Chapter 45: Using the Emperor to Command the Princes
Unfortunately, Yu Shuang's sleeves were too wide for people to see. Jing Cang seemed to sense that she was being threatened by Yu Shuang, so she raised her arm and made a gesture, and the guards of the East Palace in the courtyard suddenly drew their swords.
He said in a deep voice: "Prince Ning, do you want to kill your brother and rebel?"
Jing Yi cupped his hands, begging for mercy, but his words were no less harsh: "My brother is in a serious condition, but I, your future wife, want to keep you at home for a few days. Why do you accuse me of such a serious crime?"
Father Yu was puzzled by the two men's sharpness and tried to smooth things over: "Your Highnesses, you two are brothers and brothers-in-law. If you have anything to say, please talk it over nicely. There is no need to be so angry."
Jing Cang glanced at Huo Dao, who understood and asked two men to take Yu's father away.
Jing Yi also made a gesture to Yu Shuang, and Yu Fei was dragged away by her with a knife against her heart.
Jing Cang stared at Yu Fei's receding back and questioned Jing Yi: "What exactly are you planning? You secretly detained my concubine from the Eastern Palace. I can accuse you of coveting my brother's wife and committing the crime of treason!"
Jing Yi didn't take it seriously, and played with his folding fan with a smile, "When did Yu Fei become a concubine? I remember she was your maid years ago, didn't she?"
Seeing Jing Cang was speechless for a moment, his tone became more frivolous: "Brothers are like limbs, and women are like clothes. Royal brother, if you want to see Shangyu Shuang, you can take her away now, and I won't even blink an eye."
Jing Cang glared at him, "Do you think I'm as dissolute as you?"
"Oh." Jing Yi said meaningfully, "I'm afraid there is no other man in the world as loyal and devoted as my brother."
"Not only was you raped and insulted by a woman, but you also had your legs broken and lost your memory. But when you woke up, you still loved her so much that you kept her by your side and made her your concubine. After you ascend the throne, will you make her your noble concubine or imperial concubine, and make her son the crown prince and emperor in the future?"
Jing Cang was speechless.
He knew all about his past with Yu Fei, and chose to let bygones be bygones, because he felt that she had turned over a new leaf and had a good impression of him. But now, from what others said, it seemed as if he was a tyrant who was bewitched by a witch.
He felt a little embarrassed, but then he thought, she was already his woman, and if he haggled over every little thing with his woman, he would not be fit to be the future king.
Jing Cang scolded: "You are talking nonsense. I think you are drunk."
Jing Yi smiled: "Royal brother, you are the one who is obsessed with the mind."
Jing Cang heard clearly that he said "gut" instead of "ghost". He waved his hand and asked everyone to step back. "What do you want to do?"
Jing Yi spread his hands and said indifferently: "The emperor is the one who commands the dukes."
Jing Cang thought for a moment and said proudly, "Before I came here, I left a letter for the Queen. If anything happens to Yu Fei and I, no one in Prince Ning's Mansion, Concubine Zhu, or the Zhu family, present or not, will be spared."
Jing Yi waved his fan, "My royal brother has been very careful and thoughtful since childhood."
Jing Cang replied, "It's not as bad as your dirty tricks."
He had not expected that Jing Yi had found out about the same origin of the Zhu family. Before he could present the evidence of his and the Zhu family's conspiracy to rebel to his father, he had already started to do something desperate.
It seems that he wants to take a shortcut to gain a big return with a small investment.
Jing Yi smiled and said, "Whether the cat is white or black, as long as it catches the mouse, it is a good cat. Isn't your concubine on the same path as me?"
Jing Cang said: "Don't keep me in suspense, tell me your intention!"
"Don't worry, I won't touch her for now." Jing Yi said leisurely, "I'll write to you when I think of what I need." Fearing that he would pester her again, "If you don't cooperate, I can't guarantee whether her hand or foot will be broken tonight."
Jing Yi chased Jing Cang away and went to see Yu Fei.
Yu Fei was locked in a room, his hands and feet were tied, and his mouth was gagged with a white cloth.
As soon as she saw Jing Yi, she struggled and raised her neck, hoping that he would set her free.
This kind of shackles in ancient times were really uncomfortable, and she was almost suffocated to death.
Jing Yi understood and pulled the cloth ball out of her mouth.
Yu Fei took a deep breath and carefully observed Jing Yi's expression.
He looked her up and down, as if he had found an ally, and seemed to be thinking about how to persuade her to join him.
Yu Fei was also thinking deeply, how could Jing Yi dare to kidnap her under Jing Cang's nose? It seemed as if he had a killer trump card to defeat Jing Cang.
If the enemy doesn't move, I won't move. The two of them are in a stalemate.
Jing Yi broke the ice first, holding her chin with his folding fan, "Miss Yu is truly a heroine, worthy of being a fellow person whom I admire. I am very satisfied with everything you have done for my brother."
His words were vague, and Yu Fei was worried that he was being tricked, so he played dumb and said, "I don't understand what Prince Ning said. Didn't I clarify your misunderstandings of me in the past?"
The first time Jing Yi came to the East Palace to find her, he pointed out the evil deeds she had done to Jing Cang. At that time, he also asked her if she had any leverage over the prince, or if she had a famous weapon that made people unable to stop.
Jing Yi looked at her jokingly, "I am pointing at the lower part of the dragon, same as the root and the dragon."
Yu Fei was shocked and relieved at the same time.
Jing Yi somehow found out that she and Jing Cang were infected by the same snake, so he took a risky move, hoping to gain a big advantage with a small investment. Unfortunately, he miscalculated and the snake lost its effect.
Jing Yi saw that Yu Fei's expression was unusually calm when he heard what was said, and it was obvious that he would not cry until he saw the coffin.
He waved his folding fan and said slowly, "It's useless for you to deny it or act crazy and stupid. I have confirmed the news from several sources before I dare to take action now."
"I only knew that he was bewitched by a snake, but I didn't know what kind of snake it was. Coincidentally, your sister came to Beijing and stayed at my house for a while. We worked together and she returned to the Yu family with the drug and asked your father for the name of the snake. Unfortunately, your father was too defensive and refused to tell me how to cure the snake."
"It's also possible that your father doesn't know how to cure the snake. The snake that only appears in ancient books is not that easy to cure. My royal brother has sent people to Yunnan to search for it for half a year, but he still has no clue." At this point, he smiled and said, "I ordered my subordinates in Yunnan to lie that they have a remedy for this snake. My royal brother's spies were really accurate. He is crazy about curing the snake."
"Also, I also found out the two orb doctors who examined your pulse in the Shu County Governor's Mansion. They didn't tell anyone at first, but they told everyone right away after one of them killed one of your children. Hahahaha..."
Yu Fei felt frightened when she saw Jing Yi's handsome face laughing. He was a gentle and affectionate young man, but his words and actions were like those of an evil ghost in hell.
If she were on the same side as him, she would applaud his flawless logic, but as his enemy, she could only helplessly and mercilessly pour cold water on him.
"The snake has been released."
"What did you say?"
The smile that Jing Yi had not yet retracted froze on his face and instantly turned into bloodthirsty murderous intent.