Chapter 25

Chapter 25

At court, the matter of the Minister of Rites' impeachment grew increasingly serious. The Chief Attendant impeached his own superior, and subsequently, various unsavory dealings of the Minister of Rites were exposed one after another.

The Emperor was furious, and the case of impeachment was handed over to the Grand Court of Revision, while secret orders were sent to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had previously had some leads on the Minister of Rites' wrongdoings, but before they could investigate thoroughly, someone had already brought the matter to light.

When Qi Hanzhou received the secret order, he frowned slightly. His gaze swept over the detailed instructions, first landing on the names of the Ministry of Rites officials listed, and he stared at them for a long time. The adjutant beside him noticed Young General Qi's puzzled expression and remarked, "We were already thinking of investigating the Ministry of Rites. Isn't this secret order from His Majesty giving us the chance? But why is the Minister of Rites' mess coming out now?"

"Because of Hu Buyu," Qi Hanzhou said, frowning. "Hu Buyu is closely connected with the eldest prince, and that has shifted the political landscape." He knew full well how Madam Hu, her daughter, and even Hu Buyu himself had ended up on the eldest prince's ship. The turning point was that rainy night at Huguo Temple. That person had intercepted Madam Hu and her daughter, which led to the eldest prince bringing the Imperial Guard to rescue Hu Buyu. This was all that person's doing—he essentially pushed Hu Buyu into the eldest prince's camp.

Even when riding in the same carriage or leaving the palace together, they couldn't discuss it.

But at court, with countless eyes watching, the Emperor praised the eldest prince because of Hu Buyu—that was the real problem.

If Hu Buyu had not entered the capital, nothing would have happened.

But once he entered and got his foot in the door, some in court couldn't sit still anymore.

"The hidden assassin must have known that Lord Hu was His Majesty's trusted confidant," the adjutant said in confusion. "Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent so many assassins to kill Hu Buyu."

"Only a few people knew that," Qi Hanzhou said. "The groups that dominate both court and country are the political factions. The crown prince is young, and they wouldn't want to see the eldest prince's influence grow too dominant."

"So the ones who moved to assassinate Lord Hu are from the Crown Prince faction?" The adjutant was startled.

"Not necessarily," Qi Hanzhou said.

All evidence pointed to the Crown Prince faction, but given that the factions were contending both openly and covertly, no conclusion could be drawn yet.

The Minister of Rites had been recommended to the court by Prince Yongjia, who was a member of the Eldest Prince faction. The factional strife in Dayuan was nothing new. During this period, the crown prince had fallen, while the eldest prince had ridden the wind. The Crown Prince faction had remained calm and inactive. Undoubtedly, Hu Buyu was the one to break the balance...

He broke the balance, and some wanted to maintain it.

"Why the Ministry of Rites? If they wanted to curb the eldest prince's momentum, wouldn't the Ministry of Revenue be better?" the adjutant asked. The Ministry of Revenue was the stronghold of the eldest prince's trusted men; targeting that would be a real blow.

Qi Hanzhou destroyed the secret order. "Because the second-in-command of the Ministry of Rites is Vice Minister Ning, who is currently in high favor—he belongs to the sixth prince's maternal clan."

"The same fire can burn multiple boats."

In that rainy night, the drenched prince seemed to stand before him again, the lightning's glare revealing those eyes that held neither joy nor sorrow. That image reappeared before Qi Hanzhou. Ying Fusheng must have known that once he pushed Hu Buyu forward, the balance at court would be broken. The Ning family had been receiving much attention during this period, and the sixth prince was highly favored, making him a likely target to be hit twice. Yet he still did it, pushing his own maternal clan to the edge of the blade. Why?

...Unless the Ning family was a decoy he had set up long ago.

Last year's palace banquet!

Qi Hanzhou's eyes narrowed. "Is the sixth prince in the palace?"

The adjutant was taken aback but quickly responded: "He left the palace a while ago, but these days he's been staying in the palace... Hey! Young General, where are you going?"

...

It was the season for spring outings, and the imperial garden in the palace was the venue. The crown prince, after two months of house arrest, was finally released. When Consort Ning received the news, she was so happy she almost couldn't process it. The haggard look she had worn for days eased slightly. Perhaps because of the turmoil in the Ministry of Rites, Vice Minister Ning had brought it up before His Majesty several times. During this outing, a person from Ci'ning Palace specifically came with an order to lift Consort Ning's house arrest.

