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墨書 Inktalez
On the way back, Murong Xi was lost in thought.
Scenes from earlier replayed in his mind, and he didn't know how to face the Emperor.
He couldn't simply forget the years of misery he had endured.
Yet, if he were to hate, how long could that hatred last? That man was about to die soon.
Murong Xi's feelings were complicated; after all, he was still a youth. Even though he had experienced more ups and downs than most, his mind was still young.
The intertwining of familial affection and resentment left him momentarily at a loss.
As Murong Xi pondered, lost in his thoughts, he suddenly heard a sharp voice.
"Impudent! You dare not bow before the Consort? Which palace do you belong to?"
When Murong Xi looked up, he saw a beautifully adorned but visibly weary consort, surrounded by a group of courtiers.
Having recently brushed up on palace relations, he recognized her as Liu Consort—the sister of Prime Minister Liu Chengye and the aunt of Liu Susu.
A palace maid approached him with an air of authority, continuing to reprimand him until Liu Consort intervened.
"Enough. It's not a big deal; stop making a fuss," Liu Consort said, her words laced with an alluring charm. She took great care of herself, making her appear much younger than she actually was.
The palace maid shot Murong Xi a glare and said, "The Consort is magnanimous and won't stoop to your level. Hurry up and thank her, then leave quickly; don't obstruct her from enjoying the flowers!"
This time, the Consort did not stop her maid. It seemed she believed this treatment was indeed what she deserved.
Murong Xi initially wanted to ignore her, but after a moment's thought, he stepped forward.
He wanted to see just how arrogant this Liu Consort, who was soon to be buried alongside the Emperor, could be.
"Son, Murong Xi, pays his respects to Liu Consort." Murong Xi bowed respectfully, catching Liu Consort off guard.
Everyone present was taken aback, especially the palace maid who had previously scolded Murong Xi loudly; her face turned pale with fear.
Murong Xi was a prince, the master of the Murong Family. Even when he was not favored before, his status was still significant. Now, it was clear to anyone with eyes that the Emperor cared for him deeply.
Although Liu Consort was a favored concubine of the Emperor, her status was not much higher than that of Murong Xi.
Now that Murong Xi recognized her and bowed respectfully, it was a great disrespect for Liu Consort to allow a palace maid to offend a prince in such a manner.
Given Murong Xi's current power and status, even if he could not do anything to Liu Consort, dealing with a palace maid would be entirely justified; no one could stop him.
Yet Liu Consort remained unfazed, speaking in a nonchalant tone, "So it's the Sixth Prince. It's truly rare to see you. The Sixth Prince studies diligently and rarely ventures out; it's no wonder most people in the palace fail to recognize you."
With just a few light words, she shifted the blame for the maid's disrespect onto Murong Xi.
Indeed, she was a woman who had held her position as a noble consort for many years; she was not so easily underestimated. Murong Xi thought of Consort Shen; if she were as capable as this woman, perhaps it would have been someone else who faced dire consequences.
He did not trouble the maid—not out of fear but out of disdain.
After Murong Xi left, the maid seemed to lose all strength. She pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her cold sweat and spat in the direction where Murong Xi had departed, muttering, "Bitch's son is indeed a bitch!"
"Silence!" Liu Consort reprimanded the maid. "Times have changed; you must speak and act with caution!"
The maid quickly nodded in agreement.
Liu Consort's gaze also fell in the direction where Murong Xi had left, and she said, "Consort Shen's son has grown up so much already."
If her child from back then had survived, he would be about this age now...
Sometimes life presents such coincidences; either there is no connection at all, or once you meet someone, you feel as if you encounter them often in the days that follow.
Several times afterward, Murong Xi ran into Liu Consort in the palace. Each time she appeared, there was a hint of sorrow on her face, which made him sneer.
Was this woman worried about the current state of the Liu Family, or was she concerned about her own future? Unfortunately, neither would end well!
