CHAPTER 238: CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE

Because she was too angry, Empress Xie’s vision blurred again.

"Mother, it’s not the first time Father has dined with Noble Princess Consort Rong and their sons. Why bother yourself about it?"

"Ordinarily, I wouldn’t care, but yesterday I was bitten by a snake, and the Emperor actually..." Empress Xie was furious at the thought of the emperor taking Noble Princess Consort Rong to rest in his tent last night.

The more Empress Xie thought about it, the angrier she became, and the more wronged she felt. Her eyes reddened instantly, her heart filled with bitterness.

"If I had known, I should have let the most venomous snake bite that wretch, Noble Princess Consort Rong, to death."

"Mother, are you sure you did the job cleanly? Father and the others won’t really find out you did it, will they?" The seventh prince was a bit worried.

Jiang Chuan, waiting by the side, said, "Your Highness, rest assured, the job was done very cleanly, the Emperor will definitely not find out it was us." She added, "The Emperor can only find out that the mastermind behind the scenes is Princess Consort De."

Hearing Jiang Chuan’s confident words, the seventh prince felt relieved.

"That’s good. However, Father didn’t severely punish Princess Consort De, demoting her to consort."

Empress Xie sneered, "Princess Consort De is, after all, from the Wang Family."

"But, with Father’s favoritism towards Noble Princess Consort Rong, it’s surprising he didn’t punish Princess Consort De severely."

Empress Xie didn’t like the seventh prince’s remark, "Even if the Emperor favors that wretch, Noble Princess Consort Rong, he won’t ignore the affairs of the court for her."

"A while ago, the Wang Family was penalized because of the matters of the family clans in Yangzhou. It’s impossible for the Emperor to demote Princess Consort De to a consort just because Noble Princess Consort Rong was bitten by a snake."

"The Emperor won’t take any action against the Wang Family for now, so Princess Consort De won’t be severely punished. After being under house arrest for a while, the Emperor will let her out."

"If that wretch, Noble Princess Consort Rong, had been bitten to death by the snake, Princess Consort De would have been severely punished." Empress Xie felt very regretful, "If I had known, I should have let the snake bite that wretch, Noble Princess Consort Rong, to death." With Noble Princess Consort Rong dead, Princess Consort De would have been doomed as well. Such a two-birds-one-stone situation, but she had been soft-hearted and hadn’t let the most venomous snake bite Noble Princess Consort Rong to death.

"Mother, if you had actually let the snake bite Noble Princess Consort Rong to death, Father would never let it go, and you’d be in danger." The seventh prince consoled Empress Xie, "This time, you already gave Noble Princess Consort Rong a big lesson by letting the snake bite her, venting some of your anger."

"Venting anger?" Empress Xie laughed at herself, "Noble Princess Consort Rong was bitten by a snake, and the Emperor was heartbroken about it. It’s like I tried to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice to lure it."

"Mother, you can’t say it like that." The seventh prince comforted Empress Xie, "At least Princess Consort De now resents Noble Princess Consort Rong, and the Wang Family resents the Yu Family. Which is a good thing for us."

Empress Xie felt much better after hearing this.

"You don’t have to keep me company, go hunting."

The seventh prince wasn’t very interested in hunting, he didn’t really want to go, but he had no choice but to go.

"Mother, please rest well."

"Be careful when you go hunting."

"I will be careful." The seventh prince rose and said, "Mother, I’m leaving now."

Elsewhere, in Liang Zhaoyi’s tent.

Liang Zhaoyi explained to Zhao Yao in detail about what happened last night.

After listening, Zhao Yao felt fortunate that Liang Zhaoyi’s tent was in the rear, otherwise they might have been bitten by the snakes.

Liang Zhaoyi heard from Tong Xi that last night, Xiao Bai drove away three snakes, otherwise Zhao Yao might have been bitten while asleep.

"Mother, why not let Xiao Bai stay in your tent, that way no snakes would dare come near."

Liang Zhaoyi smiled, "No need. Early this morning, the Emperor had someone sprinkle realgar powder around the tents, so no more snakes will come near."

After the snakes appeared last night, the Emperor had someone return to the palace to fetch realgar powder. This morning, realgar powder was scattered around all the tents.

"Xiao Bai can protect you, let Xiao Bai stay with you." A sudden thought crossed Liang Zhaoyi’s mind that the eighth prince might send someone to assassinate today or tomorrow, making her a bit worried. "You’d better not go hunting."

"Mother, I already promised fourth brother, if I suddenly don’t go, he will definitely become suspicious." Zhao Yao understood what Liang Zhaoyi was worried about and comforted her, "Eighth brother already said, don’t get near second brother and third brother. As long as I don’t hunt with them together with fourth brother, it’ll be fine."

"Just be cautious."

"Don’t worry, Mother, we’ll be alright." Zhao Yao asked, "Mother, what are you doing today?"

"Your second mother and I plan to pick wild vegetables, flowers, and herbs." Although this group of concubines, including Liang Zhaoyi, could participate in the spring hunt, they couldn’t hunt. They could only stroll around the campsite and take a look.