The Crown Prince’s blood… was coughed up at such an opportune moment…

Yet considering that his nominal woman had secretly tried to seduce his father, anyone would have their blood rush up in anger, let alone the already frail Crown Prince.

With the matter becoming so big, and the temporary palace being so small, it was impossible to keep it hidden. Moreover, with An Jingnan came to find his daughter, forcing the Crown Prince Consort to order the Imperial Guards to search, everyone was waiting for the results.

By now, not just Xiao Huayong, but everyone in the temporary palace must know of An Zhengyi’s misdeeds.

Though knowing Xiao Huayong was acting, Shen Xihe had to play along. She hurriedly bowed to Emperor Youning before rushing back to her chambers. Xiao Huayong lay quietly on the bed, his face paper-white, his lips a faint purple, his cascade of black hair scattered across the pillow, looking particularly weak and even pitiful…

Emperor Youning and the Empress Dowager naturally followed Shen Xihe. Everyone entered to check on Xiao Huayong’s condition, with Emperor Youning silently fixating on Xiao Huayong’s complexion.

Several imperial physicians took turns examining him, all reaching the same conclusion. The Chief Imperial Physician said: “Your Majesty, His Highness’s condition stems from extreme anger affecting his heart meridians, causing his faint. The Crown Prince was already weak, and in recent years his frequent emotional fluctuations have truly damaged his health, harming his foundation. I fear…”

“Fear what?” the Empress Dowager asked with a dark expression.

The Chief Imperial Physician’s heart trembled, but he had to speak truthfully, especially since the Eastern Palace had its physician knowledgeable in medical principles – they couldn’t hide it: “Without excellent medicine and fortune, even three to five years might be wishful thinking.”

After speaking, several imperial physicians prostrated themselves, not daring to raise their heads or even breathe heavily.

Shen Xihe suddenly turned and performed a formal deep bow to the Empress Dowager and Emperor Youning: “This daughter requests Your Majesty to order An shi’s death!”

As Crown Prince Consort, unless in special circumstances, she generally didn’t need to perform such a formal and solemn bow to the Empress Dowager and Emperor.

“An shi is shameless and vicious as a snake or scorpion. How can Your Majesty still hesitate?” the Empress Dowager coldly pressed.

On one side was Shen Xihe with her subtle pressure, showing signs of kneeling indefinitely if Emperor Youning didn’t handle the matter justly.

On the other side was the firm Empress Dowager, clearly dissatisfied with his continued delay and bias toward An Zhengyi.

“Mother, there are still suspicious points in An shi’s matter…”

“Where are these suspicious points?” the Empress Dowager pursued, “Though this isn’t the imperial palace, her courtyard had Imperial Guards. If she hadn’t left of her own accord, how could she have disappeared so quietly? If there truly were someone in the temporary palace with such capability, how could Your Majesty be at peace?”

“Mother, the suspicion lies with Noble Consort. If An shi had plotted this, why would she carelessly leave Noble Consort in the courtyard? Wouldn’t that be self-incriminating?” Emperor Youning seized this point.

“Noble Consort has already awakened. Why not summon her to ask why she was carelessly left in the courtyard?” Shen Xihe said with lowered eyes.

Noble Consort had long awakened but hadn’t appeared until now.

As soon as Shen Xihe spoke, Emperor Youning knew this wasn’t a loophole but rather more evidence that would leave An Zhengyi defenseless.

This girl was even more calculating than he’d imagined, deliberately exposing what seemed like suspicious flaws, leading people to investigate step by step, until finally leaving her target with no way to recover.

At this point, he had no choice but to summon Noble Consort. Everyone moved from Xiao Huayong’s bedchamber to the main courtyard. By now, not only those from the Noble Consort’s palace had arrived, but also many princes and royal relatives who came under the pretense of visiting the Crown Prince.

Of course, Xiao Changqin had initiated this, leading this grand procession to “show concern” for the Crown Prince. In truth, having already guessed the circumstances, Xiao Changqin brought so many people to watch his high and mighty father, who held power over life and death, suffer in frustration, unable to voice his grievances, forced to swallow his pride along with blood. His eyes carried undisguised pleasure.

“Your Majesty, I was resting in my chambers, and when I awoke, I found myself moved from my bed to the noble consort’s couch in the outer room,” Noble Consort seemed confused and helpless. “I don’t know what happened.”

“Noble Consort, what caused the mark on your palm?” Shen Xihe’s gaze fell on Noble Consort’s hand.

Noble Consort turned her wrist, hiding the mark: “I don’t understand what the Crown Prince Consort means.”

Shen Xihe grabbed Noble Consort’s wrist, forcefully turning it over. Her palm had a mark resembling a small mountain, presumably left from gripping something tightly: “When the Empress Dowager and I rescued Noble Consort, I noticed she was holding something, though I didn’t think much of it then.”

“I wasn’t holding anything. This mark was left when I was at my dressing table, thinking about being kidnapped, I squeezed my hair ornament too tightly, leaving an impression from its carving,” Noble Consort pulled away, removing a hair ornament from her head. The white jade ornament indeed had a mountain relief carving, and the size seemed about right.

“Is that so?” Shen Xihe smiled, turning to look at Biyu, who was returning with two Imperial Guards escorting a eunuch.

After bowing, Biyu reported: “Your Highness, this servant saw this small eunuch acting suspiciously in Noble Consort’s chambers. When I called out to him, he ran. The Imperial Guards and I caught him and found a token on him.”

Biyu respectfully presented a jade token with a small mountain relief carving. Shen Xihe took it, then snatched the hair ornament from Noble Consort’s tight grip. Comparing them, she said: “Noble Consort, shall I test which one left the mark on your palm?”

Noble Consort’s face tensed, her hands trembling involuntarily.

“This token… if this prince isn’t mistaken, it’s from the An Bei Protectorate,” Xiao Changqin coolly interjected.

Shen Xihe glanced at him – his words were unnecessary, as anyone familiar with such items would recognize them.

An Jingnan and An Zhengyi’s faces tightened. Shen Xihe had been holding back, but when she finally struck, she was thoroughly prepared. They didn’t dare cry forgery, because once they did, Shen Xihe would naturally order an investigation, and the father and daughter were certain one of their people had lost a token – this must be genuine!

“Noble Consort, why did you hide this item after obtaining it?” Shen Xihe scrutinized the Noble Consort. “Could it be that Noble Consort and Miss An are as close as sisters, and you wanted to help fulfill Miss An’s ambition to climb the dragon’s throne?”

This suggested Noble Consort and An Zhengyi were conspirators, and if they truly were, many things would be easier to explain.

“You…” Noble Consort was furious but didn’t know how to defend herself. Having first tried to explain away the palm mark, now that Shen Xihe had evidence, anything she said would lack conviction.

Though Noble Consort remained silent, Emperor Youning understood – Noble Consort had also fallen victim to Shen Xihe’s scheme. Noble Consort wasn’t stupid; knowing the item in her hand would harm the An family, she had tried to conceal it.