Even if there was nothing happening, Murong Xi would stir up trouble.
Liu Consort had bumped into him a few times and had memorized his appearance.
"This Sixth Prince, I wonder what kind of means he used to climb to the forefront among the princes. Now the Emperor cares most about this son; even the Third Prince hasn't received as much attention."
The previous maid had a loose tongue and was well-informed about all the palace gossip, especially regarding such significant matters.
Liu Consort pondered for a moment and said, "This Sixth Prince doesn't resemble Consort Shen much, nor does he look much like the Emperor."
However, he did seem somewhat familiar.
"Your Highness suspects that the Sixth Prince's background is questionable?" The maid was startled and lowered her voice to ask.
Liu Consort shot her a glance and said, "What nonsense are you spouting? Can one casually discuss a prince's lineage? Go back and prepare for your punishment!"
"Yes! Your Highness." The maid dared not argue and responded tremulously.
Liu Consort was not doubting Murong Xi's origins. Although he did not particularly resemble the Emperor, there were still some similarities. Especially his demeanor; at first glance, he appeared to be of royal blood, making it impossible for him to be Consort Shen's illegitimate child.
Back then, Consort Shen was the favored one in the harem, with no reason or opportunity to engage with other men.
Liu Consort simply felt that he looked somewhat familiar.
This familiarity struck her during a later grooming session when Liu Consort suddenly realized something. She turned her head at different angles in front of the mirror, and the reflection followed suit.
No wonder he seemed familiar; wasn't the face of the Sixth Prince just a reflection of her own face that she had never seen?
The maidservant also noticed this and chuckled, "This is quite amusing. If someone didn’t know better, they might think that the Sixth Prince isn’t Consort Shen’s child but rather one of ours!"
The speaker was oblivious, but the listener took note. This remark lingered in Liu Consort's mind.
If only her Prince were still alive...
Liu Consort unconsciously began to pay more attention to Murong Xi, and as she did, she uncovered more and more suspicious details.
Consort Shen had been favored in the harem due to her beauty. Murong Xi was also strikingly handsome, standing out among the princes. His features were soft, possessing a somewhat androgynous charm that even surpassed that of some princesses.
However, this beauty was entirely different from Consort Shen's.
Liu Consort had once engaged in both open and covert rivalry with Consort Shen and retained some impressions of her, but she could not find any similarities with Murong Xi.
On the contrary, she found that not only did she share physical resemblance with Murong Xi, but they also exhibited similar habits in certain behaviors.
Murong Xi had previously been neglected and bullied within the palace, rarely appearing in public. At that time, he was still young and unassuming, making it difficult for Liu Consort to notice any clues.
It felt strange, as if something was off.
"Sixth Prince, what a coincidence," Liu Consort waved at Murong Xi and said, "It's better to come at the right time than to arrive early. I've just made some new snacks here. If you don't mind, please come over and have a taste."
Beside her were several other consorts from the palace, seemingly gathered to enjoy the scenery and share some tea and snacks.
Murong Xi cast a cold glance at the woman, finding it laughable. Once or twice could be considered a coincidence, but after so many times, did she really think he was foolish?
"No need, thank you for your kindness, Liu Consort. My son is allergic to Rose Cake; if he eats it, he will have a high fever and break out in hives. I wouldn't want to impose on such goodwill."
This statement was true; although not many knew about it, it wasn't a secret. The health conditions of the princes were recorded, and anyone could find out with a little inquiry.
Murong Xi sneered inwardly. Did Liu Consort really think he was an idiot? Just because she found a weakness, she thought she could toy with him? That was quite an underestimation.
What he didn't know was that this time it truly was an accidental encounter and not something Liu Consort had orchestrated.
In fact, Liu Consort was taken aback by his words.
Rose Cake was a common snack in the palace, usually brought along for sharing among the consorts. Liu Consort herself didn't eat it because she was allergic to it as well.
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