Chapter 90
"This is utter nonsense!" Xu Heming's face darkened upon hearing the words.
If such words were overheard by those with ill intentions, they might accuse him of debauching the imperial harem—a crime punishable by the extermination of his entire clan.
To begin with, he didn’t even recognize the woman before him. Even if he did, there was no way he would have any involvement with her.
After all, with his status, what kind of woman couldn’t he have? Why would he covet the Emperor’s consort?
This was a capital offense.
He valued his life far too much.
"Xu Lang, don’t you recognize me? I’m Ruyan! Have you forgotten? Before I entered the palace, you adored me the most." Liu Ruyan refused to accept that Xu Heming had no memory of her.
The man she had longed for, the one she had dreamed of marrying—how could he not remember her?
How could he not love her?
No, he must love her.
He was surely just constrained by her current status as the Emperor’s consort and unwilling to admit it.
Her eyes reddened as she stared stubbornly at Xu Heming, her expression making it clear that if he didn’t give her a proper explanation, she wouldn’t let this matter rest.
"Your Majesty, I truly have no acquaintance with this consort!" Xu Heming turned around and happened to see Zhu Jingchen standing not far away. He spoke with barely concealed irritation.
Internally, he sighed. Whoever’s woman she was, it was their responsibility to deal with her.
He didn’t know this woman at all.
His only concern was that if this madwoman spouted any more nonsense, the Emperor might actually believe they had an affair—then no amount of explanation could clear his name.
"Imperial Uncle, my father really doesn’t know this vile woman!" Xu Qingshi quickly stepped forward to defend him.
"Qingshi, are you alright?" Zhu Jingchen’s expression was far from pleased.
Even if Xu Heming truly had nothing to do with Liu Ruyan, the fact remained that she was his consort—and she had openly declared her affection for another man in his presence.
This did not sit well with him.
"Imperial Uncle, if Father hadn’t arrived in time, you might have found only my corpse. I was so frightened."
Xu Qingshi was a clever child. He looked at Zhu Jingchen with pitiful eyes, clearly hoping the Emperor would punish Liu Ruyan.
Upon hearing Zhu Jingchen’s voice, Liu Ruyan froze momentarily.
Then she burst into wild laughter.
Good. Let him know.
Back then, if Xu Heming hadn’t married Madam Zhou, she wouldn’t have stormed into the palace in a fit of rage.
She never wanted to be a consort. The only reason she entered the palace was to find a way to deal with Madam Zhou.
Now that Madam Zhou was dead, and the Prince of An intended to remarry—shouldn’t she be the most suitable candidate?
"Your Majesty, this concubine wonders if Consort Liu might be suffering from delusions?" The Empress observed Liu Ruyan’s frenzied state with uncertainty.
"Guards! Escort Consort Liu back to Ruyan Palace and await further judgment!" Zhu Jingchen ordered. Immediately, attendants rushed in from behind.
"Xu Lang, you are mine! You are mine!"
As she was dragged away, Liu Ruyan paid no heed to the Emperor or the Empress, shouting defiantly.
"Your Majesty, Empress, please clear my mistress’s name!" Cai'er fell to her knees before them, weeping and pleading.
"If this concubine recalls correctly, you are Cai'er, one of Consort Jing’s attendants?" The Empress studied Cai'er with a hint of doubt.
"Since Your Majesty has family matters to attend to, this official will take Zhiwei and Qingshi back now." Xu Heming’s tone was icy.
After all, being forced to participate in that ridiculous performance had already humiliated him enough.
Now his future wife and son had nearly been beaten to death.
No one would be happy in his place.
Besides, if not for the Emperor’s insistence on that performance, none of this would have happened today.
"Minister Xu, I will have someone escort Miss Li and Qingshi out of the palace. You, however, will wait for me in the imperial study!" Zhu Jingchen was displeased. Why was he in such a hurry to leave? Was he feeling guilty?
Xu Heming took a deep breath, wanting to refuse—but the man before him was the Emperor, his sovereign.
He had no choice but to endure.
"This official awaits Your Majesty’s summons."
With that, Xu Heming led Li Zhiwei and Xu Qingshi out of the cold palace.
After all, matters concerning Consort Jing were not for their ears.
Imperial gossip was best avoided.
The more one knew, the quicker one met their end.
"Your Highness..." Li Zhiwei hesitated, glancing at Xu Heming.
She couldn’t help but doubt Liu Ruyan’s words.
She wasn’t sure whether to bring it up now, in such an awkward situation.
But if left unspoken, these doubts would fester like a thorn in her heart—unable to be swallowed or spat out.
After today’s events, Li Zhiwei refused to suffer in silence.
"Zhiwei, if you have something to ask, speak freely." Xu Heming straightened, meeting her gaze earnestly.
"If Your Highness already has Consort Liu, there’s no need to marry me. Unless... you seek a cover for your relationship?" Li Zhiwei asked bluntly.
Her words also reached the ears of the imperial guards lurking nearby.
One of them pricked up his ears—this was crucial intelligence, not to be missed.
"Zhiwei, I truly don’t know that so-called Consort Liu, nor have I ever exchanged a single word with her before," Xu Heming replied earnestly.
He couldn’t understand why Consort Liu would kidnap Li Zhiwei and even drag Xu Qingshi into it.
But right now, his only concern was getting them safely out of the palace.
After such an incident, Xu Heming feared the Emperor might silence everyone who knew about it.
"Father, they say flies don’t land on an uncracked egg. If you’ve done nothing wrong, why would that vile woman kidnap my stepmother and me? Let me make this clear—if you ever bring that woman into our home, I’ll go be Mother’s child instead. I’ll have nothing to do with you anymore." Xu Qingshi’s voice dripped with resentment at the thought of Liu Ruyan entering their household.
"You little rascal, what nonsense are you spouting?" Xu Heming could only sigh in exasperation.
Had this brat already planned his escape route?
Become Li Zhiwei’s son? She was an unmarried young woman—who’d want a ready-made child like him?
"Mother, if the An Manor no longer has a place for me, will you take me in?" Xu Qingshi turned to Li Zhiwei with a pitiful look.
"The Li family can afford to raise you," Li Zhiwei answered after a moment’s thought.
The Li household could support not just one Xu Qingshi, but ten of him if needed.
"However, Prince An, I believe you owe me an explanation. After all, this disaster came out of nowhere, and I suffered for no reason." Li Zhiwei still felt a knot of anger in her chest, unresolved.
Right now, everything about Xu Heming irritated her.
Recalling the helplessness she’d felt facing Liu Ruyan earlier, she sighed again. I’m still too weak, she thought.
In the cold palace, Zhu Jingchen and the Empress sat quietly as Cai’er recounted the events of that day.
She also revealed how, after Consort Jing was confined to the cold palace, she’d discovered she was pregnant—only for Liu Ruyan to torment her relentlessly until the child was lost.
"If Consort Jing was with child, why didn’t you inform me?" Zhu Jingchen’s voice turned icy at the thought of the child he’d lost to Liu Ruyan’s cruelty.
Had he known, he would have protected that child without fail.
