klisemfg Chapter 155 is utterly ridiculous!
Chapter 155 is utterly ridiculous!
Lin Shiming's face darkened considerably when he saw Yu Sheng, who was covered in sweat and gulping down water.
How did you know I was here?
Yu Sheng struggled to swallow the water and took two deep breaths, which barely managed to reduce the heat from the sun on his body.
"Your Highness. Someone from the palace came looking for you this morning. I couldn't find you in your room today, so I consulted the Crown Prince. After hearing my directions, the Crown Prince gave me directions and told me to come directly to the palace to find you."
have to.
No one knows a younger brother better than his elder brother.
Lin Shiming lost his temper.
Lu Yuxi, sitting on the other side, couldn't help but chuckle. Lin Shiming glared at him, but didn't say anything more.
He seemed to have lost all his strength in an instant, and he stopped cursing. He just ate some food absentmindedly while raising his eyelids to signal Yu Sheng to get straight to the point.
"Shortly after breakfast, someone came to the palace. It was Eunuch Zhao Lei from the Eastern Palace. Eunuch Zhao said that there was a commotion at the Sixth Prince's residence last night, and this morning, the Sixth Prince's wife came to the palace crying and begging the Empress to help her."
"But the Sixth Prince's Consort had just arrived at Fengyi Palace when she bumped into His Majesty, who had just finished the morning court session. His Majesty stopped her, saying that the Consort was recuperating in the palace and should not be disturbed. He told her to go directly to His Highness if she needed anything. The Sixth Prince's Consort then went to the East Palace, but she couldn't find you there."
"Eunuch Zhao explained that His Highness had urgent business and left the palace early this morning without waiting for the ceremonial procession to go to the Duke of Zhenguo's residence. That's why he slipped away first to go to the Duke of Zhenguo's residence to look for someone. Right now, the Sixth Prince's Consort is probably still waiting in the East Palace."
It's like whatever you say comes true. We just finished talking about the Sixth Prince this morning, and he showed up at our door at noon.
Lin Shiming and Lu Yuxi exchanged a glance, and instantly understood what was going on.
"Sixth Prince's Consort? Did she say anything? Why don't you go find Consort Yu?"
Yu Sheng answered them one by one, "They said it was for the sake of the household, that there was a lack of distinction between superiors and inferiors, and that concubines were favored over wives. But the Sixth Prince's Consort didn't elaborate on the specifics in public. As for Consort Yu—"
"Consort Yu did indeed rush to the gate of Fengyi Palace upon hearing the news, but the Sixth Prince's wife said that Consort Yu would probably not give her justice in this matter. Moreover, His Majesty's words are law, and the prince's wife has her own proper mother-in-law. I have no right to interfere. I ordered someone to send Consort Yu back to Yaohe Palace directly."
"Do concubines have no right to interfere?"
Previously, it was allowed for the princes' mothers to participate in the selection of their consorts, but now even interfering in the inner court is not considered interference? After a moment's thought, Lu Yuxi understood.
"I suppose my brother has already told Father about what happened yesterday."
Lin Shiming took a moment to realize what he meant, "My brother's actions are pretty quick!"
"But this 'disregard for hierarchy and favoring concubines over wives'—could it be related to those two palace maids?" Lin Shiming suddenly became excited. "Yesterday, my brother advised me not to target the Sixth Prince without reason, and today he's delivered the evidence right to my door!"
Wait till I unleash my full power and skin him alive!
Lin Shiming didn't even finish his meal; he got up and left. As he left, he didn't forget to say:
"I'm leaving! See you again someday!"
"..."
This seemingly uncanny, almost yesterday-like figure made Lu Yuxi sigh.
*
With a big prize hanging in the air, Lin Shiming's back and legs no longer ached. He returned to the capital with even greater speed than the night before, using his light-footed skills. Then, he pretended to leave the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and boarded the waiting ceremonial carriage to return to the East Palace.
The Sixth Prince's Consort was indeed still waiting in the Eastern Palace.
She was placed in a side hall to wait. Under Zhao Lei's arrangement, well-trained maids and eunuchs had prepared a meal for the Sixth Prince's Consort to wash and change. Unfortunately, she was so heartbroken that she could only eat a few bites before she could eat nothing more.
When Lin Shiming entered, she was leaning against the couch, silently shedding tears.
Seeing this, Lin Shiming did not go in directly, but turned around and asked Zhao Lei behind him, "The Sixth Prince didn't come?"
"Your Highness, the Sixth Prince... has injured his face and cannot leave the house for the time being."
"…What did you say?"
Just as Zhao Lei was about to answer, a voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Your Highness!" Upon hearing Lin Shiming's voice, Cui Yin, who was in the side hall, quickly wiped away her tears, straightened her clothes, and hurried over to pay her respects. "Greetings, Your Highness."
"Sixth sister-in-law, please rise," Lin Shiming greeted her politely. "No need for formalities. It's sunny outside. Let's go inside and talk."
Cui Yin nodded, stepped aside, and followed Lin Shiming into the side hall.
The two quickly sat down. Lin Shiming took a sip of tea before speaking slowly, "Tell me, what exactly happened?" How much trouble could I possibly cause the Sixth Prince?
Cui Yin composed herself and began to speak slowly.
"Your Highness, you should know that a memorial was sent from the Sixth Prince's residence a few days ago, right?"
It really is true!
The gossip prince suppressed his secret delight, using his teacup to hide the corners of his mouth that were turned up. "Of course I know. I even called the sixth prince in and gave him a good scolding."
Cui Yin lowered her head. "That is indeed the matter. Your Highness may not know, but the memorial was submitted by the Sixth Prince without my knowledge."
Wow! Huge news!
"This is a long story. According to the rules, the day after my marriage, I met with the two maids who served the Sixth Prince. I thought that they had been sold into the palace since childhood and had no freedom, so I wanted to arrange for them to leave. I gave them enough money, and I did my best to arrange for them whether they wanted to remarry as wives, return home, or establish their own households. These are all excellent places for them."
That's really good. Palace maids have such low status that they can't raise their own children, and in some harsh families, the children might even suffer because of their mother's status. Rather than both of them suffering, it's better to leave and make their own decisions.
Lin Shiming ate some fruit and nodded in agreement.
"...Unexpectedly, the Sixth Prince and the two women both refused, asking me to keep them. According to etiquette, the coming and going of palace maids is solely the decision of the principal wife, and the Sixth Prince cannot interfere. But he insisted on this, and the two women were equally unwilling to leave, so I agreed. I even offered to let them start as concubines, without making them maids, for the sake of my mother, and to promote them in rank if they have children."
That's quite generous. Lin Shiming took a sip of tea and nodded.
"But I didn't expect them to still refuse! The Sixth Prince said that the two women were bestowed upon him by his mother and had served him well, so they were too lowly to be concubines and should be given the rank of imperial concubine." At this point, Cui Yin finally couldn't help but become emotional. "Heavens above! They have only served him for half a year, how can they be considered to have made great contributions! If that's the case, in another year or two, I might as well just give up my position as the principal wife to them!"
Lin Shiming's pupils dilated.
This sixth sister-in-law is quite a sentimental person! She doesn't seem like the daughter of a Vice Minister of Rites!
"Of course I cannot agree! But the Sixth Prince is unwilling to yield, and Consort Yu in the palace has also sent a message, instructing me to behave like a proper wife, to uphold the virtues of a woman, and not to be jealous."
At the crucial point, Cui Yin gritted her teeth and slammed her hand on the table, giving Lin Shiming a fright with a loud "bang."
"This is utterly ridiculous! How dare she, a mere concubine, presume to tell me how to be a proper wife?!"