Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Only One Savior Left

Her maid, Yin Xiang, helped Tao Wanxin analyze the situation from the sidelines, and together, the two of them pieced together a narrative of the whole affair.

According to Prince Yong’s arrogant and promiscuous nature, any woman he took to bed, regardless of her status, would eventually be brought into his mansion and treated to a life of luxury.

But Ji Qingwu had not entered the Prince’s Mansion. Perhaps Prince Yong had found her bland after a taste and cruelly cast her aside.

Seeing Ji Qingwu stare at her without blinking, as if frozen in place, Tao Wanxin privately confirmed her own suspicions. She sat up even straighter, feeling as if she had everything under control.

For a moment, the hall was utterly silent.

The Empress Dowager’s expression was grave, her face so dark it seemed water could drip from it. Even the flesh on her cheeks seemed to sag.

Princess Qingyun was stunned speechless, staring blankly at Ji Qingwu.

She had truly believed from the bottom of her heart that Ji Qingwu loved Li Chengxun. In her eyes, Li Chengxun was the most outstanding man in the world, and her Fifth Cousin would never have anything to do with her third brother, the Prince.

’But... but how could this be the outcome?’

Ji Qingwu was utterly dumbfounded.

’How did the story, in Princess Yong’s telling, turn into one where I pestered Prince Yong to take responsibility, only to be abandoned and then seek revenge out of resentment?!’

Tao Wanxin was clinging to a complete mess of a man, yet she still treated him like a priceless treasure.

’Only now do I feel like I’m truly seeing Princess Yong for who she is.’

In truth, Tao Wanxin, who so strictly abided by rules and etiquette, looked down on her from the bottom of her heart.

She also understood now why the princess was so gloomy all day in Prince Yong’s Mansion.

She held herself in high esteem, believing in the dignity of her station as the Princess Consort. She looked down her nose at the low-born concubines Prince Yong brought into the residence, disdaining to compete with them for his favor.

Princess Yong thought something had happened between her and the Prince that night, but since he was unwilling to take responsibility, she had become filled with hatred and jealousy, leading her to give the princess that prescription to vent her anger.

Ji Qingwu’s eyes ached from staring so wide. She closed them, took a deep breath, and thought, ’How am I supposed to explain this?’

’There’s no point mentioning Ji Changyan. He’s already dead—dead men tell no tales.’

’If I say nothing actually happened between me and Prince Yong because he was called away halfway through, who would believe me?’

’Taking a huge step back, even if I could prove my innocence and insist I never gave Princess Yong a second prescription, if they brought Prince Yong here for a confrontation, how would I explain how I cured that potent poison?’

’I can’t mention the system either...’

’Everyone knows I offended the Emperor that night and was placed under house arrest. I could pull the Emperor into this and ask him to be my witness.’

But thinking about how Prince Yong was, after all, the Emperor’s younger brother, and how she had acted so harshly behind his back, Ji Qingwu couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

’I’ll save Emperor Wu Su as a last resort for now.’

She wracked her brain, searching for someone who could save her from this predicament.

’Princess Hua Chang went after the Prince Consort, and Mrs. Qiao probably hasn’t heard that I’ve been brought to the palace yet.’

She turned her head and saw Princess Qingyun, her mouth agape in shock, still processing the astonishing news.

She shook her head. ’Her heart’s in the right place, but she lacks the wits to be of any help.’

’After weighing all my options, it seems I truly have only one savior left.’

Tao Wanxin said, "Mother, I have already explained the entire sequence of events. Ji Qingwu developed a hatred for the Prince because of this matter, which is why she tried to use my hand to make him incapable of ever fathering children."

The Empress Dowager was deeply shaken. Even if Prince Yong had his faults, he was still her son. How could her heart not ache knowing he had been subjected to such a scheme and humiliation?

But this was related to the assassination of the Imperial Censor. Ji Changyan was most likely a scapegoat, and the mastermind behind it was very likely Prince Yong.

"Where is Ming Hong?" the Empress Dowager asked.

