si-mexico Chapter 772 The Princess's Marriage (16)
Chapter 772 The Princess's Marriage (16)
After saying that, he sighed regretfully, "He's getting old, and it's time for him to retire and enjoy his old age."
The two chatted for a while before returning to the palace banquet one after the other.
*
Xue Chanyi spends her time lying on the chaise longue reading storybooks. These past two days, with the palace in turmoil, she hasn't left the palace gates unless necessary.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen has developed some new desserts. I've brought them for you to try," said Liuli, carrying a delicate plate.
Upon hearing this, Xue Chanyi glanced at it. The white flaky pastry wrapped around the soft red bean paste filling, and the red bean pastry looked quite appetizing.
However, she said with some regret, "Something was added to this. It seems someone specially delivered it to you."
With a thud, the plate in Liuli's hand fell to the ground, but she didn't have time to pay attention to it for the time being.
She was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, this servant actually fell into someone's trap by accident and almost killed you with my own hands."
"It's just a scheme by someone with ulterior motives. It's not your fault if you didn't know. Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Liuli stood up, still feeling somewhat weak. "Who exactly wants to harm Your Majesty?"
Xue Chanyi thought for a moment. There had been so much commotion in the palace recently. The Regent had sent people to guard each palace, and people could not go out freely unless there was something to do.
Unlike the general atmosphere of panic in Jinglan Palace, there were many intelligent people in the palace who, if they were willing to inquire, could still keenly discern the problem.
Sure enough, someone quickly sent her something through a secret agent to test her, hoping to cause her trouble and disrupt the Regent's plans.
“I don’t know either. Pick up this plate of pastries and give it to the guard at the door. Just say that I asked you to give it to the Regent.”
"Your Majesty, is there nothing more to say? What if the Regent eats it?" Liuli asked hesitantly.
Xue Chanyi almost laughed: "Liuli, do you think the Regent is that stupid?"
"No, it's just that the one Her Majesty sent was different."
If the Regent heard that it was a gift from the Empress, he might be so happy that he wouldn't have time to think and would have eaten it.
"Don't worry, you can send it over." She wouldn't send any snacks at this time of year unless there was a specific reason.
Shangguan Xi saw it and knew there was something wrong without even thinking.
"Yes, I'll be right back."
Liuli walked out of the palace and came to the two guards standing guard outside the gate: "Her Majesty asked me to send a plate of snacks to the Regent. Which of you two will go and do it?"
One of them, quick-witted, immediately spoke up: "Your subordinate is here. I will certainly carry out the matter that Consort Yan has instructed."
Although they were not very clear about what was going on above, they were all people who obeyed the regent.
Naturally, they knew that Jinglan Palace was special compared to other parts of the harem, so it was always right to vie for favors to serve Consort Yan.
"Alright, then you can go." Liuli handed the plate to the person.
The guard took the plate, somewhat puzzled as to why a plate of cold snacks was being served to the Regent.
But he dared not ask too many questions about his master's affairs. He instructed the guards on duty to keep watch at the gate and hurriedly ran to the Regent's palace.
Xue Chanyi continued reading the storybook, and Xiao Qi, seeing this, spoke up: "Host, don't you want to know who went to such lengths to send these snacks?"
"Do not want to know."
"Huh? Are you just going to let the person who wanted to harm you get away with this? You're that magnanimous?"
"Of course not, didn't I send the snacks to Shangguan Xi? He'll handle it."
Although she could handle it, she's lazy and prefers to have someone else do the work so she doesn't have to.
"Host, you're just lazy." Xiao Qi clearly knew her very well.
Although it was true, Xue Chanyi didn't intend to admit it directly: "Hmph, if I'm lazy, what does the Snow Moon Kingdom matter?"
"Consider Yunshang's contributions and hardships."
"Do you think I won't have to deal with the ministers in the future? And even if I'm forced into power, do you think no one will outwardly comply with my wishes but inwardly defy me? I'll have to handle all of these things personally."
Xiao Qi pouted and said, "Okay, host, you're very diligent."
"You don't need to say anything, I can guess that the person behind this is the Empress," Xue Chanyi said calmly.
"Host, how did you know?" Xiao Qi asked in surprise.
"Don't forget that the Empress comes from the Prince of Ying's mansion. The Prince of Ying is the Regent's man, so Shangguan Xi's people won't have such strict restrictions on the Fengyi Palace."
"But the Empress is testing you because of Shangguan Xi. How do you think Shangguan Xi will handle this?"
"He will satisfy me." Otherwise, even if the cooperation is on its final step, I can always find someone else to cooperate with.
*
Recently, Shangguan Xi has not returned to the Regent's Palace, but has been staying directly in the palace.
He was reviewing memorials at that moment, looking at the memorials handed over by the neutral ministers.
The content inside subtly expresses dissatisfaction with his recent actions.
Tossing aside these useless memorials, Shangguan Xi put down his pen, picked up his teacup, and took a sip of tea.
"Lin Han, how is Shangguan Xi doing?"
Upon hearing the sound, Lin Han hurriedly walked in: "Your Highness, the Emperor caused a disturbance in the Zichen Palace all day, but has now calmed down. However, he still refuses to write the abdication edict."
"The speed is too slow. A day and a half has already passed. I will give him a maximum of another day and a half. There must be a result within three days."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will go and urge you to issue the final ultimatum."
"Tell him to stop trying to delay and call for help; it's no use."
"Understood, sir." Lin Han was about to turn and leave.
Footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall, and the guards at the gate came out and shouted, "Your Highness, there are guards from Jinglan Palace outside the hall who have come to see you."
Jinglan Palace? Isn't that Consort Yan's palace? Lin Han glanced at the prince, deciding to leave later.
Shangguan Xi ignored his little tricks and directly called out, "Go and bring the person in."
"Yes, Your subordinate obeys." The guard outside the door turned and ran out.
"Your Highness, is there something going on between you and that person from Jinglan Palace?" Lin Han asked curiously.
"how you said that?"
"People in the palace are talking about it in private, saying that the one in Jinglan Palace has a close relationship with the prince. I heard it from them."
In fact, considering the special care the prince had given them on several occasions, he vaguely sensed that this was not just a rumor.
Shangguan Xi did not answer him, because the guards had arrived outside the palace.
"Your subordinate greets the Regent."
"No need for formalities, pass me your plate of snacks."
"Yes." The guard respectfully held the snacks above his head, stood up, and walked forward.
Lin Han stepped forward, took the snacks, and placed them on the table in front of Shangguan Xi.
When Shangguan Xi saw the plate of pastries clearly, he knew something was wrong.
His first reaction was to ask about Xue Chanyi's condition: "Has Consort Yan eaten anything?"
"Your Highness, Consort Yan did not inform me of this matter. However, Miss Liuli came out of the palace less than a quarter of an hour after she entered with the snacks."
Shangguan Xi knew that Xue Chanyi would bring over the snacks, so he said that she had clearly discovered the problem, and as long as she hadn't eaten them, it was fine.