Inside the imperial study, the emperor had calmed down for a while. Although his face still looked a little pale, his expression had calmed down.
The brocade box had been covered with a piece of yellow brocade and placed aside.
Pei Yuanjun bowed first when he entered the room.
The emperor raised his head and said, "No need! Where have you been? Didn't you say you would come over?"
"The Queen sent someone to summon me." Pei Yuanjun said. Although he did not go, there was a reason why he was delayed.
"What happened?" The emperor frowned.
"It's not a big deal. The Empress sent someone to bring Miss Qu Si to the Changchun Palace where I was supervising. Concubine He also brought Miss Liu who was holding a cat. The cat in Miss Liu's arms saw that I was nervous, so it struggled and pounced on Miss Qu Si. I threw it to death. Miss Liu went back and cried, and the Empress asked me to clarify the matter."
Pei Yuanjun said lazily, and it was obvious that he didn't take the matter seriously.
"Did you drop Concubine He's cat to death?" The emperor's heart trembled and he asked hurriedly. Everyone in the palace knew how much Concubine He loved the cat. If she didn't see the cat for a day, she would feel listless.
"It should have died a long time ago. This cat wants to catch people and destroy their appearance all the time. What's the point of staying here?" Pei Yuanjun said indifferently.
"Nonsense!" The emperor's breathing quickened, and he slammed the table hard, staring at Pei Yuanjun and scolding him, "What does that cat know? It's just a tool in someone's hands. How can you not even tolerate a cat?"
"Your Majesty, I also know that the cat has been used as a tool. However, this tool has been used too much and it will be destroyed, so that no one will use it as an imperial sword!" Pei Yuanjun said indifferently, and his handsome sleepy eyes raised with a bit of gloom, which fell clearly into the emperor's eyes.
The emperor was stunned and speechless for a moment.
"Your Majesty, why don't you ask about Miss Liu? She cried in front of the Empress before and felt very aggrieved." Pei Yuanjun continued, as if he didn't notice the Emperor's abnormality.
"Ms. Liu must be sad to see you and Miss Qu Si together." The emperor calmed down and tried to calm himself down.
"Miss Qu Si is my concubine, and she is my woman. What is Miss Liu? What reason does she have to feel wronged? Does she really think that I want to marry her?" Pei Yuanjun's eyes darkened, and he frowned, saying impatiently, "Your Majesty, I will not marry her."
"Why don't you marry her? What's wrong with the daughter of the general? She saved you and even injured her eyes for you. No matter from which point of view, you should marry her." The emperor straightened his face and stared at Pei Yuanjun unhappily.
"Anyway, I don't want to marry her." Pei Yuanjun said with a bit of arrogance.
"If you don't want to marry her, who do you want to marry?" The emperor was so angry at his appearance that he slammed his hand on the table again, causing the paperweight on it to tremble.
"Your Majesty, I actually think that the current situation is quite good. The palace is peaceful and there is no woman causing trouble. It is not as chaotic as the Crown Prince's Mansion and Prince Jing's Mansion. I am enough on my own." Pei Yuanjun said indifferently. The arrogance in his eyes was a little less, but he looked like he really didn't care.
"You...what are you talking about? There are three types of unfilial behavior, and the worst is to have no descendants. Do you know what you are talking about
"The queen was so angry at his indifferent look that she trembled all over. She stretched out her hand and said to Pei Yuanjun, "Are you determined to be a disloyal and unfilial person?"
“Your Majesty, I dare not. I just think that with too many women, it will be a mess. Not to mention the Crown Prince and Prince Jing, just your Majesty’s harem…” Pei Yuanjun did not continue, but the meaning of his words was already clear. There was even a hint of disgust in his handsome eyes, disgust for the harem.
The emperor was so angry that he trembled. He pointed his hand outside and said sternly, "Kneel outside. You dare to say such treasonous words."
"Yes, thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Pei Yuanjun's face showed a hint of arrogance again. After looking at the emperor, he turned and left, going straight outside to kneel as punishment.
“You… look at him… look at his attitude…” The emperor pointed at Pei Yuanjun’s back angrily, speaking with hatred.
"Your Majesty, don't be angry. The prince just has a childish temper and he didn't really mean to offend you." Li Quan hurriedly comforted him. He had just stood behind the emperor and saw Pei Yuanjun with a somewhat defiant expression. He had seen this expression before, when Pei Yuanjun was a child. Pei Yuanjun was stubborn at that time, and whenever he showed this expression, he would often contradict the emperor.
Not only the Emperor, but also the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the favored Imperial Concubine.
But the final result is often the emperor's concession.
As a close minister, he is of course the most clear about some things. He also knows what is on the emperor's mind. The brocade box just sent in is another fuse, a fuse that reminds the emperor of Empress Yuan. Under such circumstances, how could the emperor really punish Prince Yun
"He has a childish temper. He is so old, but he still has a childish temper. He really thinks of himself as a child. He doesn't even look at other people of similar age who have already got married and had children!"
