Chapter 64. Chapter 64. Pleading for mercy.
When Daiyu woke up the next day, the sun was high in the sky, but this time, instead of the floral note by her pillow, Chu Heng himself was with her.
Daiyu's still-dazed mind cleared up instantly. She propped herself up and tried to sit up: "Why are you still at home?"
Feeling a strange, inexplicable soreness all over her body, she paused, biting her lip to keep herself from making a sound.
Chu Heng quickly pulled the person into his arms, and after slowly lying down, he said, "I said there won't be a next time. I'll stay here with you."
Thinking of her lack of self-control over the past two days, Daiyu blushed and glared at him.
"I didn't dare stay with you yesterday because I was afraid you'd be angry," Chu Heng said, sounding aggrieved. "Actually, it wasn't that... I wasn't that fierce, was I? Please don't be angry, okay?"
Chu Heng's voice grew weaker and weaker as he spoke, until it was barely audible: "You should rest. There's nothing else going on today, so don't rush to get up. I'll stay with you."
Daiyu's face turned as red as if it were about to bleed. She pulled the quilt over her head and said in a muffled voice, "I don't need you to keep me company. Go and do your work."
"I'll keep you cooped up." Chu Heng gently tried to lift the blanket, but couldn't move it an inch. He had to use some force to reveal Daiyu's face.
"I'm serious, don't delay important matters, go and do your work," Daiyu said shyly in a low voice. "We can talk about it tonight."
Chu Heng stroked Daiyu's cheek and sighed, "With such a virtuous wife, I can't even slack off. Once this task is completed, I should ask the Emperor to issue an imperial decree to reward you."
Daiyu patted his hand lightly, glared at him, and said, "Don't talk nonsense anymore. Are you leaving or not? I'll get angry if you don't."
Chu Heng hurriedly said, "Let's go, let's go now. You rest for a while before getting up. I'll come back to keep you company as soon as possible."
After watching Chu Heng leave, Daiyu closed her eyes and rested on the bed for another quarter of an hour before calling the maids in to help her with her washing and grooming.
Because she got up late that day, Daiyu rested for half an hour after breakfast, and her lunch was also delayed. This is why Daiyu only put down her chopsticks when Princess Wen'an came to visit.
"So fast?" Daiyu exclaimed in surprise. In just over half a day, could it be that Prince Qi and the Eighth Prince Consort have already been sentenced?
"Please," Daiyu instructed, and then asked someone to prepare tea and snacks. Since Wen'an was her elder sister, she stood in front of the hall where guests were to wait.
Soon, Daiyu saw Wen'an, supported by the lady-in-waiting, following behind the lead-in Zhao Mama, walking hurriedly with an anxious expression.
"Greetings, Eighth Sister..." Daiyu had barely managed to say hello when Wen'an grabbed her hand.
"Fifth sister-in-law, you must persuade your fifth brother. We are a family and we don't hold grudges overnight. Your eighth brother-in-law was misled by others and went astray. He would never dare to have any rebellious thoughts."
Daiyu was stunned. The evidence was already irrefutable? The Eighth Prince Consort was doomed?
"Eighth Sister, don't rush, don't rush." Daiyu led her into the house. "What happened? Let's go inside and talk about it slowly."
Wen'an, tears streaming down her face, looked at Daiyu with a puzzled expression: "Don't you know?"
Daiyu asked, puzzled, "What do I know?"
Wen An looked at her with a hint of disbelief: "Don't you know what kind of errands Fifth Brother has been running lately?"
Daiyu nodded: "Everyone knows that the Prince of Qi is plotting a rebellion."
"You know that the Prince of Qi was escorted back to the capital ten days ago, right?" Wen An added.
Daiyu nodded again: "I know that too. The Prince has been extremely busy with this lately."
Wen An thought to himself, "Fifth Brother isn't actually that busy. He's in charge of four government offices, and he's always the first one to leave. Everyone knows that. His wife is really good at flattering him." But for what Wen An wanted, it wasn't a bad thing.
"Could this matter be related to my eighth brother-in-law as well?" Daiyu made a look of sudden realization, and then quickly said, "If that's the case, why did my eighth sister tell me? Not to mention that I don't handle matters, even if I did, I wouldn't dare to bend the law for personal gain."
Wen An choked, then readjusted his expression and said mournfully, "Fifth sister-in-law, you don't know, your eighth brother-in-law is the most stupid. He believes a few nice words from others. Prince Qi... ugh, that damned scoundrel Chu Min, he used sweet words to trick your eighth brother-in-law into giving him money and goods, and even passing on messages from the palace to him. He has ruined our whole family!"
To relay messages from the palace? There's even this option; that's a major taboo.
Daiyu hesitated, "Doesn't that mean the evidence is conclusive...?"
Wen An hurriedly interrupted her: "What evidence! No guilt, no guilt, he was just deceived!"
Daiyu said with difficulty, "Whether there is evidence or not is not up to you or me to decide, Eighth Sister. I'm sure His Majesty will make a fair judgment. You just need to stay in the manor and await His Majesty's orders. If you are really worried, go to the palace to see His Majesty or ask the Empress Dowager for help. Their words are more effective than mine."
"I begged, but His Majesty only told me not to talk too much, Empress Dowager..." Wen'an cried in grievance. She had just done something for the Empress Dowager, and in the blink of an eye, the Empress Dowager told her not to interfere in state affairs. Although the Empress Dowager guaranteed that she and her children would be safe, with a father who had committed the crime of disobedience, her children would inevitably be implicated!
