Chapter 72 To Uncrown the Crown Prince

Seeing what she did, old King Yun knew that Wet Nurse Liu was no ordinary woman. She deliberately killed herself in public to protect the Noble Consort so that the king couldn’t vent his anger on her. After all, he still had to maintain his image of a righteous king. Old King Yun turned to the palace maids and servants brought by the Noble Consort, “Since Wet Nurse Liu has apologized with her death, I’ll spare you all today. But there won’t be a second chance.” Just as everyone bowed their heads on the ground and thanked old King Yun for not killing them, the Noble Consort, who was still holding Wet Nurse Liu’s dead body, stopped crying. She always hesitated to destroy old King Yun before, but she had made up her mind. The king would never know that it was his decision to kill the Noble Consort’s wet nurse that made the woman give up on him. Wiping away tears on her face, the Noble Consort walked to old King Yun. She had hardened her heart and suppressed her sadness. Standing by her husband’s side, she looked as if nothing had happened. Crown Prince Yun didn’t have much affection for Wet Nurse Liu. In fact, he kind of hated her. In his opinion, that old woman was just a tale-teller, speaking ill of him in front of his mother. Because of her, he was imprisoned by his mother, and his most loyal eunuch was beaten to death, not to mention that his dearest lover Meng Xi was slapped. Yet seeing how painful his mother was over the death of the wet nurse, the filial son still felt terrible. However, what he cared about the most was Meng Xi. He was worried about her swollen face. At this time, an old royal doctor arrived. Panting heavily, he managed to adjust his breath and knelt in front of old King Yun, but the king couldn’t wait for his slow movement. Before even kneeling down, the old royal doctor was quickly ordered to stand up and check Meng Xi’s face. Hurrying over, the royal doctor went to check Meng Xi. With her face still swollen, she was lying in Master Meng’s arms. Immediately, he opened his medical kit and started treating his patient. No matter what the people present were thinking, they all had to watch the old royal doctor applying ointment on Meng Xi’s face. They felt like time passed slowly, maybe because the old royal doctor moved too slow. After a long time, Meng Xi’s face was finally all covered with ointment. Meng Xi was a gorgeous girl, but now her whole face was covered with shiny green ointment except for her forehead, her nose, and her chin. Even though Meng Xi was a careless person, she was a little embarrassed about the way she looked. Fortunately, Master Meng was going to take her back home soon. After the royal doctor gave him advice and medicine, Master Meng thanked the royal doctor and said goodbye to old King Yun. He was extremely opposed to the relationship between Crown Prince Yun and his daughter Meng Xi. For one thing, Crown Prince Yun couldn’t marry into his family as Meng Xi’s husband. For another, the boy’s mother had beaten up his baby daughter. Yet suddenly, Crown Prince Yun grabbed Master Meng’s sleeve and knelt down in front of him. Master Meng was almost scared to death. How could a royal member kneel to a commoner? Hurriedly, he went to help the young man up. “Your Highness, what are you doing? This is inappropriate!” But no matter how hard Master Meng tried to pull Crown Prince Yun up, he was still kneeling on the ground and did not want to get up. “My father-in-law, I’m the one to blame today. It was my fault that Xier was hurt. From now on, I will try my best to protect her.” Master Meng couldn’t lift Crown Prince Yun up but only continued, “This is over. Your Highness, you don’t have to worry about it. And I’m not qualified to be your father-in-law.” “Yes, you are, my father-in-law. Please marry Xier to me, I will treat her with all my heart.” Although everyone knew that Crown Prince Yun and Meng Xi were in a relationship, no one clarified it at all. The parents even pretended as if they had never heard of it. Yet as soon as Crown Prince Yun said those words, they couldn’t do that anymore. Meng Xi was also stunned. The Noble Consort was mad but she did not dare to speak. Master Meng could only look at old King Yun for help. But who would have thought that old King Yun also didn’t play by the rules! He asked, “My son, do you really want to marry Xier?” “Yes, I do.” “But the Mengs will only accept it if you move into her family and live with them.” “Father, I really like Xier, and I will only love her. Please allow us to be together.” “My son, it’s not impossible to marry Xier, but...” “Father, I’m willing to do anything as long as I can be with Xier.” “Including giving up your title of Crown Prince and moving into the Mengs?” “My title?” “Yes, are you willing to do it?” “Father.” “As I said, you’re too young to be reasonable. My son, as the Crown Prince, you can’t do whatever you want. This is the end for you and Xier. Don’t bring it up anymore.” “Father, is it true that I can be with Xier if I give up my title of Crown Prince?” Before old King Yun even reacted, the Noble Consort yelled anxiously, “My son, don’t.” She could no longer remain silent. “My dear, that’s impolite of you. I haven’t spoken yet!” “Forgive me, Your Majesty.” The Noble Consort clenched her fists tightly to suppress her anger. Old King Yun did not look at the Noble Consort but continued to stare at Crown Prince Yun, “Do you know what you are talking about, my son?” “Yes, Father. I will give up my title of Crown Prince and marry Xier.” Crown Prince Yun did hesitate a bit before, but he was even more reluctant to let go of Meng Xi. Back at that time, Crown Prince Yun truly loved her. She was the only girl he had ever had a crush on, and people in their first love were always impulsive. What’s