Chapter 495: Crown Princess Defends Her Husband Online
Chapter 495
Using her to probe the reasons behind Shen Yueshan's disappearance, using her to test whether Xiao Huayong still concealed hidden strength—Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong both knew that the Youning Emperor had never relaxed his suspicions toward Xiao Huayong. The ancestral tablet catching fire during the ancestral worship ceremony was the clearest evidence.
By afternoon, the rumors had indeed reached the Eastern Palace, but they were all unfavorable to Shen Xihe: claims that the Crown Princess disrespected the Crown Prince, that she was shameless, that she was unfilial and dishonorable...
These were the more refined criticisms; the cruder ones were too vulgar to repeat. Xiao Huayong, listening beside her, grew livid with rage.
Shen Xihe, however, remained utterly unperturbed. She glanced at Xiao Huayong and said, "His Majesty is deliberately allowing these rumors to spread precisely to make you lose your composure."
Xiao Huayong abruptly stood up and strode out of the room.
Zhenzhu, witnessing this, turned to see Shen Xihe's unmoved expression and hesitantly asked, "Crown Princess..."
"It's fine. He is the Crown Prince. If he truly turned a deaf ear, it would only raise suspicions." Shen Xihe trusted that Xiao Huayong would exercise discretion.
Xiao Huayong didn't need to expose any connections; he merely targeted a few typical individuals. Instead of charging them with slandering the Crown Princess, he dealt with these servants by citing "inadequate service"—a charge that required no elaborate setup like Wang Zheng's schemes. A simple order was enough to have them dragged away and beaten to death.
Everyone understood that "inadequate service" was a fabricated accusation, and the real reason for their execution was their inability to control their tongues. This approach naturally preserved Xiao Huayong's reputation, making it the most appropriate course of action.
After Xiao Huayong had done what was necessary, Shen Xihe rose and headed toward Noble Consort Rong's Lotus Palace.
Noble Consort Rong had just awakened from her afternoon nap when she heard of the Crown Princess's arrival. Lazily, she instructed, "Shaoyao, invite the Crown Princess to the side hall. Haitang, help me with my makeup. We must not neglect the Crown Princess."
Though she spoke of not neglecting her guest, Noble Consort Rong took her time with her toilette, even deliberating over the shades of hairpins and rouge with meticulous care.
Shen Xihe waited in the side hall for nearly half an hour. She knew Noble Consort Rong had just risen—her afternoon break schedule was fixed, and Shen Xihe had timed her visit accordingly. Half an hour was precisely enough for a leisurely makeup session, had Noble Consort Rong intended to observe proper hospitality.
When the half-hour passed, Shen Xihe set down her emptied teacup. Shaoyao, who attended to Shen Xihe, hurried forward to refill it.
Shen Xihe looked up at her and asked, "How many years have you served in the palace, Lady Du?"
Shaoyao promptly bowed and replied respectfully, "Your Highness, this humble servant entered the palace at age six and has served for sixteen years."
"In three more years, you can leave the palace." Shen Xihe gave a slight nod.
In this dynasty, palace maids could apply to leave the palace at age twenty-five, but not everyone was eligible to depart immediately upon reaching that age. Exceptions existed for those granted early release to marry.
"This humble servant has long vowed to serve Noble Consort Rong for life, to repay her grace." Shaoyao felt uneasy. After over a decade in the palace and rising to become Noble Consort Rong's right-hand woman, she possessed a sharp intuition.
Shen Xihe hadn't waited so long to speak with her without purpose—this was no casual conversation.
"If that is the case, why have you neglected your duties?" Shen Xihe's gaze was mild yet penetrating. "After sixteen years in the palace, as Noble Consort Rong's trusted aide and a palace matron of Lotus Hall, you should be well-versed in protocol. Tell me, what is the penalty for spreading rumors and slandering your superiors? Surely I need not elaborate."Peony's face turned pale, and she knelt with a thud: "Your Highness, please investigate clearly. This humble servant has always been tight-lipped and clumsy with words. It is only by Noble Consort Rong's grace that I remain by her side to serve. How would I dare to spread rumors? Someone must have falsely accused me. I beg Your Highness to summon the person who accused me, and I am willing to confront them!"
Shen Xihe let out a light laugh: "Zhenzhu, send her to the Palace Service Department for confrontation."
