The Cry of the Phoenix Which Reached the Ninth Heaven - Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Liu Sha Also Fell Into Her Hands

Yao Mowan suddenly sank into silence with a serious expression on her face.

“Are you alright?” When Ye Junqing noticed that there was something off about Yao Mowan, he immediately asked this in concern. Before he had realized it, he had started to care about her. He himself probably wasn’t aware of this gradual change.

“How can I put it? I’ve always thought that Yan Nansheng didn’t care about me, but now it seems he does care about me from the very depths of his heart.” Yao Mowan placed down her chopsticks and looked up with a deadpan expression.

“Why?” Ye Junqing looked towards Yao Mowan for an explanation. For some reason, he felt uncomfortable when he heard these words from her.

“Liu Sha!” Yao Mowan’s lips parted slightly to form these words. Before the sound of her voice even faded, Liu Sha was already standing in front of Ye Junqing. At this moment, Ye Junqing finally understood what had happened. After taking Liu Sha from him, Yan Nansheng had ran over here to Yao Mowan to curry favor! Ye Junqing was so angry to see Liu Sha that he felt like his lungs were about to explode!

Upon seeing Ye Junqing’s face flush red, Yao Mowan waved her hand in satisfaction and had Liu Sha withdraw.

“Yao Mowan.” Ye Junqing took a deep breath and called out softly to Yao Mowan whose smugness was written all over her face.

“What is it?” Yao Mowan widened her eyes innocently.

“Would you die if you go a day without angering this prince?” Ye Junqing had never asked a question this sincerely before in his life.

“I won’t, but I’d feel uncomfortable all over.” Yao Mowan blinked her large clear eyes earnestly. After Ye Junqing stormed out, he heard bell-like laughter come from Guan Osprey Palace.

Ever since Fluffy gave birth to kittens, she became even more lazy and would often sleep through half the day on the chaise lounge. Afterwards, she’d slowly walk around the main hall for a little while before going back to sleep. However, Fluffy’s baby was very lively. Yao Mowan named the baby Jewel and would now tease Jewel instead so that Fluffy could sleep.

Yao Mowan was currently playing with Jewel with a ball of string when Ting Yue rushed into the palace.

“Niang niang, Consort De has come back!”

Upon hearing this, Yao Mowan froze and her gaze sharpened slightly. Following that, she threw the ball of string to Jewel and slowly walked to the table.

“When did she come back?” Yao Mowan’s brows had furrowed and her tone was very solemn. Out of the four main consorts, the only one she had never been able to see through was Consort De, Xie Siyin.

As the youngest daughter of the Benevolent Prince, Xie Zhong, and the niece the Empress Dowager doted upon the most, Xie Siyin had the qualifications to be proud and strong-willed. Moreover, Xie Siyin had gotten married with Ye Hongyi, so she had extremely strong ties to the imperial family. However, when Ye Hongyi made her queen, Xie Siyin had been very calm although the Empress Dowager and the Benevolent Prince had expressed strong dissatisfaction.

Perhaps it was because of Buddhism, but Xie Siyin’s gentle soothing features made everyone feel close to her. Yao Mowan remembered that three days before she had been killed, Xie Siyin had left the palace to head to Palcho Monastery. It was said that she had headed there to pray for His Majesty so that the imperial family would have an unending line of sons.

“Replying niang niang, Consort De had just entered the palace when this servant received the news, so she has probably reached Ordinance Palace,” reported Ting Yue.

“En, what about His Majesty?” For as far back as Yao Mowan could remember, Ye Hongyi has always treated Xie Siyin respectfully. When she saw them together, they always seemed more like siblings than husband and wife.

“When this servant was heading back, this servant heard the little eunuch next to An Bingshan say that His Majesty had already headed to Ordinance Palace.” Ting Yue was glad that she had taken the time to find out more information.

“I got it, you can withdraw.” Yao Mowan nodded slightly and had Ting Yue withdraw. She sat by herself for a long while before calling Yin Xue.

“Yin Xue, make a personal trip to Palcho Monastery and find out what Xie Siyin has been doing during this time.” Yao Mowan’s expression was slightly cold.

“Understood!” Yin Xue never spoke more than necessary and would always try to fulfill Yao Mowan’s commands to the best of her ability. This was the most basic requirement of a hidden guard.

