Li Hong Yuan neither quickly nor slowly knelt down, “If imperial father is still angry, then go ahead and kick now. Even if kicked to death, this son won’t budge.” This wasn’t admitting to his mistakes, and further wasn’t justifying himself. This was clearly just pouring oil on the fire.
Le Cheng Emperor unconsciously lifted his foot, but seemingly thought of something, and held back. Just his expression was even more ugly than before, loudly grinding his teeth, “This bastard, bastard, still not willing to admit to your mistake, huh?”
“Imperial father, it’s nothing more than just teasing a woman, is there a need for you to be this angry? This son thought you were long used to this.”
“Merely teasing a woman? That’s this old man’s woman, your shu mother!” Le Cheng Emperor angrily roared.
It was unknown whether or not Le Cheng Emperor really was confused from anger, or that towards the things Li Hong Yuan did, he’d long been too lazy to cover up. Besides, the people that should know all already knew. He didn’t have the intention to disperse the crowd, and even bluntly stated the problem.
Since even he didn’t care, then Li Hong Yuan was further indifferent. “If she really had a bit of self-awareness as a shu mother, then when seeing this son, she should have automatically avoided, and not directly come towards this son, even bashfully and amusingly greeting this son. Such obvious intentions of wanting ‘to lean over the garden wall’[1], if this son didn’t grant her wish once, wouldn’t it be disappointing the beauty’s favor? Besides, this son only moved one’s mouth, and didn’t touch a single hair on her. Merely just a few words effort, and she’s already desperately throwing a tantrum, like as if under the public eye, this son would do something to her.”
Le Cheng Emperor’s complexion was practically about to become black. Whether it was his son hitting on his consort of his own accord, or his consort seducing his son first, these were two completely different scenarios, and the latter was more infuriating than the former.
Even if he’s continuously maintained himself appropriately, he was still someone who was elderly in years after all. Regardless whether it was his outer appearance or his stamina, they all appear to be going downhill. His son was young and vigorous, and even had a good face that not many woman could refuse. Even if he was the Emperor, and could have anything he wanted, sometimes he still couldn’t help getting jealous. His woman, because he wasn’t good enough, eyed his son? Such shame and humiliation!
Le Cheng Emperor, like a vicious beast nearing death, turned his head and fixedly stared at that disheveled consort. This was practically like she’d just been caught having an affair on bed. Le Cheng Emperor’s gaze exposed an ominous glint, as if in the next moment, he will pounce on her and bite her to death.
That woman directly trembled in fear, “Your Majesty, your Majesty, it’s not like that, not like that. Please believe this concubine, it’s Jin Qinwang……”
“Imperial father’s harem has as many beauties as the clouds. This son also has quite a few beauties in other residences. Setting aside status, purely comparing appearances, this son’s beauties seem to be better. To this son, they’re all nothing more than playthings, who would still care about their status.” Li Hong Yuan nonchalantly said, then faintly glanced at that consort, “With just this appearance, this figure, and this inferior bearing, still hasn’t reached the point for this son to voluntarily take fancy to. This son instead very much suspects whether or not someone is deliberately trying to scheme against this son. Asking imperial father to distinguish right from wrong, and seek justice for this son.”
Just look at what he’s saying?! He couldn’t even take fancy to? Then, he as the father, having continuously pampered this woman for a few months, promoting her status again and again, wouldn’t he just be blind and tasteless? Le Cheng Emperor’s chest rapidly moved up and down, however probably due to being angered by Li Hong Yuan once every three to five days, though angry, he still appeared full of energy, not exposing the slightest ailments.
“Imperial Concubine Li will be demoted to the lowest rank of gengyi[2], thrown to the cold palace[3], and never allowed to come back. Take her down.”
“Your Majesty, your Majesty, don’t ah, your Majesty, it’s not like that. You can’t treat….wu wu wu…..”
