Chapter 93 (None)

Emperor Yuanming awoke with sleepy eyes, not quite understanding what was happening, and asked blankly, "What are you talking about?"

Huang Liang was drenched in cold sweat, his body almost bent over like a shrimp. He forced himself to repeat himself, then raised his hand to wipe his eyes, which instantly reddened: "Your Majesty, the First Prince has passed away, his earthly ties are severed. Your Majesty must take care of your health!"

Emperor Yuanming lay there, his gaze fixed on the top of the tent. His sunken, sallow face, etched with injury, now looked utterly ashen.

Overwhelmed with grief, Emperor Yuanming could not help but wail, "Arui! My Arui!"

Huang Liang wept beside her, and in an instant, the room was filled with sobs. Jiang Ling could no longer lie down, so she struggled to her feet and emerged from behind the screen. She was about to feign ignorance and ask what had happened, but when Emperor Yuanming saw her, he immediately said to her with heartbreaking grief, "Arui has passed away! Quickly help me to see Arui!"

Jiang Ling was almost amused by Emperor Yuanming's cheap and useless imperial affection. He was truly as heartbroken as he appeared. At that time, he would not have selfishly and coldly occupied the duty of the imperial physician, regardless of the fact that Xiao Yunrui and Xiao Yunjue were also injured and waiting for the imperial physician to treat them.

"His Majesty is injured and cannot move. If he were to be injured again because he is reluctant to leave the First Prince, how could the First Prince leave in peace!"

Jiang Ling didn't want to stay on the couch to care for the sick anymore, so he could only feign concern and advise, "Huang Daban, quickly fetch water to serve His Majesty his bath."

Huang Liang breathed a sigh of relief and hurried out to make arrangements. Emperor Yuanming was extremely distressed, heartbroken, and aggrieved. He struggled to sit up, saying, "I insist on going! Just because I'm not your biological son, you're so indifferent. It truly makes me..."

When Emperor Yuanming saw Jiang Ling blocking his way, his grief instantly turned into rage, and he roared at Jiang Ling. As soon as he moved, the pain in his chest and leg aggravated his injuries, and he couldn't curse anymore. He grimaced and fell back, panting heavily.

Jiang Ling watched coldly as Emperor Yuanming attacked people like a mad dog, filled with regret. She shouldn't have advised him to play the role of the emperor's father and son!

Palace maids and eunuchs brought in hot water towels, wrung them out, and went to serve her. Jiang Ling turned and went to wash herself. After she was finished, Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang got up, ran over, and called out, "Mother!"

Jiang Ling hurriedly pulled the two out of the room. At this moment, Emperor Yuanming, who had just cleaned himself up, became unhappy again. He coldly scolded, "Your own elder brother has passed away, and instead of being sad, you are laughing and chasing each other! You are truly heartless and ungrateful scoundrels who disregard brotherly affection!"

Xiao Yunlang suddenly hid behind Jiang Ling, while Xiao Yunzan looked puzzled and asked, "Mother, what does 'passed away' mean?"

Jiang Ling suppressed her anger and explained gently, "薨逝 means that a person has stopped breathing, gone to another place, and will never be seen again."

Xiao Yunzan seemed to understand but not quite. He wasn't familiar with Xiao Yunrui and didn't react at all after hearing this. Xiao Yunlang peeked his little head towards the dragon bed and whispered, "Mother, Father is so scary."

Jiang Ling gently stroked his head, led him and Xiao Yunzan out of the room, and said seriously, "The Crown Prince has passed away. This is a sad thing. You must not continue to laugh and joke around. Do you hear me?"

Both of them were afraid that Jiang Ling would be stern, so they immediately agreed obediently. Jiang Ling told Wen Juan and A Ruo about Xiao Yunrui's death, "Go and change them into a set of plain clothes, and keep a close eye on them."

Wenjuan and Aruo hurriedly led the two to change their clothes. Jiang Ling returned to his bedroom. Emperor Yuanming was still angry and was about to reprimand them with a stern face.

Jiang Ling, having had enough of Emperor Yuanming's wrath, interrupted him directly: "Your Majesty, we have only just learned of the Crown Prince's passing. A-Zan and A-Lang are still young children; how could they understand matters of life and death? Your Majesty's wrath is unpredictable, and A-Zan and A-Lang have already been quite frightened. If Your Majesty were to launch into another tirade, I fear A-Zan and A-Lang would become even more terrified. It's about to rain outside, and the weather is cold; I'm worried that A-Zan and A-Lang's health will suffer."

