zChapter 1046 - A Person Who Suddenly Disappeared (2/2)
“Older sister.” Zirui poked her elbow from beside her, asking softly: “Can Zirui follow you out of the palace today?”
Feng Yuheng looked at Zirui, sighing faintly, “These days, our Zirui had a hard time.”
Zirui shook his head, “It’s not hard, if I do not experience these, how can I understand that the palace was just like the Feng Manor in the past, a dragon’s lair? Of course, this place is a hundred times more dangerous than Feng Manor, if older sister requires it, Zirui can continue to stay, it’s not a problem.”
Feng Yuheng patted this child’s head while feeling exasperated, telling him: “Older sister had never needed our Zirui to face any dangers, leaving you in the palace was something I could not change. You have grown up, you should participate in these things. As you have seen today, the current palace, and the current Emperor, is completely different from before. Our side needs to investigate the reason as well as thinking of ways to correct the mistakes. Of course, if it truly cannot be done, there is a need to learn how to protect ourselves in this situation. Don’t worry, older sister will do all I can to bring you out, if it truly cannot be done, then tomorrow. Either way, this palace, older sister will not have you stay any longer.”
On this side, Feng Yuheng was consoling her younger brother. On the other side, the ministers started to congratulate the Eighth Prince, the concubines, noble ladies and women started to gather around Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui, saying some congratulatory words. After all, this imperial banquet was pretty much organised for the Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui’s sake, the biggest winners tonight were the Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui mother and son pair. People could tell, this Da Shun would be under the rule of this mother and son in the future.
The concubines and noble ladies in the palace were split into a few groups, the biggest one were of course close to the Eighth Prince’s group. After all, there were more people who have never given birth to a dragon child. And those who had princes, they would choose to be neutral or be like Imperial Concubine Gu Xian and Imperial Concubine Shi De, simply choosing to sway towards the Ninth Prince. But one person was more special, that would be Imperial Concubine Li.
At this time, Imperial Concubine Li was currently at her seat, quiet and deep in thought. Both her hands were placed on top of each other, her right hand on top of the bracelet worn on her left wrist.
That bracelet was given to her by Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui, it was what her Grandmother left behind when she was still at her family home, so she was always sentimental about it. Ever since the bracelet was given to her, she had always worn it, feeling that when she wore it on her wrist, it was as if she had gone back to the days when she was still being cared for by her Grandmother back in her family home. It was an intimate feeling. Therefore, she was grateful to Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui, at least she had given her a nostalgic item, even in this event today, she was really hoping her own son the Sixth Prince could inherit the rule, but when she heard the promise by the Emperor to Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui and the Eighth Prince, she did not feel much resentment. Other than slight feelings of jealously, her emotions were considered rather stable.
It was just that Imperial Concubine Li had a matter that she was hiding deeply in her heart, not daring to say it, but keeping it in was worrying, even frightening. It was a matter before Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui gained power. At that time, the Eighth Prince was sent to the condemned cell and her position was just restored. For a while, the palace staff, concubines and noble ladies could not guess what the Emperor’s intentions were and were afraid that offending her would anger the Emperor again, so Imperial Concubine Li had some influence in the imperial harem.
She made use of that period of time to secretly transport someone from outside the palace. That person as someone she had made contact with while in her family home when she was still very young, it was the son of a Gu Master whom the Liu family had good relations with. At that time, the Gu Master had received help from the Liu family, so their relations over the years were considered rather good. She had met that Gu Master’s son a few times, and the principles of poking the straw doll and conducting funeral for the living was learned during that time. It was a pity that she only had a partial understanding and it was not that effective.
During that time, she felt the Eighth Prince was at his end, and the only person left who could contest her son for the throne was the Ninth Prince, so she remembered that Gu Master’s son and did everything she could to bring that person into the palace, wanting to ask him to help her. But that person did enter the palace, but did not come to Chang Ning Palace, actually disappearing on the way at had not showed up until now. Imperial Concubine Li thought hard about it but did not understand why and this matter and this person drove a thorn into her heart.
After that, the Emperor had a huge change in temperament, released Old Eighth and restored Yuan Shu’s position, causing her to make a guess. That person must have been stolen by Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui on the way and made use of the Gu techniques he had learned from his father since he was young to control the Emperor, causing the current situation.
Imperial Concubine Li felt that her guess was likely to be correct, because the Emperor’s situation resembled being inflicted by a Gu too much, only Gu techniques can control a person to this point. Thinking about it again, the reason why she had the idea of looking for that person and bringing him into the palace to help her was because Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui mentioned this topic in private, causing her to have such thoughts.
Imperial Concubine Li was more and more certain that the person was stolen by Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui, but the troubling part was that she did not have evidence. In addition, with Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui’s influence enveloping the imperial harem, if she still wanted to investigate, it would be more difficult. A knot formed on Imperial Concubine Li’s brow, continuously thinking that if Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui successfully pushed the Eighth Prince upwards, then, which direction should her Feng-er go? The Eighth Prince who had rose in position, would he treat her Feng-er nicely? Should she continue to think of ways to help her son, or quickly improve the sisterly bond with Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui to pave a way for Feng-er’s future?
Imperial Concubine Li was troubled and Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui’s gaze stealthily shifted in her direction, but it fell on that bracelet between her wrists. Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui smiled slightly, it was an arrogant and noble smile, regardless of what happens, an escape route needs to be left open. If someone did investigate Gu techniques, then she would just push Imperial Concubine Li out. In the end, there will be someone to take the blame for her.