Chapter 49 Helping You Safeguard the Kingdom

"Yao'er".

Suddenly, a voice that sounded both unfamiliar and familiar came from behind.

Tianyao came to her senses, slowly straightened up, and was about to raise her hand to wipe away the tears on her face when a very soft, pure white handkerchief suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Use this."

Xie Mingyuan held a handkerchief in his hand and handed it to Tianyao, speaking in a very low voice.

Tianyao slowly turned her head, her gaze shifting from the handkerchief to Xie Mingyuan's face.

His face was full of worry, and it didn't seem fake.

"Thanks."

Tianyao withdrew her gaze, lowered her eyes, took the handkerchief, and, with her head down, wiped away her tears little by little.

"Yao'er".

A somewhat unfamiliar yet familiar voice called out from behind me again.

Tianyao's expression shifted.

She remembered who the voice belonged to.

It was her adoptive mother, the Imperial Concubine.

Three years ago, after she got married, she never saw her adoptive mother again.

Her adoptive mother never summoned her.

Their relationship is the closest in the world, but in reality they are not close at all.

The Empress Dowager never treated her as her own daughter, and she never regarded the Empress Dowager as her own mother.

She stood up, turned her head, looked at the Empress Dowager, her face calm and her tone even, and asked as she gazed at the Empress Dowager.

"What's up?"

"Yao'er, the matter of poisoning His Majesty has nothing to do with your mother. Can you ask these people to release your mother?"

"Your mother won't cause you any trouble."

When the Dowager Consort saw that Tianyao was finally paying attention to her, she hurriedly spoke up, her attitude extremely polite.

She had just witnessed Yao'er personally kill the Empress Dowager, so she dared not act arrogantly anymore.

Tianyao stood still, a considerable distance between herself and the Empress Dowager. After a moment of contemplation, she suddenly asked.

Why are you suddenly getting involved in my selection of male concubines?

“Three years ago, when I was choosing a husband and getting married, you didn’t get involved at all.”

The Empress Dowager's lips moved, but she didn't utter a single word.

She hadn't originally intended to get involved; she just wanted to live out her days in the palace. His Majesty, considering she was Yao'er's mother, hadn't been stingy with her food, clothing, or other necessities.

However, a few days ago, the Empress Dowager suddenly came to see her personally and said that she, as the mother, should pay more attention to the child.

Then, he said he had selected sixteen handsome men for her to give to Yao'er when she was choosing male concubines.

Since the Empress Dowager had said so, she couldn't refuse, so she accepted. Little did she expect that such a big thing would happen.

Her words hurt Yao'er's feelings and also indicated that she had contact with the Empress Dowager.

If the person who poisoned her is among the sixteen people she gave to Tianyao, then it won't be too late for her to bring it up.

If the person who poisoned Tianyao wasn't among the sixteen people she sent there, wouldn't revealing this mean she might be an accomplice of the Empress Dowager?

"Put them all in the imperial prison. Arrange a comfortable cell for the Empress Dowager and the Consort Dowager. Don't let the Empress Dowager die. Their crimes can be judged when His Majesty wakes up."

"The Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate shall jointly try this case and make sure it is thoroughly investigated."

Seeing that the Empress Dowager remained silent, Tianyao guessed that there was something going on, so she didn't ask. She raised her eyes and looked at the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review who had arrived at some point, as well as Ming Shendu and Yan Qingyan who were already present, and gave an order in a cold voice.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Upon hearing this, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the Minister of Justice, and the Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate knelt on one knee and accepted the order.

"Carry His Majesty to the Jingxin Hall, and be sure to move him gently."

After speaking, Tianyao turned around, looked at the guards beside her, and gave the order again.

The guards had already prepared a very soft stretcher. Upon hearing this, they hurriedly went to Tianheng's side, and more than a dozen people worked together to lift Tianheng onto the stretcher with extremely gentle movements.

Then, they lifted the stretcher and walked towards the Jingxin Hall. Tianyao immediately followed, staying close to Tianheng.

A moment later, the once crowded venue for selecting male concubines was suddenly left with only Xie Mingyuan, Xiao Yelan, and Qin Ge.

