Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Inside the Cining Palace, the hall was thick with the scent of medicinal herbs.

The Emperor frowned slightly as he entered, spotting Ying Fusheng resting on the sickbed from afar. In just a few days, Ying Fusheng seemed to have grown thinner. Warm air surrounded him, the chamber heavy and stifling, yet he seemed oblivious, sitting there in a daze.

He waved his hand slightly, and Eunuch Rong understood, dismissing the other palace attendants. The entire bedchamber fell silent.

When he saw the Emperor, Ying Fusheng was dazed for a moment before coming to his senses. He hurriedly threw off the covers, trying to get out of bed to bow. The Emperor gestured for him to stop, and Eunuch Rong quickly went over to support him: "Your Highness, His Majesty has granted you exemption from formalities."

Ying Fusheng did not comply. He stubbornly knelt on the ground, his eyes clearly bloodshot.

A flicker of emotion passed through the Emperor's eyes. Seeing Ying Fusheng's unsteady steps as he got out of bed, he realized that congenital weakness and postnatal poisoning were, after all, different.

Over the past two days, Chu Taiyi had been using acupuncture to draw out the poison. Ying Fusheng's complexion was much paler than before. The entire hall was filled with the air of illness, yet he wore thick clothing to ward off the cold. Now, as he knelt before him, the Emperor's frown deepened: "Rise. If you kneel again, I will not spare Consort Ning either."

Ying Fusheng's expression froze. He lowered his body, his voice hoarse: "Mother endured ten months of hardship in pregnancy; the grace of giving birth is as heavy as a mountain. Without Mother, I would not exist today."

The Emperor looked at him, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.

In this small space, the furnishings in the side hall of Cining Palace were simple. Ying Fusheng had been living here ever since he started staying overnight at Cining Palace.

When he knelt motionless on the ground, his entire figure seemed even smaller.

The other princes all had their own bedchambers, but Ying Fusheng was here. His presence in this bedchamber was even less noticeable than the heavy medicinal scent. This child was sincere but also burdened with worries. The Empress Dowager had been hiding news from him these days, and he could sense something... He had always wanted to plead for Consort Ning.

The incident at Weiyang Palace had long been presented to the Emperor. From the accounts of the palace attendants, the relationship between mother and son in recent years could be pieced together. Consort Ning treated him well at times and poorly at others, yet he always remembered her kindness. Even while ill, he remembered her birthday and went to great lengths to prepare a gift for her, only for it to be casually stored away in the treasury.

The miscellaneous books in Weiyang Palace, the trinkets scattered everywhere... Whatever Consort Ning gave him, he treasured immensely.

This withdrawn, cowardly personality, which did not endear him to others, was precisely the result of Consort Ning's deliberate neglect.

The Emperor looked at this child, nearly ruined by such upbringing, stubbornly kneeling to plead for her: "Your filial piety towards your mother is known to me. Now you kneel, wanting to plead for her."

Ying Fusheng, upon hearing this, knelt prostrate. When he saw the Emperor, he seemed flustered, his hands trembling uncontrollably: "Mother is just sick. I know her crime is unforgivable, but I beg Father to spare her this once. I am willing to accompany Mother to a temple for recuperation and cultivation..."

The Emperor watched him ramble, every word and sentence revolving around Consort Ning.

The incident in the Imperial Garden was so serious, with Consort Ning going mad in front of everyone. The situation was grave. Harming a prince was a grave crime, worthy of a white silk cord. Everyone in the harem knew this matter would not end well, yet only Ying Fusheng was still pleading for his mother.

Even though Consort Ning's sins were heinous, this child still believed his mother was merely ill, not that she harbored deep hatred for him.

"Don't you hate her?" the Emperor asked.

Ying Fusheng was taken aback: "She is just sick."

The Emperor said, "You are also sick, but did she show you any pity?"

"With the toxicity of Suihongzi, if it had been just a bit stronger, you would have died at her hands years ago."

Ying Fusheng looked up in disbelief, his eyes burning. He seemed suddenly lost: "I... I don't know."

The Emperor looked at Ying Fusheng. Hatred would be the normal reaction—when relatives harm each other, even the royal family has instances of brothers killing each other for the throne. He had thought this child was too cowardly, facing his mother's poisoning with stubborn excuses.

