Chapter 91 Separation of Husband and Wife
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
Meng Lingge was both surprised and worried.
Wen Kehao's report was meritorious, and it was reasonable for the Emperor to pardon him. But why would the Emperor pardon his husband as well? Was it really just because his husband was mentally challenged that he was given a chance?
Now she, her mother, and her father are all under house arrest, and her husband is still suffering from the Gu poison. They are separated now and she doesn't know when they will be able to see each other again, nor does she know if her husband's health will allow him to live to see that day.
While she was distracted, the Imperial Guards had already arrested all the servants and taken them away one by one. Her four personal maids had red eyes, but they held back their tears and walked at the back of the procession with panicked expressions.
Prince Anshun, Princess Anshun, Consort Jiang, Consort Lu, and Wen Weizhu were already waiting at the courtyard gate as ordered by Commander Ren, awaiting to be taken to Dongling Pavilion by the Imperial Guards.
Only Meng Lingge and Wen Zhiming have not yet made a move.
"Princess Consort, please." Commander Ren said in a calm tone, glancing at Meng Lingge and Wen Zhiming's tightly clasped hands.
Meng Lingge took a deep breath and said slowly, "Husband, let go. Take good care of yourself from now on."
She had silently repeated this sentence to herself many times.
After confirming with the princess that she would remove the curse from Wen Zhiming, she secretly practiced how to use the most ruthless words to make Wen Zhiming feel betrayed and abandoned by everyone, and to feel great grief. This sentence was just the lightest one.
But just saying that sentence made her extremely sad.
The royal palace is suddenly struck by disaster. She and the princess no longer need to act. Her husband will face the pain of separation from his wife and being imprisoned by his parents. If she can make her husband lose all hope at this time, she might be able to force out the Gu worm in his body.
Meng Lingge knew this was not the best time. They were all under house arrest, no one was paying attention to Wen Zhiming's situation, and all sorts of unexpected things could happen.
But she had no time left. After being placed under house arrest, she didn't know if she would have any chance to get out, or if she would ever see Wen Zhiming again.
She could not allow her husband to die from the effects of the Gu poison.
She couldn't let this opportunity slip by.
Wen Zhiming's hands were trembling, and then his whole body began to tremble.
"No, no, my wife, don't go! You promised you wouldn't leave me, I won't let you go..."
He gripped their hands tighter and tighter, so hard that both of their hands turned red.
Wen Kehao slowly stepped forward and grabbed Wen Zhiming's arm.
"Big brother, come with me."
He was infamous, hated by everyone in the Anshun Prince's Mansion, and despised by too many people, all because he wanted to save his elder brother's life. He couldn't let his elder brother risk his life again because of anyone.
"Get out of my way!" Wen Zhiming shouted at him, "You are not my third brother. You have harmed Father, Mother, my wife, and everyone in the Anshun Prince's Mansion. Get out of my way! I won't go with you!"
Wen Kehao did not argue, stubbornly repeating, "Big brother, come with me."
Meng Lingge looked at Wen Kehao. Although he still had a cold expression, she suddenly felt that Wen Kehao seemed to have a bit more human touch than before.
She knew better than anyone that although it was Wen Kehao who denounced Prince Anshun, he would never have done so if he hadn't been forced into it. After all, Wen Zhiming was still not fully recovered, and Wen Kehao was very likely to become the heir apparent. He couldn't possibly give up such readily available wealth and status for a fifth-rank official.
No matter what, Wen Kehao is now the only family member who can stay by Wen Zhiming's side. Meng Lingge has no time to hesitate; she can only take a gamble.
I bet that Wen Kehao's brotherly feelings for Wen Zhiming are genuine, and that Wen Kehao will take good care of Wen Zhiming.
Meng Lingge closed her eyes and forcefully pried Wen Zhiming's fingers apart one by one. Wen Zhiming grabbed them back, and she continued to pry them apart.
While breaking the cloth, he coldly said to Wen Kehao, "He's all yours now. Go find Doctor Su. Doctor Su will tell you how to treat him. I've been fed up with him for a long time. Now I'm finally rid of him."
