Chapter 42: Saving the Exiled Crown Princess Consort (14)

It actually… didn’t merge!

No one had expected that the princess lost among the common folk was real, while the Crown Prince raised in the palace was fake. The sounds of toasting and feasting at the banquet abruptly ceased, leaving only silence and terror.

At this moment, a thought arose in everyone’s mind simultaneously: The Crown Prince—is finished!

This was clearly a celebration for the princess; how had it become the Crown Prince’s downfall?

The Noble Consort retreated repeatedly in fright, trembling all over. She saw Zhao Yi’s icy, cold gaze thrown her way.

“Impossible… How can this be?” Zhao Chengfeng was scared out of his wits. The ease on his face was gone. His knees went weak, and he knelt, shuffling on his knees to Zhao Yi’s feet: “Imperial Father, Imperial Father, it’s not true. It must be, must be something wrong with the water.”

Zhao Yi was relatively calm. He gestured, and the Head Eunuch beside him bowed and withdrew. When he returned, he held a bowl of clear water.

Zhao Yi gestured for Zhao Chengfeng to retest. Zhao Chengfeng was beside himself, his hands shaking badly. He managed with difficulty to prick his finger and dripped a drop of blood in.

It did not merge!

“How is this possible!” Zhao Chengfeng fetched a bowl of water himself and tested again.

The result was still the same! He didn’t believe it, smelling the water in the bowl, but aside from a faint bloody scent, there was no other smell.

“Enough!” Zhao Yi roared.

In an instant, everyone at the banquet knelt down in unison, terrified that the Emperor’s thunderous rage would descend upon them! Zhao Yi’s face was grim, his facial muscles twitching involuntarily. He kicked Zhao Chengfeng in the chest and said hatefully, “Fine, fine, Consort Liu! Fine, Liu Family!”

Consort Liu had passed away years ago; she was a daughter sent by a branch of the Noble Consort’s maiden family. The Noble Consort was so frightened she collapsed into a seated kneel, filled with regret. She cried out: “Your Majesty, this Concubine’s heart towards you is clear as the sun and moon. The Liu Family is utterly loyal to Your Majesty. This Concubine and the Liu Family truly knew nothing about this matter.”

Zhao Chengfeng’s voice was hoarse: “Imperial Father, it’s not true. Something must have gone wrong somewhere. Your child, your child is your son.” How could he not be Zhao Yi’s son?

No matter how calm he usually was, no matter how many schemes he had, they were completely useless at this moment! Everything he had was based on being the Emperor’s son. Without this identity, he was nothing!

Why was it like this? How had things come to this point?

He wanted to say it was all Tang Qi’s plot, wanted to beg the Noble Consort to save him, but he quickly calmed down, suppressing his fear: “Imperial Father, your child’s features are so similar to yours. How could I not be your son? Maybe, maybe the Blood Test for Kinship is sometimes inaccurate. Imperial Father, Imperial Father, you must grant your child a chance to prove his innocence.”

He kowtowed forcefully, speaking with deep emotion: “Your child has always been proud to be your son. If I am not your child, I would rather die.”

“Remove his Crown Prince’s golden crown for me!” Zhao Yi, furious and gnashing his teeth, ordered. Several Imperial Guards stepped forward. Zhao Chengfeng kowtowed several more resounding times; when he raised his head again, his face was covered in blood.

His hands trembled, but he calmly removed the golden crown. Unexpectedly, the Noble Consort suddenly lunged forward, hugging the Emperor’s leg and wailing: “Your Majesty, this is all Hele’s doing, all Hele’s plot.”

Zhao Chengfeng bit his teeth so hard he nearly crushed them, wishing he could tear the Noble Consort apart. But the Noble Consort continued rambling: “It must be some kind of folk sorcery Hele used. Your Majesty, see clearly!”

Tang Qi set down her wine cup: “A mere First-Rank Noble Consort dares to slander the Legitimate Princess. It seems Noble Consort’s understanding of palace rules is still insufficient! Crown Prince… no, Fifth Younger Brother, what do you say?”

Zhao Chengfeng was furious but couldn’t express it. He subconsciously glanced at Luo Xu and saw that her gaze was constantly fixed on Tang Qi, not leaving for a moment. Concealing the pain in his heart, he said, “Imperial Elder Sister speaks correctly.”

