Chapter 174.2: Midnight Fright
This girl just happened to be from the village functionary’s family. And speaking of which, the eleventh prince was actually the one that got seduced. Perhaps she really was blinded by the wealth and honor, and wanting to accomplish this good matter as soon as possible, that girl decided to ‘not be picky when one’s hungry’ and picked one that appeared relatively easy to seduce, yet also had a very noble status. And a certain prince really did end up voluntarily taking the bait. Thus, there was this ‘date’ at night. But, unfortunately, just when this pair of wild mandarin ducks[1] were preparing to passionately and fiercely grind it out, they instead heard movements, running into another pair of wild mandarin ducks that were currently working hard in battle. That feeling really was something…………
Before, Le Cheng Emperor didn’t speak, so the eleventh prince also just quietly knelt there. This while, probably really for the sake of proving his innocence to his sixth older brother, he was just like a pea pod, having the cause and effect of his experience explained very clearly, not leaving out the slightest detail. That’s why, really, in the eyes of these unfavored princes, Li Hong Yuan’s tyrannical might, compared to Le Cheng Emperor’s heavenly might, further made them fearful.
Speaking of the eleventh prince, he wasn’t even fourteen yet, but ever since he experienced the pleasures between man and woman for the first time, there were signs of it getting out of hand. However, because he still resided in the palace, and also haven’t reached the age to take a wife, he could only fool around with the palace maids at his side. Afterwards, with the ‘intentions of a thief, yet lack the guts of a thief’, he secretly eyed the other beautiful palace maids in the palace, and even his imperial father’s imperial concubines, swallowing his saliva.
So it was also no wonder that he got seduced by someone that easily.
When he finished speaking, Le Cheng Emperor lifted his foot and shot it over. “Disgraceful thing.”
The eleventh prince staggered, but Le Cheng Emperor didn’t really use that much strength. Thus, he obediently kneeled back down properly again. However, he still carefully moved a little farther away.
In Le Cheng Emperor’s understanding, old six, that bastard, also lusted after beauties, but he knew to moderate himself, and wasn’t the type to disregard his body, indulging in debauchery every night. Yet this one, whose fur hasn’t even grown all out, was already daring to play around without the slightest restraint? Not scared of damaging his body? But, for better or worse, he was still his son, so afterwards, need to call the imperial physician to examine his pulse for him. However, even if his son did something wrong of his own accord, that was still having been led astray by others. Besides, this time, it was obvious that he got seduced. Then, this fault, further was on the other party. “Village functionary seems to have raised a good daughter.”
The village functionary knelt on the ground, trembling even more. His daughter on normal days was also just a little proud and arrogant, but who knew, who knew that she would do something this absurd. “Your Maj-Majesty……….” He uncontrollably shook, yet was unable to anymore words.
And that girl also wasn’t any better off, no longer having that ‘brazen passion’ from when she was seducing the eleventh prince.
“Your Majesty, in this consort’s opinion, since eleven has a bit of fondness towards this girl, how about just taking her with us. Being a servant girl isn’t anything bad either. After all, we are just passing through this village, so to just punish this one girl, it’ll be equal to disturbing this place’s tranquility, and for your Majesty’s reputation, it won’t be good either, what do you think?” Noble Consort Su suggested.
Towards the eleventh prince, this kind of person’s personality, she truly understood too well. It was purely just wanting to try something new. Having not eaten into his mouth, he probably would still think about it constantly, but once this fresh enthusiasm passes, and recalling tonight again, then looking again to this wild flower picked from the roadside, he would only recall how embarrassing this moment was, and if this wild flower were to be able to have good days, then that would be strange.
The methods for punishing people really didn’t necessarily need to be simple and crude. It can completely be a bit tactful, and won’t even ruin one’s reputation.
Le Cheng Emperor muttered to himself momentarily, “Just according to beloved consort’s words then.”
“Thanking imperial father, thanking your Highness.” The eleventh prince quickly kowtowed. The village functionary father and daughter pair didn’t understand the rules, but he can’t not understand.
“Enough, get lost to the side.”
Thus, this pair of wild mandarin ducks were easily let off just like that. However, for the other pair, it just wasn’t that simple.
Ruan Old Madam arrived slowly with Ruan Fang Fei, and behind her, even followed the old palace maid by Noble Consort Su’s side.
