Harem Daily Life

Wang Jiao's letter to He Linzhang was written with true feelings.

"...Thinking back to the time when I first entered the Eastern Palace, Your Majesty and I walked hand in hand through countless trials and tribulations. Back then, we admired the blossoms of spring together and watched the falling snow of winter together. I still remember those beautiful times.

My younger brother, Wang Yin, has committed a grave error. I am deeply saddened, but he was also confused for a moment. I hope Your Majesty will spare his life for the sake of our long-standing relationship as husband and wife..."

Eunuch Zhang stood aside, looking at the emperor's gloomy face. He didn't dare to say anything or make any move.

After reading the letter, He Linzhang was silent for a long time before he said, "I am not a heartless person. I have forgiven the Wang family many times before. I have already done my best."

He resealed the letter and set it aside. "Wang Yin has committed a capital crime. If this crime is not punished, it will be difficult to appease the public anger and uphold the law. The law is as heavy as a mountain. I cannot break the rules for personal gain."

Eunuch Zhang understood that Wang Yin was doomed to die.

After leaving the Imperial Study, Eunuch Zhang sent someone to Jingzhao Yinfu to inform him of the emperor's order. At this time, the Wang family couple were visiting their son in prison.

"Son, you've suffered a lot these days. Eat more. You look so thin." Mrs. Wang's eyes were full of heartache for her son.

"Don't worry. We've already asked your sister to write a letter to His Majesty, begging him to spare your life for the sake of our long-standing friendship. Your sister has given birth to two princesses for the royal family. I'm sure His Majesty will grant this request! To do otherwise would be too heartless."

Wang Zongnian quickly stopped his wife from continuing: "Alright, alright, this is not our home, be careful with your words, there are ears behind the walls."

Seeing his son suffer, his mood was not much better, but for some reason, he felt inexplicably anxious today. He always felt that he could not control anything, as if something was about to leave him.

Just at this time, Lord Fang, the Jingzhao Yin, who had received the emperor's oral order, came in with a group of yamen runners. Seeing that the Wang couple had not left yet, he sighed, called Wang Zongnan aside and whispered a few words to him.

"What? His Majesty actually issued such an oral order?" Wang Zongnan exclaimed, unwilling to believe that these were the words of the benevolent emperor.

Lord Fang nodded. "It's absolutely true, as I just said. My brother, you were originally to be executed in the autumn, but this would have allowed your son to live a few more months. It seems you have offended His Majesty in some other way, and His Majesty couldn't bear it any longer, so he issued this order."

Lord Fang gave a suggestion and let Wang Zongnan figure it out on his own.

Wang Zongnian's face turned pale. What he had done recently was, first, to use the secret of Queen Tao's life experience to find the Shu family to threaten the Queen, and second, to kneel down and beg his daughter to write a letter to His Majesty to plead for mercy.

They were clearly heading towards saving their son, but why did the opposite happen and instead they accelerated their son's execution?

I can’t figure it out, I really can’t figure it out!

"Master Fang..." Wang Zongnian knelt before Master Fang, "Please show mercy, Master. Can you allow me to go to the palace and plead for mercy? My son is only twenty years old and still hasn't started a family. He's so young. It's really heartbreaking!"

Wang Zongnian burst into tears. Lord Fang, as a parent himself, sighed and nodded, "You should go today. His Majesty's order must be followed. I'm afraid tomorrow..."

After saying that, Lord Fang took his men away, leaving behind the family of three crying bitterly in the prison.

Wang Zongnan did not dare to delay and immediately went back home to pick up Wang Jiao and rush to the palace gate.

Wang Jiao didn't expect that her letter had no effect at all. She felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave and was completely cold.

"Father, have you ever thought about how to enter the palace? You and I are both people without any status now."

Wang Jiao spoke with a sad face.

Wang Zongnian sneered, "What else can we do? The worst that can happen is that she'll kneel and die at the palace gate. If the former queen and her father kneel and die at the palace gate together, how much discussion do you think it will cause?"

Wang Jiao only felt a deep sense of humiliation weighing on her, making it hard for her to breathe.

"Father, you really have never thought about your daughter." After saying that, she looked out the window, tears silently flowing down her face, blurring her vision.

"Don't you feel ashamed of what your brother has done? A son's poor upbringing is the fault of his father. He raised such a heartless son, and yet he's still trying to beg for mercy, even dragging his daughter into it. His daughter already has no face in front of him, and today, I'm afraid even the kindness we once showed her will be ruined."

Wang Jiao's words did not evoke Wang Zongnian's sympathy. He said coldly, "Past favors? How could there be any favors from his royal family? If there were any, Wang Yin has been his brother-in-law for ten years. Look at how he treated Wang Yin? He personally ordered your brother to be executed as soon as possible!"

Wang Zongnian's breathing was hesitant, and after a while he said, "Even if I have to sacrifice my dignity and my life today, I will kneel down and beg him to spare your brother's life. He's my own son... Wuuwuwu..."

Wang Jiao didn't say anything else. She was left with only deep resentment. She resented why she had given the two brothers money to do that stupid business. She resented why she had used all means to win favor. If she hadn't made the mistake, the position of Empress of the Central Palace would still be hers.

How could she make one mistake after another and lose him and his protection?

She lost everything: her husband, her queenship, her princess, and her brother was about to die. The Wang family was finished.

As expected, the guards guarding the palace gate refused to let them in. Even when Wang Jiao showed her face, the guards remained unmoved.

"You guys should leave quickly. Your past identities are long gone. You are just commoners now. How can you possibly enter the palace? Leave quickly, or don't blame us for being rude!"

The guards' swords were hung in front of them, as if they would draw their swords and stab them if the two of them made any more noise.

Wang Zongnan couldn't bribe the guards with money, so he made up his mind and decisively grabbed Wang Jiao and knelt in front of the palace gate.

Wang Jiao looked at the tall palace gate, her thoughts going back to the time when she was married into the palace through the main gate.

How high-spirited and enviable he was back then, but now he is so humble and lowly, so shameful.

After kneeling for almost half an hour, Manager Li returned to the palace from his work and met the two of them at the palace gate.

Wang Jiao's legs were numb, and she couldn't get up even when she saw Manager Li. Wang Zongnan gritted his teeth, stood up, and walked towards Manager Li.

After Wang Zongnian pestered him for quite a while, Steward Li finally sighed and said, "Never mind. I'll pass on a message for you, but I can't guarantee whether the person inside will be willing to see you. So, both of you, stop kneeling and wait for my news. Whether they see you or not, I'll send this disciple to let you know in half an hour."

After Li Zongguan finished speaking, he took his men to check the token and entered the palace.