Zhao Yi was at the peak of his anger. He kicked the Noble Consort away: “Hele is right. It seems you are not worthy of the title Noble Consort. From this day forward, you are demoted to Consort Liu. Henceforth, the affairs of the Imperial Harem will be handled by Hele. You will reflect in your own palace.”

The Noble Consort was utterly stunned. Tang Qi smirked, looking at a nearby palace maid: “Take Consort Liu away.”

The palace maids hurried forward and took the wailing Consort Liu away. Tang Qi spoke: “This is the consequence of disregarding the rules. I hope everyone takes this as a warning.”

She was scolding everyone, yet her hand gently patted Luo Xu’s back, soothingly telling her to sit down.

The female guests understood. What ‘disregarding the rules’? It was clearly for Luo Xu’s sake, to avenge her and back her up. The Noble Consort had merely slapped Luo Xu once, yet Tang Qi kicked her while she was down like this!

For a moment, everyone looked at Tang Qi with some fear.

Luo Xu was dazed by the rapid changes and gripped Tang Qi’s hand tightly. Tang Qi, however, leisurely drank a cup of fruit wine and cupped her hands: “Imperial Father, your child cannot hold her liquor and requests to withdraw first.”

The current situation wasn’t suitable for continuing the banquet. Indeed, as soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Yi waved his hand dejectedly: “Take Zhao Chengfeng away. Everyone else is dismissed!”

Tang Qi turned to leave, but Zhao Yi said, “He’er, come with me!”

“Wait for me in the Imperial Garden. I’ll return right after speaking with Imperial Father. If anyone gives you trouble… hit them back.” Worried for Luo Xu’s safety, Tang Qi summoned a palace maid to accompany Luo Xu and also left the System with her before leaving with Zhao Yi.

The servants in the palace were adept at reading expressions. Seeing Luo Xu close to Tang Qi, without anyone having to arrange it, several palace maids set up a ventilated, shady spot for Luo Xu and brought fruits and pastries for her to enjoy.

Once Luo Xu was seated comfortably, several more palace maids remained there for her to command. For a time, her entourage seemed even grander than that of a favored Consort in the Imperial Harem.

Tang Qi followed Zhao Yi to the Imperial Study. Zhao Yi seemed to have aged several years in an instant. Looking at Tang Qi, he slowly asked, “What do you think of this matter?”

Tang Qi sat in the lower seat: “I have no opinion. It only depends on what Imperial Father wants.” Most of the concubines in the palace were connected to great aristocratic families. Zhao Yi did not want children of those bloodlines, which was why he was dissatisfied with Zhao Chengfeng of Liu Family blood. So regardless of whether Zhao Chengfeng was his son, he had wanted to remove this Crown Prince.

But he was old, and he needed an adult heir.

“I…” Zhao Yi fell silent. Tang Qi remained expressionless: “Your child has an idea. Imperial Father might as well hear it.”

Tang Qi didn’t hide anything, nor was she anxious. Her tone didn’t even change: “Your child wishes to be the Crown Princess!”

Zhao Yi flew into a rage: “Preposterous.”

“Imperial Father is merely worried that no one will inherit the realm… Your child is deeply in love with Luo Xu and will have no descendants in this life. Imperial Father can strive now and have a few more children. I can later pass the throne to them.” Tang Qi laid out the pros and cons.

Zhao Yi was silent. He was worried that after his hundred years, there would be no one… if it were Tang Qi…

“Why were you not born a man?” Zhao Yi lamented. Tang Qi stood up and cupped her hands: “A woman can also serve the nation. Imperial Father may ponder this slowly.”

Back at the Grand Princess’s Mansion, Luo Xu pulled Tang Qi into the inner room. Tang Qi laughed, “Is my wife so impatient?”

Luo Xu pushed her into the room, acting as secretively as a thief, looking left and right before locking the door. Only then did she ask in a low voice, “Zhao Chengfeng isn’t a prince?”

“He should be! This Blood Test for Paternity method is inherently unreliable.” Tang Qi answered truthfully, and she hadn’t tampered with the water. She could only say Zhao Chengfeng’s luck was bad.

Luo Xu was a bit disappointed. Tang Qi continued: “Imperial Father will certainly investigate. Consort Liu passed away years ago; investigating won’t be easy. But whatever the result, it won’t be easy for Zhao Chengfeng to extricate himself.”

