Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 796 Hatred
After saying this, the Empress Dowager instructed the eunuchs: "I will temporarily move to Baoqing Palace, and stay in the side hall of Funing Palace on weekdays!"

The eunuch immediately went to make the arrangements.

The Empress Dowager waved for everyone to leave, and the Emperor issued an edict that there was still a lot of work for Wang Bingchen and others to do.

Wang Bingchen looked towards the inner hall. The Empress Dowager, knowing his concern for the Emperor's health, said, "Being able to speak means there's some improvement. The Imperial Hospital has been keeping an eye on things, and we'll have to wait for the medicine to take effect."

Whether the government will recover or not is anyone's guess; all we can do is try our best and leave the rest to fate.

Wang Bingchen and others came out one after another. Several officials stopped in their tracks. The secretary of the Imperial Secretariat hesitated to speak, but ultimately could not say anything under Wang Bingchen's deep gaze.

Almost subconsciously, several ministers looked at the Prince of Huai at the door. The worried look in his eyes just now suddenly improved after he thought of something.

If the King of Qin cannot inherit the throne, there is another candidate.

……

Qin Wangfu.

Jiang Zhenru had just seen her son and two daughters and was about to lean back on the pillow to rest when Zhao's mother hurriedly walked in, her face full of panic.

"Your Highness, something has happened."

Jiang Zhenru immediately sat up, her whole body tense. Recently, the Prince's Mansion had been dealing with the Wang family and that Xie family, so she should have been hearing good news, unless...

"What's wrong?" Jiang Zhenru asked anxiously. "Did the Prince send someone back with a message?"

Mother Zhao shook her head and said, "She's one of Madam Wu's people."

Jiang Zhenru had a bad feeling.

"Madam Wu has been arrested. It was probably the Imperial Guards or the Imperial City Guard who did it."

Jiang Zhenru was stunned for a moment before she came to her senses. She immediately got up and had Zhao Mama help her get dressed, then brought in the messenger for questioning.

"Your Highness." Jiang Ji stepped forward and bowed.

Jiang Ji was a loyal servant of the Jiang family. He used to serve Jiang Ruming, and after Jiang Ruming passed away, he worked for Madam Wu. The news he sent must be true.

Thinking of this, Jiang Zhenru felt a wave of dizziness.

"How is my sister-in-law? What exactly happened?"

Jiang Ji said, "The Xie clan members are only pretending to serve us. They had already made arrangements behind the scenes. After finding out where Madam Wu was, they brought the imperial troops there."

"We...we failed to protect Madam Wu and get her away..."

Jiang Zhenru's mind went blank; she couldn't think of any way to save her sister-in-law. If they were caught red-handed by the Imperial Guards or the Imperial City Guard, the Emperor would know everything, and even if they argued their case, they wouldn't be able to exonerate themselves.

“Madam Wu asked me to deliver a message to the Princess,” Jiang Ji continued, “No matter how the authorities interrogate her, Madam Wu will not implicate the Princess; she will only say that everything was her doing.”

Jiang Zhenru's eyes widened.

Jiang Ji pursed his dry, cracked lips: "Madam Wu also said that the Princess Consort should keep the Prince calm and that you must not panic. Without solid evidence, no one will dare to convict you. Even if the Prince's Mansion is suppressed because of this, it can turn things around as long as there is a suitable opportunity."

"The Chiang family won't just ignore this."

Jiang Zhenru felt a lump in her throat. Even now, her sister-in-law was still thinking about the Prince's Mansion.

What should my sister-in-law do?

Jiang Zhenru seemed to be asking Jiang Ji a question, or perhaps she was talking to herself.

“Mrs. Wu,” Jiang Ji said, “there’s always a way!”

"The so-called solution is for us to abandon her?" Jiang Zhenru suddenly raised her voice. "I've already lost my brother, and now I have to sacrifice my sister-in-law too?"

Jiang Zhenru felt utterly hopeless.

Jiang Ji said in a hoarse voice, "As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn. Your Highness, please take good care of yourself."

