Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 366: Consort Yun Pin Wishes to Invite You to the Palace to Reminisce

Chapter 366: Chapter 366: Consort Yun Pin Wishes to Invite You to the Palace to Reminisce

As soon as Consort Duan Pin fell ill, more palace maids turned against her when she was down.

The Empress, Consort Jing, and various other consorts, most of them were not ones to be lenient.

Especially the mothers of the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince, who aligned with their own sons, naturally wished nothing more than to see Consort Duan Pin dead.

After Consort Duan Pin fell ill, someone deceitfully tricked her to the Imperial Garden using a forged imperial edict, and then pushed her into the cold water.

Forging an imperial edict was no trivial matter. The Emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation. The investigation traced back to Consort Jing, and the eunuch who forged the edict was from the Palace of Consort Jing.

When they found him, he had already hanged himself.

After Consort Duan Pin was rescued from the water, she was found to have been poisoned. Fortunately, it was discovered in time, and the Imperial Physician managed to detoxify her.

Sitting up amidst her illness, Consort Duan Pin knelt at the Emperor’s feet and asked to be sent to the Cold Palace, stating she felt ashamed before the Emperor because of her father’s actions.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor instead recalled Consort Duan Pin’s years of compliance and hardships.

Consort Duan Pin always wore plain clothes and sported only a few cinnabar hairpins on her head. The Emperor remembered how a few years ago when he wanted to build the Traveling Palace, many officials advised against it, saying it was a waste of resources, but it was Consort Duan Pin who had given him the gold, silver, and jewels she had saved from her frugal living.

Now it seemed, Consort Duan Pin had become even more thrifty. There weren’t many valuable decorations in this palace, no wonder the palace maids looked down on her.

So, in the end, the Emperor did not send Consort Duan Pin to the Cold Palace and instead consoled her with a few kind words, bestowed gifts upon her, and reprimanded the palace maids and eunuchs.

The investigation into the forged imperial edict concluded without further developments. The Emperor did not believe that Consort Jing had the audacity to do such a thing, suspecting that someone else was trying to kill Consort Duan Pin using Consort Jing as a scapegoat.

In any case, his harem was nothing but a nest of vipers.

He had initially intended to visit Consort Jing, but upon reflection, he went elsewhere.

"I never expected Consort Duan Pin to be so cunning, using a self-pitying strategy to frame others. The matter of the Fourth Prince dabbling in illegal salt trade was thus downplayed. Otherwise, had the Emperor gotten angry again, both the Fourth Prince and Consort Duan Pin would have suffered. Now that Consort Duan Pin has asked to enter the Cold Palace herself, she also gains a reputation for virtue."

"She just manipulated some old affections, that’s all. She got away once, but it may not be the same the second time. Don’t worry about them. I hear from Chun Tao that you haven’t had a good appetite these past few days, could Uncle Zhai check your pulse?"

Jun Yuyan was no longer confined, and the Emperor, busy with government affairs, left the Third Prince with limited capabilities. The Emperor dispatched him to clean up some messes, so he was not in the Prince Mansion to dine with Murong Jiu during the day.

"It’s nothing to worry about, just a poor appetite. It should be better in a few days. My master has already looked at it; it’s nothing serious."

Feeling somewhat reassured, he said to her, "I’ve asked the staff to collect some game for you to try something different. Maybe changing your diet will help."

"That sounds good. Less poultry, as this is the season for wild vegetables."

"Speaking of which, Father Emperor plans to visit the Traveling Palace to enjoy the spring and maybe hunting. If he decides on it, it might be toward the end of this month. Would Ah Jiu like to go?"

Murong Jiu was somewhat interested, but she preferred to be with Jun Yuyan alone rather than with a large group of people.

However, as a Prince and the most capable one, Jun Yuyan would certainly have to accompany the Emperor. It meant several days at the Traveling Palace, and without him, she feared the nights might bring continuous nightmares again.

