Chapter 403 Going to the Emperor and Wang Yueyue Dies
No, no, it must not happen. She wanted her child! Wang Yueyue looked up in panic and fear at Feng Yuzhen. Her eyes were filled with bitter pain and pleading.
Didn’t they say that she just had to put on a show? Didn’t they say that lighting the incense would make it look like her child would seem poisoned and there would be signs of a miscarriage? But it should not really happen. They had planned this all out and nothing had gone wrong. But why had it ended up like this? Her child, her child with royal blood. How did she miscarry just like that?
As long as Ling Fengyan and Mo Xuetong stayed there for just a while, she could push the blame on them. She would be able to drag Mo Xuetong down while framing Ling Fengyan. This would clear all the obstructions for Feng Yuzhen. That was why she decided to work with him and plotted this scene in which she would use her child to frame Ling Fengyan.
However, she never expected that Ling Fengyan would die!
Furthermore, it was a poison that had been triggered by the incense she lit. She had intentionally mentioned that the incense in the parlor was bad to frame Ling Fengyan. And together, they changed the incense. She had secretly gotten servants to change the incense. They did not belong to the Princess Royal’s manor. When something happened, she could say that Ling Fengyan had gotten servants to change it in private to hurt her child.
This was not difficult as long as Wang Yueyue insisted that Ling Fengyan and Mo Xuetong had played a part in it! She was the one who decided the fate of her unborn child. There only needed to be a hint of a miscarriage and have a physician prove it. Ling Fengyan and Mo Xuetong would not be able to deny it even if they wanted to.
However, how did the originally foolproof plan turn out like this!
Ling Fengyan was dead. She could not use this excuse to frame Ling Fengyan. Instead, this intimate action was now turned against her. She could not even keep the child in her belly. No, no, this could not be true.
“Your Highness, Your Highness…” She muttered to herself. The loss of her child did not only hurt her physically but also emotionally. She had always wanted a child. To her, this miscarriage was like her losing her life. She cried so hard she lost her voice as she reached out weakly to Feng Yuzhen. She cried while she panted in pain. Her eyes were filled with confusion and pain, and she looked miserable and hopeless.
Feng Yuzhen felt pity for her as he looked at her. Even though they had only been married for a few days, the gentle and obedient Wang Yueyue had given him a different feeling Wang Xiuxiu gave him. They had been husband and wife for some time, and he truly did feel something for her. As such, he pushed the onlookers away and scooped Wang Yueyue up. He said hurriedly, “Yueyue, Yueyue, how are you? How are you?” His forehead was beaded with sweat and he seemed truly worried.
Wang Yueyue had not managed to get the job done and he was mad about that. However, Wang Yueyue as well as her supporter, Grand Secretariat Wang, had a power that he was not willing to offend or to give up. Furthermore, if he abandoned his wife, who was having a miscarriage, it would just lead to reproach. As such, he pretended to appear deeply in love. Furthermore, he did care for Wang Yueyue. After all, to him, she had always been an obedient wife.
However, there were more important things to settle right now. Wang Yueyue’s attempt on Ling Fengyan’s life was already a fact. If he were implicated, he would not have a way out either. Even if he managed to stay alive, he would never be able to enter politics again. He could only become an idle prince. How could Feng Yuzhen accept that?
No matter what had happened, he had to minimize the impact of this incident.
He had originally wanted to drag down Feng Yuran and his wife down together with him. However, he did not expect that the usually useless couple he always looked down on would be so extraordinarily gracious and calm. They had foiled all his plots. However, it was not the end yet. He still had a chance to save himself!
There was a cold glint in his eyes. Then, he looked at a servant standing beside Wang Yueyue. The older women seemed like someone Wang Yueyue trusted a lot and she stood right beside Wang Yueyue right now. Receiving Feng Yuzhen’s unspoken message, she nodded slightly and immediately turned around while she continued yelling, “My Lady, My Lady.”
“Servants, take Consort Ning to a wing room.” Princess Royal noticed that something was off with Wang Yueyue as well and she immediately ordered the servants around anxiously.
The Princess Royal’s servants brought Feng Yuzhen to a wing room. Princess Royal wanted to follow them but a eunuch from the palace arrived at the main gates. Other than Wang Yueyue, who was unconscious because of the miscarriage, everyone was called to go to the Emperor’s Qianqing Palace.
