Chapter 88 (None)

The palace remained brightly lit even in the dead of night. Palace maids and eunuchs hurried back and forth, their footsteps so light they were almost inaudible. It was as if a puppet show was being performed, eerily peaceful.

"Your Highness," Xie Mama's voice trembled involuntarily as she choked back tears as she advised, "Your Highness is seriously injured. Let's wait until the imperial physician comes to examine you before you go."

The imperial physicians were on duty at night, but they all went to the Chuigong Hall. The other imperial physicians would need time to arrive at the palace. Currently, Xiao Yunjue is lying on the bed groaning with injuries all over his body, and has not yet received treatment.

"I can't rest."

Consort Zhao's face and head were swollen, she could barely lift her left hand, and even breathing was painful. She had to pause after each word. After uttering just a few words, she was already drenched in cold sweat.

Granny Xie dared not offer any more advice. Wiping away her tears, she called a palace maid into the room and anxiously stood guard beside her, saying, "Please be careful, don't let Her Highness get hurt..."

"Wait a moment, let me help Your Highness change your clothes." Only then did Xie Mama notice that Consort Zhao had not changed her clothes yet. Her dark blue hood was torn, mixed with mud and bloodstains, and she was dirty and ragged.

Consort Zhao was too weak to speak, her eyes filled with sorrow as she looked at Xiao Yunjue on the bed. However, she quickly hardened her heart, and with the help of a palace maid, gritted her teeth and stood up. "Let's go!"

When Granny Xie saw Consort Zhao's stiff and trembling back, tears welled up in her eyes. She took two steps after her, then slowly stopped.

Xiao Yunjue was Consort Zhao's lifeblood; her wealth, future, status, and even her life depended entirely on him. If anything happened to him, Consort Zhao would have no hope left.

Now that Xiao Yunjue has caused Emperor Yuanming to be injured, the imperial family is heartless, and Consort Zhao must apologize on Xiao Yunjue's behalf.

Granny Xie wiped away her tears and sat by Xiao Yunjue's bedside, staying by his side without leaving for a moment.

The princes' palaces were separated from the Chuigong Hall by only a narrow passageway. Xiao Yunrui's and Xiao Yunjue's palaces were adjacent. Consort Zhao walked past without glancing to the side, her lips pale as she pursed her lips, staring at the seemingly endless passageway ahead.

Moonlight filtered through the branches, scattering dappled patterns on the bluestone ground, leaving a cool, frosty white expanse.

Consort Zhao's eyes gradually became misty. She vaguely remembered that before she entered the palace, her favorite festival was the Lantern Festival.

The Lantern Festival in the capital was truly lively, with people everywhere in the streets and alleys. Young men and women could openly go out together on the Lantern Festival, stealing green onions and playing pranks. Everyone was dressed in moon-white clothes, and with the moonlight and fireworks, it was a scene of unparalleled beauty.

After entering the palace, Consort Zhao never saw the Lantern Festival in the capital again.

Climb the city wall to admire the Aoshan Lantern Festival, where you can almost touch the moon and feel the lively atmosphere below.

The real distance between them is actually the same: unreachable.

Consort Zhao recalled blankly, wondering if she had ever regretted it.

Once a move is made, there's no going back.

She often said this to Xiao Yunjue when they played chess.

If they had taken a different path, things might not have been any better. Consort Zhao never imagined things that hadn't happened.

Every step she took was excruciating. Cold sweat stung her eyes, making it impossible to open them. Consort Zhao had no strength left to wipe it away, but she resolutely walked through the alleyway, step by step.

The Chuigong Hall was heavily guarded. A palace maid went to report, but the guard general was impartial and said, "Wait here until the Emperor summons you before you can enter."

Consort Zhao was not even allowed to enter the palace gate. She remained silent and waited by the palace maid.

After an unknown amount of time, Consort Zhao, in a daze, finally received a reply.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has summoned you in!" the palace maid said happily.

Consort Zhao hummed in response and followed the eunuch into the Qionghua Pavilion. The palace was filled with a strong smell of medicine. Emperor Yuanming leaned against a soft cushion, with a robe draped over his shoulder, revealing his chest and abdomen covered in bruises and his right leg wrapped in fine cloth.

Wu Shishan and two imperial physicians were administering acupuncture, while Consort Liu stood by, her face full of worry. Consort Wu sat on the edge of the bed, weeping sadly.

"What are you doing here?" Emperor Yuanming looked up at Consort Zhao, his eyes full of impatience, and said, "I was injured because of A-Jue, don't you know that? Coming to see me now, I think you have no heart!"

