Chapter 413: Strange

Chapter 413: Strange Happenings

Xin You and her party spurred their horses relentlessly, resting only for the shortest time each day. Pushing themselves to the limit, they finally arrived at the stretch of waterway where Emperor Xingyuan had suffered the mishap.

Several large ships lay anchored along the shore, with people moving in and out, their faces grim. Numerous guards stood watch around the area.

"His Highness the Prince, Miss Xin—"

Officials bowed respectfully as Xin You and Prince Xiu marched ahead, their expressions tense.

Soon, a group of officials led by the Minister of Rites came forward to meet them: "Greetings to His Highness the Prince."

Their tone toward Xin You, however, was much colder: "Miss Xin."

Prince Xiu skipped the formalities and asked urgently, "Has His Majesty been found?"

"By heaven's grace, His Majesty was found several days ago," the Minister of Rites replied, a slight, involuntary smile forming at the corners of his mouth.

Prince Xiu was overjoyed: "Take us to him immediately!"

The Minister of Rites hesitated.

At that moment, a eunuch spoke up: "Your Highness, His Majesty was only recovered several days after falling into the water. He remains very weak, and the imperial physicians insist he must rest without disturbance and receive no visitors."

Prince Xiu turned to the eunuch, frowning slightly: "Eunuch Li, where is Eunuch Sun?"

The eunuch, named Li Wei, ranked second among the palace eunuchs beneath Sun Yan. But when Sun Yan was present, he rarely spoke much.

Hearing Prince Xiu's question, Li Wei sighed: "Eunuch Sun fell into the water that day and has yet to be found."

"Who else fell into the water?" Xin You asked.

Li Wei glanced at the Minister of Rites and the others before listing names. Most had already been recovered as bodies, while others—including Sun Yan and He Qingxiao—had no trace found.

Xin You dug her teeth into her lip.

After hearing this, Prince Xiu insisted on seeing Emperor Xingyuan: "His Majesty has suffered such a grave incident. How can we, his children, rest without seeing him? If the physicians say he must not be disturbed, Ayou and I will freshen up first and then quietly take a look at His Majesty."

With Prince Xiu speaking thus, Li Wei glanced at the others and lowered his head, offering no further objection.

Xin You hastily bathed and changed. When she stepped out, Prince Xiu was already waiting for her outside.

"Ayou, let's go."

Xin You nodded and walked beside Prince Xiu.

Only the imperial yellow boat carrying Emperor Xingyuan had caught fire that day. Now that the vessel was destroyed, the emperor had been settled on another ship.

Heavy curtains draped in layers, and the palace attendants stood in solemn silence, as though still in the palace. The only difference was that the entrance was guarded personally by Jinlin Guard Commander Feng Nian.

The gauze curtains were drawn aside, letting out a faint aroma of medicinal herbs. On the bed, Emperor Xingyuan lay with his eyes closed, appearing terribly gaunt.

Xin You watched silently, her stomach dropping.

Only seven or eight days had passed since the incident, yet he had wasted away so much.

Li Wei signaled for their departure.

Once outside, Prince Xiu asked, "Has His Majesty been unconscious the entire time?"

"The Emperor is taking medicine that has a calming effect; after taking it, he will sleep for some time, but he also experiences periods of alertness each day."

"Does this mean that with proper rest and care, His Majesty will recover soon?"

"Yes."

Prince Xiu's expression relaxed: "That's good to hear."

Xin You was not very familiar with Li Wei, so she went to see Xie Chengan and others to learn more about the fire on the yellow barge that day.

She then approached Prince Xiu again: "Your Highness."

"Ayou, is something wrong?" After their trip to Guangcheng, Prince Xiu spoke to Xin You with an easy familiarity.

Xin You's usual coldness had lessened somewhat: "I want to search for Marquis Changle and Eunuch Sun."

"Oh." Prince Xiu paused momentarily but then expressed his support. "Then take a larger search party to look along the shore, but do not go into the water yourself."

Those who drowned and were not washed ashore are unlikely to be recovered.

Xin You thanked him and was about to set out with her team when Jinlin Guard Commander Feng Nian stopped her.

"Lady Xin, when His Majesty was awake, he gave orders that you and Your Highness must remain by his side and not leave."

Xin You tightened her hidden fists and asked calmly, "Did His Majesty say this to you, Commander Feng?"

"I would never dare to misrepresent His Majesty's words. Respected Sir Li was also present at the time."

Xin You pressed her lips together and did not question further.

With the emperor confined to bed, it would be unwise to confront these people directly.

Now that Prince Xiu and Xin You had returned, and Emperor Xingyuan's condition had improved under the court physicians' care, the officials decided it was time to return to the capital.

Unable to stay, Xin You could only instruct Qianfeng and Ping'an to search for He Qingxiao on her behalf.

She spent sleepless night after night, the shadows beneath her eyes growing darker.

On the deck. Stars filled the sky, and the river rushed ceaselessly.

"Ayou."

Xin You turned to see Prince Xiu approaching.

"Don't dwell on it too much. Once His Majesty recovers and you can speak with him, everything will be fine."

Xin You rested her hands on the railing, with the river at her back, as she met Prince Xiu's gaze.

In blood, he was her older brother, yet she could not feel any closeness toward him.

But in this moment, under the chill starlight and lonely moon, with the mirror-calm river reflecting above, even her aloofness softened.

"I know. Your Highness ought to retire early."

"Ayou—"

Xin You waited for him to continue.

"Can't you call me 'Imperial Brother'?" In the darkness, Prince Xiu's voice was soft as the river current.

"It's more proper to address you as 'Your Highness.'" Xin You said this and walked toward the cabin.

After a slow journey, they finally arrived at the capital.

That day, officials and nobles waited outside the city to welcome Emperor Xingyuan, who boarded a dragon carriage pulled by six horses and headed straight for the palace.

Xin You looked up at the dragon carriage with its light gauze curtains, could only faintly see a shadowy figure.

She had an instinctive sense that something was off.

Though her mind was mostly occupied with He Qingxiao’s fate, even she could sense that a group led by the Minister of Rites, Jinlin Guard Commander Feng Nian, and the chief eunuch Li Wei had formed during the journey, isolating others from the emperor.

Was his condition much worse than she had seen that day, to the point where some ministers could manipulate him?

This suspicion sent a chill down her spine, and an ominous premonition grew within her.

She had to see him again—and soon.

The Empress Dowager was even more desperate to see Emperor Xingyuan than Xin You.

"The emperor needs rest and cannot receive visitors?" Hearing the chief eunuch Li Wei’s explanation, the Empress Dowager’s face darkened as she scolded, "Ridiculous! I’m his own mother! If the emperor cannot see me, how can he see you eunuchs and ministers every day? What kind of nonsense is that?"

Li Wei bowed his head, silenced by her scolding.

"Out of my way! Let’s see who dares block me—anyone who tries will be treated as harboring ill intent!"

Princess Zhaoyang supported the Empress Dowager, a slight smirk playing on her lips.

First the emperor’s ship mysteriously burns, and now no one can see him? According to Ayou, she and Prince Xiu had only met him once during the journey.

Wasn’t this all too suspicious?

In moments like this, a mother’s authority came in handy.

The Empress Dowager marched in, and the imperial physician guarding the bedchamber stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Your Majesty, the emperor’s health is still fragile. It’s best to minimize contact."

"I understand." The Empress Dowager pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, covered her mouth and nose, and tied it behind her head. "Back in my hometown, I learned some illnesses spread through the mouth. Good enough?"

The imperial physician: "..."