Eunuch Gao’s blood splattered on the spot.

This matter spread throughout the court and countryside. Whether civil and military officials or common people, none could believe that a mere eunuch would dare to encroach upon the Dragon Vein.

Upon hearing the news, Yun Chu was reviewing accounts.

Eunuch Gao’s death was orchestrated entirely by her, but her heart held no ripples whatsoever.

A eunuch with no family backing who chose to betray his master must bear such consequences.

She set down the account book and took out a small porcelain bottle, handing it to Qiutong behind her. “Deliver this to the Zheng Family. The Zheng Family will send it into the palace to Consort Shu.”

Qiutong paused before speaking. “Can Consort Shu be trusted?”

Yun Chu smiled slightly.

She had known long ago that Chu Rui would interfere, absolutely refusing to let Consort Yun or Consort Yin remain at Yangxin Hall.

Therefore, she had taken the initiative one step earlier to find the Seventh Prince’s birth mother, Consort Shu.

Consort Shu had a low-key temperament, neither competing nor fighting, with no presence whatsoever in the palace. Because of this, no one was wary of her.

Among the current imperial family, aside from Chu Yi, the person most likely to compete for that position was the Seventh Prince.

Chu Rui would certainly believe the Seventh Prince stood in opposition to the Crown Prince.

So having Consort Shu care for the Emperor wouldn’t create any complications.

However…

Yun Chu took a sip of tea.

Three years ago, to win over Ding Yiyuan as National Preceptor, she had enabled someone separated from their family to reunite with them early.

That family was Consort Shu’s maternal family, the Zheng Family. The lost man was Consort Shu’s biological younger brother from the same mother, also the future heir of the Zheng Family.

From that time on, she had maintained good relations with the Zheng Family.

The Seventh Prince was young, the Zheng Family was only fourth rank. Consort Shu was a smart person who completely understood how to choose.

“Go.” Yun Chu spoke. “This matter cannot be delayed.”

Qiutong nodded, gripping the medicine bottle tightly as she hurried away.

At this time, Chu Hongyu returned home from school. Previously this boy always came back happy and carefree, but today he seemed weighed down with worries.

Yun Chu pulled her son before her and asked gently, “Hongyu, what troubling matter have you encountered?”

Chu Hongyu pressed his lips together and raised his eyes. “Mother, I heard from others at the Imperial Academy that Imperial Grandfather killed Eunuch Gao. Is this true?”

“This isn’t something a child should worry about…”

Yun Chu’s words were cut off halfway. “Mother, I’m almost eight years old now. I’m a big child.”

Chu Hongyu spoke word by word, seriously. “Father isn’t in the capital. The pillar of support for the family is me. I’m a man. I need to grow up quickly to protect Mother and my younger brother and sister.”

Yun Chu realized her son had truly grown up.

When they first met, he was only that tiny. Now over three years had passed—he had grown taller, and she no longer needed to bend down to touch his hair.

She couldn’t keep viewing Hongyu with the eyes one uses for small children.

Thinking of this, Yun Chu felt somewhat melancholic, but more than that, gratified.

She spoke slowly. “Eunuch Gao betrayed your Imperial Grandfather. A servant betraying their master indeed deserves death.”

Chu Hongyu was silent for a while.

Every time he made a commotion at Imperial Grandfather’s place, Eunuch Gao would coax him and give him all kinds of snacks. He really liked Eunuch Gao.

But he never imagined Eunuch Gao was actually a traitor.

“Mother, I’m going to practice martial arts.”

Chu Hongyu turned and walked to the courtyard, beginning to practice seriously.

As Yun Chu was lost in thought, Meng Shen entered the flower hall. “Greetings to Maternal Aunt.”

“Shen has come.” A smile appeared on her face. “It’s almost mealtime. Stay and dine with your maternal aunt.”

Meng Shen nodded. “In a few more days, my mother will arrive in the capital. She heard His Majesty is gravely ill and is truly worried, so she’s coming specially to attend to his illness.”

Yun Chu’s brow furrowed slightly.

