Chapter 272: Chapter 270: Malicious Intent

Pei Muyang carefully observed He Ying’s complexion as he mustered the courage to get up and quietly waited to one side.

No one spoke.

The Imperial Study was eerily silent.

He Ying drank some tea and placed the teacup on the desk.

His fingers toyed with the White Jade Ring on his thumb, and after a long while, he finally spoke, “The trend of lavish dining is prevalent in the Imperial Palace, and these are matters of the harem. Since Ah Yan is the Master of the Harem, let her make the decision on this matter.”

Pei Muyang was startled and then realized: the Emperor was planning to let the Empress establish her authority. The royal wedding had not yet taken place, and he was so eager to grant the authority over the harem to the Empress, an unprecedented move in the history of Da He!

“This servant understands. This servant will go and inform the Empress right away.”

He bowed and was about to leave.

“Wait–”

Seeing this, He Ying added a few words, “And don’t let her get tired. She has a kind heart, just ask her opinion, and you can handle the rest. Those bloody affairs, don’t let her see or hear about them.”

Pei Muyang: “…”

He was asking her to handle it, yet he was afraid that she would stain her hands with blood and ruin her mood.

Such boundless favoritism!

Well, good.

A happy master meant good days for them servants.

“Yes, this servant understands.”

Pei Muyang backed out of the Imperial Study.

Just as he stepped out of the palace gates, he saw a woman shivering with cold next to a stone pillar not far away.

It was Xiangxiu!

He looked left and right, saw no unfamiliar faces paying attention to this area, and then pulled Xiangxiu inside.

“Emperor, Miss Xiangxiu has come.”

After Pei Muyang reported this, he bowed and withdrew.

He had urgent matters to attend to!

When Xiangxiu saw Pei Muyang leave, she glanced at the silent and majestic Emperor sitting at the head, her knees gave way, and she knelt on the ground, knocking her head and crying, “Emperor, please save this servant’s life.”

She didn’t want to die.

Even being banished from the Imperial Palace was a hundred times better than the Clothing Bureau.

Steady footsteps approached.

Each step seemed to press against Xiangxiu’s heart.

Soon, a pair of embroidered boots with a design of a dragon amidst clouds appeared in front of Xiangxiu.

He Ying looked down from his high position at the woman trembling on the ground and asked in a deep voice, “What exactly is the plan in Yuesang Palace?”

Xiangxiu bowed even lower, without a moment’s hesitation, and spilled everything about Yuesang Palace, “Princess Consort Sang envies the Empress for receiving Your Majesty’s favor and intended to have this servant leave the palace under the guise of visiting relatives, to find out what happened to the Empress after she left the palace. This servant, this servant–”

She choked up, thinking of her stupid actions–she had even tried to persuade Sang Ruoshui.

She really was a fool.

Rage burned in her chest.

She fiercely wiped away her tears and continued, “Thinking of the bond between master and servant, this servant advised Princess Consort Sang to keep to her place. But Princess Consort Sang thought this servant was disloyal and grew to hate this servant, so she had Xiang Ying plant a jade hairpin under this servant’s pillow as a pretext to send this servant to the Clothing Bureau, and had Mr. Zhang… wu wu… had him humiliate this servant…”

She felt regret and hatred: if she had known, on that night, she would have told the Emperor all of Sang Ruoshui’s malicious deeds.

He Ying, after hearing everything, had a dark gaze and an icy tone, “She really knows how to put on a play.”

That night in Qingning Palace, she had appeared so pitiable and innocent; he had not expected she harbored such sinister intentions!

The Empress was stranded among the commoners, whatever happened there would cause speculation among those with ulterior motives, let alone that Ah Yan’s reputation was not good to begin with, the outcry from the public had never ceased, and the ministers were just waiting to catch her missteps…

“Knowing that Sang Ruoshui harbors malicious intent against the Empress, why did you only come to report it now?”

He Ying frowned, dissatisfied with Xiangxiu’s hesitation.

Having sworn allegiance to him, she should show utmost loyalty, not dawdle like a reed swaying in the wind.

Xiangxiu’s face was full of shame, “Princess Consort Sang just mentioned it to this servant, and this servant didn’t know what she really wanted to do, and besides… this servant still has a mother outside the palace… But Princess Consort Sang was truly too oppressive, if not for the Empress’s kindness in dealing with Mr. Zhang, this servant would have thrown herself into a well today!”

He Ying’s mood lifted a bit upon hearing the praise for Sang Yan.

His slight discontent with Xiangxiu also dissipated quite a bit.

“You still have some sense, for not continuing to hide the truth for her.”

He Ying, with his hands behind his back, walked back to the dragon throne and sat down, “The Empress saved your life, which is your fortune and means your life was not yet meant to end. In consideration of the Empress’s face, I’ll give you two choices: stay in the palace and I’ll assign you to a better position, or you may leave the palace. You choose.”