usatvline Chapter 161: No Plea
Chapter 161: No Plea
Half an hour later, Emperor Shenwu finally emerged from the bedroom of Suowu Palace. He walked out of the bedroom door and ordered without even turning his head, "Don't tell her I was here!"
Ruping and Ruhan, who were guarding the dormitory door, bowed and said yes.
Prince Ding, upon hearing about Prince Kang's affairs, hurried back to the palace. Passing the Imperial Gardens, he saw Prince Kang still kneeling, and sighed with worry, "Second Brother, I heard that your behavior was inappropriate and your words offended Princess Wueryu. His Majesty simply gave her to you. Why haven't you changed your ways?"
King Kang's face flushed red, and he couldn't help but growl, "I didn't do that! I didn't! Who is spreading rumors?"
Prince Ding saw his agitated expression and coughed softly, "Don't be impatient! Even if you didn't... Fine, fine, you really didn't, but now that this decree has been issued, you must obey. Second brother, this is an imperial decree! Don't kneel here any longer. If you disturb your mother later, you'll be considered unfilial."
King Kang was startled. He didn't think too much about it. He just wanted His Majesty to revoke his order. He slowly stood up and said, "Third brother, please ask His Majesty for mercy on my behalf. I don't want that woman from the Northern Nar tribe."
Prince Ding shook his head. "Second brother, the imperial decree has been issued. It cannot be reversed. Moreover, Second brother... your reputation is well-known. When the court and the harem heard of this decree, they all believed that you were the first to have flirted with Wuer Yuji. His Majesty had no choice but to issue the decree to fulfill your wish."
King Kang couldn't believe it: "But I... I... have never seen that Wuer Yuji."
Prince Ding patted Prince Kang on the shoulder and said, "It doesn't matter whether you've met her or not. What matters is that you go back now and prepare to welcome Princess Wueryu into Prince Kang's palace!"
King Kang's expression darkened. "Your Majesty—are you using that Wuer Yuji to warn me?" He shouldn't even think about having any desire for her. She was only worthy of the woman in the cage.
In the Qianzheng Hall, Emperor Shenwu was sitting on the dragon throne looking at a scroll.
Prince Ding came in from outside the palace and met with Emperor Shenwu: "Your Majesty!"
Emperor Shenwu waved his hand to let Prince Ding stand up. "Prince Kang has left the palace?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. However, if Your Majesty gives Wuer Yuji to King Kang, will the Beinar tribe be dissatisfied?"
"Dissatisfied? You have to keep your dissatisfaction to yourself. Besides, the Ujina tribe was already in the wrong regarding the caged woman. After weighing the pros and cons of giving the noble lady of the Beinar tribe to Prince Dasheng, they won't say anything."
Prince Ding thought about it carefully and realized that it was indeed the case. He then spoke hesitantly, "Your Majesty, Prince Kang..."
Emperor Shenwu glanced at Prince Ding and put down the scroll in his hand with a "pop". "Prince Ding, look at these scrolls on my desk. Do you know where they came from?"
Prince Ding only raised his head slightly to take a look before quickly lowering his head: "This is... Concubine Yi!"
Emperor Shenwu's expression was icy: "These were found in the study of Prince Kang's mansion. They were all painted by Prince Kang!"
Prince Ding looked at Emperor Shenwu in shock: "Your Majesty, this..."
Emperor Shenwu's eyes were calm and composed. "Prince Ding, my patience is really limited. Please let him fend for himself!"
Prince Ding didn't even know how to plead for mercy. He left the palace with a heavy heart. Prince Kang was truly wearing away the emperor's tolerance for him bit by bit, truly courting his own death step by step.
Lan Qingwu had spent the past two days in a daze. One day, while she was having lunch, Ruping hurried into the palace and reported, "Master, Wuer Yuji has been given to Prince Kang and was brought to Prince Kang's palace this morning."
"Prince Kang's Mansion?"
"Yes, and His Majesty has sent a royal physician to treat him."