She couldn't look up, because if she did, Wen Zhiming would see the tears in the corners of her eyes, and if she looked up and saw Wen Zhiming's face, she wouldn't be able to say a word.
She could only stubbornly and intently crack her knuckles, so hard that she scratched both of their hands.
Wen Zhiming was equally persistent and focused in trying to grab her hand. He would pry open one finger, only to grab another, and he could never finish.
His face flushed red with anxiety, and his voice choked with sobs, "I don't believe it! I won't let you leave! My wife is lying to me! You can't leave! It's all the Emperor's fault! I want..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wen Kehao struck him on the neck, causing him to lose consciousness instantly. Wen Kehao quickly reached out and caught him.
My elder brother was heartbroken and spoke without restraint. If we let him continue, and it reached the Emperor's ears, incurring his displeasure, my brother's life would be in danger.
Seeing his swift and decisive actions, Commander Ren couldn't help but mock, "Your defense is quite skillful."
Wen Kehao did not answer, but ordered his men to take Wen Zhiming to his carriage and have him guarded by someone.
Suppressing her grief, Meng Lingge moved lightly to the princess's side.
The princess took her hand with pity, noticed that the skin on her hand was scratched, and gently blew on it.
Others thought that Meng Lingge had suffered misfortune because of the Prince of Anshun's mansion and that she had taken her anger out on Wen Zhiming. Only she knew what her daughter-in-law was really thinking.
Meng Lingge's words weren't entirely heartless, and it's uncertain whether Mo'er will be overcome with grief and be able to force out the Gu worms.
Life is unpredictable. She and Lingge conspired to stage a fake drama to make Mo'er feel betrayed and abandoned by everyone. When Mo'er was on the verge of collapse, she never expected that the palace would be sealed off so soon, and Mo'er would be separated from the most important person in his life in an instant.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Commander Ren ordered them to remove their jewelry and then had the officials escort them to Dongling Pavilion.
Perhaps they were too cooperative, or perhaps Commander Ren showed some leniency to Prince Anshun, because no one searched them or tied their hands and feet. Instead, they were allowed to walk among the soldiers and go to Dongling Pavilion on their own.
This situation is much more dignified than the treatment of ordinary criminals.
Commander Ren stayed behind to investigate the property of the Prince of Anshun's mansion with Wen Kehao. All valuables were looted and placed in the empty courtyard. After the inventory was settled, Wen Kehao took one-tenth of the property, and the rest was transported to the national treasury by Commander Ren.
The magnificent and luxurious Prince Anshun Mansion was sealed off.
Overnight, the once-glorious Prince Anshun became a prisoner, and the once-prosperous Prince Anshun Mansion in the capital was reduced to an empty shell.
The residence bestowed upon Wen Kehao by the Emperor was not far from the Prince of Anshun's mansion, but his position as a fifth-rank defense commissioner was merely a title, devoid of real power, and he only had about a dozen people under his command.
Of the ten percent of the property allocated to Wen Zhiming, apart from a few old items and furniture that his elder brother was used to, Wen Kehao didn't take the rest; it was all converted into silver.
He only had one month left, but his elder brother was destined for a lifetime of peace and health, so he had to make arrangements for his brother's future within that month.
Actually, while searching his elder brother's yard, he noticed a faint odor in the air and also discovered signs that the soil in the yard had been recently disturbed. At the time, he remained silent and calmly directed his soldiers to move the items out of the house.
Wen Kehao had no designs on the property in that courtyard.
The ten percent of Anshun Prince's Mansion's wealth is enough for my elder brother to live a worry-free life for the rest of his days. Unless he regains his senses and needs to do something else, he won't need it.
But he absolutely forbids anyone from coveting the things in that yard.
He knew that Meng Lingge must have secretly hidden it.
Although he resented Meng Lingge for taking away his elder brother, based on the fact that Meng Lingge trusted him today and entrusted his elder brother to him, he would not let anyone discover what Meng Lingge had buried.
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