The palace wasn’t peaceful, with various forces entangled. If Qinghua, that person with no brains, came, she would likely be easily drawn in.

But Qinghua was the Emperor’s biological daughter. For a daughter to visit her gravely ill father—there really was no reason to obstruct this.

She paused before speaking. “The manor has many vacant courtyards. Persuade your mother to live together with you.”

In the struggle for succession, one careless step could cost a life.

Although she didn’t like Qinghua, Qinghua was Chu Yi’s biological elder sister. She still had to show some consideration.

“I know the palace hasn’t been peaceful lately. I’ll persuade my mother. Please rest assured, Maternal Aunt.” Meng Shen said seriously.

He was ten years old this year, no longer a child who understood nothing.

Recently, his maternal grandfather was gravely ill, and various incidents were occurring frequently in the palace. Even at the Imperial Academy, he had sensed a tense atmosphere.

He didn’t know what he could do, so he could only study harder.

That night, Yun Chu didn’t sleep well.

Since marrying Chu Yi, she rarely worried about or planned such matters. Now with Chu Yi away from the capital, she could only ponder alone until dawn—it was quite taxing.

Rising in the early morning, the manor’s stewards came to report various matters. Yun Chu left everything for Tingshuang to handle.

Qiutong came to the west wing to report intelligence gathered by the information bureau. “These past few days, Princess Consort Zhuang has visited various marquis manors, earl manors, and prominent families in the capital. It’s said she’s given away many treasures from her dowry.”

Yun Chu’s lips curved slightly.

A woman using her own dowry to pave the way for her husband—this was the most foolish behavior.

In her previous life, she had been like this. In this life, Su Ziyue was the same.

She had ended up poisoned to death. Who knew what fate awaited Su Ziyue…

Qiutong continued. “Prince Zhuang Chu Rui has privately summoned the Feng Family and the Lin Family…”

Yun Chu understood.

The Feng Family was the Empress Dowager’s maternal family.

And the Lin Family was the maternal family of Chu Rui’s birth mother.

These two families—the Feng Family had previously been exiled, and the Lin Family was merely sixth rank…

What was Chu Rui trying to do?

Yun Chu’s eyes narrowed.

There was a subsidiary parasite in Chu Rui’s body. If he activated the subsidiary parasite to have the Emperor promote Lin Family members, the Lin Family would rise again, becoming support for Chu Rui.

Since killing Chu Rui wasn’t an easy matter.

It would be better to make the Emperor unable to sense the parasite’s bewitchment…

“Tingshuang, prepare. I need to enter the palace.”

Yun Chu immediately changed into different clothes, brought two maidservants, and took a carriage to the palace.

At the palace gate, she alighted from the carriage and walked toward Yangxin Hall. Outside the hall knelt a large group of imperial physicians, along with palace maids and eunuchs.

After Eunuch Gao died yesterday, the Emperor had directly fainted and kept vomiting blood. The entire Imperial Medical Bureau came to examine his pulse but couldn’t determine the cause.

“Useless, a bunch of useless people! Cough cough cough!”

The Emperor’s voice came from within the great hall.

“Your Majesty, calm your anger.” Consort Shu said gently. “This is a prescription jointly discussed by over a dozen imperial physicians. Your Majesty, please drink the medicine. This consort will attend you while you drink it.”

The Emperor was probably feeling too terrible and didn’t refuse the medicine.

After drinking a bowl of medicine, his emotions stabilized considerably, and those imperial physicians retreated trembling.

Only then did Fan Ming enter the great hall to report. “Your Majesty, the Crown Princess requests an audience.”

The Emperor said with eyes closed, “Summon her.”

Yun Chu entered with head lowered, performed a curtsy in greeting, then said, “Imperial Father’s illness shows no improvement. Every time the Crown Prince writes back, he mentions Imperial Father’s dragon body. This daughter-in-law wishes she could take Imperial Father’s place. After thinking it over, this daughter-in-law has decided to move into the Eastern Palace to attend Imperial Father closely. Please grant your approval, Imperial Father.”