That afternoon, on the way back to Prince Li's residence, Xiao Shan noticeably felt that Xie Zhui's mood was somewhat low. In fact, Xie Zhui's expression was the same as usual, not revealing any emotion, but Xiao Shan just had this feeling.

 

Xiao Shan secretly pondered the reason. Was it because he had overslept after drinking? Or was it due to an unsuccessful conversation with Xie Chen? Or perhaps it was something else that had affected his mood?

 

Given Xie Zhui's temperament, none of these should have influenced his emotions. After thinking it over, Xiao Shan still couldn't figure it out.

 

He was always straightforward and not the type to keep things bottled up and overthink. So, he abandoned those thoughts and asked directly, "In a bad mood?"

 

Xie Zhui was staring absentmindedly at the incense burner inside the carriage. Hearing this, he looked up, momentarily stunned, and then quickly said, "No."

 

This reaction made it seem like he actually was.

 

Xiao Shan propped his left cheek with his hand and said softly, "Tell me, let's see if I can help you figure it out."

 

Xie Zhui: "..."

 

The inexplicable thoughts that had arisen from a single notion were now even harder to voice in front of the person before him.

 

Xiao Shan was perceptive, and saying nothing wouldn't be appropriate either.

 

As his thoughts fluctuated, Xie Zhui averted his gaze and spoke wistfully, "I'm just worried that my elder brother won't adapt to the environment in the capital."

 

Xiao Shan couldn't have imagined that the root of the issue lay with him, so he believed Xie Zhui's words directly. He analyzed the current situation and felt that Xie Zhui's concerns were somewhat justified.

 

Compared to the capital, there weren't as many people at the border who liked to speak in roundabout ways.

 

The capital was resplendent with flourishing flowers, while the border was desolate and bleak.

 

Life in the capital was comfortable and leisurely, whereas the border was tense and filled with a sense of imminent danger.

 

Xie Chen couldn't see, but it was impossible for him to stay indoors for his entire life. Xie Zhui's worry about him was understandable.

 

So, Xiao Shan comforted him, saying, "You don't need to worry too much. Your elder brother has attendants with him daily, and Prince Li's residence is not far from the Xie residence. If anything happens, you can quickly get there."

 

"If you're really concerned, you can check the people around your elder brother to ensure they don't overstep their bounds and have no ulterior motives."

 

Seeing his attitude, Xie Zhui suddenly smiled for some reason, and the gloom in his heart vanished instantly.

 

Seeing the significant effect of his comfort, Xiao Shan was quite pleased. He emphasized, "In any case, you and your elder brother should relax. As long as we don't provoke trouble, there's no need to fear anyone who tries to cause us problems. If there's something that neither I, as Prince Li, nor you, as Prince Li's consort, can handle, we still have Father Emperor."

 

Xie Zhui nodded in agreement.

 

Meanwhile, in the palace, Consort Lan was tearfully complaining to the Empress.

 

Consort Lan wasn't crying about anything else but the incident where Xie Zhui and Zuo Li were surrounded.

 

Consort Lan was crying so sorrowfully that the Empress had tried to console her several times to no avail, and could only let her continue crying.

 

Consort Lan sobbed while clutching her chest, "Empress, it's not that I want to cry, I just can't control it..."

 

The Empress sighed inwardly. It was indeed uncontrollable, but she still had to try to console her. So, the Empress said, "You shouldn't cry over every little thing. Imperial Physician Su has mentioned that if you cry for such a long time, your eyes won't be able to take it."

 

Hearing this, Consort Lan took a breath and held back her tears for a moment. Then she shook her head and said, "I don't want to either, but whenever I think about Shan'er marrying Xie Zhui, that troublemaker, I can't help but feel sad."

 

Empress: "..."

 

How did Xie Zhui become a troublemaker again?

 

Consort Lan, sobbing and sniffling, recounted the events of the day to the Empress. Then she said, "Now the rumors have spread both inside and outside the palace. Everyone is saying that Xie Zhui has an unclear relationship with those people who returned from the northern border. Hearing this makes me feel so stifled."

 

The Empress's face turned cold upon hearing this and she said, "Since when did anyone in the palace dare to speak such nonsense?"

 

Consort Lan looked resentful, "Ever since Shan'er married Xie Zhui, who in the palace hasn't said a few words behind their backs?"

 

The Empress gripped the armrest of her chair, silently taking a deep breath before saying, "Even if someone speaks behind their backs, it shouldn't reach your ears. How did you happen to hear it?"

