Chapter 142: Divorced Lord Buwen?

Faint traces of blood stained Xia Jiujiang’s chest, appearing somewhat glaring against her pale pink dress. However, she had draped a heavy outer cloak over her shoulders, managing to conceal the tragic crimson devastation.

Ordinarily, Jun Buwen’s affliction of fierce thermal toxins was so violent that, even with the use of Xia Jiujiang’s heart’s blood, he should have remained unconscious for several days and nights before waking and recovering fully. Yet, for reasons unknown, shortly after Xia Jiujiang departed, Jun Buwen opened his eyes, showing no lingering traces of the thermal toxins whatsoever.

The only person capable of suppressing the thermal toxins by such means was Xia Jiujiang.

The very first words Jun Buwen uttered upon opening his eyes were: "Where is Xia Jiujiang?"

Emperor Zongkang had leaned in close, beaming with joy upon seeing Jun Buwen regain consciousness, only to find that his first sentence was about that woman.

With a dark expression, Emperor Zongkang replied, "That woman is gone."

Jun Buwen looked up in bewilderment and asked, "Gone? What do you mean?"

Emperor Zongkang produced the letter of separation written by Xia Jiujiang and said, "See for yourself. She wants a separation from you. Once she finished writing this letter, she left the Prince Jin Estate."

Without even bothering to read what Xia Jiujiang had written, Emperor Zongkang had placed the letter right before Jun Buwen.

Emperor Zongkang had long desired to sever the betrothal between Xia Jiujiang and Jun Buwen, seizing this opportunity to make Jun Buwen give up his attachment once and for all. Had he known things would turn out this way, he never would have spoken up before all the civil and military officials to make Xia Jiujiang the Princess Jin in the first place.

Observing Jun Buwen’s rigid expression, Emperor Zongkang felt a flicker of covert satisfaction, believing it was better to resolve such matters swiftly. Little did he know, Jun Buwen’s stiffness stemmed from suspicion rather than shock.

Jun Buwen picked up the letter of separation and took a look, nearly coughing up blood at the sight. What in the world was this? Xia Jiujiang was writing a letter of separation to formally cast *him* aside? Such an eccentric genius could truly be none other than Xia Jiujiang.

If she genuinely desired a separation and wished to leave his side, she would never have cured his thermal toxin affliction beforehand. Therefore, the moment Jun Buwen saw the letter, his gaze turned icy, and he snapped, "You forced her to write this separation letter!"

Emperor Zongkang had not expected that mentioning the letter would fail to shake Jun Buwen. Xia Jiujiang had openly quarreled with him in the streets and even caused Jun Buwen to fall gravely ill and vomit blood—yet Jun Buwen harbored not a shred of suspicion that she harbored disloyal intentions? How on earth did he immediately jump to the conclusion that Emperor Zongkang had forced her to write it?

Amidst Emperor Zongkang’s silence, Jun Buwen said coldly, "Your Majesty must have forgotten the promise you made to me. Your Majesty gave your imperial word to grant your subject freedom in marriage; therefore, Your Majesty should not interfere in whether Xia Jiujiang and I choose to separate or not."

Emperor Zongkang’s face remained dark. The imperial physicians, kneeling off to the side, felt their hearts leap into their throats upon hearing Prince Jin’s words. Prince Jin was far too lawless and unruly, daring to address the Emperor in such a manner. Weren't they afraid that angering the Emperor would result in the confiscation of the Prince Jin Estate?

Jun Buwen attempted to rise. Old Man Meng stepped forward to assist him into a sitting position and straightened the bedcovers. During this movement, Jun Buwen caught sight of the bloodstains at the edge of the bed and instantly knitted his brows.

Old Man Meng thought to himself, *This is the utmost I can do—let Prince Jin discover the bloodstains.*

Fixating his gaze on the blood, Jun Buwen demanded, "How did Xia Jiujiang save me?"

Emperor Zongkang replied, "Xia Jiujiang? You overestimate her far too much. The entire Imperial Hospital was here attending to you. How could someone who saved you possibly be Xia Jiujiang? It was the imperial physicians."

No one dared to refute the Emperor’s words, but seeing the silent demeanor of Old Man Meng and Shadow Killer, Jun Buwen knew something was amiss.