The Empress Dowager's order indicated that the situation had improved.

Consort Ning had Bi Zhu prepare everything early in the morning.

Bi Zhu was secretly worried; Consort Ning's mental state had been deteriorating lately. "My Lady, about the spring outing..."

Consort Ning looked at herself in the bronze mirror, completely missing the worry in Bi Zhu's words. Frowning, she said, "What about the spring outing? Why are you standing there dumbfounded? Hurry and do my makeup."

This imperial garden outing involved all the palace consorts, princes, and princesses.

Before the appointed time, people in the imperial garden had already gathered. When Ying Fusheng arrived, he saw Consort Ning from afar. Unlike when he went to Weiyang Palace to pay respects, Consort Ning's complexion was slightly better.

Consort Ning had deliberately dressed up, wearing simple plain clothes with few ornaments, but a closer look still revealed the lingering pallor on her face. Her careful styling made her look like someone recovering from a long illness, evoking sympathy.

Ying Fusheng knew that his "mother" cared most about what others thought of her.

After the Empress Dowager's punishment, she felt wronged but could only humble herself to win sympathy.

If not for her secretly sneaking glances at the crown prince while chatting with other consorts, her act would have been almost perfect.

"I see you've had some time to reflect and now seem to have cleared your mind," the Empress Dowager said, looking at her.

Consort Ning's brows had a faint bluish hue, skillfully covered by makeup. She said, "I have been fasting, chanting sutras, and praying for blessings during this period, keeping your teachings in mind."

"Good," the Empress Dowager glanced at her briefly, then her gaze fell on Ying Fusheng as he arrived. "Is Xiao Liu here?"

Ying Fusheng had been standing there for a while, watching Consort Ning's performance. After paying respects to the Empress Dowager, he walked to Consort Ning's side and softly called, "Mother."

Many eyes turned to them. Consort Ning suppressed her inner disgust, gently pulled Ying Fusheng closer, and adjusted the outer robe over his shoulders to keep out the cold, pretending to care for him. She even had Bi Zhu hand him a hand warmer. "Though it's getting warmer, take care of yourself."

The Empress Dowager glanced at Ying Fusheng and saw the child standing close to Consort Ning, who looked at him with concern. Her prejudice softened slightly. "It's late, let's go."

Empress Xu stood with the crown prince and the eighth prince. The eighth prince wanted to approach Ying Fusheng but, seeing the crown prince beside him, he stopped, occasionally glancing at Ying Fusheng. Ying Fusheng only looked at him once, then turned his attention to another person.

After two months of house arrest, the crown prince appeared much more composed, still with a gentle demeanor, but the emotional display he used to show when seeing Ying Fusheng was gone. He stayed beside Empress Xu and no longer constantly clung to the Empress Dowager as before. After the house arrest, he had become more stable. Consort Ning, who hadn't seen the crown prince for a long time, felt her pent-up frustration ease a little upon seeing him. She only dared to steal glances while keeping near Empress Xu.

After days of house arrest, Consort Ning found that instead of alleviating her longing, seeing the crown prince only intensified her desire to look at him.

Bi Zhu kept a constant watch on Consort Ning's state, occasionally covering for her mistress.

When others weren't looking, Consort Ning had already let go of Ying Fusheng's hand, and her earlier concern vanished.

Seeing the crown prince follow Empress Xu away, she unconsciously leaned forward, her pace quickening.

Bi Zhu whispered hurriedly, "My Lady!"

"Mother?" a voice called.

Consort Ning snapped out of it, realizing she had almost lost her composure. In a daze, she thought the call of 'Mother' had come from the crown prince, but when she turned around, she saw Ying Fusheng standing beside her with a worried expression. Her gaze inadvertently fell on his face. Since Huguo Temple, she couldn't sleep at night. Every time she closed her eyes, she recalled the similar features she had seen there.

Ying Fusheng had previously been frail, with a sickly complexion, often lying in bed with disheveled hair and a timid look.

But after recuperating in Ci'ning Palace, his complexion improved, the sickly pallor faded, and his features became strikingly defined. Consort Ning increasingly felt that his eyes, when he looked up at her, eerily resembled those of Empress Xu, who often looked down on her with a haughty gaze.

