Chapter 133 Heaven thinks the scene isn't chaotic enough (Seeking monthly votes!)
"Impossible! Yinxiang, we saw him just the day before yesterday." Tao Wanyin turned to the maid behind her: "Yinxiang, isn't that right?"
Yinxiang's eyes flickered as she watched Prince Yong twirling the jade thumb ring on his thumb. She lowered her head and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. Xiao Ningzi did indeed die last month."
Ji Qingwu keenly noticed the exchange of glances between them and was inwardly surprised.
The Empress Dowager asked with concern, "Minghong, how are you feeling?"
Zhao Minghong said, "What nonsense are the Princess and the Empress Dowager talking about again? I am fine. Just now, my brother summoned me to the Hall of Diligent Governance and specially invited the divine physician Le Xi from Lin'an to examine my pulse. He said that I just need to rest and recuperate for half a month and I will get better."
The Emperor invited the most renowned physician, Lexi, who specializes in treating difficult and complicated illnesses, to come over.
It turned out that the reason for summoning Prince Yong was to treat his illness.
The Empress Dowager's anxiety subsided. Since the Emperor still treated Prince Yong with kindness, she no longer needed to inquire about what happened that night and let it pass.
Tao Wanyin said, "Impossible... I clearly..." Her words were filled with obvious confusion and bewilderment.
"Yinxiang, what's wrong with the Princess Consort lately? She's talking incoherently and acting like she's gone mad," Prince Yong said, seemingly casually.
Yinxiang said cautiously, "The princess has not been pregnant for many years. She was diagnosed with pregnancy recently. She was so happy that she lost her mind."
Ji Qingwu's fingers were casually interlaced and rested on her lap. Now that things had come to this, the blame would not fall on her.
Despite many unanswered questions, the crisis has been averted.
At this moment, Shi Xi walked in from the doorway, glanced at Ji Qingwu in the hall, and brought news: "Old Madam Ji heard that the Fifth Miss was summoned to the palace, so she specially sent someone to deliver the message."
Ji Qingwu immediately perked up his ears to listen.
The Empress Dowager gently rubbed her temples, recalling the matter of Ji Changyan, which led to a falling out between mother and daughter, and they hadn't been in contact for a long time.
"What did Mother say?" the Empress Dowager asked.
Shi Xi said, "The old lady said that the fifth young lady is unruly and if she has made any mistakes, she hopes that the Empress Dowager will be magnanimous. The Li family, the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Literary Brilliance, has already chosen the fifth young lady as the wife of their third son."
Ji Qingwu sighed. Although her grandmother was not entirely heartless and intended to protect her, she was using marriage as a bargaining chip to betroth her to Li San.
But she arrived too late; the Empress Dowager had already given up on punishing her.
The Empress Dowager looked at her thoughtfully, calculating in her heart that if she could form a marriage alliance with the Li family, it would be a great help to the Ji family.
Princess Qingyun abruptly turned to look at Ji Qingwu.
His eyes were filled with clear emotions, as if he were looking at a vixen, implying, "How did you end up having any dealings with the third son of the Li family?"
Ji Qingwu sighed repeatedly.
In such a short time, she's already involved with three men.
But fate wasn't satisfied with the chaos yet.
Then, a familiar shrill voice called out from outside: "The Emperor has arrived!"
Everyone quickly stood up and bowed.
He said in a detached tone, "No need for formalities, we're all family."
Emperor Wusu, dressed in a bright yellow Shu embroidered satin robe with dragon patterns, strode into the main hall with a brisk pace, his eyes fixed straight ahead, seemingly indifferent to who was in the hall.
Ji Qingwu's gaze followed him closely. The two had parted ways at the Star-Picking Tower this morning, but unexpectedly met again several hours later.
But the emperor didn't spare her a single glance.
It was as if, bathed in the glow of the rising sun, facing the majestic green mountains, another person was passionately embracing her, about to press her into his burning body.
Fanghua busied herself adding a chair next to the Empress Dowager and serving the Emperor as he took his seat.
