Chapter 206 The Third Princess Sets a Wedding Date...
Qi Chengming: "..."
Upon hearing such a bombshell news, Qi Chengming's face froze, and he remained expressionless for a moment.
The sixth prince steeled himself and revealed this long-hidden secret. He relaxed his shoulders with a sigh of relief, staring expectantly at his second brother, awaiting his judgment.
Even if a bad outcome is to come, he's had enough of this feeling of constant anxiety and not knowing when he'll suffer a terrible fate!
Qi Chengming went over his words in his head twice before asking, "You suspect that Consort Rong is the mastermind behind the murder?"
The Sixth Prince nodded quickly, but didn't say it was a sure thing: "That's what all the clues indicate."
Qi Chengming, having already weighed his options, decided not to inquire further about the details of the witchcraft incident and Ye Shuren.
As for why... this whole affair was started by Song Gu, who wanted to avenge Qi Chengming. In the end, Emperor Hongren failed to find the real culprit from back then, only demoting the unfortunate concubine surnamed Ye to commoner status, leaving it for later.
Now the Sixth Prince is revealing his own wounds, saying that the source of the witchcraft calamity when the original Second Prince was born... was related to the Empress and Consort Rong.
He said he had evidence, so perhaps Consort Rong really wasn't clean.
But was the Empress really just a facilitator, or not a major participant? Qi Chengming didn't quite believe it.
He always has to investigate it himself.
Qi Chengming's expression was somewhat complicated. He didn't immediately express his opinion, but simply said, "You are you, and your mother is your mother. Show me the evidence first."
—My second brother's reaction was much better than the worst outcome he had imagined.
The sixth prince forced himself to turn his head into the distance and beckoned to his personal eunuch: "Go and inform the Mao family."
He turned back to Qi Chengming and explained again, showing the cautious royal mindset he had at this moment: "Second brother, go to the Mao family in Tongyuan in a few days. They live on East Street. The eldest son of the Mao family is my study companion, and he is keeping these things a secret for me."
"Because we can no longer be on good terms in public, Second Brother." The Sixth Prince said this through gritted teeth, full of resentment.
Father Emperor has ruined my elder sister's marriage and forced me to become enemies with my second elder brother. Not only has he destroyed my powerful backer, but what will become of me afterward? Father Emperor doesn't care at all!
Even if the Sixth Prince wanted to outwardly comply but inwardly defy him, after a few more real confrontations, wouldn't they still have to comply with their father's wishes? Fortunately, the Sixth Prince went all out and gritted his teeth to reveal a major secret, which finally gained the trust of his second brother.
The Emperor could explode at any moment, and whoever holds this deadly leverage over him is at a disadvantage. Filled with resentment, the Sixth Prince chose his Second Brother over the Emperor.
"Okay. Then you can take this." Qi Chengming agreed, patted the Sixth Prince on the shoulder, and handed him a jade thumb ring engraved with his name as proof, which would also make it easier for their people to contact each other secretly later.
The sixth prince, following suit, also removed his agate thumb ring and exchanged it.
Everything was understood without words, and the two silently returned to their respective courtyards.
...
The ten-day New Year holiday passed quickly.
In the Hanlin Academy, everyone who saw a simply dressed young man would bow and offer their congratulations.
"Congratulations, Brother Wang!" "Brother Wang, this is wonderful! When will you treat us to a meal?"
Wang Shi's expression was somewhat complicated, and he had to force a smile and bow each time, saying, "Congratulations, congratulations." "Today—I'd like to invite all of you colleagues to come with me after my shift, but I'm a little short of money, so please forgive me."
The surrounding minor officials all waved their hands, saying, "That's impossible!" "Yes, we all know Brother Wang is frugal; let's see who dares to spoil the mood!"
Everyone seemed to be having a great time, including Wang Shi's superior, Dong, the compiler at the Hanlin Academy.
When Wang Shi saw him arrive, he rushed forward as if he had seen a savior: "Compiler!"
"Come with me, I must offer you a cup of my fine tea today." Editor Dong, a man with a notoriously bad temper, was unusually kind to him and led him inside.
