RPAGF Chapter 508 No secrets stay hidden forever; they'll find out sooner or later.
Chapter 508 No secrets stay hidden forever; they'll find out sooner or later.
The carriage bumped along the way to the palace. Chu Ruohan sat in the carriage, her heart filled with doubts.
Su Wan has just been made empress, and should be enjoying her newfound glory. Why is she being summoned to the palace in such a hurry?
Could something have happened in the palace?
After entering the palace gate, a palace maid led the way straight to the Chaofeng Hall.
As Chu Ruohan walked along, she noticed that the atmosphere in the palace seemed somewhat tense. The eunuchs and palace maids who came and went were all in a hurry, with solemn expressions on their faces.
Upon arriving outside the Chaofeng Palace, after being announced by a palace maid, someone quickly came out to greet them.
"Please come in, Lady Zhenguo. Her Majesty the Empress is waiting for you in the hall."
Chu Ruohan strode into the hall and saw Su Wan sitting alone on the phoenix throne, her face pale and her brows furrowed.
"See the Queen."
When Su Wan saw Chu Ruohan, a light flashed in her eyes, and she quickly stood up: "Sister Ruohan, you've finally arrived."
After bowing, Chu Ruohan carefully examined Su Wan's expression: "What happened? You look so pale."
Su Wan gave a wry smile: "Sister, I've only been empress for one day and I've already encountered so many troubles."
"What's the problem? Tell me slowly." Chu Ruohan pulled Su Wan's hand and made her sit down.
Su Wan then told Chu Ruohan everything about the officials who spoke out at the morning court session, as well as what had happened when the concubines paid their respects earlier.
After listening, Chu Ruohan frowned even more deeply: "These things are too coincidental; I'm afraid it's not a coincidence."
"Does your sister think so too?" A glimmer of hope appeared in Su Wan's eyes. "I always feel like someone is up to something, but I can't find any evidence."
Chu Ruohan pondered for a moment: "You mean that Consort Zhen brought up the matter from the morning court in front of everyone?"
"Yes, she said it very maliciously, implying that I was unworthy of my position." Su Wan still felt a bit angry when she recalled that scene.
"There's another person who gives me a strange feeling." Su Wan thought of the beautiful woman again. "She didn't say anything, but the look in her eyes made me very uncomfortable."
Chu Ruohan nodded: "With so many concubines in the palace, open and covert struggles are inevitable."
"However, you handled things very well today. You must not be soft when it is time to establish authority."
"But sister, I still feel uneasy." Su Wan held Chu Ruohan's hand. "I have a feeling that there is even bigger trouble waiting for me."
Chu Ruohan gently patted her hand: "When soldiers come, we will block them; when water comes, we will dam it. You are now the Empress, your status is different, so you must be more cautious in your actions."
"What do you think about the matter concerning Consort Shu?"
Su Wan shook her head: "I believe in His Majesty's character."
Chu Ruohan nodded: "If it is truly the heir of the emperor, the emperor would certainly not deny it. Since he is so certain, there must be something fishy about it."
"Sister, have you thought of something?" Su Wan noticed a thoughtful look in Chu Ruohan's eyes.
"I want to see that Consort Shu." Chu Ruohan stood up. "There are some things that we need to ask in person to know the truth."
Su Wan was taken aback: "See Consort Shu?"
"Yes, since someone wants to make a fuss about her, we need to find out what really happened."
Chu Ruohan's expression was firm: "You are now the Empress, and you cannot personally handle these matters, but I can."
Half an hour later, Chu Ruohan followed the palace maid to the side hall where Consort Shu was being held.
The interior of the hall was simply furnished, and several guards stood watch.
Consort Shu was half-lying on the bed, one hand supporting her waist and the other stroking her high, swollen belly.
Hearing footsteps, Consort Shu looked up and saw Chu Ruohan; her expression instantly turned ugly.
"Ha, so it's you," Consort Shu sneered. "What are you doing here? To laugh at me?"
Chu Ruohan wasn't angry. Instead, she walked to the chair and sat down, her expression calm: "I have a few questions for you."
