Xie Jingchu clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his flesh, and his palms were smeared with bright red blood.
He tried to calm himself down in such a way.
He didn't believe that the Emperor failed to recognize Ruan Jiu.
But now that Ruan Jiu had lost her memory, the Emperor just took the opportunity to make it a fact that Ruan Jiu was the adopted daughter of Prince Song to protect the reputation of Xiao Wang, the Crown Prince.
However, did they think they could silence everyone in this way?
Don't forget that Ruan Jiu grew up in Qinzhou.
There were more than one or two people who knew her.
If one person couldn't prove Ruan Jiu's identity, he would find ten.
If ten people were not enough, he would find a hundred.
In any case, he would never allow Xiao Wang to imprison Ruan Jiu in the Eastern Palace in such a way!
Thinking of this, Xie Jingchu loosened his fingers.
He took a reluctant look at Ruan Jiu, then said respectfully to the Emperor, "Your servant obeys the order."
Seeing that Xie Jingchu finally gave in, the stone in the Emperor's heart finally fell.
However, the Emperor's face showed no sign of improvement and remained overcast.
He said coldly to Xiao Wang, "Crown Prince, wait for me in the Imperial Study."
Xiao Wang then ordered his men to send Ruan Jiu back to the Eastern Palace.
Before Ruan Jiu left, Xie Jingchu's sorrowful eyes once again came into her sight.
Suddenly, her heart began to beat violently for no reason.
Why did she feel sad when she saw Xie Jingchu like this?
When passing by Xie Jingchu, Ruan Jiu suddenly stopped.
She opened her big eyes wide and nodded slightly.
"Sir, I think we must know each other. It's just that I can't remember the past. But don't worry. I will retrieve my memory as soon as possible. Please wait for me."
Ruan Jiu's words made the sorrow and despair in Xie Jingchu's eyes gradually fade away.
They were replaced by joy and tenderness.
He parted his thin lips slightly.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
-
In the Imperial Study
Two men stood facing each other.
One was glaring angrily.
The other remained calm.
"Kneel down!"
Facing the Emperor's rage, Xiao Wang's expression remained unchanged. He didn't even frown.
He knelt on the ground calmly.
The Emperor folded his hands behind his back, and his eyes were obviously full of anger.
"Do you know what you've done wrong?"
"Your son doesn't know."
The Emperor was so angry at Xiao Wang's words that he coughed heavily several times.
Then he roared again, "Do you think I'm really so old and muddle - headed that I can't recognize the woman who stood in the Golden Hall today?!"
"But Father still stands by your son's side."
The reason why Xiao Wang was so unscrupulous was that he knew the Emperor would surely stand by him.
Now that Xiao Qi had been sent to Beirong, among all the princes in the palace, he was the only one the Emperor could rely on.
Given the Emperor's personality, he would never let him bear the stigma of robbing a minister's wife.
"Nonsense! Do you think you can silence the world just because she has lost her memory? I protected you in the court today because I didn't want you to bear the stigma of robbing a minister's wife! I order you to send her out of the palace immediately!"
"No!" Xiao Wang said firmly, "I will never let her leave me!"
"You know very well about the affection between her and Jing. Why do you have to do this? What will you do when she regains her memory?"
"I won't let her regain her memory!"
"Aren't you afraid of being despised by thousands of people if you do this?!"
"Once A Jiu becomes the Crown Princess, who would dare to say a word more!" Xiao Wang's eyes flickered.
"What?" The Emperor couldn't believe his ears. "You even want to marry her? I will never allow it!"
Hearing this, a sinister look flashed across Xiao Wang's indifferent face.
Suddenly, he stood up and looked coldly at the Emperor. "Father, you didn't allow me to marry A Yu three years ago. What was the result? A Yu is dead! Do you still want to stop me from marrying the woman I love now?!"
"Presumptuous!"
"I just want to marry the woman I like. What's wrong with that!"
"You! You! You unfilial son!" The Emperor was so angry that he was speechless.
A bitter and astringent taste welled up in his throat.
His coughing persisted, and it took him a while to catch his breath.
Xiao Wang walked to one side, brewed a cup of tea and handed it to the Emperor.
But the Emperor didn't take it. He turned his face away and didn't want to look at Xiao Wang anymore.
However, Xiao Wang wasn't angry. He put the teacup back on the table.
He curled his lips coldly and said in a deep voice, "Father, you'd better take good care of your health first. Don't worry about the affairs inside and outside the court anymore."
After saying that, Xiao Wang strode out.
The Emperor frowned tightly, his face clouded with worry.
His two most proud sons. One resorted to any means for power, and the other schemed for love.
What a sin!
-
The next day, it was time for Ruan Jiu to take her medicine again.
Ruan Jiu took the medicine bowl from Lan Yu's hand. But just as she was about to put it to her lips, she suddenly put it down.
She frowned at Lan Yu and said, "Lan Yu, I seem to have finished my plums. Please go and get some for me quickly."
Lan Yu glanced at the porcelain bowl on the table that used to hold the plums. It was indeed empty.
She pursed her lips but didn't go out for a long time.
Ruan Jiu urged, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up! How can I drink such bitter medicine without plums!"
Seeing that Ruan Jiu frowned tightly, Lan Yu had no choice but to nod and immediately ran outside.
After Lan Yu left, Ruan Jiu picked up the medicine bowl, stood up and walked to the orchid beside her.
She raised her hand and poured all the medicine in the bowl into the flower pot.
Her beautiful eyes instantly became unfathomable.
What happened yesterday made her suspicious of Xiao Wang.
So, she absolutely dared not continue to take this medicine.
When Lan Yu ran back with the plums, she saw Ruan Jiu wiping her mouth with a handkerchief. The medicine bowl on the table was empty.
"Quick! Give me the plums! It's so bitter!" As soon as Ruan Jiu saw Lan Yu, she immediately shouted.
Lan Yu handed the plums in her hand to Ruan Jiu. Ruan Jiu immediately put them into her mouth, and her frown smoothed out.
All her actions and expressions showed no sign of abnormality.
Only then did Lan Yu feel relieved and carried the empty medicine bowl on the table out.
-
At night, Ruan Jiu, who had already gone to bed, suddenly felt a sharp pain as if thousands of needles were piercing through her body.
The intense pain made her open her eyes suddenly.
It seemed that something was wriggling under her snow - white skin, trying to break through it.
In order not to let Lan Yu notice anything abnormal, she could only curl up into a ball to relieve the pain.
She bit her lips tightly so as not to make a sound.
It was so painful!
The blood vessels all over her body seemed to burst. She kept scratching her arms, and there were bloody marks on her fair and creamy skin, which were shocking.
So this was how painful it was not to take the medicine!
Suddenly, the thing hidden in her body got into her head.
It was like sucking her brain marrow. Instantly, she had a splitting headache, as if thousands of insects were gnawing at her bones and flesh.
Her eyes were blood - red, and everything around her gradually became distorted.
In a trance, she seemed to see that strange figure again.
She wanted to reach out and grab it, but she missed.
Who was it?
Who was he?
"A Jing, I'm A Jing."
The intangible voice echoed constantly in her mind.
Who was A Jing?
And who was she?