"Empress Dowager, what do you think is really going on here?" In the Longevity and Health Palace, Mammy Chen asked in a low voice while watching Yan Qi speaking with the imperial physician not far away.
Seated on the low couch, the Empress Dowager remained silent for a long while. Feng LingSu's pitiful appearance lingered before her eyes, and her words were all piercing to the heart. The Empress Dowager was reluctant to believe it, yet a voice deep within her mind recounted those seemingly insignificant details that now felt strangely unsettling upon reflection.
The more the Empress Dowager thought, the more chaotic her mind became. At Mammy Chen's question, she moved her lips but found herself unable to utter a single word.
Yan Qi had not entered the palace for the past two days and had truly not expected Feng LingSu's illness to have reached such a state. Feeling both guilty and fearful that the Empress Dowager might hold this against him, he naturally took every possible care. After speaking at length with the imperial physician himself, he finally returned to the Empress Dowager's side. "Imperial Grandmother, rest assured. The physician has prescribed a remedy. Once Mother Consort takes the medicine, she will recover. It's so late and yet you've made this trip. Allow your grandson to escort you back—"
The Empress Dowager did indeed feel some dissatisfaction toward Yan Qi, but his words warmed her heart slightly. "Your mother consort's condition is indeed quite serious now."
After a pause, she added, "I will send someone to watch over your mother consort to prevent any further incidents."
Even Yan Qi himself had not anticipated that Bao Die would be stabbed to death by Feng LingSu. The fact that Feng LingSu had killed a palace maid for no reason would likely tarnish her reputation if word got out. Yan Qi also did not want any more trouble in Changxin Palace, so he immediately nodded. "Imperial Grandmother's consideration is thorough. Let it be as you suggest."
The Empress Dowager nodded and turned to Mammy Chen. "Find someone capable to come to Changxin Palace and care for the Noble Consort. In the coming days, outsiders should not be allowed to enter or leave Changxin Palace arbitrarily. The Noble Consort needs peace and quiet to recuperate in her current state. As for tonight's events, make sure no one spreads rumors."
Mammy Chen acknowledged the order. Yan Qi appeared deeply grateful. The Empress Dowager slowly rose and walked to Feng LingSu's bedside. Feng LingSu had now quieted down, perhaps exhausted from the earlier commotion, her entire being exuding a fragile, dying aura. After watching her for a moment, the Empress Dowager turned and left.
Yan Qi stepped forward to escort her, but the Empress Dowager said, "There's no need to see me off. Stay here and keep your mother consort company."
When Yan Qi tried to insist, the Empress Dowager spoke decisively, "Has your father assigned you any duties recently?"
Yan Qi bowed his head. "Yes, the Emperor has tasked me and Yan Chi with searching for someone, though there is no definite news yet."
The Empress Dowager nodded and said no more. "Since it's been assigned to you, carry out your duties well. As for your mother consort... let her recuperate properly. She has worried a great deal for your sake. Visit her more often these days. She may seem somewhat confused at times, but there are moments when she is quite shrewd."
Yan Qi's smile froze momentarily, puzzled by the Empress Dowager's words. Without further explanation, she turned and left.
Seeing this, Yan Qi hurriedly bowed respectfully to see her off. After the Empress Dowager's palanquin departed from Changxin Palace, Yan Qi stood under the corridor eaves, lost in thought.
She may seem somewhat confused, but there are moments when she is quite shrewd...
These were the Empress Dowager's exact words. Yan Qi could not grasp their meaning. Was she telling him to listen to Feng LingSu? But recently, Feng LingSu had been urging him to request a fief and leave the capital. What did the Empress Dowager mean by her shrewd moments? When were those?Yan Qi's heartbeat suddenly quickened, the joy of the past few days now feeling hollow.
Feng Lingsu's illness had struck with bizarre suddenness, and then she began speaking nonsense—why?
On the way back to the Longevity and Health Palace, the Empress Dowager suddenly asked, "What is the Emperor doing?"
Mammy Chen hurriedly replied, "The palace servants went to Chongzheng Hall earlier. His Majesty was speaking with Commander Lin. The city has been searching for someone these past two days—even Prince Yan Chi was dispatched by His Majesty. With no definite news yet, His Majesty must be extremely anxious."
The Empress Dowager fell silent for a moment. "For the coming days, aside from our own palace staff, no one is to approach the Noble Consort. Our people shall personally attend to her needs."
Though this instruction had already been given earlier, the Empress Dowager was repeating it now. Mammy Chen felt a flicker of suspicion but nodded in acknowledgment. The Empress Dowager said no more, seemingly lost in thought. Upon reaching the Longevity and Health Palace, as Mammy Chen helped her alight, the Empress Dowager finally added, "Go check Chongzheng Hall again—see what arrangements the Emperor has made. Then tell him that if the Empress is found, I wish to see her."
The Empress and Crown Prince's secret flight, coupled with unrest in the north, had escalated beyond mere imperial family matters. It was highly likely that war was about to break out.
Given the Empress Dowager's temperament, she would never normally involve herself in such affairs. Yet today, she demanded to see the Empress.
Mammy Chen felt vaguely uneasy but carried out the orders. After escorting the Empress Dowager to her chambers, she turned and sent her most trusted aide to Changxin Palace. Having settled matters there, she proceeded to Chongzheng Hall. By the time she returned to the Longevity and Health Palace, it was already late. To her surprise, she found the Empress Dowager in the long-vacant study.
In her youth, the Empress Dowager had been a talented scholar, hence the study in the Longevity and Health Palace. But as she aged and her eyesight deteriorated, she rarely read or practiced calligraphy anymore. The room was dimly lit, so Mammy Chen promptly ordered three additional lamps. She discovered the Empress Dowager examining several yellowed chess manuals of the Precious Intricate Chess Game.
Mammy Chen approached and asked, "Why are you looking at these so late?"
The Empress Dowager finished flipping through two volumes page by page, then fell into a daze. Worried, Mammy Chen said, "Your Highness, what's wrong? Did the earlier outing discomfort you? If you wish to read, please do so tomorrow. It's late now—time to rest."
The Empress Dowager shook her head. "No... that's not it..."
"What? What's not it?" Mammy Chen didn't understand.
The Empress Dowager slowly rose, supporting herself on the chair's armrest, but her legs buckled halfway. Mammy Chen rushed to steady her, and upon grasping the Empress Dowager's hand, she found it drenched in cold sweat, her entire body trembling uncontrollably. Mammy Chen's heart sank, panic instantly setting in...
At Chongzheng Hall, the Emperor's expression darkened slightly after Mammy Chen departed.
Lin Zhang glanced at Yuan Qing, both perplexed and surprised.
Yuan Qing stepped forward. "The Empress Dowager holds the Empress in high regard. She likely wants to ask why the Empress acted this way."
The Emperor's furrowed brow relaxed. "Still no news from Yan Chi?"
Lin Zhang nodded. "Indeed, no news..."The Emperor and Empress Dowager rhythmically tapped the corner of the table. After a moment, the Emperor said, "For the Empress to leave the palace, there must have been someone to receive her. This person's influence cannot be small. Yet after so many days, they have vanished without a trace like clay oxen sinking into the sea—it is far too strange."
Lin Zhang opened his eyes slightly wider. "Your Majesty means... could it be that Prince Rui assisted Her Majesty the Empress?"
The Emperor pressed his lips together without speaking. After a pause, he tacitly acknowledged it and said, "Yan Chi cannot be allowed to remain."
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