Tyrannical Wang's Beloved Wife

Chapter 498.4: A Play, An Unexpected Harvest

However, for Li Hong Yuan, an accident outside of his control, regardless of whether the final outcome was good or bad, all wasn’t allowed, especially when it was even caused by his own people. “Have the later matters explained clearly, afterwards, go receive the punishment on your own.”

“Yes.” Gong Jiu had everything that happened afterwards explained in detail. Afterwards, he just took his leave.

“In other words, his Majesty was probably threatened, but now, not having the misgivings anymore, the person causing trouble should be uncovered very soon.”

“That won’t have anything to do with us.” Li Hong Yuan wasn’t the least bit interested in caring about what kind of feelings his blood-related father had.

“Then what about the original follow-up plan? Are we still going to use or not?”

“The Imperial Noble Consort’s ceremonial ritual should be held sooner than later. The things that were originally planned still need to delay a little. As such, first have the ceremonial rituals handled. As for him, since he’s fine, then no need to involve him. Believed that unless necessary, the Imperial Noble Consort won’t want to have any involvement with him.”

“En, just follow your idea.”

Speaking of which, it was just a ceremonial altar. The reason why it took this long to finish was because although Le Cheng Emperor attached importance to it, sending people to every ceremonial altar location, with Li Hong Yuan also taking the opportunity to insert quite a few people, in the end, due to the large amount of ceremonial altars, there were always people thinking of every possible way to cause trouble, so naturally there were times where they were caught off guard. Thus, this work period just got dragged out, and because it was required for the overall progress to be the same everywhere, and in the end, even need to finish all at the same time, the work progress needed to be constantly reported, with this place getting delayed, and that place getting delayed.

One place getting delayed more or less just resulted in the other eighty-one places getting delayed altogether. Construction started on the second of the second lunar month, and finally by the last third of the eighth lunar month, the final auspicious date for the end of construction was finally selected.

An entire half year. The energy spent was much more than anticipated.

Can only say, there were even more people than expected that didn’t want this matter to be completed perfectly.

For it to have been able to finish, in the end, it was still because of Le Cheng Emperor’s unyielding attitude. If not for him, no matter how much Li Hong Yuan did in secret, he still may not necessarily be able to achieve his goal. After all, the scope involved was too wide. Even if Li Hong Yuan wanted to completely control in hand, the difficulty was still too high.

Li Hong Yuan submitted a proper and orderly memorandum. Le Cheng Emperor saw that the handwriting on the memorandum had all become lacking in characteristic, unlike back when he was getting married, because of being in high spirits, appeared outstanding and exquisite.

Le Cheng Emperor couldn’t help but heartache. In the past, when not knowing, because of sensing his intentions, he thus somewhat restrained himself, and now that he knew, this was really planning on completely falling silent?

Le Cheng Emperor’s head pulsed with pain, not knowing what to do. Moreover, this matter, he can’t even look for the officials to inquire. After all, the fewer the people that knew about this matter, the better. Or perhaps should say, the fewer the people that knew about him killing the Imperial Noble Consort, the better. Without it getting mentioned, he perhaps can even continue deceiving himself.

Just, Le Cheng Emperor was also very clear inside, this matter already got found out by Li Hong Yuan. Even if he really wants to cover up, merely just meeting his eyes, afraid it would all get heartlessly seen through. Moreover, right now, he simply didn’t dare to meet his son. That’s right, didn’t dare to. He was afraid of his son’s questions. That’s why, in his heart, he both wanted to dispel the ‘misunderstandings’, yet also didn’t want to go face, carrying such strong contradictions. However, his son perhaps didn’t want to see him either. Then, temporarily just leave it as such.

Le Cheng Emperor directly granted Li Hong Yuan’s memorandum, and at the same time, had this matter fully given to Li Hong Yuan to handle. Whoever he wants to use, he can just assign as he pleased. In fact, don’t even need to report to him.

This matter was even mentioned upon the imperial court. It can be said to have given Li Hong Yuan quite the authority. This was something that absolutely won’t happen under normal circumstances.

There were actually officials that wanted to persuade a few words, but as a result, as soon as one of them opened their mouth, they just got ruthlessly reprimanded by Le Cheng Emperor. Most of all, that person seemingly had some sort of relations with the Su family. As a result, it just evoked Le Cheng Emperor’s resentment towards Noble Consort Su. Thus, he just unrestrainedly took his anger out on them, directly removing their black hat^[1], stripping them of their official gown, and throwing them out of the imperial palace.

The others, upon seeing this, figured that this matter touched upon Le Cheng Emperor’s sensitive spot, thus kept quiet out of fear, not daring to say another word towards this.

