The Princess Wei Yang Chapter 138 - Part 1
January 01, 2021Chapter 138: Virtuous Consort Tragically Dies
The practice of gifting companions has long existed in the Palace. Masters often justifiably gift palace maids to eunuchs, but most of them are “one in mind and heart, genuinely admiring each other.” This is nothing special, but Bai He ended up in such a situation makes one shed tears on end. The noble young misses covered their faces, revealing sympathetic expressions.
The Empress revealed an expression of regret and pity and said: “Maybe the Virtuous Consort wasn’t aware that you led such a difficult life. She has always been kind-hearted, and she certainly is not one to turn a blind eye to a dying—”
Bai He vigorously shook her head: “Nubi went to beg Virtuous Consort niang niang, but she didn’t hear Nubi out at all and even said that Nubi was ungrateful, to be able to follow Zhou Xiang is Nubi’s blessing!”
The Empress seemed taken aback: “Virtuous Consort knows too? She wouldn’t help you?”
Bai He appeared quite indignant: “Yes. Head Eunuch Zhou that His Majesty values, he is a first-rate confidant. Virtuous Consort niang niang gave me to him in order to draw him over, to obtain his loyalty! But Nubi cannot live like this anymore, might as well risk my life to get justice than dying in his hands!”
Seeing that the plan went well, the Crown Prince was secretly rejoicing, but he outwardly frowned: “If you have been wronged, why didn’t you come forward and report it to my Imperial Mother, she is the master of the Six Palaces.”
Bai He mournfully cried: “Zhou Xiang is very crafty, threatening to kill Nubi if Nubi revealed half a word. Nubi did not dare to speak! But yesterday, Nubi unfortunately overheard the scheme between niang niang and him and guessed that today would be the day Nubi dies, so might as well reveal everything at once, ask for His Majesty’s mercy and grant Nubi an intact corpse!”
People became more horrified as they continued to listen. They couldn’t believe their ears. How could such a thing exist in the Palace? This Head Eunuch was too arrogant!
The Emperor was also furious and pressed in asking: “What on earth did you hear!”
Bai He burst into tears, her voice choked with sobs: “Nubi... Nubi heard—”
Tuoba Yu suddenly got up and shouted: “Imperial Father, how could you trust the words of a palace maid? She must have been bribed by someone! Please don’t believe her nonsense!”
The Crown Prince immediately frowned: “Seventh Brother, I know you are concerned about your Concubine Mother, but everything will naturally be decided by Imperial Father, so listen first then you can speak!”
Tuoba Yu was not speaking for his mother’s sake, he believed that the Virtuous Consort would not do such a foolish thing. She had known of the Emperor’s love for Consort Lian and that Consort Lian was someone he sent into the Palace, to assist for his cause, so there was no point in turning against her. Although Virtuous Consort had quite a few disputes before, it had not reached the point of a life and death situation, much less the need for poisoning on this occasion. Virtuous Consort loved her son with all her heart and acted on her emotions, but she wasn’t this stupid!
The Empress sneered and said: “Bai He, why don’t you continue speaking?”
Bai He’s tears continued to trail down as she said: “Yes, Zhou Xiang was drunk last night and came back rambling, saying that Virtuous Consort instructed him to find an opportunity to poison Consort Lian niang niang—”
Appalled, Virtuous Consort sharply said: “What nonsense are you spewing, why would I do this? How could you bring up some drunken words to testify?”
Bai He gritted her teeth and proceeded to take out a small porcelain bottle on her and said: “Nubi is not spewing nonsense, Nubi has material evidence! This is acquired from Zhou Xiang, a mixture of the two poisons like the Imperial Physician said just now. If Your Majesty does not believe it, then test it out. Nubi is only a lowly servant in the Palace. If this was not given by a master, this kind of thing that cannot be bought with money, it will not be sold to Nubi even if Nubi sold herself, begging Your Majesty to be the judge of this!”
Indeed, arsenic and Patridge Dew are rare items that are forbidden in the Palace. They are not things that an ordinary maid can obtain. The palace maid’s words shot through the Emperor’s mind, his brows were vaguely twitching: “Good! Very good! Virtuous Consort, you truly are daring!”