Emperor Yuanming was speechless. Thinking of Xiao Yunjue's current bedridden state and the fact that his only two sons could not afford any further mishaps, his anger instantly subsided. He said dejectedly, "My heart is aching terribly."

Xiao Yunrui had not yet married and established his own household. Given his age, he could be considered to have died young or passed away. Princes and princesses who died young were also buried in the imperial mausoleum, but their funeral rites were simpler than those for princes who passed away.

Emperor Yuanming should have issued an edict long ago on how to handle Xiao Yunrui's funeral arrangements. Jiang Ling, seeing that he was only preoccupied with self-pity, really couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.

Seeing this, Huang Liang braced himself and stepped forward to ask, "Your Majesty, how should the funeral arrangements for the eldest prince be handled?"

Upon hearing of the funeral, Emperor Yuanming felt another pang of sorrow. He suppressed his grief and said, "Issue an edict to posthumously confer the title of Prince Rui upon the eldest prince, Xiao Yunrui, and have the Ministry of Rites handle the arrangements."

Huang Liang was busy with his business. Emperor Yuanming looked at Jiang Ling with tears in his eyes and said sadly, "Consort Lin must be heartbroken. Go to Arui's palace and keep an eye on things."

Jiang Ling thought she would definitely go, so she agreed and went to Xiao Yunrui's palace.

A cold wind blew, and a fine drizzle stung their faces like needles. The eunuchs hurriedly took down the various lanterns that had been hung during the Lantern Festival, covering them with white cloths. As they walked in, the palace maids and servants were also busy removing the festive decorations left over from the New Year celebrations. They all spoke in hushed tones, their sorrowful expressions revealing a strange sense of dread.

Xiuyun came out, stood in front of the door to greet them, raised her hand to lift the curtain, and respectfully said, "Please come in, Consort Huishu."

Jiang Ling nodded, observing Xiu Yun without making a sound. Her voice was hoarse, her eyes were red and swollen with dark circles under them, and all her hair ornaments were gone. Her usually meticulously styled hair was now slightly disheveled.

However, she was wearing coarse hemp mourning clothes, which were neatly arranged.

Coarse linen wrinkles easily, so it must be prepared in advance to keep it smooth. It seems that Consort Lin was somewhat prepared for Xiao Yunrui's fate.

Jiang Ling calmly withdrew her gaze. Xiu Yun led her to the side room and said, "Your Highness Consort Hui Shu, Your Highness couldn't bear to see the First Prince leave. She only had food in her mouth earlier and hasn't put him in the coffin yet. He's still on the bed in your bedroom."

"His Majesty has already instructed the Ministry of Rites to make the arrangements." Jiang Ling felt a mix of emotions and sighed.

Xiu Yun breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief. Jiang Ling entered the side room. After only a few days apart, she was almost startled when she saw Consort Lin.

Consort Lin was emaciated, sitting on the couch like a stone statue. Her face, pale with a hint of gray, was so thin that only a layer of skin remained, clinging to her skin and almost skeletal. Her hair was loose over her shoulders, with silver strands mixed in with her dark blue-black locks.

Only Granny Xie was in the room. She was in a similar situation to Xiuyun, and she served her with tears streaming down her face.

Jiang Ling stepped forward, curtsied, and said, "Your Highness, please accept my condolences."

Consort Lin raised her head in a daze and looked at Jiang Ling. Jiang Ling met her gaze and immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

Those eyes were deep-set, and their usually calm and collected gaze was now dark and unfathomable, like a thick fog that couldn't be dispelled before a dense forest, concealing some unknown situation.

"You've arrived." Consort Lin bowed in return, her voice hoarse. She extended her hand to Granny Xie, "It's inconvenient for people to come and go here. Consort Hui, please come with me to the study in the side room to rest."

Granny Xie helped Consort Lin up. Xiuyun wanted to go forward to help, but Consort Lin stopped her, saying, "When the officials from the Ministry of Rites arrive, you stay and help them take care of them. I won't see them."

Xiuyun quickly stepped aside, and Consort Lin leaned almost entirely on Xie Mama as she staggered out.

Previously, Xiuyun had said that Xiao Yunrui had not restrained himself, but now that she had arrived, Consort Lin asked Xiuyun to stay and greet the officials of the Ministry of Rites.

Jiang Ling's heart skipped a beat. Consort Lin's sadness was genuine; her sensitivity and alertness remained unchanged even when faced with a huge blow.

