07 The Downfall of Consort Tao

In the imperial palace, Feng Xuan was currently sitting there. Sitting by him was an elderly man.

The elder was once the department head of the Imperial Physician Department; his medical skills were superb. Ten years ago, he suddenly resigned from his official position to become a barefoot doctor (T/N: sort of like freelance doctors) traveling the pugilistic world. But every few years, he would return to examine Feng Xuan’s health. This time, he pa.s.sed by the capital and came to specially examine Feng Xuan.

“It has been three years since this emperor has seen Imperial Physician Lin!” Feng Xuan hasn’t changed his address of the elderly man. This Imperial Physician Lin has been following him since he was still a prince. The people by his side has lessened and Feng Xuan reminiscence his younger years even more. Just like how he was reminiscing Jing s.h.i.+ when he looked at Consort Tao.

Imperial Physician Lin was now a barefoot doctor wandering in the pugilistic world, treating those of the poor who needed medical treatment. Some time ago, there was a household in the capital who asked for him to treat the master of that house and so Imperial Physical Lin came. Since he came to the capital, naturally he entered the palace to ask for a checkup. What Imperial Physician Lin didn’t know that his coming to the palace was all planned by someone, even his coming to the palace for a checkup was planned by someone else.

“Yes, this commoner has been traveling all over Feng empire for three years!” Imperial Physician Lin sighed with feeling. In his middle age, he was a physician for the prince manor. After the prince became the Emperor, he rose to become an imperial physician.

Feng Xuan sat there reminiscing those days that were filled with b.u.mps but he had Jing s.h.i.+ accompanying him. Feng Xuan remembered that no matter how late he came back home from his duties, Jing s.h.i.+ always sat in the front hall waiting for his return. Later, when was it that no one waited in the night for him to return home? It seems to be when he married in several side consorts. At that time, there were more women in the manor, for rivalry for favor, and with Jing s.h.i.+’s simple and stubborn temper, they gradually drifted apart.

“This emperor’s body is getting worse year after year. This emperor originally planned to send people to receive you into the palace. A consort in this emperor’s palace miscarried. Imperial Physician Lin go take a look if she has harmed her body!” Feng Xuan said smiling. As for Consort Tao’s miscarriage, Feng Xuan felt guilty and heartache. AS for that unfilial son, Feng Xia Qi, his heart really gave rise to an urge to kill, but remembering his fourth son’s abilities as well as Jing s.h.i.+, Feng Xuan only put him under house arrest. If he acknowledged his wrongdoings, everything was fine. But if he refused to admit his wrongs and continued to make things difficult for his Imperial Father’s consort, it was no longer necessary for him to sit on the position of Crown Prince!

Feng Xuan has sat on the throne of Emperor for many years and is already used to others bowing down to him. How can he tolerate others disobeying him time and again? It was enough with Feng Yi Xuan. Because of guilt, he tolerated it for so long. Now Feng Xia Qi was the same, Feng Xuan was still angered, even having the thought of abolis.h.i.+ng the Crown Prince.

Hearing the Emperor’s words, Imperial Physician Lin was more or less shocked as a complicated expression overtook his face as he looked at the Emperor. His mouth opened to say something but didn’t know what to say. In his life of practicing medicine, his medical ethics were good and couldn’t conceal anything. But this matter seemed to involve too many things. Imperial Physician Lin didn’t know how to say it.

Feng Xuan saw Imperial Physician Lin’s facial expression and knew the imperial physician Lin must have something he couldn’t say. Feng Xuan trusted Imperial Physician. Suddenly, he thought of if there’s a problem with his body, Feng Xuan anxiously asked, “Is there a problem with this emperor’s body? Imperial Physician Lin, speak what is on your mind. This emperor is old. It is normal for there to have some ailments.”

Imperial Physician Lin considered it for a moment and decided to say it. He was a healer and could not do such a thing as deceiving. Imperial Physician Lin knelt, “Does Your Majesty remember Your Majesty being poisoned six years ago? This commoner once cured Your Majesty of the poison!”