The emperor was so angry that he was fuming. He had never been so angry with Pei Yuanjun since he grew up. This was really a violation of the rules!
If he still doesn't believe it, there's no way to cure him. He must get married!
He raised his hand and lifted the brocade in front of him, revealing the old brocade box. The dragon and phoenix pattern on it was still vivid, but what caught the emperor's attention more were the little figures on it. The picture of hundreds of children and grandchildren hidden on the brocade box pierced his heart. He held the brocade box in his hand, and his eyes were red...
Li Quan took another step back, his eyes swept over the brocade box, his heart skipped a beat, he felt that today's matter would not be so simple...
"Please, Queen, make the decision for me!" Liu Lanxin fell to the ground and cried, unable to speak.
"What's going on?" The Queen frowned and looked at the maid she had sent to lure Qu Moying away. The maid collapsed in front of her. "Where's Fourth Miss Qu?"
“Empress, something happened. Miss Liu brought… brought the Imperial Concubine’s cat here… the cat got startled and almost hurt Fourth Miss Qu. The Prince… the Prince got angry and reprimanded Miss Liu, and threw… threw the cat to death…” the nanny stammered.
She was still trembling, thinking of Concubine He's most beloved cat, which died tragically in front of her, with the pool of blood even flowing to her feet. She just couldn't calm down.
"This... is it such a big fuss?" The Queen's hands trembled, her face changed drastically, and she asked anxiously.
"I don't know... The prince is very angry.
Royal Concubine… Royal Concubine…” Nanny couldn’t continue, she was shaking with panic.
The Empress tried hard to calm the panic in her heart. This matter was of no small importance now. Not to mention that Pei Yuanjun was angry, even Concubine He would not let it go. She had wanted to get rid of Concubine He's cat countless times. How could she not know that the bitch used the cat to lure the Emperor over
But even if she knew, she couldn't do anything. Concubine He had people watching her all the time. If something really happened, even if it was not her fault, this bitch might bring it upon her.
"Mother, you still have to explain this matter to father. Concubine He's cat and Miss Liu have nothing to do with you. You just sent someone to invite Miss Qu Si over. But you are the master of the harem. After this incident, Uncle Wang sent someone to you. You have to go and ask."
Pei Luoan happened to be there too, and he looked at Liu Lanxin who was kneeling on the ground.
The Queen Mother nodded with a gloomy face. This incident happened so suddenly that she had difficulty coping with it for a while. After looking at her son, she took her confidants inside to discuss the matter.
"Ms. Liu, please stand up!" Pei Luoan walked up to Liu Lanxin and said softly.
Liu Lanxin looked up at Pei Luoan's gentle and handsome face, and for a moment she was overwhelmed with sorrow and started crying out of grievance. The incident happened suddenly, and she really didn't expect that such a big disaster would occur.
At most, she just pushed it aside slightly. As for other things, they definitely had nothing to do with her. Thinking of Pei Yuanjun's cold rebuke just now, Liu Lanxin's tears fell again. She quickly reached out to cover her tears with a handkerchief, and slowly stood up with the help of a palace maid.
"Thank you, Prince... Your Highness, Your Highness, I am truly innocent!"
"I believe you. Uncle Wang sometimes just... goes a little too far." Pei Luoan said gently, with a soothing smile on his face. "Don't be afraid, it's okay, nothing will happen."
His words comforted Liu Lanxin. The panic on Liu Lanxin's face subsided a little, and she wiped the marks from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
"Someone, help Miss Liu to wash up. She may have to go to the imperial study later. The Queen Mother has explained everything to the Emperor. From now on, Miss Liu cannot be blamed for what happens." Pei Luoan was still comforting her.
These comforting words finally calmed Liu Lanxin down. She nodded and followed the palace maid to the side hall to wash up. She really needed to wash up. Although there was no mirror, Liu Lanxin could sense her own dishevelled state.
Her brows furrowed slightly. Even under such circumstances, Qu Moying was able to escape. This was really good luck. Of course, in addition to luck, Liu Lanxin was even more panicked by Pei Yuanjun's attitude. He actually reached out to protect Qu Moying at that time
Others don't know, but she saw it most clearly recently. There were several clear bloodstains on Pei Yuanjun's hands. They were caused by him being scratched by a cat while protecting Qu Moying. It was impossible for him to escape at that time.
She had never seen Pei Yuanjun pay attention to a woman before. What did he mean now? Liu Lanxin's breathing quickened, and she didn't dare to think any further...
Watching Liu Lanxin leave, Pei Luoan curled the corners of his lips, then turned to the inner room of the main hall. This matter was too sudden, and he had to talk to his mother about it. His father would definitely be angry, and his mother was not involved much. How to get the most benefit from it was the most important consideration now!