Chapter 517: Bringing the Crown Prince to the Palace

Chapter 517: Bringing the Crown Prince to the Palace

Shen Xiangming, though shocked by the news that Empress Dowager Yuan had given birth to a child, still reached out and accepted the Xuan paper.

He was a shrewd man, and one look was all it took for him to understand Ji Yuntang's intention.

The child born to Empress Dowager Yuan should have been the Late Emperor's child. Since she didn't dare let outsiders know, the child most likely wasn't the Late Emperor's.

And since this child was Empress Dowager Yuan's only flesh and blood, she definitely wouldn't be willing to send him away. She would inevitably keep him in the capital, with people assigned to take good care of him.

According to Ji Yuntang's reasoning, a child born with congenital defects would need to take medicine every day. Moreover, the herbs in the Imperial Medical Academy were tracked by dedicated staff, so any surplus or shortage would be noticed.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Yuan definitely wouldn't use the palace's medicinal herbs for him.

To investigate whether this child existed, starting with the medical clinics in the capital was the smartest move.

Shen Xiangming clasped his hands toward Ji Yuntang and Hua Feixue and said, "Princess Ye, Crown Prince, leave this to me, General Shen. I'll get people on it right away."

Before he left, Hua Feixue called out to stop Shen Xiangming and discussed a few things with him in private.

It was just about keeping their identities secret and asking how many men Shen Xiangming could mobilize.

Ji Yuntang and Xie Liuzheng each went back to their own room to get ready for bed.

At noon the next day, right as Ji Yuntang and the other two were finishing breakfast, Shen Xiangming rushed in to report.

"Crown Prince, Princess Ye, the matter you asked me to look into has already yielded results!"

Hua Feixue immediately became interested and asked him, "Did General Shen find Empress Dowager Yuan's illegitimate child?"

Shen Xiangming nodded, then realizing he wasn't sure, shook his head.

"I sent out a few unfamiliar servants to buy Dendrobium officinale at different medical clinics. One clinic called Huichuntang said all their Dendrobium officinale had already been reserved—paid in full for ten years' worth."

"Whenever the clinic got a shipment of Dendrobium officinale, they'd send a clerk to drop it off at a spot the buyer designated, leave it in a basket, and head back."

"So far, the clerk from Huichuntang has been delivering to this buyer for three years, but he's never once seen what the buyer looks like."

"And as luck would have it, a new batch of Dendrobium officinale just came in, and the clerk from Huichuntang was about to make another delivery. The man I sent followed the clerk, wanting to see who exactly had bought the Dendrobium officinale."

"According to the servant's report, he saw a figure in black wrapped up tight from head to toe, who sneakily grabbed the Dendrobium officinale from the basket and then hopped into a tightly sealed courtyard."

"My man didn't dare act rashly and tip off the target, so he came back to report to me. Now I await your orders, Crown Prince and Princess Ye."

Ji Yuntang and Hua Feixue exchanged a glance, both feeling the buyer was suspicious.

Xie Liuzheng said, "How about I, the Heir, step in and scope the place out for you?"

"If that old witch's illegitimate son really does live in there, I'll snatch him out for you."

Ji Yuntang said, "No need to kidnap him. Just get me one strand of his hair, and I can tell whether he's really Empress Dowager Yuan's flesh and blood."

Xie Liuzheng was taken aback. "Just a strand of hair is enough? You don't need blood or anything like that?"

He'd only ever heard of blood-based kinship testing; this was the first time he'd heard hair could be used to verify kinship.

Hua Feixue could tell from Xie Liuzheng's expression that he probably still didn't get where Ji Yuntang was from.

She let out a teasing laugh and said casually.

"Some brother you are—you don't even know her at all."

Xie Liuzheng: "..."

Xie Liuzheng: "!!!"

He felt Hua Feixue was mocking him and was about to fire back when he heard Ji Yuntang say, "No need. Hair works for kinship verification too."

"Brother, I'll leave this to you. Hua Feixue and I have more important things to do. We'll wait for your good news."

Since Ji Yuntang had spoken, Xie Liuzheng's attitude instantly softened. He thumped his chest and assured her, "Don't worry, Sister Yuntang. I guarantee I'll pull out a strand of that old witch's son's hair for you."

Ji Yuntang had no idea yet how serious things were about to get.

After Xie Liuzheng left, she said to Hua Feixue, "I need to go to the palace to give the old witch acupuncture. You wanna come with me?"

Hua Feixue was taken aback and looked at her in surprise. "Didn't you say it wasn't time for me to face the old witch head-on yet?"

Ji Yuntang said, "We don't have much time left. I'm planning to take a risky move and try to make the old witch slip up tonight."

Hua Feixue was confused. "Then what should I do?"

A smile curled at the corner of Ji Yuntang's mouth. "You'll find out soon enough!"

When Hua Feixue blinked and found herself inside Ji Yuntang's space, she was totally dumbfounded.

She pinched herself hard before realizing she wasn't dreaming—everything in front of her was real.

It was a scene completely unlike anything ancient; every single item here was full of a sense of technology.

She'd never seen anything like it, and she was in awe.

Hua Feixue looked around, curious about everything, and asked Ji Yuntang, "Is this what things from your world look like?"

Ji Yuntang nodded and casually turned on the external surveillance feed.

"That's right. But this is my private space—nobody can come in without my permission."

"You can't face Empress Dowager Yuan head-on, but I can put you in the space and bring you into the palace. When there's a need, you can come out."

Hua Feixue stared at the surveillance screen showing servants cleaning the courtyard, completely stunned.

The figures, the visual effect—it was so clear, as if real people were standing right in front of him.

He asked excitedly, "So you're saying I can watch your conversation with the old witch without even leaving this place?"

Ji Yuntang nodded. "That's exactly right."

Hua Feixue grew even more excited. "Then take me along. I'll cooperate with any plan you have."

The two were in perfect agreement, and Ji Yuntang immediately brought Hua Feixue into the palace.

Outside Cining Palace, Nanny An was already waiting there. When she saw Ji Yuntang, she greeted her with a beaming smile.

"Doctor Yun, you've finally arrived! Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has been talking about you nonstop!"

Ji Yuntang smiled and asked her, "How is Her Majesty the Empress Dowager? Has her headache improved?"

Nanny An said happily, "Improved? It's more than improved—it's vastly better!"

"After drinking the medicine you prescribed yesterday, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager didn't complain of a headache all night and slept straight until dawn. When she went to court this morning, she was refreshed and energetic. The ministers all praised her for looking so well."

"Her Majesty has been waiting for you since finishing her midday meal. Please go in, Doctor Yun!"

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