Chapter 1331: Mistaking a Traitor for a Son
Chapter 1331: Chapter 1331: Mistaking a Traitor for a Son
When Princess Consort Ji heard the words of the Princess Consort of Prince Min, she did not calm down; on the contrary, she became more agitated. The more agitated she was, the less she could utter a word, and the left side of her body was numb and senseless.
Princess Consort Ji was extremely anxious, and cloudy tears gushed forth.
She couldn’t be paralyzed; she still had to go to the palace to find out the truth. She couldn’t just lie here, helpless.
Oh, late Emperor, if you have spirit in the heavens, please help Liniang.
Princess Consort of Prince Min said: "I’ve told you not to worry, take a deep breath, and come slowly."
Princess Consort Ji wanted to rail against her, thinking this jinx had taken advantage of her illness to manipulate and oppress her.
"Do you want to see your son or not? If you do, then behave."
These words from the Princess Consort of Prince Min extinguished the anger of Princess Consort Ji.
She closed her eyes to compose herself and tried to calm her wildly beating heart.
At that moment, a palace maid brought in the medicine. The Princess Consort of Prince Min personally took it, cooled it, and fed it to Princess Consort Ji.
God knows what was in the medicine; just the smell made Princess Consort Ji want to vomit, but she had to steel herself to swallow it. However, she swallowed half and let half dribble out, the medicine trickling down her drooping lips.
The tears of Princess Consort Ji flowed down.
After finishing a bowl of medicine, Princess Consort Ji steadied her mind and tried to open her mouth: "Go..."
She could make a sound now.
With anxiousness in her heart, Princess Consort Ji opened her mouth again: "Go... to the Imperial Palace."
The words almost popped out one by one, but at least she could speak.
The Princess Consort of Prince Min said: "The Imperial Physician said that it’s inadvisable for you to move much in your current condition. Rest first. I will seek the Empress Dowager’s permission to request Lady Lin, the female physician from Prime Minister Song’s residence, for acupuncture treatment for you."
What, ask the Empress Dowager, ask Song Minister’s Mansion?
They were all sworn enemies.
Princess Consort Ji stared blankly, but now was not the time to talk about this. The most important thing was still about Ze’er.
"Carry... me... there."
Princess Consort of Prince Min shook her head.
"You..."
Princess Consort Ji was so angry her head spun, glaring at her so intensely she wished she could swallow her whole.
Even when she was in good health, the Princess Consort of Prince Min wasn’t afraid of her, much less now when she was bedridden?
The Princess Consort of Prince Min ignored her menacing look and said: "With the situation unclear, going there will not solve anything, especially in your condition. What could you do if you went?"
It was heard that the one received into the palace was first thrown into the Heavenly Prison, supposedly for colluding with Xia Houzhe.
The Princess Consort of Prince Min said: "When I enter the palace to consult my mother, I will inquire a bit. Until then, please rest at ease." After a pause, she continued: "Consort, at this point, is this Prince really your son? Think back. Are there truly no signs? People often leave clues, like a change in personality."
Princess Consort Ji’s expression changed, and memories suddenly flashed back to many years ago. It was right when they returned to the fief, her son’s temperament had changed considerably, and he seemed estranged from her. But she simply thought it was due to her son’s grief over losing his father, causing his low spirits, and she herself was mourning leaving the capital, so she didn’t pay attention.
Later on, the late Emperor arranged for a tutor, a certain Mister Lin, perhaps? With studies becoming more demanding, it became difficult for mother and son to meet, and the tutor would not allow it.
Gradually, she got used to it, merely attributing it to a change in environment shaping people.
Princess Consort Ji recalled an outing one year when a child rushed to her, claiming he was the real Chu Ze. At that time, she found it quite amusing, thinking some pauper was merely trying to latch onto connections.
In hindsight, could it have actually been true back then?
Princess Consort Ji’s face turned pale, and her lips quivered. Had she not only recognized a thief as her son but also pushed her real son away?