Consort Shu

CH 24: Second Prince

24. Second Prince

　　After Jiang Chongyi left, Shen Moyun frowned and stood up, saying, "Jin Se hasn't returned for so long… Come with me to see what's going on over there."

After hearing Jiang Chongyi's words, Suyue became worried about Jin Se. Now, hearing Shen Moyun's words, she felt a mix of relief and concern. She was relieved that even if Jin Se was in trouble with the Second Prince, with Shen Moyun's current status, she could still be rescued. However, she was worried that if the Second Prince was as violent as rumored, what would happen if Shen Moyun got hurt?

At this moment, another woman's scream came from behind the rock garden. The scream was like a switch, all the previous noise came to a halt, causing an eerie silence. This time, not only Suyue but Shen Moyun's expressions also changed. It was Jin Se's voice.

When everyone hurried to the back of the rock garden, they all gasped in shock. Jin Se had fainted, bright red blood was flowing down from her forehead, staining her entire left cheek, and dripping onto the ground, forming a pool of blood, which was extremely horrifying. On the sharp edge of a nearby stone, there were also fresh bloodstains that had not yet dried. Another young palace maid, Tianxin, lay collapsed on the ground, her face showing extreme pain. Her right hand was clutching her left shoulder. Although there were no visible bloodstains, it was evident that she was injured internally.

A boy dressed in the imperial prince's attire, about six or seven years old, stood next to Jin Se. Ignoring the advice of the little eunuchs, he impatiently kicked Jin Se. Seeing that she didn't respond, he said somewhat disdainfully, "She's so useless, dying so easily!"

　　Shen Moyun was both shocked and enraged. Jin Se had been by her side for several years, and now seeing her lying on the ground, unaware of her life or death, with the perpetrator still displaying such arrogance, she felt the urge to slap him hard. Suyue was also naturally furious but she still remembered to restrain Shen Moyun and whispered, "Niangniang, that's the Second Prince." Even if the Second Prince did something wrong it was not Shen Moyun's turn to teach him a lesson.

The arrival of Shen Moyun and her entourage also caught the attention of the Second Prince's group. Although the little eunuchs had not seen Consort Shu before, Jin Se had just identified herself as a palace maid from ChangLe Palace. Seeing the unpleasant expression on the face of the concubine standing before them, they could easily guess her identity as Consort Shu.

Suppressing her anger, Suyue first bowed to the Second Prince and then sternly demanded, "Consort Shu Niangniang is here. Why haven't you knelt down to pay respects?"

Several thuds echoed as they fell to the ground, accompanied by uneven greetings. Shen Moyun ignored these trembling with fear people. They could not do anything either way. She only said to the boy with a face full of arrogance and malice directly, "Regardless of how my palace maid may have 'offended' the Second Prince, it's inappropriate for the Second Prince to take matters into his own hands. Nevertheless, you have already disciplined her. Now, do you agree to return the person to me?"

Without waiting for Shen Moyun's signal, one of the clever eunuchs who had accompanied her rushed forward to help Jin Se and Tianxin. Another palace maid had already taken out a handkerchief to cover the wound on Jin Se's forehead.

　　The Second Prince seemed somewhat reluctant, and pouted arrogantly, "Since Consort Mother Shu has spoken, let's spare this lowly maid this time." He turned to glare at his kneeling attendants, "What are you all still kneeling there for? So boring. I lost my ball playing alone. If you don't find it soon, I'll have Consort Mother chop off your heads."

"Yes, yes, this slave knows his mistake."

Shen Moyun didn't have time to address the Second Prince's rudeness as she was busy arranging for Jin Se and the others to be carried back and then sending someone to call for a physician.