Yun Chu’s expression was indifferent.
Chu Rui could use Su Ziyue precisely because Su Ziyue was extremely naive.
And she could kill the offspring gu so easily also because Su Ziyue had no cunning or scheming nature.
Su Ziyue bit her lower lip, only speaking after a long while: “Crown Princess elder sister, there was something wrong with that osmanthus cake, wasn’t there?”
Yun Chu gave no response.
Su Ziyue didn’t know what else to say. The two remained silent.
Before long, they heard the Emperor’s voice faintly coming from inside the great hall: “…Very well, since all beloved ministers share this opinion, then we’ll dispatch additional troops, a total of one hundred fifty thousand elite soldiers…”
Yun Chu breathed a sigh of relief.
One hundred fifty thousand troops to punish the Dongling Kingdom could only be considered barely adequate, but at least it was better than eighty thousand.
Soon, the ministers inside the great hall withdrew.
Chu Hongyu immediately called out loudly: “Imperial Grandfather, I’m coming in! I miss Imperial Grandfather so much.”
Eunuch Gao hurried over: “Young Highness, please allow this old slave to go in and announce…”
Yun Chu held her son’s hand, signaling him to wait patiently.
Previously, Brother Yu could burst into the Hall of Mental Cultivation without announcement because the relationship between His Majesty and Chu Yi was mostly father and son.
But now… so many things had happened. Chu Yi had become Crown Prince. Last time when His Majesty vomited blood and fainted then woke up, Chu Yi was drawing blood from His Majesty’s fingertip…
They say the Crown Prince is His Majesty’s most outstanding son.
Similarly, the person His Majesty is most wary of is also the Crown Prince.
If the Crown Prince couldn’t wait any longer, wouldn’t he commit regicide and patricide?
Eunuch Gao soon came out, saying respectfully: “His Majesty summons the Crown Princess and Young Highness into the hall.”
Yun Chu led her son inside by the hand, and the two paid their respects together.
Chu Hongyu raised his head. Seeing the Emperor’s pale complexion, he immediately moved closer: “How did Imperial Grandfather become so ill? Where does it hurt? I’ll blow on it for Imperial Grandfather…”
The Emperor’s expression softened considerably.
But when Chu Hongyu picked up the medicine bowl by the bed to feed him medicine, he coldly turned his head away: “There’s no need to trouble a child with feeding medicine.”
“I just want to do something for Imperial Grandfather.” Chu Hongyu was genuinely worried about the Emperor’s health. “Though the medicine is bitter, it’ll be fine once you drink it. I even prepared preserved fruit. Imperial Grandfather, quickly drink a mouthful.”
The Emperor’s expression darkened slightly.
Chu Hongyu pulled out a piece of preserved fruit from his pocket and stuffed it into the Emperor’s mouth: “Alright, alright, then Imperial Grandfather can eat the preserved fruit first, then drink the medicine. Surely that’s acceptable? Aiya, even harder to coax than little sister…”
Before he could finish the sentence, he saw the Emperor spit out the preserved fruit, unwilling to eat it.
Chu Hongyu’s face filled with shock: “Imperial Grandfather…”
“Brother Yu!”
Yun Chu reached out and pulled the little one to her side.
She understood—His Majesty’s paranoia had flared up. He suspected Chu Yi, suspected Brother Yu, and would suspect her, the Crown Princess, even more.
If His Majesty didn’t believe at all that he had been afflicted with gu poison, then her so-called antidote wouldn’t hold any weight with His Majesty.
It seemed they could only have someone secretly feed the antidote to His Majesty.
“Brother Yu was only worried about Father Emperor’s dragon body. Please forgive him, Father Emperor.” Yun Chu lowered her head. “Father Emperor’s dragon body is unwell. Your daughter-in-law and Brother Yu won’t disturb you further.”
She paid her respects, led Chu Hongyu out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
“Mother, why is Imperial Grandfather so cold?” Chu Hongyu raised his head, his face full of grievance. “It wasn’t like this before.”