Tao Wanxin replied, "The Prince has been unwell these past few days. We even called for a doctor, but there was no cure. He spent last night alone in the study. I know I am at fault, so I did not dare tell the Prince the details of this matter and came to report to you first, Mother."

The Empress Dowager also knew that Princess Yong had come to the palace to protect herself. She didn’t dare mention it to Prince Yong and wanted to drag Ji Qingwu down with her.

But the truth would come out eventually; Prince Yong would find out sooner or later.

The instigator and the one who lit the fire were equally detestable.

The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment. This matter clearly needed to be handled quickly, preferably before the Emperor got wind of it.

She made a decisive call, her tone firm. "Go and summon Ming Hong."

She wanted to ask him herself and find out what exactly happened that night.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager really intended to summon Prince Yong, Princess Yong’s heart instantly flew into a panic. She fidgeted, saying anxiously, "Mother, the Prince was in a foul mood last night and drank a lot. He might not be sober yet."

The Empress Dowager paid her no mind, only instructing, "Fanghua, you will go to Prince Yong’s Mansion personally."

Ji Qingwu had a bad feeling and quickly said, "Your Majesty, Prince Yong is unwell and needs to rest. Perhaps it would be better to first send a highly skilled Imperial Physician to examine him."

She was calculating, hoping this could buy her some time.

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager hesitated slightly, then said, "Fanghua, go to the Imperial Hospital and ask an Imperial Physician to accompany you. If Ming Hong is not in serious condition, have him brought here."

However, at that very moment, the doors to the hall were suddenly thrown open.

A cool breeze swept in, lifting the strands of hair behind Ji Qingwu’s ears.

The wind also carried in a man’s voice.

"I never thought my Fifth Cousin cared so much about me."

Prince Yong looked relaxed, showing no trace of the gloom that should have been caused by his impotence. He cast a flippant glance at Ji Qingwu.

Zhao Minghong strode into the hall, seemingly oblivious to the strange looks from everyone. He smiled. "Mother and I must have a psychic connection. There was no need for Aunt Fanghua to come to the Prince’s Mansion; I came on my own."

The Empress Dowager looked at him with worry, while Qingyun’s gaze involuntarily darted toward Prince Yong’s crotch.

Prince Yong glanced at Tao Wanxin and said meaningfully, "The Princess Consort is here as well." His eyes then swept over Yin Xiang, who stood behind her.

The Empress Dowager asked, "Why have you come?"

"My Imperial Brother summoned me. I just came from the Diligent Governance Hall." Prince Yong took a seat directly to the lower left.

’Why would Emperor Wu Su summon him at a time like this?’

The Empress Dowager suppressed her doubts and said, "Ming Hong, your arrival is timely. I have something to ask you. Wanyin says that on the night of Changyan’s incident, you were with Qingwu. Is this true?"

Ji Qingwu raised her eyes, meeting Prince Yong’s gaze head-on.

Zhao Minghong recalled the seductive scene from that night and broke into a rakish grin. The frivolous look in his eyes was so obvious that everyone knew what his answer would be before he even spoke.

Ji Qingwu lowered her head to avoid his gaze, clenching her fists. But after hearing him speak one word, she snapped her head back up.

"No."

Zhao Minghong was still staring right at her.

Ji Qingwu’s eyes trembled. ’Why would Prince Yong say he never saw me? Why would he be willing to help me...?’

Tao Wanxin was the first to cry out, "How could that be!"

Zhao Minghong said strangely, "Princess Consort, what do you mean by that? My Fifth Cousin and I are completely innocent of any wrongdoing. I was on a painted barge listening to music that night. The people from the Music Bureau can all testify to that."

"Xiao Ningzi... It was the Prince’s personal attendant, Xiao Ningzi, who said it with his own mouth..." Tao Wanxin stammered.

Prince Yong said sorrowfully, "Has the Princess Consort gone mad? Xiao Ningzi fell into the water and drowned. He’s been dead for a month."