Li Yuzong and Fanghua exchanged a glance and nodded, each standing behind their master.
Ji Qingwu suppressed the turmoil in her heart, withdrew her gaze, and rubbed her fingers.
She only needed to think for a moment to realize that the reason Prince Yong insisted he had never seen her was probably because...
The emperor was already fully aware of the situation at Cining Palace, and when Prince Yong was summoned, he must have received "special instructions."
However, the matter was almost over, so why did he still show up?
Emperor Wusu seemed completely unaware of everything and said in a good mood, "It's quite lively here at the Empress Dowager's place today."
The Empress Dowager wanted to suppress the matter, so she smiled and said, "Wanyin is pregnant. Minghong has brought his wife to pay her respects to me."
Emperor Wusu smiled and said, "This is indeed a joyous occasion."
His eyes remained cold as he continued, "However, I heard that Princess Yong arrived at Cining Palace early this morning and even had a dispute with the fifth young lady of the Ji family."
The news still reached the emperor's ears.
The Empress Dowager explained, "Your Majesty, there was no argument; we were just having a casual chat."
Prince Yong also tried to smooth things over, saying, "Your Majesty, it's just a quarrel between women, nothing serious."
Qingyun nodded in agreement, not daring to speak. She had been punished by the emperor a few days ago and was terrified.
Emperor Wusu didn't look at Ji Qingwu, but instead said to Princess Yong, "Why does the Princess look so listless? Have you been humiliated?"
Ji Qingwu glanced at him, then turned to look at Tao Wanyin.
He didn't even glance at her, but instead showed great concern for others, and a strange sense of loss suddenly welled up in her heart.
The confusion in Tao Wanyin's eyes faded, and she suddenly stood up and knelt down, making a thud.
“Your Majesty, the conflict between Miss Ji and me is not a dispute. Rather, I was deceived and used by her. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth! Ji Qingwu had an affair with the Prince and harbored resentment for not being allowed into the Prince’s residence. She devised a vicious scheme to trick me into giving the Prince medicine.”
Prince Yong held Tao Wanyin tightly, pulling her to his side, and said, "Your Majesty, Tao has been somewhat out of her mind these days. Please do not believe what she says."
Tao Wanyin tried to break free, but she was too weak. Prince Yong shielded her behind him, and a single, ruthless glare silenced her, leaving her only able to sob softly.
As the couple struggled in the palace, Emperor Wusu sat upright, his hands resting on his knees without moving.
"Ji Qingwu".
Suddenly, I heard him call my name, and he did so with his full name.
Ji Qingwu immediately sat up straight, her gaze fixed on him, her eyes sparkling.
Emperor Wusu raised an eyebrow and said, "You lied to her?"
When the emperor asked a question, Ji Qingwu stood up, intending to kneel down and answer respectfully like the Princess Consort of Yong.
He frowned and said coldly, "Did I order you to move?"
Ji Qingwu had barely shifted her position when she met his displeased gaze, so she had no choice but to obediently sit back down.
Princess Qingyun, standing beside him, said weakly, "Brother, Fifth Cousin is innocent, please don't be so fierce."
Ji Qingwu also felt that he looked fierce, so she pursed her lips and sat down with a wronged expression.
She had prepared a long list of explanations to give, intending to emulate the Princess Yong's poignant plea. She even had a mental rehearsal of when to squeeze out a few tears.
But Emperor Wusu seemed to have little patience and didn't give her the chance, urging, "Is it so difficult for you to say a word? Are you lying to her?"
Ji Qingwu was at a loss for what to do because of the emperor's cold attitude.
She could only open her lips and utter two dry, broken words.
"No."
Ji Qingwu did not deceive Tao Wanyin; it was Tao Wanyin who tried to drag him down with her.
Emperor Wusu nodded in satisfaction and even hummed in agreement.
Ji Qingwu stared wide-eyed.
That's it? No need for her to explain? No need to shed a few tears?
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