Leng Yuanxiang slowly sat up, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Situ Chuanqiong, I don't want to stay here anymore. This imperial palace is too suffocating. I want to leave the palace and go home to live for a while!"
"Absurd! How can a concubine in the palace leave to stay at her maiden home!" Situ Chuanqiong refused without a second thought.
"Then kill Qin Mingzhu, otherwise, I won't be able to remove this thorn in my heart!" Leng Yuanxiang became firm.
"Little Xiang'er, why don't you understand my good intentions? I promise, when the time is right, I will definitely kill Qin Mingzhu for you. But for now, you still have to be obedient and drink the medicine first!" Situ Chuanqiong used both persuasion and coercion.
"But I just don't understand now. Let me go home to live for a while! I want to go out and relax. I really don't want to stay in this sad place anymore." Leng Yuanxiang began her fervent tearful offensive.
Finally, Situ Chuanqiong had no choice but to yield. "Alright, then you can stay out for two months at most. During this time, take good care of your health and stop dwelling on things."
Leng Yuanxiang then picked up the medicine bowl and drank it down in one gulp, "Okay, it's a deal!"
Qin Mingzhu was confined to the cold palace the next day. On the third day, Leng Yuanxiang was escorted back to the Right Prime Minister's mansion by carriages arranged by Situ Chuanqiong himself.
Meanwhile, Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang), who was innocently blamed, still hadn't received an apology from Situ Chuanqiong. However, she did receive a visit from someone else.
"Your Majesty the Empress, the Ninth Prince requests an audience outside the hall," a eunuch announced.
"Please invite him in!" Xiao Wenqiang was a little puzzled about Situ Zixian's purpose for visiting.
"Zi Xian pays his respects to his Imperial Sister-in-law," Situ Zixian entered the inner hall and bowed, his gaze fixed on her.
"You are dismissed," Xiao Wenqiang smiled gently. "May I ask why Zi Xian has come to see me?"
Actually, Situ Zixian had not been in the capital during this period. He felt he had been too preoccupied with his thoughts, so he took the opportunity of a mission to a neighboring city to keep himself busy.
Then, he had just returned last night and heard about the entire incident of Leng Yuanxiang's miscarriage from other secret guards.
However, he didn't care about Leng Yuanxiang or Qin Mingzhu. What concerned him was Chu Yulan being angered by his Imperial Brother. Fearing she would be upset, he had rushed over early this morning.
"It's nothing important. It's just that when I went out this time, I obtained a very good whip." Situ Zixian produced the prepared item and handed it to her. "I thought it was very suitable for you... for the Imperial Sister-in-law, so I wanted to give it to you."
Xiao Wenqiang took the soft whip and stretched it with her hands, testing its feel. It was indeed sturdy. She smiled and thanked him, "I like it very much. Thank you, Zi Xian, for thinking of me."
Situ Zixian was pleased when the gift he gave was appreciated by the recipient. Then, he gestured with his eyes, and the servant accompanying him retreated.
At this point, Situ Zixian continued, "I have also heard about what happened a few days ago. Imperial Sister-in-law, you have been wronged."
Xiao Wenqiang's expression returned to its previous somber state, and she shook her head with a bitter smile. "This grievance is bearable, but I pity the Emperor and Consort Leng's child. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have arranged to meet Consort Leng that day."
"Imperial Sister-in-law, please don't blame yourself. This matter of the child was something they had kept from you all along, which is why you didn't know. Consort Qin bears responsibility for the final outcome, and Consort Leng also has her own issues," Situ Zixian couldn't help but comfort her. "You are, in fact, the most innocent person among them, and the responsibility does not lie with you. Imperial Sister-in-law, please don't blame yourself."
Xiao Wenqiang thanked him gratefully, "Thank you for your comfort, Zi Xian. I feel much better."
...
After leaving the Kunning Palace, Situ Zixian went to find Situ Chuanqiong again.
"Zi Xian, you're back. Have the matters over there been handled?" Situ Chuanqiong asked his younger brother with concern.
"Reporting to Imperial Brother, according to intelligence, I personally led men to investigate the neighboring city and discovered that Prime Minister Qin Feng indeed has been training troops in secret. Although those men do not wear uniforms when interacting with villagers, their bearing and demeanor clearly indicate they have undergone training."
"Then it seems this intelligence is correct! Qin Feng truly harbors rebellious intentions!" Situ Chuanqiong slammed the table in anger. "Quickly send men to bring him to me!"
"Imperial Brother, please do not be hasty. It would be best to first secure the private army in the neighboring city before making further plans. It could be troublesome if the Left Prime Minister resorts to desperate measures," Situ Zixian suggested.
"Furthermore, Imperial Brother, who exactly provided us with this intelligence? Could it be that they are using you to eliminate their rivals?" Situ Zixian was more concerned about the person behind the scenes.
"Most likely from the faction of the Right Prime Minister Leng Guang, or even the Right Prime Minister himself," Situ Chuanqiong had a general idea.
"Then does he also harbor rebellious intentions? And yet Imperial Brother is so good to his daughter?" Situ Zixian said anxiously.
"Zi Xian, there is no need to worry. Little Xiang'er and I are of one mind. She would not allow her father to do such a thing." Situ Chuanqiong, however, was more worried about another matter. "She returned to her maiden home so upset today. I wonder if she will sleep well tonight?"
"Imperial Brother, I have to say, Consort Leng is returning to the maiden home where she lived for over a decade. What is there to be unaccustomed to?" Situ Zixian expressed his displeasure. "On the other hand, Imperial Sister-in-law, you publicly rebuked her in front of so many people. I wonder how heartbroken she must be!"
"I didn't know the situation clearly before. In my haste, I spoke out," Situ Chuanqiong admitted with some regret. "Zi Xian, this is the loss of your Imperial Brother's and his beloved woman's first child. Why aren't you here to comfort me?"
"Yes, the loss of your first child is indeed regrettable and sad. However, Imperial Brother, are you really planning to let this matter end here? Not making an appearance at the Empress's residence?" Situ Zixian reminded him.
"Actually, it's not necessary to go. Previously, I was openly good to the Empress because I needed her as a shield for Little Xiang'er. Now that everyone knows Little Xiang'er is my favorite, there's no need to pretend to be good to other women anymore," Situ Chuanqiong was ready to discard the Empress once she had served her purpose.
"So now, Imperial Brother is even willing to discard his reputation?" Situ Zixian expressed his disappointment.
Situ Chuanqiong considered it and felt it wasn't ideal. So, he instructed, "How about this, Zi Xian, you go to comfort the Empress on my behalf tonight. Speak many kind words. If that doesn't work, then present her with something from my private treasury as an apology."
"Why doesn't Imperial Brother go himself?" Situ Zixian did not understand.
"Because I can't rest assured about Little Xiang'er. I plan to sneak out tonight to her father's mansion to check on her," Situ Chuanqiong revealed his true intentions.
"Imperial Brother, this is too dangerous! What if you are discovered by Right Prime Minister Leng Guang's men? If they harbor ill intentions and plan to usurp the throne, wouldn't you be walking into a tiger's den?" Situ Zixian became agitated.