Xie Mingyuan, Xiao Yelan, and Qin Ge are also somewhat suspicious, just like Ming Shendu and Yan Qingyan. However, the princess trusts all five of them.

Didn't you see that Ming Shendu and Yan Qingyan were directly involved in the trial of this case?

Therefore, neither the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Ming Shendu, nor Yan Qingyan mentioned anything about imprisoning Xie Mingyuan, Xiao Yelan, and Qin Ge.

"I'm going to patrol the palace and the imperial city."

Xiao Yelan said something in a deep voice, then turned and left.

Qin Ge raised his hand, scratched his head, and looked somewhat at a loss: "I...I'm going to the Jingxin Palace to protect His Majesty and Princess."

After saying that, he ran straight to the Jingxin Hall.

Xie Mingyuan stood there for a while, then suddenly turned around and walked toward the Jingxin Hall with a very solemn expression.

Given the gravity of His Majesty's poisoning, and the complex and diverse composition of the palace staff, the possibility of the news leaking out is extremely high.

If the three princes on the border find out, who knows what trouble will ensue?

Most importantly, His Majesty doesn't know when he will wake up. What will happen to the Great Wei Kingdom if His Majesty remains unconscious?

If any of these matters are not handled properly, they could lead to the downfall of the Great Wei Kingdom. Therefore, we must make sure that all measures are in place.

He can't handle it alone; he needs to consult with others.

But with whom should we consult?

There was no one else but Her Highness the Princess.

Furthermore, His Highness the Princess's actions after His Majesty's poisoning had, to be honest, shocked and astonished him greatly.

At that time, he even had an absurd, terrifying, and audacious idea.

If Her Highness the Princess were a man, then the ruler of the Great Wei Kingdom might not be the current Emperor.

Soon, Xie Mingyuan arrived at the entrance of the Jingxin Hall.

What brings you here?

Qin Ge stood in front of the Jingxin Hall, holding a sharp sword in his hand, and asked, his tone somewhat irritated.

Qin Ge didn't want to see him?

Why?

Because both he and Qin Ge were the princess's male favorites?

Strictly speaking, is she a rival in love?

Xie Mingyuan raised his eyebrows, thinking.

This was the only reason he could think of, because before this, he and Qin Ge had no connection whatsoever.

"It's none of your business."

He had no intention of cultivating a good relationship with Qin Ge anyway, so he gave a curt reply and turned to look at his father-in-law standing to the side.

"Your Excellency, please inform her that I wish to see Her Highness the Princess."

"Okay, just a moment."

Upon hearing this, the eunuch nodded, turned around, and entered the Jingxin Hall.

At this moment, in the courtyard of the Jingxin Hall, a group of imperial physicians were kneeling. They were exchanging whispers, occasionally flipping through medical books, while some were continuing to brew medicinal soup.

They are here, on standby, ready to be summoned at any time.

As he walked by, none of the imperial physicians even glanced at him.

He didn't mind, pushed open the door, walked into the room, stood outside the inner room door, and quietly announced.

"Your Highness, Prime Minister Xie requests an audience."

Inside the room, Tianyao sat on a chair, guarding Tianheng's bedside, her eyes fixed on him, afraid that she wouldn't notice any reaction from him.

Upon hearing this, she pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and replied softly.

"Bring him in."

"yes."

The father-in-law replied respectfully.

Shortly after, Xie Mingyuan entered the room and stood in front of the inner room door, which was closed.

"Your Highness, news of His Majesty's poisoning has most likely spread beyond the palace. The three princes are very likely to cause trouble. We hope Your Highness will take measures as soon as possible."

"Furthermore, if His Majesty remains unconscious, there is a high probability that the border states will also make unusual moves, and Your Highness should also make preparations to deal with it as soon as possible."

After Xie Mingyuan finished speaking, there was no response from the inner room.

Just as Xie Mingyuan was thinking about repeating himself, the door suddenly opened.

"Summon Qin Ge."

Tianyao looked exhausted, but her eyes were unusually sharp, and her voice was very soft.

Xie Mingyuan is right. We must be prepared to deal with these things. While Heng-gege is in a coma, she will definitely help him protect his kingdom.

Tianyao gripped the door frame slightly tighter, silently making up her mind.