Chapter 12: The Prince Consort is Incapable; the Empress Dowager Proposes a Divorce
What was meant to be a joyful meal was ruined by Mo Shuihan’s “inadequacy.” No one had the heart to eat anymore. The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress all sighed in dismay. They had thought Little Jiu had finally found happiness, but who could have expected something like this?
An idea suddenly surfaced in Mo Shuihan’s mind. His eyes lit up, and he rose from his seat, walking before the Emperor with a mask of profound shame. “Father Emperor, this humble servant knows his health is poor and fears he will be a burden to the Princess. I have been living with guilt and unease. The Princess is of royal blood, a delicate flower, and so young. She should not have to suffer such an injustice with me. Therefore… if Father Emperor agrees, this servant is willing to release the Princess and grant her freedom.”
Clang!
The Ninth Princess slammed her chopsticks on the table, her eyes blazing with fury as she stared at Mo Shuihan. “Mo Shuihan, what is the meaning of this? Are you trying to divorce me?”
“Not a repudiation,” Mo Shuihan corrected hastily, “a mutual separation. This is for the Princess’s own happiness.”
“Hmph, for my happiness?” The Ninth Princess scoffed, striding over to him. “Do you really think I don’t know what you’re thinking? Mo Shuihan, I told you on our wedding night: it doesn’t matter if you’re a cripple. Even if you were a eunuch, you can only be my Prince Consort.”
The Empress Dowager’s face hardened. “Little Jiu, do not speak such nonsense.”
In truth, the Empress Dowager was tempted. Although Mo Shuihan’s “inability” was caused by Little Jiu’s mischief, for which she felt a pang of guilt, people are inherently selfish. The Ninth Princess had been doted on since birth; how could the Empress Dowager bear to let her live a celibate life?
The Emperor and Empress remained silent. The Ninth Princess turned to them in disbelief. “Must you all be so pragmatic? I only said my Prince Consort is temporarily unable, not that he’s useless forever. Why are you all looking like this?”
“Insolence!” The Empress Dowager lightly slapped the table. “Are those words befitting of a young lady?”
The Emperor raised a hand to stop the princess from retorting and sighed. “It is too early to say anything. As We see it, the most urgent matter is to summon the imperial physician for an examination. Prince Consort, you shouldn’t lose heart either. You are still young. It can’t be that a single basin of cold water has left you beyond saving.”
Mo Shuihan was unafraid. From the moment he had donned men’s clothing, he had taken medicine to alter his pulse and other vital signs to avoid exposing himself. Unless his clothes were removed, he was, in every respect, identical to a man.
The Ninth Princess, however, began to panic. She had just made it all up. If the physician checked his pulse and found nothing wrong, wouldn’t she be scolded to death?
She shot a desperate, pleading look at Mo Shuihan, but he simply raised an eyebrow at her, his expression a clear picture of schadenfreude. This is what you call hoisting yourself by your own petard.
The Ninth Princess clenched her fists in anger. Who do you think I’m doing all this for? I’m trying to help you hide the truth!
Mo Shuihan shrugged. There are a thousand ways in the world, and you chose the most unreliable one.
She stomped her foot threateningly. If you don’t help me, I’ll douse you with cold water again when we get home.
Mo Shuihan raised his hands in surrender. Fine, fine. You win.
Their silent exchange did not escape the Empress Dowager’s eyes, which only deepened her worry. It seemed the two had a good relationship. If the physician truly found the Prince Consort to be beyond hope, wouldn’t it be even more difficult to separate them?
The imperial physician arrived swiftly. The Emperor dismissed the guiding eunuch, and with only the immediate family present, he explained the ailment.
The physician was horrified, a cold dread washing over him. This was a matter of imperial privacy; a single misstep could cost him his head. He cautiously approached Mo Shuihan, wiped the sweat from his brow, and asked with a trembling voice, “Will the Prince Consort please be seated and extend his left hand?”
The Ninth Princess swallowed nervously. Mo Shuihan turned his body, and while no one was watching, he discreetly pressed two points on his torso before sitting down and holding out his wrist.
The physician frowned, meticulously checking the pulse for a long time. His expression grew increasingly grave. Watching from the side, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager felt their hearts sink, fearing the worst.
