sbdcsierra Chapter 322 The fox is sad when the rabbit dies
Chapter 322 The fox is sad when the rabbit dies
Princess Yunqi finally felt scared. She struggled hard. She didn't want to die so quietly. She was once a princess of a country! She was a favored princess of a country. Otherwise, how could her personality be so arrogant and domineering?
Although she was resentful and unwilling after being imprisoned for so many years, her spirit had been worn away. She didn't want to die! She couldn't die!
The reason for this incident was that Princess Yunqi had hated the Queen for a long time. After she knew that she could get rid of the Queen's legitimate son, she intervened temporarily. If it could make the woman in Yun Heng's heart suffer, then why wouldn't she do it?
But she didn't want to lose her life! During the struggle, the cloth gagged in Princess Yunqi's mouth loosened, and she spat it out, shouting, "Your Majesty, you can't kill me! I'm a princess presented by the Xisha Kingdom. You can't kill me! I want to see my brother Tuoyan, but he won't agree!"
Emperor Shenwu said coldly, "Your brother? Back then, Tuoyan didn't agree to you staying in the Dasheng Palace. It was you who insisted on doing so. Tuoyan and the Xisha Kingdom gave up on you back then. Don't you know that? Even if I wrote to him, he wouldn't interfere in the affairs of my harem! If you dare to lay your hands on my heir, you will have to bear the consequences!"
Princess Yunqi was dissatisfied and said, "Isn't the Seventh Prince still alive? Your Majesty, what the Master said is right. Your heart is too biased. Back then at the border, you gave your heart to this woman. What's so good about her? We are all weeds, and she is the only flower? Thanks to your favor all these years, she has become the Queen! Your Majesty, Yunqi's heart is all about you! Why can't you see it?"
Princess Yunqi felt bitter and sad in her heart, but at the end, she couldn't help but express her feelings.
Lan Qingwu ignored Princess Yunqi from beginning to end, and only gave her a cold look when she mentioned the Seventh Prince.
Emperor Shenwu lost all patience: "How dare you! When is it your turn as a foreign woman to interfere in my affairs?"
Emperor Shenwu waved his sleeves and said, "Drag him away!"
The eunuchs on both sides did not dare to delay any longer and hurriedly picked up Princess Yunqi and dragged her out of the palace. Princess Yunqi screamed and shouted, but her mouth was once again tightly stuffed.
Concubine Hu in the palace practically shuddered. Watching this scene, she felt a surge of grief. As a concubine offered by the Xisha nations, her current situation was relatively good. She held the rank of concubine, presiding over a palace. Because of her special status, no one would bother her. Her allowance was generous, and she received generous gifts, clothing, and utensils for the four seasons and eight festivals. She...should probably be content!
Thinking of how she had competed for favor with the Queen before, and even before that, how she had fanned the flames when the Sixth Prince was born, Concubine Hu shuddered suddenly. She hoped that His Majesty and the Queen would not remember the past events and let her stay safely in this harem.
The Emperor looked at the concubines in the hall. Under his intimidating gaze, none of them dared to look up. Concubine Hu felt the gaze as if it were real and she barely dared to breathe. The Emperor then took another steady look at Concubine Jiang and Concubine Wan, and finally spoke: "If I ever find out who sets their sights on the heir to the throne again, I will execute their entire clan! All of you in the six palaces, remember my words today. I hope you will behave yourself and don't cross my line!"
Imperial Concubine Jiang led the six palace concubines to kneel down again: "Your servants/concubines will obey your instructions!"
After this, Emperor Shenwu specially summoned Concubine Jiang and Concubine Wan to the Qianzheng Hall.
The two knelt in the side hall for two quarters of an hour before the emperor saw them.
Concubine Jiang knew full well that she had been careless this time, allowing herself to be taken advantage of. It wasn't surprising that someone else's spies had been discovered around the Second Prince; every prince had at least one or two spies planted by others. But this time, he had been used and nearly made a scapegoat, and the Emperor was furious. After all, his beloved youngest son had nearly died.
