The emperor had a calm expression at this moment, and no one could guess what he was thinking. Suddenly, he kicked out, and Concubine Xiao's hand was bounced away, and her body fell backwards. The emperor said angrily: "Xiao Wanwan, since you entered the palace, I have always treated you well. Over the years, you have used all kinds of tricks in the harem, and I have turned a blind eye. You should know how many concubines you have killed! I didn't even investigate how the eldest prince's mother died tragically. Now you dare to drug me, tell me, is there anything else you dare not do? Do you think I don't know that the so-called tonic you send me every day is actually a deadly poison."
Concubine Xiao was terrified and quickly knelt down to beg for mercy, trying her best to explain: "Your Majesty, this must be a misunderstanding! I definitely did not poison you. Eunuch Xu tests for poison every day!"
The emperor sneered and said, "Hmph, this is precisely the brilliance of your tactics. However, I will investigate this matter thoroughly and get to the bottom of it. Come, send Concubine Xiao back to Changchun Palace. From today on, no one in Changchun Palace may leave the palace without my order."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" A group of guards dragged Concubine Xiao away. As she walked, she shouted, "Your Majesty, I am innocent!"
Her voice was full of grievance and unwillingness, but it did not arouse anyone's sympathy.
The emperor then said, "Wei Shou, deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, colluded with the Third Prince to rebel. Drag him away and behead him in public as a warning to others."
This sentence was like a bolt from the blue, shocking everyone present.
They did not expect that the emperor would handle the matter so decisively and even execute the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard.
This also shows how seriously the emperor took this rebellion and his determination to maintain national stability.
"Your Majesty, I have captured the Second Prince of Xiliang, Niao Ren, in Xiaohuang Tower. I wonder what to do with him?" the prince asked respectfully.
There was a hint of worry on his face, as if he was worried that his decision would cause his father's dissatisfaction.
The emperor frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then said, "Prince, thank you for your hard work. Send someone to take the Second Prince of Xiliang to Shuicheng and hand him over to your uncle, General Gu. Have him negotiate with the King of Xiliang. If the King of Xiliang refuses to compromise, then we will mobilize all our forces to attack Xiliang."
This decision made the ministers present nod in agreement.
They believed that this would not only demonstrate the strength of the Northern Yue Kingdom, but also put pressure on the King of Western Liang, forcing him to make concessions.
This bloody storm finally ended. Eunuch Xu directed everyone to wash the floor and clean up the blood.
As soon as the prince returned to the East Palace, he stayed by Jiang Meiyu's side. He did everything himself and never asked anyone else to do it for him. He carefully twisted the handkerchief to wipe Jiang Meiyu's face, stroked her eyebrows, gently kissed her forehead, and whispered in her ear: "Yu'er, everything is over, wake up!"
The next morning, the weather was clear and sunny, and the birds were singing cheerfully and melodiously. Jiang Meiyu opened her eyes slightly amid the chirping of birds, and what came into her sight was the prince's thin face and bloodshot eyes. She was also filled with heartache, knowing that he must not have had any rest: "Your Highness," Jiang Meiyu called softly.
The prince was so excited when he heard the voice that he almost cried. He held Jiang Meiyu's hand tightly and said, "Yu'er, you finally woke up. That's great!" Jiang Meiyu was very moved to see the prince so excited, but her body was still very weak and she could only smile softly. The prince saw her pale face and felt distressed. He quickly asked someone to prepare some supplements for her health.
In the days that followed, the prince personally took care of Jiang Meiyu every day, chatting with her, making her happy, and helping her recover as quickly as possible. Jiang Meiyu also felt the prince's deep love for her, and their relationship became even deeper. After a period of recuperation, Jiang Meiyu's body gradually recovered. She was grateful for the prince's care and decided to repay him well. So, she began to learn how to better take care of the prince and share some of his affairs.
After being stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner, Marquis Jianing repeatedly sought an audience with Jiang Meiyu, but was rejected each time. Jiang Meiyu knew Marquis Jianing's intentions—he simply sought help—but she was unwilling to offer a helping hand. After all, Marquis Jianing had treated the original owner poorly in the past, and his current fate was retribution. Furthermore, Jiang Shanshan and Tang Chaoyan were also imprisoned for their crimes, awaiting execution.
However, Jiang Meiyu later learned that Jianing Hou had fallen on the streets, begging with Su Hong. Whenever things went wrong, Jianing Hou would vent his anger on Su Hong, even beating her half to death. He believed that Su Hong and her daughter were entirely to blame for his current situation.
Jiang Meiyu dismissed these stories as jokes, and her days passed uneventfully. Time flew by, seasons changed, and in the blink of an eye, winter arrived. A heavy snow fell, blanketing the world in a blanket of pure white. Meanwhile, Jiang Meiyu was nearing labor, her belly bulging with the promise of a new life.
The prince had already prepared everything, including a midwife and a wet nurse. He knew that this day was of great significance to Jiang Meiyu, so he made full preparations early.
Inside the delivery room, Jiang Meiyu's cries grew louder and louder, as if they were about to burst through the roof. Her face was filled with pain and determination, and sweat soaked her forehead. The prince was as nervous as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth outside the delivery room, his heart filled with anxiety and worry.
Meanwhile, the Emperor and Empress also learned the news. Overwhelmed with excitement, they rushed to the Eastern Palace. They stood outside the delivery room, equally filled with anxiety and anticipation. The Emperor clenched his fists, silently praying for the safety of mother and child; the Empress, with a look of anxiety on her face, kept asking the midwife about the situation.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com