93. Chessboard (3-in-1)
◎Even if I am tortured to death, I am willing◎
Chapter 93
There was a buzzing sound in Jiang Qiuye's ears, but it also seemed very quiet. The light and shadow of the lantern hanging high at the entrance of the palace swayed gently, moving the figure of the servant in front of him.
"What did you say?" She thought she had misheard and asked again.
The servant's eyes were filled with panic. "The prince has been imprisoned by the emperor!"
This time she finally heard clearly, and her body suddenly gave way, her legs giving way, and she fell to the side. Mingyue saw her and hurriedly supported her. She immediately asked the servant, "What happened? Why was the prince imprisoned by the emperor?"
The servant gasped for breath and said, "This morning, His Majesty was attacked by an assassin. The assassin failed and was captured. After being apprehended, he confessed without much torture, saying that it was the prince who ordered it. But how could this be possible? The His Majesty naturally didn't believe it and thought it was an attempt to frame someone. He ordered an investigation into the assassin."
"Later, after the assassin's confession, they indeed found a secret letter addressed to the assassin in a private residence. The letter instructed the assassin to disguise himself as a eunuch and enter the palace to assassinate the emperor."
"How can a mere secret letter prove that it was ordered by Prince Qi?" Jiang Qiuye asked in confusion.
"That secret letter alone is of course not enough to prove it, but the key point is that it actually has the seal of Prince Qi on it. Now that the evidence is irrefutable, His Majesty, in a rage, has imprisoned the prince. After I left the palace, I couldn't find the prince, and only just now did I learn of such a major event. Princess, what should I do now?"
The servant was at a loss. Although the Qi Palace hadn't been sealed by His Majesty yet, he feared it would be sooner or later. This assassination attempt was a rebellion. If convicted, everyone would be implicated. Not only would the princess herself be in danger, but even they, the servants, would be exiled or even beheaded.
"So, what about that day? Didn't he always stay with the prince?"
"I heard that Lord Tianqu was also arrested. I could only get this little information about the prince, so I don't know what Lord Tianqu is doing now."
Jiang Qiuye raised her hand to support the porch. Although she knew that this day might have come a long time ago, it happened so suddenly that she was caught off guard.
She narrowed her eyes and thought carefully. Ji Ci would never rebel, she knew this better than anyone else.
Who is it? Who wants to harm him?
At this moment, the first reaction in her mind was the possibility that the emperor was directing and acting in the drama himself. But now the Li Kingdom is ready to make a move, and Ji Ci is still of great use to the emperor, so why would he attack him before the war?
How could someone outside get the seal of Prince Qi? Could it be that besides her, there were other spies in this palace?
She turned her head and glanced at the panicked crowd standing at the palace gate, waiting for her orders.
It's late at night now, and the emperor hasn't had time to issue an order to search the house or seal off the palace. Perhaps there's still hope.
She still doesn't know what the turning point will be, but she will never sit and wait for death.
"Mingyue, help me pack up. I want to go to the palace to meet the emperor!" She stood up straight and regained her spirit.
This time, she not only has to save herself, but also has to find a way to rescue Ji Ci!
Mingyue was stunned and said, "But Princess, the palace gates have already been closed. How can we enter the palace?"
Jiang Qiuye stopped where he was, hammering his head in frustration.
Yes, now that she has suddenly become a relative of a traitor, it will certainly be difficult for her to see the emperor, and the palace gates have indeed been locked.
Suddenly, a person flashed through her mind, who might be able to help her enter the palace.
"Pack your things immediately and go to the Prince of Wei's Mansion with me!"
The night was as cool as water, but the full moon in the sky was unusually bright. A full moon has always symbolized good luck, but Jiang Qiuye didn't believe it. She remembered that the night the general's family was exterminated was a once-in-a-century auspicious occasion.
Sitting in the palace's carriage, they followed the path to the gate of Prince Wei's palace. Mingyue lit the lamp and took Jiang Qiuye out of the carriage. They knocked on the door of the palace and waited for a long time.
Mingyue kept knocking on the door, shouting that Princess Qi was coming. Jiang Qiuye's heart gradually sank, and he looked around. It wasn't until an incense stick of time that the old housekeeper finally arrived and opened the door to Prince Wei's mansion. After explaining his purpose, the old housekeeper said that Prince Wei had entered the palace today and had not returned.
Jiang Qiuye turned her head and looked at the empty streets. She could actually sneak into the palace by herself, but the palace was heavily guarded, and she couldn't take the chance on this matter.
If the emperor discovered her identity, it would probably make Ji Ci's current situation even worse, and he would be charged with the crime of harboring a spy and collaborating with the enemy.
"Let's go find Prince Liang." Jiang Qiuye got back on the carriage and asked the coachman to take them to Prince Liang's mansion.
The carriage wheels creaked across the cobblestone road in the night.
