无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

This punishment is neither too severe nor too light.

But being unable to drink water or eat food, that’s a bit torturous.

One can endure for three days without eating, but three days without water, would take a toll on even the strongest body.

For the delicate and doted on princes, this punishment is rather harsh.

Could it be, that even the Emperor wants to make the Prince of Yu unusable, and then position Wei, the only intact son, as the Crown Prince?

Just as everyone was in a whirlwind of guesses, another explosive piece of news came out.

Prince Wei, he fell ill!

People subsist on grains and scraps, falling ill is quite common.

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

But the problem is, Prince Wei has contracted… venereal disease.

As the name suggests, venereal diseases are dirty diseases contracted from promiscuous behavior.

In the self-indulgent aristocracy, such a disease is not rare.

But normally it would not become public knowledge, the families quietly invite the Imperial Physician for treatment, if it’s only a mild case they just take medicine and endure, severe cases usually pass away within two years.

The Imperial Physician won’t casually disclose it, and for the sake of face, the family also absolutely wouldn’t admit the cause of death was venereal disease.

Everyone wants to keep up appearances after all.

So, that this news could leak out, there must be someone intentionally behind it.

Jiang Ning jumped around, laughing heartily: “I get it now, this is what Li Hongyuan was talking about.”

“What did he say?” Jiang Yi looked at her sideways.

“He said, most people only appear invincible on the surface, but in reality, they crumble at the first blow.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that I’m going to be the Princess Consort, hee hee hee!”

In ancient times, once you contracted venereal disease, it meant you’re done.

Even if he could drag on without dying for a few years, he would still have no chance at the position of Crown Prince.

No wonder Li Hongyuan seemed so certain.

“Hey, stop jumping!” Jiang Yi held her down, “Show some consideration for your legs! If mom and dad see this, they’ll just be worried for you, and then they’ll scold me.”

Jiang Ning laughed: “My legs are completely healed!”

“No showing off.”

“But I will show off!” Jiang Ning lifted her skirt, sticking out one leg, proudly boasting, “Look, my leg, my foot…”

Slap!

Jiang Yi rapped her on the leg, “Put that down, you don’t look like a princess consort… no, a future crown princess consort at all!”

The two siblings joked around for a while, then Jiang Yi laughed: “However, from today onwards, His Highness Prince Yu will start his punishment, whether he can endure for three days, that’s up in the air.”

“I don’t believe that Li Hongyuan will just obediently starve for three days.”

“It’s not a question of whether or not he’s obedient. The punishment this time is serious, not like in the Prison of the Court of Judicial Review, where he could come and go as he pleased. If he doesn’t accept his punishment, do you think His Majesty would still want to make him Crown Prince?”

Jiang Ning said, “He had five sons, two are dead, one is unfit, one has fallen ill and is practically at death’s door. Now there’s only one left intact, and he still has to go through a harsh punishment. I really suspect this old thing of having ill-fated children…”

Jiang Yi immediately jumped up and covered her mouth: “Missy, watch your tongue!”

Jiang Ning freed herself from his hand: “It’s just us talking here, I won’t go shouting about it outside.”

“Be careful, walls have ears!”

“I have Gucheng. Our uncle once said, he can be trusted.”

“But you still shouldn’t say whatever you like. Once you move to the East Palace, be even more cautious, beware of getting into trouble because of your words.” Jiang Yi cautioned her, “Did you remember that?”

“I remembered!”

“Listen to me, mom can’t bear losing you again!” Jiang Yi was so worried he looked like an old father fretting over his unruly daughter.

“In case Li Hongyuan starves to death, then I won’t get to be the crown princess consort..”