TFWYH – Chapter 658 Making the best of a bad situation

“I’m fine, Husband, don’t worry!” Tang Wan shook her head at him before turning to look at the Third Prince’s Consort, her brows tightly furrowed. “Third Prince, don’t help her up. She’s gone into labor from the shock and can’t stand. Someone, help carry her to a side hall — she’s about to give birth!”

“What are you all standing around for? Hurry and carry the Third Prince’s Consort to the side hall!” The Emperor finally snapped back to his senses and quickly gave the order.

Only then did the eunuchs and palace maids recover from their shock and rush forward to help.

“Husband, I’m going to check on her!” Tang Wan hastily bandaged her wound and only had time to say that to Ling Yu before following after them.

She had not even had the chance to talk things through with the Third Prince’s Consort yet, and now she was already going into labor!

She was only a little over seven months pregnant!

Who knew whether the child would survive safely or not?

Ling Yu understood her temperament and did not stop her.

After she left, Ling Yu finally shifted his gaze to the silver worm lying on the ground, stained with Tang Wan’s blood.

A cold glint flashed through his eyes as he slowly raised his head to look toward the Empress.

Then he lifted his robes and knelt straight down, his face full of wronged anguish. “Your Majesty the Empress, if my wife has offended you in any way, then this official will apologize on her behalf. But why involve His Majesty and the Third Prince’s Consort as well?”

The Empress herself was still shaken from fright. When she realized what Ling Yu was implying, her expression drastically changed. “Minister Ling, do not spout nonsense! I never even opened that Qiankun Eight Trigrams Box myself. How could I possibly know such things were hidden inside?”

Ling Yu merely gave a helpless, bitter smile and said nothing more, continuing to kneel upright in silence.

The Empress panicked and quickly knelt before the Emperor to plead her innocence. “Your Majesty, this concubine is innocent! This concubine has no grievances with County Lady Wengnai. Why would I possibly try to harm her?”

The Emperor’s expression was full of disgust as he sternly questioned her, “Correct — you were not trying to harm County Lady Wengnai. You were trying to harm the Third Prince’s Consort… and perhaps even me. Otherwise, why would those two gu worms fly directly toward me and the Third Prince’s Consort?”

“Your Majesty!” The Empress burst into tears, sobbing miserably. “This concubine has been husband and wife with Your Majesty for decades. Have I ever harmed you before? And under everyone’s watchful eyes no less — how could this concubine possibly do something so foolish? This is clearly Southern Man’s scheme, Your Majesty!”

Su Qing muttered softly from the side, “Elder Sister Empress truly played an excellent hand. Even after attempting to frame His Majesty, she can still pin the blame on Southern Man.”

Hearing this, the Empress angrily snapped, “Don’t slander me! I can swear to the heavens that this was not my doing!”

Su Qing gave a mocking laugh. “Anyone can swear an oath. You kept that broken box for so long — who knows whether you secretly opened it before or not?”

The Empress was so furious she nearly coughed up blood. She glared viciously at Su Qing; if looks could kill, Su Qing would probably have died hundreds of times already.

“You—”

“Enough!” the Emperor roared angrily, cutting the Empress off. His face was ice-cold. “The Empress is getting older and has worked hard managing the six palaces. I think you should rest properly for the time being. The affairs of the harem shall temporarily be handled by the Imperial Noble Consort.”

“Your Majesty—”

“Men, escort the Empress back to her palace!”

The Emperor did not want to hear another word of explanation from her.

The reason he had not touched her before was because Huangfu Xiao had once been his only choice for successor.

But now, Huangfu Xiao was no longer the only option.

Naturally, the Emperor would no longer remain soft-hearted.

Ji Wushuang accepted the order and respectfully gestured toward the Empress. “Your Majesty…”

The Empress understood that no matter how much she explained now, it was useless.

The Emperor had long since come to despise her deeply.

Realizing this, the Empress slowly rose to her feet.

“Your Majesty, whether you believe me or not, this concubine must still say it — I am innocent.”

After speaking, she gave the Emperor one long, deep look before finally turning and walking away.

Her back remained perfectly straight the entire time.

…