After leaving the Lincui Palace, the Crown Prince looked at the little girl lying motionless on the soft couch, with only half of her face exposed. Several strong female officials were about to lift her and place her in a sedan chair.
"Let me handle this. Sisters, there's no need to trouble you," Yuan Yi gently lifted Hua Liuili and placed her horizontally in the sedan chair, ensuring her stability.
The female officials: "..."
Even the maids in the Hua family's estate possessed extraordinary strength. No wonder the Great General managed to defeat the Jinpo Kingdom and obtain their surrender.
After the sedan curtain was lowered, Hua Liuili, who was unconscious, adjusted her posture slowly and gently without even the slightest movement of her eyelids.
This sedan chair is really comfortable, fragrant, and soft, making one feel as if they are in the clouds.
"Your Highness, where should we arrange for Xianzhu?" When they snatched her away from the Lincui Palace, the palace attendants of the Eastern Palace were swift and efficient. However, it wouldn't be appropriate to directly send her back to the Eastern Palace. There would be suspicions of royal involvement in causing trouble but shirking responsibility.
"Imperial Grandmother is very fond of the girl from the Hua family. Now that she has had a close call, the Empress Dowager insists on showing her concern and wants her to recuperate in the Shoukang Palace for a few days," The Crown Prince turned his head and glanced at the sedan chair, "Let's go. I'll accompany you to send Hua Liuili to the Shoukang Palace."
The Empress Dowager was the most revered woman in the harem. By arranging for the girl from the Hua family to stay with the Imperial Grandmother, it would further demonstrate the royal family's concern for this matter.
Consort Xian wanted to keep the girl in the Lincui Palace to prove her innocence to the world, that she wasn't the one behind the attempted poisoning of the Hua family girl. However, she had not considered that the culprit might be lurking within the Lincui Palace, and it would be dangerous to keep the girl there.
If there were a competition related to intelligence in the harem, he would definitely ask his father to award Consort Xian the Best Sympathy Award.
Upon receiving the news sent in advance by the Crown Prince's people, the Empress Dowager, accompanied by eunuchs, palace maids, and imperial physicians, surrounded the sedan chair and brought Hua Liuili to a side hall in the Shoukang Palace.
Just as the Crown Prince was about to approach the Empress Dowager to speak, he saw the Empress Dowager, with a face full of concern, following behind the imperial physician and entering the side hall. He silently retracted his steps.
He sat in the front hall for about two cups of tea's time before the Empress Dowager returned from the side hall. She said to the Crown Prince, who was leisurely drinking tea, "Yuansu, fortunately, you brought Liuili over. This Grieving One couldn't rest assured if she was left with Consort Xian."
"Liuili?" The Crown Prince quickly realized that this was the given name of the girl from the Hua family. Despite being a member of a family of martial generals, she was given such a delicate name, indicating how highly her family valued and cherished her.
If she were to be poisoned within the palace...
The Crown Prince lightly tapped the tabletop with his index finger. It was evident that the mastermind behind this held deep resentment towards Consort Xian and even harbored ill intentions towards Great Jin.
However, the Empress Dowager didn't care about what the Crown Prince was thinking. She didn't ask or say much, only had palace servants bring some of the Crown Prince's favorite snacks, "Yuansu, have something to eat."
"Thank you, Imperial Grandmother," The Crown Prince washed his hands in the basin and used silver chopsticks to pick up the snacks and put them into his mouth.
"You're a good child. You're just a bit thin," The Empress Dowager remembered the Crown Prince's poor health in his early years and the suffering he endured. Without blaming him for not taking care of himself properly, she was already filled with concern, "You'll have dinner here at your Imperial Grandmother's place. I'll have them make some delicious dishes for you."
Helpless, the Crown Prince complied. Anyway, if being thin made the Empress Dowager worry about him, all he could do was eat well and not argue.
Half an hour later, Hua Liuili woke up from her unconscious state. Supporting her forehead, she slowly sat up and asked, "Where is this?"
"Xianzhu, you're awake? This is the Shoukang Palace. Since you're not feeling well, please lie down and rest for a while," The palace maids showed joy on their faces when they saw Hua Liuili wake up.
"This is such a small matter. It's not worth troubling the Empress Dowager," Hua Liuili wanted to get up but weakly sat back down.
"Xianzhu, please rest quickly."
"The imperial physician has arrived."
"Quickly inform the Empress Dowager."
Under the reassurance of the palace maids, Hua Liuili eventually settled quietly at the head of the bed. When she heard footsteps outside the door, she looked up and smiled obediently.
