C25 Part2

....

Their gazes were no different from those of others, and they were unlovable.

Seeing His Royal Highness staring at the two of them, Madam Li quickly introduced:

"Your Royal Highness, the person in the wheelchair is Concubine An who has been here for fifteen years....

No, actually in here, we call her just 'An' since she lost her status."

"...."

Murong Ci stayed silent.

Qin Ruo asked,

"Who is the person pushing the wheelchair?"

Madam Li said:

"The person pushing the wheelchair...

should be the maidservant brought in by Master Manager Liu An."

Murong Ci remembered hearing the name of Concubine An.

Although she was still young, she remembered her being mentioned by a Palace official a few years after 'the incident'...

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Murong Ci was born 18 years ago, and her Mother, the Empress, died that same day of blooding after giving birth...

The Emperor Father wanted to entrust her to a certain concubine to raise her, but when he had to choose, he felt that all of the dozen concubines in the harem were unreliable, so he decided to raise her personally.

During that time, Concubine An often visited her while she was still in her infancy.

Seeing that Concubine An had been taking good care of her, her Emperor Father became quite close to her, so he favored Concubine An many times.

However, when Murong Ci was three years old, she occasionally caught a cold and suffered of diarrhea.

The Emperor Father made a thorough investigation, and finally found out that it was Concubine An's doing.

After the truth became clear, her Emperor Father demoted Concubine An to a commoner and exiled her in the Spring Wuyuan Courtyard, to never ever leave from there again!

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She vaguely remembered that Concubine An's maidservant was named Liu Mei.

In those days, Concubine An intended to murder her while still young and obtain a higher rank in the harem.

'Today, seeing each other on such a scorching summer day, is Concubine An still full of hatred?'

Murong Ci looked at Concubine An from a distance, and saw peace and quiet in those black and clear eyes, no conflict with the world at all.

'It's rare to see someone live a clean and decent life in such a dirty place...'

"Take this Prince to the rooms that belonged to Concubine Bai and Concubine Mo."

Murong Ci said coldly.

"Your Royal Highness, the Spring Wuyuan Courtyard is no better than the poor territories outside the Palace...

Your Royal Highness is so noble and precious!

Such a dirty place is not really a suitable place for Your Royal Highness to go..."

Madam Li persuaded embarrassedly.

'Is Your Highness mentally convulsed today?'

Madam Lì was speechless.

When Madam Lì first came to the Spring Wuyuan Courtyard, it was already a groundbreaking place.

'His Highness actually wanted to enter the inner part of the Courtyard, to see where people lived?!'

The inner courtyard of Spring Wuyuan Courtyard had three large shop houses, each of which could accommodate 20 or 30 people.

The messy and dirty air filled them with a strong musty smell which was terribly dirty.

Whenever someone died there, Madam Li would tell the Palace people to clean up, but they were too afraid of contracting some strange diseases, and were too lazy, and just would clean up briefly without staying there for too long.

'How could I, the chief of the Spring Wuyuan Courtyard, bear the guilt and be taken responsible of letting His Royal Highness witness such a kind of horrible scene?'

"This servant will go down there and take a look at the room for Your Royal Highness."

Qin Ruo winked at His Royal Highness.

What Madam Li had said was true.

'The environment in the inner courtyard was even more terrifying, and it was not suitable for people with the status of His Royal Highness to enter.'

"I said this Prince is going in personally.

You all follow this Prince."

Murong Ci led the way.

Madam Li, Qin Ruo and two more officials followed.

Madam Li secretly prayed to God:

'Oh, God! Please, let His Highness be safe, and don't let them punish me for this sin later!'

....

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END of CHAPTER 25 PART 2

.....................to be continued