Chapter 174.4: Midnight Fright

Ruan Fang Fei deathly grabbed onto her mother's arm, forcibly opening her eyes. Everything was blurry before her eyes, but she fixedly stared at Li Hong Yuan, "Li Hong Yuan, if not for you, if not for you............"

"Impudent, Yuan'er's personal name, is it something you can directly address? What, today's matter, you still want to blame it on Yuan'er? Don't assume that because your father's the Head of the Cabinet Ministers, you just have yourself taken too seriously. To give face, yet not want, what a thing." Noble Consort Su angrily scolded.

Ruan Rui Zhong was also anxious, but he could only let Ruan Fang Fei 'shut up'. Afterwards, he even had to apologize to Noble Consort Su, "Your Highness, don't be angry, this one's daughter didn't mean that."

Noble Consort Su coldly sneered, "This consort doesn't care what she means. It's also fortunate that such a fickle woman wasn't lifted through the gates, else today, wouldn't she have directly given my son a green hat to wear? The so called cultivating one's moral character, managing the family and governing the state to pacify the country, Sir Ruan as an official, there's nothing to criticize, but it's best one put some attention towards one's home. All say you married a good wife, virtuous and loving, yet in the end, had your daughter raised into this revolting manner. And as the daughter, appearing good in all aspects on normal days, yet deep down was a lowly slut. And the mother, dignified and virtuous, but perhaps deep down also the same kind of ware."

"Your Highness——-" Ruan Rui Zhong's tone sharpened somewhat, "Asking your Highness to not spit malicious slander. This one's daughter's matter certainly must have secrets within."

"Secrets? Of course there are, the secret is just she's naturally born wanton, residing in the boudoir[1], yet already fooling around with men."

"Your Highness———"

"Could it be that this is not the case? If she didn't run out herself, would she be in the straw pile field? Don't say she got schemed against and was actually taken away by others. Your Ruan family has that many servants, are they all useless? Even if she got schemed against, with that many people, how come it's her meeting mishap every time? In the end, it's still because she herself has problems."

Since Ruan Fang Fei was unwilling to defend herself, Ruan Rui Zhong was left speechless by Noble Consort Su's words.

Le Cheng Emperor lightly coughed, "Beloved consort, enough."

This was practically just Le Cheng Emperor waiting until after Noble Consort Su had everything said, before finally adding a belated line, suffocating one's heart.

"Zhong Qing, go to the Ruan family's side and ask around, see whether or not it's the same as before."

"Replying to your Majesty, this subject acted without permission and already asked around. The Ruan family's side didn't have anything out of place." Yu Zhong Qing, who was guarding outside the courtyard entrance like half a door god, immediately replied.

Previously, Ruan Fang Fei got frightened, and also three people got knocked unconscious, but ever since then, by her side, there were always people, yet there wasn't the slightest abnormality. Even Le Cheng Emperor all can't help but suspect that his beloved consort's deduction was correct.

It was already hot to begin with, so at this time, Ruan Rui Zhong was further dripping beads of sweat one after the other, wanting to ask Ruan Fang Fei again, but unfortunately, she fainted once again.

"Old master, can everything be set aside first, save her first, save her first.............." Ruan Old Madam used a handkerchief to press against Ruan Fang Fei's forehead, desperately pleading.

"Right, right, imperial physician, where's the imperial physician?"

The imperial physician actually already arrived, cowering outside the courtyard entrance, and hearing Ruan Rui Zhong's voice, he finally hastily entered, first bowing to Le Cheng Emperor and Noble Consort Su. "Enough, quickly go have a look."

The scene sunk into silence again.

"This son will take one's leave." Li Hong Yuan once again opened his mouth, and without waiting for Le Cheng Emperor's reply, just directly left.

Le Cheng Emperor didn't keep him either, turning his head towards Noble Consort Su, "How about beloved consort also go rest first?"

"Later. Your Majesty, since Miss Ruan is unwilling to tell the truth, and we can't use torture on her either, the cause of the incident, let's just set aside for now. But the matter that occurred between her and Zhong Qinwang was nevertheless witnessed by that many people, so it's best to take care of it as soon as possible. Just, my poor Yuan'er, clearly didn't do anything at all, yet repeatedly kept getting implicated for some reason." As she said this, she even uncontrollably let out a soft sob.

