Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 1397: Chapter 1397: The Gate General’s Powerful Consort (Part 7)

Yiran Palace.

The vast palace exuded coolness, completely detached from the oppressive heat outside.

A young girl clad in luxurious court attire stood gracefully inside the hall, tending to a potted flower.

”Chunxiu, why is this flower dying?” the girl asked in a charming voice.

”I don’t know either...” the attending palace maid shook her head. ”Shall I take it to the Prince for a look?”

The girl thought for a while, then showed a hint of disdain in her eyes. ”No, just replace it with a new one.”

Chunxiu replied, ”Yes.”

”Why hasn’t that little fool come to see me today?”

”Your Ladyship, be careful of eavesdroppers,” Chunxiu reminded her. ”His Majesty went to Calm Palace today.”

”...” Noble Consort Xuan pouted. ”His Majesty hadn’t gone there for days; why did he go today?”

Before Chunxiu could answer, someone suddenly entered from outside.

”Your Ladyship, someone from His Majesty’s side came to take back all the ice chests from Calm Palace.”

Noble Consort Xuan was initially stunned and then astounded. ”What did you say?”

The palace attendant could only repeat the message.

Instantly, Noble Consort Xuan’s expression darkened. ”Ha, impressive that woman is! In such a short time, she’s already got that little fool wrapped around her finger!!”

Chunxiu, beside her, reminded Noble Consort Xuan to mind her words.

Noble Consort Xuan, usually other than putting on appearances before the Young Emperor, doesn’t really care much otherwise.

First, because the Young Emperor understands very little and is easy to fool.

Second, because the Regent Prince backs her up.

”I simply won’t give it.” She wanted to see who that little brat favored more!

After all her efforts, they couldn’t be for naught, could they?

That woman...

What use is The Empress Dowager? Without any power or influence, she’s subject to others’ whims.

”Your Ladyship...”

”Get out!”

The palace attendants, seeing Noble Consort Xuan’s anger, hurried out sheepishly.

Failing to retrieve the ice chests, they reported directly to Eunuch Yang De.

Eunuch Yang De personally sent someone over.

Previously, Eunuch Yang De was with the late Emperor; he now honors the late Emperor’s wishes by caring for the Young Emperor.

His position in the palace is exceedingly high.

No matter how favored and arrogant Noble Consort Xuan is, she couldn’t afford excessive brazenness at this time.

”Eunuch Yang De, His Majesty agreed to this for me. How can it be taken away now? In such hot weather, what if I suffer heatstroke?”

”Noble Consort, as His Majesty has entrusted you with the harem, you should set a proper example and take good care of The Empress Dowager, don’t you think?”

Eunuch Yang De’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

His words were also extremely official.

”If The Empress Dowager needs it, the Imperial Household Department can send more,” Noble Consort Xuan suggested.

Eunuch Yang De still smiled amiably. ”This is an order from His Majesty, hoping Noble Consort won’t upset him.”

Noble Consort Xuan: ”...”

”Though His Majesty is young, he understands the etiquette of respecting the elders. Coming from a prestigious family, you should understand these morals; The Empress Dowager is your elder.”

”...”

Noble Consort Xuan thought of the one in Calm Palace, who was about her age yet ranked higher, and felt a sour pang in her heart.

But, considering her current position, Noble Consort Xuan felt somewhat comforted.

Noble Consort Xuan allowed Eunuch Yang De to take the items away.

However, as Eunuch Yang De left, he instructed her to go to Calm Palace and apologize.

Noble Consort Xuan: ”???”

Eunuch Yang De relayed the message and, regardless of her reaction, took away the ice chests meant for Calm Palace.

”Did you hear that? Chunxiu, did you hear it? That little fool actually wants me to apologize to Calm Palace!”

”Your Ladyship, she is The Empress Dowager...”

”What Empress Dowager? The late Emperor, who knows why, brought her into the palace before passing. It was merely luck.”

”Your Ladyship, please say no more,” Chunxiu urged with concern.

