9: Accusation of Madness

Empress Dowager

"Noble Lady Chen, you came to me a few days earlier stating that the Honourable Consort Jia might not be mentally well,"

Noble Lady Chen sweats a bit, "well that's not what I meant…"

"Have I made a mistake? Do you call Zhen a liar?"

"No, I wouldn't dare your imperial majesty!" She kowtow banging her head against the floor.

"Then tell me what you meant? since Zhen is so slow let him understand," the emperor orders.

"Well, this Noble Lady is not sure but she was just on a random stroll the other day after morning greetings when she overheard a servant saying strange things about their master," she explains nervously.

The emperor looks at her then at Honourable Consort Jia's expression that looks sadden and almost betrayed.

"What things?"

"They said, how the Honourable Consort Jia has lost his mind, trying to harm himself screaming and being deluded, muttering things. Cursing the other spouses, I as sister stop them inquiring about this blasphemy, but with the recent incident at the meeting, I had reason to worry that the Honourable Consort Jia might not be okay," she spoke firmly.

The Noble Lady was good, her words would seem genuine if one was not used to the manipulative tactics of others. Jia Hui Liang knew that he once was a naive fool who fell for the sweet nothings of others as a shelter child but the more cried the more the innocence washed away and he was dried up with pain and suffering.

"Ah, is that so?" The emperor's tone was neither high nor low, there wasn't a hint of worry and was merely just a past moment curiosity.

"Yes your Imperial Majesty, the other day the Honourable Consort seems dazed and out of space and when the cup suddenly breaks cutting his hand and the Honourable Consort didn't react much," she spoke fluently.

The other spouses seemingly agree with her as The Honourable Consort Jia was silent, the emperor looks at him seeing the sad and broken expression. He simply asks, "Do you have anything to say?"

"Imperial husband, this is bullying. I've just given birth. Why must I be bullied?" He said, wiping the tears that fell down.

"Imperial Majesty though this seems like bullying it's truly my worries even the imperial physician was call for the other day because of the Honourable Consort Jia unwellness,"

"I suppose, I've already summoned the imperial physician as well as the servant you speak of,"

The emperor was watching the Honourable Consort Jia closely as he tried to dry the tears streaming down his face, the servant handed him a handkerchief to dry his tears. The servants, officials and ministers pitied the Honourable Consort Jia as a beauty such as himself shouldn't be subjected to such bullying.

As the doors opens an elderly lady walks in followed by the imperial physician and servant, soon everyone bows, "Greetings to her Majesty empress Dowager,"

"Li-Jun what is going on?!" She said angrily.

She looked at the Honourable Consort Jia and felt more enraged at his tears, "who dares bully him?! Must you pick on a poor orphan?!"

"Imperial Mother calm down, I'll handle this matter accordingly,"

"Why should I calm why this child is facing injustice? He was the first to bring you a very healthy child and you bully him?!" The Empress Dowager complains.

"Imperial Mother, if you do not calm down how do we solve this matter? This is his health we are discussing!"

The Empress Dowager huffs and gently rubs the Honourable Consort Jia's cheeks, "dry your eyes child, this Empress Dowager won't let you face injustice."

"Imperial Mother in law, Hui is not mad, I swear Hui is not mad! They bully me, they bully me!" The Honourable Consort Jia repeats tearfully.

"Don't worry child I'll seek justice for you or I wouldn't be the empress Dowager!" She swears walking towards the throne on the left side of the emperor and sitting down.

"Let us continue," the emperor commands coldly.

The emperor soon gazed down at the doctor, "Imperial physician, recently you've treated my beloved Consort here. Has there been any abnormalities with him?" The emperor inquires.

"Your Imperial Majesty there has been none except a cut he acquired and some troubles due to fatigue there isn't much troubles," the imperial physician said firmly.

The servant and Noble Lady Chen look at the doctor in shock. The emperor smiles then gently crosses his leg swinging his foot back and forth as if entertained, Jia Hui Liang recognizes this looks anywhere. He'd recognize his beloved's twisted nature anywhere, and that is the madness he learned.