Chapter 30 Exchange Completed
In the East Palace
Xiao Ji sat alone in the wheelchair, his peach blossom eyes that used to show affection to everyone he looked at no longer had even the coldness and arrogance in them, now there was only dead silence.
Zhao Tong felt so distressed when he saw his master's dejected appearance that he offered him some meat porridge and tried to comfort him, "Master, please eat a few mouthfuls of food first. If you don't eat any more, your body won't be able to hold on. Your legs must...must have a chance."
But Xiao Ji's mind was not on what Zhao Tong said. He was silent for a long time and suddenly said, "Zhao Tong, tell me, why did my mother's health take a turn for the worse after twenty years of Deyou?"
Zhao Tong was stunned when he heard this. "Why do you suddenly ask this... Your Majesty's health has been gradually deteriorating since the miscarriage eighteen years ago."
He remembered that this incident had caused quite a stir. The Empress was 32 years old at the time and was suddenly pregnant again. His Majesty and the Highness were all very happy at the time, but unfortunately the child was miscarried within three months. From then on, the Empress's health began to weaken, and she passed away at the age of 20.
"No... that's not the case. Although Mother's miscarriage did some harm to her health, it didn't cause any serious damage... I'm afraid Mother's weakening health isn't due to the miscarriage..."
Hearing him say this, Zhao Tong was also shocked, his eyes fixed on Xiao Ji, "Do you know something?"
But the person who raised the question slowly shook his head and said nothing in the end.
Xiao Ji lowered his eyes silently, thinking of something that happened in his heart. It seemed that eighteen years after Deyou, the relationship between his mother and father was not as close as before. Although they had always been in harmony in front of others, as their child, how could he not notice it?
Seeing this, Zhao Tong didn't dare to ask any more questions. He just followed the topic and advised, "Your Highness..." Then he quickly changed his tone, "You should have some food. Nothing is more important than your life. Do you want to disturb the spirit of the late queen in heaven?"
This really touched Xiao Ji's heart. His mother had said something to him before she died. She hoped he would live well and that nothing was more important than living. Thinking of this, he finally managed to cheer up a little.
Although he was depressed, he had a burning fire in his heart. Was there any other reason for his fall from the horse? Who wanted to harm him and his teacher? And why did his mother die? There were still many mysteries weighing on his mind, and he could not give up.
Thinking of this, Xiao Ji took the bowl of meat porridge and scooped it up spoonful by spoonful.
Seeing that he was finally willing to eat, Zhao Tong smiled happily. Thinking of telling Xiao Ji some good news to cheer him up, he said, "Liang... Madam Xi has left the palace. I think she went back to the Xi family to ask for help. Maybe when your leg injury heals, there will be a chance for a bright future."
But he changed his words midway and explained again that their identities were no longer the same as before, which made people feel depressed. The smile that Zhao Tong had finally raised faded, but Xiao Ji did not react much.
He took a mouthful of meat porridge, then said calmly, "Xi Jianan went to Jingzhou a few days ago to serve as the governor. Her father is not at home. What help can she ask for?"
This is just a thought, Xiao Ji won't take it seriously.
"And my legs..."
Xiao Ji smiled bitterly, "You also heard what the dean said. Even if my leg heals, there is a high chance that I will be lame..."
"Even the Crown Princess has called off the engagement, so you don't have to comfort me."
This happened just an hour ago. As soon as the imperial edict to depose the Crown Prince was issued, the Crown Princess's father, Duke Liguo, came before His Majesty and begged him to do something. He said how the old Duke Liguo had devoted his life to Dayu and had passed away less than a year ago. He also said that his daughter was delayed because she was in mourning for her grandfather. It was really pitiful. His words and deeds clearly showed that he wanted to cancel the marriage.
Since the emperor could depose the prince, he could naturally agree to it. However, he was afraid that people would blame him for being too harsh on his son, so he only agreed to postpone the wedding on the surface. But no one could fail to see that as long as Duke Li Guo asked a few more times after a while, the emperor would agree to cancel the marriage.