Upon arriving at the study in the side room, Consort Lin sat in the armchair behind the desk and pointed to a chair on the side, saying, "Consort Hui, please sit down."

Jiang Ling sat down, and Granny Xie served him tea before stepping outside to stand.

Consort Lin picked up the cup and drank most of it. She let out a long sigh and said, "Consort Hui is also not well. It's kind of you to come. Thank you."

Jiang Ling thought for a moment and earnestly advised, "Your Majesty, at this time, it's probably all empty talk for me to tell you to take care of yourself. After all, I am also a mother. But I still have to say something: Your Majesty's condition is not good, you must rest well."

Consort Lin glanced at Jiang Ling and nodded, saying, "Thank you, Consort Hui. I know you mean well, but I can't do this now that Arui is gone."

"His Majesty is very..." Jiang Ling paused, then continued, "His Majesty is heartbroken and has posthumously conferred the title of Prince Rui upon the eldest prince, and ordered officials from the Ministry of Rites to handle the funeral arrangements."

Consort Lin's calm face finally cracked inch by inch, and her brows and eyes were filled with fierceness. "Compared to posthumous glory, I still hope that Arui lives."

Jiang Ling was silent for a moment, then tentatively asked, "That's what I think too. Your Highness, Prince Rui has met with misfortune, and the person who pushed him is still unknown. Your Highness is wise; can you guess who the murderer is?"

"No matter who the murderer is, for the sake of the royal family's reputation, this will be considered an accident and will not be made public."

A cold smile appeared on Consort Lin's lips. She picked up her teacup, took a few sips, and rubbed her temples with her right hand. When she lowered her hand, several red marks remained on her brow, indicating that she was exhausted and trying her best to stay awake.

"Consort Hui is also a smart woman; she knows who the murderer is."

Jiang Ling paused slightly. She hadn't thought much of it when she heard that Emperor Yuanming had ordered Grand Secretary Wei to investigate, not even considering the issue of the imperial family's reputation.

It seems that although she was by Emperor Yuanming's side and knew all his actions, she was actually blinded by a single leaf.

Jiang Ling quickly made up her mind and said, "Because I didn't do anything, there are only a few people left. I guessed and roughly figured it out. The murderer is definitely not going to live. The Imperial Concubine has avenged Prince Rui."

"What good is revenge? Arui is no longer alive." Consort Lin said calmly, but her voice trembled uncontrollably with grief.

"Has Your Highness thought about the future?" Jiang Ling asked after a moment's thought.

Consort Lin slowly looked at Jiang Ling, her gaze deep and she remained silent for a long time.

Jiang Ling said, "Your Majesty only has Prince Rui, and a mother's heart is strong. To raise Prince Rui, Your Majesty has exhausted herself and devoted herself wholeheartedly. As a mother, Your Majesty would rather die in his place. Your Majesty is a member of the Lin family and has always been concerned about the Lin clan. The Second Prince's condition is very bad, and Consort De is taking care of the Second Prince, staying up all night like Your Majesty."

Consort Lin narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp as a knife as she stared at Jiang Ling: "Consort Hui has the Third Prince in her life and is also raising the Fourth Prince. Her own flesh and blood will feel as if a thousand arrows are piercing her heart if they suffer even the slightest injury."

Jiang Ling neither dodged nor flinched, but nodded slightly in response, saying that she was awake, and continued, "The Consort De said that someone pushed the Second Prince. Your Highness is wise, do you know who pushed the Second Prince?"

Consort Lin slowly sat up straight, her right hand gripping the teacup tightly, the veins on the back of her hand bulging: "Consort Huishu, my Arui is gone, I really have no energy to care who harmed the Second Prince."

Jiang Ling said unhurriedly, "Your Highness is concerned. The Second Prince's leg and facial injuries will probably never heal."

If Xiao Yunjue's injuries cannot be fully healed, he will essentially have no chance of becoming the crown prince. The position of crown prince will naturally fall to Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang.

Consort Zhao would not let this go so easily. Jiang Ling had two princes, and this matter had nothing to do with the second prince.

The living Xiao Yunjue was definitely more important to Emperor Yuanming than the deceased Prince Rui.

Based on this calculation, who would Consort Zhao be able to deal with?

Xiao Yunrui is dead, but the Lin family still exists. Compared to the impoverished Zhao family, the Lin family, though deeply rooted, is still powerless against the emperor's majesty.

Consort Lin loosened her grip on the teacup and asked, "Consort Hui, what exactly do you intend to do?"