The Deposed Crown Prince had Three Lifelong Regrets - Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Outside the Imperial Palace, in the capital city.

The bright moon shone on the human heart. Those without distractions were naturally cleansed and clear. And Zhang Ling, shouldering his beloved wife’s life, felt he had not failed those who should not be failed, and he enjoyed himself along with all beings.

Wearing a long gown of ash-purple with morning glory patterns, he stepped into the official censor’s residence with his face covered by a mask, seemingly taking a leisurely stroll.

This was the third family he had visited. Like the others, the official was eager to avoid him, but Zhang Ling still had his methods.

Having been in the black market for years, he possessed leverage over various officials. Since this man feared the Emperor and the Emperor’s power, he should fear Zhang Ling revealing his secrets.

Where there is fear, there is room for negotiation.

According to Princess Wenchang’s instructions, she needed to first show weakness, making the Emperor feel she was isolated and powerless, thereby eradicating the seed of suspicion that his beloved daughter was engaged in factionalism.

The greater the opposition to the new policy, the better. Failure to implement it was not important.

Li Qinghuai was very confident when she gave the task, not the least bit worried about the new policy being crushed in its cradle. She seemed certain that she understood the Emperor better than most people: forced suppression would surely be followed by rescue. With the court tilted as it was, a policy proposed by the weaker party, regardless of the process, would surely have a successful outcome.

If the master dared to declare that failure to accomplish this matter would mean the immediate dissolution of their alliance, what did he have to fear?

As long as he persuaded these officials to remain neutral, the task would be considered complete.

They shouldn’t rush to fawn over the Fourth Prince. They should contemplate the Imperial will more carefully, lest they become a bird flying into the muzzle of a gun.

The people he sought out had no personal vendetta against Li Qinghuai.

This was quite a rare thing.

As for the other court officials, given the connections Li Qinghuai had accumulated, it was already an act of great mercy that they didn’t send the impeachment memorials to the Princess Residence along with a knife.

But she had indeed engaged in factionalism, just not very well. And her trump card had to be saved for the very end. Revealing it even a moment too soon would affect the plan.

“The heavens haven’t changed yet, old friend, why make things difficult for yourself? A boat will naturally straighten when it reaches the bridge. Who should be established as the Crown Prince is a matter to be discussed only after the decision is truly made.”

The official censor hesitated, “But Her Highness Wenchang… hasn’t attended court for many days. And she’s a girl. Even if I lend my full support, the result might still…”

Zhang Ling bowed deeply, “There’s no need for full support. Not supporting and not opposing—just leave yourself another path.”

He patted the other man’s shoulder, indicating that he swore by the bright moon that he had no selfish motives and was entirely thinking for the official.

“Her Highness Li Qinghuai is still in the palace. The Emperor hasn’t spoken. It’s unknown whether it’s a blessing or a curse.”

“Furthermore, if the Crown Prince is only decided after her confinement is lifted, surely the Emperor will carefully consider who the final victor will be.”

With her Imperial Father’s permission, she settled down in the palace with peace of mind.

Palace maids tidied up the former Crown Prince’s palace, which had been abandoned, and continuously brought in hot water. The informant sent by Concubine Duan could only wait by the water room, constantly adding firewood to boil water, watching bowls of water being carried into the room.

Inside the room, red silk hung high. A person bundled up like a silkworm cocoon on the bed constantly struggled. Her mouth was stuffed with cloth strips, preventing any sound or scream from escaping.

“Your Highness, Your Highness,” a palace maid sobbed, “You’ve suffered, Your Highness…”

Red silk was wrapped around every joint of Li Qinghuai to prevent her from moving and hurting herself.

The poison, which she contracted in the womb, had already seeped deep into her blood, corroding her bones and sticking to her heart. For years, she had relied on anesthesia to sustain her life, as no medicine could cure it.

Layers of cold sweat stacked up on her spine, rolling down and accumulating, endlessly. When Li Qinghuai was severely dehydrated and her lips were cracked, palace maids would use a brush to moisten them little by little.

Every joint in her body was aching faintly, as if thousands of small worms in her head were all restlessly and eagerly squirming.

“Clack.” She actually took advantage of the only part of her body she could use and snapped two of her fingers. With five fingers exposed outside the red silk, she pressed her body against them. The pain in her head was too intense, and Li Qinghuai could only rely on self-mutilation to divert her attention.

She couldn’t tell how many times she had passed out and how many times she had woken up in pain. Her consciousness was completely absent from the present. In her hallucinations, she was trampled by countless people, and her fingers were crushed on the ground.

Zhang Ling was ordered to travel to the extremely cold region to find the antidote and wouldn’t return for several years. And Wenchang, all alone and solitary, would forever remain here.

For all her life and even her soul after death.

“Er, ah,” Li Qinghuai let out a few extremely short gasps. Her face was twisted in agony due to the pain. “I…”

She hated this endless pain, which inevitably brought her back to her childhood when she had to call her enemy, Mother.

She had survived an aging Concubine Yuan, and now came Concubine Duan. One forced her to call her Mother, and the other, who had scorned her Imperial Mother, now wanted to reconcile with her and asked her to instruct Princess Xingling.

Each one was absurd.

Especially Lu Fengmian. Betrayal a few years ago wasn’t enough, and she would still cooperate with Concubine Duan in the future.

Although she had refused the first conversation, she later claimed that she had seen through the cold-hearted true face of imperial power and could no longer tolerate their trampling of the people’s lives.

She hadn’t sided with anyone, yet every action she took inadvertently cleared a path for her.

She scolded me for being cruel? It was clearly she who fell in love with a commoner, willing to abandon everything and follow him in life and death.

Since ancient times, when has a reform ever happened without casualties? Kill gods, slay Buddhas. It’s just the irresistible trend of the times.

The red silk was loose. Li Qinghuai lay on the bed, without even the strength to sigh deeply. She wanted to curl up, but feeling suffocated, she could only breathe spread-eagled.

When the pain was at its peak, she couldn’t spare the time to cry. Now, tears finally flowed down from the corners of her eyes.

If I am doomed to die, I want everyone who harmed me, and those who will harm me, to descend into hell first and wait.

The day after tomorrow, whoever enters Concubine Duan’s palace will die. Dreaming of finding a way out behind my back? No chance. If you’re all dragging me down, then you all can go to hell.