The Supporting Male Characters Who Died Alone All Those Years Later

The next day, the old Emperor suddenly decreed the capture of the Marquis of Wu’an’s mansion, with every member of the household, young and old, to be apprehended. The charges were all ready-made; stealing the dragon robe, slandering the crown prince, and daring to defy authority.

Hundreds of soldiers surrounded the Marquis of Wu’an’s residence, led by Duke Wei, the old adversary of Marquis Wu’an. At this moment, he sat imposingly at the entrance, scanning the surroundings, not even letting a fly from the Marquis of Wu’an’s residence escape his notice.

Marquis Wu’an was caught off guard, grabbed by two burly soldiers, and dragged out. At this moment, he was furious, his face flushed red, loudly protesting his innocence and the false accusations.

Duke Wei scrutinized him for a moment, reveling in his misfortune. “Old Tian, why are you being so stubborn? Slandering the Crown Prince who’s your own nephew, what were you thinking?” he said with a mocking tone.

The Marquis of Wu’an immediately realized that his scheme had been exposed, and he looked visibly aged and defeated.

At that moment, a group of women from the backyard was also dragged out. Marquis Wu’an saw his delicate daughter being roughly handled by two soldiers, causing him unbearable pain. He struggled and roared, “Let go of my daughter!”

“Daddy! Save me!” Tian Weirong looked panic-stricken, her hair disheveled from the rough handling, appearing fragile and pitiful, evoking sympathy.

In the midst of the chaos, Marquis Wu’an suddenly remembered the engagement between his daughter and his nephew! He grasped at this last straw, anxiously shouting to Duke Wei, “My daughter is the betrothed of Prince Jing! You can’t take her away! If you must send her, send her only to Prince Jing’s residence!”

Duke Wei fell silent, looking up at the sky with an incredulous expression. “Old Tian, are you dreaming in broad daylight? You, as an uncle, had framed Prince Jing, yet you still want your daughter to be his consort?”

The soldiers chuckled.

“Furthermore…” Duke Wei deliberately paused, keeping everyone in suspense before glancing meaningfully at the pale-faced Tian Weirong, “Tian Weirong’s evidence has been proven useful. She is granted amnesty and is ordered to be sent to the commoner He Jingwen’s residence by the Emperor.”

Useful evidence?! Commoner He Jingwen’s residence?!

Marquis Wu’an and Tian Weirong were dumbfounded by these words!

Seeing their dumbfounded expressions, Duke Wei shook his head and sighed. Seeing that time was running out, he wasted no more time and waved his hand, “Take them away!”

The soldiers sprang into action, driving away all of Marquis Wu’an’s household members and servants, inventorying the belongings and sealing the main gate with a white strip. The renowned residence of the Marquis of Wu’an came to an end.

***

The sudden turn of events frightened both the common people and officials in the capital. Upon hearing the charges; stealing the dragon robe and slandering the Crown Prince, everyone was shocked! Each charge was a capital offense!

Many families with ties to Marquis Wu’an swiftly distanced themselves, severing connections, while others boldly stepped forward, hoping for the Emperor’s leniency and fearing the repercussions.

With the downfall of the Marquis of Wu’an’s residence, those officials who were originally aligned with the Crown Prince saw a glimmer of hope. If the Crown Prince was falsely accused, now that the truth was revealed, shouldn’t his position be restored?

Many felt a surge of excitement, eagerly awaiting the Emperor’s decree.

However, they were disappointed. The old Emperor swiftly dealt with Marquis Wu’an’s faction but didn’t reinstate the Crown Prince. Some couldn’t hold back their inquiries during the morning court.

The old Emperor merely raised an eyebrow, his tone commanding, “Prince Jing was recently in a fit of rage and is currently indisposed. He cannot fulfill the duties of the Crown Prince for the time being. This matter will be discussed later.”

With these words, many hearts sank. So, was the old Emperor still wary of the crown prince?

Those who were previously fervent cooled down immediately, filled with worry.

On the other hand, other princes were excited. With the Crown Prince’s position vacant, didn’t it mean an opportunity for them? Suddenly, they were all eager to impress the old Emperor, while the concubines in the palace also became lively, seeking benefits for their sons and daughters.