Jun Buwen let out a cold laugh. "I know my own condition. No one in the Imperial Hospital could cure it; only Xia Jiujiang could alleviate it. How did she save me, and why are there bloodstains by the bed?"

Emperor Zongkang brushed it off evasively. "It is entirely normal to have bloodstains by your bed. You vomited blood and collapsed on the street before being carried back to the Prince Jin Estate. The blood is yours; what wild flights of fancy are you having?"

The Emperor lied blatantly, and not a soul dared to puncture his falsehood.

Yet Jun Buwen clearly did not believe him. He stated, "I collapsed on the street, not coughing blood all the way back to the Prince Jin Estate. The color and warmth of this blood indicate it was spilled only moments ago. Even if Your Majesty wishes to deceive me, I beg you to find a better excuse."

Emperor Zongkang’s rigid face was etched with displeasure and annoyance.

Gritting his teeth, Jun Buwen uttered every word with deliberate precision: "I shall ask you once more: how exactly did Xia Jiujiang save me? Even if you refuse to speak now, once I am fully recovered, do you think my secret guards will fail to unearth the clues? Or is Your Majesty unafraid that the truth will arrive too late by then?"

Emperor Zongkang was incensed. He was actually being threatened by Jun Buwen! Was Jun Buwen trying to warn him that if the truth came to light too late, this matter would drive a permanent wedge between father and son? Emperor Zongkang was Jun Buwen’s own father! How could Jun Buwen possibly use such an attitude toward him?

Had Jun Buwen not been the son of Empress Hui—the child born of him and his most deeply cherished empress—he would have died a hundred times over for such insolence.

Sometimes, Emperor Zongkang truly wondered whether Jun Buwen was his own child or the former Prince Jin’s. How could his temper be just as stubborn and arrogant as the old Prince Jin’s?

Not a soul in the room dared to utter a sound. Amidst the heavy silence, Old Man Meng finally spoke. "Her Highness the Princess Consort extracted her own heart’s blood and fed it to Your Highness, thereby allowing Your Highness to turn the corner and survive."

Jun Buwen’s eyes widened abruptly. "Heart’s blood? She actually used her heart’s blood?"

No wonder the fresh blood on the floor had pierced his eyes with such brilliant sharpness, filling him with a lingering sense of foreboding.

Glaring at Emperor Zongkang with wrath in his eyes, Jun Buwen said, "Xia Jiujiang gave up her heart’s blood to save me, yet you still forced her to write a letter of separation and drove her away? Do you want her to die out there?"

Emperor Zongkang rose coldly to his feet. "I *want* her to die! If you hadn’t given the Imperial Pardon Medallion to Xia Jiujiang, do you think I would have permitted her to leave the Prince Jin Estate with a letter of separation?"

Jun Buwen offered a disdainful smile. "Viewed in that light, my decision to give the medallion to the Princess Consort was truly a wise move."

Furious, Emperor Zongkang snapped, "She abandoned the Prince Jin Estate for two days and two nights, leaving you critically ill in bed while rumors and gossip swirled across the capital concerning her and the Third Prince of the Southern Kingdom! Did you not always protect the reputation of the Prince Jin Estate? Did you not care for it above all else? She has stained the honor of the Prince Jin Estate—does she not deserve to die?"

Struggling to his feet, Jun Buwen declared, "That is a matter strictly between the Princess Consort and myself. Those rumors are likely nothing more than the malicious fabrication and slander of ill-intentioned people. Are we to execute people simply because of gossip? If so, Your Majesty would have far too many people to kill."

Emperor Zongkang flicked his sleeve in rage. "You... I wash my hands of you!"

Seizing the opportunity, Jun Buwen immediately retorted, "If Your Majesty washes your hands of my affairs, then this subject must express his profound gratitude for your imperial grace! Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting us this fulfillment. Xia Jiujiang is my wife, and she shall remain so for the rest of my life!"

Without waiting for a reply, Jun Buwen turned and strode toward the exit. Now that he knew Xia Jiujiang had left behind a letter of separation and departed the estate, he could not linger for even another second.

"You have only just woken up! Where on earth do you think you are going?!" Emperor Zongkang bellowed at Jun Buwen’s retreating back.

Moving with the speed of flying strides, Jun Buwen called back, "To bring my wife home."