Chapter 191: CH 130

Yuan Bao, you dared to pose as a eunuch and incite chaos in the palace!

Wen Wan’s voice wasn’t loud but it was enough for people to hear what was said. Shocked, people began to murmur amongst themselves. In the blink of an eye, the news had spread to everyone’s ears.

Horror, disdain, scorn, all kinds of eyes were fixated on Hua Zhu Yu.

In the background, the plum blossoms were in full bloom, vibrant and thriving. Beneath the sunlight, the colors glistened radiantly. In the far distant, the eaves of the nine palaces were endless. Up close, there were many faces with varying expressions.

Prince of Yui Zhi, Na Lan Xue tightened his grip on the wine cup in his hand as his eyes narrowed on Hua Zhu Yu.

There was a long silence in the garden.

Suddenly, a laughter rang out. Dou Qian Jin leaned back against the seat as his fingers tapped on the table in front of him. “Ai ya, a fake eunuch had actually infiltrated the great Southern Kingdom’s Imperial Palace. This is truly shocking!”

It is indeed appalling!

Eunuchs enter the palace at the age of 5 to 8. They go through rigorous procedures and examinations. It’s completely unheard of to have a fake eunuch.

If it wasn’t for Huangfu Wu Shuang dragging Hua Zhu Yu to the palace and replacing her with a new eunuch that had recently died, she would not have entered the palace in the first place.

This was the first time Huangfu Wu Shuang did not listen to Wen Wan. He was only frowning as he contemplated. That day, Huangfu Wu Shuang had personally given the order to castrate Hua Zhu Yu. Though he did not witness it personally, when he saw Hua Zhu Yu return, the area between her legs was full of blood. To claim that Hua Zhu Yu was a fake eunuch, he was the first to not believe it! But Song Zhao Yi had not been bedded? He was not interested in the private affairs of Huangfu Wu Shang so he had never investigated this matter.

If Huangfu Wu Shang hadn’t graced Song Zhao Yi and Xiao Bao Er was a fake eunuch, then Bao Er would have committed a crime guilty of death! But Huangfu Wu Shuang wasn’t willing to let Xiao Bao Er die.

“Zhen will send people to investigate this matter,” Huangfu Wu Shuang calmly said.

Upon hearing this, Wen Wan’s eyes darkened but she did not dare to speak further. She had already set the stage, someone will surely finish it. She knew that it wasn’t just her who wanted Yuan Bao dead in this palace.

“Your Majesty, you must conduct a thorough investigation as soon as possible!” the Right Chancellor stepped out and knelt in front of Huangfu Wu Shuang. He had long found this eunuch to be an eyesore. Huangfu Wu Shuang was too fond of him. If he could get rid of him, it would be for the better.

“Your Majesty, please conduct a thorough investigation! Purge the palace!” Several senior officials stepped out and knelt down.

Hua Zhu Yu swept her gaze across them as her sneered,. “It’s merely a speculation without any evidence yet you take it to heart. That day, the Emperor personally ordered Xiao Bao Er’s castration. if you don’t believe it then you are being suspicious of His Majesty.”

“That’s right!” Sitting on the dragon seat, Huangfu Wu Shuang’s eyes narrowed. “This matter, zhen is very clear. No need to investigate.”

“Your Majesty! If you don’t investigate thoroughly, this old official will remain kneeling here!”

“Your Majesty!”

The voices were getting louder and louder. At this time Hua Zhu Yu realized that she had offended quite a few people after stabbing Ji Feng Li on the execution grounds that day. Kneeling on the ground wasn’t just Nie Yuan Qiao.

Huangfu Wu Shuang coldly humphed. His eyes darkened and he instructed, “Jixiang, go to Yong Tang Palace and bring Song Zhao Yi here!”

With that said, Hua Zhu Yu’s mind raced. If Dan Hong came and the physician took her pulse and realize she’s not pregnant then herHZY name would be cleared. But then Huangfu Wu Shuang would grow suspicious and doubt that she’s a woman because he is clearly aware that medication was for nurturing the fetus.

As she thought of this a chill crept up her heart.

“Your Majesty, Song Zhao Yi has arrived!” Jixiang announced in a loud voice, awakening Hua Zhu Yu from her thoughts.

Hua Zhu Yu looked up and saw Dan Hong in a plain dress following behind Jixiang. Her face was full of doubts for she did not know why Huangfu Wu Shuang had called for her. She slowly knelt down and gently said, “Song Qi Luo greets Your Majesty!”

translations at peachblossomgrove . com

“Song Qi Luo, former Emperor Kang’s imperial concubine, Jing Shi Fang has no records of you serving the former emperor. But you are pregnant so tell me, who exactly does the baby belong to?” Huangfu Wu Shuang coldly questioned.

Upon hearing this, Dan Hong stiffened and her complexion paled.

Pregnant?

She glanced at Hua Zhu Yu who calmly nodded back at her.

