Troublemaker Prince Chapter 17
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 17
News in the palace spread quickly. No sooner had the Emperor finished scolding Consort Xian than word reached every corner of the harem.
In the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, You Yusui had just finished drinking a bowl full of bird's nest soup made from the finest golden silk snow swallow, feeling extremely pleased. Stolen goods really did taste better.
Eunuch Fubao at his side watched this scene with hesitation, fearing that You Yusui might suffer from excessive nourishment again. Fortunately, bird's nest soup was the most nourishing of all, and after You Yusui had consumed half a year's worth of bird's nest from Jiangjia Palace, he showed no signs of discomfort whatsoever.
Just as You Yusui set down his jade-white porcelain bowl, a clever little eunuch entered from outside.
"Your Highness, may you be well. An interesting incident has occurred in the palace - would Your Highness care to hear about it?" The little eunuch's shrill voice carried a hint of liveliness, his eyes gleaming with cunning.
"Go ahead and tell," You Yusui said in high spirits.
Thus, the little eunuch vividly recounted what had transpired in Xuande Hall, repeating word for word the section where the Emperor had ruthlessly scolded Consort Xian.
When everyone heard "Zhen will help the Crown Prince empty out Jiangjia Palace," they all looked at You Yusui in unison, hoping he wouldn't actually go and empty out Jiangjia Palace.
"Why are you all looking at this prince like that?" You Yusui glanced up at Fubao and Huo Xiling, then said weakly, "This prince isn't that kind of person."
Huo Xiling and Fubao fell silent. Your Highness, you are exactly that kind of person.
Of course You Yusui wouldn't actually empty out Jiangjia Palace, because his father emperor's words had been spoken in anger. If he really went and emptied Jiangjia Palace, even the court ministers wouldn't be able to stand it. However, his father emperor was truly heartless and ungrateful - scolding a consort who had served him for twenty years without hesitation, wishing every word could pierce her heart.
"Perhaps this prince didn't explain clearly to Consort Xian. This prince would die if he couldn't eat the finest golden silk snow swallow bird's nest, which is why he had to take all of Consort Xian's bird's nest. Why don't you, Fubao, go to Jiangjia Palace again to explain this to Consort Xian? Surely Consort Xian, with her compassionate heart, wouldn't bear to see this prince die. Advise her not to take Father Emperor's words to heart." You Yusui spoke with a frail and pitiful expression, appearing deeply concerned for Consort Xian, though inwardly he was thinking: please, Consort Xian, do take the Emperor's words to heart.
As a master of human nature, Eunuch Fubao could certainly understand You Yusui's meaning. He immediately stepped forward and declared, "Your Highness, rest assured. This slave will take gifts to Jiangjia Palace right away to comfort Consort Xian."
In Jiangjia Palace, Consort Xian had already returned from Xuande Hall. Her face was pale, and with the bright ornaments in her hair, she looked even more ashen.
She had thought that after twenty years by the Emperor's side, even if she wasn't his most favored consort, she should still hold some honor in his regard. She had never imagined that this man she had served faithfully for over twenty years could be so cruel to her.
Now Consort Xian was beginning to regret her actions. She shouldn't have gone to the Emperor seeking his support after her family members were punished.
But the finest golden silk snow swallow bird's nest was the most important ingredient in her beauty regimen, and only a few taels were produced each year. Now that the Crown Prince had taken it all without any substitute available, her beauty regimen would have to be suspended for a year. With her appearance and the Emperor's favor at stake, plus Consort Xian's desire to test the Emperor's attitude toward the Li family, she had gone to Xuande Hall - never expecting such a result.
"Consort, are you alright?" A senior palace maid from Jiangjia Palace asked cautiously.
At this moment, Consort Xian was still immersed in her misjudgment and couldn't quite recover. She heard another palace servant say, "Someone from the Eastern Palace has sent gifts for the Consort, saying it's to apologize."
Upon hearing this, a cold smile curved Consort Xian's lips as she said, "An apology - I'd like to see just how he plans to apologize. Bring them in."
Little did Consort Xian realize that her actions would only drive another knife into her wounded heart.
