Chapter 252: Malicious Slander

Ye Jiayao has the wedding feast and training class to busy herself with. On top of that, she has to manage Heavenly Residence and is busy till late at night. However, the busier she gets, the more enthusiastic she is. This is weird. She was never so hardworking in her previous life and would hope to slack a little. After coming to the ancient times, she became a workaholic.

Ye Jiayao started staying in the palace with Ah Ruan two days before the wedding feast.

Meanwhile, Xia Chunyu also requested to stay on duty and stay in the palace so that he can take care of them.

As the wedding approaches, Ah Ruan’s emotions took a deep. Ever since His Majesty bestowed the marriage, she has always been carrying the attitude of resignation to fate. However, when the day is about to arrive, the negative feelings of indignance, uneasiness, and fear for the future that were suppressed erupted like a volcano and could not be controlled, becoming irritable. Luckily, she has a friend by her side who can listen to her and console her. Otherwise, she would have gone mad.

Seeing her like this, Ye Jiayao really pities her and can really understand her feelings. Before Chunfeng got married, he was like this too. It took Chunyu a lot of time to pacify him. And right now, the only thing she can do is to console her, putting all hopes on Yu Wang to treat Ah Ruan well.

This night, Ye Jiayao and Ah Ruan are about to sleep when Consort Shu suddenly sent someone to summon them over.

Ye Jiayao thought that there was something about the wedding feast that Consort Shu is still worried about and wanted to remind her. Hence, she rushed to Rong Hua palace.

Upon entering Rong Hua palace, Ye Jiayao is astonished.

In the middle of the courtyard, a palace servant got pressed to kneel down and a eunuch with a bamboo ruler in his hand is slapping her with it. The palace servant got beaten so badly her face is as swollen as a pig head, with blood flowing out from the corner of her mouth constantly. She is in a very bad state.

She has no idea if this scene has anything to do with Consort Shu calling her over. Ye Jiayao feels a little distressed and followed the person into the main hall.

Consort Shu is sitting upright, her expression is grave and serious. With an observant eye, one would notice that her bright eyes are fuming with anger.

 Ye Jiayao goes up to greet her cautiously.

Consort Shu motions for a palace maid to give Ye Jiayao a seat and dismisses everyone else before starting “Do you know why that slut outside is punished?”

Ye Jiayao thinks inside: I have been in the imperial kitchen the whole day, so busy I could hardly take a seat, how would I know?

Consort Shu laughs coldly “I guess you would be in the dark as well but this matter is related to you and therefore I thought that it would be best to let you know.”

Ye Jiayao is perturbed, trying very hard to recall if she did anything wrong and offended Consort Shu. The palace is different from outside. Over here, you cannot afford to offend any single master.

Consort Shu snorts “That sinister villain is only afraid that there would be no chaos. I have always been kind to others but today, I cannot endure it anymore.”

Ye Jiayao is on tenterhooks and dare not ask, only listening silently. She has reflected over all her actions for the past two days and cannot think of anything that she has done wrong.

Consort Shu says angrily “They think that they can curse Yu Wang with a few evil words and even cursed Princess Ah Ruan? The most hateful part is they maligned you for that. You are personally chosen by the Empress and me, I would never allow these people to slander you deliberately.”

Ugh… What on earth is going on? Consort Shu, Lady Shu, can you make yourself clear and not let me guess blindly, this will scare me to death.

Consort Shu continues “I am actually quite impressed by them to actually think of something like this. You need not be petrified, I will never believe that nonsense. That slut outside would have been ordered to be beaten to death if not for the impending wedding.”

Ye Jiayao is speechless, f*ck, what nonsense made Consort Shu so furious?

“In any case, just pretend you heard nothing no matter what you heard these few days and manage the wedding feast with a peace of mind. I will handle it for you.” Consort Shu says.

Ye Jiayao laughs dryly, this is too ridiculous.

And the most ridiculous part is, Consort Shu let her go just like that.

However, she sent the granny by her side to escort Ye Jiayao back. Ye Jiayao ponders, Consort Shu must have a message that she wants this confidante to pass to her by getting her to escort her back. However, she really doesn’t want to be involved in the palace disputes. She is here to work and will leave after finishing her task. She doesn’t care what all of you say, she’ll just take it that she doesn’t know anything…

Therefore, Ye Jiayao did not say anything for the entire journey but that granny seems to be hesitant in speaking and finally, she cannot endure it anymore “Madam, although the Consort tasked me to mind my words, I feel that there are some things that I should tell you. Although the final purpose of this incident is targeted at the Consort, you are attacked in the process and it is difficult to guarantee that these people do not harbour ill intentions towards you, Madam Xia.”

Ye Jiayao listens on silently.

“This was what happened. That palace maid that shot her mouth off is from Consort Mei’s palace. Someone heard her criticizing Madam today, saying that you are an inauspicious person. At the start of the year, someone suggested to let you manage the Empress Dowager’s birthday feast but someone said that you do not have a good life and do not have the good fortune of having descendants. Therefore, you are not even allowed into the palace during the Empress Dowager’s birthday feast. She even said that princess Liu Li suffered from a miscarriage soon after you did her wedding feast. Now that you are tasked with Princess Ah Ruan’s wedding feast, Princess Ah RUan might not be able to bear a son…”

That granny whispered.

