Just then, the imperial physician the eunuch had gone to summon arrived.
At Emperor Mingze's signal, Eunuch Changshun stepped forward, intending to lead Jiang Yingcheng aside for the elderly physician to examine her. To his surprise, she slipped her hand into his palm as naturally as could be. That tiny fist was smaller than the steamed buns he usually ate, and its soft, cool touch felt lovely, though it also gave him quite a fright.
They looked exactly like a grandfather and granddaughter holding hands in the snow, the grandfather bending down to grip his playful little granddaughter's hand tightly for fear she might fall.
Changshun cautiously glanced back at Emperor Mingze's expression.
Emperor Mingze's cool gaze flicked briefly their way before he turned away again, his face betraying no emotion.
Having attended to Emperor Mingze's daily needs for many years, Changshun breathed a sigh of relief.
That expression meant Emperor Mingze did not mind.
Emboldened, he took the little princess by the hand and led her toward a corner. "Your Highness, watch your step."
Jiang Yingcheng looked up at his words. Her round eyes shone as she watched Changshun for a moment, then suddenly broke into a broad smile.
Changshun's heart nearly melted at that adorable smile. He was just about to say something else when a sweet, childish voice suddenly sounded in his ears.
[Ahhh, this uncle's hand is so warm.]
[He even helped Chengcheng call for a physician just now. Chengcheng likes him!]
Changshun jolted, his bewildered gaze sweeping their surroundings.
The little princess was the only little girl here, so that voice could only have come from her.
But...
He had been watching the little princess's face the entire time. He was certain she had not opened her mouth even once!
Was he seeing ghosts?!
Changshun suppressed his fear and continued along his intended path.
Yet his ear unconsciously edged much closer to the little princess.
Jiang Yingcheng did not notice Eunuch Changshun's movements at all. She was happily chatting with 007 in her mind.
007 dutifully introduced him: [Changshun, the chief eunuch who has served Emperor Mingze the longest. He enjoys Emperor Mingze's deep trust, but his fate is rather unfortunate. One careless move leaves him framed by a petty villain at his side, and he ends up dying with blood flowing from all seven orifices.]
She looked up and stole a glance at Eunuch Changshun, finding it hard to imagine what such a kindly old man would look like bleeding from all seven orifices.
Jiang Yingcheng quietly consulted 007 in her mind: [Then is there any way to keep this uncle from dying with blood coming out of all seven orifices?]
Changshun had just delivered the little princess to the physician. She obediently walked over on her own, leaving his hand hanging empty in the air. He was about to withdraw it when he heard those words, and his entire body froze on the spot.
What did she mean, bleeding from all seven orifices?
Bleeding from all seven what?
Who was bleeding?
Changshun's ears buzzed.
[Ah!] The little princess let out another startled cry.
Changshun hurriedly banished every stray thought and concentrated on listening to her inner voice.
[So he's the one who poisoned Uncle!]
Changshun hurriedly followed the little princess's gaze. A newly arrived eunuch stood there with his eyes lowered in apparent meekness, his thoughts impossible to guess.
Anger flared in Changshun's heart.
You damned cur! So you're the one who wants to poison me?!
Just wait until we get back. I'll find a chance to skin you alive!
[Mm-hmm, got it! In a little while, I'll run over to him and fall down on purpose. I'll tell Imperial Father he tripped me and have Imperial Father throw him out of the palace!]
Changshun blinked.
The little princess's sweet, childish voice was filled with innocent naivety, yet hearing it warmed him from head to toe despite the snow.
Where had this Little Princess of a fairy come from? How could she be so heartwarming?!
An affectionate smile spread across Changshun's face, and he longed to take the opportunity to stroke the little princess's fuzzy head.
As that thought crossed his mind, his hand actually rose of its own accord. By the time he came to his senses, he caught Emperor Mingze looking over out of the corner of his eye.
Panic seized Changshun's heart, and he closed his eyes in despair.
Don't trouble yourself, little princess. I might not live long enough for anyone to poison me.
Emperor Mingze turned away, an inscrutable darkness in his eyes.
The accompanying eunuchs had already stepped forward to verify that the cufflink found in the snow had fallen from the trembling eunuch. Moreover, ever since Jiang Huai'an had seen that man dragged out, he too had begun trembling slightly despite himself.
His index finger tapped against his leg, again and again.
What he knew so far was this:
He could indeed hear Jiang Yingcheng's inner voice.
Judging by the current situation, most of those kneeling on the ground could not hear it. Only Jiang Xingran's reaction seemed somewhat odd, and needed further observation.
Jiang Yingcheng seemed to be speaking with someone who could foresee the future. That ability was not limited to his own future; even Changshun's fate could be predicted. It was a very useful ability.
Something stirred in Jiang Yanchuan's heart.
An idea instantly broke through the soil.
If she truly could know everyone's deeds, she would surely save him a great deal of effort at court as well.
"Y-Your Majesty!" A shrill, trembling cry interrupted his thoughts.
The eunuch who had lost his cufflink had already been forced to his knees. Tears covered his face, along with clumps of unmelted snow.
"Your Majesty, this servant only bumped into Her Highness by accident! Please spare my life, Your Majesty!"
His whole body shook uncontrollably, so violently that even the guards restraining him could barely hold him down.
Emperor Mingze had fought for years, bringing unsurpassed glory to Great Rui, but what he was most famous for were his interrogation methods, which struck terror into people at their very mention. Every one of them made its victims wish they could kill themselves on the spot to escape the endless torment.
Even in the icy winter snow, fear had drenched him in a cold sweat.
"By accident." Emperor Mingze, who had approached him at some point and now stood over him, repeated the words as though he had heard something amusing. Then he said, "You bumped into Yingcheng by accident, yet Huai'an spent quite some time berating Xingran for it."
The implication was far too clear. Frightened, Jiang Huai'an hurriedly bowed down and knocked his forehead against the ground again. "F-Father, your son was anxious and mistakenly believed a villain's words. I truly thought Seventh Brother had caused Eleventh Sister to split her forehead, so I wanted to seek justice for her..."
The fear in Jiang Huai'an's heart was no less than the eunuch's.
He knew how deeply his Imperial Father loathed siblings turning against one another. Princes who had done such things in the past had met poor ends. His only consolation now was his Imperial Consort's high standing in the palace; his Imperial Father probably would not punish him too harshly.
Jiang Huai'an bitterly regretted his actions.
Before acting, he had carefully checked his surroundings. He had not seen his Imperial Father anywhere, which was why he had dared target Seventh Brother so brazenly. He simply did not know when his Imperial Father had arrived, or how much of what had happened he had witnessed...
Now he could only shift all the blame onto that eunuch and insist that the man had misled him, in hopes of receiving leniency.
Jiang Yanchuan gave a soft chuckle whose meaning was unclear. When he spoke again, however, there was no obvious emotion in his voice. He merely repeated Jiang Huai'an's excuse: "Anxious..."
Jiang Yingcheng was so anxious that she stamped her feet.
[Pretty Daddy, don't believe him! He was the one who sent someone to push me over so he could frame Seventh Brother!]
As she continued, her voice grew increasingly aggrieved.
[He-he never even called anyone to treat my wound. It really hurts!]
Before you continue