Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 28 A gentleman is honest and forthright; a petty person fears power but not virtue.

Inside the Inner Peace Hall.

The charcoal fire burned brightly, but it couldn't dispel the somewhat stagnant atmosphere in the hall.

Ma Wenxiang sat upright in a square chair, his phoenix eyes sharp and scrutinizing, his expression cold and stern. Suddenly, he spoke, asking, "Consort Hu, do you know your mistake?"

Below the hall, Consort Hu, along with several female officials from her Yongshou Palace, knelt on the ground, all with their heads bowed and eyes lowered.

The Sixth Prince, Zhu Zhen, had been taken from Consort Hu's arms by Sun Miaoran and was now nestled in her embrace, with hot tea beside him to warm his hands.

The newly added charcoal gradually warmed the room, a warmth that the wind and rain outside could not dispel.

Ma Wenxiang's actions were not intended to make things difficult, but rather to inquire and even test the waters.

She wanted to see what kind of person Consort Hu was after this great change: was she a coward who feared power and avoided disaster, or a gentleman who would honestly admit his mistakes?

To know.

A virtuous person is always open and honest, while a petty person often only fears the powerful and forgets kindness.

She didn't have to wait long.

When Consort Hu, who was prostrate on the ground, saw Ma Wenxiang arrive, she was already grateful. Seeing that her child was being taken care of so well, her deep gratitude was even more evident.

"Your Majesty, this servant knows her mistake."

Consort Hu's voice was choked with sobs, and when she looked up again, her face was already covered in tears.

Her thin clothes couldn't keep out the cold, and she couldn't help but tremble as she apologized.

"Why call me a servant? We're all family."

Ma Wenxiang spoke calmly.

With just one sentence, the previous probing intent was resolved.

Just as Consort Hu was about to say something more, she suddenly felt a warmth on her body.

Before she knew it, Ma Wenxiang had stepped behind her and draped his newly acquired long-haired cloak, which he had worn when he left the palace, over her slender body.

The warmth not only enveloped her body, but also warmed Consort Hu's heart.

"Your Majesty..."

Consort Hu raised her head shakily, meeting Ma Wenxiang's warm gaze, even her slowly falling eyelashes carried a touch of gentleness.

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong."

Her eyes were slightly red, and as her breath rose, hot tears rolled uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.

"it is good."

Ma Wenxiang looked at Consort Hu in front of him, chuckled with emotion, and then, without turning his head, ordered, "Yunqi."

"This servant is here."

Yun Qi immediately stepped forward and responded meekly.

"His Majesty's decree has reached its deadline. May I escort Consort Hu out of this Inner Peace Hall today?"

Although Ma Wenxiang's tone was calm, it carried an undeniable certainty.

"Your Majesty naturally grants permission."

Yunqi answered obediently.

"My dear sister, from this day forward, you will no longer be a member of this Inner Peace Hall. You will be returning to Yongshou Palace with me."

Ma Wenxiang bent down and helped the weak-looking Consort Hu to her feet, supporting her step by step as they slowly left this most unbearable place in the palace—the Cold Palace.

In the blink of an eye, we arrived at Yongshou Palace.

But the scene before them stunned them both.

Since Consort Hu left the palace, Yongshou Palace has long lost its former magnificence and extravagance.

In just half a month, the palace seemed to have undergone a sudden change, and it was desolate everywhere. If it weren't for the fact that the ceremonial furnishings inside the palace were still there, one would almost think that the deep palace had been robbed.

Looking at the situation around him, Ma Wenxiang couldn't help but sneer, his expression instantly turning cold: "The people in this palace really know how to treat people differently based on their status."

"What? Consort Hu has only been to the Inner Peace Hall for a few days to reflect on her actions, and now there's not even anyone left to clean Yongshou Palace? Or will my Kunning Palace also suffer the same fate one day?"

Her words were piercing, each one carrying a chilling killing intent.