"Why should I answer you?" Consort Shu's eyes flashed with hatred. "Wait until I give birth to the Emperor's eldest son, then let's see how arrogant you can still be!"
"My son will be the emperor's eldest son, and you lowly women will have to kneel before me sooner or later!"
Chu Ruohan shook her head: "Whether this child is the Emperor's or not, only you know the truth in your heart."
Consort Shu's expression changed slightly, but she still forced herself to say, "Of course it's His Majesty's!"
“But there’s one thing,” Chu Ruohan’s voice turned cold, “whether it is true or not, as long as the Emperor doesn’t admit it, you will not escape death.”
Consort Shu's fingers trembled slightly, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes.
Chu Ruohan continued, "Don't you find it strange that the Cold Palace suddenly caught fire?"
Consort Shu stiffened, looking at Chu Ruohan warily: "What do you want to say?"
"Someone used the fire in the Cold Palace to slander the Empress in court, saying it was a divine warning." Chu Ruohan stared intently at Consort Shu's expression. "The fire came at just the right time."
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu laughed instead: "What power do you think could possibly do such a thing to a disgraced consort like me, imprisoned in the Cold Palace?"
Chu Ruohan shook her head: "I know you didn't do it. You were just used as a pawn in someone else's scheme."
"But would the Emperor think that way?"
Consort Shu panicked, and the color drained from her face.
Chu Ruohan noticed her wavering and softened her voice.
"No matter what, you can't escape death. But don't you want to leave your child a chance to live?"
Consort Shu gritted her teeth and stubbornly insisted, "The child in my belly is the Emperor's!"
"Is that so?" Chu Ruohan stood up. "Then I have nothing more to say. It's just a pity for the child in your belly, and for the real father."
Upon hearing the words "real father," Consort Shu froze completely.
Seeing this, Chu Ruohan knew she had guessed correctly.
"I can save the child in your belly, and I can save that person's life."
Consort Shu raised her head, her eyes filled with surprise and doubt: "What did you say?"
"To be honest, I will guarantee your safety and that man's life."
Chu Ruohan's voice was soft, but every word struck Consort Shu's heart: "Otherwise, all three of you will die."
Consort Shu remained silent for a long time before finally giving in: "How can you guarantee this?"
"I, Chu Ruohan, keep my word, but that's not enough." Chu Ruohan walked to the door. "Your Majesty, please come in."
Su Wan pushed open the door and entered, her phoenix robe shimmering in the candlelight.
When Consort Shu saw Su Wan, she hurriedly tried to curtsy, but Su Wan stopped her, saying, "You're in such a state now, there's no need for such formalities."
Chu Ruohan said to Su Wan, "Your Majesty, please guarantee in person that as long as she tells the truth, you will save her and her child's lives."
Su Wan nodded: "I swear in the name of the Empress that as long as you tell the truth, I will guarantee your safety and that of you and your child."
Consort Shu looked at Su Wan, then at Chu Ruohan, and finally sighed: "Fine, I'll talk."
She slowly said, "This child is indeed not the emperor's; he belongs to Wang Hu, the guard who watches over the Cold Palace."
Although Su Wan was somewhat prepared, she still couldn't help but frown upon hearing this.
"After I was locked in the Cold Palace, I felt utterly hopeless." Consort Shu's voice choked with sobs. "Wang Hu originally only came to deliver food, but he treated me very well, unlike the others who looked down on me."
"Over time, we developed feelings for each other. I know it's wrong, but in that desperate situation, I was content to have someone who treated me sincerely."
Chu Ruohan asked, "Besides the people in the Cold Palace, who else knows you're pregnant?"
Consort Shu hesitated, stammering and unable to speak.
Chu Ruohan pressed further, "Has anyone come to the Cold Palace to see you?"
Consort Shu bit her lip, but ultimately shook her head: "No, no one has come."
Chu Ruohan stared into her eyes: "You don't have to say anything, but nothing stays hidden forever. Sooner or later, they'll find out. Rather than being found out, you might as well tell the truth now."
Consort Shu's face grew paler and paler, and her hand unconsciously stroked her belly, as if she were having a fierce internal struggle.