Ye Jiayao really wants to laugh out loud three times. What logic is this? She has run so many wedding feasts. Liu Li’s miscarriage is her own business and now she gt the blame, these people are so good at linking things up that she is speechless.

That granny observed Ye Jiayao’s expression for a while before continuing “After finding out about this matter, the Consort is extremely furious and summoned this palace maid over to interrogate her and she got to the source of the rumours…”

Ye Jiayao frowns, she is curious, who on earth started this rumour.

However, the granny starts to beat about the bush “These palace maids would never have the gall to spread rumours like these unless they were tasked to and the Consort is furious because of that. some people are jealous that Yu Wang has received His Majesty’s favour and is marrying Princess Ah Ruan, therefore, purposely slandering you. However, with the big picture in mind, the Consort is unable to investigate thoroughly and can only use the palace maid as a warning to the rest.”

Ye Jiayao is also someone who is well thought and can tell from the hints within the granny’s words. In this palace, who else other than the people on the crown prince’s side would bear grudges against Yu Wang? Is Consort Shu hinting to her that there are people from the crown prince’s side that are dissatisfied with her?

However, so what if they are dissatisfied? Even if the rumours did come from the people on the crown prince’s side, it would never be the intention of the crown prince, neither would it be that of the Empress. One has to know that the most possible person on this earth that would spread rumours about her is only Liu Li and no one else.

No matter what the truth is, she doesn’t wish to pursue the matter further because it is meaningless. If she takes it seriously, she would have fallen into the trap of others. Ye Jiayao smiles “Thank you, granny, for telling me all these. Please help me pass the message to Her Lady that I am grateful to her for defending me.”

The granny seems satisfied with her reaction “I will convey your words to the Consort.”

Back at the residence, Ah Ruan has yet to sleep, waiting for her.

“Sister Yaoyao, what is the matter?” Ah Ruan asks with concern. After all, she sent someone over to summon her so late at night.

Ye Jiayao smiles “It is nothing, Consort Shu just has some things she is worried about for tomorrow’s feast and summoned me over to ask about them.”

Ah Ruan is skeptical “Is it really like this?”

Ye Jiayao smiles “What else can there be? She couldn’t possibly want to chat with me so late at night!”

The next day, early in the morning, Chunyu sent someone to call Ye Jiayao.

He asked anxiously upon meeting her “Consort Shu summoned you last night?”

Ye Jiayao smiles helplessly “You are well-informed!”

He knows more than just that. He heard that Consort Shu was furious last night and even complained to His Majesty, making His Majesty be in a bad mood as well. However, he has no idea what is the matter specifically.

Ye Jiayao pouts, saying nonchalantly “It is nothing big, someone used me to curse Ah Ruan.”

Xia Chunyu is astonished “Use your name to curse Ah Ruan? That is too amusing.”

Ye Jiayao laughs coldly “They made it very convincing, saying that I am inauspicious and is doomed to be without descendants. I managed Liu Li’s wedding feast and in the end, Liu Li suffered a miscarriage. Now that I am going to manage Ah Ruan’s wedding feast, you can think about what comes next…”

Xia Chunyu’s heart feels like it got pricked by something. The fact that it is difficult for Yaoyao to get pregnant is only known by him, his mother and Imperial Physician Li. Of course, Liu Li would know about it too. If someone used this as an excuse to slander Yaoyao, could it be that someone has spread this news? Is it Imperial Physician Li or Liu Li?

“What nonsense, Yaoyao, don’t mind all these nonsense.” Xia Chunyu consoles.

Ye Jiayao snorts “Of course I would not take it to heart, however, it is a little upsetting. The person who said this is indeed malicious, if Ah Ruan really doesn’t bear a little prince, it would be all my fault.”

“Don’t bother about them, if this is not the palace, I would definitely find out who that person is and give him a few slaps.” Xia Chunyu says angrily.

“You don’t have to do that, last night, the palace maid that spread the rumours got slapped into a pig head by Consort Shu. After the wedding feast, I would have no idea how Consort Shu would punish her.” Ye Jiayao mocks.

Xia Chunyu knows very well that the palace maid is just a scapegoat. In the palace where the rules are strict, spreading rumours about masters is a crime punishable by death. Unless someone was incited, who would dare to say something like that? It is a pity that he cannot investigate the matter.

“Alright, there is nothing more, go back quickly, you are His Majesty’s personal bodyguard and cannot leave your post. I have to go to the imperial kitchen as well. There is a war to fight today!” Ye Jiayao laughs, urging him to leave.

Xia Chunyu really feels like giving her a hug, comforting and encouraging her but he dare not act impudently and can only say with a smile “After today, we can go home. I will comfort you well when we go back home.”

All those punishments, comforts, they all mean the same thing to him. She has already experienced it multiple times and cannot help but blush, mumbling “Who needs you to comfort, hurry back.”

Seeing her blush and feign anger coquettishly, Xia Chunyu cannot help but laugh at her charm “I have to comfort you, you are working so hard. I am going first then…”

It is a good thing that he runs quickly, otherwise, Ye Jiayao’s dagger stares would have flown over. That fellow is indeed annoying! Ye Jiayao cannot help but break out into a smile. All the unhappiness from last night has vanished.