Consort Zhuang doesn't want palace intrigue; she just wants to raise her child and live a caref

Chapter 208 Locking him up with the sow

The sky was overcast, and a fine drizzle fell, as if veiling the world in a hazy mist. A group of people dressed in plain clothes, holding oil-paper umbrellas, carefully made their way along the slippery stone path, slowly making their way into the imperial mausoleum.

At this moment, Ruan Guicai, the chief steward in charge of managing this magnificent imperial mausoleum, was leading several core members who were already waiting inside the mausoleum. They all had solemn expressions, respectfully welcoming the distinguished guests who were about to arrive.

When Su Nuannuan appeared before everyone, Ruan Guicai and the others hurriedly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and shouted in unison, "This servant Ruan Guicai pays his respects to Consort Zhuang, and to the Fifth Prince and the Little Princess!" The sound echoed in the silent imperial mausoleum.

Su Nuannuan slightly raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the group of people before finally settling on Steward Ruan, whose smile was slightly obsequious. She nodded gently and said in a calm tone, "Rise!"

After receiving permission, Steward Ruan straightened up, but still maintained a humble posture. He first secretly glanced at Xiao Yanfang standing to the side, then quickly turned his gaze back to Su Nuannuan, and said respectfully, "Your Highness, please come this way." As he spoke, he turned to the side and gestured for her to come.

At this moment, Su Nuannuan turned to look at Granny Song beside her and gave her a meaningful look, while softly calling out, "Granny Song."

Song, the old nanny who had been following closely beside Su Nuannuan, immediately understood and stepped forward, facing Steward Ruan with a serious expression, saying, "Steward Ruan, the weather is not cooperating today, and it has rained. Her Majesty is frail and it is really inconvenient for her to stay in the imperial mausoleum for too long. After offering incense to the Empress Dowager, we must return to the estate as soon as possible, so please ask Steward Ruan to lead Her Majesty directly to the place where she offered incense to the Empress Dowager."

Upon hearing this, Chief Eunuch Ruan's face, which had previously held a slightly obsequious smile, instantly darkened, his lips twitching slightly as he revealed a hint of displeasure. He coughed lightly and then slowly said, "This servant meant no harm, but seeing that Your Majesty has traveled a long and tiring journey, I thought it would be good for Your Majesty to have a cup of tea to soothe your throat and rest for a while before offering incense to the Empress Dowager. This would also show Your Majesty's sincerity, wouldn't it?"

Standing to the side, Su Nuannuan held an oil-paper umbrella, its surface swaying gently in the patter of raindrops. Her gaze was as cold and piercing as the water of a frozen pool, fixed on Steward Ruan, a hint of an inscrutable smile in her eyes.

She chuckled softly, her smile ambiguous, and said, "Chief Eunuch Ruan, do you perhaps think that I have fallen out of favor with the Emperor, or that I have committed a grave mistake and been punished by him, which is why I have been demoted to guard the imperial tombs for the Empress Dowager?"

Before the words were even finished, Song Mama, who had been silently tending to Su Nuannuan, suddenly glared angrily and rushed forward. Raising her hand, she delivered a sharp "slap" that landed heavily on Steward Ruan's cheek. The slap was so powerful that Steward Ruan, caught off guard, staggered back several steps.

Steward Ruan covered his burning face with one hand, and pointed at Granny Song with trembling hands, shouting angrily, "You...you dare to hit me?"

However, Su Nuannuan remained unmoved by Steward Ruan's clamor. She turned to Jinse beside her and said coldly, "Jinse, go and bring over the tea he just prepared, and force it down his throat! I want to see what tricks he's played with this tea to dare to plot against me!"

Jinse accepted the order and left. At the same time, Su Nuannuan called out to Commander Xiao, who was not far away, "Commander Xiao, I would like to trouble you and your brothers to do me a small favor and keep an eye on this Steward Ruan for now. I must find out today what secrets are hidden in the pot of tea he prepared for me!"

"Guards! Seize this Steward Ruan at once!" Xiao Xingfang shouted loudly, his face cold and stern.

Before he could finish speaking, two agile soldiers rushed over like lightning and instantly grabbed Steward Ruan's arms, rendering him unable to move.

Chief Steward Ruan was terrified by the sudden turn of events, but he still struggled desperately, shouting, "Why are you arresting me? Let me go!"

Su Nuannuan sneered, her beautiful eyes fixed on Steward Ruan, and slowly said, "Steward Ruan, do you really think you can get away with what you've done? From the moment you bowed to me when I stepped into this place, your thieving eyes have never stopped looking me up and down. Not only that, you also frequently revealed a disgusting and lewd expression."

Although you think you're being discreet, my intuition is always incredibly sharp. Whenever a strange feeling arises in my heart, I unconsciously scan the people around me. And sure enough, I've discovered you, this treacherous individual.”

At this point, Su Nuannuan paused, her tone becoming increasingly stern: "Let me make this clear to you, even though I have brought the princes and princesses here to guard the Empress Dowager's mausoleum, it does not mean that I will allow myself to be bullied or manipulated by others. I am not here because of punishment; my due allowance is delivered monthly by a special envoy sent by the Empress. Therefore, do not attempt to play any tricks on me!"

In truth, I do not reside within the imperial mausoleum, but rather in a tranquil estate not far away. Do you still not understand why? If I were punished for a crime and forced to guard the imperial mausoleum, how could I possibly have the leisure to live in such a comfortable and pleasant estate?

At this moment, Jinse returned with steaming hot tea and reported softly, "Your Highness, the tea has been served. However, after careful inspection, I discovered that someone has secretly added aphrodisiac to the tea."

Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan frowned, a flash of disgust crossing her eyes. Suppressing her anger, she coldly ordered, "Force this tea down his throat, then lock him up with the sow!"

Jinse nodded slightly, indicating that she obeyed. However, at this moment, Xiao Xingfang, who had been guarding her, stepped forward and said loudly, "Miss Jinse, please leave this matter to me. Don't dirty your delicate hands."

Jinse glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and then silently handed the cup of Hehuan San tea to Xiao Yanfang. At the same time, her gaze inadvertently swept over Yaoqin, who was following closely beside Canglan Jingcheng.

At that moment, Ruan Guicai, who was being held firmly by two soldiers, instantly understood the misfortune that was about to befall him when he saw the cup of tea in Xiao Xingfang's hand.

Remembering Su Nuannuan's harsh words about locking him up with a sow, he was terrified and struggled desperately, repeatedly shouting, "Let me go! Let me go!"

However, the two men holding him down weren't about to let him off so easily. One of them, seeing this, raised his hand without hesitation and slapped him hard. A crisp "smack" rang out, and a bright red handprint appeared on Ruan Guicai's face. Now, his once relatively fair face was marred by two clearly visible handprints on either side, making him look utterly disheveled.

Xiao Xingfang ruthlessly poured the tea he had personally prepared into Ruan Guicai's mouth, all of which was witnessed by Su Nuannuan. However, she simply turned her head silently, her gaze lightly sweeping over the two children not far behind her, without uttering a single word.

At this moment, Su Nuannuan's mind was filled with countless thoughts. She knew that as a mother, she had a responsibility to give her children love and care, but she also understood that overprotection was not a good solution. She didn't want to raise her two children into ignorant, fragile little flowers. This world is full of darkness and danger; if they weren't exposed to and understood these things at an appropriate time, how could they learn to protect themselves in the future?

Thinking of this, Su Nuannuan took a deep breath and slowly said, "Granny Song, let's go and offer incense to the Empress Dowager together."