Imperial Concubine Li, who was struggling to crawl forward, was grabbed by the inner court attendants[4], and afterwards directly had her mouth stuffed, so as to avoid startling his Majesty, and dragged away. Those palace servants that originally served her, all huddled together like quails, fearing that his Majesty might take his anger out on them. They weren’t as ‘lucky’ as to enter the cold palace, the highest possibility was to directly be beaten to death by the rod. They hated that they couldn’t find a crack to squeeze into.
Imperial Concubine Li’s ending, on the contrary, wasn’t that unexpected. Even if the blame wasn’t on her, for matters to have gotten to this point, she can’t continue to be endlessly favored. And in these few months, Imperial Concubine Li has relied on his Majesty’s favor and has no less looked down on the other consorts. Even when facing the Empress and Noble Consort Su, women who held the most power and influence in the inner palace, she still dared to take them lightly. The Empress and the others all knew that she won’t have a good end, so they simply didn’t bother with her. The rest instead stomped their feet in anger. But now, she was suddenly stepped into the mud. At the same time everyone clapped their hands in satisfaction, they also felt strangely sorrowful. What kind of person Le Cheng Emperor was, they were all very clear. All say that an Emperor was heartless; this bit, he embodied completely. Just, only a small number of people knew that he’d once had feelings. But following that woman’s death, his feelings were also buried.
What everyone was more interested in was how Le Cheng Emperor was going to punish Li Hong Yuan. This person was truly too hateful. Even if they’d never had any conflict with him before, they still hated his arrogant and domineering conduct, doing whatever he pleased, so naturally they wouldn’t wish for him to be well.
“Emperor, even if in this matter, Imperial Concubine Li was at fault first, but for Jin Qinwang to go with the flow and take liberties with Imperial Concubine Li like that, it is still disgraceful. Even in ordinary families, there’s no reasoning for a son to take liberties with his father’s concubine. That goes against ethics, and social morals. By etiquette and by law, he should be severely punished.” An imperial concubine passed over the Empress and four consorts and spoke first. She spoke about great morals, but the hatred in her gaze towards Li Hong Yuan was simply too obvious.
Noble Consort Su turned her head to cast her a glance. She knew why this woman hated Yuan’er. When Yuan’er was seven, he’d accidentally bumped into her and made her miscarry the already formed male fetus in her stomach, further leading to her damaging her body, no longer able to get pregnant. For her to have been able to live smoothly till now, aside from the Emperor compensating her by promoting her to the position of imperial concubine, there was also the fact that she herself wasn’t a threat. Who would’ve thought that someone, who’s been silent the whole time, has held a grudge till now, and even wanted to use this opportunity to take revenge.
Li Hong Yuan also lifted his head to glance at that imperial concubine, yet he didn’t have any impression of her. He had offended and sorted out too many people, where did he have the thought to remember them one by one. Retracting his gaze, he nonchalantly spoke, “When it comes to beauties, it’s still those that are a bit older that are more interesting.”
That imperial concubine that spoke immediately went pale and tightly wrung her handkerchief. No matter how much she hated him inside, she still didn’t dare to speak again.
Li Hong Yuan was someone who was not stint with saying offensive things. With Imperial Concubine Li as an example in front, for him to say something like this now, that was a complete threat. He was someone who feared nothing in heaven or earth, and was capable of doing anything. But it wasn’t the same for other people, especially these women of the imperial harem. If their reputation were to suffer in the slightest, a light punishment would be getting sent to the cold palace, a heavy punishment would be death. Furthermore, he wasn’t a fool. There was no need for him to take care of it personally. Finding any random guard, or even inner court attendant, it was all too easy to destroy them. According to his Majesty’s endless tolerance towards him, no matter how he’s punished, it was still unlikely for his Majesty to take his life. As for anyone related, those that can be killed, killed and those that can’t, his Majesty would still force order them to shut their mouths. Since it was like such, who would still dare to forcibly fight to the death with this living Enma?
All say there’s only getting wrongly named, but never a wrongly called nickname. Living Enma was truly a living Enma!
