When the Deposed Crown Prince Was Reborn as Troublemaker - Chapter 89

On the carriage, Mo Shanshan felt somewhat apprehensive about entering the palace. Even though the princess consort had already instructed a matron to teach her the proper etiquette for palace visits, she still felt at a complete loss, terrified of making a fool of herself.

From the very first day she had arrived at the Prince of Yan’s residence, Mo Shanshan had felt as though she had entered a world that did not belong to her — one in which she was entirely out of place.

“Princess Consort,” Mo Shanshan said, looking at Li Xiyue, who had her eyes closed and was resting on the carriage.

However, Li Xiyue did not respond to her, which led Mo Shanshan to assume that Li Xiyue was annoyed with her because of the incident the previous day when she had taken You Yusui away.

It was not until the carriage was nearly at the palace that Li Xiyue finally opened her eyes and said, “We’ve arrived. Let’s go.”

“Yes.” Mo Shanshan had no choice but to follow Li Xiyue out of the carriage.

Within the imperial palace, Consort Xian held authority over the inner palace, and so the Duanwu Banquet was naturally organised by her single-handedly. The venue for the banquet had been set beside Qianye Lake within the palace grounds — a spot that was both cool and shaded, and offered a fine view of the lotus flowers. Along the covered walkways and waterside pavilions by the lake, mugwort and calamus had been hung to ward off mosquitoes.

“This year’s Duanwu is quite different from previous years,” the Empress Dowager remarked, looking at the venue arranged before her with meticulous order.

“The Duanwu banquets in the past were always held inside the palace halls. This consort thought it would be better to hold it outdoors instead — one can admire the lotus flowers, watch the dragon boat races, move about freely, and socialize with others. Is that not delightful?” Consort Xian said, standing beside the Empress Dowager and reaching out to support her by the arm.

At the same time, Consort Xian lowered her gaze with a slight smile, her peripheral vision drifting toward the Imperial Noble Consort standing nearby. If she hadn’t arranged the venue by the water, how would the Imperial Noble Consort ever have the opportunity to make her move?

The Imperial Noble Consort, upon hearing Consort Xian’s words, could not help but grind her teeth inwardly. That sly fox — always so adept at ingratiating herself and playing the virtuous one. Was she implying that the Duanwu banquets she herself had presided over in the past were somehow lacking?

“Alright. The officials and ladies of rank have all more or less arrived. Let us take our seats,” the Empress Dowager said, and then walked toward her designated place.

In the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace, Huo Xiling had just tied a sachet around You Yusuì’s waist — one filled with calming herbs prepared according to Cui Yan’s prescription, said to soothe the mind and ward off evil. Huo Xiling had deliberately hung it at You Yusuì’s waist that day, hoping that in the days ahead, he would remain healthy and content.

“Let’s go.” You Yusuì touched the sachet at his waist and said, “I’m afraid there’s no way to go boating with you today.”

The palace’s largest lake had already been claimed by Consort Xian for the Duanwu Banquet, and the remaining smaller lakes were too cramped for a satisfying row, which left You Yusuì feeling somewhat displeased.

Huo Xiling smiled and looked at You Yusuì, asking, “How would Your Highness like me to coax you?”

“Naturally it would be—”

Before You Yusuì could finish, he heard Fubao, who was standing outside, say, “Your Highness, Imperial Physician Cui has arrived.”

You Yusuì: …Of all the times to show up.

When Cui Yan entered, You Yusuì could not help but ask, “Today is the Duanwu Festival. Why have you come running to this prince’s palace?”

At those words, Cui Yan immediately wore an expression that said “Do you think I want to be here?” Why wasn’t he at home observing the Duanwu Festival? Why did he have to come running to the Eastern Palace? Well, that was naturally because…

“His Majesty was worried that Your Highness might suffer heatstroke and faint, and so he ordered me to remain by your side at all times,” Cui Yan replied.

Upon hearing this, You Yusuì could not help but lean back in exasperation. There’s no need for that, really — truly no need. He had only lost a bit of weight, and hadn’t yet regained the flesh he’d shed. He was actually perfectly fine.