“My family is all gone, what use is this green hill to me?” Jiang Zhenru said with a bitter smile. “Back then, the officials could imprison us with a single word. Now that they have a handle on us, how can we possibly survive?”

Jiang Ji clenched his fist: "Actually... there's another way."

Jiang Zhenru looked over.

“The victor is king, the loser is villain. Even if Madam Wu is arrested, she can still be released, as long as… someone stands up for her.” Hearing this, Jiang Zhenru’s eyes lit up immediately: “You mean…”

Jiang Ji nodded.

"As long as the King of Qin ultimately succeeds to the throne, Lady Wu will still be able to see the light of day."

"But the entire Qin Prince's mansion will inevitably be at risk."

Jiang Zhenru trembled slightly. She gritted her teeth and said, "I would rather die with my children than be locked up in this mansion any longer."

Jiang Ji took out a letter from his bosom: "This was given to Madam Wu by the Duke before we came to the capital. It contains all the connections that our Duke's mansion can make. The Duke said that if we are desperate, the Jiang family is willing to fight alongside the Princess. It all depends on what the Princess decides."

Jiang Zhenru gestured for Jiang Ji to hand it over.

Jiang Ji stepped forward personally.

As Jiang Zhenru looked at the names on the papers, her father's hunched and frail figure seemed to be right in front of her, and two lines of tears couldn't help but slide down her face.

"However, before that, there is one thing the princess needs to do."

Jiang Zhenru looked at Jiang Ji: "Tell me, as long as I can do it."

Jiang Ji replied decisively, "You can do it."

……

The Prince of Qin was escorted back to his palace by the Imperial Guards. Hearing the gate behind him close, he tried to maintain his princely composure, but he couldn't help but stiffen. After a long while, he walked forward blankly.

The night grew deeper, and the wind blowing in our faces was icy cold.

As the King of Qin walked along the long corridor toward the rear residence, he stumbled and tripped as he went down the steps.

After finally regaining his balance, the King of Qin realized that things were different in the palace than usual.

No steward or servant came to greet him.

Could it be that the Emperor has secretly ordered the Imperial City Guard to take action against the Prince's residence?
Just then, a cry broke the King of Qin's thoughts.

"Mother, Mother...I want my mother..."

That was Jingge'er's voice.

The King of Qin's expression changed and he strode towards the main courtyard. From afar, he could see a large group of people gathered there; it turned out that all the servants in his household had gathered there.

The lights were on in Jiang Zhenru's room, and the crying was coming from inside.

"Your Highness." The steward spotted the Prince of Qin and hurried forward to greet him.

"What happened at home?" the King of Qin asked.

The steward said in a trembling voice, "The princess... the princess... she hanged herself."

A thunderclap seemed to explode in the King of Qin's mind. He didn't have time to ask any questions and rushed into the house. The next moment, he saw Jiang Zhenru lying on the bed.

Jiang Zhenru's face was sallow, her hair was disheveled, and she lay there without making a sound.

“Father,” Liang Yanjing rushed over and hugged the King of Qin’s leg, “Father, Mother is gone, Mother is gone.”

The King of Qin couldn't believe it. When he left home, Jiang Zhenru had been holding their young child, telling him to be careful in the palace. But now...

He pulled Liang Yanjing away and walked to the bedside, reaching out to check Jiang Zhenru's breath, only to feel the coldness of her nose.

“Your Highness,” Zhao Mama stepped forward and said, “When the Princess Consort heard the news of Lady Wu’s arrest, she chased us out of the room. When we came back in, the Princess Consort was already…”

“These are two letters left by the Princess,” said Zhao Mama. “They must contain what the Princess wanted to say to the Prince.”

The King of Qin gripped the letter tightly, but Liang Yanjing grabbed one of his hands.

“Father,” Liang Yanjin’s eyes were filled with sorrow, “Why did Mother have to die? How could she leave you and your children behind? Was someone forcing Mother?”

The King of Qin was speechless, but he knew that Jiang Zhenru was doing this to protect him and the royal palace.

(End of this chapter)