Chapter 452 - The Curious Incident and the Schemes of the He Family (1/2)

“Rui’er, why did you go past the gold and jade shop when you came to the Ding General Manor. I remember that you usually don’t come here from that street.” Feng Yuxuan recalled what he asked the driver earlier. He clapped his fan against his palm and asked the question thoughtfully.

Even though the street that led past the gold and jade shop was a major road in the capital it was not necessary for Ling Rui’er to take that road to the Ding General Manor. There was a path, though smaller, that was a shorter distance to the Ding General Manor. No matter in the past for Ling Fengyan, or right now, for Ling Rui’er, they would both take that road to the Ding General Manor from the King’s Manor.

And the smaller path did not go by the gold and jade shop.

This reminded the Ling brothers and they immediately looked at Ling Rui’er.

Ling Rui’er was speechless at the attention and she sweated slightly. She thought for a moment and then immediately pointed at Xiangyun and said, “Xiangyun said that that road was bigger and there were more shops. We would be able to see if there’s anything to buy if we took that road. We left the King’s Manor in a hurry and did not bring anything for Third Brother.”

Even though Ling Yang was Ling Hai’s eldest son, he was the third child in the Ding General Manor.

Ling Rui’er wanted to s.h.i.+rk her responsibilities and could not be bothered to help her maid. When she said that, Xiangyun’s legs collapsed and she knelt on the ground forcefully.

“Xiangyun, what do you have to say?” Feng Yuxuan turned to look at Xiangyun, who was trembling on the floor. His eyes held a hint of coldness in them.

“Your Highness, I did not. We left in a hurry today and the Duke’s Manor was rus.h.i.+ng us. On our way here, we realized that we didn’t bring anything for Third Young Master. That was why I persuaded My Lady to take the major road to see if there’s anything she’d want to buy.” Xiangyun did not dare to conceal anything at all as she replied, explaining everything honestly while she trembled.

“Elder Brother, did you send someone to get Rui’er?” Ling Hai turned around to question Duke Ding, feeling that something was amiss.

“Why would I? Even if I wanted to ask Rui’er to come, I would have asked you first. Did Sister-in-law send for Rui’er?” Duke Ding said suspiciously, wearing a frown on his face.

Rui’er’s mother had cried many times recently because of what happened to Ling Yang. She had even once said that she would find Ling Rui’er to help avenge Ling Yang. Did she send someone for Ling Rui’er?

“It is not Rui’er’s mother. She went to take care of Yang’er yesterday and only slept early this morning. She is still asleep now.” Ling Hai said with certainty.

Feng Yuxuan’s expression changed. Duke Ding also reacted. He stood up hurriedly and said, “Someone, capture the servant who brought the Consort home!”

The Ding General Manor was in a hurry to find clues and swore to find out who was behind all of that. In the end, all the evidence pointed towards someone in the palace. That meant that it was either the Empress Dowager or the Empress who was behind this. The Ling brothers were furious but they could only grit their teeth and could not do anything else. They could not investigate any further. No matter whether it was the Empress or the Empress Dowager who had done this, the Ding General Manor would be implicated in the end. Duke Ding was so depressed because of the matter that he wanted to vomit blood.

Their family was already related to the Empress and was one of the n.o.blest families other than the royal family. However, their daughters entered the palace and started fighting among themselves to a stalemate. Those from the Ding General Manor did not know what to do. However, the two women in the palace all had their schemes and plots and were both powerful. Those from the Ding General Manor were also in dissension and had their own ideas as well.

The Ding General Manor had no choice but to accept this loss.

The He family, meanwhile, were planning on how to send He Yufen into King Xuan’s Manor. What happened in the palace the other day had frightened those from the He family even until now. If what happened that day was really proven, then the two sisters of the He family would not be able to enter King Xuan’s Manor and would waste the He family’s efforts.

The He family had spent years picking He Yufen and He Yuxiu to enter the capital. They had made great efforts.

Senior Master He, Second Master He, and He Yufen were all sitting In the sitting room of the He Manor. He Yuxiu was in the back courtyard, preparing herself for her impending marriage.

“Consort Zhao wants us to hurry up. If Fen’er cannot marry into King Xuan’s Manor, our family will have nothing if King Xuan gains power in the future.” Senior Master He rubbed his forehead, looking very worried.

“Elder Brother, we can’t even enter the King’s Manor now. The last time Fen’er went, they said that the consort was ill and His Highness was not home. How can Fen’er enter the manor?” Second Master He had a headache as well. He had asked to meet Feng Yuran in the name of his uncle. However, Feng Yuran had not allowed him to enter the manor at all.

He Yufen lowered her head and did not speak. She just wrung her handkerchief in her hands. She secretly stole glances at the two older men of the He family. After all, she was a n.o.ble young lady and could not mention anything about her own marriage.

“Consort Zhao understands our difficulties. King Xuan’s temperament is so. We have not interacted with His Highness for more than ten years and don’t have much of a relations.h.i.+p with him. That’s why Consort Zhao wants us to act fast or we will lose out like we did in the past and not get any advantage out of this.”

He Hui felt that this was a very urgent matter. Consort Zhao already caused a rift between Consort Xuan and King Xuan. Consort Xuan and King Xuan were no longer of one heart even though they appeared to be on the surface. The men sent by Lian An had already heard that Consort Xuan and King Xuan fought a few days ago and she even returned to her family home.

No one knew what she said when she returned home. She did not eat anything and then went out to have tea instead. They did not know who she had tea with either. However, a sharp-eyed scout heard that the person behind the curtains was a man. Consort Xuan was meeting a man in secret behind King Xuan’s back. If this matter were revealed, they would be able to drag Consort Xuan down.

However, what was difficult was that Lian An did not have any evidence. Lian An was still sending men to watch Consort Xuan. When she met the man in private again, they would definitely bring King Xuan there so he could personally witness Consort Xuan having an affair. Coupled with the incident in which the consort added aphrodisiac in the tea…

Consort Xuan, who was said to be very much doted on, would be thoroughly screwed!

Even if she were not beaten to death on the spot by King Xuan, she would be dealt with secretly by the royal family. How could the glory of the royal family be besmirched by a woman?!

Speaking of which, He Hui did not expect that Consort Xuan would have an affair at such a young age. Anyway, this was a great opportunity for the He family. As long as they could drag Consort Xuan down from her place, He Yufen would have a great chance of becoming Consort Xuan with the support of Consort Zhao and given the fact that she was a cousin of King Xuan’s uncle’s family.