She didn't hold out much hope. Since the King of Wei had been summoned into the palace by the Emperor, she was afraid that the King of Liang would be the same.
But to her surprise, Prince Liang was actually in her own palace.
Jiang Qiuye was ushered in by a servant from Prince Liang's mansion and seated in the front hall. Not long after, Ji Kang arrived in the hall, dressed in a simple outer garment, looking as if he had just woken up. Duan Shi also arrived with him.
Duan served tea to Jiang Qiuye. Ji Kang gave her a look secretly and let her leave.
There were only two of them left in the hall.
Ji Kang raised his teacup slowly and took a sip. Then he looked at Jiang Qiuye and said with a smile, "Auntie, why did you visit so late at night? I wonder what's the important matter?"
Jiang Qiuye saw that Ji Kang was pretending to be ignorant, so she didn't bother to exchange pleasantries with him. "How could Prince Liang not know about such a serious matter as the assassination of the emperor today? I won't beat around the bush and tell you directly. I want to enter the palace and see the emperor."
Ji Kang paused with his teacup in hand, squinting at her. "My dear aunt, this matter is of grave importance. Everyone is trying to avoid Prince Qi. Are you trying to get me involved in this mess? What good will it do me?"
She knew it was difficult, but she had to try everything.
"Your Highness Prince Liang, I know you're in a difficult situation. All you need is to help me enter the palace, and I'll figure out the rest. I will definitely not reveal your assistance to me."
He rubbed the rim of his teacup with his fingers, staring at her intently without saying a word. After a moment, noticing that her patience seemed to have worn thin, he suddenly asked, "Sister Ye'er, do you like my uncle so much? You've been running around for him, but do you know that if you meet Father right now, he might even be furious?"
Jiang Qiuye said, "I know, but I also know that this matter must not be delayed. Once the imperial edict comes down, it will be too late."
Seeing Ji Kang remained indifferent, she lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then raised them again, a glint of water in her eyes, and her voice softened, "Ji Kang, you know my nature. I'm selfish. This trip is for myself. If the imperial edict comes down and Prince Qi's crimes implicate me, then it will be too late for me. Are you, Your Highness, just going to watch and do nothing to save Ye'er?"
Ji Kang hesitated. He was unwilling to save his good uncle, but Jiang Qiuye's appearance hit him sore.
He sneered and drank the tea in the cup in one gulp. The empty cup was slammed firmly on the table. Then he stood up and said, "Then let's go, Sister Ye'er."
Seeing this, the tears in Jiang Qiuye's eyes instantly disappeared. She lowered her head and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She got on Ji Kang's carriage, but this time Mingyue was not brought along. She was the only one going to Jinhe Palace with Ji Kang.
The space in the carriage was small, but Jiang Qiuye's mind was full of how to see the emperor after entering the palace. She didn't notice that Ji Kang was staring at her with eyes full of complexity.
When he entered the palace, he was stopped by the guards and interrogated, but for the sake of King Liang's face, he was allowed to pass.
As the Suzaku Gate behind him slowly closed, Jiang Qiuye loosened his hands that were twisted together under his sleeves.
"Thank you, Prince Liang, for putting me down here tonight. If people knew that you brought me in, it would be bad for you. Your Majesty's kindness today, Ye'er will repay you tomorrow!"
Ji Kang didn't react much, but just said lightly: "Father knows that you have entered the palace, I am afraid it is easy for him to guess who I am."
He let the carriage continue for a while before slowly stopping.
Without looking at Jiang Qiuye, he just stared at the moonlight outside the car and said, "Aunt Huang, let me remind you first that the emperor may not see you, so I will send you here."
Jiang Qiuye nodded, took one last look at him, and without stopping, got off the carriage and went to the Taiji Hall alone.
…
The Taiji Hall was still brightly lit. The emperor sat in the main seat, rubbing his aching forehead and flipping through a pile of memorials impeaching Ji Ci on the table.
"Prince Qi is in prison. Has he confessed anything?"
After hearing the emperor's final question, Eunuch Li rolled his eyes and immediately stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, Prince Qi only said one thing. He said... Your Majesty has a keen eye, and I only ask that you spare Princess Qi and everyone in the palace this time."
The emperor was stunned when he heard this. He threw down the memorial in his hand and stared blankly at the distance.
After a moment, he smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Is that really all he said? He didn't even try to defend himself?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At this moment, the young eunuch on duty outside the palace hurriedly came towards the main seat. He whispered a few words in Eunuch Li's ear, and Eunuch Li immediately stepped forward and reported to the emperor, "Your Majesty, Princess Qi is kneeling outside the palace, requesting an audience with Your Majesty."
"Princess Qi?"
The emperor raised his eyes and smiled sarcastically. These two people, one wanted him to let go of Princess Qi, and the other had somehow entered the palace in the middle of the night for Prince Qi.