"May the Consort be well. Having heard of the incident at Xuande Hall, His Highness the Crown Prince feels deeply saddened and distressed, so he specially sent this old slave to explain the situation clearly to Your Majesty." Eunuch Fubao's etiquette was impeccable, his tone unhurried, but the next moment he began to shed tears.
Consort Xian was in the midst of her fury. Seeing this old servant left behind by the late Empress weeping, she couldn't help but curse inwardly: This old slave thinks that shedding tears will save him from punishment?
"The imperial physician said that without excellent bird's nest for nourishment, His Highness the Crown Prince's health and lifespan might suffer. Consort, with your compassionate heart, surely wouldn't bear to see His Highness die. We never expected that failing to explain clearly would cause the incident at Xuande Hall. Please don't take it to heart, Consort." Eunuch Fubao put on a white lotus act as if everything was the Crown Prince's fault, his whole being conveying the Crown Prince's frailty and pitifulness.
Upon hearing this, Consort Xian nearly choked with rage. If she didn't give the Crown Prince her bird's nest, that would mean she wanted the Crown Prince dead? Wouldn't that make her heartless, unkind, and guilty of mistreating the Crown Prince? Moreover, what did he mean by "don't take it to heart"! Now Consort Xian was taking it even more to heart.
Finally, Fubao presented the gifts he had brought. "His Highness the Crown Prince asked me to bring all the bird's nest from the Eastern Palace. These were all sent to the Eastern Palace by Imperial Noble Consort back then, so they must be of excellent quality. He hopes the Consort and His Majesty won't let today's incident create a rift between you, or it would be the Crown Prince's great fault."
Having said this, Fubao placed down the gift box, bowed respectfully, and departed, leaving no room for criticism.
After Fubao left, Consort Xian opened the box of bird's nest while suppressing her anger. Inside were messily arranged bird's nest strips - all malformed fragments pressed together that were definitely not fit to be sent to the Crown Prince.
Consort Xian had never imagined that the Imperial Noble Consort had been embezzling from the Eastern Palace's provisions!
"Crown Prince! And that foolish woman Imperial Noble Consort!" Having said this, the large box of inferior bird's nest strips was swept to the floor.
Consort Xian was so angry her chest heaved violently. Her sharp eyes turned to the senior palace maid beside her, "Go, send word to my father. Regarding the Spring Banquet matter, he must handle it well! It would be best to find someone to catch them in the act and ruin his reputation completely!"
"Yes!"
The Empress Dowager's maternal family held prominent positions at court, but the third branch was now shrouded in gloom. The head of the third branch had been fined, the only eldest son of the third branch had been stripped of his heir apparent title, and the atmosphere among the other Li family members was also very oppressive - they didn't know what the current Emperor's attitude toward the Li family truly was.
Soon, Consort Xian's birth father - the current Emperor's maternal uncle, the Empress Dowager's eldest brother, Minister of Justice Li An - received Consort Xian's letter.
After reading the letter, Li An burned it. He pondered for a moment and said, "The Spring Banquet has always been managed by the Ministry of Rites. Third brother currently serves in the Ministry of Rites - he's the perfect person for this task."
"Go, summon third brother. Let him redeem himself through merit."
That night, Li Yuan, who had been stripped of his heir apparent title, lay on his bed in agony. His ribs ached in front, his buttocks hurt behind - no position was comfortable.
"If the Crown Prince ever falls into my hands, I'll torment him thoroughly, making him unable to live or die as he wishes!"
Just as Li Yuan was crying out in pain, Marquis Nan'an entered his room. Upon seeing his father, Li Yuan immediately pleaded, "Father, you must avenge me!"
Seeing Li Yuan's pitiful state, Marquis Nan'an couldn't help but reveal the Spring Banquet plan. Li Yuan's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he immediately begged his father to let him be the one to catch them in the act!
To make his son happy, Marquis Nan'an naturally agreed wholeheartedly, then warned Li Yuan never to tell anyone about it.
Li Yuan naturally agreed readily, though inwardly he was thinking about inviting his dissolute friends to the Spring Banquet to watch the grand spectacle.