A Visit
Recently, it has been gathering information for Zhao Ruxi. Although the points earned from each piece of information are not many, they add up, and it can still earn tens of thousands of information fees a day. It will soon have enough points to upgrade again. Therefore, the system is very proactive in gathering information.
Xiao Lingheng's plan was meticulously crafted and executed. The assassination of the Emperor and the poisoning of Xiao Lingyan were carried out simultaneously, at dusk, when the light was gradually dimming and people were most relaxed after a long day's work. However, unexpectedly, due to Xiao Lingyan's reminder, Eunuch Xie and his men were on guard, and the plan failed.
The emperor's assassination, the crown prince's suicide, the Third Prince's imprisonment, and the Fifth Prince's poisoning and coma—each of these was a major, earthquake-level event. Leaving aside others, those concerned only with the crown prince and the Third Prince would immediately rush to inquire and obtain news.
Therefore, these events occurred in the evening, and by the time people went to bed, the news had already reached the homes of several princes' maternal relatives, and it did not stop spreading due to the curfew.
By the time of the morning court the following day, everyone knew.
The officials were in uproar, and the entire court was shocked.
When the emperor arrived at court, the chief eunuch Eunuch Xie announced the punishment for the crown prince.
The crown prince's title was stripped, he was buried as a commoner, his family was imprisoned, all of his family's titles and rights were revoked, and they were demoted to commoners. Therefore, the nobles and officials who participated in the rebellion and framing were punished for their crimes.
With such a major incident occurring, the court officials dared not submit memorials discussing trivial matters. Only a few ministers stepped forward, enumerating the crimes of several ministers who were subordinate to the Crown Prince. They pressed their advantage, severely punishing those who had fallen into disgrace, and ultimately brought down the ministers who were subordinate to the Crown Prince.
Although the crown prince was drugged, he still harbored thoughts of rebellion and patricide. To prevent these people from avenging the crown prince and harming other princes, all the ministers' appeals were granted.
After the court session, some ministers whispered among themselves to officials they were on good terms with, "Why is the Emperor still like this? Although Prince of Ming entered the palace under the pretext of rescuing the Emperor, why did the Crown Prince go mad? How did he get out of prison so easily and even run into the palace to assassinate the Emperor? Given the irreconcilable enmity between Prince of Ming and the Crown Prince, Prince Ming should have killed the Prince of Ming as soon as he was imprisoned. How could he have let him escape so easily?"
"Furthermore, why was Prince of Qi poisoned at the exact moment when the Crown Prince was forcing the throne and Prince of Ming was coming to his rescue? I simply refuse to believe that Prince of Ming didn't have any influence in this."
"Shh, watch your words. The Emperor is merciful; the fate of the empire is still uncertain. Don't risk being beheaded for inappropriate remarks."
The ministers dared not speak, but no one could stop their inner murmurs.
The Crown Prince's faction was in a state of fear, so naturally no one went to the Emperor to seek justice for the Crown Prince or to demand punishment for the Third Prince.
After the court session ended, Wu Huaisi thought for a moment and then sent someone to deliver a message to Zhao Ruxi, informing her that the Prince of Qi had been poisoned and fallen into a coma.
When the news arrived, Zhao Ruxi was in the old lady's courtyard. Upon hearing the news, both the old lady and Lady Zhu were startled.
Zhao Ruxi called Lu Yun into the room and said, "Go tell the person who came that I want to visit Prince of Qi. Have my senior brother or master send someone to inquire whether it's appropriate."
Xiao Lingyan has only been unconscious for a day and a half, and the Imperial Medical Bureau is certainly still trying to find a way to treat him. When they are at their wits' end, Noble Consort Cen will surely remember her.
For people in a vegetative state, the best approach is stimulation.
Rather than having Noble Consort Cen send someone to summon her later, she might as well take the initiative to visit Xiao Lingyan, which would also earn her some goodwill in front of everyone.
Of course, she also had Xiao Lingyan on her mind.
After Lu Yun left, the old lady repeatedly said, "Yes, yes, you should go and see him. After all, you are engaged, and the fate of Prince of Qi is uncertain. You cannot remain silent."
It wasn't until evening that someone arrived outside the mansion, saying that they were sent by Noble Consort Cen to take Zhao Ruxi to the palace.
After Xiao Lingyan poisoned, Noble Consort Cen worried that someone might harm Xiao Lingyan again. Upon hearing the news, she consulted Xiao Ge and had Xiao Lingyan moved into the palace, where her people guarded him day and night.
Before getting into the carriage, Zhao Ruxi made a point of confirming that the palace maid who was supposed to pick her up was one she had seen before, who was also serving Noble Consort Cen.
Upon arriving at the palace, they changed into sedan chairs, and after another twenty minutes or so, the sedan chairs finally came to a stop.
Zhao Ruxi was led into the courtyard by a palace maid.
This is Xiao Lingyan's residence in the palace. He is not yet married. Although he has built a mansion outside, he still keeps his residence in the palace, and he will come back to stay from time to time.
When Zhao Ruxi entered the room, she saw Noble Consort Cen sitting in front of the bed, staring blankly at the person on the bed.
Upon hearing the palace maid's report, she snapped out of her reverie, stood up, and gave Zhao Ruxi a stiff smile, "You've come."
Zhao Ruxi bowed to her and then followed her gaze to the person on the bed.
Xiao Lingyan lay motionless on the bed, his face pale and lifeless.
She asked softly, "What did the imperial physician say?"
Noble Consort Cen said, "The imperial physicians have never seen this poison before and are helpless. His Majesty has issued an order to summon renowned doctors from across the country to treat Little Five."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but shed tears.
Xiao Lingpu had just had his finger cut off and barely survived; two days later, Xiao Lingyan was poisoned. This was a devastating blow to a mother. Not to mention the disaster that would befall the Cen Family if Xiao Lingyan couldn't be cured and another prince ascended the throne.
In just a few days, Noble Consort Cen lost a lot of weight, and her youthful appearance, which she had maintained through pampered living, began to show signs of aging.
"Little Five, Zhiwei come to see you. Wake up quickly." Noble Consort Cen leaned down and whispered in Xiao Lingyan's ear.
She was desperate and grasping at straws. Knowing that her son liked Zhao Zhiwei, she hoped that her son would react if he heard that Zhao Ruxi was coming.
No matter what she said, Xiao Lingyan didn't react.
"Why don't you talk to him?" Noble Consort Cen stood up. "Say something intimate to him; maybe the stimulation will wake him up."
With that, she walked out.
Zhao Ruxi knew that not only Xiao Lingyan's people were here, but also Noble Consort Cen's people. Her every word and action would be reported to Noble Consort Cen in a short while.
She had to act, so she sat down on the edge of the bed and softly called out, "Your Highness, I'm here."
"Our wedding day is in a few days. How can we arrange the marriage if you're like this? Please wake up."
"Do you remember what you told me? You said you also liked tinkering with those mechanisms, and if we got married, we could study these things together. Now that you're like this, what am I supposed to do alone?"
Fortunately, she had enjoyed reading novels in her spare time in her previous life, so she was able to come up with some lines that fit her and Xiao Lingyan's characters.