Chapter 290: Chapter 292: Dugu Wu, You’re So Ruthless
Upon the arrival of the Royal Family’s horse carriage, the head and deputy head of Yuxiu Academy, along with all the female teachers, also arrived soon after.
The Empress, as always, carried herself with grace and opulence, but her normally composed face was slightly distorted due to anxiety.
She pushed aside the nanny’s supporting arm and stepped down from the horse carriage, unable to stop herself from muttering,
“How foolish, Cheng is truly too foolish.”
Noble Princess Consort Xiao got off the carriage unhurriedly and, seeing the Empress both anxious and furious, felt an imnse sense of satisfaction within.
The matter of Emperor Yongye considering the appointnt of a new Crown Prince was no secret in the Imperial Palace.
The Seventh Prince, Dongfang Li, originally had a strong backing.
However, soone submitted a report against the Seventh Prince, accusing him of being engrossed in the pleasures of the flesh, having an illicit relationship with Miss Feng during the Xiahe Banquet; being so indulgent as a Prince, how could he set an example to the people as the Crown Prince.
Among the many Princes, except for the one who has been lying motionless for years, the others, more or less, all had so minor flaws. If everyone’s true character were to be fully scrutinized, only the blind Dongfang Mosheng would remain.
But how could a blind man be Crown Prince? Therefore, among the Princes, it turned out that Dongfang Cheng, the tallest among the dwarfs, ca out on top.
But now, it turned out that Dongfang Cheng also had a clandestine affair with a female student from Yuxiu Academy; not only that, but he also overindulged to the point that the woman was almost played to death.
“Empress, Noble Princess Consort Xiao.”
Lady Nan Shiu, with a sombre expression, offered a curt bow and regarded the Empress with a sowhat icy gaze.
“How is the female student?”
The Empress forced a reluctant smile.
“After administering the dicinal soup, the Imperial Physician has examined her and said that her life is not in danger.”
Lady Nan Shiu also thought about Mo Qianqian, a female student from a poor background, and how she got entangled with Dongfang Cheng.
The Empress looked profoundly secretive, urging Lady Nan Shiu that this matter must not be disclosed to the Emperor at all costs. However, upon seeing Dongfang Li leading the group, the Empress’s heart had already cooled by half.
When everyone had entered Yuxiu Academy, the other female teachers gathered the students and admonished them not to discuss the incident with outsiders; whatever happened in Wangyue Pavilion was also not to be ntioned at all.
But there are no walls in the world that do not leak, and after a while, through Ouyang Chenchen, Feng Bailing learned the truth of the matter.
“Last night, after the monthly evaluation ended, Mo Qianqian arranged to et the Eldest Prince in Wangyue Pavilion for a clandestine rendezvous, where passion flared between them. Unbeknownst to her, the Eldest Prince is not like ordinary n; he has a preference for… domination. He used a belt to strangle Mo Qianqian’s neck, riding her as if she were a horse. After tornting her for an entire night, by dawn, Mo Qianqian suddenly began frothing at the mouth and struggled to breathe, collapsing unconscious. The Eldest Prince also panicked at that mont, hastily seeking an Imperial Physician without even properly dressing himself. The news spread from there.”
Ouyang Chenchen exclaid how appearances can be deceiving.
Feng Bailing was left speechless.
“Speaking of which, I’ve just realized that Mo Qianqian has the face of an official mber of the palace. Have you noticed? She bears a resemblance to the Empress of your Great Chu, especially from the side,” Ouyang Chenchen said jokingly.
Feng Bailing recalled briefly and noted that indeed the Empress and Mo Qianqian shared so similarities, with the exception that Mo Qianqian was younger and lacked the Empress’s majestic aura of elegance.
By the afternoon, Mo Qianqian woke up.
But upon awakening, she was crying and wailing, seeking death as if life had no purpose.
Seeing that the situation was not in her favor, the Empress opened her mouth and suggested that Dongfang Cheng take her as a concubine, which finally settled Mo Qianqian down.