The first person to enter was the Empress Dowager, followed by the Crown Prince and Hua Changkong.
After receiving the news, Hua Changkong rushed to the palace as quickly as possible. When he heard that the Empress Dowager wanted to keep his sister in the palace for a few days to recuperate, he earnestly declined. However, the Empress Dowager's attitude was firm. She had made up her mind to keep his sister here.
He sympathetically glanced at his well-behaved younger sister and guiltily lowered his head.
Little Sister, Third Brother has already tried his best. You should take good care of yourself in the palace.
Noticing an unusual expression on Hua Changkong's face, Hua Liuli weakly leaned against the bedside and said, "I am guilty of causing worry to the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince."
"As long as you're safe, nothing else matters," The Empress Dowager adjusted Hua Liuli's blanket with a gentle tone, "The two of you are young and living alone in your family's estate. You don't know how to take care of yourselves properly. This Grieving One wants to keep you in the palace for a few days. However, Changkong won't allow it. You're in such a weak state now. If you return to the Hua estate, this Grieving One won't feel at ease."
Fearing that the siblings might overthink the situation, the Empress Dowager added a few more words, "Stay for three to five days until you regain some strength, then this Grieving One will personally arrange for someone to send you back."
Worried that she hadn't made herself clear and that others might interpret it as the royal family distrusting the Hua family, the Empress Dowager kept Hua Liuli in the palace as a hostage. The original good intention was twisted by others with malicious intent.
The Empress Dowager worried that her words were not clear enough. She feared that in other people’s eyes, it was the imperial family distrusting the Hua family, and therefore, keeping the Hua family’s daughter in the palace as a hostage. Those people would warp the original goodwill into an ulterior motive.
"Wouldn't that be too much of a disturbance for Your Majesty?" Hua Liuli's cheeks turned red, "Actually, I have some chronic health issues, so it's really not worth Your Majesty's trouble."
"At such a young age, how would you know what's worth it or not? Taking good care of your health is the most worthwhile thing," After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she turned her head to look at the Crown Prince outside the curtain, "Yuansu, don't you agree?"
"Imperial Grandmother is right," the Crown Prince, who was alone outside the curtain, answered cooperatively.
Both the imperial family and the Hua family were afraid that the other side would suspect them, and both wanted to convince the other that they sincerely cared for each other. The Hua family was loyal to the imperial family, there was no doubt about that.
So, with both sides holding beautiful expectations, Hua Liuli was left in the Shoukang Palace, living a life of consuming nourishing food.
The Empress Dowager's concerns were well-founded. After news of Hua Liuli being left in the palace spread, it sparked various speculations.
The imperial family is keeping the daughter of a general in the palace for no apparent reason, doesn't this strategy sound familiar?
Wasn't it the same tactic used by the young Emperor of the previous dynasty when he overthrew a general who acted as a regent?
It also seemed similar to what the previous Emperor did when dealing with powerful regional lords who were loyal to their own armies.
Their guesses were indeed correct. His Majesty had become wary of the Hua family.
"Once the birds have flown away, it's useless to keep the bow hidden." How many heroes and talents had fallen because of this saying?
At this moment, in a certain room, a man angrily overturned the teacups on the table with a grim expression, "I don't believe this Hua Liuli has nine lives and can't be killed by poison!"
The subordinate kneeling in front of him silently wondered why they had to resort to poisoning when there were so many ways to kill someone. Perhaps this daughter of the Hua family was incompatible with poison?
Three days later, Hua Liuli stood in the courtyard of Shoukang Palace, looking up at the sparrows chirping on the branches. Her fingertips were starting to itch.
After abstaining from certain foods for a long time, even seeing sparrows made her mouth water.
"Do you find sparrows beautiful?" The Crown Prince stood five steps behind Hua Liuli, "If you like birds, I can have the palace attendants send two mynah birds to entertain you."
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli turned around and bowed to the Crown Prince, seemingly surprised by his sudden appearance behind her, her expression somewhat dazed.
"If you don't like mynah birds, parrots are also an option," The Crown Prince placed his hands behind his back and took two steps forward. "Imperial Grandmother is kind-hearted. When you're here, treat it as your own home."
Hua Liuli smiled but remained silent, sighing inwardly.
At home, she could lie down, read novels, and snack on goodies while having her beautiful maids massage her shoulders from time to time. She couldn't experience such happiness in Shoukang Palace.
Anyway, they were just being polite. There was no need to take it too seriously.
"Benwang heard that Xianzhu once saved Lin Daren at the relay station in Huanghuai County?"
Hua Liuli: No, I didn't want to save him.
"Everything was accidental. I dare not take credit for it."
