Chapter 288: Fainting
Although Wei Chang had now been demoted to a commoner and exiled, no matter what, he was still his son, and Jiang Ruanxi was still Wei Chang’s wife. These people actually bullied her right in front of him—wasn’t that slapping him in the face?
This was not putting him in their eyes at all.
“Guards, detain Zhong Ding for me. He dares to openly call someone Sir in the Imperial Court—is it that he doesn’t put me in his eyes, or does he think this place is a vegetable market?”
Upon Emperor Qin’s outburst of anger, the ministers finally realized the severity, and none of them had the earlier relaxation. They all lowered their heads.
Zhong Ding was also frightened to the point that his legs went soft, his entire body trembling. He instinctively looked toward Li Chaoyang, but Li Chaoyang didn’t even give him a glance.
Zhong Ding felt utter despair in his heart. All of this was something Li Chaoyang had told him to do.
It was Li Chaoyang who told him that as long as he raised his voice, Li Chaoyang would come in and reveal everything. This way, not only could he leave that impoverished place, but he could also come to the Capital to take up a job. That was why he dared to be so arrogant.
But why was the outcome different?
He was unwilling. When the guards were about to approach him, he grabbed Li Chaoyang’s leg with one hand and pleaded tearfully for help, “Sir, please save me. Wasn’t it all you who told me? As long as I did as you said, you promised me glory and wealth.”
His words caused an uproar among everyone.
They all looked at Li Chaoyang with faces full of shock.
“What do you mean?” Emperor Qin glared angrily at Zhong Ding, his gaze quickly shifting to Li Chaoyang as well.
Li Chaoyang hadn’t expected this idiot Zhong Ding to reveal all these matters in public. He was angry and at the same time filled with extreme fear.
He lifted his foot and kicked hard at Zhong Ding’s chest. Zhong Ding felt a pain in his chest and fell down, but his hands still tightly clung to Li Chaoyang’s leg.
He kept muttering to himself, “Censor Li, I’ve done so much for you. You can’t abandon me to die.”
Seeing him say more and more outrageous things, Li Chaoyang could no longer care about him. His face pale, he knelt down. “Your Majesty, I am wronged. I don’t know him. You must believe me.”
The arrogance from earlier was completely gone from his face, covered in sweat, but he didn’t dare wipe it.
Emperor Qin stared at him with a grim face.
After a long while, his gaze turned to Zhong Ding. “Tell me, what exactly happened? If you dare make up more lies, I won’t spare you.”
This blatant threat made Zhong Ding tremble in his heart. He also knew this was his only chance to survive.
Anyway, after what just happened, he had seen through Li Chaoyang’s true colors.
He recounted the entire matter in full detail.
It turned out that Zhong Ding’s appearance here was because someone had brought him and promised him that as long as he revealed everything and testified that it was all Jiang Ruanxi’s doing, not only could he leave that poor place, but they would also arrange a job for him in the Capital.
After he arrived in the Capital, those people brought him directly to Li Chaoyang, who also made many promises to him and taught him how to speak and act.
After Zhong Ding finished speaking, Emperor Qin picked up the memorial from the table and hurled it viciously at Li Chaoyang, who was already scared and kneeling on the ground. “Li Chaoyang, is what he said true?”
“Your Majesty, I have not done these things. It is all his slander against me. Please see clearly, Your Majesty.” Li Chaoyang raised his hand and glared fiercely at Zhong Ding.
“You’re still quibbling even now. Guards, throw Li Chaoyang into the heavenly prison, and this one too.”
Emperor Qin racked his brains but couldn’t recall Zhong Ding’s name.
“And this man.”
With Emperor Qin angry, the others didn’t dare say anything more.
Despair filled Li Chaoyang’s eyes. He looked toward Jiang Minghuai wanting to say something, but Jiang Minghuai shook his head at him. Li Chaoyang immediately shut his mouth and allowed the guards to drag him away.
“Ling Lin, everything today was caused by you. Originally, you should have been demoted to a commoner along with Wei Chang, but I cannot bear to see the Grand Tutor left without anyone by his side in his old age. From now on, without my order, you are not allowed to leave the manor. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless.”
Emperor Qin’s words surprised everyone.
Although they hadn’t proven it was Jiang Ruanxi today, she was the Crown Princess of the deposed Crown Prince. Why didn’t Emperor Qin demote her to a commoner and exile her with Wei Chang?
Was it really for the Grand Tutor’s sake?
Even if those people had doubts, they didn’t dare speak carelessly.
After Jiang Ruanxi was sent back, the Imperial Court returned to calm once more.
On the palace path.
“I didn’t expect that little bitch Jiang Ruanxi to have such a hard life, escaping even this.” Jiang Minghuai said viciously.
“She can escape for a moment, but not forever. Don’t worry about her now. We need to speed things up.” Jiang Kui said coldly.
“I’ve already prepared everything. Just wait.”
“Mm.”
After they parted ways, Jiang Minghuai had only walked a few steps when the palace maid from last time appeared before him again. This time, Jiang Minghuai showed no surprise and followed directly behind her.
After Jiang Ruanxi returned to the manor, Hong Ye saw her return safely and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
“Madam, as long as you’re fine, this servant was scared to death.”
Jiang Ruanxi took her hand and smiled. “I’m fine. Now it’s just us left in the manor. We’re confined here, and the enemies won’t let us go, so we must be even more careful in our actions from now on.”
“This servant knows.” Hong Ye nodded.
The next day at dawn, Hong Ye hurriedly came to the room.
Jiang Ruanxi, who hadn’t slept all night, saw her expression and put down her brush, asking doubtfully, “What’s wrong with you?”
“His Majesty has fallen ill and lost consciousness. He’s now in a coma, and it’s chaos outside.”
“What?” Jiang Ruanxi was a bit surprised.
One must know, yesterday’s Emperor Qin had been full of vigor, and yet in just one night he had fallen ill.
Hong Ye repeated it once more.
Jiang Ruanxi fell deep into thought.
“Find a way to inquire about what exactly happened, and the dynamics in the court?” Jiang Ruanxi said seriously.
“Alright.”
Soon, through the informants left by Wei Chang before, Hong Ye quickly learned everything.
Due to Emperor Qin’s collapse, the court was in chaos.
The Eldest Prince and Second Prince each had their factions, both itching to move, but the Second Prince, having been in the Capital for years, had accumulated a large network, so many people stood with him.
The last time Emperor Qin collapsed, with Wei Chang as Crown Prince, the Second Prince didn’t dare act rashly. Now with Wei Chang demoted to a commoner and Emperor Qin fallen ill, it was a golden opportunity.
The Second Prince no longer pretended.
“Secretly go find Master Bian Du and Qi Wu, and have them bring some men skilled in kung fu to the manor?”
Hearing this, Yushui looked at her in astonishment. Wei Chang had just been demoted to a commoner, and Jiang Ruanxi was already seeking men on a large scale.