Anyway, Duke Liguo has only been gone for half a year, and the Duke Liguo family still has half a year to mediate.
However, it would still be a bad look if this matter were to be spread. Now, countless people in the capital secretly lamented that the deposed prince had suffered double misfortunes.
After hearing Xiao Ji's story about the broken engagement, Zhao Tong hurriedly comforted her, "There's nothing wrong with breaking off the engagement. I've heard that the girl from the Duke of Liguo's family is a spoiled brat. If she really followed you to the palace, there would definitely be chaos. Now that she's broken off the engagement, it's a good thing!"
"Indeed... It wouldn't be a good thing for anyone to follow me now. Madam Xi... I hope she doesn't come back. There's no point in her coming back. It would only cause more trouble."
Zhao Tong disagreed, and said with a sigh, "They'll give some help, won't they? At least she's married. The Xi family is definitely related to you. Xi Jingzhou is the emperor's man. With his good words, we still have a chance."
Even if he cannot regain his position as crown prince, being able to regain his status as a prince is better than being a commoner for the rest of his life.
But Xiao Ji simply put down the silver spoon in his hand, sneered, and punctured Zhao Tong's fantasy again, "Xi Jianan is a bit important, but this amount is only enough for him to protect his daughter. As for me, forget it. And she may not return to the East Palace tonight."
Xiao Ji had no complaints about this. He had been demoted to a commoner, had a leg broken, and was going to move out of the Eastern Palace tomorrow. Which official's wife in the capital could endure such humiliation? It would be better for him to stay at her parents' home so that he wouldn't have to take care of another stranger.
Although he had been married to her for a month, they hadn't had much contact and hadn't consummated their marriage, so wasn't that like a stranger?
Hearing this, Zhao Tong slowly lowered his head. It was not because he liked Madam Xi, but because he was worried that the successive betrayals would make his master even more sad. If the concubine also left, there would really only be the prince and him two left in the Eastern Palace.
After a moment of silence, Zhao Tong suddenly raised his head and asked, "Master... is it true that the Yang family has not taken any action at all?"
Hearing the word "Yang", Xiao Ji was stunned for a moment, then shook his head gently.
"Grandfather... probably doesn't dare to get involved in the fight for the crown prince position, and I don't want the Yang family to get involved."
Although the Yang family is prominent, they are also walking on thin ice. He used to restrain himself from getting too close to the Yang family, so how could he make an exception now?
Only by not getting involved in his affairs can the Yang family be preserved.
*
However, that very night, Madam Xi, who they thought had gone away forever, returned to the East Palace.
After receiving the report from the eunuch, Zhao Tong subconsciously asked Xiao Ji: "Master, Madam Xi is back. Do you want to see her?"
The person on the bed paused for a moment and said calmly, "No."
The hibiscus face appeared in Xiao Ji's mind for a moment, but he was not thinking of his concubine but someone else.
If it was her, he still wanted to meet her, but just as a concubine, there was no need to rush.
Seeing him closing his eyes and not wanting to say more, Zhao Tong nodded, responded, turned and left the inner hall.
The master was in a bad mood and didn't want to receive the lady, but he had to receive her well, after all, he might have to rely on the lady in the future.
Now that Madam is back, she must not be the kind of person who can only share the good times but not the bad times.
But when Zhao Tong saw her, he was a little surprised.
Is the person in front of me, with neatly dressed hair and a calm expression as if nothing has happened, really Mrs. Xi?
Didn’t the doorman say this morning that Madam Xi went back crying?
Really?
Suppressing his hope, Zhao Tong asked tentatively, "Madam, what's the news over there? Is there any hope?"
Qing Wu met the eunuch's expectant eyes, shook his head slightly, and couldn't help but reveal a bitter smile. He really wanted to tell him:
Not only is there no improvement, but even your wife has abandoned your master and joined him.
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