Chapter 115 Two Conditions
Chapter 115
Cai Yuezhao suppressed her smile and gently held Meng Yuning's hand, her tone tinged with worry. "Ah Ning, now that you've returned to the capital, I'm afraid those people from the Meng family will come and harass you sooner or later."
Meng Yuning shook her head: "It's okay, I won't pay any attention to them."
Cai Yuezhao asked again tentatively, "But Aning, the capital is different from Lingnan. Here, etiquette and rules are strictly enforced. People often say, 'There are no unrighteous parents in the world.' If you really break up with them, I'm afraid it will give people a reason to criticize you and damage your reputation."
A hint of sarcasm crossed Meng Yuning's lips. Although her voice was soft, it was firm and resolute: "I would rather bear the name of being unfilial than acknowledge my family members who treat me like worthless grass and are so heartless and ungrateful."
Otherwise, how could she be worthy of the innocent "Meng Yuning" who died on the way to Lingnan?
Cai Yuezhao stared at her: "Really?"
Meng Yuning met her gaze and nodded solemnly: "Seriously."
Cai Yuezhao finally smiled contentedly, his eyes filled with relief. "Great! With your words, I'm completely relieved."
She gripped Meng Yuning's hand tightly, her eyes blazing with anger as she lowered her voice and said, "An Ning, you don't know this. A few days ago, I left the palace on the orders of the Queen Mother and ran into your stepmother and your stepsister Meng Jingru in a jewelry store."
"They were chatting with two officials' wives, slandering your reputation with every word they said. I was so angry that I almost rushed over and kicked them over."
"But then I thought, you're going back to Beijing soon. If you're not willing to break up with them for the time being, my making a scene would only make things worse. So I just forced myself to endure it."
"Now that I know your feelings, if I hear them slandering you behind your back again, I'll just go up and punch them in the face until they're covered in blood."
Seeing Sister Zhao defending her like this, Meng Yuning felt warm in her heart and said with a smile, "Why should Sister Zhao take action? If I really encounter such a situation, I will personally seek justice for it."
"That's right!" Cai Yuezhao's eyes lit up. "Now our An Ning is already someone who can draw a bow and wield a sword, and has the support of His Highness and the Queen Mother. Why should we be afraid of them?"
She suddenly remembered something and said sarcastically, "It's ridiculous. Meng Jingru is now the Third Prince's concubine and is quite favored. What's even more ridiculous is that Meng Huaifu, that shameless old man who sold his daughter for fame, treats this stepdaughter like a jewel and treasures her, loving her like his own daughter."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but sneer, "Do you think he's lost his mind? He doesn't love his own daughter, but loves a stepdaughter who has no blood relationship with him."
Hearing this, Meng Yuning's heart moved. She leaned close to Cai Yuezhao's ear and lowered her voice to say, "Sister Zhao, you have a wide network of contacts in the capital. Can you help me find out when and how Meng Huaifu and his second wife met?"
Cai Yuezhao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he lowered his voice knowingly, "A Ning is doubting whether Meng Jingru is actually Meng Huaifu's biological child?"
Meng Yuning nodded: "Yes, that's exactly what I meant. If not, it would be hard to explain why he has been so biased for so many years."
"Okay!" Cai Yuezhao agreed immediately. "Don't worry, An Ning, I'll take care of this matter. I'll give you a definite answer within ten days."
She raised the corners of her lips with confidence. There was no secret in the old history of the capital that Cai Yuezhao could not dig out. Even if she couldn't, there was still Yu Xiao.
---
The Queen Mother and her entourage walked slowly in the night and arrived outside Chengming Palace.
The lights outside the hall were dim, and densely packed guards stood solemnly on both sides of the hall door.
Qi Jingyan looked up and saw that the left side of the palace gate was lined with Jinwu Guards, the right side was guarded by Yulin Guards, and in between were several eunuchs standing with their heads bowed. This guard arrangement was not only illegal, but also seemed strange.
The Queen Mother didn't hide it, and whispered as she walked, "Now, within the palace walls, evil spirits are rampant inside and outside. I am worried, so after discussing it with Marquis Cheng'an and the third son, I made this arrangement."
Qi Jing nodded at the banquet: "Grandson understands."
