Chapter 132 Only One Rescue Remains
The maid Yinxiang helped Tao Wanyin analyze the situation from the sidelines, and the two pieced together the whole story.
Given Prince Yong's arrogant and amorous nature, any woman he touched, regardless of her status, would eventually be taken into his household and treated with the finest food and clothing.
But Ji Qingwu did not enter the manor, perhaps because Prince Yong had found her tasteless and abandoned her heartlessly.
Seeing Ji Qingwu staring at her without blinking, as if frozen in place, Tao Wanyin secretly confirmed her deduction and sat even more steadily, as if everything was under her control.
For a moment, the hall was completely silent.
The Empress Dowager's expression was solemn, her face so somber it seemed to drip water, and even the skin on her face drooped.
Princess Qingyun stood there dumbfounded, staring blankly at Ji Qingwu.
She truly believed from the bottom of her heart that Ji Qingwu loved Li Chengxun, because in her eyes, Li Chengxun was the most outstanding man in the world, and her fifth cousin would never have any connection with her third brother.
But... but how could it have turned out like this?
Ji Qingwu was utterly dumbfounded.
How did the story become, in the case of Princess Yong, that she clung to Prince Yong for help, was abandoned, and then harbored resentment and sought revenge?!
Tao Wanyin guarded a pile of mud, yet she still treated it like a hot commodity.
She felt that only now did she truly see the Princess Consort of Yong.
In fact, Tao Wanyin, who strictly adhered to religious rules and etiquette, looked down on herself from the bottom of her heart.
She also understood why she was so depressed all day long in the Prince Yong's mansion.
She held herself in high esteem, considering herself a princess, and looked down on the concubines of low status who had been brought in by Prince Yong, disdaining to compete with them for his affections.
Princess Yong thought something had happened between her and Prince Yong that night, but Prince Yong was unwilling to take responsibility. She felt both hatred and jealousy, which is why she gave him the prescription to vent her anger.
Ji Qingwu's eyes were sore from keeping them open. She closed them, took a deep breath, and wondered how she could explain.
There's no need to mention Ji Changyan; he's already dead, and there's no way to verify his identity.
Who would believe that nothing actually happened between her and Prince Yong, since he was called away midway through their conversation?
Even if she proves her innocence, and insists that she did not give Princess Yong a second prescription, how would she have cured the potent poison if Prince Yong had been summoned for a confrontation?
She couldn't reveal the matter of the system either...
Everyone knows that she offended the emperor that night and was confined to her quarters, so she could bring the emperor in and ask him to be a witness.
But considering that Prince Yong was, after all, the emperor's younger brother, and that she had taken such a heavy step behind his back, Ji Qingwu couldn't help but frown.
Let's put Emperor Wusu last for now.
She tried hard to search her mind for someone who could save her from this predicament.
Princess Huachang went to chase after the prince consort, and Lady Qiao guessed that she had not yet learned of her entry into the palace.
She turned her head and saw Princess Qingyun, whose mouth was still agape in shock, digesting the astonishing news she had just received.
She shook her head; this person had the will but not the brains.
After all the calculations, there really was only one savior left.
Tao Wanyin said, "Mother, I have explained the whole story clearly. Ji Qingwu hated the Prince because of this incident, so he wanted to use me to make the Prince have no descendants."
The Empress Dowager was deeply shaken. Even if Prince Yong had a bad reputation, he was still her son. How could she not be heartbroken to have suffered such scheming and humiliation?
However, in the case of the assassination of the imperial censor, Ji Changyan was most likely a scapegoat, and the mastermind behind it was most likely Prince Yong.
"Where is Minghong?" the Empress Dowager asked.
Tao Wanyin said, "His Highness has been unwell these past few days. Even the Imperial Physician couldn't cure him. He slept alone in the study last night. I know I'm guilty and haven't dared to tell His Highness the details of this matter yet, so I've come to inform His Highness first."
The Empress Dowager knew that Princess Yong had entered the palace to protect herself, and dared not mention this matter to Prince Yong, intending to drag Ji Qingwu down with her.
But how can paper contain fire? Prince Yong will find out sooner or later.
Instigators and igniters are equally despicable.
The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, realizing that this matter needed to be dealt with as soon as possible, preferably before the Emperor heard about it.
She made a decisive decision, her tone calm: "Go and summon Minghong here."
She wanted to find out for herself what exactly happened that night.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager really intended to summon Prince Yong, Princess Yong's heart immediately panicked. She was restless and anxiously said, "Mother, the Prince was in a bad mood last night and drank a lot of wine. He may not be sober yet."
The Empress Dowager ignored her and only instructed, "Fanghua, go to Prince Yong's residence in person."
Ji Qingwu had a bad feeling and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Prince Yong is unwell and needs to rest. Why don't we send a highly skilled imperial physician to treat him?"
She was thinking to herself that she hoped to buy herself some time.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager hesitated slightly, then said, "Fanghua, go to the Imperial Hospital and invite the imperial physicians to go with you. If Minghong is alright, summon him here."
However, at that moment, the palace doors were suddenly pushed open.
A cool breeze blew in, causing the strands of hair behind Ji Qingwu's ears to flutter.
A man's voice was carried in on the wind.
"I never expected my fifth cousin to care about me so much."
Prince Yong looked relaxed, without a trace of the gloom caused by his paralysis, and glanced at Ji Qingwu with a flippant expression.
Zhao Minghong stepped into the hall, seemingly unaware of the strange looks from everyone. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty and I are of one mind. There was no need for Aunt Fanghua to come to the palace; I came here myself."
The Empress Dowager looked at him with worry, and Qingyun's gaze involuntarily drifted to Prince Yong's crotch.
Prince Yong glanced at Tao Wanyin and said meaningfully, "The Princess Consort is also here." His gaze then swept over Yinxiang behind her.
The Empress Dowager asked, "Why did you come here?"
"I was summoned by my elder brother and just came from the Hall of Diligent Governance." Prince Yong took his seat directly on the lower left.
Why did Emperor Wusu summon him at this time?
The Empress Dowager suppressed her doubts and said, "Minghong, you've come at the right time. I have something to ask you. Wanyin said that you and Qingwu were together the night Changyan had the accident. Is that true?"
Ji Qingwu looked up and met Yongwang's gaze.
Zhao Minghong recalled the erotic scene from that night, a lewd smile spreading across his face. The flirtatious look in his eyes was so obvious that everyone knew how he would respond without him even having to say a word.
Ji Qingwu lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, and clenched her fingers, but after hearing him utter two words, she suddenly looked up again.
"No."
Zhao Minghong continued to stare intently at her.
Ji Qingwu's eyes widened in shock. Why would Prince Yong say he had never seen her before, yet be willing to help her...?
Tao Wanyin was the first to exclaim in surprise: "How could there not be!"
Zhao Minghong said strangely, "Your Highness, what do you mean? My fifth cousin and I are completely innocent. That night I was listening to music on the painted boat, and the people from the Jiaofangsi can all testify to that."
“Xiao Ningzi…it was Xiao Ningzi, the prince’s personal attendant, who said it himself…” Tao Wanyin stammered.
Prince Yong said sadly, "Is the princess suffering from hysteria? Xiao Ningzi drowned and has been dead for a month."
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