Free Web NovelChapter 202: Chapter 202: Plotting with Prince Yong, a Sound Sleep
The light in Prince Yong’s eyes vanished in an instant.
Seeing him so listless, the sinister glint gone from his eyes, Ji Qingwu actually found him a bit more tolerable.
However, she attributed it to the fact that Zhao Minghong and Emperor Wu Su were brothers and shared a slight resemblance.
Thanks to this resemblance, Ji Qingwu’s tone softened.
"The Princess Consort’s health is severely depleted. Although the pregnancy is unstable, it can still be saved."
Prince Yong’s eyes were bloodshot. "But the Imperial Physician said the child can’t be saved."
Ji Qingwu said, "Do you trust the Imperial Physician, or do you trust me?"
Prince Yong remembered that "wicked" prescription. His body still hadn’t recovered, so of course he trusted Ji Qingwu more.
"I certainly trust you, or I wouldn’t have come all this way to find you." He pressed, "Did she say anything?"
Ji Qingwu asked, "What do you want to hear her say?"
"Did she mention me?"
Ji Qingwu recalled Princess Yong’s earlier cries and nodded. "She did."
The hope in Prince Yong’s eyes rekindled.
"What did she say? Was she worried that I wasn’t eating or dressing well, just like she always is—"
"No, she didn’t mention any of that."
Listening to his fanciful words, Ji Qingwu said, "Prince, what on earth did you force the Princess Consort to do? She’s been holding onto it so tightly that it’s nearly driven her mad."
Prince Yong said, "How could I have forced her to do..."
He trailed off, realizing what "good deeds" he had done in the past.
’But she was the one at fault in the first place.’
Ji Qingwu watched Prince Yong grit his teeth and clench his fists. She thought of Tao Wanxin’s deathly pale face as she cried herself into a faint, and her eyes flickered.
The rift between them was like a heavenly chasm, one that could only be mended with Nuwa’s Heavenly Stone.
’I wonder what happened to shatter their relationship to this extent.’
Prince Yong quickly detached himself from his emotions. "Fifth Cousin, I’ll have to trouble you to look after Wanyin’s health. Tell me what you want. Anything I have, I’ll give it to you."
Ji Qingwu replied, "There’s nothing about you, Prince, that catches my eye."
Prince Yong’s fists clenched again.
Ji Qingwu’s gaze fell on his hands, and Prince Yong quickly relaxed them.
’I’ve never felt this pathetic, not even when Imperial Brother beat me.’
Ji Qingwu thought for a moment. There was indeed something Prince Yong could help her with. "There is one thing the Prince can help with."
Prince Yong hurriedly asked, "What is it?"
"How are you at fighting, Prince?" Ji Qingwu sized him up, comparing him to that other person, and stroked her chin. "If you can’t fight, being able to take a punch is also fine."
’She’s come to the right person,’ Prince Yong thought.
He said confidently, "I’ve been in fights since I was a child. Fighting is no problem."
And so, separated by the stone lions at the entrance of Anle Hall, the two of them hastily concocted a plan that wasn’t very thorough and was rather full of holes.
*
Ji Qingwu and Prince Yong entered Cining Palace together.
The Empress Dowager and Old Madam Ji had finished their discussion, but Mrs. Qiao’s expression seemed a little off.
The people in the hall were surprised to see the two of them arrive together.
’Ji Qingwu was in the Imperial Garden for so long. Could it be that Prince Yong went to pester her right after the Tao family’s incident?’
The Empress Dowager said, "Ming Hong, come to Mother. I have something to tell you."
Prince Yong walked to the side of the Queen’s throne. The Empress Dowager said, "No one here is an outsider."
She gave Ji Qingwu a pointed look and said to Prince Yong, "Ming Hong, these are all your relatives."
Prince Yong instantly understood the Empress Dowager’s meaning. His gaze drifted to Ji Qingwu, only to be met with a look of disdain.
Mrs. Qiao also looked over at Ji Qingwu. Seeing Xiao Wu shake her head, she relaxed.
The Empress Dowager continued, "Mr. Tao has committed a grave crime. Although the imperial court has been tight-lipped, some news has still gotten out. More than half of the relief silver went into his pockets and those of his cronies. Such a disloyal and treacherous family is unworthy of being tied to the Imperial Family through marriage."
Prince Yong nodded. "I am aware. That is why in court today, when Imperial Brother passed judgment, I stayed far away and did not speak up for him. Mr. Tao got what he deserved."
The Empress Dowager sighed. "Ming Hong, there is no need to protect Mrs. Tao anymore."
With the Tao family, his mother’s clan, providing support for Prince Yong, the Empress Dowager had tacitly approved of many of his actions.
But now that the Tao family had fallen, she could not let Tao Wanxin continue to occupy the position of Princess Yong.
The Empress Dowager said, "I will discuss this with His Majesty another day and issue an edict to depose Mrs. Tao from her position as Princess Yong."
Prince Yong frowned. "But Mrs. Tao is still carrying my child, my legitimate heir." freewebnσvel.cøm
The Empress Dowager studied his expression. "Ming Hong, a new princess consort can also bear a legitimate heir. Mrs. Tao is the daughter of a convicted official. A child born to her cannot inherit your title. Have you forgotten even this?"
Prince Yong retorted, "Has Mother found another noble lady for me? Don’t waste your energy. You know my temperament. I was the one who personally begged Imperial Brother to let me marry Mrs. Tao. Now, if she is to be deposed, I must be the one to agree to it."
Ji Qingwu looked up at Prince Yong. It was rare to see such an arrogant yet serious expression on his face.
’He’s finally starting to look like a member of the Imperial Family.’
Prince Yong stood up and declared loudly, "No one will touch Mrs. Tao’s position as Princess Yong!"
He then said, "I will take my leave. I won’t disturb Mother’s chat with the family any longer."
Watching Prince Yong stride away, the Empress Dowager sighed repeatedly. "That scoundrel... he was truly born to torment me..."
In the carriage on the way home.
Old Madam Ji’s gaze on Ji Qingwu was odd—it seemed to hold both relief and a hint of dissatisfaction.
Ji Qingwu scooted closer to Mrs. Qiao and whispered, "Mother, what did you discuss in the Empress Dowager’s palace?"
Mrs. Qiao said, "We didn’t discuss much. We just chatted for a bit. I heard the Wei Family is in total chaos. Old Mrs. Wei has started refusing to eat or drink these past few days."
Ji Qingwu thought of the stern, dignified Madam Wei, who was the matriarch in charge of her household. She tried to picture her staging a hunger strike to protest her grandson’s wishes, but found she couldn’t imagine it.
Mrs. Qiao said, "Wei Ting’s determination to marry you has surpassed everyone’s expectations."
Originally, the entire city was laughing at the Ji Family over this matter.
Now the tables have turned. Wei Ting’s marriage proposal failed, yet he persists. The old madam is threatening suicide, and their household has been thrown into complete disarray.
The fact that the proud Wei Family could be stirred into such a mess brought great satisfaction to both the Empress Dowager and Old Madam Ji.
Back home, Ji Qingwu was drawing with Jiu Jiu when Chunhua, Mrs. Qiao’s maid, brought good news.
"Fifth Missy, The Madam sent me to relay a message. A letter came from Huainan. The master has been released from the great prison." freewebnøvel.com
Ji Qingwu calculated in her head. ’It really has been three hours.’
Now, everyone in the residence could finally get a peaceful night’s sleep.
That night, Ji Qingwu fell asleep with a smile on her face, filled with anticipation for what was to happen the next morning.