No one trusts anyone else, so they simply put all the forces from all sides out in the open, monitoring each other and checking and balancing each other.
When they reached the palace gate, the leaders of the Jinwu Guard and Yulin Guard simultaneously stepped forward to salute the empress dowager. When they looked up and saw Qi Jingyan in a wheelchair behind the empress dowager, they both froze in shock.
But in an instant, a look of understanding flashed in the eyes of the Yulin Guard commander. He immediately lowered his head and stepped aside with a respectful attitude.
The deputy commander of the Imperial Guards suddenly understood. It turned out that the "distinguished guest" that Commander He had mentioned who would be visiting tonight was actually the former Crown Prince himself. No wonder he had repeatedly reminded them to be on high alert and be ready for any emergency at any time.
The deputy commander of the Jinwu Guards beside him suddenly paled, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead. Before the Third Prince hurriedly left the palace, he had repeatedly warned that no one outside the palace should be allowed to even set foot in His Majesty's bedroom.
But now the deposed crown prince suddenly appeared in the palace, and came with the empress dowager. How could he, a mere fourth-rank clerk, dare to step forward to stop the phoenix carriage?
It would be great if the Third Prince was here, but unfortunately the Third Prince was not in the palace tonight. Thinking of the wrath of thunder that he would have to endure afterwards, he felt a chill running down his spine, and the fingertips hidden in his sleeves trembled slightly uncontrollably.
No, he had to find a way to send a message to the Third Prince.
His mind raced, and he immediately turned around, winked at his subordinates, and was about to leave.
The deputy of the Imperial Guard took two steps forward, held him back with a wide arm, and said with a half-smile, "Brother, where are you going when you're not on duty in the middle of the night?"
The deputy commander of the Jinwu Guards forced himself to remain calm and said, "I'm just going to do you a favor."
"What a coincidence," the Imperial Guards officer smiled and put his arm around his shoulder. "I'm in a hurry too, so why don't we go together?"
“…”
Hearing the two people talking in low voices behind her, the empress dowager ignored them and led everyone straight into the hall.
Upon entering the hall, I saw palace maids and eunuchs standing solemnly in every corner. At a glance, there were no fewer than fifty of them. The vast hall seemed a bit crowded with people. In the flickering candlelight, only breathing could be heard, not human voices.
The Queen Mother continued walking, her voice steady as usual: "Among these people, some used to serve Your Majesty, some were sent by Concubine Zhang, some were arranged by the Third Prince, and naturally some were sent by me. However, these are only those that can be seen openly. As for who else is hiding in the dark, I cannot know for sure."
Qi Jingyan: "Grandson has made note of it."
When everyone in the hall saw the empress dowager arriving, they knelt on the ground in a hurry before they could even see who was accompanying her. The sound of greetings echoed softly in the hall.
The Queen Mother, however, did not look away, but led her group through the kneeling crowd and went straight to the depths of the bedroom.
Only after the Queen Mother and her entourage disappeared did the kneeling palace maids stand up one after another.
A suppressed whisper suddenly sounded in the hall, and everyone whispered to each other, looking hesitantly at the receding figure.
"Who is that young man in the wheelchair? He looks quite impressive..."
"Could it be that this is another famous doctor that the Empress Dowager invited from outside the palace?"
"When I glanced at him just now, I felt that he looked familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen him before."
"And that child? Whose family is he from, and why is he here so late at night?"
"..."
Everyone walked around the screen and entered the bedroom, where they saw four eunuchs standing beside the dragon bed.
The four men had already heard the footsteps and were looking towards the door. When the Queen Mother emerged from behind the screen, they hurriedly knelt and saluted, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, may you greet us with Your Majesty."
The Queen Mother raised her hand calmly: "Get up."
The four of them stood up and only then saw the people accompanying the empress dowager. Their expressions changed immediately.
The man sent from the Empress Dowager's palace raised the corner of his mouth imperceptibly. The old eunuch who originally served Emperor Kangwen was full of surprise and suspicion. The two people sent by the Third Prince and Concubine Zhang were pale as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight, and even their breathing was suffocated.
The Queen Mother waved her sleeves and said, "I will guard this place. You all should retreat to the outer hall and wait."