With the arrival of Ma Wenxiang and the return of Consort Hu, the eunuchs and maids in Yongshou Palace had already been summoned by the female officials beside Consort Hu.

Upon hearing Ma Wenxiang's words, everyone was terrified, their faces turned pale, and they all knelt down in unison.

"Your Majesty, we...we..."

One of the palace maids, seeing this, wanted to say a few words in her defense.

But the next moment, Su Qing'er, who was always cute and innocent beside Ma Wenxiang, suddenly stepped forward and raised her hand without hesitation.

With a loud "smack," the stinging sound of a slap echoed throughout the vast Yongshou Palace, landing squarely on the palace maid's face.

"You dog of a servant! In this Yongshou Palace, Her Highness hasn't finished speaking yet, do you have the right to speak?"

Su Qing'er's face was frosty, and her voice was sharp as a knife, completely different from her usual gentle self.

Ma Wenxiang glanced at Su Qing'er with a hint of surprise, then composed himself and turned to look at the frail Consort Hu. He gently patted her shoulder and comforted her, saying, "Take good care of yourself. In the future, the affairs of Yongshou Palace will still need your care as the mistress of the palace."

"As the older sister, I don't want to break the rules in this matter."

Ma Wenxiang's words demonstrated both closeness and gave Consort Hu dignity.

Consort Hu understood immediately, and her heart skipped a beat again.

In this harem, the number of people who could address Empress Ma as "sisters" could be counted on one hand.

This is why we see this scene today.

For her, this trip to the Cold Palace of the Inner Peace Hall might be a blessing in disguise.

"My sister understands."

Consort Hu spoke again, moved.

Seeing that she was well-informed, and with the guards of Yongshou Palace all present, Ma Wenxiang felt somewhat relieved that these eunuchs and palace maids wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.

She then instructed Sun Miaoran to leave Zhu Zhen at Yongshou Palace.

The mother and son have just experienced separation, and it would be inappropriate to separate them again so soon.

He added one more instruction: to have the imperial physicians come and take good care of the mother and son, ensuring they recover their strength as quickly as possible.

Not long after Ma Wenxiang left, Zhu Zhen, who was in a deep sleep, suddenly woke up.

Looking around, he saw that the cold, windy inner hall was no longer there, but his birth mother's palace, which he used to be familiar with. He couldn't help but smile and his face showed joy. Even the fatigue and chill he had accumulated from the cold all disappeared.

"Mother."

He exclaimed joyfully.

When no one else is around, the mother and son call each other that in private.

Although it broke the rules of the palace, it added a rare comfort and warmth to this cold royal family.

Consort Hu slowly recounted everything that happened after Zhu Zhen fell into a coma.

"Mother, I knew that you were not such an unreasonable person. If my body hadn't been unable to withstand it during that half-month period, you wouldn't have had to suffer such a great injustice."

"It's all my fault, it's all Xiao Liu's fault."

Zhu Zhen pouted and suddenly began to blame himself, repeatedly slapping his head in front of Consort Hu.

How could a mother bear to see her child degrade themselves like this?

Consort Hu quickly stopped his hand, gently patted Zhu Zhen's back, and murmured, "It was your mother's fault that you suffered."

"Mother was out of her mind and confused before. From now on, she will never dare to do anything that is detrimental to her sister or the Empress in this palace."

"Mother is the one who made a terrible mistake. Fortunately, my sister is kind-hearted. Otherwise, the future of you and Mother in this palace would be uncertain, and your life and death would be unknown."

"Little sister, thank you for your kindness, elder sister."

……

Meanwhile, in Majia Village, Qingfeng County.

Ma Xiuying had a younger brother by her side. Although she was a little uncomfortable at first, she gradually got used to it after a sigh.

The younger brother, Sun Wen, was extremely precocious and clever. With just a little guidance from Ma Xiuying, he could understand everything and never spoke much.

Even within the palace, most of Ma Xiuying's princes were inferior to her.