Chapter 112 The Road to Exile
Three days passed quickly.
Wen Yishu and his family of five were brought out of the Ministry of Justice prison, dressed in prison clothes and shackled, dragging their heavy and stiff steps as they walked out.
The shoes on their feet were no longer expensive boots or embroidered shoes, but straw sandals, the sole purpose of which was to prevent their feet from directly touching the ground.
But the straw sandals rubbed against their feet, and their feet simply couldn't take it after such a long journey.
Moreover, he was also bound by heavy shackles.
Even if someone takes care of them along the way, their feet will soon be worn raw, and they will have to endure countless hardships to reach the northern desert, which is far less prosperous than the capital.
Princess Ning'an arrived in a carriage to see them off on their final journey.
She knew that the Empress Dowager had made arrangements, and that their current disheveled state was just for show. The prison guards escorting them must have been paid to prepare soft and comfortable clothes and shoes for the family of five to wear once they left the capital.
They might even hire a horse-drawn carriage for them and provide them with delicious meals three times a day.
However, the journey was long and arduous, and both the carriage and the fine clothes and food were expensive.
Being away from the emperor's sight in the capital would naturally also keep them away from the empress dowager's sight.
How much conscience the prison guards who accepted bribes will retain remains to be seen.
Princess Ning'an knew that she would not make their journey easy.
They no longer deserve the luxuries they have received.
They were only fit to wear straw sandals, prison clothes, and ride in prison carts, enduring wind and dew along the way, utterly miserable.
Wen Yishu looked up and saw Princess Ning'an sitting in the luxurious carriage. She watched as Princess Ning'an lifted the curtain and stared at them. Her face was ashen and expressionless, but the light in her eyes had long since faded.
He lowered his head, not wanting to meet her gaze, afraid of revealing the resentment in his eyes.
Zhao Ying'er, who was following behind him, had a humble look in her eyes. Wen Shiyu and Wen Shijie lowered their heads, looking both embarrassed and unwilling, and with a hint of pleading.
Wen Jingyi, who had never suffered hardship before, was pale and looked anxious. When she looked at Princess Ning'an, she clearly wanted to say something but hesitated, yet she was too timid to speak.
She certainly wasn't afraid.
She longed for Princess Ning'an to die, but Princess Ning'an did not die. Instead, her whole family was exiled. How could she not be terrified?
She, an unmarried princess, had never experienced the bitterness of exile.
Princess Ning'an lowered the carriage curtain and ordered them to enter the palace.
Her men had already left the city ahead of time, and a few would appear every so often, ensuring they had a more exciting journey.
After they've completed their exile journey, endured all the hardships and suffering they deserve, it's time for them to go to the underworld and have tea with King Yama.
Princess Ning'an's gaze was cold as she rode in her carriage directly to Shou'an Palace.
Although she is not the Empress Dowager's biological daughter, this truth is currently known only to the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Princess Ning'an herself. People in the palace still bow to her as the Princess Ning'an—of course, even if they know she is not the Empress Dowager's daughter, it does not change the fact that she is the Princess Ning'an.
Upon arriving at Shou'an Palace, Princess Ning'an alighted from her carriage.
As she approached the palace gate, a young eunuch blocked her path and respectfully said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness, but His Majesty has decreed that the Empress Dowager is unwell today and no one is permitted to disturb her."
"I'm here to visit the Empress Dowager, and it won't take long," Princess Ning'an said calmly. "At most, it will take the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If the Emperor investigates, I will take full responsibility and will never implicate you."
He paused for a moment, then said, "Or you could go and ask the Grand Eunuch for permission now, and tell him that I want to see the Empress Dowager."
"This servant wouldn't dare." The little eunuch quickly stepped aside. "Please, Your Highness."
After saying that, he added in a low voice, "Please, Your Highness, come out as soon as possible, otherwise this servant cannot bear the responsibility."
