Chapter 60 Could it be that he has regained his sight? ...

The Taoist priest Yuanzhen disappeared without a trace, and King Xuan insisted that he had been framed. In the end, the Fu family sent a bodyguard to impersonate the engraver and take the blame.

How could a mere craftsman dare to commit a capital offense of treason? Emperor Yongcheng knew perfectly well that it must have been the Ning or Fu family who had put forward the scapegoat. Prince Xuan was still suspended from his post and placed under house arrest, and the case was transferred to the Northern Garrison for further investigation.

King Xuan vehemently denied the allegations, so the investigation could only begin with the lone craftsman. The Northern Garrison investigated the Ning and Fu families late at night, and found evidence in the study of Grand Secretary Fu Min that he had promoted his protégés and cultivated his cronies over the years.

Over the years, Fu Min's protégés have spread throughout various ministries, judicial departments, and key departments across the country. In his letters, he has provided precise guidance to his protégés on how to submit memorials, how to seize opportunities to make contributions, and how to gain a voice. He has even exchanged evidence of his political enemies and encouraged officials to impeach him.

To put it mildly, it's about instructing students; to put it more seriously, it's about favoritism, corruption, and forming cliques to suppress dissent.

Although Fu Min was not the kind of person who would abuse his power, he had many disciples and was highly respected. Many members of the Fu family held important positions in the court. Emperor Yongcheng originally intended to use the Embroidered Uniform Guard to suppress and weaken him, but unexpectedly, Yan Xuecui actually found these letters.

The entire court and the public were gripped by fear. Those who were on good terms with the Fu family were afraid of being accused of forming cliques for personal gain, while their political enemies were afraid that their names and incriminating evidence would appear on those letters. In addition, the Embroidered Uniform Guard conducted a city-wide search, and officials were successively imprisoned. Everyone was on edge, walking on thin ice.

Meanwhile, Lady Yin lived in constant fear, but eventually could not contain herself any longer. When she went to visit Chi Yingyue, she dismissed everyone and quietly informed her that Prince Xuan had been suspended from his post and placed under house arrest.

Chi Yingyue was shocked upon hearing this: "Confinement?"

No wonder the Prince Xuan didn't come to see her even once during her postpartum period; such a serious incident had occurred.

Chi Yingyue was extremely anxious: "Why is he under house arrest? Isn't the Ning family very powerful? Isn't the Princess's grandfather the Grand Secretary? Why aren't these people helping him?"

Madam Yin said helplessly, "The Ning family was beheaded or demoted because of Prince Rong's rebellion. The Emperor also found out that Chief Minister Fu was forming cliques and engaging in corruption. We don't know how he will be dealt with yet."

Chi Yingyue pounded the bed in anger: "What kind of Grand Secretary and Minister are they? I think they're just a bunch of good-for-nothings!"

After saying this, she was overcome with grief again, grabbed Yin's hand, and said with red eyes, "Mother, what should I do? Please give me some advice... Prince Xuan is imprisoned. Will His Majesty forgive him? I have lost my child. If he can't become emperor in the future, what will I do? Am I supposed to hide here and waste my life?"

Lady Yin could only lament the unpredictability of life. She had thought that her daughter's fortunes would turn around and that she would become the mother of the eldest prince and be granted the title of Imperial Concubine. However, everything changed overnight, and all her efforts were in vain.

On the contrary, the illegitimate daughter who was married in place of Yingyue is now living a life of ease and is being pampered, but all of this originally belonged to Yingyue!

Chi Yingyue, quick-witted, said, "Isn't Chi Ying always wanting to switch back with me? How about..."

The mother and daughter exchanged a glance, realizing they were thinking the same thing.

Madam Yin carefully examined her daughter. After the miscarriage, her body had weakened, and she was thinner and more frail than before. With light makeup, she looked almost exactly like Chi Ying now.

“But…” Madam Yin hesitated, “If we had switched back a few months ago, we might have been able to get away with it. But now that Chi Ying has been with Prince Zhao for half a year and I’ve heard that she is deeply favored, how could Prince Zhao not notice if there’s a change in his bedmate? Besides, don’t you also dislike that Prince Zhao is blind?”

Chi Yingyue was in tears. "What should we do? Am I supposed to hide here forever and just watch Chi Ying rise to power and trample on us?"

Madam Yin patted her hand: "Don't worry, your mother will think of a way."

