We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 375: But I Am Also Your Wife
Previously on We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?...
Chu Kingdom's Jing Province, Hanhai City Lord's Mansion.
Zhao Wei, Li Dadan, Hei Daniu, along with Xiao Mo's childhood friends and fellow Iron Tiger Army comrades, paced restlessly outside the city lord's mansion. Worry clouded their eyes, yet no one dared interrupt their general.
"Zhao Wei, His Highness, he..." Xiao Gui asked with evident anxiety.
"Sigh," Zhao Wei shook his head and sighed. "The Third Princess is His Highness's wife, so he shares a strong bond with the Second Prince. They frequently drank together, I've heard. Now with this incident unfolding, sigh..."
"How could the Second Prince commit such an act?" Li Dadan fumed. "Aren't they family? How could relatives turn on one another?"
Xu Yongsheng shook his head. "Dadan, your honest family background leaves you unaware. Even in ordinary rich clans, heirs clash over legacies, to say nothing of the imperial house."
"Truthfully, the Second Prince's uprising isn't the gravest concern." Xiao Yang shook his head. "Qin Kingdom currently resists Yan and Chu forces while holding the edge. Should Jin Kingdom ally now, their trio would spell doom for our Qin. Furthermore, the Second Prince holds the two provinces bordering Jin Kingdom—invaders would sweep in unhindered."
"What now? Retreat the troops? This perfect chance lets us smash Chu Kingdom at once!" Hei Daniu raged, his reluctance plain. Victory had been so near!
"We await His Highness's command and obey it fully," Qu Weize declared. Moments later, as his words echoed, the city lord's gates creaked open, and Xiao Mo stepped forth.
"Your Highness!" Everyone saluted."Relay the command: tomorrow at the chen hour, we press onward to Chu Kingdom's capital." Xiao Mo stated calmly.
"General, but the capital..." Xiao Yang questioned.
"The First Prince has moved to block the invaders. We crush Chu Kingdom before Guanzhong's first city crumbles."
Xiao Mo stared at the horizon, his gaze deep and chilling. "This comes straight from His Majesty," he added.
…
Qin Kingdom Imperial Palace.
Empress Shi gathered her skirts and rushed to the imperial study's entrance.
"Is His Majesty inside the imperial study?" The empress inquired of Eunuch Li by the door, anxiety marking her face.
"Yes, Your Highness," Eunuch Li replied.
"I must see His Majesty!" With that, Empress Shi reached for the door, but Eunuch Li swiftly barred her path. "Empress, Your Highness, His Majesty is in council with the Prime Minister and ministers on vital affairs. He declared no audiences... particularly... particularly yours..."
Eunuch Li's words turned Empress Shi's knuckles white as she gripped tightly.
Empress Shi drew a steadying breath and called into the study, "This consort seeks audience with His Majesty!"
No reply came from within the imperial study.
Empress Shi bit her lips and called again, "This consort seeks audience with His Majesty!"
Still, silence reigned in the imperial study.
Empress Shi compressed her lips firmly, then lifted her chin.
"Eh? Empress, Your Highness..."
Eunuch Li failed to halt her as Empress Shi flung open the imperial study doors.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler, Prime Minister, Grand Commander, and ministers all turned toward Empress Shi.
Empress Shi advanced with poise and knelt mid-study. "This consort boldly seeks audience with His Majesty—punish this consort, Your Majesty!"
Prime Minister Li and others felt momentary unease and glanced at the Qin Kingdom’s ruler.
"Withdraw for now," the Qin Kingdom’s ruler gestured.
"Yes, we withdraw," Prime Minister Li and the rest bowed and exited the imperial study, sealing the doors behind them.
"What brings the Empress?" the Qin Kingdom’s ruler inquired.
"In reply to Your Majesty, this consort... this consort learned... that Jingyuan rebelled. Is it true?" Empress Shi asked.
"It is," the Qin Kingdom’s ruler confirmed with a nod.
"Jingsu and Jingyuan both came from this consort's womb. This consort raised Jingyuan from infancy. Your Majesty knows his character well. Even if he can't... claim that throne, he's no traitor, no unrighteous, unfilial soul..."
Empress Shi fell prostrate, tears tracing her cheeks.
"Please probe the truth, Your Majesty!"
"Sigh," the Qin Kingdom’s ruler sighed deeply, shaking his head. "Empress, hearts shift. I trusted him once too, but Jingyuan has rebelled now!"
"Jingyuan would never rebel!"
"He has!"
"Jingyuan... wouldn't!"
"Xin'er!" The Qin Kingdom’s ruler barked. Empress Shi's frame quivered in shock. "How often must I repeat it? He rebelled! Henceforth, he's no son of yours—a mere rebel!"
Empress Shi inhaled deeply, met the Qin Kingdom’s ruler's gaze unflinchingly, and declared, "Regardless, Jingsu and Jingyuan remain this consort's sons. And Jingyuan did not rebel!"
…
"Big brother, big brother..."
Qin Siyao dashed into the Eastern Palace seeking her eldest brother.
Soon, Qin Siyao spotted her brother emerging from the study, poised to depart the palace.
"Big brother!" Qin Siyao rushed up, clutching his sleeve. "Second brother didn't... didn't rebel, did he? It's all Jin Kingdom's plot, right?"
Before his dearest sister, Qin Jingsu's throat tightened, words failing him.
At last, Qin Jingsu shook his head. "Siyao, your big brother must depart the capital."
"Depart the capital?" Qin Siyao's eyes wavered.
Qin Jingsu offered a soft smile. "Jingyuan rebelled. Big brother bears orders to quell it."
"Big brother fights second brother on the field?" Qin Siyao murmured flatly. "Second brother truly... truly rebelled..."
"Siyao, do you trust your second brother?" Qin Jingsu smiled as he asked.
Qin Siyao paused briefly, then nodded earnestly.
"Believing in Jingyuan is right," Qin Jingsu tenderly stroked her hair. "Big brother must go now."
Qin Jingsu fell silent, sidestepped his sister, and headed for the palace gates.
…
Lu Province, Prince Jing's Manor.
Qin Jingyuan sat in the courtyard, imbibing wine steadily.
Shortly before, he had swapped out Lu Province's border commanders, paving Jin Kingdom's army path inward.
Within two days, Jin Kingdom's forces would reach Prince Jing's manor.
"Husband, you've had enough wine. Have some tea to soothe your stomach..."
Second Prince's consort Ji Yue emerged with warm tea, offering it to Qin Jingyuan.
Qin Jingyuan ignored it, swatting the cup away with a broad sweep. Warm tea spilled across the ground, the jade teacup shattering.
"Why linger?" Qin Jingyuan lifted his gaze and demanded.
"But this consort... this consort..." Ji Yue bowed her head, voice quaking with dread.
"Your Jin Kingdom's army nears soon. Mission accomplished—why stay? Return to Jin Kingdom!"
Qin Jingyuan seized the wine jug and strode out of the courtyard.
Alone in the courtyard stood Ji Yue.
Ji Yue smoothed her skirts and knelt to gather the broken teacup fragments one by one.
Tears overwhelmed the woman's eyes. Clear droplets fell slowly, splashing onto the porcelain bits like blooming water flowers. "But this consort... is also your wife..."