The Beloved Imperial Consort Chapter 184

“Satisfied?” Zong Zheng Lin, watching as Mu Xi Yao’s lips occasionally curled up, tapped her forehead and sternly admonished. “Tomorrow, after picking up Cheng Qing, you must not let yourself be distracted any further. With your due date drawing near, if Jiao Jiao stirs up any more trouble, Jiao Jiao will come with Bendian to the consort mother’s palace to await delivery.”

This woman had more tricks than could be counted. Add in that ambitious one from the He Lian family, and the two women turned Shengjing upside down, with rumors running rampant.

“Your Highness~” Mu Xi Yao’s hands, which were pressed against her forehead, slid down a bit. Although it looked like she was trying to block her eyes, the sparkle in them shone vividly through the gaps between her fingers. “Qie is standing up for our son, not stirring up trouble.”

Mu Xi Yao immediately retorted. This matter has been adequately defined – she was in right! Armed with that, she was able to argue her case with Zong Zheng Lin on the basis of ‘reason’.

“Is it for our son, or for Jiao Jiao’s little temper that refuses to suffer a loss – does Bendian need to settle this with you?” The Sixth Highness hit the nail on the head, exposing Mu Xi Yao’s pretense as he bent down to watch her abruptly drop her affected little hands, her lips pouting high while her round, watery eyes glared indignantly.

“Your Highness, don’t you care about Qie at all? Why is it that when Qie is bullied, you nab Qie just to lecture Qie? Qie understands that your state affairs are paramount – so why is Qie not allowed to take her own revenge?” Mu Xi Yao seized the opportunity to grab Zong Zheng Lin’s broad sleeve, swaying left and right as she acted unreasonably. Her little head, like a rattle, burrowed into Zong Zheng Lin’s arms as she rubbed it against him vigorously.

A typical villain is always the first to cry foul. Zong Zheng Lin’s priceless prince’s robe was wrecked beyond recognition by Mu Xi Yao. Seeing that the woman carried on without a care – growing ever more enthusiastic in her antics – the Sixth Highness finally reasserted his authority as a husband.

“You’re becoming more and more unruly the more you’re pampered.” Zong Zheng Lin grabbed her. Noticing her slightly flushed forehead, he slapped her perky rear twice. “Perhaps Jiao Jiao should be sent to the Mu residence to stay for a while, so you aren’t left without anyone to discipline you.”

Return to the Mu residence? Mu Xi Yao wasn’t stupid. If she went back now, she’d have no freedom at all. With Lady Yu keeping an eye on her, wouldn’t every day drag on like years?

Tearful yet not truly crying, she pouted coquettishly at Zong Zheng Lin in a resentful tone, “Qie cannot sleep soundly without Your Highness.” For the sake of her carefree days at Danruo Courtyard, Mu Xi Yao cared not for saving face and such. This content belongs to thehlifestyle.com, if you see this translation elsewhere, it’s been stolen!

“If Qie misses you so much that Qie’s heart aches, even the one in her womb will ache as well.” With their son as a bargaining chip, she didn’t believe the boss wouldn’t soften. “Besides, with Your Highness keeping watch over the mansion, it couldn’t be any stricter.” So strict that she felt like rising in revolt, flipping the situation, and calling the shots.

“In that case, starting tomorrow, Jiao Jiao will accompany Bendian in the study.” Zong Zheng Lin had been waiting for her to walk right into his trap, and now he seized the chance to deliver a decisive blow.

“Excellent. Bendian miss Jiao Jiao as well. Regrettably, Bendian cannot split himself; with Jiao Jian in agreement, this matter is now fully resolved.” Before Mu Xi Yao could protest, the Sixth Highness delivered his final verdict, a smile gradually deepening in his eyes.

No matter how cunning Mu Xi Yao was, she too had times when she let her guard down. The little woman rarely behaved obediently. If he didn’t trick her- leaving her to come on her own accord – Zong Zheng Lin simply didn’t have that much-celebrated patience.

“This matter is settled; Jiao Jiao shall attend to the bath.” Being half-hugged and half-carried by Zong Zheng Lin toward Shuangyan Pool, Mu Xi Yao glared at his side profile with her big, unblinking eyes.

Great boss, you’re truly something. Qie couldn’t even find a chance to say a word, yet you’ve already made up your mind and decided everything. Is it because you think Qie is so caught up in herself today that you’ve intentionally resorted to trickery?

