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Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 221

Chapter 221 - Who Exactly Has Gone Mad


Chu Yi was just about to depart through the palace gates when he was intercepted by a senior maidservant from Concubine Yin's side.

"Your Highness, Her Highness requests your presence."

Chu Yi cast a sideways glance at her.

The senior maidservant hurriedly lowered her head.

His Highness's gaze had always been icy, a deep-seated chill radiating from his frame to merge with the autumn night air, compelling one to take a step back in fear.

Just when she assumed Chu Yi would refuse,

the man strode forward, heading toward Changqiu Palace.

It was already near the end of the hour of the Dog. Lights were extinguished across many palace halls, and the rhythmic tap-tap-tap of footsteps echoed through the desolate corridors.

Before long, he arrived at the grand hall where Concubine Yin resided.

The moment Chu Yi reached the entrance, a teacup came flying straight out at him.

He did not even need to dodge.

Because he knew his Imperial Mother would never truly harm him.

The teacup shattered on the ground three paces away from him.

"Look at you! How many times have you stirred up trouble in just these few short days?!" Concubine Yin parted the bead curtain and walked out. "First, you defied the imperial decree and rejected the marriage proposal, then you took control of the Yun Family Army without authorization. Now, you actually dared to kill the Empress Dowager's trusted servants! Nanny Qin was someone who walked with her head held high in this palace, yet you severed both her arms! You... you... you are trying to rebel!"

"If I truly intended to rebel, how could I have departed the Imperial Study completely unscathed?" Chu Yi poured a cup of tea and handed it to Concubine Yin. "Imperial Mother, douse your anger. Such a minor matter is not worth being enraged over."

In no mood to drink tea, Concubine Yin furrowed her brows: "The matter regarding the Empress Dowager—is it just put to rest like this?"

"Imperial Father has his own arrangements regarding this matter; Imperial Mother need not worry further," Chu Yi spoke up. "During this period, aside from offering daily greetings, do not visit Kangning Palace again."

Concubine Yin was a veteran of the inner palace as well and naturally sensed an unusual atmosphere. Hearing his words, she immediately nodded.

Having finished his piece, Chu Yi turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Concubine Yin's voice rang out from behind him.

Chu Yi turned around: "Does Imperial Mother have other matters?"

Concubine Yin sat comfortably in her chair, taking a sip of tea before speaking: "That woman in your manor—I have sent people to investigate her."

"Imperial Mother, you..." A look of disbelief appeared on Chu Yi's face. "Imperial Mother actually investigated me?"

Concubine Yin smiled.

Although this son of hers possessed strong opinions of his own, as long as she, his mother, wished to investigate something, she would undoubtedly find out.

Where in this world was there a son who could escape his mother's grasp?

"Yi'er, you are a dignified Third Prince, a Prince Pingxi personally conferred by the Emperor. With such a status, you should not harbor any involvement with a peasant girl," Concubine Yin spoke with earnest concern. "Furthermore, my investigation revealed that five or six years ago, this peasant girl was serving in the Xuanwu Marquis's Manor. With a background like hers, she is not even fit to carry your shoes."

Chu Yi's expression turned frigid: "Since Imperial Mother already knows, I shall hide it no longer. No matter how lowly her background may be, I insist on marrying her as my Princess Consort."

"What did you say? Have you gone mad?!" Concubine Yin slammed her teacup heavily onto the table. "Among the young ladies of the Tan family and the Fang family I selected for you, which one isn't vastly superior to that peasant girl? You..."

Chu Yi cut her off directly: "There are tens of thousands of noble ladies in this capital, but she is the only beloved in my heart. I shall request Imperial Father to issue an imperial decree bestowing our marriage."

"You dare?!" Concubine Yin was so enraged that her head throbbed. "Your Imperial Father will never agree to bestow such a marriage. Perish the thought!"

"It matters not if Imperial Father disagrees; I shall simply persuade him slowly," Chu Yi pursed his lips. "Since Imperial Mother is in a foul mood, I shall not let Hong'er and Changsheng disturb your rest."

He instructed the senior maidservant to bring the two children out.

The senior maidservant glanced at Concubine Yin. Seeing no reaction from her master, she carried out the two children who were already fast asleep.

