Chapter 439: Has Gone Mad

Chapter 439: Has Gone Mad

"No, really, it's alright." Yun Li smiled gently.

At this moment, He Jinli also entered. After everyone had paid their respects, Lady Ruan excused herself and left first.

Yun Li's lips turned pale. "I'm really fine, just unlucky enough to bump into a tree. I can't move around too much now; it makes me dizzy, and I've lost quite a bit of blood. There'll probably be a scar on my forehead, but if His Majesty doesn't mind, then it's not a big deal."

Hekin Li sat beside her, holding her hand, "You scared me to death!"

The prince remained silent all the way, and how could he not feel the same?

His heart was seared with anxiety.

Memories of that year when she was poisoned flooded his mind; he wished he could have flown back then.

But he was an emperor, and his actions were not his own to dictate.

"Nothing serious, but it's clear this incident was premeditated. Your Majesty must investigate thoroughly and give me justice."

"Fear not, Mother, with your son here, I will definitely slay whoever dares to do such a thing!" The Crown Prince's eyes were bloodshot.

"Are you foolish? With your father here, do you dare to utter such words?" Yun Li laughed in spite of herself.

"I don't care. Anyone who harms Father and Mother, I'll take their life." The Crown Prince straightened his back and looked at He Jinli. "Father, I forbid you from showing mercy."

He Jinli shook his head. "Alright, go freshen up and change your clothes first. Have something to eat, I understand the gravity of the situation."

The Crown Prince took a deep breath. "Father, regardless of who it is, I will not let them off easily! Even if you were to depose me, I would not regret it."

"Enough! You're talking more nonsense by the minute, go wash up." He Jinli's expression turned stern.

Only then did the Crown Prince rise to give both of them a bow before leaving.

"Your Majesty, you should go too. I can't talk much now." Yun Li closed her eyes; she was furious, but more worried about her health.

He Jinli held her hand. "I'll stay with you for a while."

"In that case, after a while, go wash up, have your meal, and rest. We can talk tomorrow. Whoever it is, they won't escape. It's not worth you losing sleep over," Yun Li said with her eyes closed.

"Very well, I understand. You should rest."

Yun Li really could fall asleep, having lost too much blood and feeling severely exhausted.

Only after Yun Li had drifted off did He Jinli go to freshen up and have his meal.

Seeing that Yun Li was alright, he felt much more at ease.

The long ride on horseback had drained him, especially since they had traveled at such a rapid pace.

Regarding the prince's remarks, he wasn't angry; rather, he felt a bit helpless.

If it were truly one of the princes...

He Jinli shook his head. His thoughts were jumbled, and he didn't want to dwell on it now.

He'd decide on what to do in the morning.

That night, He Jinli naturally stayed by Yun Li's side.

Yun Li was in a semi-unconscious state, while He Jinli could not find peace in his sleep. Every now and then, he would open his eyes and hold Yun Li's hand.

Her injuries were wrapped in bandages, out of sight, but the memory of the scene described by the servants—her face covered in blood—made his breath catch in his throat.

He spent the entire night that way.

In the morning, Yun Li remained unconscious. He Jinli sat up, gently caressing her pale face, and let out a soft sigh.

When Yun Li finally stirred, she overheard He Jinli questioning the guards.

Though they had indeed failed in their duties, it was still an assassination attempt. They had reacted swiftly given the circumstances.

Thus, punishment was inevitable, but it couldn't be overly severe.

He Jinli's expression remained grim throughout as he dispatched all those investigating the matter. Meng Chang was bustling about, overwhelmed with tasks.

"Your Majesty, Empress has awoken," Peony whispered as she approached.

He Jinli dismissed the guards with a wave of his hand and went in to see Yun Li.

Yun Li was helped into a sitting position, but she was far from well.

Her face was pale and swollen.

Especially her eyes, which were puffy.

The effects of the impact had gradually shown on her face.

She lacked any strength, leaning against a cushion. "Help me freshen up first. Otherwise, when the Crown Prince comes, he'll be frightened."

