A contingency plan?

Jingrong fell silent but suddenly called out: “Minister Qin.”

Hmm?

Qin Shiyu listened.

He said seriously, “Minister Qin need not worry about other matters—this prince has his own arrangements. There’s just one matter that requires your help right now.”

“Please speak, Your Highness.”

“If Jingyi intends to rebel, he will certainly establish defenses within the palace. Therefore, some information needs you to bring it into the palace to the Emperor. The Emperor has always trusted you and will surely listen.”

Qin Shiyu thought carefully and nodded. “I understand Your Highness’s meaning.”

Thus, early the next morning, Qin Shiyu changed into his court robes.

Limping, he entered the palace.

At the same time.

Emperor Qizhen had just risen, and palace attendants were helping him change into his dragon robes, preparing for morning court.

Noble Consort Xiao then entered carrying a bowl of steaming hot silver ear fungus soup. She dismissed those palace attendants and personally helped the Emperor remove his outer garments.

“Why have you come?”

“This concubine heard that Your Majesty’s dragon countenance was greatly angered yesterday, and you couldn’t sleep the entire night. So I prepared a bowl of silver ear fungus soup early and brought it. Your Majesty should drink it before going to morning court.”

Emperor Qizhen stood upright, arms extended, glancing at that bowl of silver ear fungus soup.

“You’re very thoughtful.”

“Thinking of Your Majesty is what this concubine should do.”

“How is your health?”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. This concubine has no major problems. That Senior Imperial Physician Gao is skilled—after drinking a few doses of medicine, I felt much better.”

“That’s good then.”

Immediately after, Noble Consort Xiao’s eyes darted about, and she deliberately affected her tone as she said, “By the way, this concubine heard that Director Ji entered prison because… she disguised herself as a man? I don’t know if it’s true or false?”

“Why are you bringing this up?” Emperor Qizhen was displeased. He pushed her hand away from his waist sash and said coldly, “You just need to manage the inner palace affairs properly. Court matters are not for you to interfere with.”

Noble Consort Xiao flinched and quickly retreated two steps, lowering her eyes. “This concubine spoke out of turn.”

“Never mind!”

He finished arranging his clothing himself!

Preparing to attend court.

However, Noble Consort Xiao held him back. “Your Majesty should still drink this bowl of silver ear fungus soup while it’s hot.”

Her voice carried concern.

Emperor Qizhen didn’t want to waste her good intentions, so he sat down and lifted the silver ear fungus soup toward his mouth.

Noble Consort Xiao watched nervously as the bowl gradually approached Emperor Qizhen’s lips, her heart racing urgently.

Drink!

Hurry and drink!

But—

Just as that bowl of silver ear fungus soup was about to enter his mouth, Emperor Qizhen suddenly put it down and turned to ask her, “Did you know all along that Master Ji was a woman?”

Eh?

Noble Consort Xiao froze for a moment, then quickly shook her head. “How would this concubine know? If I had known, I wouldn’t have invited her into the palace for a banquet back then, and even invited young ladies from various families who hadn’t yet married, wanting to arrange a marriage for her. Thinking about it now, it was truly a joke. So that Master Ji… should actually be called Miss Ji—turned out to be a woman.”

She laughed awkwardly.

After listening, Emperor Qizhen didn’t seem particularly suspicious. He remained silent for a long moment before picking up that bowl of silver ear fungus soup again and drinking it.

He set down the bowl and rose to attend court.

But after just a few steps, his head felt dizzy and heavy.

His body swayed.

“Your Majesty?” Noble Consort Xiao quickly supported him.

“What’s wrong with me?” He pressed his temple acupoint.

“Your Majesty is probably tired. You should rest a bit more.”

“No!” he said stubbornly. “I’m not at the point of dying from illness.”

After speaking, he extended his hand to push Noble Consort Xiao aside, preparing to call Zhang Quan in, but in the next moment, his legs went soft and he nearly fell to the ground.

Fortunately, Noble Consort Xiao caught him and forcibly helped him onto the bed to lie down.