The other scholars, of course, knew better than to come in at this time.
It is said that the Hanlin Academy is where the emperor cultivates his confidants, all of whom are imperial protégés who have passed the imperial examinations, the purest among the pure. However, their official positions are lowly, and if they fail to get close to the emperor and become his confidants, or are sent out to gradually accumulate seniority, they can only remain in the Hanlin Academy in obscurity, writing documents and compiling books to make a living.
It's understandable that they wanted to curry favor with Brother Wang by fabricating this story.
Only two people remained in the office.
Dong, the compiler, no longer pretended to be aloof. He grabbed Wang Shi's sleeve and asked urgently, "What happened? Why did the Emperor suddenly issue an edict allowing you to marry a princess?"
During his days off, Wang Shi was completely distraught. Because of the eunuchs and female officials sent by the Emperor, he couldn't find a single opportunity to send a message out. Now, seeing Compiler Dong was like seeing a savior; he was also anxious.
“Compilation… I don’t know! I’ve never met the princess, I only went to the palace to deliver a book last time…”
He racked his brains, and if he had to pinpoint when the Emperor had taken a liking to him, it could only be that day. But he had only delivered the book and hadn't even spoken with the Emperor. This momentous matter had suddenly landed on his head, and he felt utterly uneasy!
Especially since this princess is the legitimate daughter of the Empress, in the future...
Wang Shi was almost in tears.
What's the difference between this and just watching your own miserable end?
"Editor, you have to save me! You have to let the new... let His Highness know that I have long been loyal to him!" Wang Shi pleaded pitifully, clinging to the man and refusing to let go.
He was just a lowly clerk, faithfully waiting for his future wise ruler to ascend the throne; he didn't have any grand ambitions. How could such a bolt from the blue have struck, threatening his livelihood and even his life?!
Dong Bianzhuan remained silent for a moment, looked at his subordinate with sympathy, and could only say cryptically, "The last time it didn't end like this. What do you think is the reason His Majesty suddenly and inexplicably married his only daughter to a minor official of the sixth rank?"
Anyway, he met privately with a few of his reborn colleagues, and they all guessed that His Majesty already had a vague idea that the Empress had committed a crime.
Wang Shi was stunned for a moment, as if he had lost his parents.
So he was the unlucky guy who got the job of filling in?
Wang Shi was filled with remorse. He shouldn't have expected his parents to come to the capital after he passed the imperial examination and find him a good marriage. Now, the perfect person of suitable age and unmarried is none other than him.
Seeing his pale face, Compiler Dong quickly explained the Grand Secretary's meaning: "Don't be discouraged. The princess is getting married so early this time, so maybe it won't cause too much trouble in the future. Even if things don't go well in the future, you can start working hard with the princess from now on."
“What you mean by compiling this is…” Wang Shi’s muddled mind finally cleared up for a moment.
Should we try to bring the princess to join the new emperor's camp? Or even if they're not enemies? The princess can enter the harem at any time, which is an advantage over Prince Rui. Perhaps, through their interactions as messengers, they might develop feelings for each other?
Editor Dong nodded solemnly.
Wang Shi finally found a glimmer of hope for survival. He wiped his face, his smile more painful than his tears, and his fighting spirit was rekindled: "Good!"
He didn't want a miserable end, nor did he want to fail his exams and then drag his parents down with him.
From this day forward, he will be the perfect husband!
If the princess tells him to chase the chickens, he will never tease the dogs. If the princess is spoiled and pampered, he will flatter her obsequiously. If the princess is gentle and charming, he will be respectful and considerate. If the princess finds him too refined, he will ask his friend, a member of the royal guard, to train himself.
He won't go out to brothels or secretly look for other women; he'll keep at it until the princess has feelings for him!
He doesn't want to end up in a miserable state!
Another ten days passed, and the Ministry of Rites, after consulting the horoscopes, set an auspicious date: June 7th of the following year. This was considered a very lucky day for the wedding. By then, the princess's residence, bestowed upon her by His Majesty, would also be nearly finished with renovations—the wedding date was set.
