Chapter 228: Punishment of Wu Lingheng
Song Yu discovered that Zhuohuayuan not only had medicinal fields and a pharmacy, but also a painting studio, a piano room, a chess room, an embroidery room, etc. It was fully equipped and she only needed someone to live there.
"Sister, you haven't told your third brother whether you want to stay here?"
Song Yu looked at him and smiled, "Of course, since you've made such an effort to welcome me back, I'll definitely stay."
Du Zhixu: "That's the small kitchen over there. Can Third Brother have the peony fruit cake you made tomorrow?"
"Zhi Xu." Xiao Chengqian spoke up at this time, "Your sister just came back, and you asked her to cook for you. You promised to pamper her. Is that how much you value your sister?"
Cheng Qingmeng raised her eyebrows slightly. Is Prince Xiao protecting his cousin?
Or should I find something to talk to my cousin?
Du Zhixu blushed and quickly explained, "Sister, it's not that I don't love you, it's just that the cheese-flavored peony fruit cake you made is so delicious. After tasting it at Jiang's house that day, the fragrance is still lingering in my mouth."
"I know the peony fruit cake I make is delicious. Since you welcome me back so much, I naturally want to show my appreciation. I'll make it for you tomorrow."
"No, no, no, sister, I don't really want to have this. Wait until you get used to living here and have a good rest before I tell you."
"I just checked the small kitchen. They have rice, flour, grain, oil, and other things. I can make peony fruit cake very quickly. It doesn't take much effort." Song Yu tilted his head to look at Xiao Chengqian. "Prince Xiao, let my third brother send you a portion when it's ready tomorrow."
"Thank you, Miss Song. It's almost time for lunch. Please go to the dining hall. I'll be leaving first."
Du Zhixu said, "Why are you in such a hurry? Let's go back after lunch."
"There are urgent matters to be dealt with in the government office." Xiao Chengqian looked at Song Yu. "Miss Song, I'll be leaving first."
Song Yu nodded, "If you have urgent matters, go ahead and do them first. Third brother, please send Prince Xiao off quickly."
Cheng Qingmeng looked at the receding figure and whispered to Song Yu, "Is Prince Xiao protecting you?"
Song Yu glanced at her and said, "Don't talk nonsense. He's just looking for something to say."
"How is it? Can you develop a relationship with Prince Xiao?"
Jiang Shiyun looked at Song Yu with a gossipy look on her face.
Song Yu whispered to the two of them, "Aside from his good looks, I have no feelings for Prince Xiao right now. Regardless of whether I marry him in the future, the little prince must grow up safely and healthily. Du Zhihuan must not be allowed to enter the palace."
Cheng Qingmeng leaned close to her ear and asked, "Don't you want to be the queen?"
"I'm definitely not destined to be the Queen, nor do I want to be one. Besides, the Emperor can't favor the Queen alone. He needs to expand his harem for the sake of having children. I don't have the heart of a Queen to allow the Emperor to take concubines. I want to be with one person for the rest of my life. Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go to the dining hall."
Du Zhixu escorted Xiao Chengqian to the second gate before whispering to him, "I know you and Huanhuan have a good relationship. Now that you're Yujie'er's fiancé, you can't have your cake and eat it too. You've hurt both of my sisters, and I won't forgive you!"
"Don't worry, I'm not someone who changes my mind every day! Huanhuan is in an awkward situation in the Du Mansion right now. You're her third brother and the one who dotes on her the most. You can't neglect her just because your sister has returned."
"Do you even need to tell me that? Let's go."
Prince Rong's Mansion.
"My dear, how is it? Have you met our new daughter-in-law? Is her manners, upbringing and temperament up to par?"
"Don't worry, Your Highness. Jiang Yunwan will be a good student. It's just that her adoptive father, Song Mingen, gives me a very unusual feeling. He doesn't have the slightest trace of a peasant."
Xiao Hongyi said, "He's been in the capital for quite some time now, so he's naturally covered up his humble aura. No matter how extraordinary his temperament is or how successful he becomes in the future, it can't change the fact that he comes from a humble family."
"But he was wearing a mask, so I couldn't see his face clearly."
Xiao Hongyi was surprised. "He's wearing a mask? He's being so secretive. Maybe he's just too ugly to reveal his true appearance. Let's not talk about him anymore. He's just a nobody. What's the Du family's attitude towards Song Yu?"
