Free Web NovelChapter 206: Chapter 206: Deposed Is Deposed; A Harsh Punishment
Their wedding night should have been one of loving bliss.
But there was no bloodstain on the nuptial sheet. Facing Prince Yong’s reddened eyes, Tao Wanxin clutched the quilt to cover her body.
As memories flooded her mind, she finally understood the significance of that night—the night her father, Tao Changhai, had sent her to that large estate.
Furious, Prince Yong ripped the quilt from her body.
She stared at him, trembling uncontrollably, but Prince Yong merely clutched the quilt viciously and lay down on the floor.
Ultimately, out of consideration for her reputation, the matter was kept quiet.
But from that night on, Prince Yong never again set foot in her chambers.
Prince Yong was despondent for nearly half a year. Then one day, as if he’d had a change of heart, he came to her. He suggested they pretend it had never happened and expressed his willingness to be close to her.
But it was too late. A worse, more unspeakable problem had emerged...
The very sight of a man’s nakedness made Tao Wanxin want to vomit uncontrollably. She had no idea what was wrong with her.
Seeing her intense revulsion, an exasperated Prince Yong decided to use his superior strength to force himself on her. Unable to break free, Tao Wanxin vomited all over him.
To this day, Tao Wanxin could still remember the look on Prince Yong’s face as he left—it was even paler than her own.
Wracked with guilt, she agreed whenever Prince Yong wanted to take on another concubine, giving her silent consent each time.
And so, they lived for years as a couple in name only. Prince Yong became increasingly adept at attracting women, until the rear courtyards of the Prince Mansion could barely accommodate them all.
That was, until the Tao family sent a secret messenger to tell her that if she could not produce a legitimate heir for the Prince Mansion, they would send over her younger sister.
Her younger sisters were even more difficult to handle than the concubine, Du Yufang. It was only then that Tao Wanxin took the initiative to invite Prince Yong to her chambers.
But what marital affection remained between them? Lying in the same bed was nothing more than a forced, joyless chore for them both.
Her face ashen, Tao Wanxin fought back the urge to vomit, feeling not a shred of pleasure.
As if torturing himself, Prince Yong’s veins bulged as large beads of sweat dripped onto her body.
After that, Prince Yong would visit the main residence a few times a year. Each time felt like torture for Tao Wanxin, though over time, her condition improved slightly. She no longer vomited, but the nausea remained a knot in her stomach.
Tao Wanxin recalled the most recent time, right after she had received Ji Qingwu’s prescription.
That time, she went into it with a particular thought: ’This is the last time. After this, Prince Yong will become impotent.’ For the first time, she felt no pain, and the familiar wave of nausea never came.
Seeing Tao Wanxin’s complexion change from deathly pale to faintly flushed...
Ji Qingwu said softly, "Princess Consort."
Tao Wanxin took the jade pendant from under her pillow and held it in her palm, as if drawing courage from it.
Her expression was calm as she said, "Qingwu, I know what you want to ask. But I was blindfolded when they sent me in. It was so long ago... I can only vaguely remember his voice."
Ji Qingwu nodded and watched her quietly.
Lost in her memories, Tao Wanxin said slowly, "I’m certain of one thing. He was a high-ranking official, someone with more power and status than my own father." She could still recall the deferential, hushed tone Tao Changhai had used.
Ji Qingwu said, "That gives us a direction. Back then, your father was just a Cabinet Scholar. He must have sacrificed you for his own advancement. We can check if he received a promotion that year and who was responsible for it."
She mused, "Alternatively, perhaps your father committed some great error and needed someone’s patronage to cover it up. If we investigate along these two lines, we might discover who he is."
The moment she finished speaking, Tao Wanxin grabbed her hand excitedly.
’How could I have never thought of that! My father is an opportunist—he must have gotten something out of this.’
Then, a look of fear crossed her face. "But even if we find out who he is, do we have the power to go against him?"
