jdhmnovel Chapter 292 The Rebellious Palace Maid
Chapter 292 The Rebellious Palace Maid
The biting north wind, carrying fine snowflakes, relentlessly battered the palace walls, draping the entire Xijing Kingdom's palace in a cold, silvery coat.
Inside the imperial study, candlelight flickered as Jiang Liushen bent over his desk, reviewing memorials, his brow furrowing and relaxing intermittently.
Just then, a eunuch rushed into the study, looking flustered.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! His Highness the Crown Prince was drugged by a palace maid as if he had been assassinated. Now His Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Su have captured the palace maid and have come to apologize to Your Majesty!" The eunuch knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling.
The vermilion brush in Jiang Liushen's hand fell to the ground with a "snap."
The ink spread across the rice paper, resembling a strange dark cloud.
"What did you say? Such a thing is true!" He stood up abruptly, his dragon robe billowing wildly with the movement.
"Bring that palace maid to the Imperial Study immediately. I want to interrogate her myself!"
Before long, Cui'er was escorted to the Imperial Study by the guards. At this moment, Cui'er's hair was disheveled, and her eyes were filled with fear.
Upon seeing Jiang Liushen, she knelt down with a thud, trembling all over.
"You're Cui'er? How dare you!"
Jiang Liushen looked down at Cui'er, his voice icy, "Why did you drug the Crown Prince? Who ordered you to do it?"
Cui'er sobbed, "Your Majesty, this servant...this servant was confused for a moment, and has long admired His Highness the Crown Prince."
Seeing that Miss Su was favored, he became jealous and plotted to drug her to get close to His Highness. "Please, Your Majesty, spare my life!"
Jiang Liushen's eyes widened in anger, and he slammed his fist on the table: "You audacious lowly servant! As a palace maid, how dare you covet the Crown Prince and commit such a heinous act! You deserve to die! The Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the country. Your actions are a blatant provocation against the royal family and a trampling on the laws and regulations of the country!"
The eunuch standing nearby said cautiously, "Your Majesty, according to palace rules, anyone who intends to harm a member of the royal family shall be executed."
Jiang Liushen paced back and forth, his anger surging like a raging tide. "I thought everyone in the palace revered the royal family and obeyed the palace rules, but I never expected such a scoundrel as you to emerge! If you are not severely punished, how can we maintain public order? How can we uphold the dignity of the royal family?"
At this moment, Jiang Youan and Su Liyue arrived at the Imperial Study. After bowing, Jiang Youan said, "Father, I was careless for a moment and almost fell into this lowly maid's trap. Fortunately, Miss Su noticed and prevented a disaster."
Jiang Liushen looked at his son, his expression softening slightly: "You'an, this is not your fault. That wretched maid was scheming and impossible to guard against. Miss Su, it is thanks to your alertness that You'an was protected this time."
Su Liyue bowed and said, "Your Majesty flatters me. This is my duty. It's just a pity that I couldn't stop Cui'er's evil deeds in time, which put Your Highness in danger."
Jiang Liushen's gaze fell on Cui'er again, his eyes filled with disgust: "Cui'er, what you did today is unforgivable. I have decided that tomorrow at noon, you will be taken to the Meridian Gate and beheaded as a warning to others!"
Upon hearing this, Cui'er collapsed to the ground, crying out in despair, "Your Majesty, spare me! I know I was wrong..." However, Jiang Liushen remained unmoved and waved for the guards to take Cui'er away.
After Cui'er was taken away, Jiang Liushen looked at Jiang You'an and Su Liyue and said earnestly, "You'an, Miss Su, this incident has served as a wake-up call for us. The palace may seem peaceful, but there are undercurrents beneath. You must be careful in your future actions and never give those with ill intentions another chance."
Jiang Youan and Su Liyue replied in unison, "Your Majesty, we will follow your teachings."
