Chapter 207 - 208: Vomiting Blood
Li Ying’s subordinates were very efficient. They quickly investigated Lin Qingzhi’s identity and background thoroughly.
She was from Yangchuan County. Her father was a seventh-rank official who was inadvertently caught up in factional strife.
Mr. Lin was used as cannon fodder and exiled.
Not long after, news came that Mr. Lin had died of illness during his exile. Unable to bear the blow, Mrs. Lin soon fell ill and passed away as well.
Lin Qingzhi originally had a brother as well.
The siblings planned to leave Yangchuan County and seek refuge with their maternal grandfather’s family, who lived far away in Shangjing.
Unfortunately, her brother had bad luck and contracted an acute illness along the way. He also died after the doctor’s treatments proved ineffective.
Lin Qingzhi was the only one left in her entire family.
Her maternal grandfather was the old master of the Han Family. The internal relationships within the Han Family were intricate and complex.
When Lin Qingzhi first arrived at the Han Family’s residence, she had a very difficult time.
That was until she accidentally fell into the water. After waking up, it was as if she had become a different person. She started to become eloquent and skilled at socializing.
Even more unexpectedly, she actually managed to latch onto the Crown Prince, becoming a concubine who was quite favored by him.
However, the good times didn’t last.
Not long after, the Crown Prince passed away unexpectedly. Lin Qingzhi became a widow, facing the possibility of being sent to a nunnery to have her head shaved and become a nun at any moment.
After listening, Li Ying asked.
"When did Lin Qingzhi arrive in Shangjing?"
His subordinate answered truthfully, "About a year ago."
Li Ying: "Eleven years ago, did Lin Qingzhi ever come to Shangjing?"
The subordinate shook his head. "That, we don’t know. Too much time has passed, and the Lin family are all dead. With no one left to testify, it’s very difficult to investigate."
Li Ying thought for a moment. "Find a way to send someone to the Han Family to inquire. See if Lin Qingzhi came to Shangjing eleven years ago."
The Lin family and the Han Family are related by marriage. If someone from the Lin family came to the capital eleven years ago and their child went missing, the Han Family would surely know about it.
The subordinate cupped his hands and replied.
"Yes, sir."
Li Ying took out the small pouch from his robes and stared in a daze at the few sweet dumplings embroidered on it.
’Is Lin Qingzhi the person I’ve been looking for all this time?’
’If she is, it’s far too much of a coincidence.’
’But if she isn’t, then how did she find out that I was looking for someone?’
No matter how he thought about it, he felt there were many things about Lin Qingzhi that warranted scrutiny.
...
The next day, Wu Wang arrived at the Prince Zhao Mansion with a stack of scrolls.
Following the Emperor’s decree, he ordered his men to unroll the scrolls one by one and place them before Prince Zhao for him to choose a woman to his liking.
Each scroll depicted a young woman with an exceptional figure and appearance.
Li Ji casually picked up a scroll and looked at it.
"Too fat."
With that, he tore up the portrait.
He picked up a second scroll.
"Too thin."
And tore it up.
"Too ugly."
Tore it.
"Too dark-skinned."
Tore it.
...
It was as if Wu Wang had long expected Prince Zhao to do this. He wasn’t flustered by the scene and simply watched quietly as the prince tore up the portraits.
Once Prince Zhao had finished tearing up all the portraits, Wu Wang had his men bring out another stack of scrolls and added a reminder.
"The Saint said that if you insist on not taking a wife, he will have no choice but to send Lady Hua away, lest she continue to bewitch your mind."
Li Ji looked at him coldly.
"Are you threatening me?"
Wu Wang lowered his head. "These are the Saint’s intentions. I am merely conveying them truthfully."
Li Ji suddenly let out a soft laugh, though it was unclear what he was thinking of.
"Heh. In that case, I’ll trouble you to go back and tell the Saint that I’ve accepted all of these portraits."
Wu Wang said respectfully, "You may take your time to deliberate. You can give your reply once you have considered it thoroughly. I will take my leave now."
Only after everyone from the palace had left did Hua Manman dare to enter the room.
She saw the numerous portraits on the table and couldn’t help but click her tongue. ’What a grand spectacle for choosing a consort!’
Li Ji was in a very foul mood at that moment.
He glanced at Hua Manman, and upon hearing her inner complaints, he sneered.
"Are you here to watch the show?"
Fearing she’d be caught in the crossfire, Hua Manman hurriedly denied it. "No, I was too busy feeling sorry for you to even think of watching your ’show’."
Li Ji raised an eyebrow at her. "If you truly feel sorry for me, you should help me with my troubles."
Hua Manman had a feeling the scoundrel was about to set a trap for her. She immediately grew wary, but her face showed only concern.
"Please, just give me your orders. As long as it’s something I can do, I will give it my all until my dying day."
Li Ji crooked a finger at her, beckoning her over.
Hua Manman walked over with small, mincing steps.
Li Ji reached out, pulled her into his embrace, and forced her to sit on his lap, holding her waist firmly to prevent her from getting up.
"I am in urgent need of a main wife right now. Are you willing to help?"
Hua Manman said sheepishly, "I’m afraid I am not worthy of the position of main wife."
Li Ji: "You only need to answer whether you are willing or not."
Hua Manman was sitting sideways on Li Ji’s lap. When she looked up, she met his eyes.
He was also staring intently at her.
He didn’t look like he was joking.
Hua Manman nodded in agreement with almost no hesitation.
"Of course, I am willing."
’Of course I’m willing!’
’Only a fool would refuse!’
’Her rank of Nanny was nominally that of a consort, but in the end, she was still a concubine, always a step below the main wife.’
’If someone else became the main wife, my life would definitely not be as comfortable as it is now.’
’I had originally planned to move to one of the country manors by myself after Prince Zhao married his main wife, staying far away from his new family.’
’But now that Prince Zhao has given me another option, I definitely have to seize the opportunity!’
Li Ji heard her thoughts and knew she was running her own little calculations.
Far from being disappointed by this, he showed a satisfied smile.
He had taken great pains to teach Hua Manman so many things, wanting her to be able to live a better life, not for her to become some naive damsel who couldn’t even protect herself.
She knew how to plan for herself. That was very good.
Li Ji smiled and said, "As long as you’re willing, that’s all that matters. I will take care of the rest."
’Hua Manman was very curious about what Prince Zhao planned to do.’
She got her answer three days later.
While having an audience with the Saint in the palace, Prince Zhao suddenly vomited blood and fainted.
Everyone present was badly frightened.
The Emperor hastily ordered someone to summon an Imperial Physician.
By the time the Chief Imperial Doctor rushed over, Prince Zhao had already fallen into a coma and was unconscious.
The Emperor stood nearby, closely watching the Chief Imperial Doctor’s every move.
As soon as the Chief Imperial Doctor finished his diagnosis, the Emperor immediately asked.
"What exactly is wrong with Prince Zhao?"
The Chief Imperial Doctor said, trembling.
"Prince Zhao has been poisoned—and with more than one type of poison. The reason he vomited blood and fell into a coma is that the accumulated toxins in his body suddenly flared up."
The Emperor was shocked. "How could Prince Zhao have been poisoned?"
Soon, the entire Prince Zhao Mansion was sealed off. Everyone in the mansion was taken into custody and interrogated one by one.
Hua Manman, naturally, was no exception.
She was locked in a room by herself, awaiting interrogation.