"I won't see you! If she wants to kneel, let her kneel!"
After yelling, he began to cough violently and couldn't stop. It took a long time for him to calm down. He held his chest and throat which were sore from coughing for a long time.
Upon seeing this, Eunuch Li turned around and conveyed the emperor's order to the young eunuch outside.
Jiang Qiuye was surprised to hear that the emperor would not see her. If she could see him this time, that would be the best, but if not, she would have to show her and Prince Qi's sincerity to find a way out.
Kneeling for just one night was nothing to her.
The next morning, the emperor excused himself from attending court, claiming he was unwell after the previous day's shock. The night dew was cold, and her white dress gradually became slightly damp, but he still did not see Jiang Qiuye.
Her knees were so painful that they were numb. The main reason was that she hadn't slept all night. The poison from yesterday had just been suppressed, and the fatigue in her body made it difficult for her to hold on.
She stretched out her hand and gently rubbed her knees, and then she found that Concubine Shu was coming from a distance. She glanced at her and entered the Taiji Hall with the food box.
She had not seen the King of Wei the entire night. When she saw Concubine Shu, she guessed that the King of Wei had been locked up in her palace to prevent her from dragging him into trouble.
As the sun rose, the weather became hotter, and the light shone directly on Jiang Qiuye's face, making her feel uncomfortable and dazzling.
At this moment, it is more like being in a world of ice and fire.
It was not until after noon that Concubine Shu slowly walked out of the Taiji Hall and stood in front of Jiang Qiuye.
She felt a shadow, looked up at the frowning Concubine Shu, and her body seemed to tilt slightly uncontrollably.
Concubine Shu immediately asked the female official beside her to support her and said gently, "Princess Qi, even if you die on your knees here, His Majesty will not see you."
"...I know." Jiang Qiuye licked his dry lips.
But she had no other choice but to do so.
Concubine Shu said, "Since you know this, why are you still suffering here? I heard from His Majesty that Prince Qi has already asked for mercy from His Majesty. He knows you are innocent and will not punish you."
Jiang Qiuye didn't say anything, just stared at her blankly, his hands clenched into fists.
Concubine Shu sighed again and asked the maid to help her up. Seeing that she seemed to refuse, she said, "Get up first and follow me back to Yonghe Palace. I will help you."
Jiang Qiuye was surprised, "...Mother."
The female official helped her up with all her strength. She knelt on the ground for a long time. After she stood up, she staggered a bit. With someone's support, she did not fall to the ground.
"Why would your Majesty help me?"
After she regained her composure, Concubine Shu smiled at her and said, "Prince Wei has been making a fuss in Yonghe Palace all night. I really can't stand him. I have a way to get you to see His Majesty."
When he was helped into Yonghe Palace by a female official, Prince Wei had already been sent back to Prince Wei's Mansion by Concubine Shu's men. The palace maid only heard that he was clamoring to see the imperial aunt, but was finally taken away.
She slowly sat down on a couch, rubbed her knees, and watched the lady-in-waiting bring her tea and snacks.
Concubine Shu said with an apologetic look in her eyes, "Prince Wei is so old, but he still has the mind of a child. He is very naive. I am sorry to make Concubine Qi laugh."
Jiang Qiuye imagined him being dragged away, and couldn't help but smile, "Your Majesty, what are you talking about? It's rare for the King of Wei to have such a kind heart."
"Don't think too much about not letting him see you. I'm really not willing to let him see you. He's so impulsive and incompetent that I'm worried he'll get involved. Not only will he not be able to help, but he'll also get himself into trouble."
Jiang Qiuye naturally knew this and did not blame Concubine Shu's behavior. She was just anxious and uneasy. "I know. Your Majesty, how will you help me meet His Majesty?"
Concubine Shu glanced at the female officials beside her and asked them to step aside. After the chambers quieted down, she said, "Your Majesty has been suffering from a chronic illness lately. His throat is swollen and sore, making it difficult for him to eat. He is deeply troubled. I have heard that Princess Qi is an excellent medicinal cook. If Princess Qi can prepare a dinner for His Majesty, I will send it to Taiji Palace. If he can eat well, I will certainly ask him to let you meet him."
Jiang Qiuye seemed to have not expected that Concubine Shu would use such a method. She asked suspiciously, "Your Majesty, will this put you in an unjust position? Aren't you afraid that His Majesty will be furious?"
Concubine Shu shook her head and smiled, "In fact, His Majesty is very easy to talk to, especially in recent years. He may blame me a little, but he won't say anything. Besides, if your medicinal food makes His Majesty's health better, why would he blame me? In addition, His Majesty has already said that the crime of Prince Qi will not be punished by the princess and the others in the palace."
Jiang Qiuye was delighted and her anxiety was relieved a lot. She immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Concubine Shu.