Even so, Lady Nan Shiu was still infuriated and had Mo Qianqian expelled from school. Mo Qianqian could only leave Yuxiu Academy covered in Dongfang Cheng’s cloak, under the scornful eyes of the other female students.
In the crowd, Mo Qianqian spotted a figure.
Even leaning on a crutch, the man’s deanor was distinct from others.
His eyes, more sparkling than any gem, swept over her face.
Mo Qianqian felt a sinking feeling at the bottom of her heart, suddenly realizing sothing.
Could it be that everything from last night was his calculated sche?
The night, what she went through felt like hell.
She had never imagined, that the Eldest Prince, who appeared so well-grood and considerate to her in public, would have such a side behind people’s backs.
He treated her worse than an animal; he bit her, hit her, and used candles and belts on her.
She couldn’t imagine what life would be like after marrying him.
But she had no way out.
Dugu Wu, you are so cruel.
Mo Qianqian lowered her eyes, the sourness turned into endless hatred.
“Master, just as you expected, Noble Princess Consort Xiao’s people delivered the news to the Emperor early in the morning. The Emperor is very angry, and the matter of appointing a new Crown Prince has been put on hold for now. Miss Hong Xuan did an excellent job this ti.”
Feng Zao whispered beside Dugu Wu.
“Keep an eye on things inside the palace. That person has been patient for so long and finally had this opportunity, only to have us ruin it, I’m afraid there will be further moves.”
Dugu Wu was also sowhat surprised; he had heard of Dongfang Cheng’s peculiar tastes, but he never imagined Mo Qianqian would nearly be tornted to death, causing a far bigger commotion than he expected.
Out of the corner of his eye, Dugu Wu caught sight of Feng Bailing and Ouyang Chenchen saying sothing and then parting ways.
Feng Bailing had only walked a few steps when Dongfang Mosheng approached her.
Holding a lute in his arms, he spoke to Feng Bailing.
Feng Bailing smiled, her eyes sparkling brightly; the two looked quite intimate together.
Although Dongfang Mosheng was blind, his tall figure and exceptional temperant made him seem a better match for Feng Bailing than him, a cripple.
He thought of the day they got married, the way Dongfang Mosheng, in front of everyone, reached out his hand to Feng Bailing.
This Ninth Prince, forrly inconspicuous, like a speck of dust.
But at so point, Dugu Wu felt he was becoming more and more of an eyesore.
For no reason at all, Dugu Wu felt sowhat displeased.
“Master, we haven’t had a chance to report Miss Hong Xuan’s issue to the Princess Consort yet.”
Feng Zao wondered whether to step forward and give a notice; they had left in such a hurry in the morning, he heard so servants gossiping, and by this ti, it probably had already reached the Princess Consort’s ears.
“No need.”
Dugu Wu didn’t look back and walked away.
“The Ninth Prince’s musicianship is outstanding; I wouldn’t dare to offer pointers.”
Feng Bailing had just bumped into Dongfang Mosheng when Dongfang Mosheng ntioned that he had composed a new piece and wanted Feng Bailing to help him listen to it.
“Mo Qianqian’s musical talent is indeed good, it’s a sha she’s too naive. Eldest Brother is really causing a fuss, doing such a thing at this ti. However, I know a bit about dicine, and by the symptoms described, it seed like Mo Qianqian was poisoned. I feel there’s sothing fishy about this incident, Bai Ling, what do you think?”
Dongfang Mosheng said seemingly casually.
Feng Bailing was secretly shocked; Dongfang Mosheng, a blind man, was too perceptive, wasn’t it just poisoning?
Dongfang Cheng really had bad luck this ti.
It was one thing for him to have an affair with Mo Qianqian, but why did it have to be when Mo Qianqian was poisoned? He guessed Mo Qianqian probably didn’t consu much of the poisoned potato chips; it just so happened to break out that morning.
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