The Beloved Imperial Consort Chapter 149

In the dark underground prison, there was a middle-aged man with disheveled hair looking like the epitome of a slovenly appearance. He wore a sapphire blue brocade robe that was clearly of high value, but it was now completely stained with blood, truly disgraceful.

The sound of an iron door being locked echoed through the cell. The middle-aged man, with piercing eagle-like eyes, looked up. He saw Zong Zheng Lin, dressed in a green-blue robe and appearing upright, accompanied by his attendant, walk with his head held high to the front of the cell and stand still. The attendant took out a folding chair from behind and unfolded it. Zong Zheng Lin lifted his brocade robe and sat down gracefully, with a straight posture.

“We come from the same root, yet you persist in your wrongdoings, severing all ties with us times and again.” Zong Zheng Lin’s voice was icy cold.

“Same root? Benzun¹ thought your lineage had long forgotten your roots, but now you have the face to bring up bloodline?” The middle-aged man sneered, his voice filled with intense hatred and sarcasm. 

“His Majesty had been lenient toward you time and time again and showed you mercy. Since your expulsion from Yunzhou and being forced into Shuzhong a decade ago, has anyone relentlessly pursued you and tried to take your life?” Zong Zheng Lin turned a blind eye to his unruly behavior and acted solely according to his own will. 

“How dare you, Zong Zheng Lin! That damn ancestor of yours had seized the throne by killing his own brothers. My ancestor was lucky enough to escape but had to witness his imperial brother being beheaded by the treacherous usurper and his own eyes were later blinded by others. What would you do with hatred of your country taken over and family destroyed?!”  

“The grudges between our ancestors should not be carried on by us. The fight for the throne is a battle where only the victor survives, a decision of life or death. All the remnants of the rebel faction have been captured and executed. Only you need to be escorted back to the capital and await the decision of His Majesty. Bendian should have let you return to the capital safely. What a pity, Mu’shi had begged Bendian in the past that if you were captured alive, Bendian had to get even with you on her behalf. Now it’s time for you to repay this debt to her, lest she be resentful.

Zong Zheng Lin has always acted in a domineering way, but after leaving Shengjing, he became even more impatient with following protocols for interrogations.

Previously, Zong Zheng Ming had conducted an inquiry into the rebels in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Justice, but it ended unsatisfactorily, and he had not shown up since. When it was Zong Zheng Lin’s turn to interrogate, the Sixth Highness completely disregarded the rules and directly handed the task to Yan Cheng Zhou, fulfilling Mu Xi Yao’s wish. 

In the battle of Shuzhong, Zong Zheng Ming and Zhong Zheng Lin each led thousands of elite soldiers, and with the help of the secret medicine from Yu Gu, they ultimately achieved a complete victory despite the dangerous situation.

The rebel faction had all the advantages of favorable terrain and personnel, but they underestimated Yu Gu, who was Zong Zheng Lin’s subordinate, and her skills in medicine. 

Their lord relied on the use of poison in many ways, but now it was like displaying his slight skill before an expert, which played right into the hands of Zong Zheng Lin. If both sides were to engage in a real battle, soldiers of Great Wei against death soldiers of Shuzhong, they would not be able to keep their forces intact like this. There would certainly be a tough battle to fight. 

“Is this how it is?” Zhong Zheng Ming waited outside. He could hear the wailing and howling coming from the underground prison from afar. Upon seeing Zhong Zheng Lin walk out, he raised his eyebrow, “Don’t you fear Imperial Father’s punishment?” 

“He’s but someone who is at death’s door.” Zong Zheng Lin’s reply was concise.

“Weapons don’t discriminate, and receiving some minor injuries is already showing mercy.” Zong Zheng Ming supported his measures and spoke lies with no loss of his refined demeanor.  

The two exchanged a glance and walked out side by side, leaving behind the wailing cries that made the guards’ hair stand on end.

After the affairs in Shuzhong were over, the two led the troops back to Qi City but unexpectedly encountered a familiar figure outside the city gate. As soon as they saw the person’s silhouette, the two Highnesses’ faces immediately turned as black as ink. 

“Bring her along!” Zong Zheng Ming gestured for his attendant to carry the person onto the horse. When he turned back, his expression had returned to normal. 

Zong Zheng Lin narrowed his eyes as he watched that woman being helped out, her back frail like a wisp of air. “Ye Kai, call for a physician.” 

“Did Sixth Brother not make any prior arrangements?” How could Zong Zheng Lin tolerate someone holding a striking resemblance to Mu Xi Yao, groveling in front of others and begging for living like this?  