A faint scent of medicine wafted over—seemingly the smell coming from Ying Fusheng.

Strangely, Consort Ning stared at his face, a growing malice spreading in her eyes.

Bi Zhu noticed her lady's unusual demeanor and reminded her again, "My Lady!"

Ying Fusheng looked at her with confusion.

Consort Ning's expression gradually turned cold. Though she tried to pull herself together, her sleep had been poor during the half-month of house arrest. Thinking that the crown prince was under house arrest while Ying Fusheng was doted on, her inner anger became uncontrollable. She told herself to be patient—without evidence, no one would discover the child swap. Even if his features differed from hers, Ying Fusheng's face still resembled His Majesty's; a son looking like his father was only natural.

Just wait a little longer for Ying Fusheng to return to Weiyang Palace.

She forced herself to stay calm, following the group on their spring outing while plotting her scheme in her mind.

The Imperial Garden was vast, with a waterside pavilion at its center connected to the distant Wangyue Pavilion, and a babbling brook flowing beneath the bridge.

Ying Fusheng kept his gaze on Consort Ning. She seemed fine, but her pace kept changing—now slow, now fast. In the distance, several consorts had already turned to look, sizing her up. His nominal maternal grandfather, Vice Minister Ning, was currently at the height of his influence; even Consort Ning, punished by the Empress Dowager, had her confinement lifted early. The old Consort Ning, who never competed or drew attention, was now a thing of the past.

“Mother, are you alright?” Ying Fusheng asked, watching her.

Consort Ning feared others might notice her oddity. “I am perfectly fine, of course…”

Ying Fusheng glanced at her with a hint of worry, then shifted his gaze briefly toward the rear.

Now cautious as a startled bird, Consort Ning instinctively followed his gaze and saw several consorts covertly staring at her. She had always been careful about her reputation, bothered by the odd glances—especially after rumors spread that she had angered the Empress Dowager. This mattered more to her than ever. Seeing more than one pair of eyes appraising her, their eyes seemed to dart between her and Ying Fusheng, the composure she had barely maintained began to crack.

What were they looking at?

Why were they staring at her and Ying Fusheng? Had they discovered something?

Suddenly, there was a commotion up ahead. Consort Ning looked over.

Empress Xu, who was accompanying the Empress Dowager, turned aside. As she glanced sideways, her gaze seemed to sweep in their direction. In that instant, before her brain could catch up, Consort Ning almost immediately reached forward. Her intent was to block those probing glances, to hide Ying Fusheng's face, but her hand inadvertently brushed against Ying Fusheng as he walked. He stumbled twice, then toppled sideways.

The snow had melted, and with the warming spring, the ground was damp. Ying Fusheng seemed to slip, his hip hit the railing and he flipped backward.

Consort Ning froze, rooted to the spot.

“The Sixth Prince has fallen into the water!” a cry rang out.

Those nearby were startled, seeing the figure thrashing in the lake. Guards dove in to save him, pulling the Sixth Prince from the water. Fortunately, with so many people around, the guards acted swiftly, and he only swallowed a little water. Hearing Ying Fusheng cough and sputter, Consort Ning snapped back to reality. She hurried forward to show concern, but as she took a few steps, whether in panic or as if possessed, she saw the look in Ying Fusheng’s eyes as he turned to her. In a flashback to last winter's night, it was as if she recalled when he had looked at her with that same gaze after being pulled from the water…

Ying Fusheng stared at her, and Consort Ning’s steps faltered.

Those around saw the Sixth Prince lift his head and followed his gaze to Consort Ning, a trace of fear in her eyes.

Why was Consort Ning making that face?

Consort Ning stared fixedly at Ying Fusheng’s face, at those eyes that seemed to mock her. The Sixth Prince’s silence led others to assume he was merely frightened by the fall, but no one noticed the complete lack of mother-son affection in his eyes. No one paid him any mind—all eyes were on Consort Ning’s strange behavior.

Empress Xu immediately sent for a doctor. As she approached quickly, she saw Consort Ning standing still, her look at Ying Fusheng particularly off. If at Huguo Temple one could claim she was overwrought and dazed, then now—how could a mother’s gaze toward her child be one of hostility and fear?

Her gaze paused briefly as Consort Ning was called back to her senses by her maid. Only then did Consort Ning belatedly rush to Ying Fusheng’s side, brushing aside the onlookers to check on him.