more, he didn’t want the title of Crown Prince in the first place. Instead, he felt it was bondage. Obviously, people didn’t cherish things they easily got. The title was just like that for Crown Prince Yun. As a spoiled child, he hadn’t realized the importance of power. Desperately holding back her anger, the Noble Consort was going to explode. She had put in so much effort. She even... Of course, Crown Prince Yun wouldn’t know what the Noble Consort had done to earn him the title, but she was still disappointed at how casually he gave it up. What a useless son! There was little she could do at the moment, but she would make sure her son ruled the Kingdom of Yun as long as she was alive. Meng Xi had never thought that Crown Prince Yun would give up his title for her. He was going to be the king, the ruler of the Kingdom of Yun! But he threw it away just to follow her back to the Mengs and stay with her for the rest of his life. Touched by her lover, Meng Xi offered to marry Crown Prince Yun as a concubine before old King Yun approved what he said, making the situation less embarrassing. Meng Xi knew that as soon as old King Yun agreed, there was no way back. Although she didn’t care whether the person she loved was Crown Prince or not, she was willing to sacrifice for him. Yet Meng Xi was being too careless. In a hurry, she forgot her face was still covered with the awkward green ointment. Fortunately, Crown Prince Yun didn’t mind it at all. The two were staring at each other with their eyes full of love! Old King Yun, on the contrary, was very displeased that Meng Xi had disrupted the goal he was about to achieve. However, since his best friend, Master Meng, had always been his most loyal defender and strongest supporter, old King Yun wouldn’t blame the girl. He only hinted Master Meng to take Meng Xi away quickly, in case she caused more mess. Obviously, old King Yun had always wanted to take the title back, but he was under too much pressure and had no chance. The king and the Noble Consort might seem to be a loving couple, yet they had been battling secretly from the royal court to the royal harem. It was clear that the Noble Consort was supported by the Prime Minister, a powerful man. Otherwise, old King Yun would not just lock the Noble Consort and kill her wet nurse without imposing any serious punishment on her, even though he had solid evidence of her misconduct. Nobody knew how fake the king’s love could be, but even worse, Crown Prince Yun and Meng Xi, who were crazy for each other, didn’t understand the situation at all. Since Master Meng brought back Meng Xi, he had forbidden her to meet Crown Prince Yun. For the sake of their two children, he and old King Yun had also met up numerous times. It was late at night. Everyone was asleep, except for old King Yun. The Royal Study Room was still lit up by candles all over the place. Sitting in his chair with the dragon relief, he was faced with Master Meng, his close friend for years, on the other side of the desk. They had been holding secret meetings at night recently. “Meng, what do you think I should do?” “You’re the king, but I’m not. Let me make it clear first. Xier is my most important heir. Whatever you do, leave her alone.” “But your daughter Xier insists on marrying that brat.” “Isn’t that brat your son?” Master Meng was angry every time he spoke of Crown Prince Yun. His baby girl almost eloped with him. “Then do you allow Xier to marry him and live in the royal palace?” “No way. I only want an adopted son-in-law as Xier’s husband.” “Exactly. You know I want to uncrown the Crown Prince, right?” “Yeah.” “But there is nothing I can do.” “Well, as long as the Prime Minister is in power, it’s pretty hard.” “If the kid is willing to give up his title, it will save me the trouble! After he gives his title up, I can also kick him out to your family and let him be with Xier. Without him around, my life will be much less troublesome.” Whenever he thought of what happened that day, old King Yun had a headache. He could have justly decreed to depose Crown Prince Yun. Since it was his own idea, the Prime Minister couldn’t say anything against it. But it was all ruined by Meng Xi. “It was all because of Xier! She’s just like you when you were young. Always so impulsive!” “Of course, Xier is just like me, kind and straightforward. You royal members are hard to read.” Master Meng was an absolute fan of his daughter. In his eyes, Meng Xi was the best on everything. “You mean it was my fault?” “That’s not what I said.” “Now, it is even more difficult to depose Crown Prince Yun.” “Speaking of that, you are really cruel. Just because you can’t get rid of your son from that position, you have sent assassins to him many times. He’s your son. Why do you have to kill him? But that kid is lucky enough that he’s still alive.” Every time they talked about it, Master Meng just couldn’t understand it. It was said even a vicious tiger would not eat its cubs, but old King Yun seemed to be more vicious than a tiger. Master Meng wondered if it was because he never had a son, while the king had had too many. Even though he had six daughters and Meng Xi had been his favorite, he still loved the other five, too. “Lucky? You have no idea how powerful the Noble Consort is!” “I know she’s his guard, but it only proves how weak a king you are.” “Yes, you know how hard it has been for me living in this palace. This place is not as peaceful as it seems.” Thinking of everything he had been through, old King Yun seemed lonely. These were things he could only say to his best friend, Master Meng. “People admire me as King Yun. They think I always get what I want. But no one knows I have to be at the mercy of the Prime Minister and listen to him on everything. I can’t even avenge the woman I love the most after she was killed.”