The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits-Chapter 110: Love Ties Through Embroidered Balls (20)

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Love Ties Through Embroidered Balls (20)

Extra (1)

"Emperor Zhao has passed away," all the bright decorations in the courtyard were removed, and all of you must stay alert."

Xuanyuan Jian stood still in the room, faintly hearing the voices outside.

For a moment, he stared blankly.

Father... Father had died...

Although he was now confined in this small detached courtyard, Xuanyuan Jian was not particularly despondent, as he always believed that one day he would be set free.

Although he often said that Emperor Zhao valued the Crown Prince most, he also knew that Emperor Zhao’s affection for him was genuine.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been confined here after making a severe mistake, along with sending his habitual servants and favored concubines.

Xuanyuan Jian thought that once Emperor Zhao’s anger subsided, he would be released. Eventually, he could wait for that day.

But he had never imagined that in just a short period of time, it would be the news of Emperor Zhao’s death that he awaited.

Stunned, he processed the news, and the next second, Xuanyuan Jian burst forth, trying to rush out.

The entrance to the small courtyard was heavily guarded, and before Xuanyuan Jian could even step out, he was sternly blocked by the merciless guards.

"Let me out... Father has always been healthy, how could he suddenly die? There must be a conspiracy involved."

Xuanyuan Jian yelled as if he were insane, "It must be Xuanyuan Baiqi, only he could benefit the most..."

The servants in the courtyard dared not listen to such talk, as by now Xuanyuan Baiqi was the Crown Prince under Emperor Qi, and his word could mean the difference between their life and death.

Thus, the former Grand Steward of the Prince Mansion walked up, steeling himself, "My lord, do not speak recklessly."

"Now that the late Emperor has been entombed, you should change your garments as soon as possible."

"You dog of a servant, now that you see me fallen, you dare to lecture me?"

Xuanyuan Jian, having lost all reason, his eyes reddened, punched the fattish Grand Steward, who weighed over 160 pounds, knocking him to the ground.

The remaining servants and maids saw what happened to the Grand Steward and dared not come closer. One astute servant reported the matter to Consort Yuan.

Before Wen Rou entered the mansion, Consort Yuan was the one who had been most favored by the Second Prince. After Wen Rou arrived, the people of the inner court subtly opposed Wen Rou, with Consort Yuan leading them.

Naturally, in these small confines of the courtyard, besides the Grand Steward, Consort Yuan was the most convincing figure.

Hearing the servants report, Consort Yuan initially didn’t want to bother with these troubles. Before she married, she was the most beloved daughter of her family, and even now, her family had not given up on her.

Now that Emperor Zhao had passed away, she had already received a message secretly sent by her family stating they had already made connections to get her out soon.

Although she would have to change her name and disguise her identity once she left, it was better than dying young in this small courtyard.

So, Consort Yuan did not want to stir up extra issues.

Outsiders all said that Xuanyuan Jian loved her, but who knew that his love was like playing with a pretty little cat or dog? It could be discarded just as easily.

Hearing the noises outside, Consort Yuan paced back and forth nervously, as it seemed to be getting more severe.

With the new Emperor’s accession, she feared Xuanyuan Jian’s outburst would be too severe, and it could completely enrage the new Emperor, implicating her as well.

Despite her reservations, Consort Yuan bit her lip and went out.

When she arrived, several ladies previously favored by the Second Prince were standing at a distance.

Seeing Consort Yuan’s arrival, as if finding their backbone, they asked, "Sister, what should we do?"

Everyone looked at the frenzied Xuanyuan Jian at the entrance of the courtyard, showing varying degrees of disgust and disdain in their eyes.

Consort Yuan, suppressing the resentment in her heart, walked over gently, "Your Highness..."

Her greeting was met with a wooden post thrown by Xuanyuan Jian.

Unable to dodge in time, Consort Yuan’s forehead bled profusely.

The scene was instant chaos.