"The Du family values Song Yu so much that they've connected three courtyards to create a large one, even larger than Huanhuan's own Yilan Fanghua. Huanhuan will continue to be the Du family's daughter, but our godson's engagement with Song Yu will have to wait until our parents return to discuss it with Old Madam Du."
Xiao Hongyi said, "As long as it doesn't affect our godson's smooth succession to the throne, it's fine."
"Oh, by the way, Gan'er went to the palace to see the little prince yesterday and said that Song Yu had already seen the little prince."
Xiao Hongyi was shocked. "Song Yu has a way to cure the little prince's illness?"
"She doesn't have that ability yet. She can only help the little prince to make his body stronger than before."
Xiao Hongyi frowned slightly. Stronger? How strong?
"Did Gan'er tell me how the little prince is doing now?"
"It is said that the little prince has the energy to study and practice calligraphy."
Xiao Hongyi suddenly felt that some things were out of control.
The emperor had high hopes for his godson when he was born.
But no one would have expected that seven years ago, the emperor would have a son in his old age.
I thought my hopes were dashed, but it turned out that the little prince was weak and sickly.
Although Song Yu cannot cure the disease completely, he can give the little prince the energy to read and write!
Wouldn't that allow us to have the energy to help the emperor deal with some state affairs?
"My beloved, I'm going to the study to take care of some official business. When my son comes back, tell him to come find me in the study."
Du Henian, Su Beiqing and Du Zhixu were worried that Du Zhihuan would be neglected, so they arranged for people to deliver Du Zhihuan's favorite food.
Du Zhihuan looked at the food that was served and felt a great appetite.
Even though she didn't make a fuss, her parents and third brother still doted on her and cared about her.
After lunch, Jiang Yunzhou went to the Imperial College. In order to wait for the outcome of Wu Lingheng's decision, Jiang Youya, Song Mingen and others were arranged by Song Yu to rest in the side rooms of Zhuohua Courtyard.
"Son, now that they have recognized us as relatives today, are we doomed?" Mrs. Wu Xu spent the whole morning in a state of panic.
At this moment, she was becoming more and more panicked, as if someone would come in and kill her at any moment.
"Mother, don't worry. My son is an official appointed by the court. The Marquis cannot resort to private punishment without the approval of the Emperor. As long as we report to the Emperor, my son will not die."
"real?"
Wu Lingheng nodded and whispered, "My son has served as an official in Beijing for many years. The emperor will not easily sentence anyone to death, except for extremely serious crimes of disobedience."
"Why? The Jiang family must want us to die?"
"Don't worry, we won't face the death penalty. At most, our homes will be confiscated and we'll be exiled. As long as we're alive, there's hope."
Weiyang Palace
"Your Majesty, Wu Lingheng stole a child to seek wealth and power. He cannot be forgiven lightly and must be severely punished."
When Concubine Qing heard the truth, she was in disbelief. "This is the first time I've heard of this. It's truly unheard of. Fortunately, the child of the Weiyuan Marquisate was swapped. What if this happened to the royal family? If someone with ulterior motives had swapped the prince, our Great Yuan Empire would have changed hands without anyone noticing!"
After saying this, Concubine Qing looked carefully at the little prince who was sleeping soundly on the couch, "Fortunately, Yu'er is not a fake."
Xiao Yanli laughed and said, "The palace is heavily guarded. Who would dare to steal my child? Besides, Yu'er's eyebrows, eyes, and nose look exactly like mine. It's obvious that he's my child."
"Your Majesty, call all the princesses into the palace so we can examine their appearances carefully. What if one of them was secretly replaced?"
"My beloved concubine, you are worrying too much. The princesses all look like me. Their mothers protect them very closely. Besides, I am not as blind as Du Henian who can't see that his daughters don't look like him."
"Ha..." Concubine Qing laughed. "Not to mention that this couple's eyesight isn't very good, but at least they can distinguish friend from foe on the battlefield. What does Wu Lingheng plan to do with them?"
"The family will be exiled and their property will be confiscated. For five generations, the Wu family will not be allowed to return to Beijing to take the imperial examinations and become officials!"
Concubine Qing felt that the punishment was too lenient and that she would only feel relieved if she was sentenced to death.
But he thought that the royal family had few descendants because of the heavy killings committed by the previous dynasty.
In order to accumulate merit, the emperor would not easily sentence someone to death, let alone exterminate the entire family. What's more, the treasonous Prince Huai is still imprisoned in death row.
"Then Your Majesty, please verify it and make a decision as soon as possible. Elder Jiang must be waiting right now."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