“Yes, if it wasn’t for Imperial Physician you, this one doesn’t know if I would be able to sit here today!” Feng Xuan sighed with feeling. Years ago, he was poisoned. When his life hung on a thread, it was his fourth son who found the Imperial Physician Lin from outside to come into the palace to prescribe medicine for him. Hence, he was safe and sound.

Imperial Physician Lin knocked his forehead on the ground, “Years ago, this commoner left after curing Your Majesty of the poison; thus, Your Majesty wasn’t aware that the poison from many years ago already damaged Your Majesty’s body. Though it does affect Your Majesty having intimate relations, it’s impossible for Your Majesty to have children!”

Feng Xuan thought he misheard something. How was it impossible? If he couldn’t have children, where did Consort Tao’s child come from? The imperial doctor clearly examined that she was pregnant. The imperial doctor couldn’t lie, unless…

“Imperial physician Lin, are you certain?” Feng Xuan was unwilling to give in as he asked this. He didn’t couldn’t believe he, the Emperor of an empire, was deceived, and to be deceived by a woman, he was made to wear a green hat and even punished his own son for that s.l.u.t, his and Jing s.h.i.+’s son. Feng Xuan felt his heart turn cold thinking of this.

Imperial Physician Lin’s voice was firm, “This commoner speaks the truth at the risk of beheading!”

Feng Xuan was aware, he was certain of Imperial Physician Lin’s medical skills as well as of his character, but he wanted to ask one more time to be certain. When has he encountered such betrayal. This to any man was the greatest shame, much less the Emperor of an empire?

“This emperor knows. Imperial Physician Lin may withdraw. This emperor does not wish for a second person to know of this matter!” It wasn’t that Feng Xuan hasn’t thought of doing away with the witness but this person was Imperial Physician Lin. He was once his right hand man, having saved his life several times. This Imperial Physician Lin wasn’t a talkative person. Thus, Feng Xuan let Imperial Physician Lin go.

Imperial Physician Lin kowtowed and left. His body was drenched with cold sweat. If it wasn’t that he couldn’t do a thing such as lying, he wouldn’t dare so much to admit this out loud. This Imperial palace was indeed hidden with filth. It was the barefoot doctors who were the most leisurely.

Feng Xuan was enraged. In this moment, he hated he couldn’t immediately rip Consort Tao to shreds. Feng Xuan furiously led guards over to Peach Palace. Before Feng Xuan could enter Peach Palace, he heard Eunuch Lu report Prince Ming and Miss Lan as well as the Crown Princess’s approach.

Feng Xuan looked up to see the three of them leisurely trail towards Peach Palace. Feng Yi Xuan was dressed in an exquisitely made black robe. One seemed to be able to feel the cold aura emanating from him from far away, but when he lowered his eyes to look at the girl beside him, his gaze filled with warmth and adoration.

Lan You Nian wore a white dress, carrying a celestial air about her as she stood beside Feng Yi Xuan. No feature on her face was not exquisite. Her figure was slim but graceful. If she was willing, she would probably be able to spirit away all the hearts and souls of the men in the world.

Yue Bai Lian stood beside Lan You Nian. She was dressed in a rose red palace gown of the Crown Princess which made Yue Bai Lian appear even more beautiful and dignified. She wore a smile appropriate for a Crown Princess, with a haughtiness that made her unattainable. Even her every action and step followed the rules, a model Crown Princess.

The three approached Feng Xuan and greeted him ceremoniously. Feng Yi Xuan directly said, “Imperial brother hasn’t come back since entering the palace the other day. This prince came to bring imperial brother back!”

“I heard Consort Tao miscarried. This humble girl specially came to call on Consort Tao!” Lan You Nian added on after Feng Yi Xuan’s words, her tone sincere and carried a hint of apology. Her behavior made the vein tick on Feng Xuan’s forehead. Remembering how he treated his fourth son, he felt even more distasteful of himself.

Feng Yi Xuan’s eyes were filled with laughter. Even Bai Lian’s eyes restrained her humor painfully. Who was it that dragged them over to the palace to see some drama of the year. Yet before the drama could start, she started the act.