The Empress also deliberately expressed her regret: “Virtuous Consort meimei, you’ve committed wrongs, how could you do such a thing, even if you are jealous of Consort Lian’s favor, you should not forget that there is a dragon descendant in her womb. In doing this, you refuse to even spare His Majesty’s child?”
Consort Lian was so indignant that her face had turned pale. She knelt down beneath the Emperor’s knees, tears falling like rain: “Your Majesty, you must take a stand for this consort. Otherwise, this consort would no longer dare to remain in the Palace!”
The muscles on the Emperor’s face involuntarily twitched along with the blue veins protruding from his temple, reflecting the anger from the bottom of his heart. The Crown Prince conveniently added some words: “The heart of women in the harem is rather vicious. Imperial Father, if you do not severely punish them, there may never be a day of peace from now on!”
Li Wei Yang’s expression was of slight indifference, but when she looked at Consort Lian, she revealed a small, blank smile.
The Seventh Prince, Tuoba Yu knelt down and made his way over to the bottom of the steps, saying: “Imperial Father, this son dares to use his life to guarantee that Concubine Mother would never do this kind of thing, the way she is towards you, the things she has done for you over these twenty years, Imperial Father knows best, didn’t you always say that Concubine Mother is a gentle and honest person? Why would you listen to the words of a palace maid and simply believe that Concubine Mother is guilty?”
Virtuous Consort was also in tears, looking sad and pitiful as she said: “Your Majesty, this consort is actually innocent. It was originally out of good intentions that I let Zhou Xiang take care of Bai He. Who would have known that someone would bribe Bai He to frame this consort? This consort has truly been wronged, I have no idea what I did wrong to be framed like this by someone—”
Virtuous Consort did have intentions of using Bai He to bribe Zhou Xiang, but there was also Bai He’s character to consider. Even if she had been beaten and scolded, how could she betray her master? And even dared to say that she poisoned Consort Lian, would she be so stupid to act in the presence of such a large crowd? There was no need to think about who would frame her for this kind of thing. If she was defeated, the Seventh Prince would naturally suffer losses, the ones with the most to gain is not Consort Lian but the Empress and the Crown Prince! Such poisonous hearts and minds!
“Hahaha...” The Emperor burst into a chilling peal of laughter: “Beloved officials, you have heard it clearly, revealing the tail in order to hide the head! Virtuous Consort, you said you are innocent, so I’ll ask you. Zhou Xiang is the Head Eunuch by my side. You randomly gave him a palace maid close to you out of goodwill. Is it because they are of the same mind and heart? Or do you already have ulterior motives, poisoning Consort Lian and my flesh and blood in her womb today, and are you going to kill me tomorrow and make your own son the Emperor?”
“Your Majesty... Your Majesty...” Virtuous Consort knelt on the ground, at a loss for words.
“Come!” The Emperor called out, and several guards came in from outside the hall. “Detain Virtuous Consort first, she will be punished after she is found guilty!”
Several guards swarmed up and dragged Virtuous Consort out of the main hall. The Seventh Prince, Tuoba Yu, was planning to plead with him, but the Emperor sneered: “Could it be that you colluded with your mother too?”
Tuoba Yu was shocked. He could only see the fierce intensity and coldness from the Imperial Father that had always loved him. He suddenly realized that his Imperial Father, who had always been gentle and amiable towards his Concubine Mother and praised him on end, was a man that ruthlessly turned the other way. He did not care about the slightest affections between husband and wife, nor father and son. In his heart, there is only the throne. Virtuous Consort gave her personal maid to the Head Eunuch by his side as a gift. Now that something major had happened, he had grown suspicious. In this manner, things will get out of hand. The Emperor suspected Virtuous Consort’s motives as well as Tuoba Yu’s involvement... Such a scheme must have been arranged by the Crown Prince and the Empress because they have the most to gain.
Tuoba Yu lifted his eyes and glanced at the Empress with hidden satisfaction in her eyes. He lowered his head and said: “Imperial Father, this son does not dare.”
The Emperor scoffed coldly and said: “Very well, take Zhou Xiang and Bai He down and lock them up separately, they’re not allowed to form a joint confession! Once the banquet ends, the Chief Officer of the Ministry of Justice will personally investigate!”