Ying Fusheng’s eyes had already returned to normal. Consort Ning feigned concern for him, but the varied expressions of those around her were unmistakable.

“What is going on!?” The Empress Dowager looked furious, especially seeing Ying Fusheng shivering from the cold. Her reproachful eyes scanned the area.

The Imperial Garden spring outing, with so many people present—how could a prince fall into the water?

The palace maids hurriedly begged for forgiveness, while the consorts stammered. One consort whispered, “I saw Consort Ning seem to reach out, and then the Sixth Prince fell.”

Consort Ning nearly blurted out, “Nonsense!”

It was clearly that bastard who slipped on his own! Her shout was too loud, and with her recent lack of rest, her qi was weak and her blood thin, giving her retort a hint of madness.

The consort who spoke was startled and stepped back two paces. But with that outburst, many had indeed seen Consort Ning abruptly reach out. Whether she had pushed the Sixth Prince was inconclusive, but why would she suddenly extend her hand toward him? He had been walking perfectly fine…

Silence fell around them. Ying Fusheng’s eyes were half-lidded, their depths dark and unreadable.

After her shout, Consort Ning’s reason returned. She was flustered, realizing she had lost her composure, even shouting without regard for her image.

“Sister Ning, why so agitated?” Consort Yun spoke up.

Consort Ning had always been low-key in the palace. Compared to the coquettish Consort Yun, she was overly cautious and maintained good relations with many, speaking softly and gently. Now, her briefly exposed demeanor was starkly different from her usual self, and many consorts looked at her with changed eyes.

“Sister Ning’s state is not right…”

“Indeed, Sister Ning was never like this before.”

“Lately, she has been strange. Last time I went to Weiyang Palace…”

The murmurs seemed amplified, and the strange gazes felt like daggers at her back.

No, this shouldn’t be. Consort Ning was in disarray. She and Ying Fusheng were only a few steps apart. She half-knelt on the ground, and when she looked up, she saw Ying Fusheng watching her. His eyes were unusually calm, as if he had long anticipated her disgrace, with none of the usual dependence in them. Consort Ning hated this look most—it was exactly like Empress Xu’s, a gaze of condescension.

An uncontrollable anger surged within her. The nightmares of recent days had blurred her sense of reality.

“The wind is cold outside,” Empress Xu suddenly said.

The Crown Prince stepped forward: “Hurry and take the Sixth Brother to a warm place.”

Hearing the Crown Prince’s voice, Consort Ning looked up in panic, but her current state was utterly disheveled. The Crown Prince didn’t even glance at her and walked away.

The Imperial Garden was in chaos. The Empress Dowager ordered someone to care for the Sixth Prince, while Consort Ning collapsed to the ground, her gaze vacant. If earlier she had feigned concern for the Sixth Prince, now her entire demeanor was off—she looked at those around her, then at Ying Fusheng wrapped in thick robes, her expression alternating between ferocity and calm, a sight none of the other consorts had ever seen.

Even Consort Yun, who had just taunted her, frowned.

“Help Consort Ning up,” Empress Xu commanded, surveying the area. This was the Imperial Garden, surrounded by guards and maids. For a noble consort to lose her composure so publicly was a disgrace to the royal family. At her words, the palace maids acted quickly, helping Consort Ning to her feet.

The Empress Dowager’s face had darkened to its limit. Lady Yu, at her side, had already ordered a change of dry clothes for Ying Fusheng.

The wind in the Imperial Garden was strong. After clearing away the idle onlookers, the others were quickly moved to the warm pavilion of Wangyue Pavilion.

As the imperial physician arrived, another shout rang out—

“His Majesty has arrived!”

The news of the incident in the Imperial Garden had reached the Emperor immediately. When he arrived, he saw the garden in chaos, the consorts gathered, and Consort Ning in disarray.

Qi Hanzhou accompanied the Emperor, having been nearby when the incident occurred.

Now, as he approached, he saw the turmoil from afar. He entered with the Emperor, keeping his distance at the periphery, his gaze crossing the crowd to the Sixth Prince, who was wrapped in thick robes and sipping warm soup.

He looked as if he had caught a chill, his face extremely pale… If Qi Hanzhou hadn’t already noticed the matter with the Ministry of Rites and seen this man’s sharp-tongued demeanor at Huguo Temple, he too would have been deceived by this current appearance.