"Your Highness, I didn't..."
"Whom does the Crown Princess wish to send to the Palace Service Department?" Noble Consort Rong finally arrived in large strides, accompanied by her palace maids.
Shen Xihe looked up at her, her expression indifferent: "Your Ladyship, the female official of Fuqu Palace has been spreading rumors and slandering me. Sending her to the Palace Service Department for interrogation is not unreasonable, is it?"
Noble Consort Rong's eyebrows were adorned with exquisite Hua Dian, the edges faintly traced with gold powder, making her appear exceptionally luxurious and refined. Her slender eyes glanced at the kneeling Peony, who was pleading her innocence: "If someone has indeed slandered the Crown Princess, they certainly deserve severe punishment. As Peony is a female official in my palace, I too bear responsibility for failing to discipline her properly. However, the crime must be supported by evidence to be convincing."
"Your Ladyship demands evidence." Shen Xihe glanced at Zhenzhu.
Zhenzhu took out a gold hairpin and held it up with both hands, presenting it to Noble Consort Rong: "This item was given by Peony to someone else, instructing them to spread rumors and cause trouble."
Noble Consort Rong glanced at the hairpin, her eyes tightening. This belonged to her, and her accessories were managed by Peony. Though it was an old piece, she remembered never having gifted it to anyone. How did it end up in Shen Xihe's hands?
"The young eunuch from Fuqu Palace confessed that this item was given to him by Female Official Du, instructing him to publicly claim that the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince are excessively debauched..." Zhenzhu recited the prepared statement without blinking.
With both material evidence and a witness, Peony knew she had not done such a thing and kowtowed to Noble Consort Rong: "Your Ladyship, it is my negligence that allowed the theft of this item to frame me. I absolutely did not bribe anyone to do such a thing."
"Your Ladyship, with both material evidence and a witness present, sending her to the Palace Service Department is not unjust, is it?" Shen Xihe raised an eyebrow and asked.
Noble Consort Rong's face was frosty. This was her possession, and Shen Xihe had managed to acquire it. This was a clear message to her that Shen Xihe had far-reaching influence. Whatever Shen Xihe defined as the truth would be the truth. If she continued to argue, Shen Xihe might very well produce other evidence unfavorable to her.
Just as Noble Consort Rong was about to speak, another female official beside her tugged at her sleeve.
To let Shen Xihe openly take away her trusted aide was a humiliation Noble Consort Rong did not wish to suffer. She wanted to see just how capable Shen Xihe was and nearly confronted her forcefully. However, reminded by another trusted aide, Noble Consort Rong hesitated.
Was it worth risking to probe Shen Xihe's limits? This gave her pause for consideration.
Shen Xihe glanced at her, performed a junior's salute, and left with her entourage.
Peony, being dragged away, pleaded desperately. Noble Consort Rong took two steps forward but was stopped by Haitang: "Your Ladyship, the Crown Princess managed to acquire your gold hairpin without a sound and dared to openly come to take someone away. Who knows what else she might have in her possession? Peony failed in her duties and deserves to suffer some hardship. For now, Your Ladyship should consider whether Fuqu Palace has any other vulnerabilities that may have fallen into the Crown Princess's hands."
They must not lose more by clinging to less. Moreover, they had their own people in the Palace Service Department. It would not be too late to maneuver once Peony was inside.Noble Consort Rong was ultimately persuaded to stand down, but Shen Xihe gave them no opportunity for further maneuvering, for as soon as Peony entered the Palace Service Department, she committed suicide out of fear for her crimes.
She wanted Youning Emperor, Noble Consort Rong, and everyone in the entire palace to understand that the one who had truly buried countless covert connections within the palace was not Xiao Huayong, but her, Shen Xihe. Let all the palace intrigues be directed at her.
“With my lady’s protection, how fortunate and wonderful.” Xiao Huayong greeted his wife at the palace gate, celebrating her initial victory.
Her determination to share his burdens and shield him behind her had been conveyed through tangible action. Unable to dissuade her, Xiao Huayong chose instead to cease persuasion and accept her goodwill with calm grace.
“When you handed me the roster that day, you said you wanted me to protect you.” Shen Xihe used his own words to silence him.
Of course, he had only used that as an excuse to make it impossible for her to refuse—and now he found himself tripped by his own stone.
(End of Chapter)
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