She pondered for the entire afternoon, and that night, she prepared a dish of stewed snow pears. After receiving a message from outside, she handed it to Concubine Shu, took a deep breath, and finally caught up with her.
At night, many people were lighting the lamps in the Taiji Palace, and the hall was also brightly lit. She stood at the hall door, waiting, motionless, staring at the room.
The Taiji Palace was vast, and the Emperor and Consort Shu were nowhere to be seen, nor could any sound be heard. Jiang Qiuye felt anxious, but all he could do was wait in hope.
After waiting for about an hour, Concubine Shu finally came out of the palace, smiled at her, and said, "Go in."
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your help." She was overjoyed, bowed to her, and went into the hall.
This wasn't her first time in the Taiji Hall, but it was her first time at night. Although hundreds of candles were lit and many palace servants were present, the hall felt completely empty, carrying an eerie and lonely atmosphere.
When she arrived at the emperor's feet, she lowered her head and could not see the emperor's expression clearly, nor could she guess what he was thinking at the moment. She could only be led by the eunuch to kneel and kowtow.
"Stand up." The emperor spoke calmly, then began to cough uncontrollably. After a long while, he rubbed his throat and looked at Jiang Qiuye, who had bowed and thanked him. "Princess Qi, the medicinal meal you prepared tonight is very good. It suits my taste very well."
Jiang Qiuye stood up, still bowing her head, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I heard from Consort Shu that Your Majesty has been having a sore throat lately. So, I've added Sichuan Fritillaria, Apricot Kernel, Polygonatum, and other herbs to this bowl of pear soup. It not only moisturizes the throat, but also clears away heat and reduces swelling."
She quietly raised her eyes to see the emperor's gradually softening gaze. After a moment's thought, tears and redness filled her eyes. With a faint smile, she said, "Prince Qi usually relies on the medicinal food prepared by me to have a good meal. Life is really not easy for him."
The emperor paused for a moment and asked, "Now that he's in prison, I'm afraid he won't be able to eat your medicinal food. Why, do you blame me?"
Jiang Qiuye acted panicked and immediately said, "How could you blame Your Majesty? Neither Prince Qi nor I, your wife, would blame Your Majesty."
She used the word "would not" instead of "dare not." The emperor thought of the words that Prince Qi had brought him from prison and lowered his eyes.
When she saw his expression change, she immediately knelt down, prostrated herself on the ground, kowtowed heavily, and shouted, "Your Majesty, I am guilty!"
The emperor was startled by her sudden action. "What crime have you committed?"
She raised her head, closed her eyes, and seemed to find it difficult to speak. After mustering up her courage, she said, "Your Majesty, I once had rebellious thoughts."
"What?" The emperor was stunned. He couldn't understand why this woman could be so bold as to say in front of the emperor that she had rebellious intentions.
Jiang Qiuye said, "Your Majesty, I have had a difficult life. I grew up in a remote countryside and never read the classics. I am a selfish person, and I married Prince Qi out of greed for wealth and fame. But throughout my marriage to Prince Qi, he was kind-hearted, caring deeply about the people of the world and Your Majesty, and was dedicated to redeeming the Great Jin Dynasty for its past humiliation. I have no moral integrity, and it was Prince Qi who taught me the ways of the world."
As she spoke, she choked up, "Your Majesty, I dare not hide anything from you. I am guilty! I deserve death! Out of vanity, I once tried to instigate Prince Qi to rebel, but he gave me a severe lecture and even treated me coldly for a long time because of it. Your Majesty, everyone in the world may have rebellious intentions. Whether it's me or the common people, we are all confused by the prosperity of the world. But I know that Prince Qi is definitely not one of them!"
The emperor stared, his fingers trembling slightly, as he carefully observed the kneeling Princess Qi. This woman was so audacious, uttering such words of beheading in front of the emperor.
He couldn't help coughing again, and after calming down, he looked back at her face
Although it was bold, her face was harmless and extremely beautiful, but her eyes were firm, as if she had thrown everything aside, said all the words from the heart, and tore her sincerity apart.
"Why is he... definitely not one of these people? Just because you are close to him, do you trust him?"
Jiang Qiuye shook his head. "Your Majesty, as his elder brother, you must know Prince Qi's character over the years. Prince Qi, take the blame for the sins of all the people in the world, and even more so for Empress Qiyuan!"
The emperor did not answer, but when he heard the name of Empress Qiyuan, he clenched his hands and narrowed his eyes.
She grasped the sleeves in her hands, forced herself to look back at the emperor, whose eyes were dark, and said, "Your Majesty, Prince Qi once told me that the thing Queen Qiyuan regretted most in her life was believing the sorcerer's words. She regretted her foolishness and even more so her bias. On the night she died, she begged Prince Qi to swear before her body that she would serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly and never covet the throne. If you break this oath, you will be tortured to death!"
