Her Power and Favor Span the World

Chapter 57

After Mu Ru eunuch went in, Yuan Qingling also followed him in.

Yuwen Hao struggled to prop himself up slightly and asked, "Eunuch, why did Father want to take back the southern pearls?"

Seeing that he was so direct without beating around the bush, Mu Ru eunuch told the truth, "Since His Highness asks, this old servant will say a few words. Don't blame this old servant for being too rude. If His Highness wants to honor the Empress, there are plenty of opportunities. Why the rush to send them over when the Consort has just obtained the southern pearls?"

Yuwen Hao's gaze was like a knife stabbing Yuan Qingling's face.

Yuan Qingling lowered her eyes, not saying a word, her face expressionless.

Yuwen Hao slowly moved his piercing gaze back to Mu Ru eunuch's face and said, "Please return first, eunuch. This prince wants to speak privately with the Consort for a few words."

"Consort, you should return the remaining strand of southern pearls and the IOU first. The Emperor is angry now." Mu Ru eunuch said.

Yuan Qingling said, "Eunuch, one strand of the southern pearls is lost. I will go apologize to Father. You can leave first."

Mu Ru eunuch couldn't help but feel somewhat angry. "It's come to this. The Consort really doesn't need to say that. It will only make the Emperor angrier."

Yuwen Hao stared at Yuan Qingling and said in a deep voice, "Give it to the eunuch."

Yuan Qingling met his gloomy and furious eyes. She slowly shook her head and said, "No, I lost them. I will go apologize myself."

Mu Ru eunuch said coldly, "Consort, if you insist on saying you lost them, this old servant can't help you. But the strand you claimed to have lost was sent to the Emperor by Treasured Auntie from Zhongshen Palace. If you really lost it, you're implying Zhongshen Palace's people took it. The severity of this, please think it over carefully, Consort!"

He continued after speaking, "Your Highness, this old servant will take his leave first. If the Consort insists on apologizing to the Emperor, it's best not to say she lost them, just sincerely admit fault. It's not a big deal."

"Thank you for the reminder, eunuch." Yuwen Hao said solemnly.

Mu Ru eunuch took one more look at Yuan Qingling and sighed inaudibly. A daughter of a waiting official is still not presentable after all.

After the eunuch left, Yuwen Hao grabbed the scissors from the bedside table and threw them at Yuan Qingling. The scissors were for cutting gauze when treating his wounds, so they were left at the bedside for easy access.

Yuwen Hao's arm was originally injured, but in his anger he disregarded the pain. With skill, Yuan Qingling was unable to dodge. The scissors grazed past her ear, drawing a streak of blood as they fell to the ground.

"Your Highness, please don't get angry and aggravate your wounds!" Tang Yang said hastily.

Xu Yi was also scared stiff. If it had hit right on, the Consort's eyes might have been poked blind.

But there was no helping the Consort either. She seemed to have changed a bit, but immediately reverted to her old ways, wanting to curry favor with the Empress as before.

Yuan Qingling slowly squatted down to pick up the scissors. She had thought she would be very angry, but she wasn't at all. She was extremely calm.

It was as if this was the result she had anticipated, that this outcome was normal.

Not allowing her to explain at all, because he had never thought of believing her.

The anger in his heart was indescribable.

"If this prince doesn't get rid of you, I swear I won't be human!" Yuwen Hao said through gritted teeth, full of hatred in his eyes, just like when Yuan Qingling had first transmigrated over.

Yuan Qingling put the scissors on the table, slowly raised her head to look at Yuwen Hao, and softly said, "Okay!"

Seeing her like this, Tang Yang also got angry. "Consort, do you know what the Emperor will think of His Highness with you doing this? You've harmed His Highness once already. I beg you to settle down, okay?"

Yuan Qingling's gaze went past Tang Yang and landed on Yuwen Hao's face. His hideous look was really frightening.

She nodded, her eyes calm as she said, "Don't worry, I will explain everything clearly to the Emperor. This matter has nothing to do with you. The Emperor can kill or punish me, I will bear it alone."