He shouldn’t have asked. Zong Zheng Lin’s expression became even worse at the question. “I was going to take care of it on our way back.”

“Isn’t Fifth Brother the most compassionate towards women?” Zong Zheng Ming’s thoughts were easy to read, so why did he not help her? 

Zong Zheng Ming straightened his expression. “I’ve underestimated the jealousy of women.” Before he left, he had asked someone to send money. Afterward, he made the same arrangements as Zong Zheng Lin did. After all, it wasn’t appropriate to bring a woman on the march. 

Upon their return, they unexpectedly saw the woman covered in dirt and begging outside the city gates. It was clear from her appearance that she was suffering from a serious illness. The sight angered them both, and their faces naturally reflected those emotions. 

The already tight schedule of the journey was delayed for half a day because of this woman. Afterward, the group spurred their horses and rushed toward Shengjing at full speed.

While Zong Zheng Lin was still on his way back, Shengjing was already in an uproar, not because of the Selection, but because something big happened to the He Lian House! 

The incident began with a confidential letter received by the Supervisory Bureau. On the second day, a nursery rhyme spread throughout the streets, accusing the He Lian House of deceiving the Emperor and attempting to substitute He Lian Min Min for He Lian Wei Rui. 

Upon hearing the news, four women had the most intense reactions.

“What did you say?” He Lian Wei Rui was so shocked that all color drained from her face. This news was too startling. Who was behind this scheme? What was going on with He Lian Min Min? Why was she rumored to be unable to bear children for no reason and implicate her in this? The only one who could benefit from this was Lady Mu. Could it be that He Lian Min Min had fallen into Mu Xi Yao’s trap? 

But, didn’t Lady Mu go by ‘I don’t provoke others if they don’t provoke me’? How come she suddenly had such an insight into the affairs of the He Lian House and even had the intention to eliminate anyone who blocked her from ascending to a higher position? 

But the timing was not right. For her, the most appropriate timing would be to wait until the Sixth Highness ascends to the throne and then shake He Lian Min Min’s position with a single move. What benefits could she possibly gain by acting ahead of time?

He Lian Wei Rui really couldn’t believe that Mu Xi Yao, with her smarts, could come up with such a foolish move. Upon further thought, there was certainly someone who played dirty and ruined the He Lian House’s plan. 

Now the most important thing was to find out whether there was anything wrong with He Lian Min Min’s body. If the rumors were true and He Lian Min Min was unable to bear children for the imperial family, and since there were too many people who knew that He Lian House intended to send her, the shu daughter, to Zong Zheng Lin’s household…linking these two things together, it seems that the He Lian House had walked into someone’s trap! They could hardly explain this now.  

“Father.” He Lian Wei Rui bowed respectfully to a grim-looking He Lian Zhang 

“This matter has encountered unexpected changes, and what you said can only be postponed. At present, our family is being targeted, so we’ll have to handle this situation for now and come up with a plan for your issue later.” Even now, He Lian Zhang refused to believe that He Lian Min Min was born with a defect. Throughout all these years, none of the momos who attended her had ever reported that she suffered from a cold womb and could not bear a child. 

This rumor must be quickly dispelled. Was it a political enemy or a woman from the inner yard who made the move? He Lian Zhang felt that the situation was tricky.

“Yes, daughter understands. Lord father had worked hard.” He Lian Wei Rui knew that family affairs were of utmost importance. Only when He Lian House weathered this storm could people in the household enjoy good days. 

——

“It’s simply absurd!” He Lian Min Min smashed the teacup with a flick of her hand. Seething with anger as her hands trembled.

“Who is it?! Who did such a deed at a time like this?” With the He Lian House already in hot water and their own survival at stake, He Lian Min Min could only think of Mu Xi Yao.

That woman agreed to the alliance in front of her but then carried out such a treacherous thing behind her back. She should never have trusted her! Now she had handed over the dirt to her and brought this disgrace upon herself.

He Lian Min Min was so furious that she took people with her and headed straight to Danruo Courtyard. If she doesn’t confront Mu Xi Yao and get answers, she wouldn’t be able to swallow this anger! Any woman falsely accused of being unable to bear children would be equivalent to having her life taken away. Which noble family would accept a woman who couldn’t bear offspring and pass on the family lineage? In the imperial family, her outcome would be divorce. 

If Mu’shi dares to fabricate such lies out of thin air, she would make her regret it! 

Translation notes:

[1] Benzun refers to a first-person pronoun that means this venerable self. 

Relationship Diagram  (by Sith Kazar)

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