Chapter 70: She’s a Shield

Chapter 70

Yuan Qingling was thinking that the matter of the Prince taking a concubine had been brewing for several days now. Moreover, there were rumors circulating outside that she was infertile. Being summoned to the palace today must be about being put aside.

She asked her wet nurse if anyone from the palace had come by last night or today.

Her wet nurse said, "Master Mu Ru came in person."

That confirmed it. The Emperor must have asked Prince Hao again about his intentions of taking the daughter of the Chu family as a concubine. How could he not be willing? It was his heart's desire.

Yuan Qingling felt at ease. Since the imperial family wanted to put her aside, they would definitely compensate her generously, enough that she wouldn't have to worry about making a living afterwards. At worst, she still had an IOU that she believed could be exchanged for a small house.

With a feeling of finally being set free, she stepped onto the carriage.

At the palace gates, she lifted the curtain of the carriage, looking at the endless golden glazed roof tiles and upturned eaves. She thought to herself that this was probably the last time she would enter the palace.

In her heart, she felt an indescribable joy and comfort.

With this feeling, as she got off the carriage and walked to the Imperial Study on foot, she took in the scenery of the palace with a positive attitude. Nnêw n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com

The Northern Tang imperial palace was truly magnificent, not with the kind of elegant pavilions and towers of the south, but a breathtaking grandeur. Tall towers stood erect, halls were majestic, columns were painted with gold lacquer, displaying imperial power everywhere.

Arriving at the door of the Imperial Study, she saw someone emerge from inside.

This person wore a green Confucian robe, with a red gemstone embedded in his official hat. He appeared to be sixty or seventy years old, with white hair and beard, and sunken, bony cheeks, making his face look shriveled and small. But his eyes were extremely sharp. As he walked out, with a casual glance, his eyes fell on Yuan Qingling's face, seeming to shoot out two beams of lightning that made her involuntarily feel awed.

She recognized this person—it was the current Premier Chu, who held half the power of Northern Tang in his hand, inferior to none.

Premier Chu's eyes lingered on Yuan Qingling's face for about a second before looking away. He didn't greet her, but walked away via the corridor on the left side.

Just that one second his eyes were fixed on Yuan Qingling made her feel like snowmelt flowing down a mountain peak, chilled and a little bloody.

She had never seen someone with such a frightening gaze before. Just a cursory glance made her feel as if she was faced with thousands of troops and horses.

No wonder Marquis Jing was willing to sacrifice even his own daughter to curry favor with Premier Chu. But who had given him the courage originally, to let the original owner Yuan Qingling snatch the prince that the Chu family had its eyes on?

Marquis Jing also had the heart of an ambitious hawk. Unfortunately, he didn't have the ability.

After being defeated, the ambitious hawk became a dog with its tail between its legs.

Yuan Qingling opened her mouth, the word "agree" on the tip of her tongue. But Eunuch Mu Ru said, "Your Highness, choose your words carefully, do not commit the crime of deceiving the ruler unknowingly."

Yuan Qingling was exasperated. Crime of deceiving the ruler?

But how could she answer without committing that crime? Agreeing or disagreeing, she would be deceiving the ruler either way.

Eunuch Mu Ru reminded: "Didn't Your Highness say you agreed for the sake of the Prince having offspring? As long as you give birth to a prince within a year, you need not worry about that, right?"

"This is..." Yuan Qingling was at a complete loss.

To say no would mean her promise to continue the imperial line was just empty talk. Matters concerning heirs could indeed constitute deceiving the ruler, since he was the Emperor after all.

But to say yes would be equivalent to acknowledging she disagreed with Prince Hao taking the second daughter of the Chu family as a concubine. Wouldn't the Chu family flay her alive and devour her? Moreover, Marquis Jing must have already told Premier Chu about his willingness to be put aside. In that case, she probably wouldn't be able to return to her maternal home anymore either.

A surge of anger suddenly rose in Yuan Qingling's heart. Yuwen Hao, damn you! If you don't want to marry her, why use me as a scapegoat? Taking shelter behind a woman, how righteous!

"Cat got your tongue?" Emperor Ming Yuan's voice came crashing down.

Yuan Qingling could only slowly say, "Father Emperor, please forgive me. Actually...I don't wish for the Prince to take a concubine so soon."

Emperor Ming Yuan snorted. "Then why did you say so readily that you agreed?"

"I was afraid of committing the sin of jealousy," Yuan Qingling said remorsefully, having long cursed Yuwen Hao a hundred times in her heart.

"A woman's thoughts, how could I not understand? If you didn't agree, just say so directly. Would I have forcibly wedded Fifth Brother to a concubine?" Emperor Ming Yuan's expression had also softened considerably, his tone no longer stern.

Yuan Qingling looked at Emperor Ming Yuan, and a thought suddenly flashed in her mind—perhaps the Emperor also didn't wish for Fifth Brother to marry the second daughter of the Chu family. But forced to this point, he had no choice but to bring it up.

No wonder he hadn't been genuinely happy when she had agreed back then.

And when Yuwen Hao used her as an excuse to refuse the marriage, the Emperor was actually relieved instead.

Yuwen Hao lost his reputation as a virtuous prince, while she was branded as jealous, petty, narrow-minded, and unable to tolerate her husband taking a concubine. She had offended both her natal family and the Chu family.

No wonder Premier Chu's gaze towards her was so icy earlier.

The fiery anger in Yuan Qingling's heart exploded over and over like fireworks.