 

Consort Lan replied, "I was taking a walk in the Imperial Garden when I accidentally overheard two palace maids gossiping. If I hadn't heard it, I wouldn't have known that such a big thing had happened outside."

 

The Empress: "..." What "accidentally overheard"? It was clearly someone deliberately letting her hear it.

 

The person who orchestrated this clearly understood Consort Lan's temperament and knew she didn't like Xie Zhui, deliberately planting a thorn in her heart.

 

Judging by Consort Lan's current state, the thorn had indeed taken root.

 

The Empress quickly asked, "Did you keep those people?"

 

Consort Lan shook her head, speaking in a resigned tone, "What would I keep those two little palace maids for? It's all Xie Zhui's fault anyway."

 

The Empress, patiently, said, "To find out what really happened, you can summon Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui to the palace and ask them directly. If you believe those people's nonsense, won't it harm the relationship between you and your son?"

 

Consort Lan looked sorrowful and distressed, "I don't want to harm our mother-son relationship either, but I can't just turn a blind eye and pretend I don't know. Now, whenever I think about how many times Shan'er might have been secretly mocked and ridiculed, I regret not stopping the emperor's marriage decree back then."

 

The Empress said, "What's done is done, and saying this now is pointless. Instead of getting upset here, you should think carefully about those two palace maids. I have managed the six palaces for many years, and no one has dared to stir up trouble like this."

 

Sometimes, Consort Lan could take the Empress' words to heart, and other times, she couldn't listen to a single word.

 

Especially now, as she was stuck in a stubborn mindset. The Empress' words made her feel that the Empress wasn't considering her perspective at all. To the Empress and others, the ridicule directed at Xiao Shan seemed nonexistent.

 

Consort Lan's heart ached, and she said with a displeased expression, "The unvirtuous consort is the one Shan'er married, and I'm the only one who feels sad for him. The pain doesn't fall on others, so they naturally don't care. After all, the ones being mocked are just me and Shan'er."

 

The Empress was infuriated by Consort Lan's words, her eyes flashing with anger. Consort Lan then stood up, looking sullen, and said, "Empress, just consider my visit today as a moment of nonsense. You don't need to take me to heart. I'm not feeling well, so I'll take my leave."

 

After saying this, she bowed to the Empress and left, just like that.

 

The Empress watched her back for a long time, unable to speak. The palace maid Baozhu hurriedly tried to calm her, while another maid busied herself with serving tea. Someone else exclaimed that the Empress was angered and went to fetch medicine...

 

The hall was in a state of chaos.

 

After the Empress took her medicine and drank her tea, the fire in her chest subsided. She said coldly, "Investigate who in the harem likes to spread rumors and engage in disgraceful behavior. Have they started to think that I am dead because I haven't been managing the harem recently?"

 

The palace attendants naturally did not dare to respond.

 

After issuing a series of orders, the Empress commanded them all to leave. She then reclined on the chaise longue, contemplating life.

 

A group of palace attendants quietly withdrew, not daring to make a sound for fear of irritating the Empress.

 

A newly promoted palace maid serving in the inner hall couldn't help but think to herself that it was fortunate there was a blood relationship involved; otherwise, the Empress wouldn't be so tolerant of Consort Lan.

 

If today's incident had involved someone else, even the Emperor's favored consort wouldn't have received any leniency from the Empress.

 

However, this thought only lingered in her mind for a moment before she firmly suppressed it. No one who had risen to their current position was foolish. They knew very well what could be said and what couldn't.

 

The matters between the Empress and Consort Lan were not for them to comment on.

 

Consort Lan was still very angry when she left the Empress' palace, but by the time she returned to Jinglan Palace, she felt that her words to the Empress had been somewhat excessive.

 

Grasping Cuishu's hand, Consort Lan worriedly asked, "Cui Shu, was I a bit too much just now?"

 

Cuishu thought to herself that it was more than just a bit; it was quite a lot.

 

However, her expression remained unchanged as she smiled and reassured, "Your Highness is straightforward, and the Empress understands this best. You may have spoken a bit bluntly, but the Empress certainly won't be angry because of it."

 

Consort Lan felt a bit better after hearing this. She released Cuishu's hand and sat down, then said, "I didn't mean to say those things, but as a mother, I truly feel it's unfair for Shan'er. Shan'er is a prince, and after coming of age, he was granted a title by the Emperor. Marrying Xie Zhui as his main consort was already hard enough for me to accept, and now he's being implicated by Xie Zhui like this. How can I not be angry?"

