Chapter 139: The Amulet of Immunity Saves the Princess of Jin

As she made her way through the siege and entered the Jing Prince’s mansion, Xia Jiujing noticed that the household servants were few and far between; most had likely been confined to the inner courtyards, forbidden from coming and going freely. Given such an imposing setup, coupled with the Jing Prince’s grave illness, Xia Jiujing understood exactly who was left inside the estate.

The Xuan Sanju residence was guarded by three layers of sentries both inside and out. Within the main hall, Old Meng and Night Kill knelt silently to one side, while on the throne sat Emperor Zongkang in plain clothes, his expression grave and his eyes shadowed with suspicion. Nearby knelt a group of frazzled imperial physicians.

Xia Jiujing approached the inner chamber and bowed. “Your Majesty…”

Emperor Zongkang’s face darkened with anger as he slammed a palm onto the table. “So you actually came back.”

Kneeling on the floor, Xia Jiujing’s heart tightened with unease, but she maintained her composure. “A few days ago, I was caught in the rain and fell ill, fainting. I only woke this morning and immediately rushed back to the Jing Prince’s mansion…”

Before she could finish, Emperor Zongkang interrupted, furious. “You rushed back for what? To see if the Jing Prince was dead? Do you even realize how the entire capital is spreading rumors about your scandalous affairs with the Southern Kingdom’s Third Prince?”

Xia Jiujing fell silent. She had heard some gossip in front of the Jing Prince’s mansion, and it was clear that in these past few days, the malicious rumors had spread like wildfire, each more slanderous than the last.

The emperor’s gaze was filled with suspicion. “When the Southern Kingdom’s Third Prince sought to marry Princess Anya, it was because he mistook you for her. I was puzzled how he, having no acquaintance with you, could propose marriage to you. But now, it seems I’ve been enlightened.”

He even suspected that Xia Jiujing had long been in contact with the Third Prince. If that were true, was her becoming the Jing Prince’s consort planned or mere coincidence? When had she met the Third Prince? And what was her true purpose after becoming the Jing Prince’s wife?

Once doubt took root, every detail was magnified.

Unfazed, Xia Jiujing replied calmly, “Your Majesty, you misunderstand. Before the Southern Kingdom’s Third Prince entered the palace as an envoy, I did meet him briefly. The Jing Prince was aware of this. We were merely acquaintances who exchanged nods.”

Emperor Zongkang bellowed, “Acquaintances? Then why were you unconscious on the street? What does the Third Prince have to do with that? Why did he take you back to Xiangrui Tower, and why did he stay by your side, tending to you without even removing his clothes?”

Xia Jiujing’s face darkened. At Xiangrui Tower, she had once felt gratitude toward Ming Ze for saving her life. But now, anger gnawed at her teeth. Ming Ze, who had always been a thorn in her side, had truly turned the tables on her this time.

That stormy, rain-soaked night was deep into the quiet hours; no one witnessed Ming Ze rescuing Xia Jiujing. Moreover, if not for Ming Ze spreading the news, who would have known she had been unconscious at Xiangrui Tower for two days? Who would have known he cared for her so devotedly?

The most plausible explanation was that Ming Ze deliberately spread the rumors to ruin Xia Jiujing’s reputation. This way, she would be unable to become the Jing Prince’s consort. Then, Ming Ze could approach the emperor to ask for her hand, and Xia Jiujing would have no grounds to refuse.

Gritting her teeth, Xia Jiujing said, “This must be a scheme by the Southern Kingdom’s Third Prince. I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly.”

The emperor’s words carried a biting undertone. “A scheme by the Third Prince? He will stop at nothing to win you over, it seems. Who would have thought our Jing Prince’s consort possessed such irresistible charm that even a mere nod of acquaintance could drive the Third Prince to such extremes.”

Clearly, Emperor Zongkang suspected Xia Jiujing’s closeness with the Third Prince.

