Seeing Imperial Consort Yang collapse before him, Zhen Shicheng immediately said to Pan Hai, who was standing nearby, “Quickly, summon the Imperial Physician!”
Naturally, when the Emperor travels, Imperial Physicians accompany him.
Pan Hai hesitated for a moment.
The affair between Imperial Consort Yang and the Crown Prince had to be kept secret. Apart from the few who already knew, no one else could find out. Now, to summon an Imperial Physician—
Seeing Pan Hai’s hesitation, Zhen Shicheng said sternly, “Eunuch Pan, there must be someone behind Imperial Consort Yang. We can’t let anything happen to her before we find out who it is!”
Pan Hai nodded and said in a low voice, “Please, Lord Zhen, step aside for a moment.”
Zhen Shicheng was led back to Emperor Jingming by an attendant.
“Did you find out anything?” Emperor Jingming asked in a deep voice.
Zhen Shicheng cupped his hands and apologized, “Your Majesty, I was questioning Imperial Consort Yang when she suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed…”
Emperor Jingming’s eyes tightened, his expression turning extremely unpleasant, “Has something happened to her?”
“Eunuch Pan has summoned an Imperial Physician. We’ll know her condition after the diagnosis.”
Emperor Jingming immediately urged an attendant to go and inquire.
Soon, Pan Hai returned, his face grim, “Your Majesty, Imperial Consort Yang has passed away.”
“What happened?”
“The Imperial Physician said Imperial Consort Yang died of sudden heart failure—”
Before Pan Hai could finish, Emperor Jingming slammed the table hard, “Bullshit!”
Pan Hai immediately fell silent.
For the Emperor to curse like this, it was clear he was extremely angry.
Emperor Jingming was indeed furious, and beyond his anger, there was a deep sense of helplessness.
The dancer implicated in the Fifteenth Princess’s incident had died of sudden heart failure, and now Imperial Consort Yang had died the same way. Had the women in the palace contracted some kind of contagious heart disease?
This was absurd!
Emperor Jingming’s attitude made Zhen Shicheng feel strange. He tentatively asked, “Your Majesty, do you believe Imperial Consort Yang’s cause of death is not the sudden heart failure diagnosed by the Imperial Physician?”
Emperor Jingming’s emotions calmed slightly. After a brief hesitation, he revealed the details of the family banquet at Changsheng Palace: “The dancer responsible for the Fifteenth Princess’s death suddenly died during interrogation. The Imperial Physician’s examination also concluded it was due to sudden heart failure.”
Zhen Shicheng stroked his beard upon hearing this.
“Once could be a coincidence, but for two people involved in murder cases to die of sudden heart failure in succession is too much of a coincidence,” Emperor Jingming said, his eyes deep with thought.
Zhen Shicheng was silent for a moment.
Emperor Jingming looked at him, “What does Lord Zhen think?”
Zhen Shicheng bowed to Emperor Jingming, “Your Majesty, two palace women involved in murder cases dying of sudden heart failure in succession further confirms my suspicion.”
“You mean there’s someone behind Imperial Consort Yang?”
Zhen Shicheng nodded, “That person is likely hidden in the harem, stirring up the dark thoughts in certain individuals, causing various incidents.”
Emperor Jingming closed his eyes briefly, his voice tinged with fatigue, “If such a person truly exists, it’s terrifying.”
Able to provoke evil thoughts in people, control life and death, and even understand celestial changes – with such abilities, how different were they from ghosts and gods?
The thought that such a person might be hidden in the harem made Emperor Jingming feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
“If such a person truly exists, we must find them at all costs!”
Zhen Shicheng remained silent.
With the person in the harem, he was powerless.
Emperor Jingming realized this as well, becoming even more depressed.
Zhen Shicheng was an expert at solving cases, but he was an outside official after all. He couldn’t just wander around the harem.
Moreover, to have Zhen Shicheng interrogate the harem concubines based on mere suspicion without solid evidence would likely result in the Empress Dowager hitting him with her cane.
In his frustration, Emperor Jingming suddenly thought of someone: Yu Jin.
