Jiang Si unconsciously glanced at Yu Jin.
Understanding the underlying meaning, she wondered if the Emperor had summoned her because he suspected this wasn’t a mere illness.
Yu Jin gave a slight nod.
Everything had its advantages and disadvantages. Since Si hadn’t chosen to hide her talents, there would naturally be many occasions requiring her expertise. Refusing now would only appear suspicious.
Jiang Si stepped forward to examine Emperor Jingming.
After being scrutinized for quite some time, the Emperor couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you need to check my pulse?”
Jiang Si smiled gently. “No need, Father Emperor. Please wait a moment.”
She began her examination with his eyes, then proceeded to check his mouth, nose, neck, and fingers. Her expression grew increasingly serious.
Emperor Jingming maintained his composure, though his heart was racing.
The Seventh Prince’s wife hadn’t concluded yet – could his condition be more complicated than the Empress Dowager’s previous situation?
The Empress, understanding the Emperor’s anxiety and his reluctance to show weakness before his daughter-in-law, asked, “Prince Yan’s Wife, what is His Majesty’s condition?”
Jiang Si pondered for a moment before asking, “Father Emperor summoned me – perhaps you suspect this isn’t an ordinary illness?”
The Empress glanced at Emperor Jingming and nodded. “Indeed. Earlier, when the Fifteenth Princess was poisoned by a dancing girl, the dancer suddenly died of heart failure during questioning. His Majesty’s current symptoms appeared rather suspiciously, and we wondered if it might be connected to Matron Duo…”
Jiang Si and Yu Jin exchanged glances.
With Matron Duo dead, the Emperor and Empress suspected there might be other accomplices in the palace.
Jiang Si’s expression turned peculiar.
The Empress couldn’t help but say, “Prince Yan’s Wife, whatever the situation may be, please speak frankly. Both your Father Emperor and I can handle it.”
Since Prince Yan’s Wife could suppress curse insects and even resolve the mother-child connecting curse Matron Duo had placed on the Empress Dowager, surely she could help the Emperor as well.
Emperor Jingming added, “Indeed. Seventh Son’s Wife, just tell me directly about my condition. Even if it can’t be resolved, it’s fine.”
Jiang Si finally spoke, “Father Emperor, Mother Empress, it’s not that your daughter-in-law dares not speak, but after a thorough examination, I’ve found that Father Emperor’s symptoms are unrelated to curse insects…”
This was precisely what she found strange – while the Emperor and Empress suspected something unusual about the illness, her examination revealed nothing out of the ordinary.
Both Emperor Jingming and the Empress were stunned, looking at each other in bewilderment.
“Could it be that I truly just have heart disease?” Emperor Jingming muttered, his heart sinking.
If it had been curse insects, with his Seventh Son’s Wife present, there would have been hope. But if he truly had heart disease, the situation could be dire.
Emperor Jingming’s spirits fell.
“Prince Yan’s Wife, are you certain His Majesty’s symptoms are unrelated to curse insects?” the Empress asked.
Emperor Jingming furrowed his brows as he glanced at the Empress.
Such a question put their Seventh Son’s Wife in a difficult position.
As both father and sovereign, he understood well that some questions weren’t easy to answer.
However, Jiang Si replied simply: “Certain.”
Those two words were crisp and decisive.
Emperor Jingming couldn’t help but look at Jiang Si more carefully.
Compared to their first meeting at the plum blossom banquet, where she had appeared as a delicate beauty, the woman before him now possessed more composure – a calm that suggested she would remain unperturbed even if Mount Tai collapsed before her.
Emperor Jingming felt quite pleased.
This was how a royal daughter-in-law should be.
The Empress, meanwhile, was surprised by Jiang Si’s boldness.
She had only asked because she couldn’t accept that the Emperor was truly ill. With Prince Yan’s Wife’s ability to suppress curse insects present, actual illness would be the most troublesome outcome.
She hadn’t expected such a definitive answer from Prince Yan’s Wife.
The Emperor and Empress exchanged glances.
Emperor Jingming laughed self-deprecatingly. “It seems I was overthinking things.”
