A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1105: Does He Have a Conscience?

Claiming zero regrets would simply be untrue.

Yet absent Prince Jin, he wouldn't have been able to concentrate purely on locating his daughter!

Without pursuing his daughter, who could predict when Tangtang might have come back to him?

From this angle, it's truly no great sacrifice.

His realm and his child weigh the same; it's merely about choosing one.

The King of Western Xia grinned.

"Tangtang!"

"Your martial abilities are superb! In the days ahead... cough, cough!"

"Flee with your brother, seek a hidden spot where none recognize you, hide your identities, and thrive!"

"Ah, the Great Chu Dynasty sounds ideal!"

"Great Chu's Emperor stands as a legendary sage ruler, reigning over ten years strong!"

"The land flourishes, troops mighty, citizens affluent and secure!"

"You've resided there once and know it well."

"Friends there too, offering aid, so survival won't prove too harsh!"

"Under Great Chu's shelter, your father can finally relax!"

"Tangtang, will you agree?"

With those words, coughs wracked him once more.

Hai Tang's eyes brimmed red, her frame quaking.

"Father, what are you talking about?"

"Why speak of fleeing? This is our home; why depart?"

"Don't worry needlessly!"

"You've barely shaken off that chill; rest properly now!"

As she spoke, she eased the King of Western Xia back to recline.

She drew the thick coverlet up and secured it snugly.

Witnessing his daughter's care, the King of Western Xia beamed, shut his eyes, and drifted into calm slumber.

Hai Tang breathed out in relief at last.

After directing the servants to watch over him diligently, she bore the medicine bowl away from the chamber.

…

Within the Crown Prince’s Palace.

The Crown Prince of Western Xia, Hai Yue, lay ill in bed.

The Crown Princess Consort tended him meticulously, medicine bowl in hand.

"Your Highness, just one sip, please!" she coaxed softly.

"No... no... cough, cough!" Hai Yue hacked fiercely, shoving aside the bowl from the Crown Princess Consort.

"Leave! I refuse this stuff!"

Clang! The wooden bowl tumbled to the floor.

Unshattered, it spun about as the dense black brew splashed out, releasing a foul, nauseating odor.

The Crown Princess Consort shrieked in alarm, snatching up the bowl swiftly.

"Oh no, Your Highness!"

"Why lash out once more?!"

"You're forever frail and ailing; skipping medicine spells disaster! Seeing you suffer tears at my soul!"

Tears streamed down the Crown Princess Consort's cheeks like a downpour.

Hai Yue fixed her with furious, bloodshot glares.

"You vile woman!"

"I know full well of your tryst with Prince Jin!"

"Soon as I can, you'll face a gruesome fate!"

His accusation stunned the Crown Princess Consort.

"Your Highness, what's gotten into you? Fever muddling your mind?"

"What tryst? I'm your spouse, wed by imperial command, your proper consort—how dare you accuse me so?"

Tears welled in the Crown Princess Consort's eyes; she felt deeply unjustly treated!

"Out!"

"All of you, out!"

Hai Yue bellowed.

Rage swelled him further: forehead veins throbbed, complexion ashen, eyes ghastly yellow and bulging!

The Crown Princess Consort bowed her head low.

Her gaze darted slyly as she hastened to reply.

"Your Highness!"

"If you're unwell, rest up; I shan't bother you more!"

"Oh yes, tomorrow..."

"Some court Madams wish me to join them riding beyond the walls; haven't ventured out for ages!"

"Thus... I may not return tomorrow, should Your Highness allow!"

Impatience gripped Hai Yue fiercely.

"Go, go, go!"

The Crown Princess Consort rose and departed without a backward glance.

Fury choked Hai Yue into hacking fits, his weak form shuddering, nearly tumbling from the bed.

"Brother!"

Hai Tang burst in from without, steadying him right on time.

"Brother, what's happened?" Hai Tang panicked.

"How did you worsen so drastically in mere half a month?!"

Hai Tang stared in disbelief.

She rushed to pour a cup of water.

"Here, drink quickly!"

With shaky grip, Hai Yue seized the cup.

After big swallows, his spasms subsided somewhat.

He clutched his chest hard, teeth clenched, jabbing toward the exit.

"Sister, flee! Grab Father and flee!"

"Vanish far off, never return!"

Hai Tang's face darkened gravely.

"What do you mean by this? Why flee? Things that dire?"

Two more coughs seized Hai Yue.

"Poison!"

"That scoundrel has poisoned me!"

"Looks like that individual is returning soon; desperation has set in for them!"

"Sister, grab Father and flee to Great Chu. I'll hold the rear for you."

With those words spoken, another fit of intense coughing seized him!

Distress gripped Hai Tang as she observed.

Why won't this cough stop?!

Exactly, the coughing!

Why are Father and brother both coughing nonstop?

Father merely had a cold.

Brother... he was just a bit frail, never truly ill!

How could such fierce coughing afflict him now?!

During his initial trip with Father as envoy to Great Chu, he remained a striking youth.

Father mentioned brother's innate frailty made him unfit for martial pursuits, so he immersed himself deeply in Central Plains culture.

Aiming to grow shrewd and clever, compensating for his physical shortcomings.

Thus, his demeanor resembled a Central Plains scholar, not Western Xia's fierce warriors.

Even the Crown Princess Consort Father selected for him possessed refined grace, far from savage.

Father held deep admiration for Central Plains culture.

He believed endless herding and battles couldn't deliver prosperity to the masses.

Culture was essential!

He yearned for reform yet lacked the strength.

Trusting a venomous betrayer brought this dire situation...

Hai Tang's face turned gravely serious.

She refilled her brother's cup with water, striving hard to calm his labored breaths.

After what felt like ages, she whispered softly.

"Don't fret, I refuse to go!"

"Sister!"

Hai Yue spewed out the water, fury rising as coughs erupted anew.

"That betrayer is on the way back!"

"He and the Crown Princess Consort..." the illicit bond enraged him like choking down a fly.

A noble Crown Prince, betrayed by his own principal wife.

Such infamy would draw worldwide scorn, an unbearable stain.

He simply couldn't tolerate this disgrace; only death offered solace.

Hai Tang's brows knitted deeply.

"Why must brother torment himself over that villain's evil acts?!"

"If death comes, let it claim them!"

"I won't stand for it; you all must survive!"

"Hand this kingdom to him if he craves it!"

"But dare he touch you, and I'll end him!"

Fierce wrath blazed in Hai Tang's eyes, a pent-up tidal wave crashing loose at last!

Enough! She was completely done!

All these years in the palace.

She witnessed Father's and brother's vitality fading bit by bit.

Saw servants swapped out in endless waves.

Saw the schemer reveal her true nature, yet remained helpless.

The enemy, sly as a fox in hiding, plotted patiently over years.

Each move calculated with precision.

Until they were gradually backed into a fatal corner...!

The most ridiculous thing.

Father still dreamed of retreat, hoping that sly fox might develop a shred of mercy...

Ha! Mercy?

Does that fox even possess mercy?