Feng Yi Xuan thought of the fourth son who was still confined and felt guilty as he hastily said to Eunuch Lu, “Let the Crown Prince out!” Hearing this, Eunuch Lu joyously hurried to the palace where the Crown Prince was imprisoned, as if afraid His Majesty will regret it.

They stood waiting outside Peach Palace. After a while, they saw Feng Xia Qi leisurely walking over. When he saw Feng Xuan, his eyes flashed with ridicule but it was concealed well by Feng Xia Qi. Feng Xia Qi paid his respects as he said with much self-blame, “Imperial father, subject son acknowledges his wrongdoings. I ask imperial father to witness as I make amends to Consort Tao!”

Feng Yi Xuan and the other two’s eyes twitched. Here comes another person who spoke utter nonsense with his eyes wide open and his acting skills were even more real than Lan You Nian’s. Lan You Nian privately gave Feng Xia Qi a thumbs up. Feng Xia Qi lowered his head, a smile on his lips.

Feng Xuan looked at the fourth son who was filled with apology and remorse, his heart becoming sour. He hated he couldn’t tell his fourth son, it was good that s.l.u.t had miscarried, it would have been better to kill that s.l.u.t! But Feng Xuan couldn’t say it. He couldn’t afford such humiliation, especially in front of his sons’ wives.

“No need. You can leave. This one will go to comfort Consort Tao!” Feng Xuan pretended to be calm as he said this but his heart was nearly mad with his burning fury.

The four people’s hearts were like mirrors but they came to see a show, so why would they leave so easily? Feng Xia Qi suddenly fell to his knees, “Imperial father, do you not believe subject son? Subject son is sincerely remorseful, asking imperial father to grant my wis.h.!.+ Consort Tao was pregnant with imperial father’s child. Though it wasn’t subject son who pushed Consort Tao, this subject son can’t excuse subject son’s prejudice against Consort Tao. Hence, today, subject son won’t put Imperial father in an awkward position!”

Lan You Nian’s hand holding Feng Yi Xuan’s was startling to shake, not for any other reason other than from holding back her laughter. She believed if Feng Xia Qi was in the modern world, he would certainly obtain an Oscar. Look at how sincere and guilty he was, look at the slightly red eyes, it was so much more brilliant than those pretentious consorts in the palace.

“Imperial father, lord husband is sincerely remorseful, please ask imperial father to grant his wis.h.!.+” Yue Bai Lian knelt beside Feng Xia Qi but the shared look between the two was filled with the desire to see the drama.

Feng Xuan looked at his fourth son, feeling fear for having the thought of abolis.h.i.+ng the Crown Prince for that s.l.u.t. Hearing his fourth son’s words, Feng Xuan was suspicious. His fourth son said he didn’t push that s.l.u.t but that s.l.u.t really did miscarry. Could that s.l.u.t have slandered the Crown Prince. In the past, Feng Xuan would not have thought so but the more Feng Xuan thought about it, the more it became believable to him. That s.l.u.t probably wanted him to abolish the Crown Prince and then let the b.a.s.t.a.r.d the s.l.u.t gave birth to in the future to inherit the throne.

“Alright, then go together with this emperor!” Feng Xuan feared won’t be able to deal with Consort Tao today. Later, he must find a reason to deal with Consort Tao. Such a s.l.u.t who tainted his royal prestige can’t be allowed to live.

The four of them entered Peach Palace without seeing Consort Tao coming out to welcome them. A palace maid knelt on the ground saying, “Your Majesty, the consort’s body is frail from miscarriage. She’s still recuperating in the palace!” The palace maid obeyed the consort’s instructions to make His Majesty pity the consort even more but Feng Xuan became even angrier hearing this. That s.l.u.t bore another person’s child yet she dared to act pitiful!

Walking into the palace, he saw Consort Tao laying there with a pale face. When she saw Feng Xuan, she seemed to weep without tears, “Your Majesty…this lowly concubine can’t pay my respects to Your Majesty, asking Your Majesty’s forgiveness!” Then, she coughed a few times, appearing very pitiful, but the man who once took pity on her no longer had any feelings of pity but a desire to kill her.

