Chapter 1130: Chapter 1121: Last Breath (6)
At the place where the guard’s body was found, people from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Punishment searched carefully back and forth several times, but found no other clues.
In such a situation, no news is good news.
If the body is not found, there is still a possibility that the Eldest Prince is alive.
Moreover, if the intention was simply to kill the Eldest Prince, they wouldn’t bury the guard’s body. This clearly shows they fear being discovered; when the city gates are sealed, they couldn’t take the Eldest Prince away.
To capture the Eldest Prince and not kill him means they want to take him as a hostage.
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment almost simultaneously thought of this possibility.
A flash of panic crossed their minds, and the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment hurriedly entered the palace to report to the Emperor.
The Emperor was so angry that he pounded the Dragon Desk.
It was their oversight.
Prince Qi and Duke Chong had always targeted the Eldest Prince. They knew this was to elevate the Second Prince, now the Heir of Prince Qi.
Ever since Prince Qi raised the banner of rebellion, they thought the Eldest Prince was safe.
After so long without incident, they let their guard down.
Little did they know that Prince Qi and his men still harbored ill intentions!
This move really caught the Emperor off guard.
Who would have thought that in their retreat, instead of thinking about how to withdraw troops, Duke Chong and Prince Qi would send someone into the capital to capture the Eldest Prince?
Now that the Eldest Prince has been missing for several days, even if the message is sent with urgency, it is too late for Old Duke Chong to intervene.
The Minister of the Ministry of Punishment advised the Emperor to calm down, assuring that the Eldest Prince is blessed with divine protection and will surely be fine.
Eunuch Fu sighed.
People like Prince Qi are like indestructible cockroaches, with endless insidious tactics that surprisingly work well.
Hopefully, Marquis Dongxiang and his men can capture Prince Qi soon and send him to the capital to relieve the Emperor’s anger.
After the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment finished reporting, he returned to the Ministry of Punishment.
As soon as he entered the Ministry, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice approached him, saying, "Lord Minister, you should go to the Ministry of Justice Prison."
"What’s the matter?" the Minister of the Ministry of Justice asked.
"Consort Liu hasn’t eaten since last night, it’s feared she won’t last two more days," the Vice Minister said.
Though autumn had already arrived, no one knew exactly when the execution after autumn would occur, and no one dared to ask.
Additionally, as Princess Nanzhang suffers in the Ministry of Justice Prison, the workload is immense, and no one takes care of her.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice had previously gone to the Ministry of Justice Prison to conduct an investigation, and when leaving, Princess Nanzhang knelt before him.
She hoped to see the Minister of the Ministry of Justice once.
The Vice Minister originally didn’t want to pay attention to Princess Nanzhang, but her condition radiated a sense of death.
He had witnessed many prisoners in the Ministry of Punishment deteriorate from thriving to emaciated before they even reached Xingtai, some dying of illness in prison.
Princess Nanzhang committed numerous crimes, and the Vice Minister wasn’t sure if letting her die this way, instead of being executed publicly, would displease the Emperor.
Giving a reminder was just fulfilling his duty as a Vice Minister.
How could the Minister of the Ministry of Justice not notice Princess Nanzhang, as they had been searching for the Eldest Prince’s whereabouts these days?
Since the Vice Minister reminded him, he went to the Ministry of Justice Prison.
Honestly, even with the Vice Minister’s reminder, upon actually seeing Princess Nanzhang, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice was still profoundly shocked.
If not for being certain that Princess Nanzhang was indeed the one in this cell, he would have suspected that she had been secretly replaced.
Seeing the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Princess Nanzhang got down from the bed.
To call it a bed is an exaggeration; it was merely a wooden plank with some straw on it, covered by a shabby quilt.
Upon seeing the quilt, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice gained some understanding.
This quilt, used by countless prisoners to keep warm, was in the dark, damp Ministry of Justice Prison, oppressive to ordinary visitors, let alone someone residing there long-term.
Ever since being imprisoned, Princess Nanzhang had grown increasingly emaciated, her health deteriorating day by day.
Covered by the quilt, a chill entered her body, leading to her illness.
Princess Nanzhang didn’t even have the strength to get out of bed and rolled directly onto the floor.
Such a sight would inevitably evoke pity, yet those in the Ministry of Justice had hearts as hard as iron.
They couldn’t say that every prisoner in the Ministry of Justice Prison was heinous and without injustice.
But most deserved what they got.
Who would pity their victims if they were to pity them?
Princess Nanzhang struggled for a long time to rise, almost crawling inch by inch toward the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, saying, "Help, help me, I wish to see one last...."
"See Yuyu one last time."
Just this one sentence nearly drained all her strength.
She thought she could hold on until the Prince returned to the capital.
