Chapter 342: Chapter 340: The Crown Princess Consort is Deposed
Shen Yinning walked barefoot on the floor.
A change finally appeared in her tired and lazy expression.
She curled her lips, "Oh?"
Haitang supported her as she walked towards the bathhouse: "Now the palace is in an uproar over this matter, and no one knows how it will end. The harem abhors false pregnancies; to take it seriously, it is almost considered deceiving the Emperor. Even if the Duke of the Shen Family is capable, I’m afraid he can’t protect the Crown Princess Consort, can he?"
The maid lifted the drooping bead curtain.
Shen Yinning stepped into the bathhouse, instantly enveloped by the steaming warmth.
She pondered slightly and said, "Shen Yan just lost his military power a few days ago. To compensate him, the Emperor might not severely punish Shen Yunxi."
Her toes touched the water surface, and she leisurely soaked into the bathtub: "However, with Empress Dowager Li and Noble Consort Zhang, this matter cannot be suppressed. Now it only remains to see Lu Ying’s attitude."
At this moment, in the Eastern Palace.
Shen Yunxi was kneeling in the study, crying and clinging to Lu Ying’s sleeve: "Your Highness, please save me! I didn’t fake the pregnancy on purpose; it was all Shen Yinning’s doing, sabotaging me at Shengguo Temple. I had no choice but to pretend to be pregnant to protect myself! Your Highness, please see clearly and save me!"
The young woman cried pitifully.
Lu Ying stood by the window, looking indifferently at the pomegranate tree outside.
Seeing no response from him, Shen Yunxi couldn’t help but choke as she raised her head: "Your... Your Highness?"
Lu Ying spoke calmly: "Father’s meaning is to confine you in the Dharma Hall for two years, dock your salary for three years, and not allow you to participate in the festivals. The Imperial Grandmother does not agree, insisting that your crime of deceiving the Emperor is severe, and additionally, three months ago at Shengguo Temple, you disrespected Princess Xiaoxian. Therefore, adding up the charges, they want to strip you of your title as Crown Princess Consort, demote you to a commoner, and imprison you in the Cold Palace."
Shen Yunxi felt the sky collapsing!
She collapsed, kneeling on the ground, her face full of tears and despair: "Your Highness, I am your wedded wife. I was just momentarily confused and made a small mistake. You can’t cast me aside... If I can’t serve you, what’s the point of living?"
The young woman was both foolish and malevolent.
Yet, at this moment, she never used the injury on her shoulder to claim gratitude.
It was as if risking her life to save Lu Ying was only natural for her.
Lu Ying glanced at her sideways: "If you knew this would happen, why did you do it? When you told the first lie, you should have known you’d have to tell countless more to cover it up."
Shen Yunxi sobbed, her small hands clutching tightly at Lu Ying’s robe.
She had thought carefully about how to cover up the lie.
She planned to find a newborn baby boy from outside the palace to impersonate the little royal grandson when she was due; she had even found a pregnant woman.
But things never go as planned. She hadn’t expected taking an arrow for the Crown Prince would allow Empress Dowager Li and Noble Consort Zhang to seize the opportunity. They had long suspected the child in her belly was fake and sent so many Imperial Physicians to examine her. The maids couldn’t stop them, and she had to watch helplessly as her false pregnancy was exposed.
"I won’t dare again..." Shen Yunxi sniffled, "Please, Your Highness, plead for me in front of the Imperial Grandmother. I will repay Your Highness as a cow or horse..."
Lu Ying took a deep breath.
The entire Imperial Hospital is aware of this matter. It’s now a scandal across the Capital, known to all, and can’t be suppressed.
As he expected, a decree quickly arrived from Kunning Palace.
It was personally drafted by Empress Dowager Li, stating that Shen Yunxi lacks talent and virtue, humiliated Princess Xiaoxian, deceived the Emperor with a false pregnancy, and no longer deserves to be the Crown Princess Consort. She is now stripped of her rank and confined to the Eastern Palace.
Shen Yunxi completely broke down, sitting on the ground with vacant eyes, even forgetting to thank for the decree.
Li Zhu also followed up.
She personally helped Shen Yunxi up: "The Imperial Grandmother was truly angry. I persuaded her for a long time, and luckily she didn’t send you to the Cold Palace. Sister-in-law, if you stay obediently in the Eastern Palace, there might still be a chance to restore your position in the future."
Restore her position...
A glimmer of light finally appeared in Shen Yunxi’s dim eyes, and she quickly grabbed Li Zhu’s hand: "Sister Li Zhu, although we only nod acquaintance, you know I’ve always cared for you like a sister! Thank you for speaking for me in front of the Imperial Grandmother. Please say more good things about me to her in the future! If I regain my position, there will surely be benefits for you!"
As she spoke, she removed the twisted silk and inlaid jade golden bracelet from her wrist and placed it on Li Zhu’s hand.
Li Zhu smiled: "Sister-in-law, don’t worry."
She turned to Lu Ying, giving him a deep look, and then lowered her eyes to give a formal bow: "Cousin, I’ll return to serve the Imperial Grandmother now."
After she left, Shen Yunxi covered her mouth and began to cry: "Your Highness, it was all thanks to Sister Li Zhu this time... Do you think I can really regain my position in the future? Rest assured, I will behave well and never disappoint you and the Imperial Grandmother!"
Lu Ying showed no expression.
Regain her position?
With Shen Yunxi’s wits, she’d be sold and still help count the money.
Even believing those soothing lies from Li Zhu, he found it hard to imagine how Shen Yunxi had survived till now.
Li Zhu left the Eastern Palace, her previous gentle and graceful demeanor replaced with a sneer of coldness at her brows and eyes.
She came over tonight just to see Shen Yunxi making a fool of herself.
That failure had sat in the position of Crown Princess Consort for so long, causing discontent among many Bright Pearl noble ladies in the Capital, and now it was time for others to take the throne.
It’s laughable how that fool was so brainless to be grateful to her, actually believing it was her good words in front of the Imperial Grandmother that kept her from being sent to the Cold Palace.
She took off the gold bracelet from her wrist and casually tossed it to the palace maid following her: "It’s for you."
The young maid was flattered: "This... This is too valuable!"
"I gave it to you, so take it."
Li Zhu maintained her dignity and poise.
Shen Yinning had a low status and was still only the wife of a subject, while Shen Yunxi was stripped of her position as Crown Princess Consort. Now in the Capital, only she, Li Zhu, could succeed as the Crown Princess Consort.
With the Imperial Grandmother’s support, she would marry the Crown Prince and become the future Empress.
As for these twisted silk gold bracelets, she could have as many as she wanted.
...
"Shen Yunxi was stripped of her position as Crown Princess Consort?"
When the news reached Consort Liu’s palace, Lu Qianqian was taken aback.
Consort Liu said bitterly: "Serves her right! Her brother hit you like that, and now they rightfully deserve it!"
Lu Qianqian sneered: "It’s ironic how she used to be so arrogant with her status as Crown Princess Consort, offending many in the Capital. Now she’s been deposed, her days must be rough. Mother, I’ve finally vented my anger!"
"Those Shen sisters are all hateful," Consort Liu affectionately stroked her head, "Poor you, a noble daughter, have been wronged so many times by them. Tomorrow, I will plead with your father to arrange a good marriage for you within the Capital, so you can visit the palace and talk to me often."
Lu Qianqian pressed her lips together.
At this point, she was no longer the naive and unruly Ninth Princess she once was.
She didn’t trust that so-called father.