Chapter 186 Disaster
The next morning, Pei Ye was called to the imperial study by Emperor Qingyuan.
Emperor Qingyuan threw the memorial to the ground, and Pei Ye lowered his eyes to look at the words on the ground.
Such beautiful handwriting, must it be from that weak scholar Ye Hanting?
Very good, he did indeed report him.
Emperor Qingyuan was intimidating without getting angry. "Pei Ye, the Imperial Guard Cavalry Battalion has a very bad style. They drink during the day and neglect training. These are all good subordinates you brought up!"
"I am using the money from the national treasury to support you, and this is how you discipline the imperial guards!"
Pei Ye lowered his eyes and said nothing. He was indeed caught drinking in the daytime by Ye Hanting.
He was not particular about details, and his subordinates sometimes drank, played dice, and visited brothels. There was nothing to argue about.
"Won't you explain it?" Emperor Qingyuan hated Pei Ye's arrogant and domineering character.
He relied on the Queen Mother's favor and looked down on everyone.
Ye Hanting submitted a memorial today, so he will take this opportunity to teach Pei Ye a lesson.
Pei Ye looked at Emperor Qingyuan and replied calmly, "Yes, I plead guilty."
Emperor Qingyuan calmed down his irritable mood.
"Go down, receive twenty military sticks and be fined one month's salary. If the cavalry battalion fails to enforce military discipline again, you and the others will each be fined three months' salary!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Pei Ye went out readily to accept the punishment.
After Emperor Qingyuan waited for him to leave, his expression returned to calm. He was thinking, why did Ye Hanting target Pei Ye?
Could it be that Pei Ye did something to anger Ye Hanting?
He pinched his brows in pain. Pei Ye wondered if he knew that the money for supporting the imperial guards was all obtained by Ye Hanting.
Why would he bother Ye Hanting for no reason!
Pei Ye leaned against the board and touched the small wild flowers on the ground with his hand.
The little purple flowers bloomed in the sunshine, which is Chuchu's favorite color.
His body was in great pain, but he gritted his teeth and endured it, but there was a hint of tenderness in his eyes.
When he thought of Ye Hanting, his eyes gradually turned cold. Anyone who truly cared about the prince was his enemy.
If Ye Hanting is not eliminated, how can he get rid of Chu Li and avenge Chu Chu!
Today he and Ye Hanting officially became enemies, and he would not give Ye Hanting a good life in the future.
......
As the sun set, Chu Li learned that Pei Ye had been beaten with a stick, but she didn't feel anything. After all, that guy really deserved a beating.
I don’t know which good person helped Pei Ye to suffer such a setback.
Chu Li was just thinking about leaving the palace to see her two children, but suddenly she saw Chu Xing running towards her crying.
"Fifth brother, please help my mother!"
Chu Li asked her to sit down and said, "Tell me slowly, what's wrong?"
"Empress Rong has regained my father's favor. She falsely accused my mother of embezzling money from the treasury, so my father banished my mother to the cold palace."
"Don't panic, tell me in detail."
Chu Xing wiped away her tears, "Just now, Concubine Rong came in with a group of eunuchs and found 100,000 taels of silver notes and a box of gold, silver and jewelry belonging to the harem treasury in my mother's palace."
The more Chu Xing thought about it, the angrier he got. "My mother has always been frugal. How could she do that?"
Chu Li was surprised, "Father just banished Concubine Shu to the cold palace?"
Chu Xing nodded, "Father was worried about the Murong tribe. When he heard that mother was embezzling money, he was furious and immediately locked mother up in the cold palace. He also handed over the power of the harem to Concubine Rong!"
Chu Li's eyes darkened. The Mu Rong tribe had been attacking repeatedly recently, so his father was naturally in a bad mood.
There may be a war on the front line soon, and money will be needed everywhere.
Concubine Rong was also good at finding opportunities. She actually tried to put pressure on Concubine Shu at this critical moment. No wonder Concubine Shu was locked up by the emperor's father in a rage.