Looking at it now, his position as Crown Prince was certainly lost. His life… might also be forfeit. After all, what man could endure such humiliation, let alone the Emperor! Even if the Emperor privately doubted the blood test result, a knot would forever remain.

This turn of events was something even Tang Qi hadn’t expected! If blame was to be placed, blame his excellent teammate!

Luo Xu frowned. Tang Qi tugged her hair: “Why think of him? Think of me!” She kissed Luo Xu’s face, her fingers rubbing her chin: “Still hurt?”

“It’s actually not very painful.” Luo Xu returned to her senses. Tang Qi had already brought out the medicinal ointment, gently melting it with her fingertip and applying it bit by bit to her face. A cool, refreshing sensation spread across her face.

She applied it very slowly. The cool ointment gradually turned warm, finally melting slowly into the skin. Tang Qi kissed her forehead and murmured, “Today was my fault. In the future, I will not let anyone bully you.” She had never felt this way before, only feeling extremely uncomfortable, wishing she could chop the person who hit Luo Xu into eight pieces.

“It’s not your fault.” Luo Xu hugged Tang Qi’s lean waist, burying herself in her embrace: “If not for you, I wouldn’t know how to avenge my grievance. Now that Zhao Chengfeng is no longer the Crown Prince, perhaps I can get my revenge soon.”

Tang Qi assured her, “Very soon.”

She slowly applied the medicine for Luo Xu, one hand holding her while gently kneading her shoulder. Luo Xu suddenly felt a bit of heat rising. She wanted to push Tang Qi away, but Tang Qi deftly dodged her hand. The hand, carrying the medicinal fragrance, slid down her neck into her clothes.

“So soft!” Tang Qi teased.

As Luo Xu was squeezed, she felt her body go limp, a tingling numbing sensation spreading through her entire body. She bit her lower lip, whimpering softly like a kitten: “It hurts, be gentle!”

“Then I’ll be gentler.” Tang Qi leaned close to her ear: “Help me untie my belt… Do you like it when I wear the Princess Court Attire?”

Luo Xu endured her shyness and nodded. Tang Qi bit her earlobe, slowly savoring it: “Next time, I’ll wear it just for you.”

Outside the window, the wind of early summer stirred the earth, like clusters of flames, yet also like gentle spring water. Water and fire mingled, causing the earth to burst forth with vibrant vitality.

…

The next day, Tang Qi learned via the System that Zhao Yi had summoned all the Imperial Medical Institute’s physicians for consultation. The physicians stated that the Blood Test for Paternity was not completely accurate. Zhao Yi agonized for a long time. Finally, Zhao Chengfeng returned to the Eastern Palace, but he was placed under house arrest.

Tang Qi had never hoped to eliminate Zhao Chengfeng so easily, so she wasn’t discouraged.

In the period that followed, unsavory rumors about Zhao Chengfeng spread through the Capital. Even the Emperor heard the rumor that Zhao Chengfeng “ate excrement and drank urine” and dispatched someone to investigate.

Seizing this opportunity, Luo Xu successively released the methods to counter the hidden weapons. Within half a month, the hidden weapons that terrified the Jianghu fell from their pedestals one by one. The hidden weapons held by Zhao Chengfeng instantly became worthless.

Without silver, Zhao Chengfeng’s days became even harder. The entire Eastern Palace was in a state of anxiety, fearing that Zhao Chengfeng’s downfall would affect them. At the same time, Zhao Yi announced that Tang Qi would participate in the morning court as the Regent Princess, instantly shifting everyone’s attention from Zhao Chengfeng to Tang Qi.

And Tang Qi openly and rightfully stood at the Emperor’s lower side—in the spot originally reserved for the Crown Prince!

A month later, Zhao Yi finally made up his mind and issued an Imperial Edict to depose the Crown Prince. For the sake of the Royal Family’s reputation, the edict did not state the reason for the deposition, merely finding a random excuse, citing the Crown Prince’s bad habits. When this news reached the common folk, they all declared that the Crown Prince must have been deposed because he was daily mixing with filth.

Some even said it was because the Emperor went to find the Crown Prince and discovered him squatting on the toilet eating and drinking, causing the Emperor to faint from anger.