She overestimated herself.
The shadow of death loomed over her; she was truly afraid and regretful.
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice’s face was cold as frost, "This is not my responsibility."
"You are still the son-in-law of Prince Zhenbei Mansion," Princess Nanzhang’s breath was as faint as a whisper.
The one who harmed the Old Madam was not her.
Towards the Minister’s wife, Princess Nanzhang always remained indifferent; there were neither strong emotions nor hatred.
After knowing her for so long, she had just this small wish before her death.
Without seeing her daughter, she would die with open eyes.
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice turned and left.
As he stepped out of the Ministry of Justice Prison, the sunlight fell on him, driving away the chill of the prison.
"Go to Prince Zhenbei Mansion and inform Mrs. Wang that Princess Nanzhang won’t make it past tomorrow," ordered the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
As for the rest, it’s not within his concern.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice sent someone to convey the message to Prince Zhenbei Mansion.
Currently, most of the master figures had left Prince Zhenbei Mansion, leaving behind those who needn’t be minded.
Mrs. Wang managed the inner courtyard of the mansion; any undecidable issues in the outer courtyard were also addressed to her.
Fortunately, everyone knew the masters were gone from the mansion, leaving only a bunch of servants, thus eliminating all the formalities of welcoming and farewelling.
While checking the ledger, a maid came in from outside and said, "Mrs. Wang, someone from the Ministry of Justice came to relay a message saying Princess Nanzhang is critically ill and wouldn’t live past tomorrow."
Mrs. Wang’s face showed little expression.
Now she was handling the mansion’s affairs on behalf of the Princess Consort, doing what needed to be done.
Mrs. Wang closed the ledger and got up to leave.
She went to the Ministry of Justice Prison because Princess Nanzhang was critically ill, hoping Princess Nanzhang could say some heartfelt words before her death.
To finally know whether the eldest young master’s poisoning was an accident or her scheme.
Even though this result was no longer important.
Mrs. Wang stood in front of the prison, looking at Princess Nanzhang, who appeared worse than a beggar, and couldn’t speak for a long time.
Princess Nanzhang looked at her, her voice raspy and aggressive, "Where is Yuyu, my Yuyu?!"
Mrs. Wang looked at her and said, "Back then, was it you who poisoned the eldest young master?"
Princess Nanzhang let out a bitter laugh.
All her answers lay within that laugh.
She had no regrets about scheming against Xie Jingchen, leading to poisoning.
Her regret was despite having many chances to take his life, she repeatedly hesitated and missed the opportunities, even finding him a bandit to prolong his life.
If she had cared less about the Prince, she wouldn’t have ended up in such circumstance today.
She was deeply in love with the Prince, but the Prince abandoned her like a worn-out shoe!
Princess Nanzhang was filled with hatred, and her haggard face appeared even more ferocious.
Mrs. Wang saw her unrepentant even at death’s door and couldn’t help but say things she didn’t want to, "You should hate the Empress Dowager, not the Prince."
Princess Nanzhang abruptly raised her head to look at Mrs. Wang.
Mrs. Wang said calmly, "If the Empress Dowager truly cared for you, she wouldn’t have forced you upon the Prince knowing he didn’t love you."
"The Empress Dowager envied the Old Madam for having the Old Prince’s love, a love she herself couldn’t obtain, thus imposing this unfulfilled wish upon you."
"You are merely a pawn of the Empress Dowager."
"The Empress Dowager’s indulgence and affection towards you were ultimately to see what it would have been like had she insisted on marrying the Old Prince instead of choosing the late Emperor back then."
Back then, Mrs. Wang also felt the Empress Dowager’s affection towards Princess Nanzhang was excessive.
To marry her to the Prince, no cost was spared.
The Old Madam scoffed, "Merely a pitiful pawn unaware of itself."
Back then, Mrs. Wang didn’t understand.
Now, she fully understands.
Having said enough, Mrs. Wang turned and left.
A few steps later, Mrs. Wang instructed a servant, "Bring the young lady back."
But—
When Xie Jinyu hurried to the Ministry of Justice Prison, Princess Nanzhang had already passed away.
Some things, Princess Nanzhang had sensed earlier, but she had resisted reflecting deeply, afraid of thinking about it, fearing she couldn’t bear such a blow, now ruthlessly exposed by Mrs. Wang.
The Empress Dowager not only cared for her but also for the Empress.
Yet for Prince Qi, for the throne, the Empress Dowager made the Empress endure several months of carrying a dead fetus...
If the Empress Dowager could treat the Empress this way, then what about her?
Thinking of all the efforts she made these years to gain the Prince’s love—
Princess Nanzhang couldn’t wait to see her daughter and passed away holding hatred towards the Empress Dowager.
