Chapter 458 Arrogance (Third Update)
The verdict against Prince Ning was handed down in September: he was stripped of his princely status and demoted to a commoner, but was spared exile and instead placed in a mansion outside the capital, which was essentially a form of confinement.
This was already the result of Empress Dowager Zhuang's leniency; if Grand Tutor Zhuang, his maternal grandfather, truly missed him, he could visit him frequently.
If Grand Tutor Zhuang is still not giving up after all this and continues to incite Prince Ning, the secret guards sent by Empress Dowager Zhuang will not show any mercy.
Since ancient times, when a prince is demoted, his family members are not spared either. However, surprisingly, Prince Ning actually gave Princess Ning a letter of divorce.
The divorce papers were sent by Prince Ning and his wife at the request of Prince Rui.
Prince Rui, being a grown man, didn't know how to speak to Princess Ning, let alone how to comfort her.
Princess Rui simply told him to wait outside while she spoke with her sister-in-law.
"Sister-in-law."
She went inside.
Princess Ning was sitting by the window reading a book.
Princess Rui was used to her sister-in-law reading, but she figured her sister-in-law might not be in a good mood right now, so she didn't dare to rush over as usual. Instead, she stood quietly at the door waiting for her sister-in-law's response.
Princess Ning was a little slow to react today. It took her a while to turn her head. When she saw that it was Princess Rui, she wasn't too surprised and said, "You've come. Come and sit down."
Princess Rui sat down opposite Princess Ning.
It had been a long time since any servants had come to serve tea.
Princess Ning then realized what was happening and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "I forgot that all the servants in the manor have been dismissed." As she spoke, she personally picked up the teapot to pour tea for Princess Rui.
"Let me do it, sister-in-law!" Princess Rui hurriedly stood up to take the teapot from her hands.
"No need, I can still pour myself a cup of tea." Princess Ning pushed her hand away and poured Princess Rui a cup of tea that had already gone cold. "Never mind, don't drink it, it's all cold."
"It's alright, sister-in-law." Princess Rui stopped Princess Ning from taking her cup. "I don't like hot drinks."
This wasn't meant to comfort Princess Ning; it was simply that she had become more sensitive to heat since becoming pregnant. However, the maids at the manor forbade her to drink anything cold, so Prince Rui would occasionally sneak her a few sips to satisfy her craving.
“Some things are truly ordained by fate.” Princess Ning smiled bitterly and withdrew her hand.
Princess Rui paused for a moment before realizing she was referring to the pregnancy. Ever since Princess Ning became pregnant with her first child, she had been extra careful, strictly following the instructions of the imperial physicians and matrons regarding her clothing, food, housing, and transportation.
In the end, none of the three children survived.
"Sister-in-law, is the matter of the child... related to my elder brother?" Princess Rui already knew everything. She didn't even have the strength to scold Wen Linlang. She never expected that her elder brother would be that kind of person and do such a thing.
Prince Rui was also surprised.
He locked himself in his study for three days and three nights; the blow he suffered was no less than that suffered by the Crown Prince.
Everyone has a belief in their heart, and without a doubt, Prince Ning's belief was Prince Rui's belief.
Now, that faith has collapsed.
Princess Ning shook her head: "If what you mean by related is that he drugged me and caused my miscarriage, then that's not true, it's just..."
Princess Rui could roughly guess what would happen next, but she already knew about Prince Ning and Wen Linlang's affair. She endured their relationship while pregnant, and the intense depression eventually led to premature birth.
“Sister-in-law, don’t be sad. You are still young and have a long road ahead of you.” Princess Rui took out a divorce agreement from her wide sleeve and handed it to Princess Ning, saying, “This was entrusted to us by my elder brother to be delivered to you. Once you sign and affix your fingerprint, you will no longer be Princess Ning and will not have to suffer the consequences along with him.”
When this was mentioned, Princess Rui felt a mix of emotions.
She felt that her older brother had really made a mistake, but he impressed her in letting his sister-in-law go free.
The eldest brother actually cares about his sister-in-law, but he's blinded by hatred and self-interest and can't see his own heart clearly.
He thought he was only showing a show of respect to his sister-in-law, unaware that she had already entered the depths of his heart.
On the contrary, Wen Linlang was merely the resentment of his elder brother for not being able to obtain her when he was young, and a testament to his desire to conquer.
Princess Ning looked at the folded divorce papers but didn't open them immediately. Instead, she smiled faintly and said, "Qianqian, do you know? I was attracted to his appearance and demeanor the first time I saw him when I was thirteen. I've loved this man for eleven years. He admires women who are cultured and refined, so even though I hate reading, I always try to act in a way that pleases him. I've also secretly thought that I can't catch up with Wen Linlang in terms of looks, but at least I'll try my best in terms of knowledge so that I don't lose to her by too much."
Princess Rui said angrily, "Sister-in-law, that woman is not worthy of being compared to you!"
