Chapter 108 The Empress is beautiful and kind-hearted
"Her Highness Consort Su, please wait here. I will send someone to find Her Imperial Majesty the Empress."
Consort Su was alone in the room, trembling all over as she looked at the dead Yu Ting.
Although she was bullied by this maid every day, seeing her corpse still filled her with fear.
Fortunately, Shen Yulou returned shortly.
"Your Highness, I have already sent someone to find Her Imperial Majesty the Empress. You don't need to be afraid."
Consort Su's expression changed slightly, "Will the Empress... punish me?"
Shen Yulou smiled, "She is just a Servant who committed insubordination. Why would you be punished?"
Consort Su bit her lip, "But..."
She knew the Empress somewhat; the Empress was extremely fierce, treating them, the concubines, no differently than Servants.
In the past, whenever Consort Su saw the Empress, she was so afraid she couldn't even speak.
Shen Yulou said, "Don't worry, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress is beautiful and kind-hearted; she will uphold justice for you."
Just then, the Empress's voice came from outside the door.
"Minister Shen, what did you just say about this Empress?"
Consort Su was so scared that she immediately knelt on the ground with a thud.
"Greetings to Her Imperial Majesty the Empress."
Shen Yulou also bowed and said.
"This official just said that Her Imperial Majesty the Empress is beautiful and kind-hearted."
The Empress's face beamed with joy, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of her lips.
"Beautiful and kind-hearted? That's a new phrase. This Empress has never heard it before."
Now, with the nourishment of love, the Empress's state of mind was much better than before.
Seeing the corpse lying in the room, she asked.
"What happened here?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, this person was Her Highness Consort Su's personal Palace Maid. She showed great disrespect to Her Highness Consort Su, not only beating her but also attempting to snatch her valuables. I intervened, and during the struggle, this official accidentally strangled her to death."
"Her Highness Consort Su, please show your injuries to Her Imperial Majesty the Empress."
Upon hearing this, Consort Su rolled up her sleeves, revealing the bruises on her arm from being beaten.
The Empress was furious upon hearing this,
"How dare this scoundrel treat her master like this?"
"Minister Shen, you did well. Such a Servant cannot be kept; dying like this is too easy! She should have been beaten to death with a rod!"
Shen Yulou said, "Her Imperial Majesty the Empress is wise. Consort Su was sick with homesickness and merely entrusted this official to take these ornaments to her family, which this Servant saw, and thus conceived ill intentions."
Upon hearing this, the Empress glanced at Consort Su.
"Consort Su has been in the palace for two years, hasn't she? It's time for her to visit her family. This Empress grants you permission to return home for three days."
Consort Su was overjoyed and repeatedly kowtowed to the Empress.
"Thank you, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress, thank you, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress!"
The Empress nodded slightly, cast a meaningful glance at Shen Yulou, and then left with her retinue.
After Yu Ting's body was taken away, Shen Yulou also prepared to leave.
Consort Su held Shen Yulou's hand and said.
"Lord Shen, thank you. Your great kindness, I will never forget."
Shen Yulou rubbed Consort Su's small hand twice.
"Your Highness, you're welcome."
Leaving Consort Su's bedchamber, Shen Yulou went to Consort Qing's residence.
At this time, Zhao Ying was already able to walk. He leaned on a crutch with his left hand and rested his right hand on Consort Qing's shoulder, moving his steps with difficulty.
"Imperial Son, how do you feel? You've already walked ten steps today. Let's rest for a while."
Zhao Ying was covered in sweat, "Mother Consort, I'm fine. This time is completely different from last time. Before, I felt like I had one leg shorter than the other, so I limped when I walked.
But this time, although my leg is a bit sore, both legs are the same length.
Lord Shen's medical skills are truly superb!"
Consort Qing's face flushed, and she said, "That's right, Lord Shen is very capable in all aspects."
Just then, Yanzi came in and said.
"Your Highness, Lord Shen is here."
