Chapter 54: Bad news comes in threes 2 (1/2)
Imperial palace
”Your highness, Master Shi and the first master has been arrested!”
”WHAT!!” Imperial Consort Shi slapped her hands on the chaise and sat forward. ”What happened! How can a normal court session end like this!”
The little eunuch didn't respond he kowtowed, hurrying his head between his hands. He was familiar with the Imperial consort's temper and didn't want to be here anymore. Imperial Consort Shi never understood the saying of don't shoot the messenger, he silently prayed that the ground would open and swallow him.
Working for the royal family was risky, especially when you worked with a consort as deadly as Imperial consort Shi. One wrong mood could end with your death, the little eunuch shivered while praying silently.
Meanwhile, the imperial consort kicked the maid massaging her feet away with force and stood. She called her court lady ”court Lady Yang please find out what is going on”.
Her court lady a slightly plump lady, a few years older than her bowed ”Yes” and walked to the door. She was nearly at the door when the door was pushed open and the sixth Prince rushed in.
”Mother! We have a problem” he said walking briskly to her side.
”Xiao Cheng? What happened at court today? Why am I hearing that your grandfather and uncle were arrested?”
”That is only the half of it mother, father Emperor has ordered that the Shi family assets be seized”
”Seized? On what grounds?” Imperial Consort Shi said eyes bulging. Zhongshan Cheng glanced at the kneeling winch and the maids briefly, imperial consort Shi immediately got the hint. She dismissed everyone, when they were all gone she cleared her throat.
Zhongshan Cheng moved closer and said in hushed tones ”Our dealings with the foreign opium ring has been discovered. Father Emperor is investigating the Shi family”.
Imperial Consort Shi grabbed his arm tightly ”what! How did he find out”.
”Minister Yao found out about the secret deal”
Imperial Consort Shi fell on her seat and rested her head on her hands ”What? Oh no! How bad is it?”
”Minister Zhu looked into it and the evidence is damning”
”We can't let him discover about our involvement” Imperial consort Shi hissed. She held her head up, tapping the arm of the chaise thoughtfully. ”We can't let this implicate you, we could lose everything if it is discovered”.
”I asked around mother and the men reported seeing someone that matched Lu Yaozhu's description around the stall a few weeks ago. I suspect that the Lu family was involved in this”