I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

Chapter 157 Who is not innocent?

Prince Guangcheng was young and didn't quite understand these things. He gently tugged at Lu Mingyang's sleeve, his face full of curiosity: "Sister Yang, why is the Queen Aunt always wiping her tears while she eats?"

How could Lu Mingyang explain this kind of question? He dealt with King Guangcheng awkwardly, and his eyes swept around, finally landing on the emperor.

Because his smile was so out of tune with this depressing palace banquet.

Lu Mingyang truly felt that the emperor was a bit of a psychopath, enjoying observing and appreciating the suffering of others, especially Chu Mingzheng. She looked at the man beside her and took his cold hand.

"I'm fine!" Chu Mingzheng smiled at her.

For him, being able to see his mother from afar was enough, but he didn't expect that his appearance would make his mother so sad.

But for the emperor, it is far from enough.

After the singing and dancing, the emperor felt unsatisfied. He looked at the Prince of Jin and said with emotion, "Among my brothers back then, Prince Jin was the most skilled in martial arts and was often praised by my father. Come, let me see your martial arts and see how well I, your younger brother, have taught you."

After saying that, he looked at Chu Mingzheng and said, "Go, test his skills. Don't embarrass me!"

That means we can’t lose!

Indeed, how could the emperor's son be inferior to the Prince of Jin's? However, because he had saved me during the Lantern Festival, rumors of him feigning illness were already flying everywhere. If he won again this time, the emperor's suspicions would undoubtedly rise again.

Lu Mingyang declined, saying, "Father, Your Highness's injuries haven't healed yet, and he hasn't practiced martial arts in years. I'm afraid his body can't handle it."

"Zheng'er, you just got married, and you're already letting your wife take charge?" The emperor smiled, but still didn't give her a chance to refuse. "Since it's a competition, just stop when you're ready."

"promise!"

Chu Mingzheng stood up and walked with the Prince of Jin to the center of the hall, where everyone was watching. The Imperial Guards stepped forward and handed over two long swords.

The sounds of the zithers harmonized with each other, and with a clang, the two swords clashed. The golden collision was like the roar of thousands of horses.

The Prince of Jin's moves were as fast as lightning. Chu Mingzheng was very clumsy but he was able to dodge every move.

In the eyes of everyone, he looked like someone who had neglected practice and was tired of dealing with the situation. Only the masked man behind Princess Qinghe had the light in his eyes slowly gathering.

For an expert, he knows how clever his response is.

Suddenly, a sword swung back and the Prince of Jin's sword blade slashed towards Chu Mingzheng's waist and abdomen. Chu Mingzheng dodged sideways, but still heard the sound of the long blade cutting through flesh.

Blood gushed out from his waist, and at the same time, a long sword fell on the neck of the Prince of Jin.

King Ningyuan won the competition, but was also injured.

"Your Highness!"

Lu Mingyang was about to step forward, but saw a beautiful figure running behind him. Qin Miao ran forward and supported Chu Mingzheng.

Princess Qinghe also wanted to step forward, but was stopped by the masked man behind her.

The Prince of Jin stood there in a daze, holding a blood-stained sword. He had clearly used that sword to protect himself, so how could he have been stabbed for no apparent reason?

The cloth was turned up, revealing a hideous bloody wound. Qin Miao cried and tried to cover Chu Mingzheng's wound, "Golden wound medicine, golden wound medicine..."

"It's just a scrape, nothing serious!" Chu Mingzheng took the lead in covering the wound, sheathed his sword and saluted: "Your son has been impolite. Please allow me to change my clothes."

The emperor said, "Summon the imperial physician to have Prince Ningyuan examine him."

Qin Miao helped Chu Mingzheng walk out the door, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Chu Mingzheng staggered and fainted in front of the palace door. Two young eunuchs hurried forward, and Lu Mingyang also surrounded them at this time.

When she walked over, she took a look at Princess Jin and was really scared.

"This child, let him do what he is capable of, why show off his ability." The emperor looked at the queen mother awkwardly, then smiled and talked to the Prince of Jin, while appreciating the reaction of the Princess of Jin.

Not long after, the imperial physician came in.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Ningyuan is fine. He simply fainted due to a surge of blood and exhaustion. His wounds are not serious and he will be fine after some rest."

Upon hearing the imperial physician's words, Princess Jin's tense expression instantly collapsed, and then she began to retch.

"What's going on?" Concubine Song hurriedly ordered, "Help Princess Jin go to the back hall to rest."

Before he finished speaking, the Prince of Jin and Princess Qinghe had already helped Princess Jin up and went to the back hall. As they walked out of the back door of the main hall, Princess Jin slapped the Prince of Jin in the face.

"He's still sick, don't you know?"

"Mother, my second brother didn't mean it." Princess Qinghe glanced at her brother and comforted her mother into the back hall.

The Prince of Jin stood there, his back stiff, his whole body like a thin fallen leaf in the cold moonlight.

Without the main character of the palace banquet, the excitement soon faded away.

Chu Mingzheng rested in the east side hall, and Princess Jin rested in the back hall. Although they were only a few steps away, to them, it was like a ravine and an abyss.

"Let's go!" Chu Mingzheng looked at the back hall for a long time, and finally turned around and left.

When everything calmed down, Concubine Song took Prince Guangcheng to the rear hall of Yanqing Palace to deliver some medicine to Princess Jin. The little guy was so happy about his beautiful sister that he held Princess Qinghe's hand tightly and refused to let go.

Concubine Song smiled and said, "Princess, please accompany Hui'er to play for a while!"

Princess Qinghe was really not impressed by how quickly Concubine Song changed her expression, but seeing her mother nod and little Prince Guangcheng was so cute, she took him to find her second brother.

Yunmeng also led everyone out at the right time. Although the palace door was open, it was far away and no one could get close.

Concubine Song stood in front of the bed, looking down at Princess Jin. "The Queen Mother is worried about you and can't bear to see you traveling back and forth, so she said she'll let you stay in Shoukang Palace."

That meant she was not allowed to see her son privately. Princess Jin picked up her shoes and went to see the Queen Mother.

"It's only been a few days. Even if you see your son every day, how many times can you see him?"

Killing someone is a crime that destroys their heart. Upon hearing Concubine Song's words, the Princess of Jin indeed stopped in her tracks.

She stayed in Shoukang Palace for so long today, and the Empress Dowager asked her to live in Shoukang Palace. It goes without saying that Concubine Song also knew what had happened.

As for Princess Jin, she felt there was no need to beat around the bush. She sat on the couch, silently poured a cup of tea, placed it opposite her, and said directly, "If you want to see your son every day, sit down and have a cup."

"Do you have a solution?" Princess Jin's eyes changed.

"Your Majesty has few children, but the Prince of Jin's children are not wealthy either, are they?"

At this point, Concubine Song lightly reminded: "Adoption is a big deal. If you go back on your word, you will inevitably be ridiculed by the world. But if the Prince of Jin is accidentally killed, Your Majesty, considering the feelings of compatriots, adopts Prince Ningyuan to the Prince of Jin. That would be a gesture of affection and righteousness. Then even the Queen Mother will help you. Are you still afraid of not getting your son back?"

"It's possible..." Princess Jin's lips trembled: "...He is innocent."

"Who among the royal family is not innocent?"

After all, this was a child she had raised for more than ten years, so Concubine Song did not expect her to answer immediately. She smiled and said, "Who is close and who is distant, who will live and who will die, Princess Jin, think about it carefully!"

She believed that her final choice would be what she wished.