Chapter 209 - Public Uproar 2

The Imperial Palace, the Emperor's study

Emperor Zhong was fuming as he left the audience hall, he didn't bother answering any of the salutes given by the palace servant. News of the current bad mood had spread all over the palace, most servants avoided taking any of his usual routes. Emperor Zhong was too angry to notice the scarceness of the palace servant.

He walked past the palace office and the other head offices, each stride longer and firmer than the rest. The Emperor's palace servant registered under his household that was part of his regular company hastened their steps, a few resulted in running to catch up with him. But the Crown Prince who wasn't mobile when compared to the others fell behind on the way. 

He was the last to arrive at the Emperor's Palace which further irritated Emperor Zhong. who without waiting for the servants to leave slapped the Crown Prince on the cheeks. There was a breathless silence as the servant glanced at the emperor's eyes wide. This was the first time they had seen his Majesty react this way in public, his majesty wasn't the type to air his dirty laundry in public.

It was obvious to everyone present that the tension between the father and son had gotten much higher these past few weeks. The servants and guard retreated silently without any instruction. They all preferred to be distances away from this scene, they were all familiar with the exploding temper most embers of the royal family possessed. 

Emperor Zhong and the Crown Prince barely noticed anything different, Emperor Zhong shook his hands as if to get the dust off his sleeve and walked into his study. Zhongshan Long wheeled his seat inside behind the Emperor. Emperor Zhong barely acknowledged his presence, he walked around the wooden table and sat behind the desk.

He glared at his son and sighed, picking up a scroll lying to his right and threw it at the crown prince. "Do I have to clean up every single mess you create? A concubine? Do you dare take a concubine in such a lavish way when the commoners are all trying to get their life in order after the war? Can't you even pretend to be considerate of their loss? Even if you wanted to take a concubine, why make it so public?"

Zhongshan Ling caught the scroll mid-air and unrolled the scroll. His hand shook as the Emperor Chastised him, he dropped the scroll on his lap. He barely held back the sneer as he thought of all he had gone through all through his life. He was yet to get over the embarrassment he faced a few minutes earlier. This was the first time the Emperor slapped him in public much less in the presence of the servant.

He glanced at the scroll and ground his teeth, "I wasn't aware of the corruption among my staff in my office, but the report drew my attention to that. I will take care of that, I am sorry for causing trouble".

"Do you think just an apology will cut it", Emperor Zhong picked up a stationary and hit the table loudly. The sound was loud enough to make even seasoned servant like Chief Eunuch Caihong who stood just outside the door jump. " Are you so stupid or do you not understand what those officials and the commoners are asking for! Maybe you do not deserve your position, you have four days to find a solution to the problem at the ministry of justice or you lose your position. Get out!"

Zhongshan Ling balled up his fist, "yes, your Majesty".

****************

The main courtyard of Duke Wu's residence 

The day before Su Liya and Lu Yaozhu moved to their new Residence, Su Liya paid her respects to Madam Lu. Madam Lu knew that with the final moving day just hours away Su Liya would have a lot of things in her mind. She didn't make things hard for Su Liya, after saying a few words of advice to Su Liya on home management. She dismissed everyone, Zhu Fengyin included.

Lu Yiling stayed back to keep her mother company so, Zhu Fengyin and Su Liya left together. They were walked silently at a slow pace, both hesitating to speak to each other. They had met a few times but we're yet to decide on how they were going to handle Chen Yao. However, with the new development on that end, that conversation could no longer be avoided.

"Yaya about_"

"Fengyin, I think that_"

They both said at the same time, Su Liya and Zhu Fengyin glanced at themselves and laughed. 

"You go first," Su Liya said smiling.

"Oh, you don't want to..... Okay, that is good too", Zhu Liya glanced at her hands before looking up at Su Liya. "About Chen Yao... She got married to the Crown Prince"

"I heard, it caused quite the stir. Things do not look good for our dear Crown Prince, I heard it was a glamorous affair. He must be very in love, either that or he must be stupid. The war caused a lot of people to lose their homes and properties, people are yet to recover yet he dared to take in a new concubine and in such a lavish way" Su Liya shook her head, "His highness has stepped on a landmine by doing that".

Zhu Fengyin nodded, "I hoped that Chen Yao wouldn't get the crown prince involved in her mess but she did".

"Wasn't he already involved? You say this like she didn't convince him that the Empress and the Late duke got his mother killed. He was already involved, for all we know, this may be the reason he took her as a concubine."

"Looks like she is going to be more of a trouble than we thought" Zhu Liya sighed.

"How about the Abbot? Has everything been taken care of?"

"Yes, he has arrived at western Liang, he won't be a problem but I doubt the Crown Prince would quit that easily. Creating some countermeasures might be a good idea".

"Yeah... Fengyin I got an invitation to the Yuan family banquet in three days, given Su Liya's relationship with that family. I don't know if I should not attend that event"

"That is not a good idea, the Yuan family are a reputable family although they are now in decline you cannot ignore their history with the Lu family. You cannot miss that except you are sick or dying. Second brother-in-law is a newly titled Prince, although he is many ranks higher, you still need to gain strong backing in society. General Yuan is an important border general that served together with the late duke.

"You need to give him some face but that does not mean you should tolerate any behaviour from that family. Knowing when to attack and retreat is the one advice that most women adhere to those events. You need to learn that but don't worry I will also attend that garden party. It might be my last event before my confinement".

Su Liya looked down at Zhu Fengyin's bulging belly and smiled, petting Zhu Fengyin's tummy gently, she said, "my nephew must be growing well. You look like you swallowed a person".

"You little", Zhu Fengyin slapped Su Liya on her arm. Su Liya chuckled at stepping back. She stopped as a maid ran to them and relayed

"Eldest master is back, Your Grace"

"Yingjie is back" Zhu Fengyin's face lightened up and she held Su Liya's hands tightly. 

"Yes mistress, he is at the palace gate. His Grace sent word that he would return after paying his respects to his majesty" the maid said head bowed low.

"Oh then instruct the cook to make all his favourite food, I will inform mother".

"Madam Lu has already been informed, your grace"

"Oh, that is okay", she let go of Su Liya's hands and turned to her, "Yaya, you go back first. I will go get things ready for Yingjie".

Su Liya smiled down at her friend and nodded. The joy written all over Zhu Fengyin's face was great, this had to be the happiest news she had received in weeks. Su Liya left her to her joy and returned to her courtyard.

*""****"******

Meanwhile, at the Crown Prince mansion.

The mood at the mansion was sombre, most especially at Zhu Fenfang rooms. Within the last few days, Zhu Fenfang had lost her well train mask. It had taken her years to master this mask of poise and grace but in just a few days she had lost it. The first crack in her mask came as the news of the Crown Prince taking another concubine was delivered. She didn't care that the Crown Prince promoted her to a senior concubine of the first rank. 

That didn't matter to her not when the new concubine was made a senior concubine of the second rank. It was like the carpet was pulled under her feet, she felt more threatened than she ever felt in her short year on earth. However, there was nothing she could do to stop that union and in the days after the marriage she had been ignored by the Crown Prince 

The maids in her palace all walked on eggshells as she became short-tempered.. Our punishing them for the littlest of things but it was the news of the Crown Prince turning down her invitation to have dinner that broke the camels back.