"The world outside the palace is vast. Your brothers come and go freely, riding through mountains and rivers. At your age, you should be shining on the training grounds. But now you cannot be healthy, wearing thick clothes in spring, panting after a brisk walk. You should not have experienced any of this." The Emperor looked at him, his tone unconsciously softening: "If she had not poisoned you, you would be carefree now."

The Emperor glanced sideways, his gaze sweeping over the desk not far away, where schoolwork was stacked, but a letter lay open.

Ying Fusheng's fingertips trembled slightly. The Emperor slowly approached the desk, his eyes scanning the contents of the letter. His expression did not change, but he gently closed the letter: "Your maternal grandfather's letter is indeed heartfelt."

"You want to accompany your mother to a temple for recuperation, but your grandfather's letter does not think so." The Emperor looked at him. Previously, he thought this child was sincere, but now he felt that Consort Ning had raised him to be cowardly. He said, "You are born a prince, different from ordinary people. Some rely on you, some use you."

Ying Fusheng was startled.

The Emperor's voice softened slightly: "Those who rely on you should be appointed based on merit; those who use you should be treated as tools."

A flicker of emotion passed through Ying Fusheng's eyes. He had never expected his Father to say such things.

"You have few people around you, and no guards. After this, I will select a few people to stay by your side. From now on, no one will harm you." The Emperor bent slightly and finally reached out to help him up: "Rise. Do not mention pleading for her again."

When he heard about the guards, Ying Fusheng was momentarily surprised. Given his Father's character, he would not normally do such a thing. Before he could think further, the Emperor's hand landed on his forehead. The hand was broad, yet the touch was exceptionally gentle. He could not help but tremble, his pupils moving slightly, but only for a moment before he quickly concealed his loss of composure.

"Your filial piety is enough." The Emperor gently brushed the stray hair from his forehead to behind his ear. "I will naturally arrange her place. Now, you should focus on recovering from your illness."

The imperial physician had long been waiting outside. When Eunuch Rong called for several palace attendants to attend to the Sixth Prince's rest, the physician came in to take his pulse and administer acupuncture to help him sleep. The Sixth Prince's physical condition was already very poor today, and excessive emotional fluctuation was also detrimental. The matter of Consort Ning had always been kept from him. After a few acupuncture needles, he gradually fell into a deep sleep.

The Emperor did not leave. He stayed by his side, watching him rest until his breathing slowed.

"Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince is asleep," the physician quietly reported.

The Emperor's gaze lingered on the sleeping Ying Fusheng. He belatedly realized that he had spent too much time on this child today.

Eunuch Rong stood by the Emperor, awaiting his orders, when he suddenly heard the Emperor say, "When I comforted him, he was afraid."

The slight tremor had been quickly concealed, but to the Emperor, who had practiced martial arts for years, it was almost impossible to hide. This was not the first time. At the palace banquet, when he had asked the child to come closer, and at Wangyue Pavilion, when he approached, his breathing had changed in rhythm. But stroking the forehead was an intimate gesture. Ying Fusheng was afraid but quickly recovered. This behavior was deeply ingrained in him.

A prince, raised in luxury—why should he feel fear?

Eunuch Rong, having served the Emperor for many years, immediately understood that His Majesty was referring to Consort Ning.

Ying Fusheng's recent medical records had all been presented to the Emperor. Since learning of the Suihongzi poison, Chu Taiyi's detailed diagnosis had confirmed that Ying Fusheng had been poisoned since infancy, with the toxin having entered his organs. Plagued by the poison for years, symptoms like headaches and nausea were likely constant. Even an adult would find the poison unbearable, yet Ying Fusheng, from childhood to now, had almost grown accustomed to it.

He behaved normally, indifferent to headaches and casual about nightmares.

Without the physician's careful questioning, no one would have known the suffering he had endured for so long. Even the treating physician could not bear to see it—when such a young child was afflicted by the poison and barely survived several times, how could Consort Ning have been so heartless as to stand by?

'The poison of Suihongzi, besides causing physical weakness, may also damage the prince's mental faculties.' Chu Taiyi's report echoed in the Emperor's ears. Every word in the medical records was shocking. 'In the future, the Sixth Prince may not be as intelligent as the other princes, and abnormal behavior is also normal. We will do our best to remove the poison... but the damage already done cannot be reversed.'