Mu Xi Yao pouted, whining as she engaged in a spirited discussion with Zong Zheng Lin. The two flirted and exchanged teasing banter by Shuangyan Pool, while outside, the maidservants, wrongly assuming they were spying intimate moment between their masters, hastily stepped further away. But it turned out that Mu Xi Yao, like a cornered rabbit, had stretched out her claws and scratched Zong Zheng Lin in such a way that it neither hurt nor tickled, his phoenix eyes half-lidded as he simply enjoyed it.

Today, Yuancheng Emperor was already in a foul mood, and now Zong Zheng Ying, just escorted back by Ji Huai An, directly talked back to him, leaving his face turning livid.

“Imperial Father, your daughter-subject was so angry today that, in her muddled state, she committed a grave mistake. Had it not been for that debauched, lecherous prince consort, and for the resentment your daughter-subject harbored, she would never have come to this point with him. He has always held a grudge because my marriage to him thwarted his rise to prominence and now he’s gone off to seek pleasure with a little official. He cares nothing for the dignity of the princess’s household – his sole purpose is to disgrace it in every possible way.”

Zong Zheng Ying wept endlessly. She already felt aggrieved after being intercepted halfway back; now, seeing the furious Yuancheng Emperor, she was even more frightened. She cried like pear blossoms carrying raindrops. The beauty she inherited from Consort De made her appear all the more delicate.

“Even now that things have reached this point, you’re still shifting the blame without any sign of remorse. Fourth, how did you happen to get something on Yang Guo Kang? Do you really want Zhen to expose you right here? As a woman, to so shamelessly frequent those dens of pleasures – what has become of your imperial upbringing?”

“Imperial Father, your daughter-subject was wrong and acknowledges her mistakes. But Imperial Father, how can you be so partial and treat me so unfairly? Back then, the First Princess was gloriously married off to the Khan of Dongwu Zhaoda with the whole nation celebrating. Meanwhile, when it came to me, your daughter-subject was married off in a cold and quiet fashion to a good-for-nothing, forced to suffer his mistreatment…”

Zong Zheng Ying covered her face and broke into tears, as the long-suppressed discontent and bitterness in her heart finally could not be held back.

“You clueless fool!” Yuancheng Emperor was so enraged at Zong Zheng Yin that he felt pressure grip his chest.

The marriage alliance with Dongwu Zhaoda was nothing more than a stopgap measure; on the day the first princess was sent out of the capital, he was filled with reluctance to let her go. Yet, according to Zong Zheng Ying, it turned into a contest of comparisons! Utterly preposterous.

He had planned to punish her severely, but inadvertently caught the sight of the embroidered pouch at Zong Zheng Ying’s waist. Consort De…Ultimately, Yuancheng Emperor remembered the past affections and the bond of blood. Looking at Zong Zheng Ying once again – she had already lost her backing in the Inner Palace and with her marriage in disarray, one could only imagine what her future held.

“Let it be.” Yuancheng Emperor waved his hand and ordered Gu Chang De to help her up. “Return to the princess residence and remain under house arrest. You shall never come out again without pardon.” Let her be quietly confined there. When they find that disgraceful thing, Yang Guo Kang, and lock the two of them together, her days will certainly improve.

“Imperial Father!” Zong Zheng Ying was shocked. How did things get so serious? She merely went to the Shuxiang House – at most, she might have stirred up some bigger trouble and lost the face of the imperial family. How did it come to be that she was confined?

“If you say another word, you’ll be sent to Fahua Temple to chant scriptures and live by a vegetarian diet.”

Zong Zheng Ying’s wailing suddenly ceased, and in a dazed state, she was led out by Gu Chang De. She didn’t even know when the long whip at her waist fell to the ground as she staggered along, her cheeks soaked with tears.

Gu Chang De shook his head and sighed, ordering a little eunuch to pick up the horsewhip before seeing her off all the way.

The Fourth Princess had absolutely no sense of proportion. She actually brought up the one matter Yuancheng Emperor held as utterly off-limits, something he secretly considered a disgrace, to oppose him. How could His Majesty not be furious? Fortunately, his anger was but temporary; once it subsided and the Empress Dowager stepped in with a few conciliatory words, the Fourth Princess might not be doomed to confinement in the princess’s residence.

“Summon Zong Zheng Han to the study to see Zhen.”

Yuancheng Emperor’s anger had not yet cooled, and he was so enraged by the exceptionally magnificent report presented by his secret guards that he immediately left the warm room and headed straight to the Imperial Study.

Afterward, the Eighth Prince arrived in haste and entered the study, but in just a moment, the Emperor’s furious admonishments could be heard from within. The attending eunuch waiting outside the door was sweating profusely, hoping that Eunuch Gu would return soon. His Majesty’s fury was running high and he found himself at a loss as to how to serve him well. Only with a dependable backbone could he truly feel at ease.

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