This made people inside and outside the palace uneasy.
Who gets their daughter married off in such a rush? There are only four months left at most. Plus, the legitimate princess's husband is still a minor official... Suddenly, everyone knows how to read the wind. The noblewomen have reduced their visits to the palace, clearly understanding that His Majesty no longer approves of his daughter.
The Empress sat in the palace, her face full of sorrow and coldness. Hearing these rumors circulating outside, her heart was breaking.
Fifteen-year-old Qi Wan, still crying beside her mother with red eyes, pitifully asked, "Mother, does Father really not love me anymore? Why is that?"
Could the Empress really say that Emperor Hongren, that old codger, was wary of his own daughter's marriage alliance with his second son's maternal clan? Or that he harbored resentment towards her and was plotting revenge...?
The Empress was filled with deep regret; her two children were her life. She shouldn't have been blinded by greed and committed those sordid acts. Now, all the blame had fallen on her daughters—why wasn't it directed at her?!
"Wan'er, listen to what your mother has to say." The Empress could not deny that everything was already set in stone, so she could only gently instruct her daughter, "Don't look down on your husband's lowly official position. You are a princess born of the legitimate wife. Who outside the royal family has a higher status than you? The most important thing is to live your own life well."
The Empress's eyes were cold, but she was still cursing Emperor Hongren in her heart.
She needed to spread the word to dispel the persistent rumors: that the princess was getting older and her former fiancé had unfortunately passed away, which was why His Majesty was in a hurry to choose a successor. She didn't need to fool everyone; she just wanted to stop the rumors from spreading.
The Empress gently stroked her daughter's black hair, earnestly instructing her, "Your mother has inquired about him. That Scholar Wang is a kind and honest man of excellent character. He doesn't even have a single servant by his side; he's a rare and perfect match. In the future, you will live in your own princess's residence, without the need for your in-laws' supervision, and you won't be bullied..."
"But don't be too arrogant. Acting like a princess will only push people away. Scholar Wang's parents are unsophisticated farmers. Give them a little something to show their respect, and that's enough."
The third princess listened and, holding back her tears, agreed to every single thing.
Her mother was always gentle and humble, managing palace affairs in a low-key manner. She had been influenced by her mother since childhood, and even though she was pampered by her father, she was not the kind of spoiled person.
Although this husband caused her great psychological distress, after crying and complaining, the Third Princess accepted her fate and decided to live a good life.
What gave her a little more confidence was that her younger brother volunteered to come yesterday, saying that he had taken the initiative to inquire about that Scholar Wang, and then mysteriously reassured her.
Both the mother and younger brother praised the other party, perhaps that Scholar Wang really is quite good.
As she pondered this, a sense of anticipation arose in the Third Princess's heart.
...
During the peaceful period after the New Year, when Qi Chengming was engrossed in attending classes at the Prince's Mansion with a bitter expression, he suddenly heard that Emperor Hongren had given the Sixth Prince a new task: to be in charge of repairing the Princess's Mansion where the Third Princess had lived after her marriage. Not only that, but the young Seventh Prince was also allowed to go along to run errands.
Qi Chengming: "…………"
Not surprising at all.
Emperor Hongren was now so wary that he couldn't help but promote the Sixth Prince, unwilling to see his power grow any further.
Qi Chengming pretended not to know anything. No matter how Emperor Hongren praised the Sixth Prince for his good performance in court, and how he praised the Seventh Prince for his growing progress, showing a tendency to neglect him, Qi Chengming remained calm and composed.
— I'm busy studying, I don't have time to deal with Old Deng's paranoia.
It was after the New Year that one day, the wet nurse Liu suddenly requested an audience, her face pale: "Your Highness... my son has gotten into trouble outside!"
Qi Chengming's hand paused as he wrote, and before he could even organize his thoughts, he heard Granny Liu say with a worried and anxious tone:
"After waiting for months, the fox's tail has finally been revealed. This trouble must be aimed at Your Highness!"
"What exactly happened?" Qi Chengming asked, leaning forward slightly.
The shoe that had been hanging over him felt like it had finally dropped.
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