Concubine Wan was also worried. She didn't expect Concubine Jiang to be so insightful, but she still felt guilty instinctively. After meeting the emperor, Concubine Wan understood where the guilt came from.
Not two days after Concubine Jiang and Concubine Wan left Qianzheng Palace, they were summoned privately by Lan Qingwu again.
When the two met at the entrance of Fengqi Palace, they looked at each other tacitly and slightly helplessly.
Lan Qingwu did not summon them to the main hall.
She was reclining on the bed. Lan Qingwu had just returned from visiting the Seventh Prince, and Nie Wushuang solemnly said to Lan Qingwu, "Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince was already weak. If he had been well cared for over the years, he would have been about the same size as an ordinary child after turning ten. But this time, his physical condition has deteriorated. He needs to be carefully cared for in the next few years. It was only thanks to the Rongyang Pills that Your Majesty gave him once a year to replenish his body that he was able to escape this disaster!"
Thinking of this, Lan Qingwu's expression became even colder and his head felt dizzy. He had been taking care of the Seventh Prince these days, so naturally he had less rest.
Ru Ping tiptoed in and reported, "Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine Jiang and Imperial Concubine Wan have arrived. The people around the Seventh Prince were not diligent, and I have already punished them. Your Majesty, Fengqi Palace is as strong as an iron barrel, but it cannot prevent the careful planning of those people. Please do not feel bad and blame yourself anymore."
Lan Qingwu sighed softly, "You're right. I've been on guard for a year or two, or even ten or eight years, but there's no way someone could deliberately frame me! Food, clothing, housing, and transportation are all so complicated, and as long as you think, you can always find a loophole. But Ruping, we're going to have to live like this for a long, long time. We can only be more vigilant. You should get in touch with the people from the Four Shangs and Eighth Bureaus more often, and use those who should be used. If there's anything wrong, we can find out as soon as possible."
Ru Ping replied, "Yes! Your Majesty, I wasn't careful enough this time, and the Seventh Prince has suffered greatly!"
Lan Qingwu shook her head: "It's a natural disaster, a man-made disaster! How can I blame you! Okay, Ruping, let Concubine Jiang and Concubine Wan come in! I won't summon them in the main hall."
Ru Ping knelt down and went to deliver the message.
It was the first time for Concubine Jiang and Concubine Wan to enter the Empress' bedroom. However, after entering, they looked around and didn't dare to look or listen too much. They just knelt on the ground and said, "Your servants pay their respects to the Empress! May the Empress be blessed with good health!"
Lan Qingwu leaned against the bed without moving: "May you be blessed with good health? Do you really think so? Do you really do so?"
Imperial Concubine Jiang's heart skipped a beat. She ignored Concubine Wan and bowed down directly, "Your Majesty, I have previously discovered that the person who followed the Second Prince to Bianyu City was someone else's pawn. I dare not act on my own and have handed it over to Your Majesty for disposal. My heart has never changed. This time, I absolutely have no intention of standing by and watching and taking advantage of others' misfortunes!"
Concubine Wan was a step slower, but she also quickly bowed down. "Empress, this time the First and Second Princes were both schemed and exploited. These people are so bold and shameless. They just want to provoke a dispute between the First and Second Princes and the legitimate son. But anyone with a discerning eye knows that my First Prince has long lost the qualifications to compete. How could I and others do such a thing that harms others and benefits ourselves and invites criticism? I have already reported to Your Majesty and asked Him to investigate those who accompanied the First Prince on this mission! I hope Your Majesty will be able to see through this!"
Lan Qingwu simply said, "What Concubine Wan said is very frank and clear! I think so too!"
Imperial Concubine Jiang continued, "Your Majesty's son has suffered such a disaster, so it's right for you to have more doubts. I only ask Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly! Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince has been seriously ill for these days. The Second Prince has been unable to eat, sleep, and is restless. He is truly worried about his younger brother!"