Imprisonment and drug administration caused dementia
The air seemed to freeze. Zhu Liji stared wide-eyed, unable to believe that these words had come from his own son.
"What did you say?" His voice was deep, carrying the weight of a storm.
Zhu Sheng showed no fear. Now that the breach had been made, he no longer concealed anything: "Your subject says that Father Emperor's current situation is all due to your excessive desire for control and your excessive suspicion!"
“In your heart, everyone is just a pawn, someone who can be used and discarded, especially…” Zhu Sheng paused, his voice trembling with a barely perceptible sob, “especially the Empress Dowager! Wasn’t her death a direct result of your suspicion and manipulation? When did you ever truly trust her?!”
"Insolence!" Zhu Liji roared, as if he had been stripped naked and whipped. The veins on his forehead throbbed. "I think you've been bewitched by this woman, daring to question your father like this!"
"You're the one who's lost your mind!" Zhu Sheng went all out, letting out years of pent-up resentment. He had always felt that his father was cold towards him, and he thought it was because he wasn't good enough and always disappointed his father, but that wasn't the whole story.
"Father! You've lived to this day, abandoned by all, feeling utterly alone. Isn't that your own fault? You're always greedy, wanting everything—the empire, power, loyal ministers, beauties… But you're unwilling to give anything sincerely. You're stingy with trust, stingy with emotion, only wanting to take and control! There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world!"
"Is this your attitude towards your father?" Zhu Liji blurted out almost without thinking. Looking at his son, who was sharp-tongued and stubborn, he felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
When did this son, whom he had always considered timid and in need of refinement, develop such an imposing presence?
For the first time, he clearly saw his own reflection in this son, not in appearance, but in that inner, unyielding spirit.
A strange feeling welled up inside me; it wasn't pure anger, but rather a mixture of indescribable shock, and even a hint of... panic that my possessions were about to slip out of my control.
Overwhelmed with mixed feelings, Zhu Liji was in a state of great turmoil.
“You…you…” Zhu Liji pointed at Zhu Sheng, his head throbbing as if something was drilling into his skull, and his hand holding the sword trembled violently uncontrollably.
"Clang—" The blood-stained sword finally slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
Zhu Liji felt dizzy and struggled to steady himself by holding onto the table beside him.
After a long pause, as if he had exhausted all his strength, he roared hoarsely, "Unfilial son, get out! Get out of here!"
Upon hearing this, Pinghai immediately bowed and stepped forward, cautiously saying to Zhu Sheng, "Your Highness, please."
Given the current situation, Zhu Sheng had no choice but to leave. Before leaving, Zhu Sheng took one last deep look at Zhiwei, who had fallen to the ground. Zhiwei met his gaze, still showing concern and worry. Zhu Sheng smiled, as if to comfort her. He nodded, then covered his bleeding hand and followed Pinghai out of the palace.
——
Zhu Liji ultimately failed to bring down the Wan family immediately by using Zhiwei's intrusion into the Eastern Palace. Wang Miaoxiao's meticulously planned "catch the culprit red-handed" operation failed, and the crucial letter disappeared without a trace.
However, Wang Miaoxiao did not come away empty-handed.
Following the clues, he actually uncovered the Wan family's informant who had been lurking in the palace to pass messages. Coincidentally, that informant happened to be working in Yonghua Palace, an inconspicuous palace servant serving Consort Ling.
Under severe torture, the informant could not hold out any longer and not only confessed to passing on the message, but also implicated the Wan family, who seemed to have intended to "do something" during Consort Ling's childbirth to ensure that the imperial offspring were "absolutely safe".
When the news reached Zhu Liji's ears, he was furious and immediately ordered the execution of the palace maid, also taking his anger out on Wan Zhen'er. Chuxiu Palace became a cold palace, and Consort Wan was completely imprisoned, never to regain her former glory.
However, the time was not yet ripe to completely take action against the Wan family. Zhu Liji suppressed his murderous intent, continued to suspend Wan Qi from his post and closely monitor him, and did not take any further action for the time being.
Zhiwei pieced together these thrilling court intrigues from Consort Ling's fragmented accounts, filled with lingering fear and boasting, as she served her closely.
She had never experienced these things.
After the turmoil at the Eastern Palace that day, she was taken away by the enraged Zhu Liji and locked in an abandoned side room behind the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The windows were boarded up, letting in no light, and there was no longer any distinction between day and night. That became her prison for three months.
During this time, Zhu Liji would occasionally come in. Each time he came, he would bring a secret medicine with a peculiar smell and force-feed it to her. At this time, the palace servants waiting outside could always vaguely hear suppressed sobs and painful moans coming from inside the room, intermittent and alarming.
Three months later, when Zhiwei was released, her body was covered with scars of varying depths and ages. She could barely stand and had to be helped by others to walk.
That's the tip of the iceberg. The real problem is that even Zhiwei herself realized that ever since she came out of that dark room, her thoughts had often become sluggish, and she would always be a beat slow to react when she heard others speak.
She was conscious, but not very much, and Zhu Liji seemed quite satisfied with Zhiwei's appearance.
He still had her serve him, and Zhiwei, who had become much more "obedient," whether she was too slow to react or had completely lost her emotions, would always obediently stay close to him as instructed.
Zhu Liji really liked Zhiwei's "obedience".
When no one was around, he would reach out and pinch her pale cheeks, watching her blink listlessly; he would also let her feed him, enjoying her slightly trembling yet obedient service; when he was in a good mood, he would even hold Zhiwei in his arms, holding her hand, and teaching her to write stroke by stroke, euphemistically calling it "cultivating her temperament".
