Chapter 273 – Princess Yi
Clang!
Concubine Xiao broke her cup in anger.
The noise made Gao Bingze jump. How could he not know the seriousness of this matter? Prostrated on the floor, he stuttered, "Your Ladyship, this lowly official was framed. I have no knowledge of how it happened. This lowly one beseeches your understanding!"
Ji Muqing was sobbing on the side, her tear-stained face beautiful despite the sorrow. She clenched the front of her clothes as she kneeled on the floor weakly. Her eyes raised to Concubine Xiao, and she shook her head with all her might. Her explanation came, punctuated by intermittent sobs. "Your Ladyship, I absolutely could do no such thing. I do not know how this situation came to be. I really don't know…"
"Enough nonsense! The facts are laid out in front of my eyes, and you two still want to deny it?!" Concubine Xiao snapped.
Immediately, Ji Muqing closed in on her knees and held onto Concubine Xiao's thigh. "I did not lie. I don't know him, so how could I have done such things with him? Your Ladyship, if this matter is to be known, my reputation will be gone. I will not be able to live. I can absolutely not bear such injustice," she implored.
"Humph!" Concubine Xiao flung her sleeve and kicked Ji Muqing away. She roared, "Are you saying that this imperial one has wronged you?"
"N-no… This wasn't my meaning, b-but I really didn't have an improper relationship with this man," she teared while sitting paralyzed on the floor – her clothes in disorder; her hair, a mess; and her makeup had smudged due to the tears.
"As for your purity, this Imperial One will let people examine you to ascertain the truth." She then hinted at San Lang with her eyes.
San Lang understood her without the need for words. She ordered a few palace maids to pulled Ji Muqing up and supported her into the inner room.
Soon after, Ji Muqing was dragged back and threw to the floor. San Lang walked to Concubine Xiao and bowed down to whisper something into her ear. Concubine Xiao's expression turned gloomy. Next, she got up and walked to that good-for-nothing Ji Muqing. She crouched to Ji Muqing's level and asked, "You are no longer pure but dare to say you were framed?"
Although Ji Muqing's eyes were wide opened in shock, they were two spiritless orbs. Earlier inside the inner room, a palace maid had examined her body and discovered with surprise that her hymen is broken. She was terrified because this could only mean that she had an illicit relation with a stranger yesterday.
Gao Bingze lacked the courage to lift his head. His eyes showed terror and his whole person went limp. He had no recollection of yesterday's events. The only thing he remembered was about to sleep in his bedroom. Did he sleepwalk?
The silence was heavy until it was broken by Ji Muqing's whine. "Why? Why did it happen? It's impossible that I could do such things. Impossible…"
Concubine Xiao frowned and questioned her. "Impossible? Then, explain to this Imperial One how the event yesterday came to be? Why were you inside Han Academy?"
"Go on!"
Ji Muqing firmly bit on her lips while pulling on her clothes, absentminded. "Someone delivered to me the Crown Prince's letter and told me to go to East Palace alone. On my way there, my neck suddenly hurt, and I lost my consciousness following that. W-when I awoke… Your Ladyship, what I said is the truth. Someone must have been plotted me. Your Ladyship must investigate clearly! Someone wants to harm me."
Concubine Xiao sneered in satire before directing her gaze to Gao Bingze. Although Gao Bingze didn't make a scene, he was so scared that his mind had long blank. He had slept with the future Crown Princess – a crime which he couldn't afford.
"Lord Gao, this Imperial One is asking you once more. If the situation was as Ji Muqing said, was the person who knocked her out you?"
Gao Bingze shrank in fear. "This small official absolutely did not do such a thing. The Emperor's birthday is approaching, and I have not left Han Academy for several days to work on the preparation even yesterday was no exception. I didn't take a step out of Han Academy. I beseech your Ladyship for your understanding." He kowtowed several times, knocking his head several times on the floor.
Concubine Xiao's temper didn't flare. The coldness in her expression receded and beckoned the servants at her side. "Drag this scum into prison! Without my order, what happened should not be leaked out. If anyone dare to say even half a word, be careful about your heads."
"Yes, your Ladyship!"
Three eunuchs immediately grabbed Gao Bingze and dragged him outside.
"This small official beseeches your Ladyship! I didn't do it! Please, I beg your ladyship to re-examine this-" He shouted increasingly bigger, but the sound became smaller as the distance grew.
Ji Muqing made herself small as her complexion paled with anxiety. She didn't want to be thrown into prison. Her eyes were glued to Concubine Xiao who moved toward her. As she closed in, the fear in Ji Muqing multiplied. She reached her limit and collapsed, begging for mercy. "Your Ladyship, this lowly girl doesn't want to be in jail. I beg your Ladyship to let me go."
Unexpectedly, Concubine Xiao crouched in front of her and held her hand gently with eyes exuding benevolence. "Muqing. Come, get up."
Ji Muqing was stupefied by Concubine Xiao's actions. While trembling, she let Concubine Xiao help up get up and pulled her to a seat.
