isn’t good to be pampered by him.

There were so many uncertainties about him that anyone else would have their suspicions and dreads. He took the initiative to expose his doubts in front of Tangtang, but Rong Tang turned a blind eye.

Tangtang was so smart, would he not be able to see it?

He’s clearly…… just trusting himself on instinct, protecting himself, and indulging himself, regardless of his wife’s identity, position, or purpose.

Su Huaijing raised the corners of his lips and asked, “Tangtang, what do you think?”

Rong Tang breathed a sigh of relief and immediately reminded him, “I don’t think so.”

“Ng.” Su Huaijing nodded, took his hand, left the courtyard, and headed towards the dock. “I don’t think so either.”

“Concubine Shu was a very smart woman. If she wanted to kill the prince, she wouldn’t have left so many clues.” Su Huaijing said, “Anything that goes too smoothly is, in fact, the most suspicious. If we want to seek out the hidden hands behind it, just look for the ones with vested interests.”

“It has been two years since His Majesty came to the throne. His legitimate son, and the son from his favourite concubine were still young. One incense poisoning case brought down the two most threatening princes in one fell swoop. It would be too stupid to say that Concubine Shu did this.” Su Huaijing said softly.

When Rong Tang heard this, his frown relaxed, and he squeezed Su Huaijing’s hand unconsciously. He himself couldn’t tell whether it was his subconscious causing mischief or if he was giving him a compliment.

Su Huaijing laughed and said, “Concubine Yi, Concubine Ru, Imperial Concubine Hui…… anyone is possible. By some coincidence, one of them is the biological mother of the Second Prince, and the other is the biological mother of the Third Prince.”

“His Fifth Highness is so smart and decisive. What do you think, Tangtang?” Su Huaijing lowered his eyes and glanced at him. There was a smile in his gaze, but it concealed a cold edge. “Having a—in his view—dispensable nanny die in exchange for a piece of impeachment, leaving behind a suspicion, and whisking the disturbance in Song Garden all the way to the harem. He just flicked a stone into the water, yet the ripples have already radiated to the shore.”

If it wasn’t for his natural aversion, if his mood didn’t fluctuate along with Rong Tang, Su Huaijing couldn’t help but think that he might appreciate Sheng Chengli at the end of the day.

Is able to endure silently, knows how to be dormant, is intelligent enough, and is heartless enough.

He’s seizing a round with a high risk of death and a path of no return. Once he embarks on it, there is no possibility of turning back. He’s all alone in the world, with neither followers nor relatives. All he can bet on is the remorse and love within Emperor Renshou’s heart.

Unfortunately, .…..it’s a little too hasty.

Su Huaijing led Rong Tang to the island in the middle of the lake. On the way, they passed a courtyard where a banquet was halfway through; some guests went in to say something, and then everyone immediately came out. Most of them are students from Linyuan Academy. They could not hide their excitement and curiosity, as they all headed in the same direction.

Rong Tang took a closer look and noticed Lu Jiaxi in the crowd.

Su Huaijing smiled at Rong Tang and said, “Tangtang, it seems that what Tutor Ke said is wrong.”

He reached out to call Lu Jiaxi and asked, “Where are you going? Why the hurry?”

Lu Jiaxi’s eyes lit up when he perceived him, and in a flash, he saw Rong Tang. He cupped his hands to pay his respects and said, “Going to the pond, they say the water is being drawn out!”

“Oh? Why’s that?” Su Huaijing asked.

Lu Jiaxi: “It’s Excellency Mu! Excellency Mu wants to investigate the case. He said that there may be other hidden reasons behind the death of Nanny Yue!”

Su Huaijing smiled, let him go, and turned to look at Rong Tang. His voice was light and cheerful: “Tutor Ke always said that Lil’ Bro Mu only cares about his little student. But in my opinion, that student of his may not even measure up to a finger of Ke Hongxue’s in Excellency Mu’s heart.”

He tilted his head and asked obediently, “Tangtang, do you want to go see a performance?”

He has specially arranged a drama for his little Buddha. It would be a pity not to see it in person.