Even though Yiran Palace was filled with their own people.

They couldn’t be sure someone wouldn’t overhear.

”About the apology...”

”I’m not going.”

She couldn’t believe that the little fool, who listened to her every word, could do anything to her now.

-

Chuzheng didn’t wait for an apology from Noble Consort Xuan, nor did she say anything about it.

Only Su Xue complained a bit: ”Empress Dowager, isn’t Noble Consort Xuan a bit too bold, defying His Majesty’s orders like that.”

Chuzheng spoke indifferently, ”Without boldness, how could one dare to become a consort to a child.”

Su Xue: ”...”

Su Xue observed Chuzheng for a while. ”Empress Dowager, aren’t you upset?”

”Why be upset?”

”Noble Consort Xuan is so excessive...” Su Xue lamented with grievance, ”just because there’s no one to back us...”

The Grand Tutor’s Mansion merely held a nominal position, without power or influence.

Previously, when His Majesty was close to The Empress Dowager, things were slightly better. Recently, His Majesty hadn’t come by, and everyone in the palace started to flatter the powerful.

Chuzheng said, ”In the future, if there’s a problem, just tell me.”

”Empress Dowager...”

”Help me with something,” Chuzheng waved a finger to Su Xue.

Su Xue leaned in, and Chuzheng whispered something to her.

”Empress Dowager, this...”

”Go on.”

Chuzheng waved a hand.

Su Xue hesitated, sighed, and left the hall.

-

Following Chuzheng’s instructions, Su Xue delivered something to the Regent Prince’s Mansion.

Upon hearing it was from The Empress Dowager, the Regent Prince bemusedly had the items brought before him.

A large box, the Regent Prince raised an eyebrow and personally opened it.

A strong scent of herbs hit the nose.

The box was filled with medicines.

The Regent Prince chuckled softly, picking a pack of medicine and asking the servant nearby, ”What does this mean?”

The servant: ”...”

How would he know what it meant?

”Prince, someone from the palace is here to deliver a decree.”

The Regent Prince’s eyes gleamed with interest, his voice dragging, ”Oh? Was it sent by the Emperor?”

”No, it’s from The Empress Dowager.”

”...”

The one delivering the decree was the Minister of Dali Temple.

Someone in charge of judicial matters came to deliver a decree to him.

What was the meaning of this?

The Regent Prince didn’t feel angry; rather, he found it intriguing.

The Empress Dowager’s decree was very simple, urging him to take his medicine diligently and recover soon to attend court and handle state affairs.

”Prince, please take care of your health; the court can’t function without you,” the Minister of Dali Temple earnestly advised, ”The Empress Dowager asked me to supervise your medication, hoping for your speedy recovery.”

”Supervise?” The Regent Prince detected something amiss.

”Indeed.” The Minister of Dali Temple, though unsure why he, just passing by, was caught by The Empress Dowager and tasked with delivering the decree.

But since it was the Empress Dowager’s decree, he intended to fulfill it earnestly.

Thus, the Minister of Dali Temple, thrice daily, frequented the Regent Prince’s Mansion.

The Regent Prince wouldn’t take the medicine, and he wouldn’t leave.

The Minister of Dali Temple was notoriously stubborn, known throughout the court.

And yet, he wasn’t one of the Regent Prince’s men.

And the Regent Prince couldn’t afford to offend him lightly, for now.

The Regent Prince had someone check Chuzheng’s sent medicines; they weren’t poison.

Just ordinary tonics.

Yet, strangely, the medicine was unbearably bitter.

The Regent Prince was forced to drink it, contemplating life.

He had ways to avoid it, however, like there were eyes watching; the next day, a box of medicine would appear at the door, accompanied by a letter.

—Regent Prince, diligently take your medicine, don’t dismiss my goodwill. For every bowl you dump, I’ll send you a box, until you finish it all. It would be best not to defy the decree; I have ways to ensure you’re supervised in taking the medicine.

The handwriting was upright, with a hint of audacity.

Just like those words on him that hadn’t washed off yet.