Inside the Imperial Study!
Emperor Zongwen sat at the front with a solemn expression. There was a line of eunuchs and palace maids standing by his side. The imperial physician was already waiting by the side.
“Son, tell me what happened.” The Emperor glanced at everyone who was knelt in front of him. He allowed Princess Royal and Feng Yuran to sit before turning to speak to Feng Yuxuan. The pearls on his dragon robes shimmered in the eyes of the dragon and shone with cold light.
“Father, please seek justice for me!” Feng Yuxuan covered his face and wept. He scooted forward on his knees and cried, “My wife has been poor in health since she married me. I brought her along with me to raise her spirits since Aunt has set up a banquet today. I did not expect, I did not expect Consort Ning to actually plot against her. She, she is gone.”
He seemed to be extremely pained as he fell onto the ground and wept sadly. A man crying so mournfully was extremely sad.
The two were newly married and were at their most passionate. However, one of them died suddenly. It was understandable for him to be so sad! Emperor Zongwen’s gaze softened slightly.
“Father, my wife’s servants can be witnesses. Consort Ning was chatting with my wife and I don’t know when she planted the poison on my wife’s sleeve. It got onto her arm. Then, she intentionally said that the incense in the parlor was bad and lit a poisonous one instead. She caused my wife to die. Father, please seek justice for me.”
“Imperial physician, is that true?” Emperor Zongwen’s eyes darkened as he looked at everyone in front of him. He swept his cold gaze across everyone’s face and then turned to speak to the imperial physician who was standing by the side.
The imperial physician immediately stepped forward and answered respectfully, “Your Majesty, I have already seen Consort Yan. Her death was indeed caused by the medicinal salve on her hand and the incense. If it was only one type of poison, it would not have been a big issue. The two poisons mixed together would at the very least cause someone to be infertile, and at most, take someone’s life.”
A sharp glint appeared in Mo Xuetong’s eyes. She blinked to hide the coldness in her eyes. It was indeed a medicine that would cause infertility. Ling Fengyan was truly vicious. She wanted to plot against Mo Xuetong even at death’s door. If Mo Xuetong had not discovered it early, she would have fallen into Ling Fengyan’s plot.
“Did Consort Ning miscarry?” Emperor Zongwen turned to ask Princess Royal.
“She bled a lot earlier; I fear that the child in Consort Ning’s belly is lost.” Princess Royal sighed deeply. They could not control Wang Yueyue’s bleeding. It seemed that she had miscarried.
“King Ning, what do you have to say?” Emperor Zongwen asked gravely as he looked at Feng Yuzhen and rested his gaze upon him.
“Your Majesty, Yueyue would not do something like that. She is so kind and has never hurt anyone. How could she try to kill Consort Chu? Yueyue once mentioned that she and Consort Chu used to be very good friends. Consort Chu was so talented and Yueyue admired her. Why would she do something so vicious and evil? Furthermore, she, she is pregnant with my child…”
Feng Yuzhen’s eyes were slightly red and his voice shook with pain. While he tried his best to appear calm, he trembled from his sadness as he tried to defend Wang Yueyue.
He also mentioned that Wang Yueyue was pregnant. How could a mother allow her unborn child to be in danger?
Earlier on, at the Princess Royal’s manor, Feng Yuzhen had not been so loving. When Wang Yueyue collapsed and tried to look for him, he had hesitated for a moment before he hurried forward. It was obvious that he had other plans. However, he was now trying to show everyone how deeply in love he was. He also kept trying to defend Wang Yueyue. Those not in the know would truly think that he was very much in love with Wang Yueyue.
No wonder Feng Yuzhen dared to aspire to the throne even though he was a hostage son. He was truly a treacherous and sly man!
He could immediately use this method to escape from Feng Yuxuan’s plots. He was truly quick, vicious, and accurate!
Mo Xuetong stood beside Feng Yuran. Her eyes were cold. This man had made use of everything that could be made use of in women. She was more disgusted by him than anyone else. There was Wang Xiuxiu, Consort Yu, and now, Wang Yueyue. This bastard reminded him of how Sima Lingyun used to be. That bastard had made use of everything she was worth and then fed her poison.