Cui Yan looked at You Yusuì and let out a sigh. Such a healthy person had gone to Dayang County and come back looking this thin — anyone would be worried. Besides, the Crown Prince was simply far too difficult to fatten up.

“Your Highness, the time for the banquet is drawing near,” Eunuch Fubao reminded him from outside.

“Let’s go,” You Yusuì said.

And so You Yusuì toyed with the white jade pipe in his hand as he settled onto the eight-man palanquin, heading for Qianye Lake where the banquet was to be held.

At the banquet, Mo Shanshan sat beside Li Xiyue, enduring the scrutinizing gazes of the various ladies of rank from all sides. She felt so pinned down by those stares that she wished she could find somewhere to burrow into, while Li Xiyue beside her remained perfectly composed — as though she had long grown accustomed to it.

The noblewomen nearby looked Mo Shanshan over while whispering amongst themselves.

“So this is the woman who had Prince Yan marry into her family? She doesn’t seem like much, does she.”

She lacked Li Xiyue’s radiant and striking beauty, and she also lacked Princess Wu’s gentle elegance. She was merely a girl with pleasant, ordinary features — and even dressed in the ceremonial robes befitting the rank of a secondary consort, she could not quite carry it off. Small and common.

“Perhaps she has other talents?” a lady nearby said with a smile.

“I’ve heard the secondary consort is with child. Do you think…?”

“She must be one of those vixens who knows how to ensnare men.”

Mo Shanshan, sitting beside Li Xiyue, could not make out what they were saying, yet she could already feel the humiliation written on their faces. She was on the verge of being unable to hold back her tears.

“What are you crying for? The weaker you appear, the more they’ll have to say about you,” Li Xiyue suddenly spoke up beside her.

“Princess Consort…” Mo Shanshan looked up at Li Xiyue in surprise.

Just at that moment, the chattering and twittering of the women over there abruptly stopped.

Mo Shanshan could not help but look up, and saw the Crown Prince seated on his palanquin, looking down from above at those noblewomen. She then heard the Crown Prince say, “Recklessly gossiping about the imperial family and displaying improper conduct before the court — drag them out.”

The faces of several noblewomen went pale with fright. They had never imagined that a spot they had casually chosen to gossip in, seemingly away from anyone’s notice, would happen to be passed by the Crown Prince — and they had been so absorbed in their chatter that they had utterly failed to notice his arrival.

“Crown Prince, spare us! Crown Prince, spare us!” the noblewomen pleaded, kneeling on the ground.

If they were driven out of the Duanwu Banquet, what face would they have left? It would even drag down their husbands, making them unable to hold their heads up in Chang’an.

“Don’t be like this — you make it sound as though this prince is going to have your lives,” You Yusuì said, leaning sideways on his palanquin, watching these women who could not keep their mouths shut with cold indifference.

“What is going on here?” Consort Xian walked over and asked.

The commotion had evidently alerted the Empress Dowager, Consort Xian, and the Imperial Noble Consort, and all three were now making their way toward You Yusuì.

“What has come over the Crown Prince? Today is a festival — why such a great fit of anger?” Consort Xian asked with a smile, affecting an air of exceptional virtue and magnanimity.

The Empress Dowager beside her also furrowed her brow at You Yusuì. The Crown Prince truly had far too fierce a temper. And moreover — she was right here, and yet he still had not descended from his palanquin to speak with her!

When the noblewomen saw Consort Xian approach, they immediately cried out, “Consort Xian, have mercy!”

The Imperial Noble Consort spoke up. “If it is only a small matter, why must the Crown Prince make such a scene? Simply let it go lightly — there is no need to have people dragged away.”

You Yusuì cast an indifferent glance at the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Xian, then said, “Since the two of you feel that recklessly gossiping about the imperial family is no great offense, then let it go.”

“After all, today they were only gossiping about the inner household of the First Imperial Brother. If we let it pass today, I’m afraid that in the future they will dare to gossip about the inner palace, about Father Emperor, and about the late Emperor’s consorts.”

As those words fell, both the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Xian changed their expressions simultaneously. The Imperial Noble Consort changed color because these women had actually been gossiping about her son; Consort Xian changed color out of fear that the matter might reach You Fengyun’s ears, prompting him to rebuke her for failing to enforce proper discipline, and strip her of her authority over the six palaces.

