Consort Ju ran into a pillar in the Qianqing Palace.
The matter was of great importance, and the news was suppressed within the Imperial Medical Academy, with almost all those who knew about it being silenced.
However, this does not prevent the message from being delivered to the banquet in person by Wen Zhiyun.
A bloody incident triggered by a bowl of porridge.
Or perhaps, in the seesaw between love and power, Consort Ju sacrificed the former to protect the latter.
A precious life was also lost in the process.
It's hard to describe the feeling. During Changyan's childhood, he only remembered Consort Ju passing by with her head held high, showing off her favored status, only to punch Empress Yan in the face of indifference, and finally leaving in boredom.
Now, the aloof and indifferent woman has turned to ashes, and the haughty woman has also closed her eyes. Neither of them was able to stay with that man until the end, and neither of them received a good outcome.
"The death of Consort Ju may wipe the blame for what the Ju family did, and the imperial family may even place this guilt on the eldest prince..." Chang Yan analyzed in the most rational way.
Wen Zhiyun, carrying a small medicine box, interrupted him, "Who said Consort Ju is dead?"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Whether in storybooks or theaters, those who ultimately crash into pillars all perish.
"Don't be misled by these farcical stories. The injury from deliberately hitting the pillar was to the forehead. It looks horrible with blood, but the actual damage is far less severe than a blow to the back of the head." Wen Zhiyun rarely adopted the demeanor of an older brother, tapping the table as he said, "The Imperial Hospital has conducted several examinations, but Consort Ju is currently in a coma. Whether she can wake up remains to be seen."
But it's not life-threatening; at least the pulse hasn't weakened.
“Moreover…” Wen Zhiyun hesitated, “I asked Steward Wu, and he reached out to stop her because he discovered it in time, which is why Consort Ju only fainted.”
If more force had been used, or if no one had stopped them, the damage would have been far more severe than it is now.
The hall fell silent once again.
Chang Yan sat there blankly, subconsciously comparing the two figures—one aloof and the other haughty—before finally letting out a bitter laugh.
"Although I am her sworn enemy, I still admire her from the bottom of my heart." The young man said in a daze, "I admire her courage to fight, her scheming and her willingness to sacrifice. From her own perspective, it is indeed better to be alive."
Why must I die?
After falling into a coma, the guilt was absolved, the Ju family was saved, and the friendship remained.
When the eldest prince ascends the throne in the future, she will be the infinitely honored Empress Dowager.
To let death take its course and leave with a sense of superiority is the most cowardly way.
In traditional Chinese folk tales, women who reluctantly marry the men they love as concubines, only to die in sorrow or be murdered, become the eternal white moonlight in the emperor's heart and a poignant love story that the common people love to talk about.
However, when applied to the individual in question, within the cruel world of the imperial harem and its power struggles, the most useless and foolish act would be for a carefully nurtured eldest daughter of her family to passively await death.
Just like what Consort Ju said to Steward Wu, she deeply understood the significance of family to women, and also knew the relationship between power and the future. She could be a concubine for love when she was young, and she could also be ruthless and calculating for the sake of her family and for selfishness when she matured.
She is not a kind and innocent little white flower. She used to be protected by her family, but after growing up, she turned around and protected her family.
She meticulously planned for the sake of her offspring, even including matters of love, striving to gain the greatest benefit with the least sacrifice.
Even as an enemy, one can't help but admire her.
“I don’t want to complain about this. In my heart, Mother will always be so pure and beautiful.” Chang Yan took a deep breath. “But as a child, I would rather Mother live like this, so tenacious and full of life.”
Instead of leaving too soon and indifferently.
"Even if it means using the reputation of a noblewoman as a raft to forcibly support the incompetent eldest prince?" Wen Zhiyun asked in a low voice.
Chang Yan chuckled, "Have you considered the consequences if she doesn't fight for it?"
This is the imperial harem, this is the realm of imperial power.
Putting aside their immense wealth and control over life and death, the Fourth Prince and the Second Prince had a deep-seated hatred for each other in the past, and it was impossible for them to treat Consort Ju and her son kindly after ascending to the throne.
Rather than waiting to be killed, it is better to take the initiative.
A strong personality and ruthless, decisive actions are essential to changing one's life.
“But, but it was Consort Ju who harmed others first.” Wen Zhiyun was still somewhat unconvinced. “If she hadn’t plotted against the Fourth Prince and the Second Prince, how could she have suffered such a bitter fate?”
That makes sense.
Changyan nodded, looking at his fair and slender fourth brother, "Then do you know why Consort Ju, despite being so favored, only gave birth to one eldest prince?"
How many women in the imperial harem are truly innocent and pure? Those who truly do not compete or fight, like Empress Yan, have long since withered away like dust.
Those who survived were all cunning and shrewd, having participated in or witnessed various conspiracies and schemes.
Ultimately, the imperial harem cannot tolerate excessive favoritism, bias, or special affection.
Going back further, they were a couple in love, but unfortunately, they became the emperor and his concubine, respectively.
"So, an emperor can't have someone he truly loves, can't have a girl he cares about," Wen Zhiyun murmured, her eyes red. "Then, Xiao Wu, are you going to walk this path too?"
Chang Yan chuckled beside him.
From the moment he returned to this cold and desolate palace for the imperial examination, he never considered leaving again.
He just wouldn't show favoritism to anyone like his father did; his heart was already filled with the family he met in his childhood.
"Don't worry." The young man put his hands behind his back and steered the conversation back on track. "Since Consort Ju is still alive, it means that the Ju family and the First Prince have new plans. It just so happens that the Fang family and the Second Prince don't have much time left either. Fengjing is probably going to be even more lively next."
His face was full of anticipation, as if he were watching a good show.
As the brothers had discussed, the Fifth Prince was indeed going to remain behind the scenes and win in the most relaxed way.
only……
Wen Zhiyun looked at him with pity, hesitated to speak, and finally swallowed the food.
"What's wrong, Fourth Brother?" Changyan sensed something was amiss. "Is there something else you want to say?"
"No, nothing's wrong," Wen Zhiyun denied immediately. "The Imperial Hospital still has medicine waiting to be prepared, so I have to go back first."
His movements were rather chaotic, his steps were so fast it was like he was fleeing, he even forgot to crouch down against the corner of the wall, and just ran out of the West Third Compound like that.
Although it was late at night, it was still quite noticeable.
Chang Yan frowned slightly, and could only send the guards over to clean up the mess in order to avoid being discovered.
The night was chilly, and the bright moon hung high in the sky.
The guard did not return for a long time after leaving, as if he had encountered some trouble.
These one or two are a bit too strange.
Chang Yan frowned again, pacing around the courtyard and listening intently to the door frame.
Finally, a sound came from outside.
Before he could even relax his brow, he heard the commander of the imperial guards bow and say, "Your Highness, the Emperor is waiting for you in Chengqian Palace. Please come in."
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