Tuoba Yu returned to his seat and noticed Li Wei Yang, seated across from him, had a strange calmness in her eyes. There was no sympathy in her eyes, only ridicule. He immediately understood what she had meant: This is the result of your actions. If you had persecuted and eliminated Tuoba Zhen’s people this morning, if he did not possess a woman’s soft-heartedness, then the Empress and her people would not have been able to frame Virtuous Consort. It was his mistake, he was the one that harmed his Concubine Mother, his indecisiveness and moment of kindness that allowed things to end up in this state today.
At that moment, Tuoba Yu began to recognize Li Wei Yang’s cleverness and foresight. She refused to give the enemy a single chance, even if most of them had already been eliminated, even if her hands were full of blood, she needed to win because she knew that if she gave them a chance to breathe, they would lunge and seize her throat like a wild wolf. Tuoba Yu felt difficulty breathing, his hand was shaking as he held the cup. He did not dare to raise his head and look into the Emperor’s stern eyes because if he expressed the slightest hint of dissatisfaction, Virtuous Consort’s fate would be sealed.
There’s a chance, there’s still a chance! Imperial Father only confined Concubine Mother for now, Wei Yang will certainly have a way to save his Concubine Mother! He just needed to consult her, there must be a way! There was still hope in Tuoba Yu’s eyes. He simultaneously looked in Li Wei Yang’s direction, his eyes brimming with anticipation.
Sun Yan Jun was sympathetic and whispered: “You see, Virtuous Consort niang niang is really pitiful. She was just at the pinnacle, but now she has become a prisoner. Who knows how she will be treated, how awful it must be!”
Li Wei Yang smiled coldly, her eyes gleaming as she indifferently said: “Many things come as a result of our choices. If she didn’t have ulterior motives in the beginning in ordering Bai He to be Zhou Xiang’s companion, Bai He would not have been abused and bear resentment, nor would she have betrayed her master in front of so many people. Do you think it will end well for someone who has betrayed her master? She would not have done such a thing unless she had been forced down a dead end. Of course, there must have been someone else who prompted and bribed her, but the real reason that led her to bet on her life still lies with Virtuous Consort. She was the one that sent her weaknesses into the enemy’s hands. She was the one who created an opportunity for others.”
The enemy will not be soft-hearted. They will seize every possible opportunity to attack you until you are beaten down, even then they will not let you go, choking you by the neck until you have stopped breathing altogether.
Li Wei Yang looked quite calm when she said these words. It seemed as if she was saying the weather was nice today and if it would be sunny tomorrow or not. However, Sun Yan Jun was quite surprised, lowering her voice to whisper: “You mean, Virtuous Consort niang niang was framed?”
Li Wei Yang had to laugh: “What else do you think it is? Virtuous Consort has lived in the Palace for so many years, would she be easily defeated by such a trivial matter? The matter of capsizing a boat in shallow waters is simply because the opponent has blocked your next move and cut off your retreat.”
Sun Yan Jun was even more surprised: "If you knew the truth, why didn’t you say anything?"
Li Wei Yang smiled: “I’m not only the person at this banquet who knows the truth, but what is important is not the truth but the will of the Son of Heaven. Those who are favored by His Majesty are innocent, those who are trusted by His Majesty are the victims, those who His Majesty dislike are out of luck, that is simply the reason. I think that the Seventh Prince finally understands this.”
Sun Yan Jun was dumbstruck: "Tuoba Yu?"
Li Wei Yang blinked, a hint of a smile appearing in her eyes: “The winner becomes king, the loser a criminal. He is someone in a high position yet lacking in perceptiveness and practicality. Only when he sees the terrible consequences of his momentary soft-heartedness, will he understand where he went wrong.”
Sun Yan Jun didn’t know what to say. She wanted to say that Li Wei Yang was being a bit too harsh, but there was a voice in her heart telling her that Wei Yang was right. If she was kind to the enemy, she was being cruel to herself.
After what had just happened, the ministers were very afraid, the entire hall was crowded yet silent as a sheet of paper.