Princess Ning'an nodded and stepped into the gate of Shou'an Palace.
The palace gardens were deserted, with few people working.
The palace maids who were supposed to be waiting outside the palace gates were nowhere to be seen, which suggests that the number of people serving the Empress Dowager had been reduced considerably.
Princess Ning'an raised the corners of her mouth almost imperceptibly.
The Emperor was a just and wise ruler who would never tolerate any illicit affairs within the palace. However, the Empress Dowager was his mother, and while he could not execute her, he could still place her under house arrest.
They provided her with food and drink.
As long as they don't go out and cause trouble again, it'll be fine.
Princess Ning'an stepped into the palace. The palace was so quiet it was almost desolate, unlike the residence of an empress dowager.
Princess Ning'an entered the inner hall, turned her head, and saw Granny Yi standing in front of the bed, as well as the Empress Dowager lying on the bed.
Apart from them, only two palace maids remained in the hall, one standing in front of the bed and the other standing at the corner of the bed.
Upon seeing Princess Ning'an enter, everyone in the hall was taken aback, clearly not expecting anyone to come in. Immediately, Granny Yi and the two palace maids curtsied in unison, their voices tinged with a hint of panic: "Greetings, Princess Ning'an."
Upon hearing their voices, the Empress Dowager, who was lying on the bed, opened her eyes. She looked pale and weak. She struggled to sit up and slowly turned her head to look at Princess Ning'an.
When she met Princess Ning'an's face, her eyes flashed with a sharp, cold light for a moment, then vanished, and she returned to her calm, wooden expression.
"What are you doing here?" she asked calmly, with a hint of sarcasm. "Have you come to show off to your mother?"
“A demonstration is a pointless act.” Princess Ning’an sat down in a chair, seemingly prepared to have a proper talk with the Empress Dowager. “I want to tell you something first.”
The Empress Dowager looked at her warily.
"Actually, I am not pregnant."
The Empress Dowager was taken aback, and subconsciously looked at her abdomen. Then, as if she understood something, her face gradually turned ashen: "You're lying to me?"
"Originally, I only wanted to deceive Wen Yishu and never suspected the Empress Dowager." Princess Ning'an sighed. "I didn't expect you to be so excited when I told the Empress Dowager that I was pregnant. You were so excited that it was as if the sky would fall if I gave birth to this child, which made me swallow back the truth that I almost said."
She looked at the Empress Dowager with pity: "Your Majesty has been in the palace for so many years and has experienced many things, big and small. You should be able to keep your composure, but you have revealed your true colors everywhere, which makes it impossible not to be suspicious."
The Empress Dowager remained silent.
She definitely overreacted.
These past two days, she has been constantly reflecting on her actions over the years. Perhaps it was because her protection and arrangements for Wen Yishu had gone too smoothly that she thought everything was going according to plan. Once things got out of control, she couldn't help but feel a sense of insecurity.
That's why things repeatedly get out of control and arouse suspicion.
But it's too late to say anything now.
“Your elder brother is your own son, and the princes and princesses are your own grandchildren, yet your affection for them is not even half as much as your affection for Wen Shiyu and the others. I used to think you were biased towards me, so I extended my affection to them and didn’t notice anything amiss. But once I started to have doubts about you, all the doubts were magnified and then clearly presented before my eyes, becoming evidence of your suspicious behavior.”
Princess Ning'an smiled and said, "I should thank myself for waking up early, otherwise I would have been completely taken advantage of by the heartless Wen Yishu family."
The Empress Dowager remained silent.
“Wen Yishu’s family has already left, just now, before I entered the palace.” Princess Ning’an said casually, “They were wearing prison clothes and straw sandals, shackles, and embarked on a long journey of exile. They will suffer greatly on this road, crying out to heaven and earth in vain, until the end of their lives.”
Upon hearing the last sentence, the Empress Dowager abruptly raised her eyes and looked at Princess Ning'an: "What do you want to do?"
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