Glancing at Princess Yong’s slender fingers, Ji Qingwu said with composure, "That man won’t have only this one vulnerability."
’He was in the same boat as Mr. Tao. They must know each other’s darkest secrets.’
’Perhaps this man is the other ’big fish’ Emperor Wu Su is after.’
After checking Tao Wanxin’s pulse, Ji Qingwu stroked her chin. "Princess Consort, this place is not the Prince Mansion. You must be careful at all times. I will go back and prepare some pills to strengthen the pregnancy. If you take a few each day, everything should be fine."
Tao Wanxin didn’t want to trouble her. "Qingwu, you can just leave the prescription. When the Imperial Physician comes, the medicine can be brewed here."
Ji Qingwu sighed inwardly. ’Prince Yong wanted to entrust this pregnancy entirely to her. Since she had made a deal with him, she would see it through to the end.’
’Of course she knew that simply writing a prescription would be more convenient, and that a freshly brewed decoction would be more potent.’
’But the situation was critical. With the entire Tao family sentenced to execution, it was already a struggle to protect Princess Yong. On top of that, the Empress Dowager was planning to have Prince Yong depose her as his consort.’
’If she lost the child, Tao Wanxin’s own life would be in jeopardy. They had to be more careful than ever.’
’It was just as Emperor Wu Su had warned her when she presented the prescription for the Empress Dowager: it would be disastrous if someone in the palace with ill intentions were to exploit it.’
’It was far better for her to make the pills herself, seal them, and deliver them personally.’
Ji Qingwu said in a low voice, "Princess Consort, without the Tao family, your situation in Anle Hall will only be more difficult. The Empress Dowager is planning to persuade the Prince to depose you."
Hearing this, Tao Wanxin froze. "Then let him depose me," she said, her voice strained. "All that matters is that this child is safe."
Ji Qingwu shook her head. "Even if you can accept that, Princess Consort, Prince Yong will not."
She stated plainly, "The reason I am here is because Prince Yong knelt before me and struck a deal with me."
The jade pendant fell from Tao Wanxin’s hand. Ji Qingwu bent down, picked it up, and placed it back in her palm.
"The knot on your pendant came loose today, Princess Consort. Perhaps it’s a sign from your mother’s spirit in the heavens. She knows someone is here to protect you as she would, and she can finally rest easy."
After Ji Qingwu left, Tao Wanxin gazed down at the flawless jade in her palm, watching its faint, gentle glow.
*
「Outside Diligent Governance Hall.」
The sun outside was vicious, and the two of them had been kneeling all afternoon.
The Empress Dowager came and left. Princess Consort Wei came and left. Their shadows crept from west to east as the sun moved across the sky.
Li Yuzong stood beside them, having argued his case until his mouth was dry.
Prince Yong and Wei Ting seemed locked in a contest of wills, neither willing to utter a single word to placate His Majesty.
Emperor Wu Su had long since finished reviewing his memorials. He was leaning back on his throne, sipping tea and flipping through a book.
Li Yuzong tiptoed into the hall. "Holy Emperor," he said, "this old servant has observed that the Prince is drenched in sweat and his skin is sunburnt. If he continues kneeling, I’m afraid he might collapse."
Emperor Wu Su’s long fingers flipped another page of the book. He asked nonchalantly, "And General Zhenbei?"
Li Yuzong said, "General Wei is kneeling perfectly straight. As expected of someone from the Northern Border Army, his posture hasn’t wavered at all this whole time."
Prince Yong was slumped over and nearly collapsed on the ground, yet Wei Ting remained in the exact same posture he had assumed when he first knelt.
Emperor Wu Su slapped the ancient tome down on his grand desk with a THUD.
Li Yuzong quickly bowed his head. "This old servant misspoke! That General Wei is truly audacious, daring to strike a Prince! He has some nerve! He should be punished severely!"
Then, Emperor Wu Su’s voice rang out again. "Go to Anle Hall and bring her here."