Following that, Concubine Xiao waved at her servants and ordered, "Go out."
The servants curtsied before retreating to the outside, leaving San Lang to attend her mistress.
Concubine Xiao took out a handkerchief and wiped Ji Muqing's tear-stained face. "This Imperial One knows there is nothing between you and him. You were harmed by others, but rest assured that I won't let that matter be known. Treat it as if nothing has happened."
Ji Muqing lit with hope. "Your Ladyship wants to say that I still can be the Crown Princess?"
Don't even think about it!
Concubine Xiao shook her head. "You are no longer pure. The possibility of being the Crown Princess is forever barred to you."
"Then…"
"This Imperial One feels sorry that you have encounter such misfortune." She paused a bit, taking her time to pull out the jade hairpin in Ji Muqing's hair. Then, she brushed Ji Muqing's tangled hair before inserting the hairpin back. "You don't need to attend the Crown Princess' selection tomorrow. Since your body is no longer pure, it will be a great crime if it was to be discovered. This would implicate your big brothers."
"Then, what should I do?" The worries were palpated in her voice.
"Don't worry. This Imperial One had a plan to help you out."
"A plan?" Ji Muqing didn't understand.
Concubine Xiao's red lips curled up. "Muqing, I am quite fond of you. As long as you said a few words. After the Crown Princess selection, this Imperial One will help you get the Emperor's edict and have Prince Yi takes you in as his princess."
As soon as the words were out, Ji Muqing's fear melt into shock. Her body taunt and her eyes widened opened. "Your Ladyship, are you telling the truth?"
Concubine Xiao got up and lightly strutted away. "My words are held when said. Prince Yi will listen to me and marry you. No one will know about the matter that transpired yesterday."
To be able to marry Jing Yi in addition to concealing her loss of chastity, the Heaven still blessed her! Ji Muqing was completely oblivious to the viciousness of Concubine Xiao's trap. She was completely ensnared – voluntarily giving her the Crown Princess' position. With a single scheme, Concubine Xiao successfully let her son marry Ji Muqing and roping in Ji Li and Ji Huan.
Ji Muqing pranced and tugged at Concubine Xiao's sleeve. "Will that man say anything?" she asked anxiously.
Concubine Xiao's phoenix eyes rose with chilliness. "This Imperial One guarantees you that he won't have a chance to open his mouth."
Grenn‘s Rants Corner
*gasp* Will the innocent Gao Bingze get killed like that? This is too cannon fodder-ish.
Chapter 274 – The Decline of the Kong Family
The Imperial Prison.
Gao Bingze had been imprisoned for no more than four hours when several officials dragged him out from his cell, fastening him to a wooden pillar with heavy metal chains. As Gao Bingze had not fully regained consciousness, they doused him with a bucket of cold water. Gao Bingze was splashed awake and he struggled against his restraints screaming, "I want to see Lord Liang."
"See Lord Liang?" The official sneered, holding a red-hot iron in his hand, "Secretly swapping the shortlist for Crown Princess, you, Vice-director Gao have committed a serious crime. Her Ladyship has decreed for you to be beaten to death."
"What?" Concubine Xiao did not mention anything about him spending a night with Ji Muqing, but rather decided to push the crime of swapping the Crown Princess shortlist onto him. Wasn't this matter already resolved with fining the entire Han Academy half a year's salary? Who knew that Concubine Xiao was lying in wait here with this trump card up her sleeve. "I request an audience with His Majesty – I have been wronged!"
"You can only meet King Yama."
Ah –
The official branded him with that red-hot iron, white smoke fuming from his skin. Gao Bingze broke out in a sweat and almost fainted from the pain; as a scholar, how could he withstand such torture? The other two officials readied their wooden paddles, beating him in turn.
How unfair! Gao Bingze shrieked, "Why?" The sounds of the wooden paddles accompanied his tragic screams. Until today, he wasn't sure what he had done wrong? Who did he offend? Who was the mastermind behind all of this?
Minister Liang was expressionless as he stood hidden outside the torture chamber. He only revealed himself when Gao Bingze's screams began to die down, almost stopping the two officials carrying out his sentence.
Gao Bingze was held up solely by metal chains, his flesh ripped apart by countless bloody wounds, head hanging low, hair amess! A hazy pair of shoes appeared in his sight, and he painfully raised his head to look at Lord Liang standing in front of him. Gao Bingze opened and closed his mouth in disbelief, questioning, "Why?"
Minister Liang remained stoic, pulling out a piece of paper from his sleeve and flattening it out for Gao Bingze to read, "As long as you sign this, this official will ensure the safety of your entire family!" This was a written confession – one that would confirm Gao Bingze's crime of swapping the Crown Princess shortlist!
Unexpectedly, Gao Bingze laughed bitterly, blood flowing out from his mouth. His breaths were shallow and weak as he asked once more, "Why?"
