Chapter 88: The Deer-shaped Jade Pendant.

Chapter 88: The Deer Jade Pendant

Huo Ling had always been careful about Ji Xianshan's health.

After Ji Xianshan was born, she had Imperial Physician Chen assigned to attend to him day and night. Two female physicians also cared for him constantly, while the maids and nannies who served him closely all possessed basic medical knowledge. Everything he ate or drank was carefully checked.

Thanks to such meticulous care, along with Ji Xianshan’s strong health from birth, he rarely fell ill. But whenever he did, it would throw Fengyi Palace into disarray.

Under the current circumstances, Huo Ling dared not let Ji Xianshan fall ill.

Yet that very night, Ji Xianshan came down with a fever.

Huo Ling had been busy for the past three days without a full night’s sleep. Tonight, she had barely managed to rest when she was abruptly awakened by the news of Ji Xianshan’s illness. She quickly donned her outer robe and hurried to see him.

Imperial Physician Chen and the two female physicians were there at once.

Later, other physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau were also summoned.

After the long night’s ordeal, Ji Xianshan finally broke his fever as dawn approached.

Huo Ling supported his arms while the palace attendants helped him change into fresh, dry clothes—his original outfit was soaked with sweat.

"Mother..." Ji Xianshan murmured weakly, his little face scrunched in discomfort as he instinctively leaned into Huo Ling’s embrace. "An Er hurts."

Huo Ling placed a hand over his eyes and whispered soothingly, "Sleep for a while. It won’t hurt when you’re asleep."

"Really?"

"Really."

She patted his back gently, over and over, lulling him to sleep.

Wu Mo entered, moving as quietly as possible. "Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Chen is kneeling outside, pleading for forgiveness."

Huo Ling replied, "Tell him to rise. This isn’t his fault."

Ji Xianshan’s illness truly couldn’t be blamed on Imperial Physician Chen’s negligence. In recent days, even the adults were worn out, let alone a two-year-old child.

However, Ji Xianshan had just broken his fever and was still weak, so he couldn’t return to the funeral hall for now.

Though Huo Ling had forbidden the palace staff to speak freely, the officials and noble ladies paying their respects had eyes—

The Emperor and the Empress Dowager had been absent from the funeral hall for a long time. Later, the Empress Dowager appeared, but the Emperor remained unseen.

The implication was clear.

Many officials couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: A Crown Prince under three was no issue, but an Emperor under three was full of uncertainties.

If age were the main consideration…

A few gazes involuntarily drifted toward Ji Yuanwan.

The fifteen-year-old youth was slightly slender, his features fully matured, shedding the childish softness of his younger years. Kneeling silently on the prayer mat, he radiated quiet dignity, far surpassing his peers.

...

Huo Ling remained with Ji Xianshan awhile, waiting until he slept soundly before making haste to the funeral hall.

The moment she stepped inside, Wen Shengan approached to pay his respects and politely asked after Ji Xianshan’s condition.

Huo Ling knew the news of Ji Xianshan’s illness could not be concealed from the veteran officials, yet she still couldn’t help feeling irritated upon hearing Wen Shengan’s inquiry.

What troubled her even more was that the agents she had dispatched to monitor Prince Duan’s residence and the Duke of Liu’s mansion returned with a report: the previous evening, Prince Duan and Princess Consort of Duan had visited the Duke of Liu’s estate with their two children.

"Do we know why?"

"They brought medicine to visit the Duke of Liu, who is critically ill."

Because of this intelligence, after Wen Shengan left, Huo Ling’s eyes instinctively sought the seat designated for the Duke of Liu.

To her surprise, an unfamiliar young man knelt there instead on the cushion reserved for him.

Perhaps her gaze was too direct, but the young man, who had been dabbing at his tears, turned and met her eyes.

He quickly lowered his head and hurried forward. "This lowly official, Liu Cheng, greets Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, and offers apologies on behalf of my grandfather, the Duke of Liu."

Huo Ling's tone remained calm. "What offense has the Duke of Liu committed?"

Liu Cheng spoke in a deeply respectful manner, explaining that his elderly grandfather had been so overcome with grief over attending the mourning rites in the palace that he had fallen into a daze. Upon returning home the previous evening, he had taken a misstep while disembarking from his carriage and injured his left leg.

The Duke’s left leg had been wounded years ago, and this fall had left him unable to stand.

"These are petitions of apology and resignation that my grandfather pushed through his illness to write. He had intended to deliver them personally to the palace, but I could not bear to see him suffer, so I insisted he remain at home. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness."

As he spoke, Liu Cheng knelt and pulled out two still-damp petitions from his sleeve.

Huo Ling’s gaze sharpened briefly.

Those nearby who overheard were visibly startled.

The Duke of Liu was resigning!?

She accepted the documents and scanned their contents.

The strokes were unsteady, far from his usual precision, but unmistakably in the Duke’s handwriting.

Liu Cheng’s account aligned with what her agents had reported.

Most of Prince Duan’s factional power lay concentrated in Prince Duan himself and the Duke of Liu. If she took this chance to accept the resignation and deprive the Duke of his position as Minister of War...

No.

That would not do.