***

Previously, Concubine Wan, due to her medicine offering, had risen to the rank of consort. Now, she was in high spirits, her face beaming with smiles. Coming from a humble background and having only a daughter, she was already content to have ascended to the rank of consort. As long as she could find a suitable husband for her daughter, her life would be considered complete.

Because of the embargo placed by the old Emperor regarding the medicine offering, outsiders were unaware of the reason for Consort Wan’s elevation. They could only speculate that perhaps the silly Third Princess had once again gained the old Emperor’s favor through familial connections. For a while, many princes set their sights on the Third Princess. Even if she was a bit slow, marrying into a prominent family would still be advantageous for the prince.

Consort Wan remained aloof throughout the proceedings, not responding to any of the advances. She knew well the regard the old Emperor held for Prince Jing and would never jeopardize her future by associating with other princes.

Ignoring Consort Wan’s lack of response, the princes shifted their attention to their own courtyards, where a main madam and two side consorts could win the favor of three fathers-in-law.

Coincidentally, the triennial selection of palace maidens had arrived. With the old Emperor’s failing health and the palace no longer accepting new additions from the harem, the selected maidens were mostly allocated to imperial relatives.

Each prince, overtly or subtly, indicated to the old Emperor; ‘I need a wife!’

Those with main wives wanted to choose two side consorts, while those without were more anxious, aiming to fill all three positions at once, disregarding potential future conflicts in the harem.

The old Emperor, observing his energetic sons, felt a twinge of jealousy. Considering his improved health, he made an unprecedented decision to admit several beauties to the palace.

Wen Xianliang, witnessing the selections, couldn’t help but remind, “Prince Jing still has vacancies in his harem.”

Initially, the plan was for Prince Jing to marry the eldest daughter of Marquis Wu’an. However, with recent events unfolding, leading to the downfall of Marquis Wu’an and Tian Weirong being sent to He Jingwen’s residence, Prince Jing found himself a lonely figure.

Considering this, the old Emperor pondered for a moment over the list of maidens and ultimately selected a daughter from a noble family.

A side consort.

Wen Xianliang, puzzled, asked, “Why not choose a main wife, Your Majesty?”

The old Emperor, hands behind his back, spoke with solemnity, “The incident involving Tian Weirong has made me cautious. The position of main wife is significant, and the selection of candidates requires careful consideration. Since I can’t decide immediately, I’ll appoint a side consort first to attend to the Crown Prince.”

Although the Crown Prince’s position had not been reinstated, the old emperor still habitually referred to him as such in private. He was currently pleased with the Crown Prince, who could produce the elixir of life without succumbing to power lust. Given this satisfaction, he couldn’t help but be more discerning. The current main wife of Prince Jing would likely become the Crown Princess in the future and eventually the Empress, so it was natural to select someone from a prestigious and dignified background.

But for now, a decision on a main wife was not forthcoming.

Thus, without the knowledge of He Dongchen himself, a new side consort was added to the harem.

***

The chosen palace maiden, Shen Weining, grew even more nervous and fearful.

Her family background sounded respectable, with her father and brother both having achieved the rank of scholar-official and serving in the Hanlin Academy. However, to be more blunt, their foundation was shallow, and the mud on their shoes had yet to be cleaned.

(T/N: Mud on their shoes had yet to be cleaned = their generation was still very close to that of their commoner/farmer origins; Or their family hasn’t been nobles for that long.)

She had thought this selection process would merely be a formality, but to her surprise, she was suddenly chosen as Prince Jing’s side consort, becoming a side consort to the former Crown Prince!

After Shen Weining was sent back home, the Shen family members remained silent and anxious. The Shen family had always prioritized scholarly pursuits for their sons and had never considered marrying their daughters into wealthy households for wealth and status. Shen Weining’s entry into the palace selection process was due to a sudden turn of events with their previously arranged match.

Now, finding herself alone in the royal residence, it seemed every step had been a misstep.

Madam Wu silently shed tears as she held her daughter, Shen Weining. Although being a side consort sounded appealing, wasn’t it still a concubine? Currently, with no main wife in Prince Jing’s residence, life might be more relaxed. But once a main wife was chosen, life might become uncertain. They would have to rely on the main wife’s temperament, and with their insignificant family background, they couldn’t offer much help. What were they to do?