Seeing that the emperor seemed to have fallen into silence and reminiscence, she had appealed to his emotions, and now she had to reason with him.
"Your Majesty, the Li Kingdom is eyeing our Great Jin with eager eyes. The border raids a while ago were merely a test. I need not elaborate on this point; Your Majesty is surely aware of it. Although General Huaihua personally led the troops to suppress this attack, it was merely the beginning of Li Kingdom's ambitions."
"Yan Xing, the ruler of the Li Kingdom, came to power illicitly and without merit. His massacre of cities unpopularized him, and his current rule remains unstable. Furthermore, the kingdom has only been established for a little over a decade. Since the ceasefire, our Great Jin has thrived thanks to the implementation of new policies and is now a powerful force. Now is the perfect time to launch a northern expedition. If we seek peace for a decade or more, the Li Kingdom will undoubtedly grow stronger, and their southward advance will be inevitable. The Great Jin has missed such a golden opportunity, a loss that outweighs the gain."
She stared straight ahead, her eyes growing more resolute as she spoke, "And His Royal Highness Prince Qi is a gifted general. Back then, with just 5,000 soldiers, he defeated Li's 30,000 cavalry, shocking even the youngest of them. That battle terrified them, and they dared not attack for years. If Prince Qi were killed at this critical moment, Li would surely ignore their pleas for peace and march south. Your Majesty, if you wish to protect the Great Jin from Li's ambitions, Prince Qi must not be killed!"
"Your Majesty, Prince Qi, I truly respect you as my elder brother. He has kept his promise and was once furious because of my selfish thoughts. Now, I have read the sages and understand the great principles of the Son of Heaven. I am like a reed in the water and a mandarin duck in the sky with His Highness Prince Qi. I am willing to take on all the blame for Prince Qi's sins. It was I who had the rebellious intention, not Prince Qi, Your Majesty!"
The emperor said nothing, only looking at Jiang Qiuye, who was kneeling down with his head bowed, so humbly, and said coldly: "Take all the blame for Prince Qi's crimes? Do you know that Prince Qi's current crime is punishable by lingchi?"
Jiang Qiuye looked up, her eyes were red and two lines of tears flowed down. How could one not feel soft-hearted around such a beauty?
"Your Majesty, even if it means being tortured to death, I am willing. Please, Your Majesty, grant me the death penalty!"
After saying that, she kowtowed again, and her originally porcelain-white forehead turned red.
The emperor sighed, "Prince Qi's crime is treason, and the evidence is irrefutable. The assassin's secret letter bears Prince Qi's seal."
Jiang Qiuye's heart tightened. Even after she said so much, was it possible that the emperor still wouldn't let Ji Ci go?
He then continued, "Jian Xi is ill and now alone in the imperial prison. I'm afraid she won't be able to eat well. I agree to give you a daily dose of medicinal food. I'll give it to the eunuchs and have them delivered to you in prison. I'll send the three courts to investigate this case of treason."
The emperor spoke in a low voice. Thinking of Empress Qiyuan and his beloved younger brother Jian Xi in childhood, he could not bear it.
Jiang Qiuye was overjoyed and kowtowed again, "On behalf of Prince Qi, I, your Majesty, thank you for your grace!"
"Well, I finally understand why Prince Qi must have you."
He had seen countless women, some charming, some innocent, some intelligent, and some daring. But he had never seen someone like Princess Qi, who possessed all of these qualities. And this little woman, kneeling on the ground, even under the threat of death, still managed to speak clearly and logically, her every word touching the heart.
The emperor finally smiled and said, "During these days, you will stay in Concubine Shu's Yonghe Palace and prepare a medicinal meal for me every day. What do you think?"
"Yes, Your Majesty! Your Majesty's command will be obeyed!"
She didn't know why the emperor wanted her to stay in the palace, and she really didn't believe it was because of the medicinal food she prepared.
But no matter what, today she had finally found a glimmer of hope for Ji Ci. Now that the three agencies were jointly investigating the case, she couldn't get involved. The only thing she could do was wait.
…
Inside the Imperial Prison outside the capital, the firelight dimmed. A long, dark corridor led to a sealed cell. Eunuch Li walked past with his food box and suddenly felt a chill. The whisk in his hand trembled slightly.
When the jailer opened the door, Ji Ci appeared, dressed in prisoner uniform, with torture instruments still on his wrists and ankles. Fortunately, under the emperor's order, he had not been tortured and was considered clean.
After hearing the voice, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at Eunuch Li who nodded and saluted him simply. "This old servant pays homage to His Royal Highness Prince Qi."
Ji Ci curled his lips and said, "Eunuch Li, there's no need to be so polite. I'm sure I won't be Prince Qi anytime soon."
Eunuch Li didn't answer directly. He simply placed the food box on the table and pushed it forward, saying, "Your Highness must have been having trouble eating in prison lately. These jailers are always full of jokes and must have treated Your Highness poorly."