Recalling the fleeting glimpse of King Zhao on the day of the Spring Festival, when he was incomparably handsome and had an otherworldly charm, Chi Yingyue couldn't help but say, "Actually, being blind is fine too. It's not like he's crippled. He has servants to take care of his food, clothing, and daily life. I don't need to worry about him..."

She looked at Madam Yin with longing, and Madam Yin was persuaded by her.

I heard that Prince Zhao now commands the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which means he has great power and his fortunes have turned around.

However, Lady Yin was still uneasy: "But your personalities are completely different, and she has served Prince Zhao for half a year. If she is suddenly replaced, wouldn't that arouse suspicion?"

Chi Yingyue hurriedly said, "If we really have to switch back, I will definitely restrain my temper and learn her mannerisms. She will have to tell me all the details of our interactions over the past six months, and I will remember them all!"

After thinking it over again and again, Madam Yin said, "This matter is of great importance. I will go back and discuss it with your father."

After returning to the manor, Madam Yin expressed her thoughts, and as expected, the Earl of Changyuan looked disapproving and was even alarmed by the unpredictable antics of the mother and daughter.

"Deceiving the king once wasn't enough, you had to take the risk of bringing him back? Do you think King Zhao is a fool? After spending half a year together, how could he not tell the difference between his wife and his lover?"

Madam Yin tried to persuade him: "It's not necessary to change immediately. Yingyue's health still needs further recuperation. We can find a suitable opportunity later. Before changing her, have that girl Chi Ying tell Yingyue all the details of our interactions over the past six months. Yingyue can then learn eight or nine parts of her gentle and submissive manner, acting coquettishly and serving her well. Prince Zhao is blind, so even if he has some doubts, a few intimate moments between husband and wife will dispel them. Then, we can have Xiangqin help cover it up a bit..."

Changyuan Bo still felt it was inappropriate, but Madam Yin said urgently, "You know that our family has committed the crime of deceiving the emperor. If we don't bring her back, we will live in fear for the rest of our lives, afraid that we will be exposed one day. Everyone will be happy if we return to our rightful place. Yingyue will no longer need to live a life of hiding. The position of Princess Zhao originally belonged to her. Isn't it only right and proper to take it back?"

Changyuan Bo paced back and forth in the room, and said, "Let's wait and see. Until the very end, no one knows what will happen to King Xuan. If we switch back and then King Zhao dies a violent death, wouldn't all our efforts have been in vain?"

Madam Yin then calmed down and said, "That's true."

Everyone initially thought that Prince Rong would become the crown prince, but he died in a coup. Later, everyone thought it would be Prince Xuan, but he was imprisoned, and the Ning and Fu families fell from power.

The struggle for imperial power is a back-and-forth affair; who can guarantee that they will have the last laugh?

Prince Xuan's residence.

The incident involving the Fu family dealt another blow to Prince Xuan. By this time, Prince Xuan was slowly realizing that the calm and tranquility had been disrupted, all starting with Yan Xuecui taking over the Northern Garrison Command.

The mother was found to be using aphrodisiacs, the Prince Rong, who had been imprisoned for two years, suddenly rebelled, and both the Ning and Fu families were brought down. He was also found to have hidden runes in the palace... Since Yan Xuecui took charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, everything they had painstakingly built was crumbling.

If it were possible that Yan Xuecui was targeting Rong Wang to avenge Ding Wang, then it would be understandable, since he had not offended Rong Wang. However, Yan Xuecui wanted to wipe out his mother and the Ning and Fu families in one fell swoop. After thinking it over, Xuan Wang could only think of one reason—he wanted to seize the throne.

But he was blind, practically disabled. How could his father pass the throne to him? There had never been a blind person to ascend the throne before. How could he review memorials and govern the country if he couldn't even see?

Could it be... that he has regained his sight? Or has he been pretending to be blind all along?

Upon considering this possibility, King Xuan felt a chill creeping into his very bones.

Yan Xuecui is truly a master strategist. First, he keeps his father from being on guard against him, entrusting him with important responsibilities. He then uses his position to gradually dismantle their power. In the future, when the princes are either dead or imprisoned, and his father only has him as a son capable of shouldering great responsibilities, he can then restore his father's power and secure his position as crown prince... That's how it will be!