Finally, it was Shen Weining’s grandfather who spoke up, suggesting they take things one step at a time.

That night, after bidding farewell to Madam Wu, who wore a worried expression, Shen Weining lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Unable to resist, she searched for any information about Prince Jing in memory, but all she could recall was a scene from last year’s flower appreciation banquet.

The eldest daughter of Marquis Wu’an was also present. On that day, under the brilliant spring sun, Prince Jing, then the Crown Prince, donned a white robe, holding a jade fan, as he strolled through the colorful garden, smiling warmly at the eldest daughter of Marquis Wu’an.

Since childhood, Shen Weining had known that the Crown Prince and Tian Weirong were engaged. Wherever they went, they attracted attention, while she, of humble background, remained a silent bystander. She had never imagined that one day, she, the bystander, would take center stage and marry the man described as refreshing as the autumn moon and pure as jade.

With a mix of apprehension and longing in her heart, Shen Weining tossed and turned until she finally drifted into a fitful sleep in the middle of the night.

***

In the Prince of Jing’s residence, He Dongchen faced the playful teasing from the system with calm composure, flipping through his medical texts. On the stone table in front of him, the boiling hot tea continuously emitted a fragrant aroma, enveloped in swirling smoke.

From afar, it seemed as if a celestial being had descended into the cool pavilion, untouchable by mortal hands.

As the Ministry of Rites officials came to discuss matters concerning the introduction of the side consort to the residence, they were momentarily stunned. But quickly regaining their composure, they hurried forward to pay their respects and explain their purpose.

“These are several auspicious dates selected by the Qintian Observatory. Your Highness, please choose one.”

He Dongchen glanced over them. All the dates were very close, with the farthest being in mid-next month. It made no difference. Hence, he casually replied, “Arrange for her entry into the residence as soon as possible.”

“Yes.” The Ministry of Rites officials thought to themselves that despite his appearance of a celestial being, Prince Jing still had his needs.

He Dongchen looked at the wrinkles on his face, revealing a knowing expression. His mouth twitched, and he waved his hand, instructing him to negotiate with the subordinate.

The system sprawled on a pastry, flattening itself into a pancake, gleefully remarked, [Surprised, aren’t you? Unexpectedly, you’ve gained a wife.]

He Dongchen remained composed. “It’s alright, it’s not two.”

[I have Shen Weining’s data card here, with her family background, preferences, talents, measurements, whom she secretly admired; guaranteed accurate. Big boss, are you interested? Just 10 points!] The system began its usual routine, pushing for consumption, as it was its sole task currently.

“Not needed,” He Dongchen declined.

[Alright.] Disappointed, the system scrolled through the marketplace. Soon, it perked up again. [How about some golden stamina pills? Guaranteed seven times action in one night! The mall is having a discount event now, only 1 point to restore your masculinity!”

Cough cough cough!

He Dongchen choked on his tea, setting down the teacup with an expressionless face. “My masculinity is fine, no need.”

This system wasn’t very serious.

[Okay.] The unserious system sighed as if dejected, dragging its feet to the marketplace, flooding it with various products. Finally, it clung to He Dongchen’s leg, crying, [Boss! Just spend a bit, I also have sales performance numbers to meet!]

He Dongchen’s mouth twitched, pushing away the glowing orb hanging from his leg. He remained calm. “But I don’t really need anything.”

[How could you not? Think harder! You’re about to get married. Don’t you need beauty products, fertility pills, postpartum recovery cream? Get them all!]

“I can handle those myself.” He Dongchen remained unmoved, casually pouring himself another cup of tea.

The system cried profusely, retreating to a corner to sulk.

He Dongchen imagined that if the system had a physical form, its expressions would be incredibly vivid. With that thought, he opened the system marketplace, quickly locating a dog-shaped puppet he remembered before and purchased it.

In the next moment, a palm-sized yellow dog appeared on the stone table out of thin air. The system, still sulking, exclaimed in surprise, then burst into excitement. It leaped onto the table, circling the puppet worth 5,000 points, excited yet puzzled. [Boss, why did you buy this?]

“Of course, to…” He Dongchen extended a finger, pushing the swirling light orbs into the puppet.

“…get a pet,” He Dongchen finished calmly.