The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 226 - 225: Just a Self-Inflicted Humiliation
The front lines are tense with conflict, leaving the new emperor with little time for hesitation.
Yuan Changan’s proposal was eventually adopted.
Empress Wei felt she had an opportunity to share the emperor’s burdens and was determined to accomplish this task.
She frequently visited Yangxin Hall to discuss related matters with the new emperor.
Empress Wei not only called upon wealthy families to donate but also suggested cutting palace expenses to convert them into provisions to support the front lines.
Those aware of this matter praised Mrs. Wei as a virtuous empress.
Empress Wei’s reputation soared, and with the dragon heir in her womb, she attracted even more attention.
As a result, the new emperor had fewer opportunities to leave the palace.
Firstly, he didn’t want to delay important affairs.
Secondly, he feared Mrs. Wei might become jealous and do something harmful to Mingzhu if she sensed anything amiss.
Although Mrs. Wei appeared virtuous and magnanimous, the new emperor still found it difficult to trust her wholeheartedly.
Just like Ms. Xu before her, who was also non-contentious and non-competitive when she entered the palace.
Later, didn’t she join forces with the enemy to plot against him?
No woman who enters the palace is simple.
The new emperor kept this fact always in his mind.
...
On the other side, Princess An He wasn’t idle either.
Every few days, she sent requests to visit the palace, wanting to see Ji Mingzhu.
The Empress Dowager was so troubled by this that she became annoyed.
She could only issue an ultimatum to the new emperor, asking him to bring Ji Mingzhu into the palace quickly and allow Princess An He to visit regularly.
Or simply let her return home.
With Ji Mingzhu and Xie Yunzhen having a good relationship, Empress Dowager Zheng would never agree to let her enter the palace as the Royal Family’s concubine.
The two options given by the Empress Dowager were not acceptable to the new emperor.
But at the moment, he was too occupied to take any action, so he could only continue to stall.
As the delay dragged on, more than half a month passed.
When the chief of the villa guards reported that Ji Mingzhu had been kidnapped, the new emperor suddenly realized that he hadn’t paid attention to Mingzhu for a long time!
Hastily rushing to the villa, he found Ji Mingzhu’s room empty.
The clothes she had worn and the items she used were still in their place.
Sitting at a distance, he scrutinized the things she had used with an indescribable expression.
The chief knelt on one knee, "Your Majesty, it was due to improper guarding. Please punish me!"
The seated person remained still as if in deep meditation.
His eyes were obscure, making his emotions unreadable.
The more he acted this way, the more pressure the chief felt.
During this period, they had no conflicts with the Princely Heir’s guards and got along "harmoniously".
Who knew they had long harbored the intention to kidnap someone?
To this end, they even staged an assassination scene to distract some of the guards.
Having spent so much time together, the chief was aware of how many men the opponent had.
The Hidden Guard appearing this time had not been encountered before.
However, they were equally skilled.
Judging by their seamless coordination, they were likely also Xie Yunzhen’s men.
Each side serving their master is only natural.
But knowing Xie Yunzhen’s vengeful nature, the chief had a cold sweat-inducing impulse.
If the Princely Heir knew they restricted the freedom of the Princely Heir’s wife by not letting her out of the villa, who knows what that man would do.
"Where is Yuan Changan?"
It was unclear how long had passed before the new emperor finally spoke.
"Young Master Yuan said he has been away from home for too long and misses his family, so he is returning to Yangzhou."
The new emperor found this amusing.
For a mere scholar like Yuan Changan, without any weapon, dared to defy him.
Going back to Yangzhou?
He probably took Mingzhu with him to the front lines.
This excuse was truly perfunctory!
Seeing the emperor’s displeased face, the chief uncertainly asked, "Your Majesty, should we pursue them?"
If pursuit is indeed desired, they could still be caught up with...
As he said this, he recalled another important matter, "The Princely Heir’s wife escaped on her own, she wasn’t kidnapped."
Not only did she escape on her own, but she also left without looking back.
Mounts prepared not far from the villa, being skilled in horsemanship, the Princely Heir’s wife didn’t hold back the Hidden Guard.
By the time they tried to pursue, they had already lost sight of her.
The new emperor initially left Ji Mingzhu at the villa under the pretext of letting her recuperate.
Sending someone to pursue Mingzhu now would leave no room for turning back.
Pressing his temples. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
Even with her lost memories, Mingzhu didn’t choose to trust him.
Even if she was brought back, what difference would it make?
He couldn’t win Mingzhu’s heart.
It would also turn him and Ah Zhen into enemies.
What’s most crucial is that if this matter leaked, some might seize the opportunity to cause trouble.
If that happened, true chaos would ensue in the world.
With a deep gaze sweeping over everything in the room, the new emperor once again tasted the bitterness of defeat.
Despite her memory loss, why couldn’t she believe in and rely on him just once?
Yuan Changan hadn’t even met her after her incident; how could she dare to leave with him?
When it came to Mingzhu, he couldn’t compare to Ah Zhen, and now Yuan Changan ranked ahead of him.
The new emperor’s heart was truly troubled.
With a forceful grip on the teacup, a crack appeared in the fine porcelain with a snap.
Placing the cup heavily on the table, the new emperor rose abruptly, "Let them go."
The current situation didn’t allow him to wallow in emotions.
She managed to escape once, she could easily escape a second time.
Was he truly going to lock her up?
Such madness was perhaps something Xie Yunzhen could do, but the new emperor couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Quickly leaving the villa, he couldn’t suppress the sense of dissappointment.
He had shamelessly once yearned to keep Mingzhu by his side, even if it meant becoming enemies with Ah Zhen later for her sake.
Unfortunately, Mingzhu didn’t give him the chance.
She seized the moment and left without a backward glance.
Unlike the time in Yangzhou, she had already become entangled with Ah Zhen.
Now, even though he had kept Mingzhu for a while, no bonds had formed between them.
The new emperor smirked bitterly, how could he compete with Ah Zhen under these circumstances?
It would only bring self-humiliation.
...
Empress Wei went to Yangxin Hall, only to be stopped outside the hall.
Since becoming the Crown Princess Consort, she had never been denied entry by the new emperor.
Feeling bewildered, she didn’t insist on entering the hall.
She simply bowed toward the hall’s direction and took her leave with the palace maid, returning the way she came.
Behind the lashes, her eyes held contemplation.
Why didn’t the emperor see her?
There were clearly no ministers discussing matters inside the hall.
As she continued to walk, Empress Wei paused, "It’s been a while since I visited Mother’s palace. Today seems free, let’s go pay her respects."
Everyone inside and outside the palace knew that Xie Yunzhen’s wife had been taken to the Empress Dowager’s palace.
But time had passed, and Empress Wei had never seen Ji Mingzhu.
Every time she visited the Empress Dowager’s palace, she was either told that the Empress Dowager was reciting sutras and wouldn’t see anyone.
Or that she needed to rest shortly after, claiming fatigue.
Thinking back, apart from Ji Mingzhu’s maid, she hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Ji Mingzhu.
This was really strange.
Could it be... there were underlying things she wasn’t aware of?
Her curiosity awakened and seemed to be growing stronger.
Empress Wei thought to herself, she had to investigate the situation.
In the deep palace, living in ignorance was dangerous!
