Volume One, Chapter 20: Rumors Rise Again

Noble Consort Xiao had heard whispers of the Grand Princess selecting male favorites at Yongning Palace, but she had dismissed them as too absurd to be true. Now, having come to see for herself, she was struck by the reality: Ning Yunshu was truly capable of such scandalous behavior!

The courtyard was filled with so many handsome men that it was enough to make one’s heart flutter with unseemly desires.

But why were the First Prince and Princess Mingzhu here as well?

Noble Consort Xiao pondered this briefly, wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, and approached Ning Yunshu with a feigned, sobbing gait.

"Your Highness... Grand Princess... Princess Mingzhu... oh, the woe..."

Ning Yu and Ning Moxue were equally surprised to see Noble Consort Xiao here. They realized that once she had witnessed this spectacle, news of Ning Yunshu’s indulgence in male favorites would surely reach the Emperor's ears before long.

Ning Yunshu waved her hand, signaling for everyone to withdraw. Soon, only the few of them remained in the courtyard.

"What is the purpose of your visit, Consort?" Ning Yunshu asked calmly.

At these words, Noble Consort Xiao abruptly knelt on the ground.

"Noble Consort!" Princess Mingzhu was the first to react, rushing forward to help her up, but the Consort brushed her hand away, stubbornly refusing to rise.

Ning Yu frowned and asked with a scowl, "What is the meaning of this, Noble Consort?"

Ning Yunshu also feigned distress. "If you kneel in my Yongning Palace, Noble Consort, I shall surely be scolded by Father Emperor when he hears of it."

Upon hearing this, Ning Yu rolled his eyes. She was already brazenly keeping male favorites in the palace; did she really fear the scolding that was inevitably coming her way?

Noble Consort Xiao’s tears fell in torrents. "Grand Princess, that day at the banquet, Qiao’er was simply possessed by a demon! I fear no shame in saying this before you and the Prince: Qiao’er has always had a special affection for Magistrate Zhang Zhixi. That was why she was so jealous and spoke so recklessly when she saw him playing the zither for you."

"Is that so? And does the Consort feel that being demoted to the Laundry Bureau is an insufficient punishment?" Ning Yunshu asked with feigned gravity.

Noble Consort Xiao’s eyes widened, and she shook her head vehemently. "No, no! Grand Princess, I have come today to beg you to show mercy and forgive Qiao’er this once! She has lived in comfort all her life; how could she possibly survive in a place like the Laundry Bureau?"

As she spoke, the Noble Consort began to sob again in front of everyone.

Ning Yunshu watched coldly, noncommittal. The Laundry Bureau was far more comfortable than the horse stables she had endured among the Xiongnu. This Noble Consort was truly insatiable, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.

"Mother, please, get up and speak," Princess Mingzhu said, heartbroken. Putting herself in her position, if she were sent to the Laundry Bureau, her own mother would surely be just as helpless and devastated.

"Princess Mingzhu, you and Qiao’er are like sisters. Won't you help me beg the Grand Princess for mercy?" Noble Consort Xiao looked at her with tear-filled eyes.

Princess Mingzhu felt a jolt. The Noble Consort had been present when she told her mother about the rumors of Ning Yunshu contracting a venereal disease. Now, the look in the Consort's eyes held not just a plea, but a hint of a threat.

"Sister..." Princess Mingzhu spoke with difficulty, her eyes filled with trepidation. "Considering the deep bond between the Consort and her daughter, and that the young mistress is a first-time offender, perhaps you could show leniency to demonstrate your magnanimity."

Ning Yunshu looked at her with eyes like torches. "But I have always been petty and hold grudges for every slight!"

Ning Moxue couldn't help but take half a step back. She could feel the hatred in Ning Yunshu's gaze—hatred for her, for the marriage alliance seven years ago, and for the fact that she had leaked news of the disease.

Because Imperial Physician Quan Ren had told her about that matter, she didn't know what methods Ning Yunshu had used to force him to resign and leave the palace! Was she to be next?

Ning Moxue felt a wave of palpitations.

"It was just a few words of slander! Didn't Imperial Physician Quan appear to clear your name? What more do you want?!" Ning Yu, unable to stand Ning Yunshu’s attitude of the world owing her a debt since her return to the palace, pulled Noble Consort Xiao to her feet. "You don't need to beg her; it's useless!"

Noble Consort Xiao froze. She was in the middle of a pathetic performance; why was the First Prince causing such trouble?

Ning Yunshu smiled slightly, though her eyes remained as cold as ice. Just a few words of slander? That had nearly cost her her life!

"Noble Consort, as the Imperial Brother says, you need not waste your time. See them out!" Ning Yunshu was merciless.

Seeing this, Matron Gui stepped forward and made a gesture of invitation. "My Lady, please."

Noble Consort Xiao left in tears, her face full of helplessness, though for a fleeting moment, her beautiful eyes were filled with hatred.

"Ning Yunshu, when did you become so cold-blooded and ruthless!" Ning Yu scolded sharply.

Ning Yunshu had no desire to waste further breath on them. She turned and walked toward the palace hall. "Imperial Brother should return as well."

"You!" Ning Yu clenched his fists in anger.