After a long while, the physician finally let go of Mo Shuihan’s hand. The Emperor immediately asked, “How is it? Is it treatable?”
The physician wiped his brow again and knelt on the floor, his voice thick with tears. “Your Majesty, the Prince Consort’s condition is due to a great shock, compounded by some injuries, so…”
“We are asking if you can treat it!” the Emperor cut in impatiently. “What is the point of all this rambling?”
The physician looked as if he wanted to cry but had no tears. “I’m afraid… I’m afraid it will be quite difficult.”
The Emperor pointed a furious finger at him. “You incompetent quack!”
“Your Majesty, calm your anger!” the physician quickly added. “It’s… it’s not entirely without hope. This servant has several prescriptions. As long as the Prince Consort recuperates properly, he can still… still recover.”
“Then what are you still kneeling for? Bring them out!” the Emperor bellowed.
Wiping away more sweat, the physician scurried off to prepare the medicine. Once he was gone, the Emperor turned to the Ninth Princess. “Didn’t you say you only threw a basin of cold water? How could he have been injured? Did you strike the Prince Consort?”
The Ninth Princess waved her hands frantically. “No, I didn’t touch him…” Then, she added uncertainly, “Maybe… possibly… the wooden bucket fell and hit him?” A doubt crept into her mind: Could it be that my random excuse actually hit the mark? Was he really injured?
“You, you… what am I to do with you?” Hearing this, the Emperor was so exasperated he could only poke her on the head while pacing back and forth.
The Empress Dowager calmly interjected, “Enough. What is the use of saying all this now? We should be thinking of a solution.”
The Emperor’s eyes widened. “What other solution is there? He will take the medicine, see the doctor, and recover slowly. This is a mess of Little Jiu’s own making; she will bear the consequences herself.”
“Your Majesty!” the Empress Dowager’s face fell. “Choose your words carefully.”
The Emperor opened his mouth, but seeing his mother’s expression, he thought better of it and fell silent.
Seeing his chance, Mo Shuihan stepped forward and cupped his hands. “Father Emperor, this servant knows the chances are slim and cannot bear to burden the Princess any longer. I implore Your Majesty to seriously consider my proposal. This servant is completely willing and feels not the slightest grievance.”
The Emperor looked at Mo Shuihan, his face filled with guilt. “It is We who have wronged you. Do not mention this again. Little Jiu caused this trouble; she must take responsibility for it.”
“Your Majesty!” the Empress Dowager and the Empress cried out in unison. The Empress Dowager’s tone was sharp, and while the Empress’s voice remained gentle, her expression was one of clear disapproval.
Mo Shuihan wisely said no more. Some things could not be rushed.
Watching from the side, the Ninth Princess finally understood Mo Shuihan’s plan. He truly wanted to be rid of her. That was why he was playing along, willing to sacrifice his own dignity to admit he was “incapable.”
She stared at him in disbelief, her expression deeply wounded. Mo Shuihan lowered his gaze, his heart aching with a reluctant pity. He was not a man; he could never give her happiness. His appearance could be disguised with medicine, but his true self could not be changed. Hurting her once now was better than the crushing blow she would suffer later upon discovering his identity.
Her eyes turning red, the Ninth Princess scanned the faces in the room before her glare landed fiercely on Mo Shuihan. “I will not agree to a divorce! Never, not even in death! If any of you dare mention it again, I’ll jump in the river!”
“Little Jiu, don’t be willful,” the Empress said, walking to her side and gently tugging her sleeve.
“I’m not being willful!” The Ninth Princess shook off her mother’s hand. “Since you all know this is my fault, then I will take responsibility for it. Even if he… even if he’s incapable for the rest of his life, I will not divorce him.”
“Little Jiu…” The Empress wanted to persuade her further, but the Empress Dowager stopped her with a shake of her head. Some matters required patience. Rushing things would not only make the royal family appear heartless, but Little Jiu would also surely refuse to accept it.
After having the physician prescribe some medicine, the Emperor sent the two of them home, offering some comforting words to Mo Shuihan and telling him not to feel pressured.
