Chapter 89 (None)

The truth was right before his eyes, yet veiled by a layer of gauze. Jiang Ling's mind was in turmoil, unable to unravel the complexities of the situation.

Jiang Ling had entrusted Xie and Hu, his two advisors, to keep a close watch, but ultimately found nothing. Every action leaves a trace; either Yuan Changsheng was too cunning, or Jiang Ling made a mistake.

Now that things have come to this, Jiang Ling is certain that Yuan Changsheng has outmaneuvered him.

As Yuan Changsheng approached, his pace was unhurried and silent. Perhaps due to the cold weather, his flower-like, snow-white face appeared even paler under the moonlight, as if he had been born from a tomb, making him exceptionally sinister.

Jiang Ling felt a chill run down his spine, his heart pounded in his chest, and he almost turned and ran away.

“Your Highness Consort Hui Shu, tonight is different from usual. It’s so late. What are you doing here so late?” Yuan Changsheng nodded in greeting, his attitude was proper, and his eyes were sharp as a hawk, casually sweeping over Jiang Ling.

Jiang Ling felt as if she had done something wrong, her heart pounding and her breath short. She said, "I'm going to see the Emperor." She heard her own voice sharp and weak, and her head throbbed with pain. She couldn't help but cover her forehead and cry out, "Ouch!"

Yuan Changsheng stared sharply at Jiang Ling and said, "So you're going to see the Emperor. It's late, Your Highness, you should be careful."

"Could something happen in the palace?" Jiang Ling blurted out instinctively. As soon as the words left his mouth, he couldn't control himself and pointed at Qian Bao behind him, launching a domineering counterattack.

"He is a man of the Emperor's court. Does Grand Eunuch Yuan not recognize him?"

Before Yuan Changsheng could answer, Jiang Ling continued, "You are the head of the palace guards, and by all accounts, you are responsible for protecting the safety of the inner palace. It is forbidden to walk in the palace late at night. Does this mean that the palace becomes dangerous late at night?"

Yuan Changsheng sized up Jiang Ling, then laughed, though his eyes remained expressionless. He said, "Your Majesty, you may not know this, but at night one must be wary of those with ill intentions. If it's just a theft, it's merely the loss of some money. But if it's a fire, then it will be a much bigger disaster."

"I see." Jiang Ling nodded seriously and said, "So it turns out that Yuan Daban was afraid that I would go out at night to steal and set fires."

"This servant wouldn't dare, Your Highness is too kind." Yuan Changsheng said no more, and said, "Please, Your Highness."

Jiang Ling, however, refused to leave, saying, "When you were on duty, Yuan was impartial and incorruptible, which is a commendable quality. It's just that I'm angry and saddened to be suspected. I've always been straightforward and easy-going, and I've never cared about status or rank, or about such trivial matters as offending superiors. Yuan, why are you targeting me? If I've offended you, just tell me. If I'm wrong, I'll apologize to you."

Yuan Changsheng's expression changed slightly. Jiang Ling was of noble status, and his stopping and questioning him, while ostensibly a patrol in accordance with regulations, was indeed an act of insubordination. Moreover, Qian Bao was with Jiang Ling, and it was clearly Emperor Yuanming who had summoned him. If he continued to question him, it would be an abuse of power and a deliberate attempt to make things difficult.

If Jiang Ling really took it to heart, he might not come out on top. Normally, Jiang Ling's personality was indeed as she described—straightforward and easygoing. But at this moment, she suddenly became aggressive.

Yuan Changsheng's heart sank, filled with regret. He panicked for a moment and committed a grave mistake, immediately saying, "This servant has offended Your Majesty, please punish me."

“You are the Emperor’s man, how could I punish you?” Jiang Ling persisted, then chuckled coldly, “Yuan Daban, you’re trying to put me in a difficult position.”

Yuan Changsheng did not argue, but simply knelt down and said, "Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Jiang Ling wanted to throw a tantrum, but though unwilling, he could only glare helplessly. "I don't deserve it, Yuan Daban. Don't be so weak-kneed. You should get up."

Yuan Changsheng lowered his eyes and was taken aback when he heard this. "Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty." He said, and slowly stood up. "Please, Your Majesty."

Jiang Ling nodded to him, then walked away expressionlessly. She tried her best to walk steadily, feeling Yuan Changsheng's gaze behind her, like cold moonlight, relentlessly following her.

She was certain that Yuan Changsheng had become suspicious of her, suspecting that she had seen him with Consort Liu and thus deduced something.

He was ordered to patrol, and even if he was talking with Consort Liu, it could be explained away.

As she questioned, Qian Bao was clearly there, yet he went up to question her. With his intelligence, he wouldn't make such a mistake.