Wu Shishan and the others lowered their heads even further, while Consort Liu remained expressionless and made no move. Consort Wu watched Consort Zhao with a complicated expression, sitting there watching the show.

Consort Zhao gritted her teeth, brushed away the maid's hand, and knelt down on the ground in front of everyone in the room.

"Your Majesty, I have come for A-Jue. A-Jue is badly injured and unable to move. I have come to kowtow to Your Majesty on A-Jue's behalf."

Consort Zhao spoke slowly, trying her best to suppress the piercing pain, bowing her head and kowtowing respectfully.

Emperor Yuanming was in excruciating pain, but fortunately, the imperial physician administered acupuncture, which eased his discomfort. Hearing Consort Zhao's words, he snorted, showing no appreciation, "Is there anything else?"

Consort Zhao raised her head with her hands, but did not get up. She remained kneeling there and said, "Your Majesty, I have another matter to discuss. A-Jue was pushed down the stone steps. Someone wanted to kill A-Jue. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and seek justice for A-Jue."

Emperor Yuanming sneered, saying, "Want to kill A-Jue? Who would dare to kill A-Jue? Wouldn't that be tantamount to rebellion?"

"Your Majesty, I am unaware of this. Please investigate thoroughly."

Zhao De kowtowed again, saying, "A-Jue is usually agile and walks steadily, yet he suddenly fell. It's too strange. A-Jue is now seriously injured, and his life hangs in the balance. I dare not think too much about it; I only hope that A-Jue will be safe and sound. If A-Jue... A-Jue..."

At this point, Consort Zhao could barely speak; her expression was pained, her teeth chattered, and cold sweat dripped down her face.

Emperor Yuanming couldn't help but scrutinize Consort Zhao closely before he could clearly see her features, and he frowned.

Panting, Consort Zhao said with all her might, "If anything happens to A-Jue, I will at least leave behind a clean reputation."

Emperor Yuanming was startled, and his expression gradually turned ugly.

On what should have been a joyous Lantern Festival night, he broke a leg, suffered a blood clot on his chest, and was covered in abrasions all over his body.

Of her two sons, Xiao Yunjue was seriously injured, Xiao Yunrui was unconscious, and Consort Lin also fell unconscious on the spot. Their fate is now unknown.

Emperor Yuanming was heartbroken. He waved his hand and said, "Enough. Go back and rest. Let the imperial physicians give you a proper diagnosis and treatment. I will not let this go. I will definitely find out the truth."

Consort Zhao felt a slight sense of relief, thanked the Emperor, and took her leave.

From beginning to end, she ignored Consort Liu, Consort Wu, and others in the room, displaying an open and honest demeanor, as if she had done nothing wrong and was not afraid of gossip.

Emperor Yuanming stared blankly ahead, growing increasingly alarmed. Panic filled his eyes as he looked at the people in the room and said urgently, "Get out! All of you, get out!"

Consort Wu immediately cried out, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Is your injury hurting again?"

Now, Emperor Yuanming felt threatened at every turn, and he dared not trust anyone. Already troubled, he had no patience to listen to Consort Wu's weeping and wailing.

"Get out!" Emperor Yuanming roared, his eyes wide with fury.

Consort Wu was startled and dared not say another word. She quickly curtsied and took her leave. Consort Liu followed suit, curtsying and saying, "Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself. I will come to attend to you again later."

"Your Majesty, you must not touch it! You must not get agitated!" Wu Shishan, holding the needle, hesitated to proceed and mustered his courage to advise.

Emperor Yuanming's chest heaved as he coughed. He clutched his chest, tears streaming down his face from the pain. Finally managing to stop coughing, Emperor Yuanming, nearly dying, gasped, "Huang Liang, have Ding Shang of the Imperial City Guard guard the Imperial City! Summon Grand Secretary Wei and Consort Hui to see me!"

Huang Liang quickly agreed and rushed out, grabbing Qian Bao who was guarding the door, "Go find Consort Hui Shu!"

Zhang Shan rushed forward, carrying clothes, and said anxiously, "Master, Granny Zhong is crying at the door, saying that Consort Lin and the First Prince are both unconscious, and she has come to ask Physician Wu to come and treat them."

"Physician Wu is administering acupuncture to the Emperor! They're actually trying to take him away from him!"

Huang Liang, preoccupied with his own troubles, pushed Zhang Shan aside and strode out, saying, "I still have to deliver a message, don't block my way!"

Xiao Yunrui and Consort Lin were both extremely important people, and Zhang Shan couldn't afford to offend them. However, Imperial Physician Wu was unavailable; all the imperial physicians on duty were busy in the Chui Gong Hall, and no one was as important as Emperor Yuanming!

