“Have mercy on me, Your Highness!”
The more Chu Jiao pleaded, the more infuriated Dantai Yunhan became. His felt like his heart hurt as if it had been cut up by a knife when he thought about the fact that Chu Qiao was set up and taken advantage of, and most importantly by her own sister, Chu Jiao. He wouldn’t allow such fratricidal struggle to take place at his Palace.
“It seems you didn’t take my kind reminder seriously, so don’t blame me for the harsh measures I’m about to take!”
Until then did Chu Jiao realize why Dantai Yunhan got so furious, but the grudge in her heart was so deep that she wouldn’t admit that she was wrong.
Besides, Chu Jiao was also very angry about Dantai Yunhan’s exclusive care for Chu Qiao. How could he not realize the simple fact that someone would harbor grudges if he didn’t treat everyone equally.
“Your Highness, please calm down! Although I don’t know what I’ve done wrong that you got so angry with me, I ‘m willing to anything for your forgiveness!”
At this critical moment, Chu Jiao resorted to deliberate self-injury, banging her head straight against the pillar, in order to win over Dantai Yunhan’s pity.
Even Dantai Yunhan was shocked by Chu Jiao’s unexpected act. He immediately ran up to her and held Chu Jiao up in his arms to check the wound on her forehead.
“What is all this for?”
Deep inside, Chu Jiao felt very proud. Dantai Yunhan was usually very busy with state affairs and seemed to be a serious person to other people.
But she knew that that was superficial, and deep inside he was in fact very considerate and soft-hearted.
Now her plan had brought her half success!
She forced out some tears from her eyes and raised her hand to stroke Dantai Yunhan’s face.
She said in a feeble voice: “Your Highness, I have always been loving you wholeheartedly for so many years! I guess I might have done something wrong which makes you so angry, although I don’t know what it is, but for your forgiveness, I would rather punish myself like this!”
Dantai Yunhan only wanted to scold Chu Jiao but now that she had begged for his forgiveness in such an extreme way, although he was still angry with her, he was also afraid that other people might shame him for mistreating his Attendant Consort if he continued to reprimand her for what she had done under such circumstance.
Dantai Yunhan gently tidied her hair around her ears, held her up, and shouted at a maid: “Call in the imperial physician, now!”
Soon all the physicians arrived to treat Chu Jiao’s wound, and then they reported back to Dantai Yunhan with a bow:
“Your Highness, the Attendant Consort’s condition is not seriousshe haven regained consciousness because she has had certain grudges and she is frightened. It will only take a few days of rest for her to work off her grudges and she will recover. It is not necessary to prescribe herbal decoction.”
Dantai Yunhan nodded. If so, he could be relieved.
“Well, you may leave now!”
Now that the servant girls and the doctors were all gone, Dantai Yunhan was the only one who was left there, sitting next to Chu Jiao. Chu Jiao looked pitiful and delicate in her sleep. He could not even begin to imagine that such a harmless-looking woman was capable of such sinister and vicious things.
However, Dantai Yunhan kept silent because he knew that once these words were uttered, there would be no turning back.
Finally, Chu Jiao slowly opened her eyes. In fact, she had no health problems at all. The doctors’ diagnosis was actually at her behest retold through a servant’s mouth, mainly to make Dantai Yunhan take pity on her so that she could get away with what she had done.
Chu Jiao asked Dantai Yunhan in a faint voice, “Your Highness, have you been here all the time while I was sleeping?”
Dantai Yunhan nodded gently. Although he loved Chu Qiao more, normally Chu Jiao was well-behaved and decent, and she had been everything in the Palace perfectly. If Dantai Yunhan didn’t show more tenderness when she was ill, it would seem improper.
“Yes, I’ve been with you all the time. In fact, I didn’t mean to scold you today, but there are some things that you, as an Attendant Consort, should bear in mind. If you go too far, I’m afraid there will be consequenses in the future which I can’t save you from!”
Chu Jiao roughly understood what Dantai Yunhan meant. He seemed to have figured out that she had been trying to frame Chu Qiao, which infuriated him.
Chu Jiao was jealous because she knew that Dantai Yunhan always cared a lot about Chu Qiao. It was exactly why that she wanted to get rid of Chu Qiao so that she could take her place as Dantai Yunhan’s legitimate wife, the only woman he would love.
But now, she couldn’t reveal her ambition yet. Otherwise, she could lose everything she had sooner or later.
She must get rid of Chu Qiao first. But Chu Qiao was not easy to deal with, so she must take every step very cautiously, otherwise she could fail miserably.
“Your Highness! It seems that you have misunderstood me! When I first moved in this Palace, I only had one goal, that is to be a helper for Your Highness with all my heart so that you can focus on national affairs. I’ve never thought about getting involved in the power struggles inside the Palace. Plus, the Princess is my sister. Why would I do such a despicable thing to her?”
Chu Jiao defended herself in a tearful voice. It seemed that she was going to hurt herself again to prove her sincerity, which moved and convinced Dantai Yunhan.
Although he had been warned before, and he knew clearly what Chu Jiao had done. However, Chu Jiao looked so innocent and genuine that it made him feel that someone was slandering her.
Before everything was clear, he could not jump to conclusions, so he just nodded gently, then caressed Chu Jiao’s face, and gave a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Well, I may have wronged you. Let’s just wait until everything is straightened out. I shouldn’t have reprehended you. Just recuperate here first. When you regain your strength, I will make it up to you!”