Chu Taiyi had discovered that the child had become numb to pain.

In his sleep, Ying Fusheng did not rest well. When the Emperor was about to leave, he seemed restless, leaning outward. When the Emperor's hand approached, he curled up cautiously, as if wrapping himself up, as if only this could give him a sense of security.

"He has a simple nature..." The Emperor looked down at his restless form. "Leave someone to watch over him. Call the physician if necessary."

"As for the person who helped the Ning family deliver the letter, they can be dealt with." The Emperor's tone was flat.

-*

The Emperor had stayed in Cining Palace for a long time, and all the harem concubines knew about it. After the Imperial Garden incident, the Emperor had visited Cining Palace for the first time, and he had stayed for such a long time. Afterwards, he had called for the imperial physician. In the past few days, countless physicians had been stationed in Cining Palace, and even Eunuch Rong had made several extra trips.

In the harem, at Kunning Palace, Empress Xu learned of this and ordered gifts to be sent to Cining Palace.

The attitude of the Emperor and Empress made the palace concubines think twice.

Some news gradually began to leak out.

"Vice Minister Ning sent a letter to the palace? Is that true?" Consort Yun asked in surprise.

The palace maid replied, "Yes. The Sixth Prince firmly insisted on treating Consort Ning and even pleaded for her before His Majesty... Afterwards, he seemed to have fainted, and His Majesty called for the physician to treat him."

"I heard that the Sixth Prince's condition is not good. The poison of Suihongzi is fierce. An ordinary person would go mad after a few years of exposure, let alone the Sixth Prince, who is still young and has the poison in his organs. After His Majesty learned of this, he ordered the physicians not to speak of it, and even the medical records were not kept."

The palace maid did not speak explicitly, and Consort Yun understood.

Once the poison reaches the lungs, it also seeps into the brain.

Even if the Sixth Prince recovers, he might not be as sharp or intelligent as before.

Consort Yun recalled Consort Ning's behavior at Huguo Temple. She had found it strange at the time, but now she understood clearly. She had heard of such delusions, but to be this cruel to one's own child—Consort Ning was the first. She said, "How pitiful, to have a mother like that."

"And yet he still pleads on her behalf."

What was unexpected was that the Sixth Prince was so guileless and upright. While everyone else tacitly assumed that Consort Ning was beyond hope, he alone remained filial, still thinking of his malicious mother and seeking medical help for her... He had eyes only for his mother, completely missing the Ning family's hints.

Others were dwelling on Consort Ning's madness, and Vice Minister Ning's letter was intended to win over the Sixth Prince, each word coaxing him to ally with the Ning family. The Ning family wasn't foolish; knowing the Emperor wouldn't tolerate Consort Ning's condition, she would be severely punished. In such a situation, the Ning family's letter was undoubtedly an attempt to use the Sixth Prince to curry favor with His Majesty, leveraging his status in the Emperor's heart to secure a way out for the Ning family.

After all, the Sixth Prince was innocent, and the Emperor would always consider his future support.

"Just as His Majesty said... an honest child." Consort Yun dismissed the maid, sending part of the news to the First Prince outside the palace, and murmured, "Let's see how His Majesty handles the Ning family."

With the Empress and Emperor's stance, the concubines in the harem began to think more deeply. Before they could decipher the intentions of those few, the Emperor issued an edict. Every word spoke of Consort Ning's loss of virtue, with unprecedented severity. Not only was she stripped of her title of Noble Consort, but she was also sent to Wutong Hall, forbidden to leave without orders.

The Emperor considered the Sixth Prince and did not order Consort Ning's immediate execution.

But Wutong Hall was no ordinary place. For the concubines, it was a site left from the previous emperor, located in the coldest part of the palace, overgrown with weeds in years past, where only concubines who had committed grave offenses were imprisoned.

Since the Emperor ascended the throne, no consort had been punished so severely; being sent to Wutong Hall meant complete isolation. The edict mentioned the Sixth Prince's filial piety, and the Emperor, recalling that she had given birth to him, allowed imperial physicians to visit daily for diagnosis and treatment, but no one else could see her except the Sixth Prince.