Feng Yuzhen seemed to turn into Sima Lingyun in front of her. He looked savage as he laughed madly with Mo Xuemin as they watched her struggle in the fire and being burnt into ashes.
Her icy cold fingers dug into her tender palms. She allowed the pain to travel to her heart. Nothing hurt more than her heart!
A warm and slender hand reached out to her and held her sweaty hands. Mo Xuetong subconsciously wanted to pull away from that hand but was held tightly. A warmth traveled from her pained hand. It was very warm and she could not help but look up at the pair of concerned and loving eyes.
The extremely handsome face was just as charming as usual. However, he was missing the usual laziness that was in his eyes. Instead, he seemed cold and angry except for the warmth he exuded when he looked at her.
She exhaled deeply and relaxed her clenched hand subconsciously below his slender and large hand. The man beside her right now was not Sima Lingyun. It was Feng Yuran who truly loved her. She did not have to be angry, afraid or be in pain. She had already planned that bastard’s demise.
What happened had taken place in mere seconds. Mo Xuetong grew calm once more with the help of Feng Yuran. She stood beside him silently and continued listening to Feng Yuzhen’s tale.
“Your Majesty, Yueyue would not dare to use the poison if she knew that it would cause infertility. She is pregnant with my child. She must have been framed by someone.” Feng Yuzhen now pretended to be a loving husband and he claimed that he did not believe that Wang Yueyue would do something like that. Tears escaped from the corners of his eyes as he grew even more enthusiastic in his performance.
He would not admit it no matter what had happened. In any case, if they wanted to arrive at a final decision regarding the matter, it had to wait for Wang Yueyue to regain consciousness.
The time that this would take was what he was after!
Furthermore, he had the support of the Empress Dowager. As long as he had enough time, the Empress Dowager would definitely receive news of this. She would naturally think of a way to help him.
“Your Majesty, please do justice to Yueyue. She, she is just a girl who doesn’t know anything. She wouldn’t know how to do all that. Only those who are skilled in medical skills would know all that.” Feng Yuzhen forced down his sadness and kowtowed. His face was pale as he tried his best to act as if he were very much in love.
“Rest assured. I will investigate the matter thoroughly. No matter who did it, I will not let the matter rest.” Emperor Zongwen frowned unhappily. Of the two consorts, one was dead and the other was injured. The matter also involved the Grand Secretariat and the Ding General Manor. It was not something that could be easily handled no matter in any aspect. He had to investigate the matter seriously.
The Emperor’s words meant that the matter had infuriated him. He would punish those involved severely.
Mo Xuetong glanced at Feng Yuzhen and then at Feng Yuxuan. One of them acted as if he were in pain and deeply in love while the other acted as if he were sad and angry. Both of them looked as if they wanted the matter investigated thoroughly. The two of them plotted against each other so that the other would die!
However, their plots had tangled together and foiled their plans. None of them would have expected the matter to turn out like this. Even though Feng Yuzhen had walked into the plot, he still had a back-up plan. He would not allow Feng Yuxuan to get what he wanted. However, since the matter had already escalated to this state, so what if he did not admit to what he did? Unless…
Mo Xuetong’s hand shook slightly and Feng Yuran immediately sensed it. He turned to look at her comfortingly. There was just a slight hint of a smile on his lips that was extremely cold. His almond-shaped eyes were as clear as water and there was a shimmer of brilliance in them. He hid the sharpness in his eyes and shook his head slightly at Mo Xuetong.
Mo Xuetong immediately got the message and lowered her head!
Emperor Zongwen turned around and ordered the servants behind him to investigate at the Princess Royal’s manor. The matter had happened suddenly and the masters and mistresses have all entered the palace. No matter who the culprit was, they would be sure to find some hints amongst the servants. This was also the reason why Emperor Zongwen called everyone into the palace.
“Many thanks, Father!”
“Many thanks, Your Majesty!”
Feng Yuxuan and Feng Yuzhen thanked the Emperor and was then helped up to their seats by the side.
The people in the palace had not yet left when a little eunuch stumbled in. He knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty. The Princess Royal’s Manor just sent word that Consort Ning has passed away!”
All was silent in the room.