Li Hong Yuan, after learning of this matter, laughed, laughing a bit mockingly, and a bit sinisterly.

Since he had such an opportunity delivered into his hands, then naturally, he will openly make use of, taking the opportunity to organize the power in his hand.

Because no one believed that Li Hong Yuan was able to do anything in a short period of time, then even if Li Hong Yuan met with someone, even rightfully ordering something, afraid others all won’t suspect anything. And for those that were in the know, they strangely produced a sense of superiority for ‘having foresight’. Just hope that certain people, after learning everything in the future, when thinking back to today, don’t feel that they got deceived too miserably. However, the ones that will think this, that is certainly only those that will be able to live.

Because he was able to openly assemble large amounts of manpower, many things just became smoother, and it won’t because of not having enough people get messed up by others.

The eighty-one ceremonial altars needed eighty-one high monks to preside over, and the one closest to the capital will be personally handled by Grandmaster Liao Chen.

Grandmaster Liao Chen’s prestige naturally won’t be questioned by anyone. As such, regardless of whether they were originally genuinely praying for the Imperial Noble Consort or not, for those that gather at this altar, all will be influenced by him, and from there, become pious.

Jing Wan and Li Hong Yuan naturally went over in person too. Jing Wan felt that what influenced them wasn’t Grandmaster Liao Chen’s prestige, but rather his certain inherent qualities, unable to be explained clearly. Jing Wan kept feeling that it seemingly was a bit demonic, oh no, misspoke, should be buddhist in nature.

While Jing Wan was suspecting whether or not it was effective, she took a trip to the palace, specifically going to visit Shu Consort Qin. Merely just seeing Shu Consort Qin, Jing Wan just knew, it really had an effect. Perhaps because it was two souls in one body, with the Imperial Noble Consort’s soul improving, Shu Consort Qin also receive quite the influence.

Firstly, because the aftereffect from the poisoning last year had already disappeared, her entire person was all glowing radiantly, her spirit very good. If switched with someone a bit more energetic, the changes certainly will be even more distinct.

Jing Wan vaguely mentioned, expressing that she knew of the Imperial Noble Consort’s existence. As such, she also definitively learned from Shu Consort Qin’s mouth that the Imperial Noble Consort was getting better.

As long as it was useful, then it naturally can’t be better. Towards this legitimate mother-in-law that she has never met before, Jing Wan harbored quite the favorable opinion.

Because Jing Wan had entered the palace under the excuse of paying respect to the imperial consorts, even if not needing to meet the Empress and Noble Consort Su, she nevertheless still needed to perfunctorily meet with Xian Consort Wei. However, for better or worse, this was once her love rival. Even though it was completely the other party’s own wishful thinking, completely unable to become a threat to Jing Wan, Jing Wan still gave the other party enough ‘respect’. Besides, right now, she was pregnant with an imperial offspring.

When Jing Wan saw the person, she roughly calculated the time. It seemingly was almost time to give birth. Moreover, the child was obtained through unusual means. As such, it was very likely to be born prematurely. That’s why, right now, it was possible to give birth at any time.

(T/N: Last part is implying the child might not be Le Cheng Emperor’s.)

Jing Wan inwardly clicked her tongue. Looks like this really wasn’t a good time.

Xian Consort Wei’s pregnancy didn’t go too well, enduring quite the hardship. Pregnant women normally would all grow plumper, but for her? She didn’t grow plumper, but instead appeared somewhat wasted away. In this way, her stomach seemed a bit terrifying.

Xian Consort Wei had long shut her palace gates, but still met with Jing Wan. Just, seeing Jing Wan’s glowing look, she instantly just got provoked. What happens if a pregnant woman waiting to give birth gets provoked? Naturally it’s holding the stomach and screaming in pain.

Jing Wan rolled her eyes.

Clearly they’d long been prepared, yet Yihe Palace still fell into chaos.

In the end, it was ultimately a child obtained at old age, so Le Cheng Emperor was still quite concerned, rushing over, “It was perfectly fine before, how come there’s suddenly such a disturbance?”

“Your Majesty, because Jin Wangfei………”

Jing Wan saw that ‘wishing to speak but hesitating’ look, coldly sneering inside. Think she’s a pushover, able to be grasped randomly? “Imperial father, this daughter-in-law guess that her Highness, after seeing this daughter-in-law, just thought our wangye.”

Le Cheng Emperor’s complexion instantly just darkened, and the palace servant that was still thinking of framing Jing Wan just now further went limp in the legs.

[1] The black hat is a symbol of status as a court official. Having it removed implies getting fired.