“Get out!”

The maid trembled, stammering, “But… but the Secondary Princess Consort has abdominal pain.”

“What did you say?”

“The Secondary Princess Consort just finished eating, then said she felt unwell, and immediately said her stomach hurt. She’s in so much pain she’s sweating profusely. A physician has already been sent for, but the Secondary Princess Consort had this servant hurry over to notify Your Highness, saying she wants to see you.”

Uh!

The child in Chen Xiang’s belly was his own son, the future Crown Prince!

Absolutely nothing could happen.

He swept his robes and stood up, hurrying out the door, immediately rushing toward the Western Courtyard.

The maid cried as she followed behind.

Wen Shisan watched Prince Yi’s hurried and anxious retreating figure, his expression grave.

His eyes also narrowed.

At the same time.

The person the supervising official sent had already reached the palace.

He reported the matter at the execution ground to Emperor Qi Zhen.

Great shock!

“What? Prince Rong sent someone to the execution ground to block it?”

The Ministry of Justice official: “Yes, so Lord Jiang ordered this subordinate to quickly enter the palace to inform the Emperor and inquire of the Emperor’s decree.”

“Is there a reason?”

“The person who came said that Prince Rong has already found new evidence proving the murderer is not Zhang Daqi, so he begs the Emperor to issue an edict for the Ministry of Justice to retry this case and find the true murderer.”

“New evidence?” Emperor Qi Zhen furrowed his brow deeply, pondering, “This means there are still major problems with this case? But the case file Prince Yi reported upward had solid evidence, even the criminal himself confessed—how could there be an error?”

“So Lord Jiang doesn’t know whether to continue the execution or to imprison the criminal back in the Ministry of Justice prison, only awaiting the Emperor’s decree.”

Emperor Qi Zhen was conflicted.

Weighing both sides.

But Zhang Quan at his side bowed and said, “Your Majesty, this case involves many people. Moreover, Prince Rong has already found evidence—why not order a retrial?”

Of course he wanted a retrial because if Jingrong won, it would suit his wishes perfectly.

But—

He was also worried, saying, “The criminal has already signed his confession. I’m concerned the evidence Jingrong found is merely a phoenix feather.”

“But Your Majesty, think again—since Prince Rong dared to have someone storm the execution ground and ‘stay the execution,’ naturally he has solid evidence.”

“Hmm, what you say makes sense.” Emperor Qi Zhen was silent for a moment, then said to that official, “Transmit my decree—escort the criminal to the Ministry of Justice and open court for retrial.”

“This subject obeys the decree.”

The official received the command and withdrew.

Emperor Qi Zhen let out a heavy breath. Having continuously busied himself with major and minor court affairs for days on end, he was already mentally and physically exhausted.

His complexion at this moment also looked rather poor.

“Cough cough…”

He began coughing.

Zhang Quan: “Your Majesty, are you alright? This servant will go request the imperial physician.”

“No need.” He caught his breath, then suddenly said to Zhang Quan, “Go prepare a set of clothes for me.”

“Your Majesty, this is?”

“I want to personally make a trip to the Ministry of Justice.”

“This servant will arrange it immediately.”

“Wait.” Emperor Qi Zhen raised his hand to stop him, “I don’t want to alarm everyone. You will accompany me and we’ll go quietly.”

Zhang Quan paused, concerned, “But there are many idle people outside the palace. This servant worries…”

“Then you arrange for two palace guards to accompany us, but no announcements are to be made.”

“Yes.”

Zhang Quan immediately went to make arrangements.

…

Prince Yi hurried to the Western Courtyard. Before he even entered, he saw the maids in the room bustling in and out.

Either carrying water or carrying medicine.

Everyone was both nervous and afraid.

If something happened to the young prince in Chen Xiang’s belly, given Prince Yi’s temperament, the entire room full of maids and servants would probably have to accompany him in death.

Prince Yi entered the room and heard painful cries coming from the inner chamber.

He hurried inside.