These words might deceive the Sixth Prince, but they could not fool the sharp minds in the harem. Consort Ning was sent to the cold palace; even with treatment, it was a life sentence. Whether she was treated or not depended entirely on the Emperor's will. Given her actions, she had already disgraced the imperial family, unprecedented in history. Once inside this place, she could only wait to die.

Those who entered Wutong Hall either died or went mad, none met a good end.

The punishment sent chills through the concubines.

"Consort Ning is finished."

"And the Sixth Prince... with Consort Ning like this, won't he be reassigned?"

The concubines began to scheme.

His Majesty was busy with court affairs and rarely visited the harem. In recent years, no new children had been born, and all the concubines had their eyes on the Sixth Prince. Young, favored by the Emperor and Empress Dowager, and poisoned by his mother—such a child needed a foster mother most.

According to palace rules, if a prince lost his mother or his mother was punished, the young child would be raised by another concubine. Back then, the Eighth Prince's birth mother died early, and he was raised by the Empress.

Before the Emperor issued an edict, some concubines were already subtly inquiring about the situation in Cining Palace. Consort Yun even swaggered over to pay her respects, bringing many gifts for the Sixth Prince. Seeing this, other concubines followed suit, all competing to show their kindness.

The Empress had already raised the Eighth Prince, and Consort Yun had two sons of her own. There were suitable concubines in the harem, but deciding who would raise the prince was a difficult choice.

But within a few days, the Emperor ordered the Sixth Prince to live permanently in Cining Palace, to be raised by the Empress Dowager.

This edict surprised not only the harem but also the court. For a prince of the Sixth Prince's age, he still needed support from his maternal family. No one expected the Emperor to entrust him to the Empress Dowager.

While the outside world buzzed with discussions about Consort Ning's punishment and the prince's upbringing, the Empress Dowager ordered that no such rumors enter Cining Palace.

No one dared mention this matter in front of Ying Fusheng, not even the news that Consort Ning had gone mad after being sent to the cold palace.

When Ying Fusheng woke up, he learned from Song An that the Emperor had left later.

In everyone's eyes, he was supposed to appear filial and weak, the one who could only plead for mercy. When the Ning family's letter arrived, he knew his father would come, but what happened later exceeded his expectations.

The Emperor's heart was hard to fathom; in two lifetimes, he could only guess his father's intentions.

Given his father's character, there was no way he would let Consort Ning, who had harmed an imperial heir, live. The outcome was settled.

Whether he pleaded or not, it would not change his father's decision, but it could be used.

His father acted decisively, and even he, a half-grown child, could sense suspicion, let alone all the sudden developments. His maternal grandfather had been riding high in court, and now that trouble had struck, many wanted to crush the Ning family. Once Consort Ning was implicated, Vice Minister Ning could not risk the entire clan by contacting the Crown Prince. His only chance was with him.

The letter precisely stepped on his father's sore spot.

For a prince, having a strong maternal family and close ties with them made him a target of the Emperor's suspicion. But a prince without maternal support, weak and sickly... that was a completely different situation.

"Your Highness, should we put away some more of these books?" Song An asked.

Ying Fusheng came back to his senses and saw Lady Yu in the distance leading several maids moving things. The side hall was not large, but they were gradually filling it—this was the Empress Dowager's intention.

He had prepared countermeasures. If his father sent him to another concubine, he would refuse, citing Consort Ning. But he hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to step in and keep him.

She excused him from paying respects and told him to rest and recover in the hall.

He hadn't seen her much, but every corner of the side hall bore her orders.

Ying Fusheng hid the doubt in his eyes. "These are enough."

"There are still things of Your Highness's at Weiyang Palace. Lady Yu has sent people to fetch them." Song An was enthusiastic and energetic while tidying up.

Ying Fusheng found it pointless to argue, so he didn't say anything.

He watched the busy people in the hall for a long time until the sky outside grew dark, and they finally withdrew.

"Things will be old in two years," Ying Fusheng said.

Song An replied, "Lady Yu said that whatever a prince should have, Your Highness will have. From now on, Cining Palace will have a young prince living here permanently."

Ying Fusheng's face reddened slightly. After playing the role of a child for so long, he couldn't take this for granted. "I'm not little."

Song An said, "Huh?"

Ying Fusheng didn't answer him, just stared at the new bedding for a long time without coming back to himself.