By court custom, when high-ranking ministers like the Duke of Liu submitted requests for retirement, it was customary to go through three refusals before acceptance. If she accepted this petition too readily, it would seem overeager and risk alerting them prematurely.

Besides, it wasn’t necessary.

Since she had already resolved to crush Prince Duan’s household and the Duke of Liu’s entirely, whether or not the Duke resigned made little difference.

Having decided, Huo Ling regarded Liu Cheng. "The Duke of Liu is the cornerstone of the realm. With the late Emperor newly departed and the court in turmoil, submitting his resignation at this critical moment would create unnecessary difficulty for His Majesty and myself."

"I hope the Duke will place the greater good above all and persevere a little longer. If he is unwell, he may rest at home."

Seeing Liu Cheng about to speak again, Huo Ling waved a hand. "When you return, escort an imperial physician back with you to properly attend to your grandfather."

"However competent outside physicians may be, they cannot match the reliability of those from the Imperial Medical Bureau."

...

"Has the imperial physician left yet?"

In a room filled with the scent of medicinal herbs, the Duke of Liu lay on the bed, his face pale, though his eyes remained sharp.

Liu Cheng replied, "Your grandson personally saw the imperial physician off in the carriage."

The Duke of Liu coughed weakly. "That’s... good."

Liu Cheng quickly helped the Duke sit up, patting his back to ease his breathing.

It took a while for the Duke to recover from a bout of coughing. Gripping the edge of the bed, he turned to Liu Cheng, who wore a confused look. "If you have questions, ask them."

Liu Cheng pursed his lips, hesitating for a long moment before whispering, "Grandfather, what did Prince Duan, the Princess Consort of Duan, and you discuss yesterday evening?"

"Why did you decide to claim illness and retire immediately after they left?"

...

"So, the Duke of Liu is truly ill?"

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Huo Ling questioned the imperial physician who had just returned from the Duke's residence.

The physician answered while handing over the Duke’s diagnosis report.

After reviewing the report and asking a few detailed questions, Huo Ling let the physician leave.

Wu Mo inquired, "You look worried. Is it because of the Duke’s illness?"

Huo Ling shook her head and reread the report. "From what I’ve learned, the Duke is indeed ill. But for him to fall ill and stay away from court at such a critical moment seems too coincidental."

After pondering for a long time without reaching a conclusion, she put down the report and went to check on Ji Xianshan.

Just waking from a nap, Ji Xianshan still appeared drowsy, but brightened when he saw Huo Ling. "Mother, where have you been?"

Huo Ling replied, "I was right next door."

Ji Xianshan nodded. "Nanny Zuo said you have lots to take care of."

Huo Ling tousled his hair. "Are you sleepy now?"

"No."

"Have you eaten?"

"Yes."

"I need to go to the study to take care of some business. Want to come with me?"

Ji Xianshan quickly said, "Yes! I’ll be quiet and not disturb you!"

The study was filled with his toys. Seated on the soft couch, he played with Wu Mo watching him while Huo Ling stood by the window, reviewing recent developments.

Two days ago in the morning, she had summoned Ding Jinghuan to the palace and sent a letter to Yanxi.

She told Ding Jinghuan to find proof of crimes committed by Prince Duan’s and the Duke of Liu’s households within ten days.

This deadline was not arbitrary.

A message sent by express courier from the capital to Xingtang Pass would take five days. The Swallow Feather Army, as cavalry, could reach the capital in just seven days if traveling at top speed.

Huo Ling was holding off on taking action against Prince Duan’s estate and the Duke of Liu’s manor. The first reason was that she was waiting for Ding Jinghuan to gather evidence of their crimes; the second, for the arrival of the Swallow Feather Army in the capital.

At first, she hadn’t noticed any flaws in her arrangements, but the disturbances stirred up by Prince Duan’s estate and the Duke of Liu’s manor still left her on edge.

Feeling threatened, she needed to find a way to calm herself.

…

"Wu Mo, do you remember where you put that deer-shaped jade pendant that Prince Duan gave me?"

After soothing Ji Xianshan to sleep, Huo Ling called Wu Mo aside and whispered.

Wu Mo’s eyes widened in surprise. She didn’t know why Huo Ling would suddenly bring up the pendant, but she still racked her brain to remember.

"I remember. All those old items were stored in a large wooden chest. The chest is placed in the northwest corner of the Fengyi Palace Storeroom."

Half an hour later, a dust-covered wooden chest sat in front of Huo Ling and Wu Mo.

Wu Mo opened the chest, dug through the bottom layer, and pulled out a small box, which she handed to Huo Ling.

Huo Ling took the box and spotted a dagger inside. She bent down and picked it up. "So this is where you stored the dagger."

Back in Yanxi, Huo Ling had always carried a dagger with her for emergencies.

But after entering the palace, she dropped the habit. The dagger she had used for years was left with Wu Mo to store away.

"Oh—"

Suddenly recalling something else, Huo Ling continued, "Two years ago, when my father came to the capital to fulfill his official duties, he brought me three jars of Wanderer's Return.

I shared one jar with the late emperor, and gave another to Ding Jinghuan. There should still be one left."