Chapter 143 Confession
Prince Wei's Palace.
Expensive medicinal herbs were brought into the house in a stream, and the strong smell of medicine spread, even the air was bitter. All kinds of people came and went, first doctors, then monks, Taoist priests, and when the last group came out, they looked solemn and shook their heads slowly at the King of Wei: "Your Highness, we are incompetent and unable to save the situation. Please ask the King of Wei to find someone else."
Now, what wise men can Chang'an invite? The King of Wei sighed and asked, "Is there nothing else we can do?"
The doctor shook his head and said cryptically, "The prince is in good spirits now. If the King of Wei has anything to say, please tell him now. Don't waste your time looking for a doctor or medicine."
This was a euphemism for Wu Yanji's last moments of life. The King of Wei sighed deeply and waved his hand to let the doctors leave. Behind the screen, Wu Yanji was lying facedown on the bed, his skin torn and flesh tattered, his breath dying, his lips dry and cracked, almost unrecognizable.
The son who was full of vigor and vitality yesterday has become like this today. The King of Wei felt sad when he saw this scene. He turned around and said to the people on both sides: "Clean up the prince and prepare for his funeral."
Princess Yongtai knelt beside the footstool, feeding Wu Yanji medicine and changing his handkerchief non-stop, as if this would make Wu Yanji better. Suddenly, a group of maids came in with death clothes and bowed to Princess Yongtai: "Please make way, Princess. I have been ordered to change the clothes for the prince."
Princess Yongtai saw the shrouds in their hands, and her eyes were deeply hurt. She said angrily: "What are you doing? He is still fine, who allowed you to take out these unlucky things!"
Princess Yongtai was a gentle and frail girl, always speaking in a soft voice. This was the first time she had yelled at a servant. The servants were confused by the scolding and said unconvincedly, "This was ordered by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei. Princess, please don't make it difficult for us."
Prince Wei gave the order. Princess Yongtai's eyes widened and she was so angry that her whole body began to tremble.
She knew rationally that the King of Wei was right. The King of Wei had more than one son, so there was no need to bring trouble to the entire family because of Wu Yanji, so she did not go to the palace to plead for mercy yesterday. Wu Yanji was obviously not going to survive, so there was no need to waste energy. It would be better to change his shrouds while there was still time. As the Crown Prince of Wei, he should die in a dignified manner.
Each of them has their own considerations. Grandmother is furious, father is helpless, and father-in-law also makes the choice that maximizes his interests. This was the case when he was exiled, when he separated from Ji Xian, and now Wu Yanji is like this again.
They all did the right thing, and all of them advised her to be aware of current affairs and the big picture. But what exactly is the big picture? She just wanted to stay with her family and live a stable life like an ordinary woman. Why did the heavens take away even such a humble wish from her again and again?
Maybe she cried too long yesterday, and now Princess Yongtai is trembling all over, but she can't shed a single tear. Wu Yanji on the bed seemed to sense something, opened his eyes with great effort, and held Princess Yongtai's hand.
His hands were as hot as a piece of charcoal, and he was breathing in more than out. He kept saying to her, "Xianhui, you are pregnant, you shouldn't get angry. Go back and rest, I have nothing to do here."
Princess Yongtai was like a bow that had been stretched for too long. At this moment, it finally broke. She lost all her ladylike manners and collapsed, "It's okay, how can you be okay? My brother is dead, and you are going to leave me too? What did I do wrong? What do you want me to do? What do you want me to do?"
Princess Yongtai's voice was hoarse from crying yesterday. Her screams were deep and deep, and every word seemed to tear her vocal cords, and she cried blood and sorrowfully. People inside and outside the house were terrified when they heard it. Suddenly, someone saw the blood on Princess Yongtai's skirt and cried out in surprise, "Princess, what happened to you?"
Soon after the King of Wei arranged the funeral of his eldest son, he heard from his attendants that Princess Yongtai was too grief-stricken and had miscarried. Now the bleeding could not be stopped and the situation was probably not optimistic. He stood under the newly sprouted albizzia tree and arranged the funeral of his daughter-in-law again.
The maid took the order and left. The King of Wei looked at the garden where everything was flourishing. After a long while, he sighed, "So, spring has come."
Unfortunately, Yanji and Yongtai could not see it. I heard that Li Chongrun was not saved last night. The prince lost a son and a daughter, and he lost a son and a daughter-in-law. It seems that he did not lose much.
May the three of them be able to walk together in the afterlife and see the spring flowers blooming.
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In the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Ming Huachang cried herself tired and fell asleep with sobs. Ming Huazhang held her patiently all the time, and when she fell asleep, he held her shoulders and carefully put her in bed.
After finishing all this, he turned around and looked at the Duke of Zhenguo and Madam Ming, and said calmly, "Father, grandmother."
To show respect to his elders, he lowered his eyes slightly, knowing in his heart what he was about to face. When it really came to this, Ming Huazhang found that he was much more relieved than he had imagined.
He had been looking ahead and behind, thinking over and over, and there were always too many pros and cons to consider. He had been suppressing his feelings, wanting to wait until he found a perfect way that would satisfy everyone, without risk and completely controllable, before confessing his feelings.
However, everything in the world can be controlled except feelings. If you can express and receive love freely, it is not love.
Prince Shao died, and he didn't rush to save him, but he had to at least protect Ming Huashang. He hugged Ming Huashang in front of many elders and maids, which was an extremely extraordinary thing in any family and was really irrational, but at that moment, he had no other thoughts except this one.