“Yuan’er, still saying nonsense, shut up.” Noble Consort Su sternly berated him, but those eyes were full of worry.
From beginning to end, Li Hong Yuan was not the least bit concerned, but because of her words, his gaze rather softened a bit, and the sharp aura around him also lessened quite a bit. In fact, he no longer felt that arrogant and unrepentant anymore. He even obediently shut his mouth, no longer saying anything.
Noble Consort Su seemed to let out a breath in relief. “Emperor, Yuan’er has grown up by this consort’s side since young. Like Ming’er and Min Xiang, they’re all the flesh of this consort’s heart. Regardless whether they’re good or not, this bit can’t be easily changed. If they’re outstanding, then this consort is naturally happy, but if they do something wrong, then this consort is also partially responsible. Towards their punishment, this consort naturally also needs to bear half of it. This consort begs your Majesty to have mercy and be lenient.”
Le Cheng Emperor’s expression eased, “You ah, what to say about you, you’ve always blindly indulged him, that’s why he’s become increasingly undisciplined and out of control. When he was young, you could still ruthlessly discipline him, but after he grew up, never seen you say one harsh word to him before.”
“That’s not the same. Being strict to children can correct their bad habits, but now…..it’s not like this consort can just watch them suffer hardship. Isn’t that like cutting into this consort’s heart? Probably, it’s also because this consort doesn’t know how to educate children, all three of them, not a single one made me not worry.” Speaking to here, Noble Consort Su was very helpless.
“Beloved consort, these words are certainly wrong. How you raise children, this Emperor has taken all of it to heart. This bastard’s current conduct isn’t your fault. It’s not like this Emperor doesn’t know that his inherent nature is violent and irritable. The effort you’ve spend on him is even more than on old three and Min Xiang. As for Min Xiang, she occasionally is somewhat temperamental, but this Emperor also sees it being cute and lovable. Even ordinary families all wish for their daughters to be raised pampered, let alone our imperial family’s princess. And there’s further no need to mention old three, towards him, this Emperor is very satisfied.”
“Before Ming’er started working for the court, he was quite mediocre. For him to be able to let Emperor be satisfied with him now, that is because your Majesty has taught him well.”
Hearing this, Le Cheng Emperor was greatly pleased and laughed out loud, where did he still have that angry look from before.
This harmonious and warm look of theirs made who knows how many people secretly grit their teeth. Especially Le Cheng Emperor’s words ‘this Emperor is very satisfied towards him’, was this just saying, or was there another meaning to it?
“Your Majesty, then Yuan’er…..”
With Li Hong Yuan’s threat placed there, even the Empress had some misgivings. She wasn’t afraid that he would do anything to herself, no matter how insolent Li Hong Yuan was, he still wouldn’t do something that stupid. She was only afraid he would use other methods, and take his anger out on her son, disregarding the consequences. He’d already easily messed up her son and niece’s marriage, so the Empress didn’t dare to underestimate his destructive abilities in the slightest.
“According to beloved consort, how should this bastard be dealt with?”
“Emperor, in a few days it’s…..how about letting Yuan’er stay at White Dragon Temple for a few days. Fast on some vegetarian food, then let the martial art monks watch him, and properly have him curb his tendencies. It’ll be punishing a little to prevent a lot. What does Emperor think?”
Le Cheng Emperor’s expression slightly changed, then instantly returned to normal, “Just do as beloved consort says.”
[1] The full idiom is ‘the red apricot tree leans over the garden wall’; a metaphor for a wife having an illicit affair, this is specifically only applied to women, since in this time period men don’t ‘cheat’.
[2] Lowest rank of imperial concubine; see my historical notes for more detail
[3] Cold Palace – Place where unfavored and disgraced imperial wives go.
[4] Inner Court Attendants – another way of referring to eunuchs
T/N: Noble Consort Su is probably one of the smartest characters in the novel, especially at how good she is in leading the Emperor by the nose.
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