The Empress said apologetically, “It wasn’t Your Majesty overthinking, I was the one letting my imagination run wild—”
Emperor Jingming shook his head, interrupting the Empress’s words. “The Empress was only thinking of my welfare, no need to say more.”
Jiang Si quietly retreated to Yu Jin’s side.
“Pan Hai, call them all in,” the Emperor commanded.
Pan Hai hesitated before carefully asking, “And the Crown Prince—”
After a long silence, Emperor Jingming said, “Call the Crown Prince in as well.”
Since his health was failing, it was all the more important to maintain stability. He would wait until he recovered somewhat before properly discussing the matter of deposing the Crown Prince with his ministers.
Hearing the Emperor’s decision, Pan Hai’s eyes flickered.
Having served the Emperor for decades, he understood him too well.
That the Emperor was willing to see the Crown Prince at such a time didn’t bode well for the Crown Prince.
It seemed the heavens above Great Zhou were about to change.
Thinking about deposing a second Crown Prince, Pan Hai sighed inwardly as he went out.
As soon as Pan Hai emerged, everyone crowded around him asking, “How is Father Emperor?”
They all wondered: after seeing the Seventh Prince and his wife first, who would Father Emperor want to see next?
Pan Hai looked at the group and said, “His Majesty requests all the princes and their wives to enter.”
Everyone felt relief mixed with confusion.
First a private audience with the Seventh Prince’s couple, then seeing everyone together – Father Emperor’s actions were truly puzzling.
Regardless of their thoughts, everyone moved inside, leaving the Crown Prince standing alone.
Pan Hai bowed to the Crown Prince, “Your Highness, His Majesty requests your presence as well.”
The Crown Prince was startled, fear flashing briefly in his eyes as he blurted out, “Father Emperor wants to see me?”
Everyone turned to look.
They too hadn’t expected Father Emperor would be willing to see the Crown Prince again.
Under the many gazes, the Crown Prince forced himself to appear calm. “That’s wonderful, Father Emperor is finally willing to see me.”
Yet internally, his heart was racing, and he felt an urge to flee. After angering Father Emperor so severely, why would he suddenly want to see him? Could he have discovered what he’d done?
Impossible – only he and the young palace maid knew about that matter, no third person knew. Father Emperor couldn’t have found out.
Yes, he couldn’t have discovered it. He mustn’t panic!
After this self-reassurance, the Crown Prince followed the others inside.
His eyes first fell on Yu Jin and Jiang Si standing side by side, before noticing Emperor Jingming half-reclining against the bed’s headboard.
Everyone asked in succession, “Father Emperor, how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” Emperor Jingming looked at each prince in turn, starting with Prince Qin.
The eldest was steady and dutiful, but being adopted, he naturally had his interests at heart.
The Fourth Prince was next in age after the Crown Prince and Third Prince, with a good reputation, but for some inexplicable reason, the Emperor didn’t particularly like him.
If the Fifth Prince became Crown Prince, he’d probably spend every day kneeling on the stone steps outside the hall.
The Sixth Prince was clever but inexperienced, the Seventh Prince somewhat too bold, and the Eighth Prince far too young to consider…
Emperor Jingming quickly dismissed these thoughts and finally turned his gaze to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince’s breath caught, his heart racing rapidly as he forced himself to say, “Father Emperor, how are you? Your son has been so worried—”
Before he could finish, Emperor Jingming suddenly clutched his chest, his expression contorted in excruciating pain.
Everyone was startled: “Father Emperor, are you alright?”
Several Imperial Physicians rushed in, and after a flurry of activity, Emperor Jingming finally endured the episode, though his clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
The Empress erupted in anger: “Are you all useless? The medicine isn’t working at all – are we supposed to just watch His Majesty suffer through such pain repeatedly?”
The Imperial Physicians fell to their knees, repeatedly begging for forgiveness.
The Crown Prince stared at the scene in shock, and beneath his panic, a surge of wild joy: the figurine worked!
At that moment, Yu Jin suddenly glanced at the Crown Prince.