Chapter 176 This one looks like it, but this one looks even more like it.

On the first day back, Zhou Qi was the busiest. First, the Crown Prince watched him write a prescription and brew medicine for the Emperor, and gave him a series of instructions. Just when he thought he could finally leave, the Emperor called him back.

"Take a good look at the Crown Prince as well. He stood in the cold wind for a long time that day. Don't let him catch a cold. Prescribe some medicine in advance to prevent it."

Zhou Qi's greatest wish at this moment was for the Imperial Medical Academy to quickly train another batch of imperial physicians; this father and son would not stop until they exhausted him.

Zhen Huan did not die immediately at Lingyun Peak. Instead, she was secretly brought back to the palace by the people from the Sticky Rod Office. The Emperor said that he would summon her whole family to the palace, which meant that he would investigate the crimes of the entire family. She had to live until she opened her eyes and saw things clearly before she could die.

When the Emperor fell ill, Su Peisheng did not bother him with this trivial matter. Instead, he took it upon himself to place the person in the Cold Palace and wait for the Emperor's decree.

It was much easier for Prince Guo. That very night, he appeared at the Imperial Clan Court to keep his eighth and ninth brothers and his fourth nephew company. The raid on the Prince's residence was also in full swing.

Yinzhen's illness could be considered minor, as he never had a high fever and remained lucid the entire time; however, it could also be considered serious, as the recurring low-grade fever persisted for nearly half a month without any improvement, leaving him tormented in a state of extreme lucidity. Even boiling a frog in lukewarm water wouldn't last for half a month, and he was becoming increasingly irritable from the ordeal.

But he was the kind of person who couldn't sit still. Despite his discomfort, he kept his memorials in his hand and attended the morning court session every day without fail. Even when he was coughing and feeling uncomfortable, he couldn't take his eyes off the memorials. He reached out and groped around on the table several times but couldn't grab the teacup.

Hongzhao, who had just stepped in, couldn't help but sigh. He quickly took two steps and handed the freshly brewed throat-soothing tea to his father's outstretched hand. The temperature was just right. Yinzhen subconsciously took it and put it to his lips to taste it. He realized that what he tasted was not Junshan Silver Needle tea, but something sweet with a medicinal taste. Finally, he put down the memorial and turned his head.

Hongzhao deftly put away the now-cold tea and walked around the table to his father's side. Just as he was about to speak, Su Peisheng's cautious announcement from outside made him pause.

"Your Majesty, the guilty subject Zhen Yuandao has come with his family to plead guilty."

For the past two weeks, Yinzhen had finally managed to process much of what had been weighing on his mind. Now, the sudden re-emergence of this anger, coupled with his own poor health over the past two weeks, made his irritability even more apparent.

"Let them in, and then bring that vile woman here. I want her to see with her own eyes the sins she has committed." Yinzhen's voice was cold and resentful. He also pointed to the person next to him and told Hongzhao to bring a stool to sit down next to him.

Before long, three people dressed in drab gray cloth walked in shakily from outside. Without raising their heads, they knelt down as soon as they entered, pleading guilty with sobs: "Your Majesty, I, Zhen Yuandao, and my family respectfully wish Your Majesty good health."

He has changed a lot in the past two years. Nearly half of his hair has turned white, with a few strands falling out in a crooked way and not being properly braided. He no longer has the spirited look he had when he was highly regarded by the emperor. Two years of working as a slave has made his back hunch over, and he looks much older.

The Emperor let the three kneel there, scrutinizing them without speaking. Hongzhao looked to the side and saw that the woman next to Zhen Yuandao was close to him. She also had white hair, and upon closer inspection, her clothes had fine patches.

Although she kept her head down and never looked up, one could tell from her wrinkled, rough hands and the few broken strands of hair that the past two years had been extremely difficult for her.

Hongzhao still remembered the day he bumped his head and injured it; that was the first time he saw this Lady Zhen. If no one else told him, he would never be able to connect the woman in front of him with the noblewoman of the past. The wife of a meritorious official, with a favored daughter, how glorious she must have been back then.

Hongzhao gently shook his head and looked at the last young woman, who was blocked behind Zhen's mother and kept her head down just like her mother. That must be Yu Rao, who had bumped into him before. In fact, from a distance, Yu Rao's clothes were the most old-fashioned of the three.