Zhi Fu nodded, tears in her eyes as she first applied a warm cloth to Yun Li's face to reduce the swelling.

He Jinli personally held her and fed her half a bowl of porridge.

When the Crown Prince arrived, his eyes were still red, clearly showing that he had cried the previous night.

Knowing that she had frightened him this time, Yun Li smiled. "Mother is much better. You go out for now, and Mother will see you in a bit."

The Crown Prince nodded and went outside to wait.

Nv Thi entered to attend to her, and Yun Li asked her to accompany the Crown Prince outside.

Zhi Fu was indeed quite fortunate; apart from a large bruise on her thigh, she was unscathed elsewhere. No broken limbs, no bleeding wounds. Such fortune was truly hard to come by.

Yun Li, fearing internal injuries that might manifest unexpectedly despite appearing fine initially, was relieved only after the royal physicians examined Zhi Fu repeatedly and confirmed her well-being. She then allowed Zhi Fu to resume her duties.

As for Yin Cha, she seemed fine at first with just a cut on her head, but upon returning, she collapsed, her complexion turning ashen, giving the impression that her condition had worsened.

Fortunately, the imperial physician's timely treatment saved her life. However, she is currently immobilized and will need time to recover. The injuries are not merely superficial; her internal organs have also sustained considerable damage. It's a miracle she survived the incident at all.

This time, it's much more severe than Yun Li's situation.

Zhu Ding's leg would require three or four months of rest and recuperation...

Jujube has not come along this time, remaining in the capital to hold down the fort.

Primarily, Reed was about to give birth, and Zushu was staying behind to assist.

This time, there were also sedge, peonies, and roses.

She was someone who had been trained for a long time and wouldn't make mistakes serving.

Zhu Ding had fallen, but there was still the Zhu Niao. She was accompanied by several eunuchs.

There was no shortage of people to attend to her.

"The coachman was trampled to death by the horse. I've inquired; many people saw it. Commander Song aimed at the hand. Both horses are dead and have already been taken back to the palace. The best forensic examiners from Yezhou City have been summoned to conduct a thorough investigation. The coachman was pouring kerosene on the carriage. Thankfully, Commander Song acted quickly. If it had caught fire..." Zhifu shuddered at the thought as she helped Yun Li wash up.

"Someone was trying to kill me?" Yun Li was supported out of the bathroom. "Let's investigate the Empress directly."

"But... isn't it Lady Shu and her son?" Zhifu asked.

"Lady Shu wants the throne, so what use is killing me? She should be targeting the crown prince. If I were killed, the Emperor would only protect him even more and support him even further. She wouldn't resort to such means if she wanted to harm me," Yun Li replied.

"Why would the Empress do this then?" Zhifu couldn't comprehend it. Was she mad?

"There are countless reasons. The enmity between the Qi and Xie families. Seeing me flourish while she's fallen so low might grate on her. Or perhaps she's nearing the end of her life and, feeling undignified, wants to take me down with her. It's likely that in her plan, there's an outcome where I survive but am incapacitated. With the carriage accident and kerosene, what if I lost limbs or was disfigured but still alive? Wouldn't that be perfect for her? Her satisfaction would be complete. In short, she's at the end of her rope, unable to improve her own situation, and wishes for mine to worsen as well. She's gone mad."

Zhi Fu shuddered with horror. "If that's the case, it's truly terrifying."

Yun Li could not speak much. "Convey my words to His Majesty later." She was truly too weak to say more.

Zhi Fu acknowledged her request.

Outside, He Jinli and his son were waiting for her. Upon seeing Yun Li emerge, He Jinli personally came over to help her sit down.

Zhi Fu stepped forward to relay Yun Li's words. Both He Jinli and the crown prince furrowed their brows.

"Send someone to investigate. Inform Zhuang Shen to personally take charge of the investigation. And that coachman – dig deep into his background." The person might be dead, but their corpse remained.