"Bingze, you have served Han Academy for about a year now. In the past year, you have been an immense help to this official, but this time, you have to die. Because only with your death comes your eternal silence. It's this official's fault, if you have any resentment after death, come for this official and this official only. I am truly sorry." Minister Liang was calm throughout. He held Gao Bingze's hand and covered his thumb with blood, leaving a clear thumbprint on the written confession before handing it over to the official waiting beside him, "Present this to His Majesty – just say that Vice-director Gao has recognised the heniousity of his crime and decided to commit suicide in repentance."
"Yes!" The officials answered in unison. Gao Bingze did not have any strength left to struggle, lest speak, as he watched all these unfold before his eyes helplessly.
As Minister Liang was leaving, he turned back to face Gao Bingze, "Don't worry. This official will take good care of your family and ensure that they will not go hungry nor cold. Rest in peace."
The cell began to echo with the sounds of wooden paddles against bare flesh, falling silent only when Gao Bingze had been successfully beaten to death! The gust of wind blowing through the palace also seemed to calm down, as if nothing ever happened…
That same day, news that the first-born daughter of the Ji Family had been isolated due to sickness spread from Chuxiu Palace. Her condition was said to be contagious; as the news spread, the rumours got further and further away from the truth – this was no more than Concubine Xiao's ploy to make sure Ji Muqing could not participate in the Crown Princess selection.
This turn of events, however, had the Emperor falling into a dilemma. With the prearranged Crown Princess falling ill, all the initial plans were now moot; without the selected Crown Princess, then – who should they crown? His Majesty naturally summoned Minister Liang in a hurry.
Qi Zhen Emperor sat on his dragon throne, troubled, "The Crown Princess must be selected tomorrow, why has such a thing happened now, and what has she fallen ill to?"
Minister Liang raised his fists in greeting, "The Young Miss of the Ji Family's face and legs had all swollen up. The Imperial Physician said that it was an infection which was probably contagious and must be treated carefully and slowly, therefore she was sent out of the palace back to the General's Estate."
Qi Zhen Emperor sighed as he pondered, head propped up on his armrest, "Then in Minister Liang's opinion, what should we do about this matter regarding the Crown Princess?"
"The Young Miss of the Ji Family hasn't contracted some incurable disease, so if we push back the matter of the Crown Princess selection just a little…"
He was interrupted by Qi Zhen Emperor before he could even finish, "Impossible! The official selection date has already been finalised and cannot be changed!" Attitude steadfast, Qi Zhen Emperor shoved his throne back as he stood up, questioning Lord Liang sternly, "Who else is suitable for the position of Crown Princess in your opinion?"
Minister Liang had expected this of His Majesty and he pretended to be vexed by this question, only answering after a few moments, "It would not be difficult to pick someone from amongst all the talented young ladies from the various families. However, if we were to consider family roots and background, none of them would compare to the Young Miss from the Ji Family. This official does have a person in mind, but…"
"Speak!"
"Princess Huiwen!" Minister Liang answered.
Qi Zhen Emperor's eyes narrowed, "Huiwen? Why her?"
"In this servant's humble opinion, Princess Huiwen is a descendent of the late Empress's family; when Her Majesty was alive, the Kong Family had some status within the court and held several positions within the military and civil departments, but since Her Majesty's passing, the Kong Family seemed to have fallen into decline. Kong Qu, who used to be at the forefront of the Great Lin's forces, asked to leave the Capital for Yi in the far south-west. Although it seems as though he has been isolated from power and authority, he now holds the title of city governor with control over the whole city. What's more important is that Yi is an important stronghold if Huyi were to enter our gates; as the attack on a nation begins with attacking its cities, Yi naturally is crucial. Another man to be wary of is Kong Shenyi, who was the late Empress's younger cousin. Although he has long hung up his official robes and returned to his hometown, he owns a fleet of elite troops and horses in Han Province. If Princess Huiwen were to become the Crown Princess, then the stronghold in Yi and the fleets in Han Province would fall into Your Majesty's hands. If so, then besides that Young Miss Ji, Princess Huiwen is the most suitable candidate, more so than the other ladies!" Each word was delivered with the utmost sincerity.
In reality, Lord Liang's words were not unreasonable! It was true that the Kong Family had fallen from grace, with the officials all leaving the Capital; at first glance it seemed as though they had left the center of power, but they had also scattered mines in all directions! If the Capital falls, then the Kong Family scattered in all parts of the Great Lin would assume an advantageous formation. If not for Minister Liang mentioning these today, Qi Zhen Emperor would have never felt the threat of these hidden influences, given that the Kong Family kept such a low profile.
As anger bubbled within him, Qi Zhen Emperor gathered his thoughts. He nodded gently and waved his hand, "Leave first, this Emperor will consider."
Minister Liang eyed Qi Zhen Emperor's gaze, then bowed and disappeared. As soon as he exited Fuyang Hall, he sent a messenger to Zhangzhi Hall: Everything was presented to His Majesty as Concubine Xiao had instructed.
Grenn’s Rants Corner
Blimey! Gao Bingze is a true cannon fodder. T^T May you rest in peace or reincarnate with a better fate.