Before leaving, Grand Princess Daiguo didnât say if she would send somebody to enter the imperial palace to confirm Emperor Xianjiaâs illness. Empress Su felt disappointed, but she could do nothing.
After all, the empress doubted that Emperor Xianjia would really become a vegetable, while she urged Grand Princess Daiguo to check. How would the grand princess not be suspicious?
âShould I tell Beautiful Lady Nuan to come back to the Palace of Xuanming?â After seeing Grand Princess Daiguo off, Empress Su told Fangyu to bring the crown princess to talk with her. Before the crown princess arrived, the empress seriously thought about the next plan. She was unclear that Grand Princess Daiguo had known that Emperor Xianjia was pretending to be ill to lure the sinners out, and she still considered making her sister-in-law the scapegoat of this treason.
So the empress thought that after she told Beautiful Lady Nuan to return to the Palace of Xuanming, as long as she showed that she was incapable and couldnât make it, Grand Princess Daiguo would do it herself when she couldnât wait, even if she gave the empress the job to frame the crown prince as he hooked up with his fatherâs concubine when Emperor Xianjia was seriously ill.
In this case, it would naturally make Emperor Xianjia furious. The problem was that the crown prince had asked to stay and serve his father, but as his mother in name, the empress still specially told a young and beautiful imperial concubine to come. When the emperor investigated the case in the future, how would she prove her innocence?
âForget it.â The empress sighed after pondering for a moment. Before her nephew Su Shaoge left the imperial palace, he told her repeatedly that she should give priority to not making Emperor Xianjia feel disgusted with her again no matter what she would do next.
At the critical moment, it was better to give up making Grand Princess Daiguo the scapegoat.
After all, if Emperor Xianjia could manage the state affairs, their chances of survival would depend on the emperor who considered the love between the couple. If she made him ignore their love, what would she rely on?
At this thought, the empress restrained her mixed feelings and tidied up her clothes, quietly waiting for the crown princess to come.
After a while, the crown princess was brought in, and the empress gently asked her about the crown princeâs health. The crown prince was not the empressâs biological son, so his health wouldnât affect her mood as that of Prince of Zhao, and he was poisoned so coincidentally. The empress didnât know that the crown princess had done something, and she just thought that the crown prince was still pretending, so she just asked to show her concern. Then she found an excuse as she was tired and indicated that the crown princess should leave.
The crown princess bowed and then didnât go in a hurry but stated cautiously, âYour Majesty, itâs said that Grandma is worried about Father these days, and I want to visit her. Moreover, Mother has been sick for a few daysâ¦â
Seeing that the empress would say something, the crown princess added hurriedly, âYou are in charge of Fatherâs palace, and I am clumsy and canât help you, soâ¦â
âYou should go to visit your grandma.â Empress Su didnât know the crown princessâs plan, but she was clear that the Eastern Palace had full assurance of success. Even though she was the empress, she didnât need to bother about them for something insignificant, so she nodded before the.. crown princess finished her words. âAs for Consort Cui, itâs fine if you visit her even though Prince of Liang takes care of her. However, after all, His Majesty is more important. After you visit her, you canât serve His Majesty these days.â
The crown princess said yes respectfully.
She left the empress and then told the crown prince. He just thought that she respected the elders, so he nodded. âI should go with you, yet after seeing Father, I canât bear to leave, so I can only bother you to visit them. Please say sorry to Grandma and Mother for me.â
In fact, the crown prince didnât want to visit the two elders. Firstly, the Empress Dowager was always nice to him, but she had changed her attitude suddenly because of Grand Princess Daiguo since a few months ago. As a result, the crown prince hadnât been prepared to face this biological grandmother till now because he was used to seeing friendly faces and hearing nice words. Secondly, Consort Cui had incited him to kill the emperor for more than once, yet she was his biological mother and he could do nothing to her. He felt annoyed even at the thought of this matter.
So he was happy to stay in the Palace of Xuanming with the excuse that he would serve his father and let the crown princess face them on behalf of him. As for whether he was safe in the Palace of Xuanming, anyway, he didnât have the plan to go back alive after entering the imperial palace this time. âAnyway, I will die. If I can see Father and serve him in the sickbed to repay him before I die as he has brought me up, it will be enough to make me rest in peace.â
After being approved by him, the crown princess came to the Palace of Mingren to see the Empress Dowager first, but she didnât make it. Concubine Fu who was serving the Empress Dowager recently as Empress Su ordered came out and told her, âThe Empress Dowager is always worried about His Majestyâs health these days. Yuguo and I finally persuaded her to drink a bowl of calmative soup, so she has just fallen asleep. Please donât disturb her at this hour, okay?â
âYou are right.â The crown princess made a request in front of the empress mainly because she wanted to see Consort Cui. Since the Empress Dowager didnât see her, she was happy to save time, so she naturally didnât insist on asking to see her. She asked Concubine Fu about the Empress Dowagerâs recent situation and said something with formality. Then she left.