Her hair was simply tied up in a bun with a strip of cloth, without any hair ornaments, not even the cloth flowers that ordinary girls would wear. At the tender age of thirteen, she was as beautiful as a flower, but her whole body was ashen.

It must have taken a lot of effort from Zhen's parents to keep their "beautiful daughter" in Ningguta.

"Your Majesty, this sinful subject has come to beg for forgiveness!" Seeing that Yinzhen remained silent, Zhen Yuandao spoke loudly again, "This sinful subject has failed in his duties as an official and has not properly educated his daughter. He is truly ashamed to face Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will take good care of your health!"

On the way here, someone had told them the whole story. In fact, there was no need for others to tell them. Zhen Yuandao knew perfectly well who had saved his life and protected his daughter Yu Rao in Ningguta these past two years.

Why was Prince Guo now going to such lengths to help their family? Who else in the capital had such abilities? Zhen Yuandao didn't question it. He couldn't help but regret his current situation, and every day he only hoped that the Empress in the capital would one day rise again and rescue his family from their misery.

But who would have thought... it would come to this?

"Hmph." Yinzhen snorted coldly, and swept the letters that had been taken from the Prince Guo's residence to the ground. Dozens of thin papers fluttered in the air and scattered everywhere. "Look at the good daughter you raised, shameless enough to commit adultery!"

Zhen Yuandao subconsciously picked up the nearest one and examined it closely. It was indeed his daughter's handwriting. It clearly contained a love poem exchanged between her and a man. His face, already aged and wrinkled due to illness, suddenly looked even more distressed.

"Caught red-handed, Prince Guo has already been punished. As for Lady Zhen... I originally intended to show some consideration for the past and grant her a proper burial, but she dared to attempt to confuse the royal bloodline! Are you aware of this matter?" Yinzhen's gaze was cold and scrutinizing as he stared intently at Zhen Yuandao, who had collapsed to the ground, not missing a single expression on his face.

Although she knew her daughter had committed a grave crime, when she heard the Emperor order her to be executed, Zhen's mother still couldn't help but feel heartbroken. She raised her head and leaned forward, her face bearing the same weathered and worn look as Zhen Yuandao's. Even so, one could still see how dignified and graceful she had been before, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, please be wise! Zhen has indeed committed a grave crime, but she absolutely did not, and would never, have the thought of confusing bloodlines. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and, for the sake of our past relationship, grant her a way out." Her voice was filled with sorrow, and when she spoke urgently, her hand unconsciously covered her chest.

Yinzhen remained silent, but Hongzhao, sitting beside him, could see clearly that he had perhaps been brewing anger, but now he was simply stunned. No wonder, he saw someone who looked even more like Chun Yuan than Zhen Huan in front of him.

However, what he saw was the weathered and worn-out Yun Shi, not the noblewoman she was two years ago. If Chun Yuan were alive today, she would certainly be old, but she would never look so haggard and disheveled. So he quickly regained his senses, blinked to cover up his displeasure, and turned his head away, unwilling to look any longer.

Perhaps it was just too similar, so similar that he couldn't bring himself to say no to such a face.

"Your Majesty! I, your guilty subject, have already deeply regretted my arrogance and recklessness in bringing my entire family to Ningguta. How could I possibly participate in this matter again! Moreover, Ningguta is far from the capital, and I have neither the energy nor the ability to plot such a treasonous act!"

Zhen Yuandao threw down the letter in his hand, prostrated himself on the ground, and spoke earnestly. Faced with such a grave crime, he could not possibly protect everyone. When he was demoted, he had not implicated the empresses in the palace. Now, he could only hope that the Emperor would show mercy and not implicate them further. Even if they were simply sent back to Ningguta to continue their labor now, it seemed like a good place.

He couldn't say these words, but the impetuous Yu Rao was straightforward. She raised her head, straightened her body, and looked directly at the Emperor, speaking loudly.

"Although His Majesty has deposed my elder sister, she has served by his side for many years. His Majesty should know her character and temperament very well. Now, in such anger, he wants to implicate the entire Zhen family. Isn't this just a trumped-up charge?"