Jun Yuyan guessed her concerns and smilingly said, "Whether Ah Jiu wants to go or not, I must take you with me. Without you, I fear I might have sleepless nights."

Blush swept over Murong Jiu’s face. One wouldn’t expect Jun Yuyan, who always appeared so stern and untouchable like a flower on a high cliff, to be so adept with sweet nothings in private.

Her heart felt as if it were soaking in a jar of honey.

"If Father Emperor decides to go to the Traveling Palace, I’ll prepare everything in advance to ensure there’s no opportunity for anyone to harm you."

"With Kai Xuan around, I’m not afraid. But I worry, what if Father Emperor takes a liking to Kai Xuan during the visit? What then?"

She wasn’t being alarmist or painting the Emperor in too harsh a light, but the Emperor was indeed a selfish man, and snatching other’s favorites was nothing unusual for him.

Jun Yuyan also knew what kind of person his father, the Emperor, was. He said, "Kai Xuan understands human nature. If Father really asks for it, then let it escape to the deep mountains and return to the Prince Mansion at night."

Murong Jiu nodded slightly.

"By the way, how is everything with the Second Prince?"

"Laosi really values his illegitimate child. He is currently negotiating with Lao Er. Lao Er asked for a lot, but Laosi didn’t agree, and the two are still pulling strings. The Third Prince has also learned about this and is trying to steal the illegitimate child away."

She couldn’t help but chuckle, "It seems they are fighting fiercely in secret."

The Fourth Prince, overwhelmed by this affair, provided Manager Chai and others with an opportunity to further swallow up his industries.

Not only the Fourth Prince but also the many industries of the Second Prince were gradually being devoured.

She was in a good mood today because the fields in the suburbs were full of foreign crops. Even the white fleeceflower root (cotton) seeds brought by the Western Region Prince ordered by the Emperor had germinated and been planted. Although she hadn’t seen it herself, from her subordinates’ description, she knew the scene must be very pleasing, assuring a good harvest this year.

This year had laid a good foundation, and it would be easier to promote these crops in the future.

Thinking that the people might not have to go hungry in the future, she felt truly delighted from the bottom of her heart.

This sense of achievement could not be expressed in words.

Everything she wanted to do had the full support of Jun Yuyan.

She had never thought before that she would meet such a perfect man.

With this thought, she leaned onto Jun Yuyan’s shoulder. They sat by the window, watching the lush bamboo leaves sway in the breezy wind.

The corners of Jun Yuyan’s mouth widened into a smile, holding her even tighter.

Just as Jun Yuyan had said, the Emperor indeed soon announced his short stay at the Traveling Palace.

Jun Yuyan began to get busy, as the Emperor had entrusted him and the Imperial Forest Guard with the security of the Traveling Palace, leaving no room for error.

"Princess Consort, Consort Yun Pin sent someone with a message, asking if you would visit the palace to reminisce," said Hidden Guard Zhou Chen, reporting in.

"Consort Yun Pin?"

Recalling that the Princess Consort had amnesia, Zhou Chen quickly recounted the details about Consort Yun Pin and described the relationship between her and the Princess Consort.

Zhou Chen had not entered the palace with her and was unaware that the last time she saw Consort Yun Pin, they had had a conversation.

Murong Jiu was unsure of what kind of person Consort Yun Pin was, but since she didn’t use other means and had sent a message from inside the palace indicating a desire to reminisce, it probably wasn’t with malicious intent.

But it’s always good to be cautious.

She waited until Jun Yuyan returned before discussing Consort Yun Pin’s matter with him.

"She has recently regained favor. I guess it might be for the sake of health management," he said.

"Regained favor? Zhou Chen said she had been out of favor for a long time; how did she suddenly regain it?"

"That’s largely thanks to you, Ah Jiu," he said.

Murong Jiu was even more puzzled. "What does it have to do with me?"