After her unreasonable nagging, he should have dispelled some of his doubts. After all, if she had guessed something, she would have panicked and rushed to complain to Emperor Yuanming.

With the Chuigong Hall right in front of her, Jiang Ling's lips curled into a cold smile. Yuan Changsheng was clever; she dared not claim to be able to compare with him, but he forgot that all his power came from Emperor Yuanming.

With Emperor Yuanming currently injured, Jiang Ling is holding back to avoid alerting him. She has certainly considered the consequences of launching an attack on him.

Firstly, she needed to reveal her true identity as Consort Hui. She was no longer the young concubine she once was; if she were timid and hesitant, it would only deepen Yuan Changsheng's suspicions.

Secondly, it would dispel his doubts. Whether Consort Lin or Consort Zhao acted voluntarily or passively, they were already blinded by rage, and it was not advisable for her to be drawn into this chaotic battle.

Furthermore, this was a delaying tactic, giving them an opportunity to complain to Emperor Yuanming.

As expected, upon arriving at Qionghua Pavilion, Jiang Ling curtsied, but Emperor Yuanming angrily berated her, "You Jiang! I was injured, and instead of coming to attend to me, you were sleeping soundly! I summoned you to an audience, and you've been dragging your feet. It's only a short distance; how long have you been dragging this out?!"

Emperor Yuanming's voice sounded weak, but he could still curse, indicating that he was not seriously injured.

Jiang Ling stepped forward and sat down on the brocade stool in front of the bed. Upon closer inspection, she realized that Emperor Yuanming had broken his ribs and leg. She felt both disappointed and relieved, and said, "I injured my head and vomited when I got back. I've been feeling dizzy and confused ever since."

She spoke very slowly, pausing after every few sentences. Seeing Emperor Yuanming scrutinizing her, she immediately became aggrieved, "When I came here earlier, Yuan Changsheng stopped me and questioned me for a long time, saying he was worried that someone would steal or set fires."

"Nonsense! That bastard Yuan Changsheng has the guts to stop the people I summoned!"

Emperor Yuanming was furious and cursed. When he saw that Jiang Ling's forehead was indeed swollen and bruised, his expression softened a little. He said, "Wu Shishan, take a look at Consort Hui."

Jiang Ling sowed discord between Yuan Changsheng and secretly cursed Emperor Yuanming in his heart.

That bastard really trusts Yuan Changsheng. When she was questioned, he only cursed her a few times!

Wu Shishan hurriedly agreed, while Jiang Ling looked back and forth between him and the imperial physician, asking suspiciously, "Have the other imperial physicians already entered the palace?"

"I am in the Chuigong Hall and do not know what the situation is like outside," Wu Shishan said with a wry smile, understanding Jiang Ling's implied meaning.

With Wu Shishan and two imperial physicians, all the staff on duty at the Imperial Hospital were in the Chuigong Hall.

For a moment, Jiang Ling felt a complex mix of emotions. Even if Emperor Yuanming didn't care about Consort Lin and Consort Zhao, Xiao Yunrui and Xiao Yunjue were his own sons. He was clinging to the imperial physicians, his cold-heartedness bordering on cruelty.

"Your Majesty's head injury may appear to be a superficial wound, but we must not take it lightly. A brain injury may seem harmless, but it is extremely dangerous," Wu Shishan said anxiously after carefully examining Jiang Ling's forehead.

Jiang Ling was more aware of the consequences of intracranial injury than Wu Shishan. Although he could neither treat it nor perform examinations, his understanding was quite clear.

"Thank you, Physician Wu. You are right. I will be careful. When I was hit, I was dizzy and disoriented. I was leaning against the city wall, and the cold bricks and stones prevented me from passing out immediately. After I came back, I vomited again, which must be related to the brain injury."

She had intended to emphasize the severity of her injuries and her reluctance to serve Emperor Yuanming. Unexpectedly, Emperor Yuanming panicked, "Quickly treat her! What are you waiting for?!"

Wu Shishan looked troubled, and Jiang Ling felt irritated and her head ached even more. She groaned twice, then rubbed her forehead and said weakly, "Your Majesty, a head injury is indeed dangerous, mainly because it is invisible and intangible. Apart from a god, no one in the world can cure it. I am very dizzy right now and need some peace and quiet to rest."

Emperor Yuanming was well aware of the dangers of a brain injury, hence his fear and unease. He hurriedly instructed Zhang Shan, "Quickly, serve Consort Huishu to rest!" He pointed to the couch by the window, "Spread out a soft, thick mattress, you do it yourself!"

Jiang Ling was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "Your Majesty, A-Zan and A-Lang will be afraid if they don't see me when they wake up. Fan Ying Pavilion is just a few steps away, I'll go back and rest."