After hearing this, he simply glanced at the food box expressionlessly and said, "Since I am a prisoner, how can I be treated differently from others? Eunuch Li, please return."
Eunuch Li smiled upon seeing this, and went straight forward to open the food box. He brought out a bowl of soup kept warm with hot water, and asked, "Are you sure you don't want it, Your Highness?"
Ji Ci was stunned when he saw the food in the bowl. It was his favorite black chicken soup. He could tell at a glance that his wife was a master of her craft. He suddenly looked up at Eunuch Li in confusion, "Princess?"
Eunuch Li could not say much, so he simply said, "This is what His Majesty has personally allowed the Princess to deliver a portion of herbal medicine that she has personally prepared to the Imperial Prison for the Prince every day. Last night, the Princess requested an audience with His Majesty, and her words deeply moved His Majesty, who personally ordered the retrial of the Prince's treason case by the Three Courts. All of this was requested by Princess Qi on behalf of the Prince."
Ji Ci raised his hand in shock and took the bowl closer. He knew his wife's true nature: selfish and self-serving. If disaster struck, she would most likely disappear without a trace. He had never expected that she would still rush around for him, even seeking the emperor's order to reopen the case.
Seeing that he no longer refused, Eunuch Li bowed and left the cell directly.
The cell door was locked tightly once again. Aside from the moonlight streaming through the high window, the room was dark and cold. He lifted the black chicken soup and slowly drank it down. It still had the familiar taste.
The delicious food flowed into his stomach, instantly warming his whole body and his cold heart. The feeling of satisfaction that only she could bring to him came over him again, and he couldn't help but close his eyes and sigh softly.
He could no longer suppress his longing for her, and his heart was burning like wildfire.
He put down the empty bowl in his hand, looked up and out of the tiny window. It was a pity that he couldn't see her now.
Knowing his situation, would she be afraid, anxious, and miss him?
I don’t know what kind of poison is in her body. Since she was able to enter the palace, she might have found some way to get the antidote for this month.
This way he could feel a little more at ease. How could he not love this fool?
…
In the following days, Jiang Qiuye stayed in Yonghe Palace every day. At dinner time, he prepared two servings of medicinal food, one for Concubine Shu and the other for the Eunuch Supervisor.
There were too many people staring at Ji Ci, and she was uneasy. It was difficult for her to contact everyone in the palace, so she could only rely on Concubine Shu to find out the progress of the three courts' investigation into Ji Ci's case.
I heard that this is the third round of hearings, but no new evidence has yet to surface. The key to this case lies in the seal of Prince Qi, and the Emperor has issued an order for a thorough investigation of all personnel in Prince Qi's mansion.
Jiang Qiuye was also trying to recall the people around Ji Ci and look for anything suspicious.
Now, the only people who can get close to the study, besides myself, are Tianqu, Uncle Fu, and Mingyue who occasionally comes to the study to serve me.
It is said that Tianqu was arranged by Empress Qiyuan to be with Ji Ci since he was a child and grew up together. Although the Xianjin Dynasty was destroyed and the two were separated for several years, he later returned to Ji Ci and was indeed loyal to him in his work.
She didn't know much about Uncle Fu, but judging from his age and the level of trust Ji Ci had in him, he must have been fulfilling his duties in the palace for many years.
The only one left is Mingyue.
The bright moon?
She initially took care of herself in Wutong Courtyard, but as it became a habit, after she became the Princess of the County, she followed her to the main courtyard to serve her.
Jiang Qiuye stood in front of Yonghe Palace, watching the sky gradually darken, a sense of foreboding washed over her. She had a hunch that the attack on Ji Ci was just the beginning, that someone was plotting something behind the scenes.
But she still couldn't figure out what the other party's next move would be and what their purpose was.
Ten days later, there was a heavy rain in Shengjing City. Concubine Shu got wet and was exposed to the wind on the way back to Yonghe Palace. After returning to her bedroom, she caught a cold and fell down.
Originally, Jiang Qiuye accompanied Concubine Shu into the Yangxin Palace every day to deliver the medicated food prepared for the emperor's sore throat. Now that Concubine Shu fell ill, Jiang Qiuye made the delivery alone.
I heard that the empress visited the sick a few days ago, but for some reason the emperor was furious. He scolded her, smashed things, and drove her out of the Yangxin Palace.
Jiang Qiuye stepped over the water stains on the ground and went onto the platform. She thought she could just hand the medicinal food to the eunuch, but she didn't expect the emperor to call her in personally.
His illness seemed to be a little more serious than before. He had not attended court in recent days. He lay on the dragon bed and muttered to himself. All day long, he could only eat the medicinal meal she prepared herself.
Jiang Qiuye stepped forward, kneeling before the emperor before receiving permission to stand and approach. Eunuch Li stepped forward, helped the emperor up from the bed, and placed a few pillows behind him.