Zhang Shan, picking at his teeth, went out with his hands in his sleeves and truthfully told Granny Zhong, "Granny, I'm really sorry, His Majesty is injured, and Physician Wu and the other imperial physicians are both serving His Majesty and can't leave. Please wait a little longer, the other imperial physicians will be arriving at the palace soon."

Granny Zhong was extremely anxious and immediately burst into tears upon hearing this: "The First Prince and Consort Lin are both seriously injured, what should we do!"

Zhang Shan sighed repeatedly, looking utterly helpless. Granny Zhong could only wipe away her tears and drag her heavy steps toward Xiao Yunrui's palace.

Consort Lin suffered several injuries to her face, and her right shoulder struck a sharp stone corner. Amidst the commotion, she clearly heard the sound of her bones breaking.

Xiuyun wrung out a hot towel and gently wiped Xiao Yunrui's hands and face. Apart from the abrasions on the back of his hands, there were no other wounds.

Xiao Yunrui fainted when he fell down the stone steps and did not wake up after returning to his palace. Consort Lin initially fainted from the pain, but slowly woke up after being put into her sedan chair.

Granny Zhong entered the room, and Xiuyun hurriedly went to greet her, asking anxiously, "How is it?"

"Imperial Physician Wu is with the Emperor and can't leave," Zhong Mama replied cautiously, observing Consort Lin's expression.

"Just wait," Consort Lin said wearily. She was sleepy, tired, and in pain, but she didn't want to close her eyes.

The moment she closed her eyes, the scene at the foot of the city wall would involuntarily appear before her. Consort Zhao would certainly not be reconciled, and neither would Consort Lin.

As the saying goes, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind." Lin Yubi will not be brought down by a mere oriole; she will surely retaliate tenfold!

*

Consort Liu left the Chuigong Hall, bid farewell to Consort Wu, and headed towards the Rouyi Hall.

Tonight, more guards have been added, patrolling the area constantly. Consort Liu turned into the alleyway near Kunning Palace, just as Yuan Changsheng was leading his guards past.

"Your Majesty." Yuan Changsheng bowed respectfully with one hand hanging down in front of him and walked towards Consort Liu, saying, "The roads are slippery at night, Your Majesty, please be careful."

Consort Liu glanced at Yuan Changsheng's arm and nodded slightly to him. "Master Yuan, things have happened one after another tonight. Please come forward. I have a few words to tell you."

Yuan Changsheng stepped forward. After Granny Shi and the others had gone some distance, Consort Liu quietly walked into the shadows. Yuan Changsheng silently approached, and the two spoke at the same time.

"How could you be so reckless!"

Why did you save him?

Yuan Changsheng was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I am a guard. If I do not move, I am not doing my job well. The Emperor is suspicious and will definitely suspect me. But if I break through the imperial guards, no one will be able to see any flaws."

Consort Liu's expression softened a bit, and she said, "It's clearly a lose-lose situation, how could I be so stupid as to take action?"

Yuan Changsheng was stunned. Consort Liu raised her head and said angrily, "When have I ever lied to you?"

“I have faith in you,” Yuan Changsheng said hastily.

"Why do you have to act like a servant, making people uncomfortable for no reason?"

Consort Liu's lips curled into a bitter smile as she looked at Yuan Changsheng's hand. "Is your hand badly injured?"

Just as Yuan Changsheng was about to answer, he heard footsteps coming from the east side of the alley and quickly took two steps back.

Jiang Ling followed Qian Bao in a hurry to the Chui Gong Hall. Seeing the guards standing not far ahead, he was puzzled and looked ahead.

Under the hazy moonlight, Yuan Changsheng emerged from the alleyway. Jiang Lingtou was still dizzy, as if something flashed through his mind, but he couldn't quite grasp it. Instinctively, he looked behind him.

It was too far away to see clearly at night. Jiang Ling only saw a blurry green shadow moving away to the other side of the alley.

After returning to Fanying Pavilion from her injury, Jiang Ling was too weak to change her clothes.

At this moment, Jiang Ling looked down and saw that she was still wearing a dark blue court dress.

The imperial concubines' court robes were predominantly dark blue. Depending on their rank, they were embroidered with patterns such as phoenixes to distinguish them.

She, Consort Lin, Consort Zhao, Consort Liu, and Consort Zhao were all of the third rank or above, and wore dark blue court robes!

Consort Lin and Consort Zhao were injured, and their palaces, as well as Consort Zhao's Fragrant Snow Pavilion, were not located in this direction.

The one who left must be Consort Liu!