Chapter 286 Emerging from the Water
Pei Siyan gently wiped away her tears, his throat dry. "What's wrong? Are you heartbroken? I'll be content as long as you love me from now on..."
"Okay, I'll take better care of you from now on." Dou Wenyi couldn't hold back any longer, and large tears fell down her cheeks. No matter how sincere the family affection is, if it is mixed with calculation, it will be completely changed.
They have all experienced hardships, but as long as they understand each other and cherish one another, they will eventually find warmth in each other's hearts.
They will be happy.
At that moment, she felt that they were just like an ordinary couple, comforting each other like this, living a peaceful yet passionate life together.
Pei Siyan held her tightly in his arms, "Yi'er... thank you!"
Dou Wenyi sniffed and stopped crying. "Thank me for what?"
Thank you for being by my side. We will grow old together and love each other for a lifetime, believe me!
Pei Siyan always felt that he was unfortunate, as if he were cursed, and that anyone who loved him would suffer misfortune!
He knew all too well that "water that is too clear has no fish, and a person who is too discerning has no followers," but he preferred to choose pain rather than numbness.
Therefore, he was determined to make the Wen family pay the price.
By then, he would be truly all alone.
Fortunately, she was there in this cold world, like a bright moon illuminating his lonely remaining years.
That night, the couple talked by candlelight for almost the entire night, and only fell asleep in each other's arms just before dawn.
The following day, Pei Siyan instructed Eunuch Anxi to convey a message to the court officials that he was unwell and had not attended the morning court session.
The two slept until nearly noon before getting up. After lunch, Dou Wenyi ordered tea to be served, and she sat down at the table to carefully review the account books of the Eastern Palace.
At this moment, Eunuch Anxi brought over the memorials from the court and said cautiously, "Your Highness, many court officials have heard that the Little Immortal Doctor has appeared in the world and want to invite him to treat His Majesty..."
Dou Wenyi suddenly looked up. She had seen the medical records of Emperor Muzong's legs before, and even she could not cure them.
These people are making a scene now just to pin the label of 'unfilial piety' on Pei Siyan, aren't they?
The inner quarters of the Duke of Wen's mansion were truly like a sieve; even though the Imperial Guards had completely surrounded them, the news still managed to get out—it's truly a complicated situation.
Eunuch Anxi tentatively suggested, "Should we have the Imperial City Guard arrest a few of the most troublemakers as an example to others?"
Pei Siyan's lips curled into a mocking smile. "I'm willing to bear the stigma of patricide, so why should I be afraid of them calling me unfilial? I don't need to pay them any mind."
With his head bowed, Eunuch Anxi looked at the tea and snacks that His Highness the Crown Prince usually enjoyed laid out on the table, and with satisfaction and respect, he withdrew.
He had long been used to it; whenever the Crown Princess was with him, the Crown Prince almost never needed them to serve him. Fortunately, the Crown Princess was becoming more and more considerate.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he looked up and saw a young eunuch running towards him in a panic, "Godfather..."
"The King of Hell is summoning your soul! What are you yelling about, so rash and disorderly? If you disturb your master, I'll skin you alive!"
"Godfather, something terrible has happened! Please save Xiao Dengzi! He's been detained by the Imperial City Guards!" The young eunuch was panting heavily, barely able to speak.
The Imperial City Guard used to be composed of Emperor Muzong's confidants, but the Crown Prince had already purged them. Now, the remaining personnel are either the Crown Prince's confidants or people transferred from other places; very few of the original group remain.
Everyone knows that the world of the Great Zhou has changed drastically, so who would dare to disrespect the Crown Prince?
Eunuch Anxi's expression was grave. "Why?"
"It seems he colluded with the Imperial City Guard to poison the female prisoners in the Imperial Prison..."
Which female prisoner?
"She's the wife of a concubine's son in the Sheng family, I think her name is Wen Jingchu."
Eunuch Anxi's expression changed drastically. Wen Jingchu was the Crown Prince's aunt, and she was the bait he had thrown out. The people of the Wen State Duke's Mansion were really too ruthless!
"Did you succeed?"
"I'm not sure!"
"Little Dengzi, I'm afraid he won't make it." Eunuch Anxi sighed, immediately realizing the seriousness of the situation, and hurriedly turned back.
Before he could even report, Pei Siyan and Dou Wenyi rushed out of the Wutong Garden. "Your Highness, something has happened at the Imperial Prison..."
Pei Siyan interrupted him directly, "I already know, there's no need to plead for me."
Imperial City Prison.
As soon as Dou Wenyi stepped into the prison, she was surrounded by damp and dark surroundings, and a pungent stench hit her nose. She quickly covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and her stomach churned.
Inside the cell, Wen Jingchu sat on a tattered straw mat, disheveled and shackled.
Upon seeing them, her blank expression brightened instantly. She rushed over like a madwoman, grabbed the iron bars, and cried out, "Your Highness, I was wrong, I beg you, I was really wrong."
The jailer respectfully brought them two chairs. After Pei Siyan sat down, he said quietly, "Wen Jingchu, what wrong have you done?"
"I was really wrong. I shouldn't have conspired with Sheng Xiyue to drug you, I shouldn't have switched Mother's medicine, I shouldn't have..."
She shouldn't have been jealous of Wen Wan, and she shouldn't have told those rumors to Consort Tan. One wrong step led to another.
She should have had a wonderful life. She thought that by ruining Wen Wan, she would become the only legitimate daughter of the Wen family and should be pampered and have a smooth life.
But her good older brother, in order to shut her up, wanted to kill her!
If it weren't for the timely intervention of the Imperial City Guard personnel during their shift change, she would have already lost her life.
Pei Siyan's expression was cold, and his voice was calm, yet extremely oppressive, like a demon seeking to take lives.
"Wen Jingchu, you know that these are not the questions I want to ask. If you will keep their secret until your death, I will grant your wish!"
Wen Jingchu kept shaking her head, tears streaming down her face, "No, no, I was involved in what happened back then, but the fault wasn't mine, it was theirs, it was theirs..."
"who?"
Wen Jingchu knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, "Duke Wen, my father, your maternal grandfather, and your uncle!"
Dou Wenyi's heart tightened, and she looked at Pei Siyan.
So, the Wen family really did have a share?
What about Madam Wen?
Wen Jingchu looked sad. "Back then, because my sister was engaged to Prince Xian, and Prince Xian died a violent death, all sorts of rumors spread in the court. They said that my sister was a snake and poisoned Prince Xian, and some even wanted her to pay with her life."
"As soon as Emperor Muzong ascended the throne, he insisted on making my elder sister empress, despite all the objections. My elder sister refused to comply even at the cost of her life."
But in the end, she still went to the palace.
Dou Wenyi's eyes flickered slightly. Could it be that Empress Wen's entry into the palace was all a transaction?
"Actually, Pei Guanlan didn't die at all; he was just seriously injured. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to come back from the dead to rebel last year. Emperor Muzong was able to ascend the throne smoothly because he had an imperial edict of succession; he was the one destined by Heaven."
"Have you ever thought about how Prince Xian was assassinated and how he escaped Emperor Muzong's pursuit?"
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