Xiao Jingheng looked at these women who had shared his bed, their faces now beaming with bright smiles that seemed to conceal sharp daggers aimed at taking his life.
He didn't understand.
He was the Son of Heaven, the finest man in this world.
He had given them status, honor, and everything that would make all women in the world envy them.
Why then, in the end, did they all hate him to the bone?
He was the Son of Heaven!
Xiao Jingheng feebly raised his trembling hand, pointing at them as he gasped:
"Treacherous ministers and rebels! You are all treacherous ministers and rebels!"
Qimu Ge laughed, "A deluded and unvirtuous ruler deserves to be overthrown by all. You just asked what the Empress promised us, didn't you? The Empress promised that before long, the Crown Prince will ascend the throne, and the Qi Dynasty will permit the North Tribe to secede and establish their own state, and will never invade the Mongols again. She also promised that any consorts who wish to leave the palace can jump out of the red walls and start their lives anew, without having to suffer in the palace until their deaths and be buried with you in the Imperial Tombs."
"Aiya, sister, why bother explaining so much to this wretch?" Ru Naren said lazily through a yawn, glaring at Xiao Jingheng with disdain. "You usurped this throne and now you think you deserve to be buried in the Imperial Tombs? You don't deserve it!"
Ru Naren had grown up on horseback and was a bold character.
Now riled up, she grabbed a curtain rod and lashed at Xiao Jingheng as if breaking in a wild horse.
Just as she was indulging in this gratification, someone suddenly seized her wrist from behind.
"Stop."
Ru Naren turned to see it was Ning Wanshuang who had restrained her.
Ning Wanshuang snatched the curtain rod from Ru Naren's hand and tossed it aside, then quickly strode over to Xiao Jingheng and helped him up.
Her actions left the other consorts gaping in astonishment.
"Wanshuang, have you lost your mind? Have you forgotten how he treated your family and your children? At a time like this, you still protect him!?"
Ning Wanshuang turned a deaf ear to these grating words.
Only after she had helped Xiao Jingheng lean against the dragon couch did she say coldly to them:
"I have something to say to the Emperor. Leave."
"But..."
"Get out!"
Some wanted to persuade her further, but seeing Ning Wanshuang's firm attitude, Rong Yuxin knew the general situation was settled and did not want to obstruct Ning Wanshuang, so she urged everyone to withdraw from the bedchamber.
Outside, the rain seemed to have subsided somewhat.
Hearing Xiao Jingheng's incessant coughing, Ning Wanshuang quickly turned to pour him a cup of warm water, offering it to him with anxious concern:
"Your Majesty, don't be upset. Have some water first, soothe your throat."
Those few near-roars of fury had left Xiao Jingheng's throat feeling like it had been slashed by a knife.
He gulped down a mouthful of water, then casually set the cup on the small table beside him, took Ning Wanshuang's hand, and gazed intently into her eyes.
"Wanr, many things are unknown to others, but you know them clearly. On that day, I intended to spare the lives of your father and brother, and even gave you a life-sparing token so you could go and rescue them. The subsequent accident was not what I wanted to happen. When your father and brother died, the Qi Dynasty lost loyal ministers, and I was deeply grieved. So I accorded them full honors after their deaths and did not treat them as criminal ministers. As for the children..."
Xiao Jingheng swallowed difficultly, then raised his voice slightly, saying with utmost seriousness:
"I have never harmed our children! Cheng Yu was the doing of the late Empress. The twin boys died by accident, and as for Jin Yue...I had no idea that Xia Ze would use such a sinister method as taking a child's blood to treat me. Had I known earlier, I would never have allowed it!"
He was already greatly weakened, yet when saying these words, he appeared exceptionally vigorous.
Moreover, he kept his gaze fixed on Ning Wanshuang, as if afraid that the slightest diversion of her eyes would reveal his uneasiness.
Ning Wanshuang, for her part, remained utterly calm.
She squeezed Xiao Jingheng's hand and nodded forcefully:
"I believe you. I have always believed whatever Your Majesty says."
Indeed, Ning Wanshuang was sincere, and Xiao Jingheng believed she had always been such a naive woman.
It was precisely for this reason that he saw hope in her.
He clung to Ning Wanshuang as if she were his last lifeline, gripping her hand so tightly it hurt.
"Wanr, listen to me. Song Zhao has gone mad; she only cares about power. She is using all of you! Help me, call Consort Yin and the others back for me. Tell them, whatever Song Zhao promised to give them, I will double it!
If Consort Yin wants the North Tribe to secede from the Qi Dynasty as an independent state, I can grant her wish. I can even cede some of the Qi Dynasty's frontier lands to the North Tribe! Only I can give them the greatest benefits! And you..."
Summoning all his strength, he embraced Ning Wanshuang, his tone full of tenderness.
"I will execute Song Zhao and Cheng Yu, and make you the Empress. You are still young, and we will have more children together, and our child will be designated as the Crown Prince by me! Wanr, I have been truly good to you, and I know you feel the same way about me. Help me, please?"