The Palace of Mingren was far away from the Xifu Palace. When she reached the Xifu Palace, it was at dusk. Consort Cui was surprised to see her first daughter-in-law. âWhy did you enter the imperial palace?â
âI came with His Highness. He is serving His Majesty in the Palace of Xuanming and doesnât have time to come, so he told me to visit Grandma and you for him,â the crown princess answered respectfully. âMother, are you getting better these days?â
Consort Cui turned pale after hearing that. She waved the servants in the hall away and then pointed at the crown princess, rebuking in a rage, âHow can you be so brainless? Su and Daiguo are in charge of the Palace of Xuanming recently, and it is a dangerous place to Hexiao. Itâs fine that you let him enter the imperial palace, yet you left him alone there and found a reason to come out. Do you plan to be a dowager consort of a prince after killing Hexiao as Zhongling is still young?â
As the crown princess was reproached by her mother-in-law fiercely all of a sudden, she was not furious but happy. She thought, âSo it appears that she really doesnât know that Father may be pretending to be ill.â
Consort Cui had been a legitimate daughter of an official anyway and stayed in the imperial palace for many years. Even though she didnât have insight for something significant, she wouldnât curse her official daughter-in-law rashly. She forgot her manners now, which meant that she was really in panic.
The crown princess lowered her head to conceal her sneer and pretended to feel wronged. âMother, how dare I take the blame as you said? In fact, His Highness insisted on entering the imperial palace, and I couldnât stop him, so I had no choice but to beg him to let me come with him. All people at the imperial court and the haram system know that Grandma and you are unwell these days. Since I entered the imperial palace with His Highness, how can I only care about Father yet ignore Grandma and you? As people are most needed to serve Father, I came to see Grandma and you for him.â
She took out her handkerchief and wiped her tears. âI donât dare to admit that I intentionally left His Highness alone in the Palace of Xuanming. If I am afraid of death, how would I insist on coming with His Highness even though he repeatedly told me to stay in the Eastern Palace to manage the domestic affairs before we entered the imperial palace?â
As a matter of fact, Consort Cui knew that she was impetuous these days, but it was difficult for her to control herself. Since she was humiliated by Grand Princess Daiguo that year and then had never gained justice later, her only hope was to get back at the grand princess and the Ji Family after her first son took the throne.
In fact, Consort Cui had entered the imperial palace when she was a teenager. She was not a legitimate wife, nor did she enjoy the treatment as a favored woman, and she thought that she could suffer from injustice. However, her first biological son had been titled as heir to the throne when he was four or five years old.
As the biological mother of the heir to the throne, Consort Cui had the hope to take revenge as the crown princeâs position was steady these years, so she naturally wouldnât advise herself to endure. She just kept all the humiliation and hatred in mind and waited for the day when she would be in power.
After Emperor Xianjia fell sick repeatedly, Consort Cui thought that she was closer to her goal, while the situation changed all of a sudden as the crown prince might be deposed.
How could Consort Cui accept it?
âI donât need you to visit me. Go back to the Palace of Xuanming and keep an eye on Hexiao.â Consort Cui took a deep breath and restrained her mania, saying in a cold voice, âThere is no outsider now, so I wonât say more to you. The future of both of us will depend on Hexiao. No matter how much you respect me, if there is something wrong with himâ¦â
After saying that, she thought that it was infelicitous, and she pounded the bedside with much strength. âAnyway, go back in a hurry. Wait. How is His Majesty now?â
Consort Cui suddenly thought that the crown princess had said that she went to the Palace of Mingren before coming here, so the couple had been in the imperial palace for a long time, yet there was still no news harmful to the crown prince from the Palace of Xuanming. She didnât believe that the empress and Grand Princess Daiguo would be merciful, so perhaps the emperor could be saved?
With this fluke mind, Consort Cui couldnât help but sit straight. âHave you seen His Majesty?â
âMother, His Highness and I entered the bedroom and served Father for a while.â The crown princess had been waiting for this question, so she instantly looked worried. âFatherâ¦he isâ¦â
She stammered for a moment and then finally continued, âFather is really a vegetable now, and the empress makes all decisions in the Palace of Xuanming.â As Consort Cui listened, she got nervous and murmured, âThisâ¦what should we doâ¦â
The crown princess lowered her head and whispered, âHis Highness has said that this is the end, and itâs fine if we can take care of Father and you to show respect.â
âI have heard that Duke of Yan is also in the Palace of Xuanming. Is it right?â Consort Cui didnât suspect the crown princessâs words. After all, when she personally advised her son to murder the emperor, the crown prince would rather die than agree. However, he was willing to resign himself to destiny, while Consort Cui couldnât endure it anyway. She pondered for a moment and then asked, âIs he still there now?â
The crown princess thought about it quickly and replied, âYes.â
Consort Cui narrowed her eyes and stated, âItâs said that itâs your plan to let him enter the imperial palace to serve His Majesty, right? You did it thoughtlessly. Even though Duke of Yan grew up in the imperial palace and is closest to His Majesty among the nephews, donât you think about the situation in his mansion? He and his wife are young, but they donât live with the elders. Now his wife is pregnant. Itâs nice of you to consider for Hexiao, yet you donât show solicitude for the wife of Duke of Yan.â
âMother, you are right. I was inconsiderate in this matter.â The crown princess admitted her fault obediently. âI will tell the empress and Xubai later, so he can go back to take care of Song?â
Consort Cui expressed, âHe has stayed in the imperial palace for so many days as you told him to, so it doesnât matter if he stays for one or two more nights. Moreover, the sun has set now. If he suddenly goes back home, the people in his mansion will be in a great bustle as they are unprepared. Wouldnât it cause trouble to his wife? Are you considerate to do so?â
The crown princess responded apologetically, âI am so brainless. I will tell Xubai to return home tomorrow, okay?â
âIf you can go out of the imperial palace smoothly later, youâd better go to tell the people in the mansion of Duke of Yan, so his wife will make preparations in advance.â Consort Cui added, âWhen the couple get together tomorrow, she wonât be caught off guard, right?â
The emperor couldnât stay alive anymore.
