Proud Feather

Chapter 36 Comfort
At the palace gate, Lin Wenyu, who was waiting to leave, said leisurely, "Congratulations, Master Gao, for receiving His Majesty's personal approval. Your future is promising!"

The tone sounded normal, but Gao Mian didn't dare to accept it. He humbly replied, "Minister Lin, you are too polite. I just did my job. It's all thanks to the princess."

How could Lin Wenyu take it seriously? Didn't everyone know what Princess Jiahe was like? It must be said that Gao Mian's handling of this matter was truly remarkable. Without substantial evidence, as long as the Tian family denied the charges, there was nothing they could do. Yet, he had forced the princess to force her way through the situation in such an unreasonable way.

He underestimated Gao Mian. This method was much better than the flattery he had originally thought.

Lin Wenyu smiled and said, "I'll have to trouble you again, Mr. Gao. Our official position depends on you! Right, Minister Zhang?"

Zhang Ji said calmly, "The Censorate's job isn't to solve cases. I've been relying on you two."

Gao Mian and Lin Wenyu didn't take this seriously. Is it really that easy to be a censor? The Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple only target criminals, but the Censorate targets officials appointed by the imperial court!
As night falls, lights are lit in Yongchun Palace.

Concubine Tian Shu got off the sedan chair and walked into the warm room.

"Your Majesty." The trusted palace maid standing by the bed bowed and saluted.

Concubine Tian Shu looked at Tian Hui'er lying on the couch and asked, "How is it?"

The palace maid replied, "The imperial physician has examined him and has confirmed that there are no serious injuries. It's nothing serious."

Concubine Tian Shu nodded: "You go down."

"Yes."

The palace people left. Concubine Tian Shu sat down beside the bed and said calmly, "Why, are you angry with your aunt?"

Tian Huier, who had been lying on her side, lowered her arms from covering her face and cried, "Aunt..."

She felt extremely aggrieved. She was accused of a crime for no reason and was taken to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for torture, where she was given twenty strokes of the cane.

Her family had already become wealthy when she was born, and she had been pampered like a daughter of an official family. When had she ever suffered such hardship? Now her bottom was burning, and her body ached, and her heart ached even more.

"Aunt, what am I going to do? If this gets out, we'll become a laughing stock in the entire capital. And His Majesty said he'd send us back to our hometown. Are we going to live in the countryside forever?"

"So what?" Concubine Shu said calmly, "It's because you were too clever and mismanaged that things have gotten to this point. If you had reported this to Prince Xin's mansion from the beginning, why would it have come to this?"

Tian Huier was anxious: "I'm also afraid of getting my cousin into trouble! You said to go to Prince Xin's Mansion less often and not to get my cousin involved."

"That depends on whether you have the ability to handle it!" Tian Shufei said coldly, "Who do you think that is? The Dali Temple! Can a little girl like you who only knows some harem tricks fool you? Poisoning in court, haha, you actually believed it!"

Tian Huier felt even more aggrieved. How could she not believe it? The princess could really do such a thing!

But her aunt was obviously angry with her, so she could only swallow her rebuttal.

She became obedient, and Concubine Tian Shu's expression brightened: "Well, now that things have come to this, don't complain. Although the punishment was severe, the matter has finally been dealt with. When you go back, stay at home and take good care of yourself for a few days, and then follow me back to my hometown. Tell your father not to care what others say, and don't cause trouble, just go back and be a rich man."

Tian Huier was unwilling to accept it: "Aunt, is this the end of the matter?"

"What can we do now if it's not counted?" Tian Shufei said angrily, "You've seen how much His Majesty dotes on the princess. Not only are you being punished, but I've also been punished. His Majesty said I wasn't strict enough and told me to come back and reflect on myself. He even handed over the palace affairs to Concubine Xian. We lost miserably this time!" Tian Huier was shocked: "Why is it so serious? I've admitted it. What does this have to do with my aunt?"

Concubine Tian Shu couldn't figure it out either, so she could only guess: "Perhaps, His Majesty has transferred his feelings for the Crown Prince to the Princess, so naturally he cherishes and loves her even more than before."

"Then we..." Tian Huier became even more worried, "Do we still have a chance to come back?"

"What are you afraid of?" Concubine Tian Shu snorted. "No matter how good the prince is, he's gone. We just have to wait patiently. When your cousin comes forward, good things will naturally come."

"Will this matter affect my cousin?"

Concubine Tian Shu was certain: "No. His Majesty treats your cousin no worse than those two, it's just that outsiders don't know it."

Is that so? Tian Huier hesitated. She remembered that when the Crown Prince was around, her cousin was also a prince, but he acted like the Crown Prince's follower. Did His Majesty care about her cousin?

Seeing her silence, Concubine Tian Shu thought she was still sad, so she softened her voice: "Aunt knows I have wronged you this time. Don't worry, your cousin will remember it. After a few years, when things have calmed down, I will take you back."

Hearing her say this, Tian Hui'er cried, "As long as my aunt and cousin remember, then Hui'er's suffering today will not be in vain. But..."

"Just what? If you have something that worries you, just tell me."

Tian Hui'er lowered her head and said timidly, "Dad said that he would arrange a marriage for me next year. I'm afraid that I'll end up in the countryside and won't be able to come back..."

Concubine Tian Shu smiled. "I thought it was a big deal. What good marriage can there be in the countryside? I will tell your father not to arrange a marriage for you. If things take too long and you miss the right age to arrange a marriage, I will ask your cousin to take you into the palace and give you the title of Fengyi. How do you think?"

If I have a title, I am a legitimate concubine. If my cousin inherits the throne, then I will be a concubine!
Tian Huier was overjoyed, her face full of emotion: "Thank you, aunt!"

Concubine Tian Shu patted her hands and said, "If nothing else, your aunt will have you escorted out of the palace. Remember, don't say anything, don't listen to anything, just heal your wounds honestly and return home quietly!"

"Yes, Hui'er will listen to Auntie."

Before the palace gates closed, Tian Hui'er was escorted out of the palace in a sedan chair. The eunuchs accompanying her were unable to return home, so they had to rest at the Tian family's house for the night.

In the middle of the night, the back door opened quietly, and a figure walked out of the Tian family, walked through the long streets and alleys, and finally entered a luxurious mansion.

Under the dim light, Second Prince Chu He listened quietly to the eunuch's report. Finally, he said, "So, not only did the matter fail, but my uncle's family was also implicated, is that right?"

The eunuch smiled and said, "Her Majesty said, if it doesn't work out, it won't work out. There will be another chance next time. Please don't be impulsive. His Majesty is currently in love with Princess Chong."

Chu He's face was filled with displeasure: "Is there no one who can deal with her? She's acting so recklessly, and Father isn't even angry!"

The eunuch said politely, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince has just passed away, so it's inevitable that His Majesty will be moved."

Chu He sneered, "I know! Father has always missed the Queen and has been especially fond of my elder brother and A Ling. Now Father misses my elder brother again and is doubly kind to A Ling. Humph! Why doesn't he share his favor with me?"

"Your Highness..."

Chu He grew increasingly irritated as he spoke. "I just hate them like this! They're a family, they love each other. Who am I? Who is my mother?"