Novel Full Chapter 375: But I Am Also Your Wife
Chu Kingdom’s Jing Province, Hanhai City Lord’s Mansion.
Zhao Wei, Li Dadan, Hei Daniu, and other childhood companions of Xiao Mo as well as those from the same cohort in the Iron Tiger Army were all pacing back and forth outside the city lord’s mansion, their eyes full of worry, but none dared to disturb their general.
“Zhao Wei, His Highness he…” Xiao Gui said anxiously.
“Sigh,” Zhao Wei shook his head, “The Third Princess is His Highness’s wife, so His Highness naturally has an excellent relationship with the Second Prince. I heard the two often drank together. Now that this kind of thing has happened, sigh…”
“How could the Second Prince do such a thing?” Li Dadan said angrily, “Aren’t they all family? How can family members turn against each other?”
Xu Yongsheng shook his head, “Dadan, you come from an honest family, so naturally you don’t know. Even ordinary wealthy families have those who turn against each other over inheritance, let alone the imperial family.”
“Actually, the Second Prince’s rebellion isn’t the most troublesome matter.” Xiao Yang shook his head, “Right now our Qin Kingdom is holding off Yan and Chu kingdoms and can still maintain an advantage. But if Jin Kingdom joins in at this time, with three kingdoms allied, our Qin Kingdom will truly be in trouble. Moreover, the two provinces on Jin Kingdom’s border are the Second Prince’s fief. Jin Kingdom will be able to enter as if into an unguarded realm.”
“Then what should we do? Should we withdraw our troops? Right now is such a great opportunity, we can destroy Chu Kingdom in one stroke!” Hei Daniu said angrily, looking extremely unwilling. They were just so close!
“Let’s wait for His Highness’s decision. We simply follow orders,” Qu Weize said and just as Qu Weize’s words fell, the city lord’s mansion gates opened, and Xiao Mo walked out.
“Your Highness!” Everyone saluted.
“Pass the order, tomorrow at the hour of chen we continue advancing toward Chu Kingdom’s imperial capital.” Xiao Mo slowly spoke.
“But General, what about the capital…” Xiao Yang asked.
“The First Prince has already gone to intercept the enemy. We must destroy Chu Kingdom before the first city in Guanzhong falls.”
Xiao Mo looked toward the horizon, his eyes so profound they made people feel cold. He added, “This is His Majesty’s command.”
…
Qin Kingdom Imperial Palace.
Empress Shi lifted her skirts and hurried to the outside of the imperial study.
“Is His Majesty in the imperial study?” The empress asked Eunuch Li outside the door, her expression anxious.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Eunuch Li responded.
“I must see His Majesty!” As she spoke, Empress Shi was about to push the door open but Eunuch Li timely blocked Empress Shi’s way, “Empress, Your Highness, His Majesty is currently discussing important matters with the Prime Minister and other ministers. His Majesty said he will see no one… especially… especially you…”
Hearing Eunuch Li’s words, Empress Shi’s fingers had already turned white from clenching.
Empress Shi took a deep breath and called out toward the imperial study, “This consort requests an audience with His Majesty!”
But from within the imperial study, no one responded at all.
Empress Shi bit her thin lips and continued calling, “This consort requests an audience with His Majesty!”
But the imperial study still gave no response.
Empress Shi pressed her thin lips tightly together, then suddenly raised her head.
“Eh? Empress, Your Highness…”
Before Eunuch Li could stop her, Empress Shi pushed open the doors of the imperial study herself.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler, along with the Prime Minister, Grand Commander, and other ministers, all looked toward Empress Shi.
Empress Shi walked forward gracefully and knelt in the center of the study, “This consort presumptuously requests an audience with His Majesty, please punish this consort, Your Majesty!”
Prime Minister Li and the others felt somewhat awkward for a moment and looked toward the Qin Kingdom’s ruler.
“You may all leave first,” the Qin Kingdom’s ruler waved his hand.
“Yes, we take our leave,” Prime Minister Li and the others bowed and withdrew from the imperial study, conveniently closing the study doors.