But before either the Imperial Noble Consort or Consort Xian could give vent to their anger, the Empress Dowager’s sharp voice rang out. “Drag these wretched women out! Strip them of their titles of honor — they are never to be permitted entry into the palace again!”

The noblewomen were left dumbstruck. They had never imagined that what awaited them would be an even harsher punishment.

Even You Yusuì was somewhat taken aback — who would have thought the Empress Dowager would fly into such a rage.

Only the Empress Dowager herself knew that her own origins were not respectable. Her entry into the late Emperor’s inner palace as a favored consort had been a twisted and remarkable affair — for she had abandoned her betrothed, boldly climbed into the late Emperor’s bed, and only after she became pregnant was she brought into the palace by the late Emperor. Were this story to become gossip fodder for others, the Empress Dowager would likely be angered to death.

And at this point, You Yusuì had also stepped down from his palanquin and bowed to the Empress Dowager with all proper deference, giving no one any grounds for fault.

“That is enough. Let the matter rest here,” the Empress Dowager said, giving You Yusuì a glance before turning to leave.

Since even the Empress Dowager had spoken thus, no one else dared to say another word. Everyone fell silent, and in an instant, the atmosphere that had been relatively relaxed turned tense.

Mo Shanshan, sitting beside Li Xiyue, felt no joy or satisfaction at the punishment of those noblewomen. She only felt that within the imperial palace, human lives were as cheap and worthless as weeds.

Li Xiyue, whose expression had remained calm and composed, brightened when she caught sight of Cui Yan, who had come along with You Yusuì. She turned directly to the palace maid behind her and said, “Imperial Physician Cui once saved my life, yet I have never properly expressed my gratitude. Xiao Lian, come with me to offer my thanks to Imperial Physician Cui.”

With that, Li Xiyue rose to her feet. However, the matron following behind her said, “How can the Princess Consort meet with an unrelated man?”

Li Xiyue looked at the old matron and said, “Matron, a debt of life-saving grace must not go unacknowledged. If others were to learn that our Prince of Yan’s household showed such poor manners, what would they think of His Highness?”

The matron was rendered speechless by the retort. In any case, as long as she followed along, Li Xiyue could not get up to anything.

And so Cui Yan, who had been staying by You Yusuì’s side, received an invitation to speak in a pavilion.

Cui Yan hesitated over whether to go, and You Yusuì glanced at Li Xiyue and then said, “She might have something important to tell you.”

With those words, Cui Yan had no choice but to go — hoping that Li Xiyue had indeed come to him for something of importance.

The moment Cui Yan arrived at the pavilion, Li Xiyue gave a deep bow.

“The Princess Consort need not do this,” Cui Yan said at once, stepping aside, not daring to truly accept such a bow from Li Xiyue.

Li Xiyue said, “Since that day, I have not yet had the chance to express my gratitude to Imperial Physician Cui for saving my life. I still have several fine roots of ginseng and snow lotus in my dowry — I will have them all sent to Imperial Physician Cui’s residence as a token of my thanks.”

Hearing this, Cui Yan felt somewhat doubtful. Was Li Xiyue truly here simply to send medicinal herbs?

Just then, the sound of someone falling into the water came from the direction of Qianye Lake, and a young eunuch shouted loudly. “Prince Yan’s secondary consort has fallen into the water! Prince Yan’s secondary consort has fallen into the water!”

A look of surprise crossed Li Xiyue’s face, and she immediately reprimanded the servants around her loudly. “What are you all standing there for?! The secondary consort has fallen into the water — why are you not going to save her?!”

The servants who had been scolded hurried off toward the place where the person had fallen in, and the old matron hesitated for a brief moment before rushing off in that direction as well.

At the same time, Li Xiyue lifted the hem of her skirt and hastened over that way as well — only, as she passed by Cui Yan, she quietly slipped something into his hand.

Cui Yan’s expression froze slightly. Why had Li Xiyue given him a sachet? Surely she hadn’t developed feelings for him? Please, no!