"Get lost!" Yuwen Hao said in extreme disgust.

Yuan Qingling gripped the strand of southern pearls, turned around, and took two steps. She looked back at Yuwen Hao again and said quietly, "Your Highness just said if you don't get rid of me, you swear you won't be human, right?"

"This prince hates that he can't kill you." Yuwen Hao said coldly.

"Killing me would dirty Your Highness's hands. Please keep your word and get rid of me after this matter passes!" After speaking, she turned and left.

"Your Highness!" Tang Yang looked at Yuwen Hao worriedly, "With the Consort going like this, she will likely anger the Emperor further."

Yuwen Hao slowly lowered his head. Yuan Qingling's parting words kept echoing in his ears, various disturbances tangling up and giving him an inexplicable headache.

"Let her go. Father has already lost all hope in this prince. It doesn't matter if he loses hope once more." Yuwen Hao said quietly.

"Why did the Consort give the southern pearls to the Empress?" Xu Yi was rough and asked bluntly, unable to figure out Yuan Qingling's intention.

"Why? Of course it's to curry favor with the Empress." Yuwen Hao said coldly.

"What's the use of currying favor with the Empress?"

Tang Yang glanced at Xu Yi lightly and said, "Are you muddled? Qingling has always wanted to get close to the Chu family, you know that perfectly well."

Xu Yi harrumphed, "Qingling, that shameless old man, has truly reached the height of audacity. When our prince was favored by the Emperor, he desperately married his daughter into Prince Chu's Residence. Now that our prince has fallen from grace, he immediately goes to cling onto the Chu family's cold butt. How shameless can he be?"

Seeing Yuwen Hao's expression turn colder, Tang Yang scolded Xu Yi. "Don't speak nonsense. Shut up."

Xu Yi knew he had spoken out of turn. He glanced at Yuwen Hao and quickly kept silent.

Yuwen Hao closed his eyes. His heart was inexplicably chilled. No one knew how much he had hoped Yuan Qingling would change, but obviously she had not.

The anger in his heart was indescribable.

When Yuan Qingling went out, the wind whizzed past her ears. She reached out and her hand was covered in blood.

She smiled as she kept walking forward, letting the blood drip down. The small wound was not fatal. The bleeding would stop.

The imperial study was not far from the consorts' palaces, but she still walked quite a while.

When she arrived at the door of the imperial study, Mu Ru eunuch went in to announce her arrival. Emperor Ming Yuan calmly said, "Have her wait outside first."

So Yuan Qingling stood outside motionless.

She was extremely calm inside.

This was actually the calmest moment since she had transmigrated over.

It was as if the original owner's entanglements lingering in her mind had completely vanished.

She stood for a full half an hour. Emperor Ming Yuan still didn't see her. She kept turning the southern pearls in her hand, as if fingering prayer beads.

"What are you doing here?" A voice came from the side, tinged with surprise.

Yuan Qingling looked up to see Prince Sun.

His loose green robe billowed in the wind, like a puffed up great peng bird. His round face held a puzzled look. He walked over, smelling of roast meat, with a bit of meat crumbs still remaining at the corner of his mouth, evidently having eaten in a hurry and failed to wipe clean.

"Your Highness!" Yuan Qingling smiled at him.

"Are you requesting an audience with Father? I'll put in a word for you." Prince Sun kindly offered.

"No need. Father is busy. He will naturally see me when he's free." Yuan Qingling said.

"Father is busy?" Prince Sun was clearly somewhat relieved. "Then I won't wait either."

As he spoke, he was about to leave, but Mu Ru eunuch came out and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor summons you."

Prince Sun was somewhat annoyed. He slowly turned around and said, "I see."

Not long after Prince Sun went in, the sound of smashing things and several angry roars came from inside. After a while, Prince Sun came out looking crestfallen and disheveled. He looked at Yuan Qingling and said, "You probably shouldn't go in. Father is angry."