Chapter 209: Your Son Has Had a Hard Life, Empress!
Chapter 209: Your Son Has Had a Hard Life, Empress!
Something happened at the Plain Abode?
What does that have to do with them?
Hearing Aunt Tian's words, Concubine Ren was perplexed.
Aunt Tian took a deep breath and continued, "They say it's a rival seeking revenge. Four or five burly men showed up and started chopping at people. Luckily, we arrived a little late and were only jostled by those fleeing in all directions. We weren't hurt, but if we had arrived earlier..."
By the end of her sentence, Aunt Tian's voice was choked with sobs: "The consequences would be unimaginable, Your Highness!"
Aunt Tian was in her late thirties and considered a level-headed elder in the mansion.
Even she struggled to keep her emotions in check at this moment.
After all, the brutal attack by the burly men and the ensuing chaotic escape had happened right before their eyes.
They had witnessed this bloody and cruel scene firsthand!
Who wouldn't be terrified after witnessing such a scene?
Aunt Tian mustered the courage to finish her account and then slumped, exhausted, in her seat.
Concubine Meng, who had been crying already, now sobbed even louder.
Concubine Ren was startled by what she heard, but after a moment's thought, she asked in a low voice, "Are you all unharmed?"
Not satisfied with just asking, she pulled Concubine Meng out of her embrace and examined her, saying, "Meng Xinyu, are you hurt anywhere? Stop crying and speak up. If there are any injuries, we'll have them tended to. Don't be shy; Doctor Liu is right there with us."
Concubine Meng, unable to control her tears, shook her head at Concubine Ren's question. "I'm not hurt; I'm just scared. It was terrifying. They just started chopping at people, and a head even rolled to my feet. Ren Xiu, I'm scared, boo-hoo!"
Hearing that Concubine Meng was only shocked and not injured, Concubine Ren heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness you're unhurt. That's all that matters."
She pulled Concubine Meng back into her embrace and patted her gently to soothe her. Then, Concubine Ren turned her attention back to Aunt Tian and the others, asking, "What about you all? Are any of you injured? Doctor Liu is in the back courtyard. If there are any wounds, be sure to speak up. Don't try to hide them; if something goes wrong, it may be too late to save you. Don't put Doctor Liu in a difficult position."
Indeed, everyone was unharmed. They had arrived a little later, and their location had been on the outskirts.
When they witnessed the grisly crime scene, they had all fled as fast as they could.
Concubine Meng had not even stepped down from her carriage when her maids, Shu Xiang and the others, reacted swiftly and climbed back into the carriage.
Outside, four guards, trained in martial arts and having arrived just in time, had managed to avoid the calamity.
However, it was quite a coincidence that Concubine Meng, driven by curiosity about the commotion outside, had lifted the curtain of her carriage to take a peek.
As a result, she had witnessed a human head flying towards her.
Concubine Meng had fainted on the spot.
Therefore, after they withdrew from the crowd, they had promptly returned to the mansion.
Aunt Tian, having regained her composure, briefly recounted what had transpired.
Upon hearing this, Concubine Ren recalled what Concubine Meng had mentioned earlier about going with her sister-in-law from her maternal home to choose a birthday gift for her nephew.
With this in mind, Concubine Ren asked, "Is Madam Meng alright?"
Aunt Tian quickly replied, "Yes, yes, she was waiting in the Brocade Quarter. After hearing the news, she even escorted us back to the mansion. However, worried that the family might be anxious upon hearing the news, she rushed back without visiting the mansion."
Knowing that everyone was safe, Concubine Ren finally felt relieved.
Concubine Meng was also slowly calming down, and her mind began to function again. She lifted her head, wiping away her tears as she asked in a hoarse voice, "Why is Doctor Liu in the back courtyard?"
As she spoke of this, Concubine Ren's worries resurfaced. "Su Su was harmed by that calamity of a woman, Car Lady, and her nephew. She fell into the water, and now she's burning up with fever. I don't know what will happen next. The Prince and Princess are not in the mansion, and your return is a relief. Otherwise, I would be under immense pressure and might not have been able to bear it.
Upon hearing that Sui Sui was ill, Concubine Meng was also startled. She struggled to get up, leaning on Concubine Ren's arm for support to steady herself. "How did she end up falling into the water? That Car Lady is nothing but trouble. We should have kept Sui Sui away from her."
Concubine Meng wanted to add that the Prince was being foolish, letting himself be bewitched by a mere woman and bringing all sorts of strays into the mansion. However, realizing how harsh her words might sound, she thought better of it and suppressed the urge to speak.
With her worries focused on Sui Sui, Concubine Meng didn't feel as much fear regarding the earlier incident. Moreover, thinking of Sui Sui, she realized that if it weren't for the girl sticking by her side, causing her to leave the mansion later than planned and even prompting her sister-in-law to wait for her at the mansion gate, she would have arrived at the Plain Abode earlier.
If that had been the case...
The thought sent a chill down Concubine Meng's spine, and her face paled.
It was a close call; had she left just a little earlier, she would have stumbled right into the middle of the grisly scene. Perhaps one of those severed heads could have been hers! Those men seeking revenge were indiscriminately hacking at anyone they saw!
Concubine Ren, noticing Concubine Meng's pallor, quickly signaled for Shu Xiang to come over and help support her. "Come quickly and help me support her. I can't hold her up alone. Help me bring her back, and let Doctor Liu prescribe some calming soup for her. Don't be afraid, now that we're back at the mansion, everything will be fine."
Concubine Meng was concerned about Sui Sui, but her current physical condition didn't allow her to do much. Thus, she nodded in agreement. "Alright, please let me know if anything happens."
Concubine Ren nodded and personally escorted Concubine Meng back, ensuring that Doctor Liu examined her and prescribed the necessary medication before returning to Sui Sui's side.
Meanwhile, in the palace, the successive blows proved too much for the Qi King, and he fainted.
When the imperial physicians revived him with medication, he found the Empress Dowager sitting by his bed, and his defenses crumbled.
Clutching the Empress Dowager's hand, he burst into tears. "Mother, my son's life has been so bitter!"
Bitter beyond the taste of any herb or root.
Who could have imagined that all he wanted was to find a female companion, a blood-related daughter, and yet, fate played such a cruel joke on him.
He had nearly lost his life!
How dare the members of the Che family act so boldly?
The Empress Dowager had already inquired about the situation with the Qi King's wife, and although the specifics would require further investigation, the Emperor had dispatched people to look into it, given his presence in the palace.
The likely outcome would be delivered to the Emperor's desk before the palace gates were locked for the night.
Even so, the Empress Dowager was still seething with anger.
Whether or not the Qi King could bear children was not her primary concern.
The Qi King already had seven princes, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, they should all be secure in their positions.
The continuation of the family line was assured, and while the number of heirs wasn't excessive, it certainly wasn't lacking either.
The Empress Dowager had no complaints in that regard.
As for the matter of a female companion...
That was her son's obsession, not hers.
The Empress Dowager didn't feel that it made much difference whether he had one or not.
If it wasn't in his destiny to have a daughter, then why force it?
However!!!
When it came to her son's lifespan, this was no trivial matter!
Empress Dowager: Don't ask any more questions, or I'll skin you alive!
(End of Chapter)
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