Lan Qingwu put down the chopsticks in his hand and whispered, "That's good."
As for why it was Prince Kang, Lan Qingwu thought again and felt that perhaps only the prince could prevent the Northern Nar tribe from refusing.
Ru Ping replied, "Master, we are going to Miaoling Palace to escape the summer heat soon. Ru Han and I should pack well."
Lan Qingwu nodded. Time passed so quickly that it was time to go to Miaoling Palace again.
Leng Qujing's fourth-rank general's residence. Yu Piaolan specially prepared a table of wine and food. When it was time for dinner, Leng Qujing arrived at Piaolan Courtyard as expected.
Yu Piaolan helped Leng Qujing take off his outer clothes and wash his hands, and then they sat down one after another.
Yu Piaolan first poured a glass of wine for Leng Qujing, and then filled it up for herself: "Master, I will toast you first!"
Leng Qujing also picked up the wine glass and drank it all. He put the glass down and looked at Yu Piaolan: "What? Are you still feeling uncomfortable? Didn't I send that woman away?"
Yu Piaolan said softly, "I just feel sad to see a person being locked in a cage like an animal."
Leng Qujing comforted him: "You are just too soft-hearted."
Yu Piaolan said softly, "Because I know what it feels like to be locked in a cage."
Leng Qujing didn't hear clearly: "What?"
"I want to offer you another glass of wine."
The two of them clinked their glasses again and drank it all in one gulp.
The convoy meandered for more than ten miles as it headed towards the Miaoling Palace.
Lan Qingwu once again moved into the Jingyou Pavilion. Her belly had already formed a slight curve, and every day Lan Qingwu would talk and play with the fetus in her belly.
Ruhan walked in with light lotus steps: "Master, General Leng's concubine Yu Piaolan wants to find an opportunity to see you, perhaps because of the matter of Qingciyuan."
Lan Qingwu lowered his eyes: "After Lan Yan left, Qingci Hospital was entrusted to Madam Qian and Yu Piaolan. She came here to report on the matter."
Seeing Lan Qingwu's mood getting lower again, Ru Ping quickly interrupted, "Master, isn't the dinner you asked the kitchen to prepare a bit too much?"
"Not much. His Majesty will come at dinner."
Ruping and Ruhan looked at each other and saw some doubt in each other's eyes. His Majesty didn't say he would come.
Ru Han continued, "Master, when I went out just now, I saw Master Buyu. Master Buyu told me that the Ruyi Tree was surrounded by the Black Feather Guards, and not even a fly could fly over it!"
Lan Qingwu nodded in understanding. It seemed that his unconsciousness that time really scared Emperor Shenwu.
Thinking of Master Buyu, Lan Qingwu asked, "Is it just Master Buyu? Has his senior brother arrived?"
Ruhan shook her head. "His Majesty doesn't like Master Zhiyan very much. He only allows Master Buyu to enter the palace from time to time, and he also lets Master Buyu browse the ancient Buddhist scriptures in the palace at will."
The master and his two servants chatted casually, and when it was time for dinner, Emperor Shenwu indeed arrived at Jingyou Pavilion.
After the two of them finished their meal, Emperor Shenwu took a walk with Lan Qingwu. Afterwards, the palace servants helped them wash and dress before leaving the bedroom.
Emperor Shenwu embraced Lan Qingwu and put him on the bed. His palm gently stroked Lan Qingwu's belly: "Little guy, how many days have you missed your father reading to you? Do you miss your father?"
Lan Qingwu blinked her watery eyes and looked at the Shenwu Emperor: "Brother Heng, aren't you here? I can feel that Brother Heng is with me and the child every day."
Emperor Shenwu was a little surprised: "Oh? How did you know?"
Lan Qingwu stretched out her snow-white arms and hooked them around the neck of the Shenwu Emperor: "Weakness is knowing!"
Emperor Shenwu couldn't help but tease, "Calling you Brother Heng again? Didn't you get angry with me last time by calling me Your Majesty all the time?"