"Xianzhu, don't belittle yourself. Lin Daren encountered several assassination attempts on the way, but thanks to the soldiers you arranged for his protection, he was able to arrive safely," The Crown Prince paused in his tone, "However, Benwang didn't bring up these matters to praise you."
Hua Liuli: "..."
Oh no, it felt like there was a lump in her chest. She felt like she might faint.
"Benwang suspects that the person who poisoned the cup at Lincui Palace and the one who wanted to assassinate Lin Daren are from the same faction," The Crown Prince looked at the girl in front of him, who had her head lowered and a blurry expression, "You disrupted their plans, so they want to retaliate against you."
And while at it, tidy up the Empress Dowager and her son, the Emperor, as well.
Hua Liuli: "Ah?"
She just wanted to deliberately tease that old man a little bit. Everything else was just a side effect.
"Forget it, talking to you about this will only make you more afraid," The Crown Prince said, "Stay in the palace for a few more days. Once the culprits are found, you can go back."
So they wanted her to stay in the palace because it was safer than outside?
She thanked him readily.
The Crown Prince looked at her young face, pale and lacking energy after being sick for a few days, "The plum blossom banquet a few days ago didn't end successfully due to an accident. How about Benwang take you to the plum garden today?"
Hua Liuli tugged at her cloak. Going to enjoy plum blossoms while hungry in such cold weather?
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness..." Before she could finish her words, Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief and started coughing.
The coughing became severe, and Hua Liuli turned pale, staggering as she was about to collapse.
Plum blossoms, what plum blossoms?
The maid by her side swiftly caught her as if she were a gust of wind.
"Your Royal Highness, please excuse us."
The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli and her maid, his expression momentarily frozen. How many times had she fainted for the maid to skillfully and steadily catch her like this?
"Your Royal Highness's kindness, I can only disappoint today."
If he insisted any further, she would faint right in front of him.
After all, she didn't have to marry into the imperial family, so she could lower her standards a bit. When she could pretend to be sick and lazy, she absolutely wouldn't take one more step.
She, Hua Liuli, the only daughter of the Hua family, would never admit defeat.
Krish728
Author's Note:
Hua Liuli: Take care of my health? What kind of life is that? Even if I have to die, I would never marry into the imperial family!
After leaving the Lincui Palace, the Crown Prince looked at the little girl lying motionless on the soft couch, with only half of her face exposed. Several strong female officials were about to lift her and place her in a sedan chair.
"Let me handle this. Sisters, there's no need to trouble you," Yuan Yi gently lifted Hua Liuili and placed her horizontally in the sedan chair, ensuring her stability.
The female officials: "..."
Even the maids in the Hua family's estate possessed extraordinary strength. No wonder the Great General managed to defeat the Jinpo Kingdom and obtain their surrender.
After the sedan curtain was lowered, Hua Liuili, who was unconscious, adjusted her posture slowly and gently without even the slightest movement of her eyelids.
This sedan chair is really comfortable, fragrant, and soft, making one feel as if they are in the clouds.
"Your Highness, where should we arrange for Xianzhu?" When they snatched her away from the Lincui Palace, the palace attendants of the Eastern Palace were swift and efficient. However, it wouldn't be appropriate to directly send her back to the Eastern Palace. There would be suspicions of royal involvement in causing trouble but shirking responsibility.
"Imperial Grandmother is very fond of the girl from the Hua family. Now that she has had a close call, the Empress Dowager insists on showing her concern and wants her to recuperate in the Shoukang Palace for a few days," The Crown Prince turned his head and glanced at the sedan chair, "Let's go. I'll accompany you to send Hua Liuili to the Shoukang Palace."
The Empress Dowager was the most revered woman in the harem. By arranging for the girl from the Hua family to stay with the Imperial Grandmother, it would further demonstrate the royal family's concern for this matter.
Consort Xian wanted to keep the girl in the Lincui Palace to prove her innocence to the world, that she wasn't the one behind the attempted poisoning of the Hua family girl. However, she had not considered that the culprit might be lurking within the Lincui Palace, and it would be dangerous to keep the girl there.
If there were a competition related to intelligence in the harem, he would definitely ask his father to award Consort Xian the Best Sympathy Award.
Upon receiving the news sent in advance by the Crown Prince's people, the Empress Dowager, accompanied by eunuchs, palace maids, and imperial physicians, surrounded the sedan chair and brought Hua Liuili to a side hall in the Shoukang Palace.
Just as the Crown Prince was about to approach the Empress Dowager to speak, he saw the Empress Dowager, with a face full of concern, following behind the imperial physician and entering the side hall. He silently retracted his steps.
