CHAPTER 269: CHAPTER 269: YOU CAN PLAY IT LIKE THIS?

Emperor Jing was filled with righteous indignation, angrily pacing in circles.

What is all this nonsense!

His good intentions were completely misinterpreted?

Zhao Ting was also stunned. Based on his understanding of Emperor Jing, both as a Prince and now as Zhao Ting, this behavior wasn’t an act.

"To put it bluntly, do you think your wife is a celestial being who descended from the heavens? That everyone would fancy her? Zhao Ting, if you’re fond of her, that’s your business. You think I, the Emperor, would stoop so low as to compete with you over a woman? Think about it, of all the consorts in the palace, is there one less beautiful than Meng’s wife?" the more Emperor Jing spoke, the more aggrieved he felt. As a ruler, when had he ever been so insulted?

"No, no, Shuangxi, you go and invite Meng’s wife into the palace. I need to confront her face to face! I can’t have this slander hanging over me without clarification!" Emperor Jing shouted loudly.

Shuangxi, coming in from outside the hall, was also confused, having not heard what was previously said.

Inviting Meng’s wife, speaking of slander!

Shuangxi instinctively glanced at Zhao Ting, only to see him with pursed lips, his expression indescribable.

Could someone tell him what exactly was going on?

"Why are you still standing there? Are you ignoring my orders?" Emperor Jing’s face darkened.

Shuangxi quickly regained his senses, hurriedly replied, "This old servant wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare!"

Having said that, he rushed out of the hall, jogging away quickly.

"If there’s to be a confrontation, you can’t just bring A Yao to the palace; the Noble Consort must be invited as well," Zhao Ting said.

"I won’t just listen to one side of the story," Emperor Jing snorted.

Noble Consort An arrived first. Seeing Zhao Ting there and Emperor Jing’s unpleasant expression, she immediately thought of Meng Yao.

Could it be that General Zhao took the pretense seriously?

Are they going to play out the scene of two men fighting over one woman?

Logically, the victor should be His Majesty.

However, His Majesty holds General Zhao in high esteem, so it’s hard to say.

Sacrificing one woman to gain the loyalty of a courtier is a worthwhile trade.

It’s just a pity for Sister Meng, having no choice in the matter.

General Zhao isn’t bad, but can he truly be without grudges?

If he cannot, how will Sister Meng fare in the future?

Noble Consort An imagined a grand drama, considering all possibilities, hoping for a favorable outcome.

Meng Yao was quickly brought before Emperor Jing and Zhao Ting by Shuangxi.

Before she could salute, Emperor Jing impatiently spoke, "Meng’s wife, let me ask you, did you tell Zhao Ting that I wanted to keep you in the palace?"

Meng Yao nodded.

Emperor Jing’s face turned as dark as a pot bottom.

"When did I ever say such a thing to you? Time, place, witnesses—you must clearly explain this to me!" Emperor Jing’s voice rose sharply.

Noble Consort An looked at Emperor Jing in confusion; why was His Majesty reacting so unusually? Was this a case of starting in chaos, ending in abandonment?

"His Majesty didn’t say it personally, but the Noble Consort said it, and wouldn’t that represent His Majesty?" Meng Yao replied, unhurriedly.

The Noble Consort said it?

Emperor Jing immediately looked at Noble Consort An.

"Changle, did you say that?"

Noble Consort An was a bit bewildered—why did the atmosphere feel so odd?

"Yes, I said it, but wasn’t that His Majesty’s intention?" Noble Consort An innocently replied.

"My intention? What intention? How could I not know my own intention?" Emperor Jing widened his eyes.

"How could His Majesty not know His own intentions? Wasn’t it His Majesty who asked me to host the banquet? Didn’t His Majesty instruct me to definitely, definitely invite Madam Zhao? And, to ensure the utmost care for Madam Zhao! Is it not so?" Noble Consort An questioned Emperor Jing.

Emperor Jing nodded, "Yes."

"During the banquet, though many were invited, wasn’t Madam Zhao the most important guest?" Noble Consort An asked again.

Emperor Jing nodded again, "Yes."

"So, did I do anything wrong? Wasn’t the meaning conveyed by His Majesty to take good care of Sister Meng?" Noble Consort An laid out her logic clearly.

"So, you just assumed that I took a fancy to Meng’s wife?" Emperor Jing started to piece things together.

"Isn’t that the case? If not for a fancy, would His Majesty expend such effort? Was His Majesty really idle?"

"Changle, do you really see me as so shamelessly mad?" Emperor Jing was so angry that his eyebrows stood up, "I am as close as brothers with A Ting, no matter how reckless, would I do such a thing?"

"I don’t know if His Majesty is mad, but I know this kind of thing isn’t uncommon in stories or unofficial histories. A superior looks at a subordinate’s wife, a monarch covets a minister’s wife; didn’t it start like this?" Noble Consort An appeared to have solid reasoning.

"Stories? Unofficial histories? An Changle, I entrusted the affairs of the Six Palaces to you, and you ease your burden by blindly guessing my intentions from stories? Aren’t you tired?" Emperor Jing grit his teeth.

"Reading stories and unofficial histories refines one’s character; how could it tire me? Managing the Six Palaces and your everyday affairs from these beauties, that’s what’s tiring." Noble Consort An spoke confidently.

The conversation was clearly taking a sidetrack.

Zhao Ting cleared his throat gently.

Emperor Jing immediately changed his words about to be spoken, "An Changle, listen carefully: my initial intention for the banquet was to help A Ting console Meng’s wife! A Ting was unable to win her favor, feeling depressed, and I couldn’t bear to see him so distraught, so I entrusted you with this matter! But you, you have disappointed me greatly!"

What?

She misunderstood?

Meng Yao was also speechless. So, everything was a wild misinterpretation by Noble Consort An?

"Well, Your Majesty, you didn’t explain clearly. If you had, how could I have made such a big joke? General Zhao, Madam Zhao, I apologize sincerely; it was my fault, I hope you can forgive me! Fortunately, it didn’t escalate further!" Noble Consort An expressed with genuine regret.

With the misunderstanding resolved, Zhao Ting breathed a genuine sigh of relief. The mess An Changle caused, though he resented it, couldn’t be shown. As it was the Noble Consort, only the Emperor could reprimand her.

Meng Yao clearly shared Zhao Ting’s thoughts, and she indeed held a favorable impression of Noble Consort An.

Now that everything’s been clarified, she could let it go.

Moreover, the ones most unjustly implicated weren’t her, but Emperor Jing and Zhao Ting.

A pair of truly accursed brothers.

Zhao Ting sat in his wheelchair, his expression immediately drooping, displaying a listless and weak demeanor.

"Your Majesty, excessive anger and joy harm the body. My health hasn’t fully recovered, and this ordeal has left me feeling even more unwell. All the precious medicinal herbs have been wasted, truly a pity. A Yao has been meticulously caring for me every day, all in vain. Alas... because of this incident, A Yao even gave me a beating, adding insult to injury."

Meng Yao was stunned; was Zhao Ting openly asking Emperor Jing for compensation? Could it really be done like this?

Would Emperor Jing agree?