The emperor rubbed his neck with one hand and cleared his throat before accepting the bowl of soup from Jiang Qiuye. Eunuch Li took out a silver needle and dipped it into the soup to test it before the emperor slowly drank it.
After a moment, Jiang Qiuye took back the empty bowl and listened to the emperor's hoarse voice filled with phlegm. "Now, I didn't expect that my time has come. I can only eat what Princess Qi made herself."
Eunuch Li was shocked when he heard this. He immediately knelt down and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty is the Lord! Please don't talk nonsense! This is really embarrassing for me!"
Jiang Qiuye was also a little surprised. She glanced at Eunuch Li lying on the ground, and then looked at the emperor whose eyes were sunken and blue due to long-term loss of appetite. She clearly remembered that when she entered the palace to see him that day, he was still energetic, but she didn't expect that he would be so seriously ill.
She immediately stood up and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, it's just a throat ailment, it will surely be cured."
The emperor lowered his head and shook it gently, asking Eunuch Li to leave, leaving only Jiang Qiuye in the hall.
He closed his eyes for a moment, and Jiang Qiuye didn't dare to stand up. Then he suddenly said, "I've had trouble eating anything these days. Although I'm not anorexic, I almost understand how much Jian Xi has suffered these past few years. It's only been half a month, while he's been through nearly ten years. No wonder he easily fell for you. Not to mention Jian Xi, even I can't live without the medicinal food you personally prepare."
Jiang Qiuye looked at the emperor, who was clearly in his prime but seemed to be in his twilight years. Although he was not a wise ruler or a good brother, he had devoted all his energy to the Jin State over the years. Her heart was moved. "Your Majesty, since the prince met me, he has worked very hard to heal his body and live a good life. Your Majesty is the ruler of the world. Whether the world is in turmoil depends on your majesty, so your majesty should also work hard and not speak of the end of the world."
The emperor looked at her and smiled, raised his hand for her to stand up, and waved again, indicating that she should sit on a round chair beside the couch.
A gentle drizzle was still falling outside the palace. Listening to the sound, the emperor suddenly smiled. "When Jian Xi was young, he loved to play. In the spring, my mother would often get my father's permission to take Jian Xi and me out of the palace for outings. I love flying kites, and Jian Xi loves ducking in the river. I still remember one time, when we had already reached the outskirts of Ganyang City, the weather turned bad and it started to rain heavily. My mother and I decided to return to the palace, but I didn't expect this naughty child to sneak away on his own, go fishing in the river in the pouring rain, and catch a cold when he returned."
Jiang Qiuye was stunned, recalling Ji Ci's cold and wooden look. She didn't expect that he was like this when he was young. She couldn't help but laugh.
She suddenly realized that she had lost her composure in front of the emperor, and immediately retracted her smile, bowing her head and saying, "Your Majesty, I have lost my composure. Please forgive me."
"What's the big deal? It's pointless. We're family."
The emperor looked off into the distance, his expression somewhat dazed, and said, "My entire life, from the time I was crown prince to this position, I've always been attacked openly and secretly, and betrayed by everyone I trusted. Just think about it, even my mother could betray me, how can I truly let down my guard with Jian Xi?"
Jiang Qiuye lowered his eyes, "Your Majesty must understand the difficulties Your Majesty is facing."
"When I ascended the throne, I stepped on thousands of bones, and then I suspected Jian Xi for half my life. I know my own body, and now when I am terminally ill, I suddenly recall my childhood. I recall my father, Jian Xi, and my mother. He was my most beloved younger brother in my childhood. Every time I dream, I just want to recall the past. Unfortunately, it doesn't go as I wish. The only person I feel sorry for in my life is him, and I don't know if he is willing to forgive me..."
"Your Majesty!" Jiang Qiuye interrupted him, "Your Majesty, the prince has never blamed you. So over the years, no matter what your majesty did, the prince has been wholeheartedly for your majesty and abided by his oath."
After she finished speaking, she immediately stood up and stepped back a few steps, kneeling and bowing. "Your Majesty, although I am not a doctor and my medical skills are not as good as those of the Imperial Physician, since Your Majesty can successfully take my medicinal food, I request Your Majesty to allow me to prepare three meals a day for Your Majesty until Your Majesty recovers."
She didn't know why she had such a sudden idea.
Normally, she would have thought that since the emperor was so suspicious of Ji Ci, she would rather die. But now, she seemed to want to...protect the brotherhood they had since childhood.
After all, her brother Jian Xi had lost his father, his mother, his hopes, and everything since the fall of the First Jin Dynasty. Now, it seemed like he didn't have much left.
Tears gradually welled up in her eyes. The emperor looked at her determined expression and nodded in agreement, "I agree."