Emperor Yuanming trusted no one, and at this time he only trusted Jiang Ling to stay by his side, so how could he allow her to go back?

Knowing that Xiao Yunrui and Xiao Yunjue were both injured, and that his remaining two sons could not afford any further mishaps, he immediately said, "Bring Azan and Alang to Qionghua Pavilion. You will live with me."

Jiang Ling opened his mouth, then simply closed it.

She was terrified that something might happen to Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang, and the Chuigong Palace was indeed the safest place. She was willing to endure some hardship to get through the immediate crisis.

Zhang Shan led several eunuchs to bring bedding, spread it out, and set up a screen to separate the area. Even if court officials and imperial physicians came in, Jiang Ling would not be seen if he was present.

After Jiang Ling lay down on the couch, Huang Liang personally went to Fanying Pavilion and brought Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang to Qionghua Pavilion. Wen Juan and A Ruo also came along. Jiang Ling was worried and went to comfort them for a few words before they went to sleep in a side room.

After all that commotion, Jiang Ling finally closed her eyes. Huang Liang arrived with Grand Scholar Wei, and she couldn't sleep, so she stretched out her ears to eavesdrop.

"Your Majesty." Grand Secretary Wei stepped forward to pay his respects. Seeing Emperor Yuanming lying on the dragon bed with a pale face, his worry was evident. He said with heartache, "Your Majesty, how did you become so badly injured!"

Emperor Yuanming dismissed Wu Shishan and the others, sighed, and said, "I am deeply saddened by what happened tonight. This matter is very strange. I summoned you here to have you thoroughly investigate it. No matter who is behind this, you do not need to hide anything. I will deal with it myself."

Grand Secretary Wei was utterly shocked. His expression turned serious, and he said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost to investigate and find out the truth!"

Emperor Yuanming said, "I will instruct Ding Shang to go and find him, and he will assist you. I entrust this matter to you."

After Grand Secretary Wei left, Jiang Ling thought to himself that although Emperor Yuanming was dissatisfied with him, he was still the person he trusted most when it came to crucial moments.

It seems that although Grand Secretary Wei is strict, his loyalty is beyond question.

At that time, Wu Shishan had mentioned the court's dispute over the succession, and Emperor Yuanming's decision not to entrust the task to Zheng Xiang and his colleagues in the Council of State Affairs was a subtle warning.

Jiang Ling then thought again: Did Emperor Yuanming not avoid her because he truly trusted her, or was he testing her?

Lost in her thoughts, Jiang Ling, exhausted, finally succumbed to sleep. Emperor Yuanming, however, groaned in pain, and people constantly entered and exited her bedchamber, bringing medicine and administering acupuncture, making her sleep very restless.

The room reeked of medicine, mixed with the stench of Emperor Yuanming after relieving himself. Jiang Ling couldn't bear it any longer, sat up abruptly, felt a wave of dizziness, and almost collapsed to the ground.

Huang Liang sent a eunuch to take away the chamber pot and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Zhao requests an audience."

"What is she doing here?" Emperor Yuanming moved while using the toilet, the pain causing him to break out in a cold sweat. Already irritable, and thinking that Consort Zhao hadn't come to pay her respects and serve him last night, he flew into a rage: "Bring her in!"

Upon hearing Zhao Pin's voice, Jiang Ling quickly suppressed the unpleasant smell and shrank back into bed.

Huang Liang led Consort Zhao in. Emperor Yuanming's face darkened, and he said coldly, "What are you doing here? I didn't see you last night. You've learned all your manners! You have the nerve to call yourself a talented person, but you're just a fame-seeker! I think A-Tang will be ruined by you raising her!"

Jiang Ling gritted his teeth inwardly upon hearing this. Emperor Yuanming was truly like a mad dog, biting anyone he saw!

Consort Zhao's face turned pale. She clenched her fists tightly, tears welling up in her eyes. She said, her voice trembling, "Your Majesty, I have been wrong. I failed to attend to Your Majesty's illness and dare not ask for Your Majesty's forgiveness. But I have a secret I cannot tell you."

At this point, Consort Zhao bit her lip and looked at Huang Liang and the others standing around her. Her gaze lingered on the screen for a moment, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Emperor Yuanming narrowed his eyes, waved for Huang Liang and the others to leave, and asked, "What is it that you find difficult to say?"

Consort Zhao said, "Your Majesty, I witnessed something last night that terrified me so much that I didn't know what to do and completely forgot about attending to your sick state."

Emperor Yuanming had no patience to listen to her rambling and said in a deep voice, "Tell me what it is!"

Consort Zhao took a deep breath, adopted a desperate stance, and said, "Your Majesty, I saw Consort Hui take advantage of the chaos to push the First Prince down the stone steps!"