The guards outside, regardless of what happened inside, only dutifully stood at the main entrance, not moving as long as those inside did not attempt to escape.

The family of Consort Yuan, not knowing who had guided them, found their way to Su Xiang’s door.

"By the Emperor’s decree, the criminal Xuanyuan Jian is hereby ordered to guard the Imperial Mausoleum from this day forward, as an act of grace. His female family members are pardoned and allowed to return home."

The New Emperor’s servant Wei, clad in bright yellow robes bearing the imperial decree, appeared at the entrance of the small courtyard where Xuanyuan Jian was confined.

"Criminal Xuanyuan Jian, receive the decree."

Xuanyuan Jian: "I do not accept this, I want to see Xuanyuan Baiqi, let him come to see me."

"The Emperor just passed away, and he treats me this way, does he live up to the late Emperor’s trust?"

"How do you know that the late Emperor had not grown cold towards you?" Su Li, dressed in a moon-white robe, hands behind his back, appeared behind Wei.

Xuanyuan Jian clenched his teeth, "It is you..."

Su Li’s indifferent eyes casually glanced over him, then looked behind Xuanyuan Jian, "This must be Miss Yuan, please come with me later."

"As for the others, Emperor Qi has granted a pardon, and you may return home. Those who wish to stay with Xuanyuan Jian may also do so."

Consort Yuan was overjoyed, touching her forehead which was still coated with ointment, she could hardly contain her happiness.

Being able to return home without changing her name was more than she could have hoped for.

As for the others, they looked at each other, even including the Grand Steward of the Prince’s Mansion, not one chose to remain and follow Xuanyuan Jian.

Xuanyuan Jian’s face turned livid, "You dare..."

Realizing his own downfall, Xuanyuan Jian knew that as a criminal, facing the extremely powerful Right Minister Su Li, nothing good could come of further defiance. He could only humiliate himself.

Turning his anger towards Consort Yuan, who had once slept beside him, "You were my woman, whether in paradise or hell, alive you belong to me, dead you are my ghost, and now you dare betray me?"

Consort Yuan was unafraid and spoke calmly, "It’s not about betrayal. We never shared our hearts. Any person would make a wise choice if presented with a better future."

"Besides, leaving you does not mean I don’t have better options."

Consort Yuan turned to Su Li and suddenly bowed, "I hear the Right Minister is promoting female education. My learning is not bad; might I seek a position as a teacher?"

Su Li smiled, "You are well informed."

A brilliant light sparkled in Consort Yuan’s eyes. The existence of the Right Minister showed her and other women a new path. Though adorned with thorns, it was irresistibly attractive.

No matter how much Xuanyuan Jian raged, he could not change the reality.

When the time came, despite his reluctance, he was escorted to the Imperial Mausoleum and never left that place for the rest of his life.

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Ah Gou was a ten-year-old boy, at his most mischievous age.

Even though his mother repeatedly instructed him not to go near the strange man living in the woodshed.

Still, Ah Gou couldn’t help but be curious about him.

Whenever he asked about that man, his mother would have a peculiar expression on her face, which made him irresistibly curious.

One day, taking advantage of his mother’s inattention, he sneakily scurried to the woodshed. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Through the window, he saw that the destitute man inside had surprisingly handsome features, especially resembling his own reflection in the mirror to a great extent.

Could he be my father?

Driven by curiosity, Ah Gou went to ask.

But what happened afterward?

He could not remember, and when his consciousness returned, he was lying in his familiar bed, with his mother beside him, continuously shedding tears.

Seeing her son awake, she could not help but hug him tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably.

This time, Ah Gou seriously said to his mother, "From now on, I will always be obedient."

The strange man, upon seeing him, almost strangled him to death, a suffocating, terrifying feeling of death that he never wanted to experience again.

It was only much later, long after the strange man had died, that Ah Gou learned that the man was his biological father.

His birth was not welcomed, simply because his mother was just a lowly cleaning maid.

And that man had once been another person—an Emperor’s second son.