This was probably the most impulsive, inappropriate, and irrational action he had ever taken. However, Ming Huazhang surprisingly did not feel any regret, because this was also the first time he acted completely according to his heart without considering any consequences.
Nothing was more unbearable than losing her. In comparison, the possibility of disappointing his adoptive father, the possibility of affecting the plan to restore the Tang Dynasty, and the possibility of damaging the reputation of Crown Prince Zhang Huai all became unimportant.
He broke the shackles in impulse, but bent down to pick up the debris in reason.
Duke Zhenguo looked at Ming Huazhang deeply, without revealing anything, and said calmly: "Come out with me."
"Yes." Ming Huazhang agreed. He calmed down, arranged for the maid to take care of Ming Huashang in an orderly manner, and then followed out calmly.
Madam Ming seemed to sense something and did not follow him, but stayed in the courtyard to look after Ming Huachang. Ming Huazhang followed the Duke of Zhenguo into the main courtyard. After entering the house, Ming Huazhang knelt down with unusual calmness and kowtowed deeply: "My son is guilty, please punish me, father."
The Duke of Zhenguo suppressed his anger and said, "What are you doing, Prince? You are the king and the Ming family is the minister. I am not worthy of such a great gift from you."
Ming Huazhang did not move, his hands still on the ground, his forehead knocking against the back of his hands. Through the clear and smooth stone bricks, Ming Huazhang could clearly see his own eyes, calm, dark, and firm.
Ming Huazhang was extremely calm and said, "Father saved me, raised me, and gave me a new life. I deserve this. I betrayed your trust and treated Shang Shang inappropriately. I came here to apologize to you."
The Duke of Zhenguo sat at the head of the table and remained silent for a long time. Just now he was still thinking whether to pretend he didn't know, but this child poked through the window paper, leaving him no chance to even pretend to be deaf and dumb.
The Duke of Zhenguo sighed and said, "Prince, please stand up first. I have given my life to protect you, and I really don't deserve such a great gift from you. You are still young and don't understand the relationship between men and women. Why not wait a few years..."
"Father, I understand." Ming Huazhang interrupted others for once and said slowly and firmly, "I am kneeling here now, not as the son of Crown Prince Zhanghuai, but as Ming Huazhang, begging for your forgiveness. I understand what love is, what responsibility is, what is the love between men and women, and what is a brother to a sister. I have failed your teachings and failed to follow the three precepts of a gentleman, but I still do not repent. I humbly ask for your mercy and allow my feelings for Shangshang."
Duke Zhenguo looked at Ming Huazhang for a long time. Even though he was kneeling on the ground, his back was still straight and he remained unyielding. Duke Zhenguo sighed, walked down from the couch, and personally helped Ming Huazhang up: "Prince, you are too kind. It is human nature to admire a young man. If you want to blame someone, you should blame me as a father for my failure in my duty. You did nothing wrong. However, Prince, you are still using the Ming family's surname. Even if I agree, the public will not agree to marry Shangshang."
"I know." Ming Huazhang stood up, his eyes calm, "So I didn't ask you to marry Shangshang to me. I have lived in the mansion these years, and entered the inner house under the identity of a brother, but I developed a romantic relationship with Shangshang. This is my betrayal of your trust. I have to tell you, please forgive me. As for whether Shangshang is willing to marry me, and whether I have the luck to marry her in this life, it is her business. I want to be good to her, that's all, no matter what her decision is."
Duke Zhenguo silently looked at the handsome and promising young man in front of him. To be honest, he was very angry when he first saw the extraordinary behavior of Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang, but Ming Huazhang was so frank and sincere that he did not hesitate to admit his feelings and let the Ming family judge, but he also made it clear that he would not give up.
The Duke of Zhenguo truly raised Ming Huazhang as his own son, and instilled all his expectations for his children and grandchildren, and for the monarch. The child did not disappoint his expectations, and grew up better than he expected, so that when Ming Huazhang suddenly expressed his feelings for his daughter, even if the Duke of Zhenguo wanted to resist, he could not find any fault with him.
The Duke of Zhenguo was really at a loss for words, and he sighed, "Forget it. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. I am a failed husband myself, and I really have no right to point fingers at others. You are all grown up, so you can deal with your feelings by yourselves, and take it as far as you can. But Prince, I still have to remind you that the injustice of Prince Zhang Huai has not been clarified, and the blood of Prince Shao has once again stained the Danfeng Gate. The road ahead is long, and every step forward will not be easy. You must think clearly."
"I understand." Ming Huazhang lowered his eyes and solemnly promised the Duke of Zhenguo as a son and a man, "I understand what I am doing. I will shoulder the responsibilities that should be shouldered by me, and will never involve Shangshang."
The Duke of Zhenguo wanted to say that he was not afraid of being implicated. If he was afraid of death, he would not have brought Ming Huazhang back seventeen years ago. But as a father, he opened his mouth but could not continue.
As a subject, he could face death fearlessly, but as a father, he selfishly hoped that his daughter could live a peaceful, stable and worry-free life. From this perspective, Ming Huazhang was not a good candidate for a son-in-law.
In the end, Duke Zhen just patted Ming Huazhang on the shoulder. Although they said nothing, both men understood the meaning of this gesture. There were hurried footsteps outside the window. The maid stopped at the door and panted, "Duke, Erlangjun, my wife is having a nightmare again."
Duke Zhenguo was startled and stood up immediately, but Ming Huazhang had already run out before him. Duke Zhenguo didn't care about anything else and hurried to Ming Huachang's house.