 

Thinking about what people might be whispering behind their backs about Xie Zhui made Consort Lan feel utterly humiliated.

 

"No, I can't let this go," Consort Lan said, furrowing her delicate brows.

 

Cuishu quickly responded, "Your Highness is right. The person who deliberately spread such rumors in the palace has a truly malicious intent. It's best to find out who this scheming individual is as soon as possible."

 

Consort Lan said, "What you say makes some sense, but the root of the problem still lies with Xie Zhui. I need to find a way to discuss this matter with the Emperor."

 

Cuishu opened her mouth as if to say something, but seeing Consort Lan's determined expression, she swallowed her words.

 

Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui, being outside the palace, were naturally unaware of the events that had transpired within.

 

That night, the two of them shared half the bed and had a good night's sleep.

 

The next day was Xiao Shan's day to attend court. He squinted his eyes, got up, and yawned as he left, not waking Xie Zhui in the process.

 

When he arrived at the court, he had to make a concerted effort to keep his eyes open and avoid falling asleep while standing.

 

He thought that after the court session, he could return to the prince's residence to catch up on sleep as usual. However, this time, he was stopped by Chang Le, who told him that the Emperor was waiting for him in Ganming Hall.

 

Hearing that the Emperor was waiting for him gave Xiao Shan a headache, as he always felt like he was about to get scolded. He had a shadow over Ganming Hall because, as a child, the Emperor often called him there to test him.

 

Every time, he failed to pass the tests, and the Emperor's phrase "incompetent and foolish" originated from Ganming Hall.

 

Xiao Shan stood there, dawdling and hesitant, not wanting to go. He kept giving Xiao Jin meaningful looks, hoping he would accompany him.

 

Chang Le stood there with a smiling face, waiting.

 

Seeing Xiao Shan's troubled expression, Xiao Jin walked over and said, "Eunuch Chang, I will accompany my third brother. I happen to have matters to discuss with Father Emperor as well."

 

Chang Le smiled and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor is unlikely to see you today. The Emperor has specifically set aside time to speak with Prince Li. If Your Highness has urgent matters, I can report them."

 

"Oh, I see," Xiao Jin paused and said, "It's not anything urgent. I will visit Father Emperor another time." After saying this, he gave Xiao Shan a helpless look.

 

Xiao Shan: "..."

 

At this moment, Xiao Rong walked over. With a look of brotherly concern, he gazed at Xiao Shan and earnestly said, "Third Brother, you are grown now and should cause Father Emperor less worry. What happened on the street yesterday should not happen again in the future; it greatly affects your image."

 

Xiao Shan looked at him slowly and said, "Eldest Brother, what are you talking about? What happened yesterday? I don't know anything about it. Why don't you tell me now?"

 

Xiao Jin chimed in, "Exactly, Elder Brother. I haven't heard of Third Brother doing anything outrageous in the palace either. If you know the details, you should enlighten him."

 

Seeing the two of them feigning ignorance, Xiao Rong sneered, "What could I possibly know? I just know that someone has been quite disgraceful. Since Third Brother is unaware, I must have spoken out of turn."

 

After saying this, Xiao Rong flicked his sleeves and left.

 

Xiao Shan muttered, "Eldest Brother leaves at the slightest disagreement, stopping halfway through his words and leaving the listener anxious. I don't know what's wrong with him."

 

Xiao Jin: "..."

 

Chang Le, still smiling, said, "Your Highness, please hurry. Don't keep the Emperor waiting."

 

Xiao Shan had no choice but to head towards the palace.

 

Xiao Jin watched his back and shook his head helplessly. He wanted to help but couldn't, so he had no choice but to return to the Eastern Palace and wait for news.

 

When Xiao Shan arrived at Ganming Hall, Xiao Sheng became angry upon seeing his slouched shoulders and lack of energy.

 

Seeing his father's sharp gaze, Xiao Shan quickly straightened his shoulders and back. "Father Emperor, did you summon me for something?"

 

"What, Zhen can't call for you without a reason?" Xiao Sheng said sarcastically.

 

Xiao Shan replied, "I was just worried that seeing me would make you angry."

 

Xiao Sheng snorted coldly, "At least you have some self-awareness."

 

Xiao Shan fell silent.

 

Xiao Sheng closed his eyes briefly and said, "Yesterday, your mother consort mentioned to Zhen that we should appoint a secondary consort for you. What are your thoughts on this?"

 

Xiao Shan: "Huh?"

 

TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars for the translation - I'd really like to see how far Leon goes and how far we can increase the number of chapters. Thanks~!

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