Otherwise, it's hard to explain how he managed to evade the frequent assassination attempts over the years, how he was able to manage the Northern Garrison with such ease, how he was adept at investigating cases and apprehending criminals, and how he never seemed to have any difficulties during operations.

Thinking of this, King Xuan immediately sent his trusted confidant to meet with his uncle Ning Sheng in private, asking him to thoroughly investigate the matter.

Ning Sheng had previously sent assassins to kill Yan Xuecui multiple times without success, and had also had such suspicions. He sent people to investigate the Prince Zhao's residence at night several times, and also privately reviewed the medical records of the Imperial Hospital. The conclusion he reached was that Yan Xuecui had not yet regained his sight.

But this is just speculation. The case could be faked, or perhaps he was a skilled actor and had been pretending to be blind all along.

When the Prince Xuan found that the secret investigation had yielded no results, he could only try to expose Yan Xuecui's lies in public, so that his father could see clearly how Yan Xuecui concealed the truth, used cunning and sob stories to gain his trust, and how he had plotted step by step to secretly harm his brothers.

But he is still under house arrest and needs a more suitable person to reveal the truth for him.

After much deliberation, King Xuan finally thought of someone.

...

The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner.

The Empress has been in poor spirits these days, tossing and turning every night, unable to sleep. She asked the imperial physician to prescribe a calming medicine, but it has not helped for a long time. In addition, there are constant upheavals in the court, so the annual Mid-Autumn Festival banquet has been changed to a family banquet and entrusted to Consort Yi to prepare.

The Empress, Consort Li, and Prince Xuan and his wife were absent from this family banquet, so there were not many people present. It would be unreasonable for Chi Ying to refuse again, so the two of them went to the palace to attend the banquet as scheduled.

When Chi Ying met Princess Yu Xi, she inquired about the Empress's illness.

Princess Yu Xi looked worried: "The imperial physician said that Mother Empress is overworked, which has caused her to be restless and unable to sleep at night. Perhaps she will get better after resting for a while."

Chi Ying nodded, and the two sat down at the table.

Because of the constant affairs of the imperial court and the inner palace, no noisy singing and dancing were arranged today. The princes, princesses, and consorts toasted Emperor Yongcheng one after another.

After several rounds of drinks, Prince Qing seized an opportunity to step forward and bow to Emperor Yongcheng, saying, "Your Majesty, as I mentioned to you before, I have come across a folk healer who is quite skilled in treating eye ailments. Today, I have specially invited him to the palace to treat my seventh brother. He is already waiting outside the hall. May I ask if it is permissible to summon him inside?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a barely perceptible chill flashed in Yan Xue's cold, ashen eyes.

Chi Ying was delighted to hear this; it would be wonderful if his eyes could be healed soon.

Emperor Yongcheng raised his hand and smiled, "Then please invite them in."

Yan Xuecui stood up and said, "Thank you, Father and Prince Qing. However, even the imperial physicians are helpless with my eyes, and I'm afraid that doctors in the common people are also powerless to help."

Emperor Yongcheng: "Since everyone's here, there's no harm in giving it a try."

Prince Qing also turned his head and said, "That's exactly what I meant too."

A slight smile appeared on Yan Xue's lips, and she nodded in agreement.

When Prince Qing met those gray, indifferent eyes, devoid of any smile, his body stiffened and trembled slightly.

Based on his experience, he really couldn't tell whether Yan Xuecui was truly blind or pretending to be blind. However, on the surface, he meant well by asking a divine physician to treat Yan Xuecui. If he really couldn't see, it would just mean one more person treating him. If he was pretending to be blind, then he was deceiving his father and would suffer the consequences of his own actions.

The chief eunuch Kang Fu left the palace to deliver an oral decree. The divine physician mentioned by Prince Qing, dressed in a green robe and carrying a medicine chest, entered the palace, bowed to Emperor Yongcheng and the others, and introduced himself as Shao Shouyuan, a native of Hebei.

Yan Xuecui closed her eyes and clearly heard that this person had deliberately concealed his aura. His footsteps were quick and light, and his skills were probably at the level of the bodyguards around him.

Emperor Yongcheng gestured and said, "Divine Physician, take a look. Is there any way to cure Prince Zhao's eyes?"

Shao Shouyuan stepped forward, cupped his hands to Yan Xuecui, and said, "Your Highness, please allow me to examine you."

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Author's Note: Prince Qing: Am I going to get my lunchbox too? [question mark]