In the grey morning light, Ning Wang received news from the palace that his imperial mother had her tongue cut out and eyes gouged before being imprisoned in the celestial jail the previous night.
This development was entirely unexpected. After learning the full details of the incident, he rushed to the palace to seek an audience with the Emperor.
However, two young eunuchs guarding the Emperor's chambers informed him that the Emperor had been awake all night and had only just fallen asleep at dawn, urging him to return.
Deeply concerned for his imperial mother's safety, Ning Wang knelt resolutely outside the Emperor's chambers. Despite the eunuchs' repeated pleas, he refused to leave, determined to wait until the Emperor awoke and summoned him.
He waited until noon. With a distant rumble of thunder, a torrential downpour began. Ning Wang remained kneeling in the corridor, drenched by the rain, his body trembling. He watched as palace maids and eunuchs carried items in and out of the Emperor's chambers, yet the Emperor still refused to see him.
As dusk approached and the rain subsided, Eunuch Li slowly emerged from the Emperor's chambers.
Spotting Eunuch Li, Ning Wang called out urgently, "Eunuch Li, has my father, the Emperor, awoken? I wish to seek an audience with him."
Eunuch Li flicked his horsetail whisk, curled his fingers in a delicate manner, and sighed as he spoke to Ning Wang, "Alas, Your Highness Ning Wang, it is best you return. Though His Majesty has risen, he does not wish to see you. Please return to Ning Wang's estate."
Eunuch Li attempted to persuade him.
"No, Eunuch Li, I must see my father."
Ning Wang immediately rejected his counsel.
"Alas, you..."
Seeing that he could not sway Ning Wang, Eunuch Li shook his head and re-entered the Emperor's chambers.
Inside, the Emperor had just finished his dinner, prepared by the palace maids and eunuchs. Upon seeing Eunuch Li enter, the Emperor calmly continued to pick his teeth, not inquiring about Ning Wang's situation outside. Only after he finished and rinsed his mouth did he speak to Eunuch Li.
"This girl, Li'er, is truly a treasure our Jun family has married into. Everything she gives me is so useful. Take this dental floss she gifted me, for instance; it's far better than the gold and silver toothpicks I used before, cleaner, more hygienic, and most importantly, convenient and practical. It comes in a small box that fits into my pocket, so I can pick my teeth anytime."
"Indeed, Your Majesty. The set of dental tools that Cold Consort gifted to this humble servant is also exceedingly useful. I use it every morning when I wash, and it's incredibly convenient. My breath is also very fresh after brushing," Eunuch Li replied with a beaming smile.
"Mm, that dental tool is indeed very effective," the Emperor agreed, nodding.
In short, his second son had made a fortune marrying such a daughter-in-law.
With that, the Emperor leaned back in his chair and asked a palace maid to bring him the neck massager gifted by Leng Ruo Li. Eunuch Li quickly helped him set it up and switch it on. The Emperor then closed his eyes, peacefully enjoying the massage.
After a short while, the massage concluded. The Emperor slowly opened his mouth and asked, "Is he still kneeling outside?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. This humble servant has already advised Prince Ning, but he refuses to leave."
As Eunuch Li spoke, a hint of sadness flickered in his eyes.
"Then let him in!"
At this moment, the Emperor finally relented.
"Yes, Your Majesty. This humble servant will escort Prince Ning in immediately."
Eunuch Li responded, then hurried out to call Ning Wang in.
A moment later, Ning Wang, his legs numb and his body still soaked, hobbled and crawled into the Emperor's chambers.
"Your humble son pays his respects to Father, the Emperor!"
Ning Wang bowed respectfully to the Emperor.
However, the Emperor did not bid him rise.
"Are you here today to plead on behalf of your imperial mother?" the Emperor asked, his eyes carrying a hint of coldness as he looked at Ning Wang.
His third son, outwardly refined and steady, possessed a deeply guarded heart. Among his sons, it was Ning Wang whom the Emperor found most inscrutable, his intentions unfathomable.
"Yes, I beg Father, the Emperor, to spare my imperial mother's life." Ning Wang pleaded humbly.
"Have you inquired thoroughly about your imperial mother's transgression before entering the palace?" the Emperor asked coldly.
Ning Wang nodded vigorously upon hearing this.
"Stealing the Imperial Seal is a capital offense. For your sake, I have spared her life, merely cutting out her tongue and blinding her eyes. Are you still not satisfied?"
"Father, the Emperor, as the child born of my mother's ten months of carrying me, I cannot abandon her. Even if my actions cannot save her life, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch her suffer a miserable death."
Ning Wang's lips trembled as he spoke these heartfelt words.
The Emperor, his back turned to Ning Wang, remained silent.
Then, Ning Wang's lips trembled again, and he spoke, "Father, the Emperor, I am willing to forfeit my title as Prince and a lifetime of wealth and status in exchange for my mother's life. Is that permissible?"
"Hmm, regarding this matter, return and think it over carefully. Come back tomorrow and tell me your choice. Later, I will have Jian Feng escort you to the celestial jail to see your imperial mother."
The Emperor seemed to tacitly agree to Ning Wang's proposed exchange.
"Thank you, Father!"
Upon receiving the Emperor's consent, Ning Wang was so overwhelmed with emotion that tears fell.
After bidding farewell to the Emperor and leaving the hall, Eunuch Li followed closely behind him. Eunuch Li then bypassed Ning Wang and approached Jian Feng, whispering a few words to him.
Jian Feng, without a word, led Ning Wang to the celestial jail to see Consort Jing.
At this moment, within the celestial jail, Consort Jing lay on the ground, covered in blood. Her mouth was unable to speak, her eyes blind, and her hair dishevelled. The bloodstains on her body had dried, yet a strong scent of blood still emanated from her. Overnight, she had fallen from grace as if from heaven to earth.
Consort Jing, who had once possessed captivating charm and unparalleled beauty, was now a shadow of her former self.
Seeing Consort Jing before him, Ning Wang's tears flowed uncontrollably. He cried out loudly, "Mother, Mother, your son has come to see you."
Upon hearing Ning Wang's voice, Consort Jing endured the pain and struggled to rise from the ground.
She had intended to ask her son: "Has the Emperor done anything to you?"
However, "Uh, uh, uh..."
She stammered for a long time, unable to utter a coherent word.
"Mother, please don't speak. Your son knows what you want to say."
Ning Wang, seeing the bloody sockets where her eyes once were and the blood-stained mouth, felt his heart ache to the point of suffocation.
Hearing Ning Wang's cries, Consort Jing's heart also shattered.
"Uh, uh, uh..."
She desperately wanted to comfort him, but not a single word could escape her lips.
Later, after Ning Wang had finished crying and regained some composure, he slowly spoke, "Mother, Father, the Emperor has not done anything to me. It's just that your son has proposed to exchange his title as Prince and a lifetime of wealth and status for your mother's life."
Unexpectedly, Consort Jing reacted with extreme intensity upon hearing Ning Wang's words.