Seeing that the hall had calmed down, the Emperor coldly said: “Perhaps my beloved officials feel that what happened today was sudden, but this is not the case. I have a feeling that Virtuous Consort has been secretly making waves for a long time and even intended to harm Consort Lian for some time. It just boiled over today, that is also fine. Whether it is a nail in the harem or lying officials in the Imperial Court, I will not let a single person go.” Once he finished speaking, he paused for a bit to observe the ministers’ reactions. The ministers had their heads lowered, only the Crown Prince looked up at the Emperor with a slight expression of panic and unease on his face. The Emperor coldly scoffed: “Does the Crown Prince feel that there is something wrong with what I said just now?”
“Imperial Father, what you said just now is true. Many ministers in the Imperial Court have clearly witnessed it. Virtuous Consort was too vicious today. This son proposes that her sins be announced throughout the world to make everyone steady their hearts and minds, so that there is peace in the harem.”
The Emperor coldly smiled and said: “Do as the Crown Prince says then.” Once he had spoken, he flung out his sleeves and left his seat. He didn’t even bother to look or say a word to the Mo Bei Prince, who had been watching the Da Li palace intrigues with great interest.
Li Yuan Heng appeared to be quite excited by this. Back in their Mo Bei, women also fight over their lovers, but most of them are resolved by physical fights. Such intrigues are rare. He could see that Virtuous Consort was the one who had lost the most today, but the winner is not necessarily the proud and smug Empress! On the contrary, Consort Lian, who has always been gentle and weak has won sympathy and obtained an even greater level of favor.
The Emperor had left, and the other concubines followed after him. The Empress glanced at Consort Lian and smiled: “You must have been frightened today.”
Consort Lian gently said: “Thanking niang niang for taking a stand for this consort.”
The Empress slightly smiled and took the hand of the female attendant by her side and left.
At the palace gates, Sun Yan Jun had just gone up onto the carriage, and Bai Zhi was about to help Li Wei Yang up when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her, hurrying over. Li Wei Yang didn’t need to look back to know who it was. Her movements stopped, and she turned around. It was Tuoba Yu indeed.
Li Min De looked on from afar, but there was a sneer on his lips.
Tuoba Yu had a face full of anxiety. He knew that there were many onlooking eyes at the palace gates, but he disregarded everything. Fortunately, there was light drizzle at the moment, so everyone hurried to get onto their carriages, countless bamboo umbrellas opened, so no one paid attention to this corner of the gates for the time being. Tuoba Yu gave Li Wei Yang a nod, and Li Wei Yang understood. She did not waste words and went with him to a more secluded corridor before coming to a stop: “There is no one here. Your Highness, if you have something to say, then say it. I still need to hurry home.”
Looking at Li Wei Yang’s expression, Tuoba Yu had some understanding that she had already known about everything that happened today! Suppressing the anger in his heart, he quietly looked at her: “Are you...still angry?”
“Why would I be angry?” Li Wei Yang appeared surprised, lifting her head up to face him.
“My Concubine Mother was rude to you before, you did not pursue it either. I’m begging you to help her out of trouble this time for my sake.”
“You want me to help your Concubine Mother out of trouble?” Li Wei Yang arched her eyebrows.
“Correct.”
“Based on what?” Li Wei Yang sneered: “Virtuous Consort niang niang is so noble, I’m afraid she won’t be able to accept it and be saved by a little girl like me! Seventh Prince, you think I will lend a hand if you put in a few words, has Your Highness ever thought about why I should help you? Since you didn’t take my advice last time, I thought our cooperation was over!”
She turned to leave after she had finished speaking, but Tuoba Yu suddenly stood in front of her: “Don’t go—listen to me!”
Li Wei Yang coldly stopped, Tuoba Yu gritted his teeth and said: “...Concubine Mother’s mistakes, I am willing to bear it all. It is all my fault that things have fallen to this point. If I had made up my mind earlier, Concubine Mother would not have been schemed against by others, so you’re right, I’m not qualified to ask you to do things for me.”
Li Wei Yang just looked at him coldly, her brows without the slightest movement.
“I know that I have no way for you to trust me now, so I am willing to exchange all of my possessions in exchange for my Concubine Mother’s life.” Tuoba Yu’s dark figure in the midst of the night harbored countless, complicated emotions. He liked Li Wei Yang and deeply understood this young woman. She never spoke with him in terms of feelings, she only spoke in terms of business. If he negotiated with his possessions and was able to save his Concubine Mother’s life, then it is worth it.