From that day on, Jiang Qiuye, under the Emperor's order, worked with the Imperial Hospital to formulate a treatment prescription. Since Concubine Shu's cold continued to persist, she would deliver medicated meals to the Yangxin Palace on time for three meals a day.
Every day when he went to the Yangxin Palace to serve, the emperor could not help but talk about the interesting things that happened with Ji Ci during his childhood.
Unexpectedly, the emperor's condition worsened. Within a few days, his throat had become swollen, and now he couldn't speak. The imperial doctors were helpless, but fortunately, he was still able to drink Jiang Qiuye's medicinal soup.
The emperor's final words to Jiang Qiuye were a curse on Ji Kang and Ji Sang, calling them incompetent and incapable of inheriting the throne. One was ruthless and vicious, the other naive and foolish. He refused to attend to the sick from any of the other princes, even refusing to see the empress. Concubine Shu's condition hadn't improved, and she lay motionless in Yonghe Palace.
Seeing the emperor in agony every day, clutching his throat and glaring, he had been unable to attend court for a long time. The important officials in the court were uneasy and wrote to the emperor to urge him to make Liang Wang Ji Kang the crown prince. However, for some unknown reason, he flew into a rage in the palace and tore up the memorial.
Jiang Qiuye was also anxious, so she tried to change the prescription. What she didn't expect was that the emperor did get better because of her prescription and was able to speak again.
That day, Shengjing was drenched in rain. Though it was late spring, the weather was colder than usual. Even the peach trees in Yonghe Palace, once lush and blooming, had their petals shed by the incessant rain, soaking their deep roots.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation was unusually quiet. Young eunuchs stood at the entrance, waiting to be served. Raindrops patted the glazed tile roof. Suddenly, there was a startling sound as something heavy fell to the ground. Then, Eunuch Li came tumbling out, tumbling down several steps and tearing his clothes.
He knelt on the white jade ground, his face covered with tears, and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty! It collapsed——"
Everyone outside the palace was in shock, not knowing how to react for a moment, until Eunuch Li roared again: "Your Majesty—has passed away—"
At this time, the imperial guards on duty in front of the palace rushed in as if they had just woken up from a dream.
When Jiang Qiuye heard the news of the emperor's death, she was on her way to the Imperial Hospital. The news was so sudden and shocking that she couldn't believe it.
After the improved medicinal diet, the emperor seemed to be getting better and could speak. This morning when she delivered the medicinal diet, he was even able to walk on his own.
He suddenly passed away within half an hour.
Jiang Qiuye dropped the food box in her hand to the ground, and turned around and ran towards the Yangxin Palace. For some reason, her eyelids began to twitch violently.
When she rushed to the Yangxin Palace, the doors were locked. The concubines and the young princes living there all knelt before the palace, crying loudly. Several of the childless concubines fainted from crying.
It was a common practice for concubines without children to be buried alive with the emperor upon his death. They probably could not have imagined that the emperor, who was clearly in the prime of his life, would die of illness.
Seeing Concubine Shu being led by a female official, she also knelt on the ground, covering her face and crying bitterly. Jiang Qiuye wanted to go into the bedroom to see the deceased emperor, but seeing the Yangxin Palace surrounded by imperial guards, she stopped and knelt beside Concubine Shu. However, Concubine Shu seemed to be a little out of control and ignored her.
Soon after, the King of Liang, the King of Wei, and a group of court officials also rushed over and knelt in front.
Afterwards, Eunuch Li straightened his clothes, knelt down in front of the hall, and once again shouted "Cry and jump!" The sound echoed in the ears, and everyone cried even louder.
She finally realized that the emperor was really dead!
She felt a sense of loss in her heart. All these days, she had sincerely hoped that this dog emperor could recover. She wondered what Ji Ci, who was in prison, would do if he heard this news.
He would definitely be sad, because that was his brother, and he had lost his loved one again.
The queen came in a hurry and was already late, but she rushed directly into the bedroom with the people from the Dali Temple.
The drizzle in the sky wet Jiang Qiuye's hair and shoulders. For some reason, when she saw the queen's appearance, she felt even more ominous.
Her intuition told her that she should leave the palace at this moment, but thinking of her identity as Princess Qi and Ji Ci who was still in prison, she suppressed the intuition and knelt with the other female relatives.
A moment later, the Queen walked out of the Yangxin Palace, looked around, and swept her eyes over her without a trace of emotion. She ordered the imperial guards: "His Majesty has passed away. Seal off Shengjing!"
"Princess Qi, Qiu Ziye! She poisoned His Majesty. The evidence is irrefutable. Capture her—"
The author has something to say:
The emperor is offline and still has no name (covering face)
Tomorrow will be another three-in-one chapter, and the male protagonist will be coming out soon. Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solution between 2024-08-05 06:00:00 and 2024-08-06 06:00:00~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: Sponge Baby, 42373845 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