Otherwise, the situation would be more unfavorable to the crown prince and Consort Cui.
Although Consort Cui had made this decision earlier, it happened that the crown prince was really poisoned and couldnât get up. Then if Emperor Xianjia died, how could the crown prince convince all people as he was in a coma and nobody knew if he could be saved or return normal after being saved? Perhaps then all the civil and military officials would discuss choosing another prince as the heir to the throne instead of supporting the crown prince in taking the throne in front of the coffin.
After all, the crown prince still hadnât proven his innocence in the crime of causing the murder case in Jianling, and they didnât need to find another reason to choose another heir to the throne.
So after Consort Cui sent somebody to talk with the crown princess that night, she could do nothing but spit blood and endure it.
Now, since the crown prince could finally get up, Consort Cui naturally considered the plan again to kill the emperor and let her son take the throne. However, she had never expected that after her stupid son could get up, the first thing he did was enter the Palace of Xuanming to serve his father regardless of the danger.
If she took actions against the emperor, would Empress Su in charge of the Palace of Xuanming kill the crown prince, too?
âFortunately, Duke of Yan is still in the Palace of Xuanming, and Hexiao has a son, Zhongling!â Consort Cui thought coldly. âHexiao entered the imperial palace openly this morning to serve His Majesty. If His Majesty dies tonight and then Hexiao dies later, wonât outsiders suspect? Of course, the empress can hide the news temporarily depending on her status and power. However, if we send the news later to the mansion of Duke of Yan that he will return home tomorrow yet he canât go back then, wonât his wife get suspicious? Although Song is not from a powerful family, her mother-in-law is His Majestyâs sister. If she knows it, how would she stay out of it? That grand princess has never asked about the state affairs, but she canât be offended easily.â
Moreover, Song Yixiaoâs biological mother was the second wife of Prince of Hengshan.
Prince of Hengshan was neutral and had never joined the fight for the title of heir to the throne, and he was observing mourning for his mother without asking about anything, but after all, he was a royal family member.
It was understandable if he remained neutral and silent for anything else, yet how would he not care about the emperorâs safety?
Prince of Hengshan was not like Prince of Yi who was scared out of wits, as his ancestor was titled because of not only the bloodline but also his contribution, and the descendants such as him were always of a high position in the royal family and at the imperial court.
Then Prince of Hengshan would step forward at the imperial court, and Grand Princess Jinguo would take the lead in the royal family. Even if Empress Su and Grand Princess Daiguo managed the Palace of Xuanming well, how would they withstand the denouncements?
Then the truth about Emperor Xianjiaâs death couldnât be hidden. If the crown prince was alive, he would certainly take the throne. If he passed away, Consort Cui who didnât suspect Gu Shao believed that the officials at the imperial court who supported the crown prince would try their best to investigate the plot of the empress and Grand Princess Daiguo to usurp the throne and spare no effort to support Commandery Prince Zhongling.
Even though in Great Rui, there was no example of the late emperorâs grandson taking the throne instead of his sons, how many sons did Emperor Xianjia have?
After Prince of Wei and Prince of Zhao were involved in the plot to kill the emperor, only Prince of Shu who was at the same age as Commandery Prince Zhongling and Consort Cuiâs other son, Prince of Liang who had been brought up by her in person were left.
Prince of Liang didnât have a good reputation of being wise and capable, but compared with Prince of Shu who was only eight years old, the normal officials would recommend him. After all, not to mention that Prince of Shu didnât have a fame of being gifted and intelligent, all the officials who recommended an imperial concubineâs son at the age of less than ten instead of a married prince who was going to be a father would be suspected of harboring evil intentions and wanting to usurp the power as the young emperor was ignorant.
No matter what Consort Cui thought about, if the emperor would die tonight, her future would be brighter.
âDo as you suggested last time.â After telling the crown princess to leave and confirming that she had left the imperial palace in safety, Consort Cui summoned the old maid mentioned last time with the appointed secret signal and ordered in a deep voice.
However, nobody had expected the shocking news from the Palace of Xuanming when it was getting dark in the evening.
The emperor had woken up.