Ning Moxue quickly pulled him away; she was desperate to leave this place. "Imperial Brother, it is time for lunch. Let us go."

Seeing Ning Moxue’s gentle persuasion, Ning Yu decided not to argue with Ning Yunshu. After all, he had already promised to dine with her and could not afford to be delayed here.

Inside the hall, Ning Yunshu finally felt peace.

"Matron, have the people been properly arranged?"

Selecting male favorites was merely a facade. The more absurd and depraved she appeared, the more these people would lower their guard. More importantly, since most of these men were sent by court officials, it provided the perfect excuse for her to make connections everywhere.

Matron Gui nodded. "As you ordered, all thirty favorites have been settled in Weiyu Pavilion."

Ning Yunshu nodded slightly. Matron Gui looked at her confident expression and felt that the matter of the male favorites was not as simple as it appeared, but she truly could not guess what Ning Yunshu was planning.

The news of the gathering of favorites at Yongning Palace soon reached the Emperor, though he did not summon her. Ning Yunshu could easily guess the reason: the Emperor felt guilty about the marriage alliance, and now that she had returned, treating her well was the only way to demonstrate his magnanimity as a monarch and his fatherly love. As long as she did nothing too extreme, he would turn a blind eye.

Ning Yunshu knew this well, which was why she dared to act so recklessly. She knew that in the eyes of the Emperor, she was merely a tool to maintain the dignity of the royal family. He thought that even if she acted erratically, she wouldn't be able to stir up any real trouble.

But her father, the Emperor, was truly getting old.

While the Emperor pretended to be unaware of the affairs of Yongning Palace, others dared not speak of it openly. Yet the rumors of the Grand Princess wallowing in pleasure continued to spread throughout the palace. Some officials criticized her, while others, wishing to curry favor, scoured the streets for men to send into the palace.

A few days later, in Feihua Palace, Consort Xian was filled with worry.

Ning Moxue poured her some hot tea and consoled her, "Sister only listens to musicians and enjoys herself; Mother need not worry so much."

Consort Xian took the tea and frowned. "The things people are saying in the palace now are so ugly..." She hesitated, then stopped. "Xue’er, you are not yet married; you do not understand these things."

She had heard the palace servants whispering behind her back—that the Grand Princess was licentious and indulged in nightly revelry, and that she changed her favorites every night, sometimes even with several at once... It was too scandalous to be repeated!

How could she, as her mother, not be worried? Yet the Emperor had tacitly permitted it, and she had spoken to Ning Yunshu several times to no avail.

"Sigh!" Consort Xian sighed again.

"My Lady! This is terrible!" A palace servant rushed in, panicked.

Consort Xian felt a sudden sense of dread. "Is it about the Grand Princess?!"

The servant braced herself. "It... it is. A person went to the Imperial Hospital today—one of the Grand Princess's favorites—and was... was diagnosed with a venereal disease!"

Both Consort Xian and Ning Moxue were shocked. These entertainers were subjected to strict physical examinations before entering the palace and were perfectly healthy. If one had contracted a venereal disease after only a few days in Yongning Palace, it must have been transmitted to him.

This confirmed the rumors that Ning Yunshu herself had been infected! If that were true, then her performance in the great hall that day had been an act of deceiving the Emperor!

Consort Xian broke into a cold sweat. "Prepare the carriage! We are going to Yongning Palace!"

Behind the rockery in the Imperial Garden, Ning Yu smashed his fist against the stone wall. Even with his knuckles bleeding, his anger did not subside.

"It has been so long, and she hasn't summoned you once?!" Ning Yu demanded.

Li Jun shook his head frantically. "Of course not! Otherwise, I would have been infected long ago! You don't know, everyone in Weiyu Pavilion is terrified now. Your Highness, I am truly afraid!"

"Shut up!" Ning Yu’s chest heaved. "I suspect those lowly slaves were dirty to begin with!"

Clearly, Imperial Physician Quan had proven that Ning Yunshu was not sick that day. Could it be that Quan Ren had dared to deceive the Emperor? He did not believe it; there must be some trickery involved!

"Your Highness, what should I do now? Could you find a way to get me out of the palace first? It wouldn't be too late for me to serve the Grand Princess once she has recovered..." Li Jun suggested tentatively.

Ning Yu looked at him coldly. "You were more eager than anyone when you entered the palace!"

"But..."

"Shut up! It is not yet known if this is true or false!" Ning Yu’s eyes were dark. "We must find a way to determine whether it is Quan Ren who lied, or if someone else is playing games!"

If even a Chief Imperial Physician could lie, then the Imperial Hospital could not be trusted. How else could he determine if Ning Yunshu was infected? He pondered.

"But Your Highness, how can one tell the truth of such a thing?"

Ning Yu felt a sudden spark of inspiration and took a deep breath. "The most direct way is to have an inspection matron examine her; then we will know!"

Li Jun was stunned for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Indeed, seeing is believing; that cannot be faked! You are truly brilliant, Your Highness!"

A hint of helplessness flashed in Ning Yu’s eyes. He could not be blamed for this; it was Ning Yunshu who had been so reckless and provided the handle for others to hold. He was doing this for her own good!