He sat in the front hall for about two cups of tea's time before the Empress Dowager returned from the side hall. She said to the Crown Prince, who was leisurely drinking tea, "Yuansu, fortunately, you brought Liuili over. This Grieving One couldn't rest assured if she was left with Consort Xian."
"Liuili?" The Crown Prince quickly realized that this was the given name of the girl from the Hua family. Despite being a member of a family of martial generals, she was given such a delicate name, indicating how highly her family valued and cherished her.
If she were to be poisoned within the palace...
The Crown Prince lightly tapped the tabletop with his index finger. It was evident that the mastermind behind this held deep resentment towards Consort Xian and even harbored ill intentions towards Great Jin.
However, the Empress Dowager didn't care about what the Crown Prince was thinking. She didn't ask or say much, only had palace servants bring some of the Crown Prince's favorite snacks, "Yuansu, have something to eat."
"Thank you, Imperial Grandmother," The Crown Prince washed his hands in the basin and used silver chopsticks to pick up the snacks and put them into his mouth.
"You're a good child. You're just a bit thin," The Empress Dowager remembered the Crown Prince's poor health in his early years and the suffering he endured. Without blaming him for not taking care of himself properly, she was already filled with concern, "You'll have dinner here at your Imperial Grandmother's place. I'll have them make some delicious dishes for you."
Helpless, the Crown Prince complied. Anyway, if being thin made the Empress Dowager worry about him, all he could do was eat well and not argue.
Half an hour later, Hua Liuili woke up from her unconscious state. Supporting her forehead, she slowly sat up and asked, "Where is this?"
"Xianzhu, you're awake? This is the Shoukang Palace. Since you're not feeling well, please lie down and rest for a while," The palace maids showed joy on their faces when they saw Hua Liuili wake up.
"This is such a small matter. It's not worth troubling the Empress Dowager," Hua Liuili wanted to get up but weakly sat back down.
"Xianzhu, please rest quickly."
"The imperial physician has arrived."
"Quickly inform the Empress Dowager."
Under the reassurance of the palace maids, Hua Liuili eventually settled quietly at the head of the bed. When she heard footsteps outside the door, she looked up and smiled obediently.
The first person to enter was the Empress Dowager, followed by the Crown Prince and Hua Changkong.
After receiving the news, Hua Changkong rushed to the palace as quickly as possible. When he heard that the Empress Dowager wanted to keep his sister in the palace for a few days to recuperate, he earnestly declined. However, the Empress Dowager's attitude was firm. She had made up her mind to keep his sister here.
He sympathetically glanced at his well-behaved younger sister and guiltily lowered his head.
Little Sister, Third Brother has already tried his best. You should take good care of yourself in the palace.
Noticing an unusual expression on Hua Changkong's face, Hua Liuli weakly leaned against the bedside and said, "I am guilty of causing worry to the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince."
"As long as you're safe, nothing else matters," The Empress Dowager adjusted Hua Liuli's blanket with a gentle tone, "The two of you are young and living alone in your family's estate. You don't know how to take care of yourselves properly. This Grieving One wants to keep you in the palace for a few days. However, Changkong won't allow it. You're in such a weak state now. If you return to the Hua estate, this Grieving One won't feel at ease."
Fearing that the siblings might overthink the situation, the Empress Dowager added a few more words, "Stay for three to five days until you regain some strength, then this Grieving One will personally arrange for someone to send you back."
Worried that she hadn't made herself clear and that others might interpret it as the royal family distrusting the Hua family, the Empress Dowager kept Hua Liuli in the palace as a hostage. The original good intention was twisted by others with malicious intent.
The Empress Dowager worried that her words were not clear enough. She feared that in other people’s eyes, it was the imperial family distrusting the Hua family, and therefore, keeping the Hua family’s daughter in the palace as a hostage. Those people would warp the original goodwill into an ulterior motive.
"Wouldn't that be too much of a disturbance for Your Majesty?" Hua Liuli's cheeks turned red, "Actually, I have some chronic health issues, so it's really not worth Your Majesty's trouble."
"At such a young age, how would you know what's worth it or not? Taking good care of your health is the most worthwhile thing," After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she turned her head to look at the Crown Prince outside the curtain, "Yuansu, don't you agree?"
"Imperial Grandmother is right," the Crown Prince, who was alone outside the curtain, answered cooperatively.
Both the imperial family and the Hua family were afraid that the other side would suspect them, and both wanted to convince the other that they sincerely cared for each other. The Hua family was loyal to the imperial family, there was no doubt about that.
