Chapter 702 The Zhao Family Has Arrived Too
Zhao Yunhui was beaten with ten strokes of the cane before leaving the restaurant. The Emperor had already ordered the government to block the news of Jishantang. As the Princess Consort of Yu, she had spread rumors in public that there was an epidemic in Shengjing. Beating her with ten strokes of the cane was too lenient. If it were an ordinary person, she would probably have been locked up in jail long ago.
Just as she reached the corner, someone blocked her way.
"My sister is living a carefree and happy life after marrying into the royal family, while our Zhao clan is still living in dire straits. Doesn't my sister care about the Zhao family at all?"
Zhao Rui was dressed in patched, coarse clothes, looking extremely destitute. In fact, the Zhao family's life was not as difficult as people imagined. He was just dressed like this to blend into Shengjing in order to avoid attracting attention.
The other man accompanying him stared at Zhao Yunhui with deep affection: "Hui'er, it's been a long time."
When Zhao Yunhui met Wu Jingting, she felt inexplicably nervous. Her cousin Jingting had once confessed his feelings to her, but she was determined to marry the emperor and become a concubine in the palace, so she didn't give him a clear answer.
She thought she would marry the emperor, but unexpectedly she married Xie Yu instead, and Xie Yu is no good person.
Seeing her relatives again, she felt that things had changed. The Zhao family had fallen on hard times, her aunt, Consort Zhao, had died, and she was living in hell alone in the Prince Yu's mansion. Her eyes were red. "Cousin Jingting, Brother Rui, how come it's you? Why are you in Shengjing?"
Wu Jingting glanced around, then grabbed Zhao Yunhui's hand. "Come with us first, and we'll explain everything to you slowly."
Just then, Zhao Yunhui suddenly cried out "Ouch!" Wu Jingting asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Zhao Yunhui's personal maid explained, "Just now at the restaurant, Miss was punished by the Empress's maid and was given ten strokes of the cane."
Zhao Rui said, "How dare a mere maidservant punish you, a princess consort?"
Zhao Yunhui said, "The Empress was also present, but she wore a veil and did not show her face. I dare not offend the Empress, as she and Luo Ziqiong are in cahoots."
Wu Jingting asked with concern, "Where are you hurt?"
Zhao Yunhui was a little shy. "It just hurts a little. I went back and had the maid apply some medicine and it was fine."
Unexpectedly, Wu Jingting suddenly carried Zhao Yunhui on his back, saying, "Cousin will carry you."
Before Zhao Yunhui could react, she and her maid were taken to a secluded restaurant.
She asked worriedly, "Where is this place? Aren't you afraid of being found out if you return to Shengjing without permission?"
Zhao Rui said coldly, "No matter what, during the late emperor's reign, our Zhao family was a powerful and influential family in the court. Although my father has been dismissed from his post and our family has been demoted to commoners, our Zhao family's foundation is still there. There are still members of our Zhao family in Shengjing City. It won't be so easy for the Jiang family to defeat our Zhao family."
Upon hearing that the Zhao family might have a chance to rise again, Zhao Yunhui's eyes reddened slightly, and she quickly asked with concern, "How are my parents doing? Have they suffered? I worry about them and my brothers every day. But since I entered Prince Yu's mansion, I have been bullied by Prince Yu. He despises our Zhao family for its decline."
Zhao Rui clenched his fists, his eyes filled with hatred. "In the end, the Zhao family was harmed by Xie Shang and Jiang Fenghua. But then again, the stability of the Xie family's empire was also due to the efforts of our Zhao family. Although Father embezzled a lot of silver, most of it was for the late Emperor. In the end, Xie Shang made our Zhao family take the blame entirely. It was all the Jiang family's doing. The Jiang family wanted the position of Minister of Revenue, so they had to get rid of our Zhao family. After the Jiang family's daughter became Empress, she even wanted to exterminate us all..."
Zhao Yunhui didn't quite understand what Zhao Rui was saying. As for how powerful Jiang Fenghua was, she was just a woman. What she really knew was how to whisper in the emperor's ear. No wonder everyone was afraid of the Jiang family. Even Xie Yu didn't dare to mess with the Jiang family. He spent his days eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring, and didn't have any proper job.
She said, "Cousin and Brother Rui, what is your purpose in coming to Shengjing? You two are no match for Empress Jiang; she has guards protecting her."
Zhao Rui glanced at Wu Jingting, "Cousin Jingting, why don't you and Hui'er talk alone? I have some things to take care of."
The Zhao family would naturally not do something so foolish as to fight a losing battle. They had all witnessed how badly the Su family had been defeated. Dealing with the Jiang family and Empress Jiang was not just a matter for the Zhao family. There were other families that had been dealt a heavy blow by the Jiang family, such as the families of Vice Minister Shu and Imperial Censor Zhu. After the new emperor ascended the throne, they were not promoted but instead suffered defeat.
The maidservant brought some medicine to relieve the pain and reduce swelling. "Your Highness, let me apply some medicine for you!"
Wu Jingting took the ointment and said, "I'll do it. You can go down first."
The maid was stunned for a moment, and Zhao Rui pulled her away directly, "My cousin has something to discuss with Hui'er. Mingxiang and I will go to Minister Shu's residence first."
The maidservant replied respectfully, "Yes."
Once the two had left, Zhao Yunhui sat on the stool very nervously, "Cousin..."
"Hui'er..."
The two spoke in unison.
Zhao Yunhui said, "Cousin, please say what you have to say!"
"Does Hui'er also have something to say to me?" Wu Jingting asked.
Tears welled up in Zhao Yunhui's eyes. She first tried to exonerate herself, "I didn't want to marry Xie Yu back then. My father wanted Zhao Yuntong to marry him. In the end, Zhao Yuntong framed me. I... I was forced to marry Prince Yu." The person she wanted to marry was the Emperor, and her family also planned for her to enter the palace as a concubine.
Wu Jingting was unaware of the details. He only learned later, after hearing Zhao's mother's tearful account, that she had married Prince Yu. His main purpose in coming to Shengjing was to see Zhao Yunhui.
The Wu family was also an official family, and the Wu and Zhao families could have become even closer through marriage.
Wu Jingting suddenly hugged Zhao Yunhui in his arms. "I know you don't like Prince Yu at all, Hui'er. I've never been able to let you go. You know my feelings, right? You didn't give me an answer back then. If I had proposed to the Zhao family back then, you wouldn't have been harmed by your sister."
Zhao Yunhui pushed him away, saying, "Cousin, please have some self-respect. Hui'er is already married. It's too late to say anything now. I'm no longer pure."
She stood up and was about to walk out when she suddenly felt a sharp pain and fainted, falling to the ground. Wu Jingting caught her quickly and said, "Hui'er, let me see where you're hurt. She's too cruel. How could she bear to do such a thing to a weak woman like you?"
Zhao Yunhui lay in Wu Jingting's arms, sobbing uncontrollably, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances she had suffered in the Prince Yu's mansion.
Wu Jingting looked at her with heartache. Noticing what appeared to be bruises on her collar, he asked, "How did this happen? Were you beaten by Empress Jiang's maid?"
Zhao Yunhui shook her head. Jiang Fenghua had her buttocks beaten. Jiang Fenghua probably just wanted to humiliate her and didn't hit her very hard. The injuries on her body were inflicted by Xie Yu. At this moment, she didn't know how to tell him about her miserable life.
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