tallest building

Chapter 201 Details

On a slightly tipsy spring night, Wen Mingqian took a car to the teahouse owned by Sang Sanyang.

Sang Er got out of the car and ran into her uncle who was coming to greet her. The two hadn't seen each other for a long time, but they still frowned at each other when they met again.

Since it was inappropriate to argue with Wen Mingqian in front of her, Sang Er said, "You haven't returned to the capital for a long time, so I just assumed you were robbed by bandits."

Sang Sanyang said, "I'm not brainless. I'd rather die than lose money. Even if bandits come out to rob, they only want money. I'll just give them the money and that's it."

Sang Er snorted and said, "If you're a real bandit, that's fine. But if you're just pretending to be a bandit, you'll want both money and your life. Who told you to behave so improperly?"

Sang Sanyang was speechless, not because of anything else, but because his affair with Liu Cuiyi had almost implicated Wen Mingqian. So he blushed and apologized, "I'm really sorry, Madam Wen. I didn't expect this."

Wen Mingqian simply smiled faintly and said, "It's all in the past. Just be more careful from now on."

Sang Sanyang hurriedly said, "Please come this way. The room has been prepared, and no one will disturb you."

Wen Mingqian followed him through many twists and turns before finally arriving at a secluded house. Inside, candles were lit, and tea and snacks were served, but there was no one there.

Wen Mingqian then told Sang Er to wait at the door. After another half incense stick's time, the Prince of Changliu arrived.

In just half a day, Wen Mingqian noticed that he had become even thinner.

"Your Highness, please have a seat. Have some tea first!"

"I can't drink anymore, just tell me your plans," Ying Wuchou said somewhat anxiously.

Wen Mingqian said, "Your Highness, please don't be in a hurry, there is still one person who has not arrived yet!"

"Who else did you make plans with?" Ying Wuchou asked curiously.

As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened and a person walked in.

Ying Wuchou looked up and was surprised to see that it was Lord Zhu Hui.

"Greetings to Your Highness." Zhu Hui was dressed in ordinary old blue cloth clothes, and his thin figure made him look like an old bamboo stalk.

"Please sit down, Lord Zhu." Although Ying Wuchou was a prince, he greatly admired Zhu Hui and even stood up to offer him a seat.

Wen Mingqian then personally poured Zhu Hui a cup of tea.

“Your Highness, Lord Zhu once helped me a great deal. He knows what I’m going to do. I invited him here tonight to tell Your Highness everything. Besides, one hand can’t clap, so more people will always be more help.”

“Lord Zhu is upright and honest, so he is naturally trustworthy,” Ying Wuchou said. “Now, can you tell me in detail?”

“Of course,” Wen Mingqian nodded, “You are someone my sister would entrust her life to, so I won’t hide anything from you.”

The candlelight flickered slightly, and Wen Mingqian's voice flowed slowly like a stream in the dark night: "Back then, I went into labor before I even reached Shuangxi, and in desperation, I had no choice but to give birth in a dilapidated temple not far away."

Not long after they entered, another group of people arrived, only to find that it was Sister Shen, who had escaped from the palace, and General Bu Yuegui.

My sister was also about to give birth at that time, and we both gave birth one after the other. My sister was worried about my safety and afraid that I would be implicated by her, so she urged us to leave quickly.

I then learned that the Empress was jealous of my sister's favor with the Emperor and her pregnancy. So, taking advantage of the Emperor's absence from the palace, she wanted to kill her. My sister was being escorted by General Bu, preparing to escape to the Prince's territory. However, to evade pursuers, they had to take a long detour.

They originally planned to hide in the territory of the Qiang people and then make their way back to you. But they had to stop to produce supplies halfway there.

My sister urged me to leave quickly, but I had been deeply indebted to her since I was a child, and how could I bear to abandon her at such a moment?

At that time, Wei Fu, the chief eunuch by her sister's side, wanted to take the young prince away, but her sister said, "Where can you escape to with him? You will be caught up by the pursuers in less than two days."

Even if you take him to hide, who knows how many innocent people you will implicate.

Hearing this, I had an idea. My sister gave birth at full term, and the little prince had a loud cry and was very strong. But my child was premature, and he was born with a bluish-purple body and couldn't even open his eyes.

So I secretly discussed with Wei Fu about exchanging my child for my sister's child.

I knew my sister would never agree, so I told Wei Fu to secretly switch the babies while she was unconscious. After that, we left the dilapidated temple. Later, I heard that my sister and General Bu were surrounded by pursuers and tragically died. Even after their deaths, they were still stigmatized.

Fortunately, no one suspected the child was fake. I couldn't save my sister, but I was fortunate enough to preserve her bloodline, which was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

It turns out that Shen Jinglian, who has been called a demon concubine for so many years, was completely framed and slandered.

Bu Yuegui, who bears the infamy of corrupting the palace, is in fact a loyal minister who is determined to protect the imperial bloodline with his life.

Ying Wuchou was shocked upon hearing this, and he further questioned Wen Mingqian, "You mean...you mean your current son is actually a prince?!"

“That’s right, I’ve seen that child.” Lord Zhu spoke up at this moment. “Not only is he exceptionally intelligent, but he also has the appearance of a dragon and phoenix. You should know that the Emperor in the world only has this one bloodline, which is also a blessing from Heaven.”

"Lady Wen, please accept my bow. Your righteous deeds will last for generations!" Ying Wuchou stood up and bowed deeply to Wen Mingqian. "If you hadn't abandoned your own son back then, how could you have protected His Majesty's only heir? You have endured humiliation and hardship for so many years, which is something that ordinary people cannot do."

I know that child; everyone in the capital knows him. They say he's exceptionally intelligent even at such a young age, and has already become Master Zhuge's last disciple. But it turns out... it turns out he's actually a prince, her child..."

Empress Dong was jealous by nature. In the early years, when the crown prince she had given birth to was still alive, she killed all the princes born to the concubines.

Later, the crown prince died young, and she wanted to adopt a son from another concubine.

Unfortunately, those princes all died one after another, none of them growing up.

Now, they have even brought the King of Zhao and the Crown Prince of Chu to the palace, intending to select a crown prince from among them.

"Your Highness, please don't do this. Although I have saved the prince, I will still need your strong support in the future," Wen Mingqian said. "My desire to return the Pearl of Hepu and the dragon to the Sacred Abyss will not be easy!"

"Though it is difficult, this matter is in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people. Even if I am torn to pieces, I will not hesitate!" Lord Zhu said with emotion. "The world has suffered under the Dong family for too long!"

Even the Emperor knew perfectly well that Consort Shen was innocent, yet he couldn't utter a single word in her defense. This was because Grand Tutor Dong's achievements overshadowed the Emperor's, much like Huo Guang in the Han Dynasty.

The Dong family is deeply entrenched, with disciples and former officials all over the country. If this continues, the nation will cease to exist!

Lord Zhu was not exaggerating; the Dong family's power was too great, and if it was not brought under control, it would surely endanger the imperial power.

“Lord Zhu is right. If we can uphold the imperial authority and establish a new heir, we will surely be able to overthrow the Dong family,” Ying Wuchou said.