Chapter 298 Is there an imperial edict for the ascension to the throne?
Princess Fu'an's eyes flickered slightly, and she immediately handed over the dagger, coldly snorting, "Xie Guidu, you really know how to play the good guy."
Xie Guidu remained calm, a fleeting hint of pity in his eyes. "You're going to divorce sooner or later anyway, you're overthinking it."
Their marriage was a transaction in the first place. The virginity test was just to appease the Xue family and the Xie family. Why would they need her blood?
He simply didn't want to please her, nor did he want to get too involved.
Princess Fu'an felt a pang of bitterness welling up in her heart.
Since last night, he has been her husband in name only, the man she had always longed to marry. They were only a step apart, yet she clearly realized that an insurmountable chasm lay between them.
Perhaps, the dream that belonged only to her heart has finally shattered.
A handkerchief stained with blood was taken away by a trusted maid.
The two dressed neatly and went straight out of the courtyard.
As dawn broke and the rosy light filtered through the gaps in the branches, Princess Fu'an looked at Xie Guidu in the morning mist, feeling utterly dazed. If she were to face this body that did not belong to her every day from now on, it would indeed be incredibly meaningless.
——
As Pei Siyan's ascension to the throne drew ever closer, the concubines in the harem grew increasingly anxious about their future, with Consort Jiang being one of them. Emperor Muzong was still alive and well, and only a very few favored concubines, such as Consort Zhang, were allowed to enjoy a life of luxury in the harem.
Furthermore, concubines who had given birth to princes could return to their fiefdoms with their princes, such as Consort Yun, the mother of Prince Duan. Other concubines were either sent to temples to become nuns or sent back home.
Dou Wenyi received a message from Consort Jiang and went to the palace to see her.
Qin, the steward of Zhongcui Palace, had been waiting at the door. When he saw her coming, he quickly greeted her with a smile, "Your Highness, His Majesty sent someone early this morning to ask you to go to Funing Palace to serve him. He should be back by now. Please wait a moment."
“It’s alright.” Dou Wenyi followed her into Zhongcui Palace.
Manager Qin breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Crown Princess and his master had an extraordinary relationship, things were different today. After all, Dou Wenyi would be the mistress of the palace in the future.
Dou Wenyi asked casually, "Does His Majesty often summon Consort Jiang?"
A hint of pain flashed in Steward Qin's eyes. He hesitated before speaking, "Yes, Eunuch Feng often comes to invite my lady, saying that he wants her to serve His Majesty... But after the lady entered the Funing Palace, His Majesty often lost his temper and would kick out the other palace servants. Every time the lady went there, she would come back looking very haggard."
Consort Jiang never mentioned what she did in the past, and the servants dared not say a word.
"Has His Majesty summoned any other concubines?" Dou Wenyi frowned slightly, sensing that something bad was going on.
"Occasionally, other concubines are summoned, but my lady is summoned most often."
Just then, Consort Jiang returned, looking weary, and sighed, "Please forgive me, Crown Princess, it was truly His Majesty's fault..."
She raised her hand and dismissed the palace servants halfway through her sentence.
"His Majesty is finding all sorts of ways to torment people!"
"Oh?" Dou Wenyi raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with amusement.
The emperor's legs had long since lost sensation, making it difficult for him to move. Did he really want Consort Jiang to bear him children?
Do they still want to enjoy the pleasures of love?
Consort Jiang knew she had misunderstood, and her face suddenly flushed. She found it difficult to speak. "His Majesty is just throwing a tantrum. He wants me to keep him company. One minute he wants me to play chess with him, the next he wants me to do carpentry with him, then he wants me to read to him, and then he wants me to massage him..."
Of course, there were also things like bathing and sex. Although he couldn't move, he was addicted and kept trying to make her move in different ways.
However, the emperor's many actions seem to suggest that he is simply looking for someone to pass the time because he can't stay idle.
Dou Wenyi looked puzzled. "Isn't there anything special about it?"
Emperor Muzong held immense power for decades, and even when paralyzed, he remained strong-willed and would never easily compromise.
Consort Jiang shook her head. "I really didn't see that coming."
In fact, Pei Siyan's men were constantly monitoring Emperor Muzong's movements. If he were to harbor any wicked intentions, he would know immediately.
Consort Jiang pondered for a moment, then reminded him, "Today, Prince Xie and Princess Fu'an came to the palace to express their gratitude. His Majesty was very pleased and bestowed many gifts upon them. Is there anything amiss?"
Such a blatant and aboveboard reward must have been thoroughly examined by Pei Siyan's men long ago.
Dou Wenyi felt a chill run down her spine, vaguely sensing that she had overlooked something, but she had no clue what it was.
She recalled the changes that had befallen the Wen family, "Wen family, do you want to acknowledge the Wen family again?"
Consort Jiang shook her head blankly, "Forget it."
When Pei Siyan found the wet nurse who had been switched, she had already discovered the truth: the person who had caused her to be switched was none other than her own father, the Duke Wen.
The Jiang family's daughter who was switched with the Wen family had already died at the age of four or five.
The old Duke understood that Emperor Muzong was tired of the Wen family, so he came up with this indirect way to save the country, hoping to use her to help the Wen family regain the emperor's favor.
If she gains favor, the Wen family will naturally prepare evidence to bring her back.
If she falls out of favor, the Jiang family will naturally be implicated as well.
Although Madam Wen had given her the gift of life, she had not raised her, and there was no mother-daughter relationship between them whatsoever.
Therefore, she did not feel that acknowledging her ancestors would bring her any practical benefits.
Dou Wenyi could not deny it; recalling what the Dou family had done to her, she could naturally empathize.
"So what are your plans for the future? Do you want to stay in the palace and live a life of luxury with Consort Zhang? Or do you want to leave the palace?"
Consort Jiang gazed at the high palace walls, her eyes filled with longing. "If I were to return to the Jiang family after I leave, they would certainly not accept me and might even force me to remarry. But I don't want to become a nun."
“Those nunneries often have nuns who become prostitutes, and the atmosphere is so filthy that it is no place for a human to live.”
"So, I want to fake my death, change my name and surname, and after leaving the palace, go to the water towns of Jiangnan to open an embroidery shop and live out my old age in peace."
"I wonder if the Crown Prince will be willing to show leniency and spare me?"
Dou Wenyi was slightly taken aback. Consort Jiang, like her, indeed yearned for freedom. However, in this life, she would have to stay within the palace walls for a long, long time.
Consort Jiang's fate also subtly changed, ultimately leading to a completely different destiny.
"What's so difficult about that? The Crown Prince won't make things difficult for you, so don't worry."
Since she became acquainted with Consort Jiang, Consort Jiang had never stood idly by when she encountered danger; she had always offered her help. She had lived up to her own reputation.
So this favor is just a small favor.
Consort Jiang looked delighted and said, "That's wonderful."
After chatting for a while, Dou Wenyi returned to the East Palace.
In Wutong Garden, Pei Siyan sat at the dining table waiting for her to eat. "Prince Duan has submitted a memorial, wanting to take his mother, Consort Yun, to his new home. What do you think of this?"
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Dou Wenyi's mind, "Your Highness, did you receive an imperial edict for your ascension to the throne?"
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