Chapter 136 Forcing her to become a favored concubine
Madam Dou was greatly alarmed. It was difficult to gain the Emperor's favor, but it was easy to lose it.
She knelt down with a thud, wiping away her tears. "Your Majesty, I am terrified. I am guilty and willing to be punished. It is not that we despise His Highness the Crown Prince, but that His Highness holds a high position, which is lonely and absurd, and easily attracts jealousy!"
"Your Majesty's grace is boundless, but prosperity inevitably declines. If the Dou family is unworthy of its position, some will surely be jealous. Your Majesty, I only wish to live a quiet life with my foolish son in a secluded corner. I am truly unworthy of such wealth..."
Emperor Muzong looked at the elderly man in his seventies who was kneeling on the ground with trepidation and felt a strange feeling in his heart.
Suddenly, he recalled that when he was bullied as a child, it was his maternal uncle, Marquis Zhongxin, who stepped in to protect him on several occasions. Later, when he ascended the throne and was embroiled in controversy, it was Marquis Zhongxin who traveled around to persuade the stubborn officials in the court.
Marquis Zhongxin had been kind to him, and on his deathbed, he was only worried about this cousin and asked him to treat her well.
Previously, Marquis Zhongxin had asserted that all the men in the Dou family were good-for-nothings, and his cousin's judgment of people had always been very accurate.
Who would have thought that Dou Bochang, a coward, would have the audacity to collude with General Zong Rui to plot a rebellion after marrying into the Crown Prince's family?
His expression was complicated, and he sneered repeatedly, "You have indeed raised a stupid son. Dou Bochang, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Shen Jin, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and Shen Yanzhou are here to pay their respects!"
Old Madam Dou's forehead was covered in cold sweat, but she breathed a sigh of relief. Since the Emperor was willing to give them a chance to defend themselves, they had a good chance of winning.
——
As Dou Wenyi emerged from Zhongcui Palace, she had only taken a few steps when she encountered a young eunuch who respectfully reported, "Fourth Miss, Consort Shu has important matters to discuss with you. Please follow me."
Dou Wenyi looked him over. The man in front of her looked somewhat familiar. He was indeed from Jingren Palace.
With Pei Siyan under house arrest, Consort Shu must have heard the news and must be extremely anxious.
Dou Wenyi quickened her pace, following the little eunuch as they walked into a more and more secluded place. A sense of unease crept into her mind; this road did not lead to Jingren Palace.
Dou Wenyi stopped in her tracks, suddenly feeling weak in her limbs, dizzy, and swaying as if she were about to collapse. Her body was also becoming increasingly hot and unbearable. Just in case, she had deliberately eaten pastries before entering the palace, so these were not symptoms of her illness at all.
I must have been infected!
No, she didn't eat anything at Zhongcui Palace, not even a sip of tea. Where did she go wrong?
Could it be one of those few begonias recently sent by the Imperial Household Department?
Seeing that she hadn't followed, the eunuch immediately turned around and said to her, "Miss Dou, this way please..."
"Do you think I don't know the way to Jingren Palace?"
The eunuch's expression suddenly changed, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "This is the road!"
The moonlight shone down from the tree branches, and a man in brocade robes, reeking of alcohol, suddenly appeared in front of her. In the darkness, Dou Wenyi saw his cold and beautiful face clearly; it was Prince Rui, Pei Shaoqin.
He swiftly reached her, grabbed her wrist, and gently supported her.
Pei Shaoqin glanced at her panicked face and coldly ordered, "Didn't you see that Miss Dou is about to faint from her illness? Go and fetch the imperial physician immediately."
The young eunuch, relieved to receive the order, hurriedly left.
Dou Wenyi was startled, and cold sweat broke out on her back.
Prince Rui had already investigated her and even knew that she suffered from dizziness and weakness due to prolonged hunger.
She trembled uncontrollably, trying to break free from his grasp, but his grip was so strong that it felt like her bones were about to break.
Dou Wenyi immediately realized that even if she broke free, she couldn't escape; there must be hidden guards around him.
She suppressed her nausea and went along with his words, "Thank you, Your Highness, but I am fine. Consort Shu is still waiting for me... If I keep her waiting too long, it would be my fault."
The other person looked at her with a smile, "Consort Zhang is too busy to spare any time, so Miss Dou shouldn't count on her."
Dou Wenlianyi understood. He had already sent people to hold back Consort Zhang. In this deep palace, Pei Siyan was also confined to his quarters, so she could only save herself.
"Your Highness, you've hurt my hand!"
The pain in his wrist lessened slightly, and he didn't continue to use force, indicating that there was still some room for maneuver.
Pei Shaoqin's eyes flickered, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Do you know that the Liu family, the former transport commissioner of Jiangzhe, also had several beautiful young women who, overnight, all became government prostitutes!"
He was implying that the Dou family was about to face a great calamity and would soon follow in the footsteps of the Liu family.
"And then?" Dou Wenyi looked up at him innocently.
Pei Shaoqin's gaze suddenly fell on her fair and slender fingers. In the moonlight, he found that her face was flawless, and her eyes were clear and bright, like stars shining in the night sky, making people's hearts itch.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he said softly, "Xie Guidu begs me to bestow you upon him. Are you willing?"
Dou Wenyi's cheeks were flushed, and her body was becoming increasingly weak. She couldn't continue like this any longer.
Her voice was clear and pure, "I do not wish to. Your Highness should know that I have broken off the engagement with him. A good horse does not turn back to eat the grass it has already grazed."
Pei Shaoqin saw the affection in her eyes, and after a brief moment of surprise, he felt a surge of tenderness.
"The phoenix perches on the parasol tree, and the dragon lies hidden in the abyss. It is fate that you met me tonight. I will do you a favor to the end, after all, I cannot bear to see a beauty shed tears! If you are willing, there is a place for you in the backyard of Prince Rui's mansion."
Dou Wenyi's hand, hidden under her wide sleeves, had already quietly reached for the two Nine Immortals Jade Dew Pills she had concealed beforehand. She threw herself into Prince Rui's arms, buried her head in the crook of his neck, and took the opportunity to feed the pills into his mouth with her other hand.
Her breathing was erratic, and her voice grew increasingly strained, "Your Highness, I can't hold on any longer. I wish to sit down. May I move?"
Pei Shaoqin knew she had been drugged with an aphrodisiac. A mocking smile played on his lips as he wrapped his arms around her waist and asked in a low, husky voice, "Want me to carry you over?"
He thought the woman Xie Guidu longed for could be so fierce. But with the imperial power so great and the Dou family's empire on the verge of collapse, how could any egg remain intact when the nest is overturned?
Smart people know how to make the right choice.
"I wouldn't dare trouble Your Highness."
It would take a while for the medicine to take effect, so Dou Wenyi had no choice but to let him help her to the side room.
The dim light enveloped her delicate, frail body.
Dou Wenyi sat slumped in her chair, her head resting on the table, her hair disheveled, her disheveled appearance unable to conceal her youthful beauty.
Pei Shaoqin looked at her reddened eyes and hazy gaze, and felt a chill run down his spine at that cold and alluring beauty. At this moment, he seemed to understand Xie Guidu a little.
Indeed, she is a beauty that is unforgettable!
But love was just an embellishment to him. Tonight, he took pity on her and accepted her as a favored concubine, which wouldn't be an insult to her. He could just treat her better in the future.
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