"There's no point in saying all this now." Princess Ning smiled and said to Princess Rui, "Don't call me sister-in-law anymore. I'm no longer a member of the royal family."
It has nothing to do with the divorce agreement; it's just that Qin Chuhan is no longer a prince.
"Sister-in-law..." Princess Rui couldn't help but call out again.
Princess Ning, to be precise, should be called Chu Yue.
Chu Yue said to Princess Rui, "Let's go back, this place is unlucky."
Princess Rui looked at her with heartache: "Father said you can stay a few more days."
Chu Yue smiled nonchalantly: "It's not like I have nowhere to go."
Princess Rui opened her mouth: "Sister-in-law... no, Sister Chu... ah, no, it feels awkward not to call you sister-in-law."
Chu Yue said, "Then let's just call it that. It's just a name, after all."
"Why don't you move to Prince Rui's residence?" Princess Rui suggested.
She had mentioned this to Prince Rui on the way here, and Prince Rui had no objections at all.
But Prince Rui had guessed that Chu Yue wouldn't agree, so he didn't say it in front of his wife, worried that she would think he was stingy.
Chu Yue shook her head: "Thank you for your kindness, but I have somewhere to go. Oh, by the way, you've come at the right time. Miss Gu left something with me after her last medical consultation. Could you return it to her for me?"
"good."
Princess Rui's eyes were red as she came out of the house.
Prince Rui felt sorry for him but didn't know how to comfort him.
He was devastated, but fortunately, Qianqian and her unborn child were by his side; otherwise, he might not have known how he would have survived.
The two went to a clinic, where Princess Rui personally handed the brocade box that Chu Yue had asked her to bring to Gu Jiao.
"My sister-in-law said it was something you accidentally left behind when you treated her last time."
Gu Jiao understood: "I understand, thank you."
After the two left, Gu Jiao opened the brocade box.
Inside lay a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Regarding the matter of Prince Ning, Gu Jiao had made the worst-case scenario plan. She gave the Princess Ning the pardon in the hope of protecting her from the turmoil.
Of course, Gu Jiao also considered that Princess Ning might use this token to protect Prince Ning.
As a result, she didn't choose either path.
Whether Princess Ning actually signed the divorce papers or not is unclear. She also disappeared from the capital the day after Prince Ning was placed under house arrest.
...
"Let me go! Let me go! I need to see the Crown Prince!"
"She still wants to see the Crown Prince? Gag her!"
At Eunuch Su's command, two strong and muscular old women immediately pinned Wen Linlang to the ground and gagged her with strips of cloth.
She could no longer make a sound, only weak whimpering.
Eunuch Su raised his whisk and said, "The Empress has ordered that the Crown Princess has contracted a serious illness and must immediately go to the Imperial Palace for treatment."
Wen Linlang shook her head desperately.
She is not sick!
She doesn't want to go to the imperial palace for treatment!
Everyone knows what kind of outcome convalescence will lead to!
In less than a year or two, she will die of a serious illness in the palace!
Empress Xiao went to great lengths to cover up the Crown Prince's misdeeds. With Prince Ning just demoted, it was easy for people to speculate if the Crown Princess were to be punished on some pretext at this critical juncture.
The only flawless excuse was that he was recuperating from illness.
Wen Linlang was roughly dragged onto the carriage.
Just as they were about to leave the palace, Gu Jiao also happened to come out of the palace. Eunuch Su and the others hurriedly bowed respectfully to Gu Jiao: "Doctor Gu!"
Wen Linlang was pinned to the ground in a sorry state, her former glory completely gone.
She glared fiercely at Gu Jiao.
Are you satisfied?
You've ruined everything I've painstakingly built; you've achieved your goal!
However, Gu Jiao merely glanced at her indifferently, recognizing her, but there was no trace of smugness in her eyes.
She looked at her calmly, as if she were looking at a complete stranger, and even the details of how she had angered Gu Jiao in the past seemed to have been forgotten by Gu Jiao.
It was at this moment that Wen Linlang suddenly realized that Gu Jiao wasn't just pretending to be aloof; she had never truly cared about her.
This wasn't out of Gu Jiao's kindness and tolerance; it was simply because he hadn't caught Gu Jiao's eye.
Gu Jiao had already reached a height that was beyond her reach, like a lion gazing at the sky. How could she possibly notice if there were any small insects stinging her at her feet?
This analogy is actually a bit exaggerated, but Gu Jiao really didn't pay any attention to Wen Linlang.
Wen Linlang couldn't understand, in what way was she inferior to Gu Jiao?
Aside from her lack of medical skills, in what other way did she lose to Gu Jiao?
Not to mention that she was stunningly beautiful, while Gu Jiao had such an unsightly face...
Isn't Gu Jiao at all intimidated?
Gu Jiao walked out of the palace with an open and honest demeanor, not at all timid, but rather somewhat arrogant.
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(End of this chapter)
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