The four bowed in agreement and quietly retreated to the outer hall. Except for the one who came from the Cining Palace with an indifferent expression, the other three all pricked up their ears and listened carefully.
The bedroom was suddenly silent.
The Queen Mother walked slowly to the dragon couch and sat down. Qi Jingyan turned his wheelchair closer. Yi'er sat close to his brother. The three of them looked at Emperor Kangwen, who lay on the couch with a haggard face.
Yi'er pursed her lips and looked at her nominal father with unfamiliar eyes.
Before returning to Beijing, his brother had told him everything about the past. At this moment, the only thing left in his young heart was hatred for his mother's tragic death and his brother's suffering.
Qi Jingyan stared silently at the person on the couch, his face as calm as a pond, only his hands slowly tightened in his sleeves.
The Queen Mother looked at him quietly for a moment, then called softly, "Your Majesty?"
Emperor Kangwen remained motionless. The Empress Dowager called out to him several times, then gently pushed his arm. Only then did Emperor Kangwen open his eyes with difficulty.
His eyes were cloudy and unfocused, and it took him a long time to barely recognize the Queen Mother. His expression suddenly became agitated, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but only a vague "wuwu" sound came out. He struggled to raise his arm, but just as his arm rose an inch, it fell down again.
"Don't worry, Mother is here." The Queen Mother patted his arm gently and said soothingly, then turned to the two brothers, "Come and pay your respects to your father."
Qi Jingyan and Yi'er responded in unison: "Yes."
Hearing the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar voice, Emperor Kangwen turned his head with difficulty.
When his eyes met Qi Jingyan's, his eyes were instantly filled with shock and astonishment, his emotions fluctuated violently, and he let out more rapid sobs from his throat.
Qi Jingyan sat upright in his wheelchair, clasped his fists and saluted: "It has been many years since we last met. I wish you, father, good health and a long life."
After saying this, he continued calmly, "My legs were crippled in the Heavenly Prison. I am unable to perform the ritual of kneeling and bowing. I beg your forgiveness, Father."
Yi'er followed suit. Seeing that his brother didn't kneel, he didn't kneel either. He just clasped his hands together and said, "Your Highness, I wish you a long life, a hundred years."
If these words were spoken at ordinary times, they would be a blessing for good luck and prosperity.
But now Emperor Kangwen was bedridden and unable to speak, yet the two men wished him "long life", "long life as long as the heaven", and "a long life of a hundred years". Every word they said was like a poisonous needle with thorns, piercing Emperor Kangwen's heart and causing him pain.
There were no outsiders in the palace. The empress dowager knew that the two children were full of resentment, so she did not force them to act affectionately.
After the two of them finished their greetings, Fang gently explained to Emperor Kangwen, "Your Majesty, Yan'er and Yi'er are your flesh and blood after all. Now that you are ill, I know you must be worried about them, so I issued an order to summon them back to the capital."
Emperor Kangwen looked at his two sons, one standing and one sitting in front of the couch, with a complicated look. There seemed to be thousands of emotions surging in his eyes, but in the end, they only turned into two almost inaudible whimpers.
The Queen Mother continued, "The Third Prince is currently managing the government affairs and is too busy to attend to the affairs of state. It is also inconvenient for the other princes and princesses to come and serve you regularly. From today on, let Yan'er and Yi'er stay in Chengming Palace to serve Your Majesty during his illness."
Qi Jingyan and Yi'er both bowed to the Empress Dowager and said, "Grandson will obey the Imperial Grandmother's order and will serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly."
The Queen Mother nodded, her face weary. "I am old, and I feel tired after walking just a few steps. Since you are here, I will leave this place to you. I will return to the palace to rest first."
After saying this, he patted Emperor Kangwen's arm, stopped looking at him, stood up, and walked out with his cane.
Emperor Kangwen looked at the empress dowager's receding back, panic suddenly welling up in his eyes. He struggled to raise his skinny hands, and a rapid whimper came from his throat.
But the Queen Mother never looked back, and she just walked away slowly with the support of Eunuch Song and Nanny Tao.