Clearly just now, she’d gone to wash up and change.
Ruan Fang Fei, because of the fright from the three human heads, was already dispirited and listless to begin with, even can be said to be somewhat muddled the whole time. And right now, even if she’s undergone a serious clean up, she still lost all her luster.
There was a kind of state, even if withered, you can still sense its will to live, and there was a kind of flower, regardless how gorgeous and beautiful, what you felt was still its rot emitting from the inside.
Ruan Fang Fei right now, without a doubt, was precisely the second kind of state. She was rotting and corrupting from the inside, just like a walking corpse, leisurely moving along. When she was pushed to kneel down by the old palace maid behind her, she was even absentminded.
And her mother, from the looks of it, didn’t appear to be in a very good mental state either.
Seeing his wife and daughter like this, Ruan Rui Zhong heartached to the extreme, his old tears nearly streaming down. He tremblingly got up and knelt by their side, “Your Majesty, afraid, there are still other secrets within this matter, asking your Majesty to please investigate thoroughly.” His daughter copulating with someone and getting caught, this has already become a fact that cannot be erased. As matters stand now, it was better to thoroughly dispute the facts clearly. His daughter perhaps got forced, or perhaps got set up by someone. This would be better than having her end up with an immoral reputation for not knowing shame.
Seeing his subject that has always been loyal to him like this, Le Cheng Emperor in the end still softened a little, lightly sighing, “Since that’s the case, then let the two of them have the whole matter explained clearly. Imperial younger brother, you speak first, exactly what happened.”
Have to say, right now, the most sullen was probably Zhong Qinwang. Until now, he still has no idea how this happened. He strangely just became an adulterer. It wasn’t until they were caught did he finally wake up a little, and when he discovered the situation he was facing, he nearly got scared to death.
“Imperial brother……..” Zhong Qinwang’s lips trembled, “This matter……” Even he didn’t know how to explain it. If said out loud, afraid no one would believe him. But, he had no other choice, “Because of the dry heat, it was difficult to sleep, and one was also continuously tossing and turning on the bed. Thus, this younger brother just got up for a walk, and was also just blindly wandering around. Because there were imperial guards patrolling at night, this younger brother didn’t bring any bodyguard either, and unknowingly just walked a little far. Hearing some sounds, one momentarily became somewhat timid again, so just turned back, but unexpectedly, one suddenly caught scent of a strange perfume, and afterwards, don’t remember anything else. Then after that, it was just nephew and them appearing, drawing over the imperial guards.” Zhong Qinwang said with a vexed expression.
This meant that he definitely wasn’t the one that schemed, but rather, the one that actually got schemed against.
Le Cheng Emperor’s brows were locked extremely tight.
Zhong Qinwang suddenly became anxious, “Imperial brother, imperial brother, please believe me, my words are absolutely all true. This Miss Ruan although still hasn’t entered the gates, but in name, she’s still sixth nephew’s person. Even if I’ve eaten a bear’s heart and a leopard’s guts, I still wouldn’t dare touch his person. Please believe me, I really am innocent.” He nearly shed tears as he spoke.
“Alright, just shut up.” Le Cheng Emperor opened his mouth in annoyance.
Noble Consort Su looked to Zhong Qinwang, and further didn’t have a good face. That while, when Sun Yi Jia was still Yuan’er’s soon-to-be wangfei, his son all dared to give birth to wicked thoughts, and now, this was nothing more than a soon-to-be side consort. Father and son made of the same mold, so what didn’t he dare to do.
Le Cheng Emperor’s gaze landed on Ruan Fang Fei, who from beginning to end, had her head lowered, “Ruan-shi, do you have anything you want to say?”
“Fang Fei, Fang Fei, if you have any grievances, say them all out, tell his Majesty. His Majesty will definitely seek justice for you. Fang Fei, say something, Fang Fei………..” Ruan Old Madam shook Ruan Fang Fei with all her might, crying uncontrollably.
After a long while, Ruan Fang Fei finally absentmindedly turned her head towards her mother slowly, “Say? Say what, there’s nothing to say.”
“Fang Fei!” Ruan Old Madam hugged her, “Good daughter, don’t be like this, don’t be like this…………….”
[1] Mandarin ducks symbolize an affectionate couple, or lovers in literature.