Never mind the others, even Le Cheng Emperor all couldn't help but tug the corner of his mouth, that bastard was pitiful? Also, before, she even said he was good-tempered? If he's pitiful, then there isn't a single person in the world that isn't pitiful. And if he's good-tempered, then in this world, there isn't a single person that's not good-tempered. However, Ruan Rui Zhong and his wife, as well as Zhong Qinwang, all looked towards Le Cheng Emperor.

Le Cheng Emperor muttered to himself momentarily, "Beloved Minister Ruan has been loyal towards this emperor to the end, and has served Qi Yuan, bending to the task and sparing no effort. This emperor also cannot bear to see his lifelong clean reputation destroyed just like this. Imperial younger brother, right now, you don't have a main wife either, so this Ruan family daughter, why don't you just take her as your wife."

"This younger brother accepts the decree." In front of Le Cheng Emperor, Zhong Qinwang forever knew what he needed to do.

Noble Consort Su slightly lowered her brows, retracting her gaze. Having torn her son's face, yet still want to escape unscathed and become a qin-wangfei? Never mind not having you stamped down, but even raised your status? And furthermore, went from her son's soon-to-be side consort to becoming his elder? Even daydreams weren't this beautiful. She leaned close to Le Cheng Emperor, "Your Majesty, did you forget the fortune Grandmaster Liao Chen told for this Miss Ruan?"

This reminder made Le Cheng Emperor suddenly sober up, "All thanks to beloved consort for reminding this emperor." Thus, he immediately changed his words, "Ruan family daughter, in the end, doesn't have a pure body, so just as a side consort then."

Ruan Rui Zhong nearly sprayed a mouthful of old blood. In his eyes, this was clearly just Noble Consort Su causing trouble inside, evidently having forgotten what Li Hong Yuan once told him regarding Ruan Fang Fei's fate. "Thanking your Majesty for the magnanimous honor."

Have to say, Jing Wan also wasn't present, else she perhaps will all want to request this Head Cabinet Minister for the surface area of the shadow in his heart, asking him, for Le Cheng Emperor to treat him like this, would he still be loyal towards Le Cheng Emperor without regret? Although it's said that thunder and rain were all a ruler's grace, but after one has wholeheartedly put out, yet got in exchange the ruler's thunder, would one's heart really not have the slightest complaint?

When Ruan Rui Zhong was thanking the Emperor, at least, his heart really wasn't at peace. Was it aimed at Le Cheng Emperor? Noble Consort Su? Or Li Hong Yuan?

Moreover, for Le Cheng Emperor to handle it like this, will it not ruin Ruan Rui Zhong's clean reputation?

It wasn't a brilliant cover up to begin with, even equating to having no cover at all, then getting Jin Qinwang involved, heheh, covering one's ears while stealing a bell[2], covering up yet only making matters worse, was all nothing more than this!

Le Cheng Emperor also felt tired, letting them all get lost, and after Ruan Fang Fei wakes up, if she's willing to talk, just talk, if not, then don't talk. Le Cheng Emperor was also too annoyed to deal with her, just telling Yu Zhong Qing to strengthen the defense and patrol, and for the other families to also not lower their guard. This trip truly hasn't been too peaceful. The matters afterwards, he also handed over to Yu Zhong Qing to clean up.

Even if the village functionary heard some things he shouldn't have heard, producing such a shameless daughter, he was also enough embarrassed himself. As long as he was a smart one, he will properly restrict his family, not letting them babble nonsense outside. One has to know, as commoners, criticizing the imperial family, once caught, it was all a serious crime.

Li Hong Yuan returned to his own qinwang carriage, "An Yi."

An Yu soundlessly got on, kneeling with one knee before Li Hong Yuan, quietly having the matter reported.

The bridge along the road was broken by them, this was within Li Hong Yuan's expectations, and that older cousin of Ruan Fang Fei's, he also knew, "He just unhesitantly bit her back just like that? Keep the person around, he will be useful later."

Just, Zhong Qinwang's appearance really was an accident. Ruan Fang Fei's resolute decision rather is fitting of her style.

"On Wan Wan's side, there can't be anymore mishaps."

"Master, don't worry, because Sir Luo and Luo Old Madam already know of master's matters, when in the capital, we already sent guards to the Luo family directly. Miss Luo's surroundings have always had people guarding, there won't be any problems."

"En." Li Hong Yuan shut his eyes, "You can withdraw."

The next day, Jing Wan woke up on time and washed up as usual. Afterwards, in her limited space, did her morning exercises.

[1] Anything referring to the boudoir is just literary code for being an unmarried girl.

[2] Idiom meaning 'deceiving oneself'.