He saw Chen Xiang lying on the bed covered in sweat, one hand gripping the bedsheets and bedding, one hand clutching her stomach, her body curled up.

“It hurts, the child, this consort’s child…”

The physician was at her side, holding a silver needle in his hand, turning it back and forth over a candle flame to “roast” it, preparing to administer acupuncture to Chen Xiang.

Jingrong rushed to the bedside, calling out with concern, “Xiang’er.”

Seeing him, Chen Xiang’s tears flowed directly. As if seeing a lifeline, she grabbed his wide sleeve and cried out in pain.

“Your Highness, this consort’s stomach hurts so much, our child… child…”

“This prince will absolutely not let the young prince come to harm.”

“It hurts…”

The veins on Prince Yi’s forehead bulged as he asked the physician, “How is the Secondary Princess Consort?”

The physician set down the silver needle, “In reply to Your Highness, the Secondary Princess Consort mistakenly consumed musk grass, which is why her abdomen is in pain.”

“Musk grass?”

“Musk grass is an extremely cold substance. If a pregnant person consumes it, it may…”

“May what? Speak!”

“Cause miscarriage.”

Uh!

Miscarriage?

It was like five thunderclaps striking Prince Yi’s head.

Hearing this, Chen Xiang opened her mouth wide, her round eyes looking as if she’d seen death itself. She cried out, “My child, my child, no… no… uh…”

She fainted.

“Xiang’er?” Prince Yi called out.

No response.

The next moment, he grabbed that physician, “Listen well—this prince’s young prince absolutely cannot come to harm.”

The physician’s voice trembled, “Fortunately the Secondary Princess Consort didn’t consume much. This humble one will administer acupuncture and should be able to preserve the young prince.”

“If you cannot preserve him, this prince will take your life.”

He flung him away.

The physician knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.

Prince Yi then stood up and went outside.

Outside, the maids and servants all knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

He angrily overturned a table, things crashing “clatter clatter” to the ground.

“Why did the Secondary Princess Consort consume musk grass?”

He questioned loudly.

Chen Xiang’s personal maid quickly said, “This servant also doesn’t know. That musk grass was added to the winter melon soup. After the Secondary Princess Consort consumed it, she cried out about stomach pain.”

Added to the winter melon soup?

Could it be someone deliberately poisoned her?

Prince Yi glared furiously, “Why was there musk grass in the winter melon soup?”

Everyone knew what musk grass was.

If ordinary people consumed it, they would vomit and have diarrhea. If pregnant women consumed it, they would miscarry.

“Don’t… don’t know.”

“Don’t know?”

“The winter melon soup was sent from the kitchen. It was personally prepared by Nanny Zhang.”

Hearing this, Nanny Zhang kneeling at the side quickly said, “The winter melon soup was prepared by this old servant, but I absolutely did not add musk grass to it.”

Just as she finished speaking, Prince Yi stepped forward two paces and viciously kicked her shoulder.

“You decrepit thing, if the young prince cannot be preserved, this prince will take your head.”

Nanny Zhang was kicked flying, then quickly knelt properly again.

Kowtowing repeatedly.

“It wasn’t this old servant… this old servant wouldn’t dare have such intentions. Your Highness, please investigate clearly.”

Wailing to heaven and earth.

Prince Yi’s face was full of murderous intent.

At this moment, Dou Quan rushed in.

He reported by his ear, “Your Highness, the Emperor has already issued a decree to escort Zhang Daqi to the Ministry of Justice prison and open court for retrial. Prince Rong is currently on his way to the Ministry of Justice.”

Damn it!

Everything converged at once.

He glanced at the inner chamber—on one side was his own young prince, not yet born but in critical danger.

On the other side was his path to advancement and glory.

Both were very important.

After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth.

He looked at the crowd kneeling on the ground, “Listen well—if anything happens to the Secondary Princess Consort and the young prince, all of you will pay with your lives.”

He rebuked!

Then, sweeping his wide sleeves, he went out the door.

Heading to the Ministry of Justice.