noveltune Chapter 27 Half-Month Term: A Female Lead's Script?
Chapter 27 Half-Month Term: A Female Lead's Script?
Ma Wenxiang sighed softly.
They had no choice but to walk around outside the palace gates first to stretch their muscles.
But just as he stood up, a thunderous voice suddenly rang out in front of the Kunning Palace: "Who dares to trespass into the Kunning Palace? How dare you!"
Ma Wenxiang gave Sun Miaoran a wink.
Sun Miaoran nodded and arrived at the palace gate.
The guards had stopped an ordinary palace maid; her attire was similar to Sun Miaoran's, indicating that she was a female official in the palace.
Although her rank was lower than Sun Miaoran's, she was by no means a newcomer who had just entered the palace and did not know the rules.
"Please, Your Majesty, save my Highness! Please, Your Majesty!"
The female official, her face streaked with tears, knew she had violated palace rules, but upon seeing someone come out of Kunning Palace, she immediately kowtowed and cried out in a hoarse voice.
"Your Highness?"
Sun Miaoran frowned, immediately thinking of the Second Prince who had displeased her mistress yesterday, and said in a deep voice, "Come in first. If you, this servant, do not understand the etiquette of hierarchy and dare to spread rumors, then..."
"Even if Her Majesty releases you today, I will never let you off easily."
The sobbing female official nodded repeatedly and rose gratefully in response.
Sun Miaoran turned around, her face expressionless, seemingly still sharp, but inwardly she sighed: Everyone in this palace is a servant; if you don't leave the palace, you are a servant.
If you can help, then help out; it's a way to accumulate good karma for your future career after leaving the palace.
The female official approached Ma Wenxiang, abandoning her pretense, and hurriedly told him everything she had come for, pleading with the Crown Prince to make a decision: "Please, Your Highness, save my Prince."
"Your Highness?"
Ma Wenxiang's gaze immediately turned strange, and he couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, asking, "Could it be that in this palace, someone dares to bully a prince?"
At this point, the female official hesitated and stammered, and it took her a long time to explain the specific situation.
"It was the Sixth Prince... The Sixth Prince also went to the Inner Peace Hall."
"After Her Highness's minor punishment as a warning, His Majesty issued an edict, but it only concerned Consort Hu. How could it be related to the Sixth Prince?"
Sun Miaoran was puzzled and immediately pressed for an answer.
Matters involving princes are of paramount importance within the palace.
The lady-in-waiting continued, "It was the Sixth Prince who went there on his own initiative. He said, 'My mother is also suffering. As her child, I cannot relieve her worries, so I can only share her suffering. This is the way of filial piety in the royal family.'"
"He's a good kid, though."
Ma Wenxiang sighed softly.
When he looked up, he saw that the female official beside him and the two personal maids of Kunning Palace were all looking at him expectantly.
……
Inner Anle Hall.
Originally intended as a place to house palace women who had made mistakes, were ill, or were old, it was in reality no different from a cold palace.
Inside the palace, Consort Hu was no longer adorned with silks and satins as she once was. She wore only a simple cloth dress, which, though unpatched, was devoid of any extravagance. All her hair ornaments and jewelry had been removed, leaving only a copper hairpin to maintain her final dignity.
"Mother, everything will be alright."
Zhu Zhen was curled up, wearing only a thin outer garment.
The fact that a prince of the Zhu family has fallen to such a state shows how cold-hearted people are in the palace.
"The Empress Dowager is not a narrow-minded person; today's events have nothing to do with her."
Hu Chongfei showed a bitter smile, but there was no resentment towards Ma Wenxiang.
Her eyes welled with a sigh, her face etched with reminiscence, as she slowly recalled the scene from that day—
……
In front of Yongshou Palace.
The Imperial Guards suddenly surrounded the palace.
According to palace regulations, all halls and corridors of the imperial palace were guarded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard on a rotating basis, and the palace patrols were extremely strict.
