Chapter 1217 - 893: I Originally Only Regarded You as a Rival
Shang Ruyi was slightly startled, but quickly replaced it with a calm smile mask, saying with a smile, "The Crown Princess Consort is certainly not foolish."
"... ..."
"But smart people need to consider their gains and losses."
"Indeed, but gains and losses also differ in scale,"
Yu Mingyue said with a sarcastic smile, "Do you think I don’t know what you’re plotting? Let me give up the watermelon for the sesame. Do I look like that kind of person?"
Shang Ruyi smiled, shaking her head, "The Crown Princess Consort certainly doesn’t seem like someone who would give up watermelon for sesame seeds. But—"
"But what?"
"But if you hold the watermelon and take a big fall, both the watermelon and yourself are shattered, then what to do?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Mingyue’s complexion darkened, as if she had thought of something, but before she could think more, Shang Ruyi continued, "Instead, it might be better to hold onto a sesame seed and walk steadily, who knows if there will be a bigger watermelon down the road?"
Yu Mingyue continued to look at her coldly, but her gaze flickered slightly.
As she said, she is not foolish; Shang Ruyi has already written the intention of plotting the Hot Spring Palace case all over her face and placed it in her words. Even if she listens, she cannot trust, the vigilance in her full face and eyes adds coldness to her bright face.
She said coldly, "No matter how well you speak, it’s useless, I don’t trust you."
"That’s a pity then,"
Shang Ruyi sighed faintly and said, "I originally considered you my opponent, that Lou Liangdi is merely a Crown Prince Consort, she is Gold Jade Yard’s opponent. If one day you truly swap places with her—"
Upon hearing this, Yu Mingyue’s face turned even gloomier.
"What then?"
"I won’t regret for you, I’ll only feel worthless for myself."
"... ..."
"After all,"
At this point, Shang Ruyi turned her head to glance at Bai Fu Hall not far away, and a disdainful look was evident in her eyes, then she said coldly, "After all, she isn’t worthy to be my opponent."
Just as she finished speaking, a gust of cold wind blew, and the nurse standing not far behind her suddenly sneezed loudly.
Shang Ruyi immediately frowned and stopped talking to Yu Mingyue, walked over to her, with a somewhat unpleasant expression asked, "What’s the matter?"
The nurse quickly smiled apologetically, "The servant was not careful, just got a bit chilled."
"Then hurry back, if you catch a cold, Yuanyuan won’t be well settled."
"Yes."
Thus, the group turned back toward Qianqiu Palace.
Although they had already gone far, Yu Mingyue still stood in place, only until she saw Shang Ruyi’s back disappear ahead did she lift her foot to continue forward, yet even after leaving the Imperial Palace and sitting in the carriage going a long way, the shadow in her eyes did not dissipate.
Shang Ruyi’s words indeed were plotting against her, this she knew very well.
But that plotting is also what has been haunting her heart like a nightmare these days?
Though she’s married to Yu Wenqian and sat on the position of Crown Princess Consort, she climbed higher and walked more splendidly than the women in the books she read in the past, it counts as the fulfillment of her wish for "this life," yet even so, Yu Mingyue only had joyful moments in those few days after her wedding, after that, her days have hardly been relaxing.
To contend intellectually against King Qin and Princess Qin is one matter.
But to compete against the women around the Crown Prince is another matter.
Fortunately, Yu Wenquan only bestowed Yu Wenqian two Crown Prince Consorts, one being Ruan Suhe who although from a noble family and beautifully adorned, because her father holds a humble post and her own gentle nature, timid and afraid of trouble, she does not usually participate in their matters, thus she poses no threat, but this Lou Chan Yue indeed is the biggest thorn in her eyes.
She brings more unrest than the anger Shang Ruyi once caused her.
What makes her more uneasy is that Yu Wenquan’s attitude towards her has always been somewhat lukewarm; he admires her talent yet dislikes her disposition, which is the root of Yu Mingyue’s fear. She knows better than anyone where her "talent" comes from, so now she feels like living in a house built on ice, unsure when the snow and ice will melt and her position won’t be secure.
With Lou Chan Yue and her father vying for merit and wealth in front of the Crown Prince, does she still have a future?
Thinking of this, Yu Mingyue placed her hand on her knee, clutching the hem of her dress tightly into a ball, firmly said to the coachman outside, "Don’t go back to the Crown Princess Mansion, head to Yu Mansion first."
The coachman outside immediately answered, flicked the whip, and the carriage turned toward Duke Wushan’s residence.
Not long after, the carriage stopped outside the Yu Mansion.
Without revealing any news, the sudden return of the Crown Princess Consort startled everyone in the mansion. In a rush, they came out to welcome her, kneeling along both sides of the road. Yu Mingyue couldn’t be bothered to look at them, and walked straight in, almost barging in. She saw a tall figure emerging from the backyard, a figure as imposing as his steps were increasingly heavy, even weak. With one hand clutching his face, the dark color from the intense pain was evident even through the thick palm, clearly entering Ming Yue’s view.