You could hear a pin drop in the hall. It was not until the hall door slammed shut with a creak that Emperor Kangwen withdrew his gaze and stared at Qi Jingyan warily.
Qi Jingyan sat quietly in his wheelchair, staring at him silently for a long time before slowly speaking, "Divine Doctor Tang, thank you for taking His Majesty's pulse."
After saying that, he gently took Yi'er's hand and stepped aside.
Doctor Tang bowed in response, flicked his wide sleeves and stepped forward, placing his fingers on Emperor Kang Wen's skinny wrist with bulging veins.
After a moment, he withdrew his hand and said in a cold voice: "Your Majesty has been deeply poisoned, and all five internal organs have been damaged. I am powerless to save you."
The word "poisoned" exploded like thunder, shaking Emperor Kangwen's whole body and causing his cloudy eyes to suddenly widen.
Qi Jingyan's tone was calm and unperturbed: "Why, Your Majesty, don't you know that you are poisoned?"
A hint of sarcasm crossed his lips. "Yes, in your Majesty's eyes, those golden elixirs are all miraculous elixirs that can prolong life. How could they be associated with the word 'poison'?"
Emperor Kangwen was infuriated by the biting sarcasm in the calm tone, and coupled with the anger of learning that he was poisoned, he trembled all over, his chest heaving violently like a bellows, but could only make broken roars.
Qi Jingyan ignored his excitement and turned to look at Divine Doctor Tang: "Do you know what kind of poison it is?"
Doctor Tang shook his head: "The poison is so strange that I can't tell for now."
Qi Jingyan's gaze fell back on Emperor Kangwen's pale face. "I heard that those golden elixirs were made by the witch doctor named Su Shang recommended by the third brother."
"What a coincidence! I happen to be acquainted with a young master from the Miao region named Su Yang. Why not invite him to come and help Your Majesty identify the true nature of this strange poison?"
Su Yang stepped forward, holding a silver needle, and swiftly inserted several needles into Emperor Kangwen's fingertips.
Although he was dressed in Han Chinese clothes and had a Han Chinese bun, his deep eyebrows and sharp features made it clear at first glance that he was a foreigner.
Emperor Kangwen stared at the face that was extremely similar to that of the witch doctor, and his cloudy eyes suddenly widened.
Su Yang collected Emperor Kangwen's blood in a small white porcelain bottle. He placed the bottle lightly under his nose and sniffed it carefully, then put in a black pill, shook it evenly, and sniffed it again, then sealed the bottle tightly.
Then he turned to Qi Jingyan and said, "Brother Qi, this is a secret medicine of our clan. Short-term use will make one feel refreshed and energetic, and it seems to have a miraculous effect, but in fact it is constantly eroding the five internal organs. If used long-term, it will cause blockage of the meridians and eventually paralyzed in bed, unable to speak or move."
As he spoke, his gaze fell back on the dragon couch: "Just like your majesty's current situation."
When Emperor Kangwen heard this, the Third Prince's repeated praise of the witch doctor in the past, and Concubine Zhang's smiling approval when she saw him regain his spirits after taking the golden elixir, suddenly flooded his heart.
The extreme anger was like a raging fire burning in his heart. His eyes were bloodshot and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood. He whimpered like a trapped beast in his throat and his whole body trembled violently on the couch.
Yi'er hid behind the wheelchair with a look of disgust. Qi Jingyan gently patted his shoulder and turned to look at Emperor Kangwen. His tone was gentle but tolerant. "Your Majesty, things have come to this point. It is futile to get angry. If you are willing to trust me, let Doctor Tang and Su Yang do their best to treat you. Perhaps they can remove some of the toxicity."
But it is only limited to three or two points, more than that is impossible.
Emperor Kangwen's chest heaved violently, and his throat hissed like a broken bellows, but his eyes looking at Qi Jingyan were full of hope and pleading.
Qi Jingyan met his gaze and said slowly, "But I have two conditions."
Emperor Kangwen felt like a fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of others. He suppressed the hatred surging in his heart and nodded with difficulty.
Qi Jingyan's voice was as cold as frost. "When Your Majesty can move his hands again, I will personally issue an edict of apology."
He raised his hand and tapped the wheelchair armrest, emphasizing each word: "Besides, I want this throne."
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