Before anyone in the palace could make a move, Yun Qi, a close attendant of the emperor, arrived with a squad of guards: "Your Majesty, His Majesty has issued a decree."
Consort Hu respectfully bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I receive the imperial decree."
After all the formalities were completed, Yun Qi slowly unfolded the imperial decree and read it aloud word by word: "...Consort Hu has offended the Empress Dowager and has overstepped her bounds."
Although Her Majesty the Empress has pardoned him, from this day forward, he shall be confined to the Anle Hall of the Cold Palace to reflect upon his actions. This is the imperial decree!
"Your Majesty, I accept the imperial decree."
Consort Hu's face turned deathly pale with fright.
Everyone in the palace knows that once you enter the Inner Peace Hall, it is uncertain whether you will ever come out alive; it is as if you have one foot in the gates of hell.
The people in this palace are corrupt, cold-hearted, and utterly unreasonable.
"Your Majesty, do not be afraid."
Seeing this, Yun Qi comforted her, "The Empress has already given her a small punishment as a warning. His Majesty is just venting his anger for the Empress and also to rectify palace rules so that the harem can be more peaceful."
"Your Majesty only needs to stay in the Inner Peace Hall for a few more days, and you will be released. After all, His Majesty also needs to consider the Empress's feelings."
"Thank you, sir."
Upon hearing this, a small flame of hope ignited in Consort Hu's heart, which had been filled with despair.
What people fear most is having no hope at all, and her previous situation was exactly that desperate predicament.
……
Come back to your senses.
The days passed by.
To date, Consort Hu has been staying at the Inner Anle Hall for a full half month.
Based on her understanding of the Holy Heart, this punishment should be enough, and everything should be moving in a positive direction.
But the weather didn't cooperate.
Yesterday, a sudden downpour occurred, with torrential rain and howling winds blowing into the inner Anle Hall.
Although the mother and son did not catch a cold, the damp chill coming from all sides was truly unbearable.
"Chuntao, Xing'er, add more charcoal. Even if it's enough for the next few days, it's fine. Just make sure we get through today."
Consort Hu looked at Zhu Zhen, who was trembling in her arms, and immediately gave the order.
The two personal maids looked bitter, exchanged a glance, and knelt down with shame: "Your Highness, we are useless."
"No one has come to the palace these past few days. The little bit of charcoal that was burning just now was leftover from Yongshou Palace last year, and now there's not a trace of it left."
"Oh……"
Consort Hu's bitter smile deepened. "The ways of the palace are truly fickle; once someone leaves, they're forgotten."
"Never mind!"
Then.
The soft sighs became the final lamentations inside and outside the Inner Peace Hall.
……
Meanwhile, Ma Wenxiang was on his way to the Inner Anle Hall when he summoned Yun Qi.
"Has the half-month period arrived?"
Ma Wenxiang asked.
"Your Majesty, today marks exactly half a month."
Yun Qi replied respectfully.
Ma Wenxiang nodded solemnly.
The mother and son overcome difficulties together within half a month. If this plot were in a female-oriented novel, it would definitely be a female lead's script.
And she, the instigator and the empress who holds power over the six palaces, is probably the villain that a heroine destined for greatness should have.
But this isn't a fictional story; it's the real Ming Dynasty.
Ma Wenxiang believes that his conscience is clear and pure, and he feels little guilt, so he can say that he has a clear conscience.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the Inner Anle Hall, Yun Qi stepped forward, straightened his back, and swept his sharp gaze over the eunuch guarding the door.
He shouted sternly, "Why aren't you opening the door yet? Can't you see the Empress is coming?"
With a loud bang, the doors of Anle Hall opened.
Ma Wenxiang, accompanied by his female officials on either side, followed by female officials from Consort Hu's palace, and then a group of guards from Kunning Palace, marched in a grand procession straight into the Inner Anle Hall.