Empress’ Game: Make-up Master Chapter 19 - The Hidden Truth

Seeing that the Old Madam was so angry she could barely sit comfortably, Wu Sheyue happened to be standing close by, so she took two steps forward and began kneading the Old Madam’s arm. As she did, she smoothly sat down beside her.

Wu Lixiang gave a soft scoff. She’s even better at flattering people than Wu Jinghua. Madam Liu nudged Wu Lixiang. This was not the time to fight for favor.

A short while later, the house physician finally came out from the inner room, and Xin Zhi’s cries of pain stopped as well. Wu Hantian asked nervously, “How is the Eighth Prince?”

“Well…” The physician was covered in sweat as he sighed. “The middle finger of his right hand is dislocated. With proper rest, it should be fine later. But the cut on his left hand damaged the tendons. I cannot say whether it will recover full use… You should summon an imperial physician.”

Wu Hantian’s heart clenched. Whether the Eighth Prince is favored or not, he is still a prince. Now that his left hand has been crippled, will this daughter of mine not block my career prospects? He pointed at Wu Sheyue and snapped, “You—”

Wu Sheyue calmly cut him off, her face full of sorrow. “Alas, it’s all my fault. I should have let that guard stab me instead. Then the Eighth Prince wouldn’t have been hurt, and the family wouldn’t be put in such a difficult position.”

When the Old Madam heard that, she turned her hand over and held Wu Sheyue’s. “What do you mean by that? Tell Grandmother. How did the Eighth Prince get hurt?”

Before Wu Sheyue could answer, Xin Zhi came out of the room. Both his hands were wrapped like rice dumplings, so thoroughly that his fingers could no longer be seen. He plopped himself down in the chair Concubine Meng had used earlier, crossed one leg over the other, and said, “Old Madam, both of this prince’s hands are ruined. What do you think should be done about that?”

Wu Sheyue stared at Xin Zhi, her thoughts turning over and over. This Eighth Prince not only loves women, he is also a textbook wastrel. But people like him are often the hardest to deal with. Someone like Concubine Meng is still bound by plenty of ancient rules. Xin Zhi, on the other hand, is difficult to control unless one strikes at the very few things that truly matter to him. Originally, I could have handled things more directly with force, but judging by what happened today, my combat strength is still far too low.

The Old Madam remembered what Wu Sheyue had said earlier, so she pressed on. “Eighth Prince, how exactly were you injured? Surely it was not our third girl who did it?”

Xin Zhi pointed his wrapped fist at Wu Sheyue’s nose. “Oh, these two hands of mine were ruined by her, all right. If you still want to shield her, then go discuss it with my imperial father. Hmph.”

“Please, let us speak properly.” Wu Hantian hurried to placate him. “May this official offer the Eighth Prince an apology?”

“What good is an apology? I’m still injured!” Xin Zhi’s eyes shifted. “Anyway, I am not an unreasonable man. Since my hands are hurt, someone must take care of my food and daily needs until I recover. Whoever injured me will serve me.”

Wu Hantian knew it. After all that talk, the prince has changed his mind and wants to marry Wu Sheyue after all. But this daughter he wants to marry… looks far too much like Yin Qiuming. If it had been any of my other daughters, and the prince wanted to marry her after breaking the engagement once, I certainly would not have agreed. But if it is Wu Sheyue…

“Then does Yue’er’s engagement to Your Highness still stand?”

Xin Zhi glanced at Wu Sheyue and said with great reluctance, “Ah, fine. These hands of mine are extremely precious, but if they must be traded for one concubine-born daughter from your chancellor’s estate, then I suppose I can accept the loss. If my hand heals, the matter can end there. If the bones and tendons truly do not heal, then we can discuss compensation again.”

Seeing the Eighth Prince set such a shameless price, the Old Madam’s face darkened in displeasure. Among all the princes, the Eighth Prince was the most useless one. Just now, she had been thinking that such a beautiful granddaughter could be used to win over someone worthwhile. Giving her to the Eighth Prince would be a complete waste.

Wu Lixiang was in an excellent mood. Wu Jinghua had been confined and deprived of food, while Wu Sheyue would be married off to the Eighth Prince as a concubine. It was simply perfect. From now on, except for Wu Liuyun, no one in the family would rank ahead of her.

Wu Sheyue had not expected Wu Hantian to be such a coward. She sighed inwardly. As expected, I still have to save myself. “Oh? Am I supposed to leave with the Eighth Prince?”

“Yes. Come with this prince.” Xin Zhi glared at Wu Sheyue, a dangerous killing intent flashing through his eyes. “I’ll take you back and see what other tricks you know.”

“But didn’t the Eighth Prince say he killed my concubine mother? Was that not true?” Wu Sheyue turned to ask the Old Madam. “If the Eighth Prince killed my concubine mother, why must Yue’er leave with him? Would he kill Yue’er too?”

The Old Madam’s heart jolted. She even knows about these things?

Xin Zhi jumped up from his chair in fury. “When did I ever say I killed your concubine mother?”

“You did say it. Today, when the Eighth Prince ordered a guard to slash at me with a saber, I begged Your Highness, ‘Please, considering I just lost my concubine mother, spare me.’ Then didn’t Your Highness shout, ‘I didn’t kill her, I didn’t kill her’?”

Wu Sheyue looked deeply wronged. “All the commoners outside heard it. I was not the only one who heard it. And it was the Eighth Prince’s guard holding the blade. The Eighth Prince’s own hand went right into it. Yue’er was not the one who stabbed him.”

Hearing Wu Sheyue describe Xin Zhi as having “gone right into it himself,” the Old Madam’s face went pale. She turned to glance at Wu Hantian. Wu Hantian, however, was glaring at Xin Zhi, warning heavy in his eyes. Xin Zhi had also lost the arrogance he had shown when demanding compensation. His gaze flickered and dodged.

(To be continued)