“What matter does the Empress have?” the Qin Kingdom’s ruler asked.
“In response to Your Majesty, this consort… this consort heard… heard that Jingyuan rebelled. Is this true?” Empress Shi asked.
“It is true,” the Qin Kingdom’s ruler nodded.
“Jingsu and Jingyuan were born and raised by this consort. This consort watched Jingyuan grow up from childhood. Your Majesty also knows what kind of person Jingyuan is. Even if he cannot… cannot sit in that position, he absolutely is not the kind of disloyal, unrighteous, unfilial person…”
Empress Shi prostrated herself on the ground, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes.
“Please investigate clearly, Your Majesty!”
“Sigh,” the Qin Kingdom’s ruler shook his head and sighed, “Empress, people can change. I also once trusted him, but now, Jingyuan has already rebelled!”
“Jingyuan would not rebel!”
“He has rebelled!”
“Jingyuan… wouldn’t!”
“Xin’er!” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler said loudly. Empress Shi’s delicate body trembled slightly in fright, “How many more times must I tell you? He has already rebelled! From today on, he is no longer your son, but a traitor!”
Empress Shi took a deep breath, raised her head, and looked into the eyes of the Qin Kingdom’s ruler without any evasion, “No matter what, Jingsu and Jingyuan are both this consort’s children. Moreover, Jingyuan would not rebel!”
…
“Big brother, big brother…”
Qin Siyao hurriedly ran into the Eastern Palace to find her eldest brother.
Before long, Qin Siyao saw her elder brother walking out from the study, seemingly about to leave the palace.
“Big brother!” Qin Siyao stepped forward and quickly grabbed her brother’s sleeve, “Second brother, he… he… he didn’t rebel, right? Everything is just Jin Kingdom’s scheme, right?”
Facing his most beloved younger sister, Qin Jingsu’s throat moved, not knowing how to answer.
Finally, Qin Jingsu shook his head, “Siyao, I… your big brother must leave the capital.”
“Leave the capital?” Qin Siyao’s eyes trembled.
Qin Jingsu smiled gently, “Jingyuan has rebelled. Big brother has been ordered to suppress the rebellion.”
“Big brother and second brother will meet on the battlefield?” Qin Siyao said dully, “Second brother, he really… really rebelled…”
“Siyao, do you believe in your second brother?” Qin Jingsu asked with a smile.
Qin Siyao was slightly dazed, then seriously nodded.
“It’s good that you believe in Jingyuan,” Qin Jingsu gently rubbed his sister’s head, “Then big brother is leaving.”
Qin Jingsu said nothing more, brushed past his sister, and walked toward the palace exit.
…
Lu Province, Prince Jing’s Manor.
Qin Jingyuan was still sitting in the courtyard drinking wine.
Not long ago, he had replaced the border generals of Lu Province and allowed Jin Kingdom’s army to enter.
In less than two days, Jin Kingdom’s army would arrive at his Prince Jing’s manor.
“Husband, you’ve drunk too much wine. Please drink some tea to warm your stomach…”
The Second Prince’s consort Ji Yue came out carrying warm tea and handed it to Qin Jingyuan.
Qin Jingyuan didn’t even look. With a sweep of his large hand, the warm tea fell to the ground, the jade porcelain teacup shattering into pieces.
“Why haven’t you left yet?” Qin Jingyuan raised his head and asked.
“But this consort… this consort…” Ji Yue lowered her head, her tone carrying fear and trembling.
“Soon your Jin Kingdom’s army will arrive. Your mission is complete, so what are you still doing here? Go back to your Jin Kingdom!”
Qin Jingyuan grabbed the wine jar and walked with large steps toward the outside of the courtyard.
In the courtyard, only Ji Yue remained alone.
Ji Yue brushed her skirt and crouched down, picking up the shattered teacup pieces bit by bit.
The woman’s eyes could no longer bear the weight of her tears. Crystalline teardrops slowly fell, dripping onto the porcelain shards and scattering like water flowers, “But this consort… is also your wife…”