Chu Li comforted her, "Xing'er, don't worry. Concubine Shu is just locked up in the cold palace. There must be a chance for improvement. I will go there in person later. As for you, remember not to cry or make a fuss, and don't bother father. Just stay quiet and I will find a way."
"I will listen to my fifth brother." Chu Xing nodded. She now had full trust in the Crown Prince. Her intuition told her that the Crown Prince would be able to help her mother clear her grievances.
......
In the cold palace, the few gold and silver jewelries on Concubine Shu were stripped away by the people inside.
In the dilapidated house, she sat there like a green lotus.
"Empress Shu, this is your meal, eat it quickly!"
An old maid placed a bowl of rotten rice heavily in front of Concubine Shu.
Concubine Shu looked at her calmly, "What's your name?"
The old nanny rolled her eyes and said, "Why, what's the use of knowing this old slave's name? You can't get out anyway!"
Concubine Shu smiled faintly and did not answer.
The old lady's face darkened and she kicked over the bowl of rice. "How shameless! You still think you are the high and mighty master!"
"Forget it if you starve to death!"
The old nanny looked at the maids and eunuchs outside and said, "You all saw it. It's not that I didn't give her food, but she didn't want to eat it!"
After the old nanny left, one of the young eunuchs secretly brought a bowl of white rice and two side dishes to Concubine Shu.
"Madam Shu Guifei, this is my dinner. Although it is a little light, it is clean. As the saying goes, there is life, there is no shortage of firewood. Please eat some."
Concubine Shu looked at him and said, "Thank you very much."
The young eunuch said respectfully, "My Lady Shu, I am sorry for the humiliation. I accidentally offended My Lady Rong, and that is why she sent me here."
"Why?" asked Concubine Shu.
The young eunuch lowered his eyes and said, "I dare not say."
Concubine Shu knew that a servant also had his own difficulties. She was now in the cold palace. If she got any news, not only would she not be able to take it out, but it might also harm the little eunuch.
Suddenly, a dull voice came from behind them, "Okay, Xiao Dezi, you are full, right? Then go clean all the toilets!"
Xiao Dezi was startled when he heard Nanny Qin's voice.
Nanny Qin kicked the meal that Xiao Dezi had given to Concubine Shu to the ground.
Xiao Dezi looked at the rice scattered on the ground, frowned and said, "Madam Qin, I didn't take your rice!"
Nanny Qin sneered, "You are a half-and-half-woman thing. If you don't want to eat, just starve to death!"
Xiao Dezi clenched his fists in grievance.
Concubine Shu stood up suddenly, "Shut up! I didn't know there was someone as arrogant and domineering as you in the harem."
Nanny Qin sneered, "Then Concubine Shu knows now, but it's too late!"
Suddenly, the eunuch's voice came from outside the door, "Empress Rong is here to marry!"
Concubine Rong, dressed in gorgeous clothes, came in with a proud look on her face.
Behind her were two rows of palace maids and eunuchs. When she saw Concubine Shu, she smiled triumphantly.
"Hey, isn't this Concubine Shu? How did she end up in such a state?"
She looked at the rice spilled on the ground, and then at the palace servants, and said, "You don't even want to eat the good food. From now on, just give two bites of the leftovers to Concubine Shu."
Hearing this, Nanny Qin became even more arrogant, because she was originally Concubine Rong's person.
The purpose of her staying here is to teach a lesson to those people whom Concubine Rong dislikes.
Concubine Shu lowered her eyes and said nothing. She knew that Nanny Qin was Concubine Rong's person.
Nanny Qin told Concubine Rong about Xiao Dezi's affairs.
Her eyes fell on Xiao Dezi and she spoke coldly.
"Come here, take Xiao Dezi, this traitorous slave, away. He is in cahoots with Concubine Rong and has been stealing the palace's treasures. Drag him out and beat him to death!"