"Rest early, Imperial Mother."

Holding a child in each arm, Chu Yi turned and departed Changqiu Palace.

"What kind of bane have I given birth to?!"

Concubine Yin was so furious that she lay down on the daybed, having her palace maids massage her acupoints; otherwise, her headache would keep her awake all night.

"Nanny Guo, tell me—if the Emperor truly bestows a marriage upon my third son and that peasant girl, what should be done?"

The senior maidservant shook her head: "How could a peasant girl be worthy of Our Prince? Even becoming a foot-washing maidservant in the Prince's Manor would be climbing way above her station. However, His Highness rejected the marriage proposal for that woman's sake, which shows he has truly fallen in love. His Highness knows the Emperor and Your Highness would never agree, which is why he secretly brought her to the Prince's Manor... With that woman at His Highness's side whispering pillow talk night after night, this old servant worries that His Highness might truly commit an outrageous and rebellious act for the sake of his beloved."

Concubine Yin's expression turned dark and heavy.

Defying the imperial decree to reject the marriage proposal, taking over the army without authorization, and slaughtering the Empress Dowager's trusted servants—of these three acts, which one was not outrageous and rebellious?

If he committed another rash act, it would hardly be surprising.

The Emperor's patience had limits and he would not indulge his third son's wild antics time after time.

She had to dispose of that peasant girl.

The autumn night was as cool as water.

A layer of frost coated the morning landscape.

Opening his eyes, Chu Hongyu discovered that these were not the bed curtains of the palace. He hurriedly nudged his younger sister beside him: "Changsheng, wake up quickly! We're home, and we can go see Mother now!"

Although staying in the palace was very fun, he preferred to be together with Mother.

The little girl rubbed her eyes, looking around in a daze before jumping off the bed.

"Oh my, Little County Princess! You must not step barefoot on the floor; you'll catch a cold," Nanny Zheng entered just in time. "Allow this old servant to dress You First..."

The palace maids waiting outside walked in carrying water, attending to the two young masters as they dressed and washed up.

At this moment, the sharp-eared Chu Hongyu suddenly heard a sound coming from the front courtyard: "Huh? How come I seem to hear Imperial Grandmother's voice?"

Nanny Zheng straightened his robes, keeping her eyes downcast as she said, "The Heir must have misheard. Breakfast has been prepared, so allow this old servant to serve the Heir and County Princess their meal."

Chu Hongyu rubbed his ears.

Perhaps leaving the imperial palace made him miss Imperial Grandmother a little.

At the same time.

In the front courtyard of Prince Pingxi's Manor, Concubine Yin stood with dozens of palace servants, confronting Chu Yi.

"Yi'er, do not force your mother to make things too unsightly," Concubine Yin's face was dark to the extreme. "As you know, it is not easy for me to leave the palace. Since I have come today, I must take that peasant girl away."

Chu Yi spoke up: "Imperial Mother, it is not easy for a person to encounter the beloved of their heart in this lifetime. Since I have brought her into the Prince's Manor, I shall certainly protect her."

Concubine Yin was so angry that she laughed: "What? Are you going to stand on the opposing side of me, your birth mother, for the sake of a woman?"

Chu Yi shook his head: "It is Imperial Mother who chose to stand on the opposing side of me."

"Yi'er, are you forcing me to search the Prince's Manor?" Concubine Yin said word by word. "You are an imperial prince of our Great Jin Dynasty. The mistress of your manor should be a paragon of noble ladies, a refined daughter of a prominent family capable of holding her own, rather than a mere peasant girl! If you truly like that woman so much, keeping her around is harmless enough. I can plead with your Imperial Father to make her a concubine—and that is already an immense favor!"

Chu Yi's face darkened.

Nanny Guo hastily stepped in to smooth things over: "Your Highness, that woman's status indeed only fits that of a concubine. However, if she bears a child in the future and Your Highness promotes her to a side consort, wouldn't everyone be happy? Your Highness had better not let this minor matter spark bad blood with Her Highness."

Concubine Yin narrowed her eyes.

She had already yielded many steps, hoping this son of hers would not disappoint her too deeply.

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