Chapter 206: The Woman That Night
"Your Highness once wrote to my mother, clearly stating you had someone in your heart. But as far as I know, there are no women like concubines in Prince of Pacifying the West Manor." Fang Xinyan spoke boldly. "From this, it can be inferred that for some reason, Your Highness cannot marry the one you love. But a heroic man like Your Highness cannot remain unmarried forever. Since you must marry someone anyway, why can't it be me?"
These words nearly made Lord Fang spit blood in anger.
This was his youngest daughter, whom he had cherished and spoiled in the palm of his hand. How could she have the audacity to say such things to a man?
Chu Yi didn't even glance at her.
His voice was extremely cold: "This prince has repeatedly defied imperial decrees, arousing His Majesty's suspicion. If Lord Fang resigns from his official position and I then marry Miss Fang, it might indeed be a way to regain imperial favor. I just wonder if Lord Fang would be willing?"
Fang Xinyan was instantly stunned.
Did marrying Prince Pingxi require such a great sacrifice?
Lord Fang immediately clasped his hands and said: "Your Highness, my daughter is young and speaks recklessly. I beg Your Highness not to take her words to heart!His Fang family had gone through seven generations to reach the position of second-rank minister in the court. To resign and abandon everything for a marriage proposal was simply absurd!
Fang Xinyan stammered: "I-I wasn't speaking recklessly..."
"Miss Fang would be better off persuading your father to resign rather than making a scene about life and death here." Chu Yi sneered. "This prince will await your good news."
He strode outwards.
Lord Fang glared fiercely at his daughter before quickly following.
Reaching the main gate, Chu Yi stopped: "Lord Fang should act quickly with your resignation. Any later, and the Empress Dowager will issue a decree making the fourth Miss Fang the Princess Consort Zhuang."
Lord Fang was shocked.
Prince Zhuang was the legitimate son of the former Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager's only blood grandson. Although he held the title of prince, he held no actual official position.
Most importantly, Prince Zhuang was a sickly invalid!
After seeing Chu Yi off, he returned to Fang Xinyan's courtyard.
"Father, just resign temporarily. After I become Princess Consort of the Pacifying West, we can find a way to restore your official position..."
"Slap!"
Lord Fang slapped his daughter across the face.
This daughter was his late-life child, born when he was over forty, and he had always doted on her deeply. This was the first time he had ever struck her.
Fang Xinyan covered her face in disbelief: "Father, how dare you hit me? I only asked you to resign temporarily, and you hit me. You've deeply disappointed me..."
Lord Fang was so angry he felt his head might explode: "Don't you know the Empress Dowager intends to arrange a marriage between you and Prince Zhuang!"
"Prince Zhuang..." Fang Xinyan's eyes widened, "That sickly invalid, ghost-like creature? I don't want to marry him! I refuse!"
Madam Fang anxiously said: "Husband, what should we do? Prince Pingxi is unwilling to marry, and Prince Zhuang is no good match either. What will become of our Xinyan?"
Lord Fang had a headache.
Before today's incident, his daughter could still have found a good home.
But with her suicide attempt causing such a scene, which noble family in the capital would dare marry a woman known to be infatuated with another man?
Yet as her father, he had to step forward for his daughter and try to find her a suitable marriage.
While the Fang family was discussing this matter.
Chu Yi had already arrived at the Dali Temple Dungeon.
Qin Mingheng had been imprisoned for many days, surviving on just one bowl of porridge daily.
He had rapidly wasted away, to the point where even the iron chains couldn't properly restrain him. Lying on a straw mat on the ground, the slight rise and fall of his chest proved he was still alive.Cheng Xu picked up a basin of water and splashed it onto his face.
Qin Mingheng choked and coughed, slowly opening his eyes. When he saw Chu Yi, a sinister smile spread across his face. "So Prince Pingxi finally remembers someone like me exists."
"Escaping from exile is a capital offense. Consider yourself lucky to have lived this long." Chu Yi's voice was cold as he commanded, "Guards, take Qin Mingheng to the Meridian Gate!"
Qin Mingheng's face changed color.
After Yun Chu had learned about that night from him, he had guessed that Prince Pingxi might also harbor suspicions and would come to interrogate him.
Then, he could use this matter to manipulate Prince Pingxi and seek a way to survive.
But Prince Pingxi wasn't playing by the rules—he actually intended to execute him.
He was hauled to his feet by two guards.
"Wait!" Qin Mingheng gritted his teeth. "I have a deal to discuss with Your Highness. I wonder if you'd be interested."
"I don't make deals with dead men." Chu Yi rubbed his fingers together. "I had some dealings with your father. I'll ensure your body is buried in a proper place."
He turned to leave.
Qin Mingheng truly felt death approaching.
"Doesn't Your Highness want to know who the woman from that night was?"
"Doesn't Your Highness want to know who the biological mother of the Young Son and the Little Commandery Princess is?"
"I can tell you everything, but on one condition: Your Highness must let me live."
Chu Yi laughed. "Marquis Xuanwu has told me more than once that the woman was a maid from your residence who died long ago. How dare you try to bargain with me using a dead person?"
"She's not dead! She's alive and well!" Qin Mingheng shouted. "The Young Son and Little Commandery Princess long for their biological mother so much. Doesn't Your Highness want to fulfill their wishes?"
Chu Yi's fingers tightened.
Was the woman from that night Yun Chu?
It had to be her.
Otherwise, Yun Chu wouldn't have said those things.
"Hah!" The line of Chu Yi's profile turned cold and hard. "I've long since uncovered the truth about that night. Did you think your lies could deceive me again?"
Qin Mingheng was stunned.
Had Yun Chu already confessed everything to Chu Yi?
A woman as cunning as her would only scheme in the shadows for revenge—why would she bring such a matter into the open?
His expression did not escape Chu Yi's notice.
Having interrogated prisoners for years, how could he fail to understand such a look?
Countless emotions surged within him...
So, five years ago, he and Yun Chu had already...
They had missed a full five years, thousands of days and nights.
He had lived five years burdened by guilt.
She had endured five years of suffering in the Xie family.
It didn't have to be this way...
He was the biggest fool in the world!
He couldn't wait to see her!
"She lied to you! It wasn't her at all!" Qin Mingheng said bitterly. "I don't know why Yun Chu deceived you, but I want to tell you—the woman who shared that spring night with you is someone else. I've hidden her where you'll never find her."
A shadow fell over Chu Yi's handsome face.
So, besides Qin Mingheng, there was another person who knew about that night.
As a man, it didn't matter to him.
But he could never allow Yun Chu, after all her suffering, to endure the torment of rumors.
Suppressing his emotions, he said coldly, "This prince grants you a few more days to live. Speak truthfully—where is that woman?"
Qin Mingheng relaxed inwardly.
He hadn't expected Chu Yi to believe him.
"Then I ask Your Highness to keep your word and let me live a while longer." Qin Mingheng enunciated each word clearly. "The woman is in a village thirty li outside the city..."That was a grand gift he had prepared for Chu Yi five years ago.
He had thought that if he couldn't hold on any longer, he would present it to Chu Yi, never expecting it would come in handy today.
The woman was from the Qin family, loyal to the Qin clan. If she could enter the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor, she would surely have the chance to rescue him from the dungeon.
Chu Yi turned and walked out of the dungeon, coldly instructing Cheng Xu: "Go personally thirty li outside the city... gag her, and bring her back to the capital immediately!"
Cheng Xu accepted the order and departed.
Ignoring his physical discomfort, Chu Yi led out a horse and galloped swiftly toward the Yun residence.
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