“Your Majesty, you should rest properly. This concubine will have someone summon the imperial physician.”

“Go… call Zhang Quan in.”

“This concubine is here to attend you.”

“Call… call Zhang Quan.” Emperor Qizhen’s entire body was weak, one hand reaching toward the doorway.

But Noble Consort Xiao forcibly stuffed it back under the covers.

“You?”

“Your Majesty, rest well. This concubine will stay by your bedside and won’t go anywhere.”

Emperor Qizhen’s deeply sunken eyes gradually closed, until he lost consciousness.

“Your Majesty?”

No response.

Only then did Noble Consort Xiao’s pale lips curl into an extremely sinister smile.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

She coughed violently again.

She covered her mouth with a clean white handkerchief—there was blood on it.

Eh?

Could it be that her numbered days were truly approaching?

No, she was unwilling. Even if she was really about to die, she would hold onto her life to see her son ascend the throne.

She stared at the person on the bed and said harshly, “The Crown Prince hasn’t been established yet—you cannot die either.” She called out, “Someone come.”

A young eunuch entered.

She said, “The Emperor is unwell. Notify the court officials that during this period, there’s no need for morning court.”

“Yes.”

The young eunuch withdrew to transmit the decree.

After the time it takes to burn one incense stick.

Qin Shiyu arrived outside Fuyang Hall.

However, the hall doors were tightly shut.

Outside the hall stood two young eunuchs and several guards. Their faces looked somewhat unfamiliar—they didn’t seem like people from Fuyang Hall.

“Minister Qin, please stop.” They blocked him.

“Go in and announce me. This official must see the Emperor.”

The eunuch said, “Minister Qin, the Emperor is currently resting and will see no one. Please return, Minister.”

“You go in and announce that this official has urgent matters requiring an audience with the Emperor.”

“The Emperor has ordered that he will see no one. Why must you make things difficult for us servants, Minister?”

Qin Shiyu’s legs were already inconvenient. If he had to keep waiting, his legs would probably be crippled.

He also sensed something wasn’t right. His eyes scanned all around—there were many more guards outside Fuyang Hall.

Moreover, if the Emperor was truly resting, there was no reason Zhang Quan wouldn’t come out.

He asked, “Where is Eunuch Zhang?”

One of the eunuchs said, “Eunuch Zhang is unwell and went to rest. This place is temporarily guarded by us servants.”

“In any case, this official must see the Emperor right now. Step aside.”

“Minister Qin…”

“Step aside!”

He intended to force his way through.

At this moment.

“Thud”—a sound.

The tightly closed redwood door before him suddenly opened.

However, the person who emerged was neither Emperor Qizhen nor Zhang Quan, but Noble Consort Xiao.

She walked with light steps, supported by her personal maid Sanglan.

Qin Shiyu bowed. “This official pays respects to Noble Consort Xiao.”

“Minister Qin, the Emperor is unwell. The imperial physician just came to examine him and said he needs much rest and shouldn’t be disturbed. No matter how urgent your matter is, you must consider the Emperor’s health.”

“But…”

“What? Does Minister Qin perhaps not care about the Emperor’s dragon body?” Noble Consort Xiao walked forward two steps. “The Emperor has ordered that starting today, he will see no one. Only this palace is granted permission to care for him. For major court matters, simply write memorials and send them in.”

Qin Shiyu was greatly alarmed!

Noble Consort Xiao’s sinister and slightly weary eyes opened wider as she curved her lips. “If Minister Qin came to plead for Director Ji, you might as well not waste your efforts, because… the Emperor has already issued an oral decree that the day after tomorrow at noon, Director Ji of the Bureau of Punishment will be executed.”

Eh?

Qin Shiyu said, “Impossible.”

“This is the Emperor’s oral decree, and it has already been sent to the Ministry of Justice. Even if Minister Qin wants to plead for Director Ji, it’s probably useless, because right now… the Emperor will see no one.”

Noble Consort Xiao smiled.