Yun Chu touched his head, saying gently: “Your Imperial Grandfather is ill. Sick people have difficulty controlling their emotions. You must forgive a sick person.”
She had Chu Hongyu go to the Imperial Academy by himself, while she stood outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, quietly waiting.
After waiting a long while, she finally saw Eunuch Gao emerge from inside the great hall, gently close the door, and stand at the bottom of the steps, silently guarding the person inside the great hall.
She took two steps forward, making herself visible in Eunuch Gao’s field of vision.
Eunuch Gao indeed saw her and walked over: “Does the Crown Princess still have matters to meet His Majesty about? His Majesty just drank his medicine and went to sleep. Crown Princess, please come again tomorrow.”
Yun Chu looked at Eunuch Gao, saying slowly: “How many years has Eunuch Gao followed Father Emperor?”
Eunuch Gao thought for a moment: “This old slave entered the palace at age six and has been by His Majesty’s side ever since. In the blink of an eye, both this old slave and His Majesty have grown old. Time spares no one.”
“The person Father Emperor trusts most is probably Eunuch Gao. I can only ask Eunuch Gao to help with this matter.” Yun Chu spoke. “Father Emperor’s health is so poor, but actually it’s not from catching wind-cold, but from being poisoned.”
Eunuch Gao’s hand suddenly trembled, nearly dropping the whisk he was holding: “Is the Crown Princess’s statement true?”
Yun Chu nodded: “Eunuch Gao saw it too. Father Emperor is now deeply suspicious. He won’t even eat preserved fruit given by Brother Yu, a child. If I rashly present the antidote, Father Emperor won’t believe it either.”
“Having an antidote is good, with an antidote His Majesty won’t suffer like this every day…” Eunuch Gao wept tears of joy, wiping his eyes as he said: “This old slave understands the Crown Princess’s meaning—you want this old slave to feed the antidote to His Majesty, correct? Though this old slave is merely a servant, he can see the situation clearly… The Crown Prince has only just assumed this position. Taking ten thousand steps back, even if he had such intentions, he wouldn’t act at this time. Therefore, this old slave is willing to trust the Crown Princess!”
Yun Chu took out a paper packet from her sleeve containing only one pill and handed it over: “This antidote must be taken in nine doses. This is the first dose. I trouble Eunuch Gao to first attend to Father Emperor taking it. Tomorrow I’ll have Brother Yu enter the palace to deliver the medicine.”
Eunuch Gao carefully received the paper packet: “Crown Princess, rest assured! This old slave will certainly not disappoint expectations. Once His Majesty has taken the medicine, this old slave will have someone send word to the Crown Princess.”
Yun Chu looked into his eyes: “Thank you, Eunuch Gao.”
After completing this business, Yun Chu finally left the palace.
Walking to the palace gates, she saw that beside her carriage stood another carriage. The person standing by the carriage wore dark official robes with an official’s hat on his head, suppressing much of his previously sickly appearance.
“Greetings to the Crown Princess.”
Chu Rui walked toward her, cupping his hands in salute.
Yun Chu smiled: “Prince Zhuang has now been appointed as Second Rank Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue—quite impressive and imposing.”
At last year’s birthday banquet, Chu Rui had saved the Emperor and was enfeoffed as prince and granted a Third Rank position in the Ministry of Revenue. In less than half a year, he had been promoted one rank. This was clearly the gu insect’s doing.
“The Crown Princess’s words are too much praise.” Chu Rui met her gaze. “The Crown Princess is intelligent and decisive. That my wife fell into the Crown Princess’s hands doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.”
Yun Chu’s gaze was extremely cold: “Outsiders all say Prince Zhuang is sickly. I also thought Prince Zhuang’s life was nearing its end. Now I truly regret saving you that day in the Jinying Hall. I saved a wild wolf.”
“I also have no choice…” The depths of Chu Rui’s eyes were full of darkness. “My identity leaves me without a second option.”
Yun Chu shook her head: “When views differ, even half a sentence is too much. Farewell.”
She lifted her skirt and boarded the carriage.
Chu Rui watched the slowly departing carriage, the darkness in his eyes deepening further.