Chapter 1423: An Unexpected Encounter
A few years ago, by a stroke of luck, the Emperor, disguised with a few servants, was on a tour and passing through a small town. It happened to be nighttime, so they decided to stay overnight. Next to the inn was a brothel.
The Emperor was also a man of passion and could not withstand the loneliness, so he went to the brothel that night to enjoy himself.
At the time, there were a few playboys fighting over Madam Wang, causing chaos throughout the whole brothel.
Madam Wang was dressed very alluringly, in a low-cut long dress that complemented her fiery figure. She leaned against the railing on the second floor with a radiant smile, watching the young men fight for her in joy, occasionally covering her mouth with a seductive giggle.
The gentlemen seemed encouraged and fought even more fiercely.
Madam Wang still had some beauty and was very clever, knowing how to navigate among the many playboys without getting herself into trouble. The Emperor admired her greatly. While two playboys were fighting, the Emperor quietly had a servant call Madam Wang to his room. Initially, Madam Wang was unwilling, but once she saw the servant take out a thousand taels of silver, she was instantly tempted.
After all, the two playboys fighting for her each spent only a hundred taels for a night, but the one offering so generously was clearly not an ordinary person, precisely the wealthy role Madam Wang had been seeking.
That night, Madam Wang spent the night with the Emperor.
Originally, after dawn, upon leaving the brothel, they would pretend not to know each other, and the matter would have ended like that. However, after returning to the palace, for some unknown reason, the Emperor suddenly remembered Madam Wang from the brothel and sent people to bring her into the Imperial Palace.
When Madam Wang discovered that the man she had spent the night with was the Emperor himself, she was shocked.
After understanding the Emperor's intentions, Madam Wang agreed without a second thought.
Back then, Madam Wang thought to herself, since she was of humble birth, if she were fortunate enough to work under the Emperor, she might rise to prominence and shed her identity as a prostitute.
This led to her later entering the War Prince's Mansion and becoming the Emperor's spy, specifically to watch the War Prince's every move.
After staying in the Prince's Mansion for a long time, her ambitions began to grow, and she became dissatisfied with her current situation.
The Emperor naturally noticed Madam Wang's change and, to keep her working for him, issued an Imperial Edict of marriage despite great pressure. After all, he had always disliked the War Prince, and giving him a prostitute as a wife would humiliate him.
Madam Wang kowtowed hard: "Emperor, please give this servant another chance."
"How can I, when the War Prince is so arrogant? If he really cared about my favor, he wouldn't have driven you away."
"The Emperor is the supreme ruler. If you issue an Imperial Edict, the Prince will surely obey."
"Wouldn't that be announcing to the world that you belong to me? Then, what use would you be?" The Emperor looked impatient; a broken pawn no longer had any value.
"Go, I don't want to see you again."
"Emperor!"
"Spare your life; it's already a great gift. If you persist, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wang dared not speak further and slowly retreated.
At the gates of the Imperial Palace, she reunited with her long-lost family, feeling both joy and sorrow. Although she was unwilling to leave the War Prince's Mansion, she was relieved that her family's lives were spared.
As she was rushed out of the War Prince's Mansion unprepared, she didn't take any gold and silver treasures with her, and now she was utterly penniless.