Li Wei Yang chuckled and said: “Do you think I’m after money?” Money and possessions, you cannot bring them with you throughout your life nor in death, Tuoba Yu’s gold, silver and pearls couldn’t save Virtuous Consort Zhang from disaster. They were not useful enough for Li Wei Yang to risk coming up with a plan to rescue someone. She was about to move and leave when Tuoba Yu said: “Saying that is no different than slapping me in the face, I have never heard such words before... There’s no use in me being angry or resentful, I only have myself to blame! Wei Yang, consider that I’m begging you this time—”
“Move.” Li Wei Yang’s eyes became even colder. “Seventh Prince, these feelings are better off used on someone else, I can’t afford it—”
In these critical moments, Tuoba Yu hastily said: “Wei Yang!” It was a sad cry with bottomless guilt, remorse and sorrow.
Li Wei Yang suddenly stopped mid-step. She turned around and looked at Tuoba Yu in all seriousness, who didn’t know what she was looking at. Her heart was cold and merciless as ice. She could turn a blind eye to Virtuous Consort’s misfortune, no, rather Virtuous Consort ended up like this was because she and Consort Lian joined hands because she was tired of Virtuous Consort’s condescending actions and wanted to let her taste the feeling of being empty-handed. Of course, the moment she watched Virtuous Consort fall into the abyss, it meant that she had completely abandoned her alliance with Tuoba Yu. However, when she saw the state he was in, Li Wei Yang suddenly remembered she was once desperate in the Cold Palace too.
Watching loved ones lose their lives because you were too foolish and cowardly, that kind of pain is not something ordinary people can withstand. Tuoba Yu has never experienced it, so when it comes, it will be vivid and all too clear. Likewise, his heart will be aflame with his resentment towards the Crown Prince and Tuoba Zhen, and this resentment will eventually push him onto a completely different path than before. Thinking of this, Li Wei Yang suddenly smiled and said: “Are you really asking me to save your Concubine Mother?”
Tuoba Yu's eyes lit up with hope, and he subconsciously took two steps forward: “As long as you agree, I’m willing to give anything in exchange!”
The smile on Li Wei Yang’s face broadened: “I only have one way, but to be honest, if it is not done well, not only will this plan fail, it will also seal Virtuous Consort niang niang’s fate. Are you willing to take the risk?”
Tuoba Yu had never been so grateful. He nodded quickly and said, “I believe in you!”
The Emperor had confined Virtuous Consort Zhang, and Tuoba Yu used all means necessary to take care of what Li Wei Yang had asked him to do. Then, he anxiously stood outside Xuan De Gate and awaited the result of the matter.
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Translator: Chau
Editor: Chau
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10 comments
Thank you for the chapter!! Finally! I missed this! Happy New Year!!🥳🎉
ReplyDeleteHAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the new chapter!!!
Thank you for the chapter! 💕👍🏼💕💕
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to everyone here! 🎉💕💕💕
Thank you so much, I'm so curious about the method LWY thought of. Also, I hope the mother and son learn to be respectful and listen to LWY from now on. I kinda wished she wouldn't save the consort
ReplyDeleteI also wanted LWY to abandon TY. He's a liability. He can't be trusted and after Virtuous Consort is saved, she'll probably start plotting against LWY again.
DeleteThanks for the chapter! Wonder if Tuoba Yu had really learned it...
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
This Virtuous Consort will never be grateful. She wants things done her way. Saving her today, will not mean she will stop her attempts to kill Wei Wei since Tuoba Yu wants her.
ReplyDeleteAs for Tuoba Yu, I think his obsession with Wei Wei will only grow.
Tuoba Yu still dares ask WY for help? Had I been her, I'd have rejected him and left. But let's see where this goes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update! Happy new year 🎈!
Happy New Year! Also thanks so much for the chapter as always :) Man, TuobaYu better get his act straight & learn from this bc LWY isn't playing around >:)
ReplyDeleteThank you😍 ai both of them have soft heart if both of them live in our current era. I think it would be different
ReplyDelete