Wen'an had no other choice; otherwise, having offended Daiyu less than half a month ago, she wouldn't have dared to come to her door asking for help. Wouldn't that be deliberately seeking embarrassment?
That day, she watched Chu Heng stand up for Daiyu, and she also heard that everyone who had met Prince Duan and Princess Duan knew that Prince Duan doted on Princess Duan.
Wen'an thought that Daiyu was, after all, a girl with a soft heart. He would persuade her first, and then through her, persuade Chu Heng. When the case was decided, Chu Heng could say a good word for the Eighth Prince Consort in front of the Emperor, so that the charge of treason would not be brought to light, leaving some room for her children.
Daiyu said, "If it doesn't work with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, then I'll be even less able to..."
"Fifth sister-in-law..." Wen An said, wiping away tears, "It was my fault that day. I apologize to you again and beg for your forgiveness. If that doesn't work, I'll kneel down before you..."
Before Daiyu could give any instructions, Zhao Wang's two nannies rushed forward to support Wen'an, who had just stood up: "Princess, you mustn't!"
Daiyu said coldly, "Eighth Sister, are you here to beg me or to force me? If you can't speak properly, please allow me to see you out."
Wen An was startled. This girl was young, yet she was so stubborn that she wouldn't listen to reason. It really wasn't by chance that she got the better of him that day.
Wen An hurriedly said, "Fifth sister-in-law, I...I...I was just in a hurry, please don't take offense!"
Daiyu gestured for the maids to help her sit down before saying, "I wonder if Eighth Sister has anything else to say?"
Wen An pinched his palm, and, having no other choice, stammered, "Fifth Sister-in-law, there is one more thing you don't know, I... I must tell you in secret."
Daiyu sat up straight and said, "Please speak."
"This is a top-secret matter, I dare not let anyone hear it," Wen An said hurriedly, "It's...it's related to you."
Daiyu remained seated, saying, "What important matters could a mere woman like me possibly have?"
“It was that day…” Wen An only managed to say three words before quickly shutting his mouth again, “I… I can only tell you this.”
Upon hearing this, Daiyu recalled the events of the Dragon Boat Festival family banquet. It seemed there was indeed a significant story behind it. She lowered her head and thought for a moment before telling everyone to leave.
Wen'an's eyes lit up. After everyone had retreated to the window, she leaned close to Daiyu's ear and whispered, "That day, it was the Empress Dowager who taught me to say those words."
Wen An stepped back and saw the undisguised surprise on Daiyu's face, which lessened her fear somewhat. She added, "I don't know her purpose either; she just taught me to do it this way."
Daiyu frowned. The Empress Dowager? Why would the Empress Dowager do this? Can Wen'an's words be trusted?
“Believe me, I’m absolutely not lying.” Seeing that she remained silent, Wen’an quickly said, “I’ll tell you the truth, whether the prince consort lives or dies doesn’t matter to me, but I can’t let him be accused of treason. My children will have to get married in the future, and what will they do with a father like that!”
As she spoke, Wen An began to sob, this time her tears were genuine and not at all fake.
She is a good mother.
Daiyu was moved and whispered, "Eighth Sister, I didn't hear anything today."
Wen An was taken aback: "What... what do you mean?"
Daiyu said softly, "I don't know if what Eighth Sister said is true or false, but do you dare let others know what you just said?"
Wen An shook her head vigorously. She didn't even dare to think about what would happen if the Empress Dowager found out. If it weren't for the children, she would never have dared to say such a thing.
Daiyu continued, "Eighth Sister is a good mother. I will convey your words to the Prince. As for the final outcome, I really cannot guarantee it. Whether you like it or not, this is the only way. We are all subjects, so please, Eighth Sister, do not make things difficult for me and the Prince."
Wen An paused for a moment before finally saying, "Okay... I'm glad you're willing to talk to him. I... thank you, thank you."
At least it's not entirely impossible; this was the most merciful thing Wen'an had heard all day.
After seeing Wen'an off, Daiyu returned to her bedroom, pondering the matter, but she couldn't understand why the Empress Dowager had instructed Wen'an to seek out her unhappiness.
Daiyu was the Empress Dowager's daughter-in-law. She was being scolded to her face for disregarding the kindness of her upbringing and even for being unfilial. How could the Empress Dowager be pleased with that? Wasn't the Empress Dowager the most concerned about her reputation?
Daiyu couldn't understand it at all, and even when Chu Heng returned to the mansion in the evening, she was still frowning.
As soon as Chu Heng returned to the main courtyard, Zijuan hurried over to greet him: "Your Highness is back. Please go and see the Princess Consort. She was in a daze after seeing Princess Wen'an this afternoon and didn't even drink any water."
Upon hearing this, Chu Heng quickened his pace, pushed open the door, and entered the room. He saw Daiyu sitting blankly on the soft couch, her brows furrowed.
Seeing that the sound of the door opening hadn't startled her, Chu Heng walked over and tapped the teacup on the table to let her regain her composure before speaking rashly and startling her.
The sound was so close that it caught Daiyu's attention. She turned to look at him and subconsciously smiled when she saw Chu Heng. After a moment, she realized what was happening and asked, "What time is it?"
"What are you thinking about?" Chu Heng went over and put one hand on her shoulder, and used the other to smooth the area between her eyebrows. "Did Wen An say something to you?"
Daiyu nodded: "Eighth Sister said that the question she asked me on Dragon Boat Festival was instructed to be asked by the Empress Dowager."
Chu Heng was taken aback: "Who? The Empress Dowager? She..."
Is the Empress Dowager shameless?
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