Chapter 87 A Secret Relationship

Yan Jinyue swallowed the antidote with trembling hands, her hands gripping the bedsheets tightly, her forehead and the back of her hands covered in a pale, cold sweat.

Several imperial physicians stood not far from the bed, watching Yan Jinyue's reaction closely. Even though they were certain that the antidote pill was harmless, they were still very cautious, fearing that something might happen to the sixth princess.

After a while, Yan Jinyue's abdominal cramps finally subsided. She slowly loosened her grip on the bedsheets, her palms already soaked with sweat. One of her fingernails on her right hand was broken, and faint traces of blood were seeping out.

Chu Yunjin asked the imperial physician for gauze and wine. She used the wine to clean the cracked part of her nail and then carefully bandaged it with gauze.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Yan Cang gathered all the palace maids of Zhaoyang Palace together and asked them one by one about Yan Jinyue's diet over the past few days. The maids were already terrified and were afraid of being punished, so they answered tremblingly.

Yan Cang quickly determined that Yan Jinyue had eaten both meals at Shou'an Palace that day. After returning to Zhaoyang Palace, she hadn't even had time to eat snacks or drink water. In the short time it took to wash up, she started to feel pain in her abdomen. The palace maid suggested that she go and fetch the imperial physician, but Yan Jinyue was worried that calling the imperial physician would make the Empress Dowager suspicious, so she endured it for a while.

Unexpectedly, the pain worsened until it became unbearable, causing her to writhe in agony on the bed. Only then did she summon the imperial physician and the Empress Dowager, and also leave the palace to call Yan Cang over.

Yan Cang walked into the inner hall and looked at Yan Jinyue, whose brows and eyes had relaxed: "How are you feeling?"

"...Much better." Yan Jinyue lay face down on the pillow, a few strands of hair damp with sweat clinging to her forehead. Her face was pale, and her voice sounded much weaker than usual. "Brother, what I said just now was all true..."

Her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face without warning: "The Empress Dowager... she sat gently by the bed, looking at me with concern, but then she suddenly lowered her voice and said... that I should agree to marry Wen Heyun, and that she begged my brother to release Wen Heyun, otherwise... otherwise she would make me suffer every day. She said this poison wouldn't kill, but every time it flared up, it would hurt for an hour..."

The imperial physicians stood aside, heads bowed, not daring to speak.

They should leave. They couldn't listen to what the Sixth Princess was saying, and they didn't even understand why the Empress Dowager was doing this.

Of course, they weren't sure whether what the Sixth Princess said was true or false.

We can only pretend to be deaf and dumb.

Yan Cang turned and ordered the imperial physician to take Yan Jinyue's pulse.

Two imperial physicians stepped forward and, after carefully taking her pulse, slowly nodded: "The antidote pill given by the Empress Dowager is extremely effective. The Sixth Princess's symptoms have been relieved a lot. She should drink some hot water to warm her abdomen and take a nap, and she will be fine."

Yan Cang said, "Go back, everyone."

"yes."

Chu Yunjin held Yan Jinyue's hand: "How has the Empress Dowager treated you these past few days while you were attending to her?"

"She was very kind to me." Yan Jinyue's voice was still trembling slightly. "The Empress Dowager's gentleness was overwhelming, but seeing her gentle attitude made me feel uneasy, yet I couldn't resist..."

Going to Shou'an Palace to attend to the ailing Empress Dowager was something the Emperor had promised her, and Yan Jinyue had no way to refuse. If the Empress Dowager seized on this as a pretext of filial impiety, the Emperor would also reprimand her.

Although she was sent to attend to the Empress Dowager, her daily routine at Shou'an Palace consisted of talking and eating with her; she didn't need to do anything extra.

The Empress Dowager treated her well. On the first day, she was flattered and felt uneasy. On the second day, she was still a little wary. On the third and fourth days, seeing that the Empress Dowager still treated her the same way, she couldn't help but let down her guard.

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager intended to poison her and force her to plead for Wen Heyun.

Yan Jinyue slowly got out of bed, choking back tears as she asked, "Brother, why does the Empress Dowager insist on saving Wen Heyun?"

"I'm still investigating this matter." Yan Cang frowned slightly. "It's getting late, Yun Jin, we should leave the palace first—"

"I'll stay here with Sixth Sister tonight," Chu Yunjin said, looking at Yan Jinyue with concern. "Aren't you afraid to be alone?"

Yan Jinyue's eyes reddened again: "Princes and princesses living outside the palace cannot stay overnight in the palace unless there are special circumstances."

"Yan Cang." Chu Yunjin turned to look at Yan Cang. "Go see the Emperor and tell him that Jin Yue was poisoned tonight and was cured after taking the antidote given by the Empress Dowager. She is scared to be alone, so I will stay and keep her company."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Jin Yue is of marriageable age. Can't she leave the palace and establish her own residence? Yan Cang, your military achievements over the past few years should be enough to buy your sixth sister an independent princess residence."

Yan Cang nodded and said, "You stay here and keep Jin Yue company. I'm going to see my father now."

Chu Yunjin nodded.

Yan Cang turned and walked out, instructing Ade to keep an eye on the place.

Chu Yunjin looked at Yan Jinyue with some concern: "Do you want to take a shower? You were all sweaty just now."

Yan Jinyue looked at her with red eyes and nodded gently: "Yes."

Chu Yunjin instructed the palace maids to prepare water for the Sixth Princess to bathe, and then instructed Adai to pour a cup of hot water: "The imperial physician said to drink some hot water to warm the stomach, and take a hot bath later. Fortunately, she will be fine after a good night's sleep."

Yan Jinyue nodded gently.

Yan Cang did not go to Chonghua Palace immediately, but went to the Empress Dowager's Shou'an Palace instead.

The eunuch guarding the gate saw him, his expression changed, and he quickly bowed to him, saying respectfully, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is too tired and has already rested. Please forgive her, Your Highness Prince Yan."

Yan Cang said nothing, only saying, "Go in and report."

The eunuch guarding the gate changed his expression and dared not say anything more, so he could only go in to ask for instructions.

A short while later, he came out and bowed to Yan Cang: "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager invites His Highness Prince Yan to enter."

Yan Cang remained expressionless as he stepped over the threshold and entered Shou'an Palace.

The Empress Dowager's anger and fear had just subsided, and now she lay half-reclined on the large phoenix couch, her face pale and haggard, looking somewhat like someone recovering from a serious illness.

Yan Cang stepped into the palace and passed through the screen; the oppressive aura emanating from him was chilling.

The palace servants all knelt down to pay their respects.

Yan Cang walked to a spot not far from the Empress Dowager, sat down in a chair, and said indifferently, "Everyone, get out."

When the Empress Dowager heard his voice, her body trembled involuntarily.

She sat up and looked coldly at Yan Cang: "Don't you even have any respect for me, the Empress Dowager?"

Yan Cang stared at her without saying a word, his eyes calm and indifferent, an invisible yet intense pressure emanating from him, causing the Empress Dowager's expression to change unconsciously.

She said coldly, "You all get out."

The personal nanny and palace maids all took their leave.

The hall fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

"It's incomprehensible that the Empress Dowager would poison her own granddaughter to save the son of an outsider." Yan Cang's voice was cold and stern, carrying a hint of intimidation. "I can't help but suspect that the Empress Dowager has some shady relationship with the Wen family."

The Empress Dowager's expression changed drastically: "Yan Cang, how dare you!"