Back in his palace, Jiang Youan was still shaken: "Miss Su, if it weren't for you today, the consequences would have been unimaginable." Su Liyue nestled in Jiang Youan's arms: "Your Highness, from now on we will support each other and be able to cope with all kinds of crises in the palace."
The next day, the snow stopped and the sun shone on the glazed tiles of the palace, reflecting a dazzling light.
At the Meridian Gate, a huge crowd had gathered, all waiting for Cui'er's execution.
Cui'er was led to the execution platform, her face pale and her eyes vacant.
With the executioner's order, a flash of light and Cui'er's head fell to the ground, eliciting gasps from the crowd.
After this incident, the palace maids and eunuchs were all on edge and became even more cautious in their actions.
Inside the imperial study, the atmosphere was as heavy as the calm before a storm. Jiang Liushen, still seething with anger, paced back and forth, his footsteps echoing heavily on the blue brick floor. Jiang Youan and Su Liyue stood by his side. Su Liyue glanced at Jiang Youan with concern from time to time, while Jiang Youan, though trying to remain calm, still wore a pallor of someone who had survived a close call.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached. Jia Xiaoyan, dressed in a magnificent gown but with slightly disheveled hair, rushed into the imperial study in a panic. "You'an!" she cried, her voice trembling with worry.
Jia Xiaoyan rushed straight to Jiang Youan, grabbing his arm tightly with both hands and scrutinizing him from head to toe, as if to make sure her son was unharmed. "My son, how are you? Are you hurt?" Her fingertips trembled slightly, her eyes reddened, and her gaze was filled with heartache and anxiety.
Seeing his mother's anxious expression, Jiang Youan felt a warmth in his heart and gently patted Jia Xiaoyan's hand: "Mother, I'm fine. Thanks to Miss Su for discovering that palace maid's conspiracy in time, I am safe and sound."
Jia Xiaoyan then turned her gaze to Su Liyue, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Miss Su, I owe you so much this time. If it weren't for you, You'an would have met with misfortune, and I would not have been able to live!" As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her face.
Su Liyue stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty is too kind. Protecting His Highness is my duty. The situation was urgent at the time, and I only did my best."
Jia Xiaoyan pulled Su Liyue's hand and held it tightly: "Miss Su, you are You'an's savior, and also a great benefactor to my son and me. From now on, if anyone in this palace dares to make things difficult for you, just tell me."
At this moment, Jiang Liushen stopped and sighed deeply: "This incident was due to my negligence, which put You'an in danger. How could a mere palace maid so easily obtain the medicine and almost succeed? The security and management of the palace must be thoroughly investigated!"
Jia Xiaoyan looked at Jiang Liushen, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes: "Your Majesty, You'an is our precious child. How could such a thing happen in the palace? Those responsible must be severely punished!"
Jiang Liushen nodded slightly: "I have already ordered that the palace maid beheaded and her head displayed to the public at noon tomorrow. In addition, I will arrange for special personnel to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the security and management of the palace to prevent such incidents from happening again."
Jiang Youan said, "Father, Mother, although this incident was dangerous, it has served as a wake-up call for us. I will be more careful and cautious in the future and will no longer cause you any worry."
Jia Xiaoyan touched Jiang Youan's face with heartache: "Youan, you must be careful when you act in this palace. People are treacherous, and it's impossible to guard against them all."
Su Liyue also said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will always be by His Highness's side and protect him."
Jia Xiaoyan looked at Su Liyue with relief in her eyes: "With Miss Su here, I feel much more at ease. Miss Su, from now on, you two must support each other and work together to deal with the various crises in the palace."
Inside the imperial study, the flickering candlelight illuminated the solemn faces of everyone present. Although the perilous crisis had temporarily subsided, Jia Xiaoyan knew that the palace's tranquility was merely a facade; countless eyes were still watching them from the shadows. She secretly resolved to create a safe haven for her son and Su Liyue, protecting them from harm in this complex court intrigue.