It was none other than Duke Wushan Yu Dingxing, who lost an eye in the battle at Longmen Crossing.
Some days ago, when he followed Yu Wenquan to Hot Spring Palace for recuperation, the warm climate made him feel a bit comfortable. However, upon returning to Chang An, the wind and snow immediately caused his old wound to relapse, as if there was an invisible arrow still drilling into his eye socket, often keeping him awake with pain throughout the night. Even during the day, he had to bear the pain with all his strength to walk and work.
At this time, hearing the Crown Princess Consort suddenly returned, he could only greet her through gritted teeth: "This old servant pays homage—"
"Enough,"
Yu Mingyue, without a pleasant expression, just waved her hand: "Father is wounded, no need for formalities."
Yu Dingxing bit his teeth, and with raw strength, stood up from his knees.
Yu Mingyue walked into the hall, sat directly at the head, and without letting him sit, she said: "Father may not know, but in a few days it’s New Year’s Eve. His Majesty the Emperor wants to host a family feast in Bai Fu Hall."
Yu Dingxing supported himself by the table, slowly made his way to sit beside it, and bitterly said: "How could this old servant know about matters in the palace?"
Yu Mingyue coldly retorted: "Then daughter tells you today, now you know?"
"Naturally, His Majesty the Emperor’s family feast wouldn’t include this old servant."
"Indeed, it doesn’t include you, but the one arranging this family feast is that wretched Lou Chan Yue. Doesn’t this matter concern you, Father?"
Hearing this, Yu Dingxing furrowed his eyebrows slightly. Having been in officialdom for many years, though the study of office politics differs from internal affairs and the harem, they are interconnected in success or failure. Besides, hearing Yu Mingyue’s angry tone, he immediately understood what this increasingly uncontrollable daughter of his was worried about.
He gravely said: "The Lou family’s father and daughter accomplished great deeds this time at Hot Spring Palace, naturally, His Majesty will—"
"What kind of deeds?"
Yu Mingyue, increasingly annoyed, slammed her palm heavily on the table, causing the teacup just served by the maid to quiver. The maid, fearing trouble, hurriedly retreated outside.
Yu Mingyue gritted her teeth: "It’s all just a performance to begin with."
Hearing this, Yu Dingxing, who was covering his eyes and almost didn’t want to listen to her complaints due to his pain, suddenly changed his expression. He hastily turned to look, and thankfully the maid had already hurriedly retreated, presumably not hearing her words. Therefore, he whispered: "You—Crown Princess Consort, be cautious with your words, how can you say such things?"
Yu Mingyue frowned and glanced outside, then waved her hand: "All of you, leave. No one is allowed to come in!"
The palace maid and household servants standing outside the hall, upon hearing this, quickly moved further away. Even if a noise erupts inside, it would be hard to overhear at such a distance.
Only then did Yu Dingxing lower his voice, saying: "Crown Princess Consort, you are now the Crown Princess Consort, speak and act with more caution. If this matter is really discovered, it would be the death penalty for the whole clan!"
Yu Mingyue frowned slightly.
She knew she lost composure earlier due to anger but still coldly responded: "I understand."
"..."
"But the immediate problem is that wretched Lou Chan Yue, using the incident with the assassin to constantly flatter and ingratiate herself before the Emperor; and Lou Yingxiong, up till now, hasn’t captured a single person from Wanggang Village, only detained one clueless old man and an Imperial Doctor, what merit is there? On what grounds can they put on a show of accomplishment before the Emperor?"
"..."
"To think she actually believes she is the Crown Prince Consort just because she’s organizing the family feast in Bai Fu Hall!"
Yu Dingxing exhaled deeply, saying: "But this matter can only have them reap this benefit. Had I not been wounded at Longmen Crossing, it wouldn’t even have come to Lou Yingxiong handling the matter at Hot Spring Palace—"
Saying this, his face turned ashen, teeth clenched tightly, almost blood seeping from his hollow eye socket.
Yu Mingyue said: "Let them reap benefits, but when capturing Jiang Xian, Lou Yingxiong even took the opportunity to tarnish your reputation before the Emperor, claiming that when the plague broke out seeking patients outside the city, those rebels slipped away under your nose."
Yu Dingxing furrowed his brows tightly.
At this time, Yu Mingyue took a deep breath, as if finally making up her mind, leaning forward and whispering to him: "Father, I cannot let the Lou family’s father and daughter climb over us. This case cannot let them take the credit!"
Yu Dingxing said: "But now people are caught, and the case is being tried. To whom can the credit belong?"
Yu Mingyue said: "I’ve thought it through, actually, now that the plot by Wanggang Village rebels to harm the Emperor is established, and Pei Xingyuan’s collusion with them is confirmed, these two charges are sufficient, enough to drag King Qin down as well. Further investigation would truly be handing Lou Yingxiong the credit."
Yu Dingxing was stunned: "What, do you mean?"
Yu Mingyue’s eyes flashed a glimmer, her body leaning even more forward, as father and daughter huddled together. In a whisper soft as a mosquito, she said: "We have to find a way to ensure this case doesn’t reach its conclusion!"