Just a set of bedding—why was he feeling strange about it? How odd.

Song An and the others soon withdrew, letting Ying Fusheng rest.

After drinking his medicine, Ying Fusheng was about to lie down when he stopped.

"Your Highness, the guards sent by His Majesty have arrived," a maid outside announced.

-*

The Emperor had appointed guards for the Sixth Prince. Among the current princes, only the Crown Prince had guards appointed by the Emperor; the others chose their own attendants.

In Consort Yun's palace, the news arrived as she was arranging flowers. Upon hearing the maid's report, her expression shifted slightly: "Sending guards to the Sixth Prince... His Majesty truly favors him greatly."

"No hurry. Just inform our prince of this."

Consort Yun said, "The ones who should be anxious are not us, but the Crown Prince. Once the First Prince hears the news, he will know what to do."

The matter of the Emperor specially appointing two guards for the Sixth Prince quickly spread through the harem and even to the court. Now the entire court was watching the Ning family's disgrace. Before the trouble, Vice Minister Ning had been riding high, praised by colleagues, and was even considered a potential replacement for the Minister of Rites.

The Shen family had been very worried about the Sixth Prince's situation in the palace. When the matter of the Emperor sending guards came down, Shen Changcun breathed a sigh of relief. Ever since the military pay case, he knew that the prince's relationship with the Ning family was poor, and the Ning family had often made trouble for him in court. After the military pay case, the prince had sent a letter that saved the Shen family and made Shen Changcun understand everything clearly.

"In the coming days, when you enter the palace, show concern for the prince, but don't do anything more," Shen Changcun instructed.

Shen Yunfei hesitated slightly: "And what about the prince's side..."

Shen Changcun said: "Don't worry, the prince has his own way to handle this."

The Shen family did not make much of a stir, but many court officials turned their attention to the Sixth Prince. The Sixth Prince was not assigned to any other consort, but to the Empress Dowager. Although the Empress Dowager held that title, her family was a maternal clan, and the Xiao family had produced an emperor. If the Sixth Prince sought to contend for the throne, the Xiao family might also support another emperor.

While the court officials were discussing this, Hu Buyu saw the Shen family's movements and, after hearing the officials' remarks, was lost in thought.

Since the Empress Dowager had taken charge, the Ning family would be finished.

The matter of the Emperor assigning personal guards to the Sixth Prince made the court cautious for a while. Not long after, someone in the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial against Ning Shilang, picking out faults in his past duties.

After Consort Ning's incident, the Emperor severely punished the Ning family.

Now Consort Ning had erred, and the Emperor assigned personal guards to the Sixth Prince. The meaning behind this—these old foxes in the court could not fail to understand: the Emperor was clearly separating the Sixth Prince from the Ning family. After all, how could the Emperor be free of resentment against the Ning family when such a poisonous woman had poisoned the prince?

For a time, before the Emperor even handed down punishment on the Ning family, some people were already seeking to move against them.

The fire that had originally targeted only the Minister of Rites quickly spread to the Ning family. Ning Shilang was overwhelmed by his own troubles and, instead, suffered pressure from the First Prince's faction, who were now eager to use other matters as a stepping stone for the Minister of Rites. Gradually, news spread in the court that both the Minister of Rites and his deputy were corrupt, both complicit in embezzlement and bribery.

The Ning family was in a panic, seeking help everywhere but finding no way out. Someone submitted a memorial, and the Emperor immediately dismissed Ning Shilang from his post. Other Ning collateral officials in the court were also affected—some were dismissed, some were demoted... In the past, when the Ning family made mistakes, the Emperor had never been so angry. This time, everyone knew the Ning family was finished.

When the news reached the Crown Prince, he was studying his lessons. At the words, his pen slipped, splattering a large blot of ink. His father had actually assigned guards to him—why could he enjoy such special treatment from his father?

These past days, Consort Ning's affair was spreading like wildfire. Clearly, his father disliked the Sixth Brother's cowardly character the most. As a royal son, he had no other ability besides a sincere heart, which his father praised; even the Eighth Prince was better than him. Why did his father favor him so much!

"Your Highness is tired; rest for today." A voice came from beside him.

The Crown Prince was startled, and his heart trembled. He looked up and saw an old man walking in from the doorway—to his surprise, it was Grand Secretary Xu!