The Emperor wasn’t deaf to Wen Zhaorong’s manipulative, innocent-sounding act. He was simply unwilling to bicker with her over such trivial matters out of consideration for the child she had just lost.
Seeing Prince Zhao and his wife working in tandem and nearly driving Wen Zhaorong mad with rage, the Emperor had no choice but to intervene.
"That’s enough from all of you."
Hua Qingqing forced a smile, her voice trembling.
"Your Majesty, please don’t fault my sister. She only spoke up for my sake out of a sense of justice.
If Your Majesty insists on appeasing Wen Zhaorong, then please, punish me instead.
As long as it placates Your Majesty, I will accept any punishment."
She was, after all, a woman he favored. The Emperor couldn’t bear to see her so humbled.
"Don’t say that. I am not an unreasonable man. I will get to the bottom of this and will not wrong anyone."
Seeing this, Wen Zhaorong began to panic.
Worried the Emperor would be swayed by Hua Qingqing, she immediately covered her face and began to cry again.
"SOB... It’s all my fault. I’m useless! I couldn’t even protect my own child."
The Emperor soothed her in a gentle voice.
"It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself too much.
Didn’t Doctor Wang just say?
Your constitution is already poor. Even without this fall, there was no guarantee you could have carried the child to term."
He thought he was just speaking the truth, but to Wen Zhaorong, his words were a sharp knife twisting in her heart.
’Why is it so hard for me to conceive?’
’Isn’t it because someone harmed me?!’
’If I hadn’t entered the harem and become one of the Emperor’s Concubines, would this have happened to me?!’
’And now the Emperor just casually twists the knife in my heart.’
A wave of resentment and indignation washed over her. Wen Zhaorong lost control, her tears falling even more fiercely.
She forcefully pushed the Emperor’s hand away and accused him through her tears.
"Doctor Wang only said it might not have been possible to save him, not that it was impossible!
What if? What if I could have saved my child and been lucky enough to give birth to him?
This slim chance might mean nothing to you, but to me, it was my only hope.
But you snuffed out even that little flicker of hope.
What am I supposed to do now?!"
The Emperor had never had someone show such blatant displeasure to his face.
He should have been angry, but seeing Wen Zhaorong crying uncontrollably in her shattered state, he simply couldn’t find it in his heart to reprimand her for her disrespect.
He reached out, pulled her into his arms, and soothed her gently.
"It’s alright, it’s alright. Even without the child, I will still treat you well."
Wen Zhaorong collapsed in his arms, sobbing her heart out.
Hua Qingqing watched this scene, silently lowering her head as if she were wounded.
’In reality, my heart was perfectly calm. I almost wanted to laugh.’
’See? This is the affection of an emperor.’
’Did you think his tenderness was for you alone?’
’No. He divides that same tenderness into countless portions, handing them out like alms whenever he feels like it.’
To placate Wen Zhaorong, the Emperor had no choice but to first order Hua Zhaorong confined to her quarters, pending the results of the investigation.
Hua Qingqing knelt, her head bowed.
"I accept the decree and thank Your Majesty for your grace."
’Thankfully, I accepted reality long ago. I no longer harbor any illusions about the Emperor’s affection.’
’Where there is no hope, there can be no disappointment.’
Hua Manman was burning with anxiety.
She wanted to speak in Hua Qingqing’s defense, but before she could, Zuo Ji rushed in.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Doctor Liu has been found!"
The Emperor immediately said, "Bring him in."
"Yes."
Wen Zhaorong’s heart nearly stopped. The color drained from her face, and the fingertips hidden in her sleeves trembled uncontrollably.
’Didn’t Doctor Liu disappear? How did he suddenly show up again?’
’He’s not going to expose me, is he?’
’No, no, he definitely won’t say anything.’
’I still have dirt on him. As long as he wants to keep his job at the Imperial Hospital, he won’t dare expose me.’
After some self-reassurance, Wen Zhaorong calmed down a little.
Doctor Liu was led to the entrance of the bedchamber, where his gaze met that of Prince Zhao, who was standing by the door.
Li Ji clearly heard the other man’s thoughts—
’What do I do? What do I do? What should I do?’
’If I tell the whole truth, Wen Zhaorong will definitely expose the fact that I accepted a bribe.’
’But if I don’t say anything, how will I explain myself later? The Saint will surely think I’m the one behind this mischief.’
Just as Doctor Liu lifted his foot to cross the threshold, he heard Prince Zhao speak in a hushed voice.
"The Saint is determined to get to the bottom of this. You’d best weigh the consequences of crossing the Saint versus crossing Wen Zhaorong before you make your decision."
Doctor Liu stopped in his tracks.
He whipped his head around, looking at Prince Zhao in terror.
Li Ji, however, acted as if nothing was amiss and offered a lazy smile.
"What are you looking at me for? Get in there."
Zuo Ji urged him, "Doctor Liu, please hurry inside. Don’t keep the Saint waiting."
Doctor Liu could only brace himself and walk into the bedchamber.
Perhaps because of his unease, his steps were hesitant and his gaze darted around nervously.
When his eyes met Wen Zhaorong’s, his body stiffened involuntarily. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, his apprehension held him back, and he said nothing.
The Emperor was far too shrewd. One look at Doctor Liu’s state, and he knew the man was hiding something.
The Emperor had originally planned to interrogate him first before making a decision.
But now, it seemed an interrogation was unnecessary. He would try to bluff a confession out of him instead.
"Wen Zhaorong’s health was poor, yet as her attending Imperial Physician, you failed to properly inform her of the severity of her condition. This is a dereliction of duty. You will receive fifty heavy strokes of the cane, be stripped of your official post, and be taken into custody by the Ministry of Justice to await further sentencing."
Doctor Liu’s face went white.
He dropped to his knees with a THUD and pleaded tearfully.
"Your Majesty, spare my life! I told Wen Zhaorong that her health was poor and that her pregnancy was high-risk! I told her all of it and warned her to prepare for the worst!"
Wen Zhaorong quickly retorted.
"You only said the child *might* not survive—you never said he definitely *wouldn’t*. You were the one who left it ambiguous! I finally had a chance to become a mother; of course I wouldn’t give up so easily. What’s wrong with taking a chance?"
Doctor Liu had been hesitant, but hearing Wen Zhaorong’s words confirmed his fears: she fully intended to pin all the blame on him.
’She wants me to be her scapegoat.’
’Not a chance!’
Doctor Liu cast aside his last shred of reservation.
"I asked Wen Zhaorong at the time if I should report this to the Saint! She was the one who said no. She said she had her own plans and told me not to meddle in her affairs. I have no idea what these ’other plans’ were..."
Wen Zhaorong’s volume shot up as she cut him off with a shriek.
"I never said such a thing! You’re slandering me!"
Doctor Liu had no choice but to shut his mouth.
No one else spoke.
For a moment, the bedchamber was deathly silent.