Consort Tao waited a long before without receiving the Emperor’s consolation. Consort Tao raised her head to look at the Emperor and saw the Emperor’s gaze was ice cold as they stared at her. Consort Tao’s heart jumped, uncertain what happened, but she suddenly saw the four people following behind, her intuition told her it was caused by the four of them. Remembering her master’s instructions, Consort Tao’s weeping became even more fierce.

“Crown Prince?” Consort Tao pointed at Feng Xia Qi as she cried in distress, “You leave! You killed my child. Do you want to come here to harm me ? That was an unborn child. What has it done to you? Why did Crown Prince cruelly kill your little brother?”

Feng Xuan’s rage soared to its height. This s.l.u.t really dared! She bore another man’s child yet she still dared to slander the Crown Prince. She really was daring!

Feng Xia Qi greeted her ceremoniously as he said guiltily, “This crown prince apologizes for once making things difficult for Consort Tao but ask Consort Tao to believe that it wasn’t this crown prince who pushed the consort. Consort Tao was pregnant with imperial father’s child, so how could this crown prince cruelly treat his blood brother like that?”

Feng Xia Qi emphasized the words “blood brother” which enraged Feng Xuan even more.

“You, Crown Prince is saying I wrongfully blamed you?” Consort Tao snapped angrily and looked at Feng Xuan, “Your Majesty, you must give me justice. No matter how the Crown Prince treats this concubine, this concubine would have no complaints but that is your child!”

One time after another reminding him that it was his child, Feng Xuan couldn’t endure it any longer as he yanked the Consort Tao on the bed onto the floor, a slap striking Consort Tao’s face as he pointed at her, roaring, “You s.l.u.t, under these circ.u.mstances you still want to slander the Crown Prince?”

Feng Yi Xuan and the other three’s brows raised, getting into the mode for watching a drama. However, the four of them still pretended to be confused as they looked at Feng Xuan, when in actuality, the four of them were already scoffing inside…

“Your Majesty!” Consort Tao disbelievingly cupped her cheek, not understanding what’s wrong with His Majesty. When she saw the four people there watching the drama, the was certain they must have said something to His Majesty. Consort Tao tugged Feng Xuan’s sleeve, “Your Majesty, what has this concubine done to make you so angry? Does Your Majesty not know what the Crown Prince has done? Why…”

Before Consort Tao can finish speaking, Feng Xuan kicked her away. He was already angered by Consort Tao to the point he no longer remembered that he already decided to conceal the matter. He directly roared, “You s.l.u.t, you fooled around with another man yet you dare to cry. You really think this emperor is a fool?”

“Phenomenal!” Lan You Nian and the other three praised inwardly in unision. Instead of being angered that their imperial father was made to wear a green hat, Feng Yi Xuan and Feng Xia Qi only found it to be humorous. For neglecting his son for such a woman, this Imperial father deserved it.

Consort Tao’s heart started. She naturally knew this child wasn’t His Majesty’s but Consort Tao didn’t expect the Emperor to know of it. Consort Tao’s entire body trembled as she hugged Emperor Feng Xuan’s thigh, weeping, “Your Majesty, you can’t wrongfully blame this concubine. That is your child! You can’t listen to other’s instigations. The child has already pa.s.sed away. Does Your Majesty want to hurt this concubine’s heart like this?” Consort Tao was very afraid but remembering the child was already dead, who can find out who was the child’s father?

“Ha!” Feng Xuan laughed from anger by this Consort Tao who continued to deny her wrongdoings and squeezed Consort Tao’s face demanding, “This emperor was once poisoned. Ever since then, I won’t be able to have children. You say, where did your child come from? Who is the adulterer!”

Consort Tao’s entire body collapsed onto the ground. She knew she was finished. What glory and wealth were all gone. But she was so unwilling! She hasn’t sought her revenge. She still had many things to do. Right, master won’t disregard her. Consort Tao comforted herself with this.

Feng Xuan demanded a few more times but Consort Tao refused to open her mouth. Feng Xuan angrily snapped, “Consort Tao committed debauchery in the palace, gift her with a cup of poison wine!” Finished, he departed from Peach Palace…