Sure enough, not long after, His Majesty issued an edict to establish the Third Princess, Wei Sijin, as the Crown Princess.
Wei Sijin was overjoyed. She had obtained the position she had always dreamed of, and the newly appointed Wei Sijin was all smiles! Anyone could see that the Third Princess was in a very good mood.
Wei Sijin made no attempt to hide her feelings, seemingly believing that no one else could sit on the throne except her.
So when the news from Jiangcheng arrived, it caught the Third Princess completely off guard. They... made their move?
The Third Princess was filled with regret. She shouldn't have agreed to their demands in order to deal with the Crown Princess. She had been asking a tiger for its skin!
What should we do? No, we absolutely mustn't let anyone know that she did it!
She had only just ascended to the position of Crown Princess; she absolutely could not, absolutely could not, hand it over to someone else!
In the imperial court, the Empress was furious. "Why did the epidemic in Jiangcheng only just reach the capital? What have you all been doing? Not a single one of you has any solutions?"
The Empress glanced at Prince An, who stood silently in front, and said, "Prince An, you speak."
The ministers secretly rejoiced, thankfully they weren't the ones called out.
Prince An stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the only solution now is to send someone with the imperial physicians to treat and appease the people. This is not the time to punish; the most important thing is to get through this crisis.”
"Very well, who among you is willing to go in my place?"
The courtiers looked at each other, but no one uttered a sound.
Just as the Empress was about to fly into a rage again, the Grand Tutor stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this epidemic is raging fiercely. Sending only ordinary ministers will probably not be of much use!"
"Then what do you suggest we do?" This won't work, that won't work, they're all a bunch of good-for-nothings.
"Your Majesty would be better off sending a princess there. This would show that the court will not abandon Jiangcheng, and it would also reassure the people. After all, a princess represents the royal family."
The Empress's expression softened somewhat; this idea was acceptable. She sent for the Fourth and Sixth Princesses.
Wei Wangqing was perfectly fine at home when he was led to the main hall, looking completely bewildered. The Fourth Princess was in the same situation.
The Empress looked at her two daughters and asked kindly, "Are you willing to share your mother's burdens?"
Wei Qingye eagerly expressed his loyalty, saying with a broad smile, "Your subject is willing."
The Empress smiled with satisfaction and then looked at Wei Wangqing.
Wei Wangqing could only lower his head and say, "Your subject is also willing." Sure enough, summoning him here was never for anything good. What was the Empress up to now?
"My esteemed ministers, which of my two sons do you think is more suitable to go?"
Wei Sijin panicked. The incident happened so suddenly; she feared her subordinates hadn't dealt with the situation properly and might trace it back to her. After all, this tactic was originally intended for the Crown Princess, but now it seemed only her two younger sisters would suffer. Thinking this, she made a hand gesture towards a certain direction.
Immediately, a minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe the Sixth Princess is more suitable."
"Oh? Why?" Everyone has their biases. Compared to the Fourth Princess, who grew up under her nose, if anyone should be given up, it would be the Sixth Princess, who grew up far away outside the capital and was said to have brought misfortune to her mother. But she couldn't say those words herself.
This minister does have some insight.
The minister who accidentally won the emperor's favor was delighted.
"I have heard that the Sixth Princess has been well-versed in many books since childhood. Perhaps there is a way to cure the plague among them. Why not let the Sixth Princess try it? She might make a great contribution."
Wei Wangqing: I don't even know myself? It seems you know me better than I do.
The fourth princess was startled. "My God, what? Plague?"
Thankfully, it wasn't me who was recommended. I glanced at Wei Wangqing next to me and thought to myself, we really are in the same boat!
"Very well, I grant your permission."
Before Wei Wangqing could say anything, the Empress retorted with a single sentence, making him want to curse.
Wei Sijin finally felt relieved. Her sixth sister knew nothing and knew nothing. What could she possibly find out? Hmph, she'd be lucky if she didn't lose her life there.
"I hereby appoint the Sixth Princess Wei Wangqing as the Special Envoy for Epidemic Prevention and Control, and dispatch twenty imperial physicians to accompany her to pacify the people and quell the epidemic on my behalf. She may act as she sees fit."
"Take it easy?" The Third Princess frowned, but she figured the Third Princess wouldn't be able to find anything out.
Wei Wangqing returned to his residence to pack his belongings, as he was to depart early the next morning.
Wei Wangqing sighed repeatedly, "Being a princess is no easy task!"
Seeing the prince's worried expression, Li Nuo asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
"Your Highness, I'm going to help with disaster relief!"
Li Nuo was puzzled.
“A plague broke out in Jiangcheng, and His Majesty sent me to Jiangcheng to treat the plague.”
After thinking for a moment, he added, "It wasn't me who treated him, it was the imperial physician. I was just the leader, the one in charge."
"What?!" Li Nuo exclaimed in shock. "How could Your Majesty do such a thing!"
"Why not? As a princess, I must bear the responsibilities of a princess. Alright, you go and pack your things too! I'll take you with me, after all, you're my personal bodyguard."
He looked at Li Nuo with a sinister expression as he spoke.
But Li Nuo showed no sign of reluctance. "Yes, I'll go right away," he said, turning to leave.
"etc."
Li Nuo turned around, "Your Highness?"
"You're willing?"
Li Nuo reacted for a moment and then laughed.
"Of course I'm willing. From the moment Your Highness bought me, I became Your Highness's person."
He paused, then added, "Regardless of life or death."
Wei Wangqing was deeply moved. It wasn't for nothing that I raised you all!
But then he turned around and said ruthlessly, "Bring more men. It's time for you to take on the responsibility of guarding!"
"yes."
Prince An's Mansion.
"Mother, what are you saying? How is that possible? How could she possibly be sent there?"
Seeing his son's strong reaction, Prince An knew he had guessed correctly.
“Why not? She’s a member of the royal family too,” Prince An said cruelly.
Seeing his son's distraught state, Prince An was also heartbroken, but there was nothing he could do. The imperial decree had been issued, and there was no way to change it.
"Mother, please help me, I want to see her." How could she refuse Xiangrong's pleading gaze?
So, "Okay."
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