The Seventh Prince had worked on many cases with Zhen Shicheng and had performed exceptionally at Changsheng Palace earlier. Perhaps he could be given a try.
This thought flashed through his mind as Emperor Jingming began to worry about Imperial Consort Yang’s death.
Outside, the snowstorm continued, making the mountain roads slippery. Returning to the palace now was impossible; they would most likely have to stay overnight and set out the next day when the weather cleared.
In this situation, it would be difficult for Pan Hai and the others to keep the news from the few concubines who had accompanied them.
It seemed he would need the Empress’s help.
Having made up his mind, Emperor Jingming immediately went to the Empress’s resting place.
The temporary palace was not large, and the few courtyards for the concubines were close together, making it easy for any disturbance to be noticed.
Seeing Emperor Jingming arrive at this hour, the Empress already sensed something was amiss.
She calmly went to greet him, “Your Majesty—”
Emperor Jingming supported the Empress and led her to a low couch.
“Have you heard about today’s events?” he asked.
The Empress hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is Your Majesty referring to Prince An’s matter?”
Although she hadn’t been present at the banquet for officials and nobles in the front hall, how could she pretend to be deaf and blind to such a commotion?
Emperor Jingming didn’t answer, instead looking into the Empress’s eyes and asking, “Empress, can I trust you?”
The Empress was completely taken aback.
There was too much implied in the Emperor’s words, leaving her at a loss.
After the moment of shock, the Empress suppressed her confusion and said, “Your Majesty and I are husband and wife. I will always stand by Your Majesty’s side.”
Emperor Jingming nodded and said in a low voice, “I have decided to depose the Crown Prince!”
The Empress was usually a composed person, but upon hearing this, her face changed dramatically, and her hand trembled violently, “Your Majesty?”
Had she hallucinated? The Emperor wanted to depose the Crown Prince!
For years, she had watched coldly as the princes grew up, gradually showing signs of ambition, which she found amusing.
It was only because these princes couldn’t see clearly that in the Emperor’s heart, no child was more precious than the Crown Prince left by Empress Yuan.
He was the Emperor’s only legitimate son and the only bloodline between the Emperor and his first wife.
The Crown Prince’s position in the Emperor’s heart was unmatched.
But now, the Emperor was telling her he wanted to depose the Crown Prince?
At this point, Emperor Jingming couldn’t care about saving face. He gritted his teeth and said, “The Crown Prince has had an affair with Imperial Consort Yang!”
The Empress stood up abruptly, her face twitching, then sat down again without a word.
Her silence didn’t indicate calmness but rather a shock beyond words.
After a long while, the Empress asked in a trembling voice, “What has become of Imperial Consort Yang and the Crown Prince now?”
“The Crown Prince is under the guard of the Jinlin Guard and the Eastern Depot. Imperial Consort Yang has unexpectedly died. I need the Empress’s help to keep people from knowing about Imperial Consort Yang’s death, at least until we return to the palace.”
It wasn’t just Imperial Consort Yang’s death that needed to be concealed; the news of the Crown Prince’s deposition couldn’t be spread now either.
The temporary palace was not as secure as the imperial palace, with many unstable factors outside. One wrong move could plunge them into crisis.
Emperor Jingming quickly revealed some arrangements to the Empress.
After hearing everything, the Empress solemnly said, “Your Majesty, rest assured. I will take care of Imperial Consort Yang’s matter.”
In the great hall, the officials had been waiting anxiously until it was almost dark, their bottoms sore from sitting, when finally, an attendant came to deliver a message.
“Gentlemen, you may all disperse now. His Majesty has ordered that we stay overnight at Cuilo Mountain.”
The snowstorm outside had not ceased, so the officials were mentally prepared to stay overnight at Cuilo Mountain. However, they were not prepared to be dismissed after waiting for so long.
“Eunuch, why did that Jinwu Guard kill Prince An?”
The attendant glanced at the person asking and said seriously, “My lord, it’s best not to ask. Even His Majesty couldn’t get an answer, and he’s in a foul mood.”