His fury erupted. He could not allow someone connected to the Southern Kingdom to remain near the Jing Prince, perhaps even endangering him.

He sought to have the Jing Prince’s consort executed. Unexpectedly, Jun Buwen had granted her a pardon token, preventing the emperor from acting against her. This was effectively tying his hands.

The emperor shouted, “Guards! Seize the Jing Prince’s consort! She’s sullied her reputation with the Southern Kingdom’s Third Prince, betraying marital fidelity. Drag her out and behead her!”

To have the Jing Prince cuckolded was intolerable. He had already been displeased with Xia Jiujing becoming the consort, initially viewing her as a useless burden. But when she showed her wisdom and composure at Yufu Hall and Yueque Palace, his views shifted. Yet now, she dared to disgrace the Jing Prince’s mansion!

Xia Jiujing’s eyes widened in shock. In her previous life, she was a scientist studying the mysterious Miao sorcery, inheriting the medical secrets of her family. After a catastrophic explosion, she found herself reborn in the Kingdom of Li. Life had been flourishing—so why now, all of a sudden, was her life on the line?

She had already been given a second chance at life—a miracle in itself. If she were to die again, she could no longer believe in such miracles existing.

Panicked, Xia Jiujing pleaded, “Your Majesty, please spare me. There is nothing between the Third Prince and me at all. The rumors circulating in the capital are clearly attempts to malign my character, to deliberately destroy the bond between the Jing Prince and me, and even to target the Jing Prince’s household.”

Emperor Zongkang’s tone grew cold and indifferent. “Destroy the relationship between you and the Jing Prince? Ha. If that’s the case, then you deserve death all the more. Once you are dead, no one will desire you anymore, and the Jing Prince will be spared any trouble.”

His decision to kill Xia Jiujing was resolute. No matter what she said, it was useless. As the guards approached to seize her, Old Meng suddenly crawled forward and knelt beside her.

“Your Majesty…”

The emperor frowned. “Old Meng, are you here to plead for the Jing Prince’s consort?”

Old Meng spoke, “Your Majesty, the Jing Prince’s consort has indeed grievously wronged the Jing Prince’s household. This old servant also hopes you will execute her to prevent further disgrace.”

Xia Jiujing was stunned, staring at Old Meng in surprise. Old Meng, too, seemed convinced that Xia Jiujing had an illicit relationship with the Third Prince and had sullied the Jing Prince’s mansion.

Old Meng continued, “However, when the Jing Prince was sent back to his mansion, he was still conscious for a brief moment. He gave this old servant something and said that if Your Majesty wished to harm the Jing Prince’s consort…” With that, Old Meng produced a gleaming gold token from his sleeve.

Emperor Zongkang stiffened upon seeing the character for ‘pardon’ engraved on the token.

Old Meng said, “The Jing Prince entrusted me with this pardon token, instructing that if Your Majesty intends to execute the consort, the token must be used to save her life. I beg Your Majesty to spare her.”

With a sigh, Old Meng revealed the depth of his loyalty. The Jing Prince’s servant was the most familiar with the prince’s condition—his disinterest in women was not for lack of feelings, but because he dared not become attached. The chief physician Zhang had once said the Jing Prince’s illness might allow him to live only three to five years, at most ten if by some miracle.

Knowing the limit of one’s days, how much vitality could one truly possess? The Jing Prince had resigned himself to a lonely existence. Yet, when the consort appeared, Old Meng felt the Jing Prince come alive once more—he became flesh and blood, filled with emotion.

Old Meng sensed the consort’s sincerity and saw a change in the Jing Prince. He genuinely wished for a happy ending between them. But how had a sudden quarrel, vomiting blood, and unconsciousness spiraled into this uncontrollable chaos?

Though Old Meng was angered by the consort’s two-day absence and the rumors of infidelity, the Jing Prince had entrusted him with the pardon token, and so Old Meng had no choice but to obey his lord’s final wishes.