Once Yin Xue left, Yao Mowan sighed softly. She remembered that Xie Siyin would often go to Palcho Monastery to pray. Was she really that devote? Yao Mowan didn’t believe so. There was definitely some secret!

As of now, Ye Hongyi had already lost Huan Heng’s trust and also Fu Qing, this important minister. If she could make him become enemies with the Benevolent Prince, Xie Zhong, it’d cause the other old princes to become discontent. As long as those old stubborn people stopped supporting Ye Hongyi, that’d clear up half of the thorns on Ye Junqing’s path to becoming emperor.

In the night, Ordinance Palace was very tranquil. The sandalwood that was burning in the fragrance pot filled the room with a faint fragrance. As the wind drifted in through the window, it caused the candles on the table to flicker. The hazy light served as a soft contrast for the master of this room. On the bed, a woman in a simple, moon-white garment was lying on her side. Her silky hair was gathered up and casually pinned back with a hairpin. Her features seemed like strokes of art and her long hair fell all the way to her slender waist and glittered with the soft light from the flickering candles. This was Consort De, Xie Siyin.

Currently, Xie Siyin was holding a scripture and reading through it quietly. She looked like a beautiful, holy maiden. However, though her face was beautiful, it was unnaturally white, almost as if she were ill.

“Niang niang, His Majesty is here.” Xie Siyin only put down the scripture to get up when her palace maid, Yue Chan, walked in to notify her that Ye Hongyi was here.

“This consort kowtows in salute to Your Majesty.” Her voice was elegant and very tranquil.

“Hurry and rise. There are no outsiders here so there’s no need to be so formal!” Ye Hongyi hastily walked over and helped Xie Siyin up from her bow with worry in his eyes.

“It’s still the Imperial Palace. People are talkative, so it’s still best to pay attention.” Xie Siyin said with a slight smile as she allowed Ye Hongyi to help her to the table.

“You worry too much. Ordinacne Palace is the only palace at the southeast corner of the Imperial Palace and far away from the palaces of the other consorts. Who would come here except for the guards patrolling?” As Ye Hongyi spoke, he waved to have Yue Chan withdraw.

“Your Majesty truly took a lot of trouble to help Siyin prepare such a quiet place back then. Even now, Siyin is very grateful,” said Xie Siyin as she bowed her head slightly.

“If we are to talk about gratefulness, it should be us that is grateful to you. Back then when we had first ascended to the throne, the court was very unstable. If it hadn’t been for Uncle taking the time to appease those princes, how would we be able to sit on this throne so stably? We know that Uncle had only helped us because of you. However, we have made you and Jianchen suffer due to this.” Ye Hongyi looked at Xie Siyin with an apologetic and remorseful expression.

“Your Majesty, please don’t speak that way. We have grown up together like siblings, so how could Siyin do nothing when Your Majesty was in danger? And even if Siyin hadn’t entered the palace, Father wouldn’t have allowed Siyin to get married with Jianchen. As of now, though Siyin can’t be openly together with Jianchen, Siyin is already very happy to be able to meet him every month. However, Siyin never would have imagined that in just a few days, something this tragic would end up befalling the Empress. After Siyin heard the news, Siyin decided to stay in Palcho Monastery for a few more days to pray for the Empress and the little prince- cough cough…” Xie Siyin had spoken a lot and she was already starting to have to gasp for air.

“That’s enough about this. How is Jianchen?” For a second, Ye Hongyi’s expression had stiffen, but he immediately returned to normal.

“Jianchen… Although he didn’t tell Siyin, Siyin saw that he was already coughing blood… Your Majesty, Siyin can’t bear to lose him…” Tears silently streaked down her cheeks as her shoulders quivered with sobs.

“Don’t worry, we‘ve already sent the best imperial physician in the palace to Palcho Monastery. He’ll be fine! However, you should take better care of your body. It’s only been a little while, yet you’ve gotten so much skinnier! You’re making us worry the most!” It was clearly rebuking words, yet there was not a trace of a rebuking tone. Ye Hongyi poured a cup of tea and handed it to Xie Siyin as he looked at her with unconcealable worry in his eyes.

__________