The Ninth Princess held her anger in all the way back to their residence. The moment she had dismissed all the servants, she finally exploded at Mo Shuihan. “You’ve wanted a divorce for a long time, haven’t you?”
Mo Shuihan lowered his eyes. “What is the Princess talking about? The imperial physician confirmed it. I am truly incapable.”
“Don’t you give me that!” the Ninth Princess snapped. “Do you take me for a fool? You’re faking it!”
Mo Shuihan gave a bitter smile. If you weren’t a fool, how could you have chosen, of all people, a female Prince Consort?
The Ninth Princess stood before him, staring into his eyes. “Tell me the truth: do you really hate me that much? We have been married for over a month. Do you truly not have even a sliver of affection for me? Am I so unbearable to you that you are this desperate to escape?”
“Princess…” Mo Shuihan had intended to harden his heart and confirm her words, forcing her to give up. But when he looked up, he saw her expression—she was trying to be strong, but she was so fragile, so close to shattering. It was as if a single “yes” from him would be enough to break her. The word caught in his throat. He could only close his eyes and lower his head.
“Have you,” the Ninth Princess asked, her voice now small and cautious, “have you ever… even for a little bit, or just for a fleeting moment… liked me?”
Mo Shuihan remained silent, his head bowed.
Disappointment washed over her. Her heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a powerful hand, aching with a tight, sharp pain. She clutched the fabric over her chest and turned away, blinking back tears. “Mo Shuihan, you truly are a cold, unfeeling stone!”
She raised a hand and fiercely wiped away the tears that had betrayed her. “I’m telling you, Mo Shuihan, when I, Song Xiangxue, set my mind on something, no one can change it! Listen to me clearly: I will not divorce you. It wouldn’t matter even if you brought the Jade Emperor himself. In life, you are my, Song Xiangxue’s, Prince Consort. In death, you will be my, Song Xiangxue’s, dead Prince Consort. Even if you don’t touch me for the rest of our lives, I will not divorce you. So you can forget about it!”
Mo Shuihan sank weakly onto a stool, watching the Ninth Princess’s retreating back as she ran away crying. His heart was a chaotic mix of confusion and sorrow. If he had a choice, he would never have hurt Song Xiangxue in the slightest. But what about his true identity? And what about the thousand-plus souls of Qinghe Town who had died unjustly? By being with him, Song Xiangxue was destined to be used. He truly feared that one day, when hatred blinded his eyes, he would do something that could never be undone.
Back in the imperial palace, the Emperor and his consorts wore grim expressions. The Empress Dowager sighed. “That child is a good man, but Little Jiu is the apple of my eye. I know Little Jiu has wronged him, but I cannot sacrifice my precious treasure to compensate him!”
The Empress stood behind the Emperor, speaking in a soft, persuasive tone. “Indeed, Your Majesty. We have wronged him, but we can repay him in other ways. We can grant him titles, promotions, gold, and jewels. But Little Jiu cannot live her entire life like this.”
The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement. “The Empress is right. He was reluctant to marry Little Jiu in the first place. A divorce now would be granting his wish.”
“Mother!” the Emperor exclaimed helplessly. “As a princess of the imperial family, how can she be so fickle and faithless? Won’t this make us a laughingstock in the eyes of the world?”
The Empress Dowager’s face grew cold. “This is a private matter. How would the world know? Are you willing to cast Little Jiu aside for the sake of some imperial honor? I will never agree to it.”
“We are not suggesting We cast Little Jiu aside,” the Emperor said. “But the diagnosis has just been made, and the physician did not say it was incurable. Besides, this is Little Jiu’s fault. How can we propose a divorce right now? We should at least let the physician treat him for a while and see the results. This will also give Little Jiu some time to come to terms with it. That child is deeply fond of her Prince Consort. She would never accept it now. Furthermore, the Prince Consort is truly an excellent man. If he is cured one day, wouldn’t it be a great pity if Little Jiu had already divorced him?”
This seemed to mollify the Empress Dowager slightly. “Then it is settled. We will give it one month. If there is still no improvement after one month, you must have Little Jiu agree to a divorce. As for convincing her, the Empress and I will handle it.”
The Emperor considered it for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
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