Of course, none of this would happen while Consort Ling was alive, since she was carrying his son. Zhu Liji could distinguish between what was important and what was not.
Looking at the person in his arms, whose face sometimes showed a blank expression, yet who still tried his best to respond to his commands, Zhu Liji felt a strange sense of satisfaction. He felt that this was good, or rather, this was how it should be.
He even thought that Wang Miaoxiao's suggestion in private to feed people appropriate amounts of drugs that could make them "quiet" and "dependent" was a really good idea.
And so, being trapped by his side for the rest of my life, with only him in my eyes, doesn't seem so bad.
Zhu Liji finally vaguely realized that he preferred keeping Zhiwei by his side as he was now, rather than facing her as his enemy. As for the future, there was still a long way to go.
——
Time passed, and Consort Ling was nearly eight months pregnant. Her belly was high and protruding, and her movements became increasingly difficult. After all, it was her first pregnancy. She touched her round belly, took Zhiwei's hand and pressed it against it, her tone filled with unease: "Miss Yan, I... am a little scared."
Zhiwei stared blankly at the huge belly. The little thing inside was very active and liked to show off. As soon as Zhiwei touched it, it greeted her mother through the belly.
Life is truly amazing, Zhiwei couldn't help but sigh in her heart. Unfortunately, her actions couldn't keep up with her thoughts. After a long while, she slowly spoke to comfort her.
"Don't be afraid." Zhiwei lowered her eyes, a smile playing on her lips. "The child... is healthy."
"His Majesty values this child highly and will have... the best imperial physicians guard him."
Zhiwei straightened up, turned around to get the bird's nest soup on the table, and handed it to Consort Ling: "Your Majesty, please have some more. This bird's nest is a tribute from Southeast Asia... It's good for your health. If you take good care of yourself, you'll have the strength to give birth."
Consort Ling accepted the bird's nest soup without any suspicion and finished the bowl in just a few bites.
Zhi smiled and stared intently at Consort Ling's high belly. She had seen women give birth before, and judging from the shape and size of this belly, the child inside would probably weigh more than seven pounds after full term.
For Consort Ling, who was giving birth for the first time, a natural birth was by no means an easy task.
If things don't go smoothly, they'll have to save both the mother and the child... She'd really like to see what choice this emperor would make.
Thinking this, a cold glint flashed across his face.
Zhiwei then handed Consort Ling a snack.
"Eat more, don't go hungry." When Zhiwei raised her head, her face returned to its dull and docile appearance.
——
That night, dozens of portraits of noble ladies were laid out on the emperor's desk, each with their own unique charm, adorned with pearls, jade, and silk.
The recent increase in court affairs is quite noticeable. Zhu Liji held his brush, but his mind seemed to be elsewhere than on the calligraphy he was writing. His gaze kept glancing at the water clock at the corner of the palace.
Pinghai silently observed all of this. When he saw Zhu Liji raise his head, he immediately stepped forward and broke the silence at just the right moment: "Your Majesty, Miss Yan has gone to the small kitchen to personally oversee your soup. She should be back soon."
Zhu Liji continued writing, only letting out a soft "hmm" through his nose, but the force with which he wielded the brush visibly lightened.
No sooner had Pinghai finished speaking than Zhiwei walked in carrying a vermilion lacquered food plate with steaming white jade bowls on it.
Zhiwei walked steadily, but her eyes seemed somewhat vacant.
Pinghai quickly gestured to the eunuch beside him to take the soup bowl and place it gently on the table. Then he made a hand gesture, and all the servants, including himself, quietly withdrew and closed the palace door.
With all the outsiders gone, Zhu Liji no longer concealed himself. He put down his pen, took Zhiwei's hand, and gently massaged her slightly red palm with his fingertips.
"Aren't your hands sore from carrying this all the way?" His tone was surprisingly gentle.
Zhiwei stared blankly for a moment, as if she had just realized what was happening, before slowly shaking her head.
Zhu Liji touched Zhiwei's nose, wrapped his arm around her, and pulled her into his embrace, sitting her on his lap.
He pointed to the portraits covering the table: "Come, help me see, which of these young ladies is the most pleasing to the eye?"
Zhiwei's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment, then relaxed again, as if she was just uncomfortable with her posture.
She squinted, her gaze slowly moving across the meticulously painted faces, as if trying to recognize and think about them.
Zhu Liji waited patiently, his fingers casually combing through the black hair draped behind her back. He had never noticed before, but now he realized that the person in his arms always had little fidgety movements when she was thinking. Sometimes she would stare blankly, and sometimes she would play with her own hands. At this moment, Zhu Liji was letting Zhiwei's other hand unconsciously and gently twirl around a jade pendant worn at his waist.
This tassel was made after Zhiwei finished his confinement. Coincidentally, when he entered the dormitory that day, he found this person doing needlework for the first time ever. It was a simple design, but Zhu Liji kept it and even added a piece of jade.
After a long while, Zhiwei finally raised her hand, her fingertips dangling in the air before landing on a portrait.
The woman in the painting has delicate features and a gentle temperament, but her eyes seem to have a soul, and her bright and dignified appearance can be seen even through the portrait.
“This…” Zhiwei’s voice was a little hoarse and uncertain.
Zhu Liji looked down at the portrait. Although her family background was not the most illustrious, she was still the daughter of a scholar-official.
"Good, a good choice." Zhu Liji chuckled softly, leaned down and kissed Zhiwei's cool cheek, with a sense of relief and joy. "This will be the Crown Prince's principal wife after the New Year."
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