Chapter 106: Execution by caning changed to exile
Emperor Zhaode's face was stiff and unsightly.
He could not accept that his wise and virtuous father was such a despicable person.
He even suspected that what the Empress Dowager said was not true at all.
The Empress Dowager remained silent for a long time, seemingly trying to compose herself.
Then she said, "After that time with Wen Lang, the emperor did not give me a contraceptive potion. It was just a coincidence that I soon found out I was pregnant. I was terrified and thought the emperor would definitely not keep the child. But things turned out differently than I expected."
"When the late emperor heard the imperial physician report that I was pregnant, he said nothing, but ordered people to take good care of me. But I was plagued by nightmares day and night, and I dreamed again and again that I was being forced to drink saffron and that blood was flowing all over the ground."
“During that time, I was in a terrible state. Once, I went to the Imperial Garden to relax and overheard the late emperor talking to his favorite concubine. He said that if the baby was a daughter, he would raise it, but if it was a son, he would secretly kill him.”
When the baby was a little over three months old, I asked the imperial physician whether it was a boy or a girl, and he replied that it was a boy.
My heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cellar.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaode vaguely guessed what was going on.
Therefore, Princess Ning'an was indeed not the Empress Dowager's biological daughter.
"Knowing the Emperor's attitude, could I sit idly by and wait for my doom? No, I bribed the midwife beforehand and spent a great deal of money to secure someone outside the palace who could meet me. That very night, after the child was born, I sent him out of the palace and handed him over to Wen Lang, falsely claiming that he was born to Lady Wen. Meanwhile, I still sent someone to the late Emperor to announce the good news, falsely claiming that it was a princess, and the late Emperor believed me."
“During that time, the late emperor was indulging in the slut he brought back from outside the palace. When he heard that I had given birth to a princess, he did not go to my palace to verify the truth. In fact, after that night with Wen Lang, the late emperor never set foot in my palace again. Perhaps he thought I was dirty.”
"But for me, this is a good thing; I have plenty of time to figure out a solution."
"Two days later, that wretched woman gave birth to a daughter. I bribed the nanny and the midwife to make it look like she had given birth to a stillborn child, and then I took the child to my palace. She is Princess Ning'an."
After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she remained silent for a long while.
To reveal this shameful and secret past in front of her own son was like tearing open a wound that had been scabbed over for years, exposing all her unbearable shame to the world. This meant immense pain and embarrassment.
The Empress Dowager looked at Emperor Zhaode: "Your Majesty, Ning'an is your sister. I have never mistreated her over the years. I am indeed biased because Wen Yishu is my biological son, your brother from the same mother, and the bloodline of the person I once loved. But I have also fulfilled my responsibilities as a mother to Ning'an. I do not feel that I owe her anything."
She admitted, "Ning An has not been pregnant for more than ten years. It was the result of my scheming, and it has nothing to do with Wen Yishu."
“I have known about the matter between Wen Yishu and Zhao Ying’er for a long time. I have been protecting them all these years. If the emperor wants to punish someone, then punish me.”
Emperor Zhaode's expression was gloomy, and he remained silent.
The things he heard today shocked him; he couldn't believe that his father was such a despicable person.
They broke up a couple in love and then fabricated a scandal about their affair.
To achieve one's goals, one will stop at nothing.
Of course, he couldn't believe the Empress Dowager's one-sided story.
Although she was his mother, as an emperor, he knew that anything could happen in the palace. If the affair was not a scheme by the late emperor, but rather something she orchestrated herself, then she had not only disgraced the royal family, but also tried to smear him after his death...
"If Your Majesty insists on killing Yishu, I will die with them." The Empress Dowager's voice was deep and calm. "I have lived in fear and anxiety all these years, and I am like a frightened bird. I have had enough of living like this. If it weren't for still thinking about Yishu, I would have stopped living long ago."
Emperor Zhaode said calmly, "Whether what the Empress Dowager said is true or false, I cannot let Wen Yishu's family go, because the truth that the Empress Dowager said cannot be announced to the world, otherwise it will become the greatest disgrace to the royal family."
The Empress Dowager's face turned ashen.
"I can change the punishment of flogging to exile, which is the greatest concession I can make." Emperor Zhaode looked at her. "But Mother, you should stay in Shou'an Palace and live out your days in peace. Don't worry about things outside anymore. As for Wen Yishu, whether he lives or dies is up to fate."
exile?
The Empress Dowager wanted to laugh, but she couldn't manage to.
This is indeed the best possible outcome.
But she knew how difficult the road to exile was. Wen Yishu and her three children were used to a life of luxury, how could they endure such hardship?
A simple cold and fever could kill them on the road.
"I know the Empress Dowager is reluctant," Emperor Zhaode said calmly, "but I must give an explanation to the people. If even the crime of deceiving the emperor can be pardoned, how can I govern the country in the future? How can I gain the trust of my officials?"
"The Empress Dowager said she had never mistreated Ning'an, but if she wanted Wen Yishu to marry Ning'an back then, why did she let him have three children with Zhao Ying'er? Ning'an is the eldest princess, and her husband had an affair and had children with her. This is an indelible stain, and it will eventually come to light."
"Because of the Empress Dowager and Wen Yishu's selfish motives, Ning'an has not had any children of her own all these years. Isn't she sad? Doesn't she have any regrets?"
"Even if what happened back then was Father's fault, what does it have to do with Ning'an? Why should she suffer all this? Her mother was innocent too. She gave birth to her child with high hopes, only to find out that the child was stillborn. She couldn't bear the blow and passed away. Does Mother know this—"
The Empress Dowager suddenly stood up, causing Emperor Zhaode to stop abruptly.
The Empress Dowager knelt down without warning.
"Empress Dowager!" Emperor Zhaode exclaimed in surprise, immediately rising to help her up. "What are you doing?"
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