Huangfu Wu Shuang did not send for the physician to take Dan Hong’s pulse. It could be seen that he was convinced she was pregnant. As long as Dan Hong confirmed the baby belonged to the former Emperor, this matter would settle smoothly.

Dan Hong and Hua Zhu Yu had been together for many years. They have long shared the same mind. With just one look, Dan Hong understood Hua Zhu Yu’s intentions. She could vaguely guess what was going on here.

Kneeling on the ground, she said in distress, “Your Majesty, the baby indeed belongs to the former emperor. As Emperor Kang’s imperial concubine, Qi Luo had indeed been graced. Merely, it didn’t happen during the night so it wasn’t recorded by Jing Shi Fang.”

The officials below gasped in astonishment. If it wasn’t during the night then it was precisely during broad daylight. Unexpectedly, Emperor Kang was quite passionate and lustful.

“Your Majesty, this woman is clearly in collusion with Bao gong gong, how can you trust her words? Your Majesty, if you want to thoroughly investigate this matter, please send for the eunuch that castrated Bao gong gong. Everything will be clear once you question him. ” The senior officials were unreconciled.

Huangfu Wu Shuang impatiently waved his hand. “Jixiang, send for Ge gong gong!”

Hua Zhu Yu did not expect that band of old officials to be so stubborn, insisting on pushing her to her death before they are content. She furrowed her brows, thinking that even if Ge gong gong came, it can only prove that he did not do the deed himself. It doesn’t prove that she’s not a eunuch.

Gei gong gong was brought over very quickly. With a hunched back, he walked forward and knelt down to pay respect to Huangfu Wu Shuang.

Ge gong gong, do you still remember him?” Huangfu Wu Shuang asked as he pointed at Hua Zhu Yu.

Ge gong gong squinted his eyes as he looked at Hua Zhu Yu for a moment before respectfully replying,”This old servant still remembers. Isn’t he Your Majesty’s newly first ranked supervising eunuch? Isn’t he Yuan Bao?”

“Then let me ask you this, did you personally castrate him?” Huangfu Wu Shuang coldly questioned.

Ge gong gong replied in a hoarse voice, “To this old servant’s recollection, that day this servant did not do it personally. It was Bao gong gong that did it himself. However, this old servant did see that his clothes were full of blood. It did not look fake. Your Majesty please be the judge!”

“Oh?” Huangfu Wu Shuang said in surprise. “So you didn’t do it yourself?”

“Yes, this servant did not!” Ge gong gong responded with his head bowed.

“Alright, zhen understands. You can withdraw!” Huangfu Wu Shuang brows knitted and he raised his eyes to glance at Hua Zhu Yu inadvertently.

As she met his gaze, her heart felt cold. She knew Huangfu Wu Shuang was beginning to suspect she’s a fake eunuch.

Ge gong gong retreated and the group of officials were worked up again.

Nie Yuan Qiao loudly said, “Your Majesty, if Ge gong gong did not personally do it, and it did not look fake, then it’s best to just conduct a physical examination. The truth will come to light then!”

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Wu Shuang’s expression darkened. He gritted his teeth and remarked, “Nonsense!”

“Your Majesty, if you don’t conduct a physical examination, then please invite a physician to take Song Zhao Yi’s pulse to determine how far along her pregnancy is. If it’s only 3-4 months, then the baby belongs to the former emperor. If it’s only 1-2 months… it’s definitely Yuan Bao without a doubt.”

Hua Zhu Yu had just returned to Yu City, if this was her baby, then it would be no more than 2 months old.

These old officials were quite clever.

“Alright! That’s a good method, zhen shall use it. This matter will be settled later. Zhen will conduct a thorough investigation!” Huangfu Wu Shuang stated.

“Your Majesty, this must be investigated at once!” An official said, unreconciled.

“Silence!” Huangfu Wu Shuang suddenly got up from his seat. His dark eyes glared at the crowd. His whole body was basked in a cold, murderous air. “If anyone mentions this again, zhen will have his head! Envoys from various nations have gathered today to offer congratulations, not to watch a show. You all withdraw! If you don’t get up you can kneel here till death!”

Witnessing Huangfu Wu Shuang’s fury, none of the officials dared to speak up. Huangfu Wu Shuang turned around and ordered the guards, “Temporarily detain Bao gong gong and Song Zhao Yi at Nei Cheng Yuan(Inner Punishment Hall)!”

Hua Zhu Yu thought he was going to imprison her in the Ministry of Justice. Unexpectedly, he was detaining her in Nei Cheng Yuan. It was a far better place than where Ji Feng Li was confined.

Beneath the extensive midday sun, everyone watched as the little eunuch gradually disappeared from sight.

In fact, everyone understood that Huangfu Wu Shuang’s detainment was merely just a strategy of deterrent. The investigation will surely yield results confirming that Yuan Bao is a true eunuch. The emperor dotes and safeguards Yuan Bao to such a point, making people’s hair stand up in anger.

Na Lan Xue silently sat there at the table. The rays of sunlight reflected off of his mask in a frosty shimmer.

t/n