Zhao Ying was delighted, "Invite him in quickly!"
After Shen Yulou entered, he saw Zhao Ying walking and quickly stepped forward to support him.
"Your Highness, do not be impatient. After surgery, you must rest quietly and not force yourself to move!"
Consort Qing also wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, "This Empress also said the same, but he insisted on walking!"
Zhao Ying smiled, "Lord Shen, I was too eager. I will rest quietly now."
Zhao Ying might not listen to others, but he now implicitly trusted Shen Yulou's words.
After helping Zhao Ying lie down, Shen Yulou examined his leg and said with satisfaction.
"Your Highness's physical condition is indeed extraordinary. He has already recovered by fifty percent so quickly. In less than a month, Your Highness will be able to move freely!"
Zhao Ying's recovery ability was stronger than Shen Yulou had imagined.
After all, he was young and had a strong physique, so he recovered faster.
Zhao Ying was overjoyed, "Lord Shen, please accept my bow..."
"Your Highness, please don't be so polite. This is my duty as your Servant."
Consort Qing looked at Shen Yulou and said.
"Lord Shen, thank you."
"Your Highness, you're welcome."
Shen Yulou drew up a recovery plan for Zhao Ying, strictly stipulating how long he could be active each day.
He insisted that he must follow it.
Otherwise, Zhao Ying, always eager for quick success, might hinder his recovery.
Zhao Ying said, "Lord Shen, I heard that you almost got into trouble at the city gate tower that day. It's a pity my leg isn't healed yet. Otherwise, among all the civil and military officials, who would dare to touch you?"
Shen Yulou said, "Your Highness, my original plan was for you to suppress the rebels and gain merit, and then your leg would be fully recovered. This way, His Majesty would have a reason to establish a Crown Prince."
"But now the rebels have acted prematurely, and this plan has fallen through."
"I observe that Your Highness will recover within a month, just in time for next month's hunt."
"Why not show off your skills during the hunt, Your Highness? If you can astound everyone, you will also have a chance to be established as the Crown Prince."
Zhao Ying nodded, "Lord Shen is right! In previous years' hunts, I always grieved alone in the palace. This time, I will definitely make everyone look at me with new eyes!"
Consort Qing frowned, a little worried.
"Imperial Son, you must not be careless. Even if your leg recovers completely, you still have opponents."
"Do you know where Prince Zhao Jing is?"
Zhao Ying was stunned for a moment, "Are you saying, Imperial Brother Zhao Jing? Didn't he go to a monastery with the Empress Dowager?"
Consort Qing said, "His Majesty is getting old. Recently, I heard from some other concubines that His Majesty often mentions the Empress Dowager to them."
"I suspect His Majesty intends to bring the Empress Dowager back."
After listening to Consort Qing and her Imperial Son, Shen Yulou also understood the general situation.
When His Majesty was young, he vied for power with his birth mother, but couldn't win, so he appointed his stepmother as the Holy Mother Empress Dowager.
He made his birth mother and stepmother oppose each other, and he reaped the benefits.
Later, when His Majesty gained power, he sent both mothers to a temple to become nuns.
Prince Zhao Jing is fourteen this year and has an excellent relationship with the Empress Dowager, so when the Empress Dowager left, she took Zhao Jing with her.
Now, His Majesty is getting older and older.
He feels somewhat guilty towards his birth mother and often mentions her to several concubines.
Although he hasn't said it explicitly, it's clear that he wants to bring the Empress Dowager back.
Once the Empress Dowager returns to the palace, Prince Zhao Jing will inevitably follow.
Prince Zhao Jing is also an extremely outstanding presence among the princes.
If he returns, the position of Crown Prince will be contested.
Shen Yulou said, "Your Highness, don't worry. This official will do his utmost to assist you!"
Having finally acquired such a great Imperial Son, Shen Yulou had also put in a lot of effort.
Anyone who dared to snatch the position of Crown Prince, Shen Yulou would certainly not be polite