122Offering favors for no reason
AI Model: gemini-2.5-flash
Chapter 122 Offering Unsolicited Favors
Consort Shu immediately became interested. A maid brought over a chair, and Consort Shu sat down, asking from a commanding position.
"You said you were harmed by Shen Yulou? Tell me in detail!"
Li Huai recounted the entire sequence of events with a mournful expression.
Consort Shu frowned, her face serious.
"From what you're saying, it seems it might not necessarily be related to Shen Yulou."
After all, during that time, Shen Yulou and the Princess were busy with their wedding preparations and were not in the palace.
Li Huai said, "Your Ladyship! Even if it's not related to Shen Yulou, he is absolutely an accomplice!
Otherwise, why would he hand over the Princess to me so readily?
I was indeed unlucky; because of a momentary greed, I thought of getting Princess Na Xing into my hands, and then when the Emperor pacifies the Yan State, I would receive many rewards.
But I never expected to encounter such a thing!"
Consort Shu's eyes darted around, and a grave expression appeared on her face.
"This is a godsend opportunity!"
"Li Huai, I can help you suppress the matter of you losing the Princess and replacing her, and I can even save your life."
Li Huai was immediately overjoyed.
"Thank you, Your Ladyship! Thank you, Your Ladyship!"
Consort Shu's position in the palace, although not as prominent as some of the currently favored consorts,
but now that Prince Zhao Jing has returned, everything has changed.
It could be seen from the furnishings in Consort Shu's room that Emperor Ren had already bestowed many gifts.
Furthermore, a large portion of the consorts in the Imperial Harem now sided with Consort Shu, following her lead.
Now, everyone in the Imperial Harem had their own ulterior motives; those with Imperial Sons formed their own factions, and those without Imperial Sons clung to the powerful ones with Imperial Sons.
Logically, the most influential person in the Imperial Harem right now should be the Noble Consort, but the Noble Consort had been acting very low-key recently, clearly biding her time.
After all, her Imperial Son was still young, and there was no point in her contending now; the Emperor would not possibly appoint such a young child as Crown Prince.
Therefore, the two most intense contenders in the palace were Consort Qing and Consort Shu.
Zhao Ying had not left his residence for almost a month. Some time ago, everyone heard about Shen Yulou treating Zhao Ying's leg.
This matter caused quite a stir in the Imperial Harem. Everyone had witnessed Shen Yulou's medical skills.
He had created quite a few miracles in the palace.
And this time, Zhao Ying's leg ailment might also be cured.
It just so happened that Zhao Jing returned at this time, so Consort Shu was particularly eager to kill Shen Yulou.
Of course, she wanted to kill Zhao Ying even more.
But how great was the risk of killing an Imperial Son?
Let alone whether she dared, even if she did, what was her probability of success?
However, killing Shen Yulou was relatively easier.
And now that she had this leverage, she felt she could make something of it.
Consort Shu thought for a moment and said.
"Since Princess Na Xing has already escaped, and yesterday Shen Yulou and the Princess went to prepare for their wedding and even had a picnic in the western suburbs, many people know about this, making it difficult to frame him.
So we need to stage another Princess escape!
Let this Fake Princess escape once, and then we'll have leverage against Shen Yulou!"
Hearing Consort Shu's idea, Li Huai only felt his legs turn soft.
"Your Ladyship, perhaps I shouldn't be involved in this matter..."
Li Huai just wanted to retire peacefully. How did he get caught up in something like this again?
Before, he was merely being sidelined by Shen Yulou, but now he was in a difficult position; he had to do what Consort Shu demanded, whether he wanted to or not.
Otherwise, Consort Shu would definitely expose him on the spot. If Emperor Ren found out that Princess Na Xing had escaped, he might be executed by slow slicing.
Consort Shu snorted, "Do you think that's possible? No matter who rescued Princess Na Xing, you are still responsible for the dereliction of duty.
If I don't speak for you, then you're dead. Think carefully about whether you want to help me."
Li Huai hesitated for a moment, then finally clasped his hands.
"This subject is willing to serve Consort Shu!"
Consort Shu snorted, "That's more like it. You're already quite old; after you finish this matter, you should enjoy your twilight years, but the prerequisite is that you must handle this matter well."
Li Huai nodded repeatedly, his face mournful.
"Yes, Your Ladyship!"
Consort Shu said, "Tomorrow at noon, you inform the people from the Imperial Household Department to escort you and Princess Na Xing out of the palace for medical treatment. As for the reason for leaving the palace, you can make it up yourself.
You are the Director of the Imperial Medical Academy, so you can always come up with some reason why Princess Na Xing must leave the palace for treatment.
Then, halfway, I will arrange for people to abduct the Fake Princess. Afterwards, you will go to the palace to beg the Emperor for forgiveness, saying that you personally saw Song Hu abduct the Fake Princess.
Your mission will then be complete."
Li Huai was stunned for a moment, "Your Ladyship, what about Shen Yulou?"
"You don't need to worry about that. I have my own ways for Shen Yulou."
Li Huai nodded and could only agree.
He hoped Consort Shu would succeed this time.
After Consort Shu returned to her bedchamber, she immediately called Prince Zhao Jing over to discuss the matter.
"Imperial Son, this is an opportunity for us. As long as we eliminate Shen Yulou, Zhao Ying will have no chance to rise."
Zhao Jing asked, "Mother Consort, I heard that Zhao Ying's leg has already been treated."
"He has been lame for so many years; how could it be cured in one go? There must be subsequent treatment methods.
If Shen Yulou is killed, his chances will be gone."
Zhao Jing hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Mother Consort is right!"
No matter how Zhao Ying's illness was being treated, Shen Yulou was clearly leaning towards Zhao Ying's side now.
Killing him would be beneficial to Consort Shu and Zhao Jing, with no harm.
"Mother Consort, what should I do?"
"You will leave the palace immediately and follow my plan..."
...Shen Yulou exerted great effort to finish drawing all 108 mahjong tiles.
There was no mahjong in this dynasty, so the Imperial Harem naturally lacked a lot of fun.
Shen Yulou now had the Empress Dowager as his trump card, so he naturally had to make good use of it, introducing small entertainments like mahjong for the Empress Dowager to play. In the future, if anything happened, wouldn't the Empress Dowager side with him?
Although the Empress Dowager was sometimes muddled and sometimes clear-headed, as long as she could help Shen Yulou when she was clear-headed, that was enough.
Just as Shen Yulou finished and was about to hand them to Tao Hong, Tao Hong suddenly walked in.
"Sir, Minister of Revenue Feng Yusi has sent you an invitation, inviting you to a banquet tonight."
Shen Yulou was stunned for a moment, "Minister of Revenue? Do I know him?"
Tao Hong said, "You don't know him, but he knows you. Sir is just amazing; even the Minister of Revenue is actively inviting you to dinner. This is something others wouldn't even dare to dream of."
Tao Hong's flattery made Shen Yulou feel quite pleased.
"Alright, tell him I'll attend the banquet tonight, and I'll go with the Princess."
Although he didn't know what the Minister of Revenue meant, there was no reason to refuse an invitation to dinner.
It was a good opportunity to take the Princess, that little glutton, to have a change of pace... In the afternoon, Shen Yulou first took Song Hu to the Princesss Residence.
When he mentioned going to Feng Yusi's house for dinner, the Princess was also a bit puzzled.
"Offering courtesy without reason means either ill intent or theft."