OBS Chapter 1233: Restoring the Account (187 million votes plus additional update)
Chapter 1233: Restoring the Account (187 million votes plus additional update)
Even Shen Zhinian, who was handling a mountain of palace affairs in Zhongcui Palace, paused slightly with the cinnabar pen he was using to review the tribute list when he heard Fuqiu's whispered report of the matter, leaving a thick red dot on the snow-white rice paper.
She raised her eyes and looked at the gray sky outside the window, a complex emotion flashing across her eyes...
Shen Zhinian was silent for a moment before she sighed softly, her voice unable to discern joy or anger: "Although Wangpin... has many despicable qualities, her heart towards the Third Prince..."
She shook her head slightly, and there was no need to say anything else.
……
Royal study room.
Nangong Xuanyu was concentrating on reviewing an urgent document regarding the rituals for offering sacrifices to heaven, with an indelible look of solemnity and fatigue between his brows.
Li Changde came in quietly and stood in the shadows with his back bent.
After the emperor finished writing the last line, he whispered the details of what had happened in Yikun Palace: "... Concubine Wang cut her wrist to draw blood as a bait."
"The Third Prince's fever has subsided this morning, and he can now eat and drink..."
Nangong Xuanyu's hand holding the pen hung in the air for a long time.
In those deep and sharp eyes, which only cared about the country and the people, a look of emotion clearly emerged at this moment.
Princess...
The name rolled through the emperor's heart, bringing up a long and complex ripple.
She was initially promoted to the position of concubine and raised the third prince because of the recommendation of Empress Dowager Gongsu, and she bore the imprint of the Duke Dingguo Mansion.
Later, Concubine Wang turned from evil to good and did pass on some key information.
Although it did not reach the point of changing the situation, it did reduce some trouble for the emperor.
More importantly, she was raising Tang's child, the third prince.
Nangong Xuanyu is not a heartless person.
He had seen with his own eyes how carefully and attentively the princess took care of the poor child.
Frequent changes of foster mothers are undoubtedly adding insult to injury for an already weak child.
Because of this, when the Duke Dingguo's Mansion collapsed and the emperor was settling accounts, Nangong Xuanyu chose to show leniency to Concubine Wang, who had been attached to the Liu family, and the Wang family behind her.
This tolerance is mostly due to the consideration of the Third Prince.
Nangong Xuanyu didn't expect that Concubine Wang was so attentive to the Third Prince!
He even cut his wrists to draw blood...using his own flesh and blood as a medicine guide.
The emperor's tolerance, born from weighing the pros and cons, was now replaced by a heavy emotion...
Nangong Xuanyu's voice was low, with a hint of hoarseness that he himself didn't even notice: "I heard that the princess was also ill a few days ago?"
Li Changde bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, yes."
"After returning from Mulan Paddock, Concubine Wang has been unwell and has been bedridden for many days, becoming emaciated..."
"The Imperial Hospital has been treating patients in shifts, but with little success."
"Your Majesty is deeply worried about the Third Prince and has exhausted all her energy."
Li Changde's words stopped at the point, but silently outlined the fact that although Concubine Wang was seriously ill, she still cut off her own flesh to treat the third prince's illness.
The emperor was silent.
The candlelight on the desk flickered, casting bright and dark shadows on his well-defined profile.
Nangong Xuanyu's biological mother died of complications during childbirth, and Empress Dowager Gongsu only used him to her advantage.
Although this man is an emperor, he has never experienced the taste of maternal love...
The concubine's love for the Third Prince touched the softest part of the emperor's heart...
A look of shock clearly appeared in his murderous and decisive eyes.
"Li Changde, convey my order."
The emperor's voice had returned to its usual calm, yet with a subtle warmth. "Princess Yikun, your loving kindness in raising the Third Prince has deeply touched my heart. I hereby reward you with a pair of red gold and oriental pearl headpieces, ten pieces of Shu brocade, a hectoliter of South Sea pearls, and a quantity of blood swallows, snow clams, and old mountain ginseng."
"Appoint He Zhong, the director of the Imperial Hospital, to personally nurse the princess back to health. The necessary medicinal materials must be drawn from my private treasury, and no mistakes must be made."
Li Changde bowed and responded clearly: "I obey your order!"
Nangong Xuanyu paused, his eyes sweeping over the pile of celebration regulations on his desk, and continued, "Also, restore Wangpin's title...'Dun'."
When Li Changde heard this word, his heart trembled slightly.
When the concubine from Yikun Palace was first promoted to the rank of concubine, she was briefly given the title of "Dun Concubine". However, because she was so audacious and plotted against Concubine Chen, His Majesty stripped her of the title.
Now, after she had demonstrated her unquestionable kindness and love for the Third Prince in a tragic way, His Majesty personally returned the title to her!
This is not just a commendation for Wang Bin, but more like a silent recognition... and a "vindication" in a sense.
Admitting that Concubine Wang had been attached to the Liu family in the past might have been forced by circumstances, but at this moment, her kindness as the Third Prince's adoptive mother was beyond doubt.
"I'll do it immediately!"
Li Changde bowed deeply and walked away quickly backwards.
Nangong Xuanyu picked up the teacup at hand, and the depression in his heart caused by the heavy burden of the country seemed to be quietly soothed by this deep love in the world.
He took a sip of tea, his eyes calm, and refocused on the political affairs at his desk.
……
Yikun Palace.
The strong smell of medicine in the warm room has not yet dissipated.
Wangpin's skinny wrist was still wrapped in a blood-soaked cloth, and her face was as pale as paper.
Her eye sockets were sunken, but she held on, feeding the Third Prince, whose fever had just subsided and whose spirits were a little better, some light rice soup, spoonful by spoonful.
The third prince's small body snuggled up to the princess.
Xiao Tianzi practically crawled in, his voice distorted with excitement: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Eunuch Li... Eunuch Li is here! And he's brought the imperial edict!"
The hand of Concubine Wang who was feeding the medicine trembled violently, and a few drops of warm rice soup spilled onto the quilt.
She looked up in surprise, confusion and panic in her eyes.
Imperial decree?
Why would an imperial edict come at this time?
Could it be that Ajing's illness alarmed His Majesty, and His Majesty reprimanded her for her ill intentions?
still is……
Wang Pin didn't dare to think too much about it.
Li Changde's figure had appeared at the door of the warm room, followed by several young eunuchs holding heavy vermilion lacquer trays.
His face was filled with genuine emotion. His gaze lingered for a moment on Wangpin's haggard face and the bandage on her wrist before he cleared his throat and unfolded the bright yellow scroll in his hand. "The imperial edict has arrived. Wangpin of Yikun Palace, please accept it!"
With the support of Odani, Wangpin knelt on the ground with difficulty.
The third prince seemed to be disturbed by the solemn atmosphere. He twisted his body uneasily and let out a slight hum.
Wangpin's heart suddenly rose to her throat.
Li Changde said, "The Emperor, by the grace of Heaven, proclaims: Concubine Wang has raised the Third Prince with great compassion and sincerity, and even cut her own flesh to cure her illness, which deeply comforts my heart. I hereby award her with a red gold headpiece inlaid with oriental pearls..."
The names of rewards were announced like a stream.
Wangpin fell to the ground, completely dazed...
"… and restore his title of 'Dun'. I decree this!"
Li Changde paused and said with a smile, "Empress Dunpin, please accept the decree and express your gratitude!"