“What happened?” the Emperor asked.

Eunuch Rong explained softly. The Sixth Prince, just rescued and recovering, said he had slipped and fallen.

Consort Ning had never been so discomposed. In all her years in the palace, she had secured her position as a noble consort with impeccable manners and etiquette. Many had seen her reach out before the prince fell—whether she pushed or he slipped was unknown. But no one present believed it. The Empress Dowager had seen it more than once, and Empress Xu had witnessed her loss of composure at Huguo Temple. Once could be dismissed as dazed, but twice or thrice—that was no excuse.

The Empress Dowager sat among them, her face grim. The Emperor listened to the reports, his gaze falling on the kneeling Consort Ning, her hair ornaments askew, her usual dignity gone.

“Chu Taiyi,” the Emperor said, his expression unreadable, “examine the Consort.”

“Your Highness, let me take your pulse,” Chu Taiyi said, reaching for Consort Ning’s wrist.

Consort Ning didn’t know how things had come to this. She instinctively wanted to pull her hand away, but seeing the Emperor’s cold expression, she had no choice but to extend it. It was as if she finally realized this was not a dream but reality, and that her state was being doubted by all, her panic clear.

As soon as the imperial physician felt Consort Ning's pulse, his brow furrowed. He detected a lingering fragrance on her. "Your Highness, have you used anything external recently? Such as incense?"

The palace maid said that Consort Ning's recent clothing, food, and daily necessities were as usual, "but Her Highness has been frequently burning calming incense recently."

Her chambers were filled with the scent of calming incense day and night. Consort Ning now recalled that after burning the calming incense, she kept having nightmares. She felt she had found the reason for her loss of composure. "Yes, it's the calming incense... Your Majesty, please grant me justice! Someone is trying to harm me."

"Where did the calming incense come from?" the Emperor asked.

Bi Zhu, Consort Ning's maid, hesitated and then had to say, "It was sent by the Sixth Prince."

What did Consort Ning mean? That the Sixth Prince sent the incense to harm her?!

Empress Xu immediately looked at Ying Fusheng, whose face turned even paler upon hearing Consort Ning's words.

The Emperor turned his head. "Xiao Liu, is this true?"

Ying Fusheng did not deny it. Instead, he forced himself to stand steadily and explained, "I did send the calming incense to Mother. Mother has been feeling listless for a long time; the calming incense can help her sleep well... These incense sticks are the ones I use daily."

His health was poor, and he often suffered convulsions when ill. Everyone in Cining Palace knew that the calming incense was actually provided by the imperial physician. However, the Sixth Prince, concerned about Consort Ning's health, often asked the imperial physician for more calming incense to send to Weiyang Palace for Consort Ning.

Many present were well aware of this.

Consort Ning only then recalled that Ying Fusheng had frequently brought things over recently, mostly calming incense. To avoid arousing suspicion and to show her longing for her son, she would tell everyone she met about the calming incense and, to demonstrate her care for Ying Fusheng, had it lit and used it continuously.

If she insisted that the calming incense was problematic, she would be accusing her own son of harming her. "No, I didn't mean that."

But no one listened to her explanations. Consort Ning's current condition appeared almost delirious. First, her strange behavior when the prince fell into the water, then her claim that someone was trying to harm her, and now the calming incense being a gift from her own son. The other imperial consorts who had children frowned. Under normal circumstances, how could one suspect that a gift from one's own child was a harmful substance? If someone had actually poisoned something, one would typically suspect something else. No one would immediately point the finger at the calming incense like Consort Ning did.

Qi Hanzhou frowned slightly and then instructed an attendant beside him to fetch the calming incense.

Incense burners were replaced every few days. There were many incense burners in Weiyang Palace, with quite a bit of aloeswood.

The attendant brought all the incense burners from Weiyang Palace, along with unused calming incense, and handed them to the imperial physician for examination. Consort Ning and Bi Zhu stood frozen, staring at the calming incense as if facing a great enemy. The imperial physician took the incense and carefully examined it. After a while, he gave his conclusion: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the calming incense is harmless."

The calming incense was harmless, and there was nothing wrong with her clothing, food, or daily items. So where did Consort Ning's madness come from!?

"Guards, conduct a thorough search of Weiyang Palace," the Emperor ordered.

Consort Ning's face suddenly turned pale!