So, with both sides holding beautiful expectations, Hua Liuli was left in the Shoukang Palace, living a life of consuming nourishing food.
The Empress Dowager's concerns were well-founded. After news of Hua Liuli being left in the palace spread, it sparked various speculations.
The imperial family is keeping the daughter of a general in the palace for no apparent reason, doesn't this strategy sound familiar?
Wasn't it the same tactic used by the young Emperor of the previous dynasty when he overthrew a general who acted as a regent?
It also seemed similar to what the previous Emperor did when dealing with powerful regional lords who were loyal to their own armies.
Their guesses were indeed correct. His Majesty had become wary of the Hua family.
"Once the birds have flown away, it's useless to keep the bow hidden." How many heroes and talents had fallen because of this saying?
At this moment, in a certain room, a man angrily overturned the teacups on the table with a grim expression, "I don't believe this Hua Liuli has nine lives and can't be killed by poison!"
The subordinate kneeling in front of him silently wondered why they had to resort to poisoning when there were so many ways to kill someone. Perhaps this daughter of the Hua family was incompatible with poison?
Three days later, Hua Liuli stood in the courtyard of Shoukang Palace, looking up at the sparrows chirping on the branches. Her fingertips were starting to itch.
After abstaining from certain foods for a long time, even seeing sparrows made her mouth water.
"Do you find sparrows beautiful?" The Crown Prince stood five steps behind Hua Liuli, "If you like birds, I can have the palace attendants send two mynah birds to entertain you."
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli turned around and bowed to the Crown Prince, seemingly surprised by his sudden appearance behind her, her expression somewhat dazed.
"If you don't like mynah birds, parrots are also an option," The Crown Prince placed his hands behind his back and took two steps forward. "Imperial Grandmother is kind-hearted. When you're here, treat it as your own home."
Hua Liuli smiled but remained silent, sighing inwardly.
At home, she could lie down, read novels, and snack on goodies while having her beautiful maids massage her shoulders from time to time. She couldn't experience such happiness in Shoukang Palace.
Anyway, they were just being polite. There was no need to take it too seriously.
"Benwang heard that Xianzhu once saved Lin Daren at the relay station in Huanghuai County?"
Hua Liuli: No, I didn't want to save him.
"Everything was accidental. I dare not take credit for it."
"Xianzhu, don't belittle yourself. Lin Daren encountered several assassination attempts on the way, but thanks to the soldiers you arranged for his protection, he was able to arrive safely," The Crown Prince paused in his tone, "However, Benwang didn't bring up these matters to praise you."
Hua Liuli: "..."
Oh no, it felt like there was a lump in her chest. She felt like she might faint.
"Benwang suspects that the person who poisoned the cup at Lincui Palace and the one who wanted to assassinate Lin Daren are from the same faction," The Crown Prince looked at the girl in front of him, who had her head lowered and a blurry expression, "You disrupted their plans, so they want to retaliate against you."
And while at it, tidy up the Empress Dowager and her son, the Emperor, as well.
Hua Liuli: "Ah?"
She just wanted to deliberately tease that old man a little bit. Everything else was just a side effect.
"Forget it, talking to you about this will only make you more afraid," The Crown Prince said, "Stay in the palace for a few more days. Once the culprits are found, you can go back."
So they wanted her to stay in the palace because it was safer than outside?
She thanked him readily.
The Crown Prince looked at her young face, pale and lacking energy after being sick for a few days, "The plum blossom banquet a few days ago didn't end successfully due to an accident. How about Benwang take you to the plum garden today?"
Hua Liuli tugged at her cloak. Going to enjoy plum blossoms while hungry in such cold weather?
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness..." Before she could finish her words, Hua Liuli covered her mouth with a handkerchief and started coughing.
The coughing became severe, and Hua Liuli turned pale, staggering as she was about to collapse.
Plum blossoms, what plum blossoms?
The maid by her side swiftly caught her as if she were a gust of wind.
"Your Royal Highness, please excuse us."
The Crown Prince looked at Hua Liuli and her maid, his expression momentarily frozen. How many times had she fainted for the maid to skillfully and steadily catch her like this?
"Your Royal Highness's kindness, I can only disappoint today."
If he insisted any further, she would faint right in front of him.
After all, she didn't have to marry into the imperial family, so she could lower her standards a bit. When she could pretend to be sick and lazy, she absolutely wouldn't take one more step.
She, Hua Liuli, the only daughter of the Hua family, would never admit defeat.
Krish728
Author's Note:
Hua Liuli: Take care of my health? What kind of life is that? Even if I have to die, I would never marry into the imperial family!
