Chapter 133 Let's set a date and get the wedding done.

The Imperial Palace.

The imperial study was filled with the fragrance of incense, yet it couldn't mask the invisible sense of oppression.

Emperor Jiaqing sat behind his dragon desk, his gaze fixed on Qin Ye, who was being examined by several imperial physicians.

After taking his pulse with trepidation, the imperial physicians knelt down and reported, "Your Majesty, Prince Xiao's poison has indeed been neutralized. There is not a trace of poison remaining in his body. He is now in good health, and Your Majesty need not worry."

"Step down."

Emperor Jiaqing's eyes were dark and deep, so dark that people dared not look directly at them.

Upon hearing the imperial physician's words, his expression revealed no trace of his true emotions.

The imperial physicians, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, quickly rose to take their leave.

After the imperial physician left, Emperor Jiaqing's gaze fell on Qin Ye again. His voice was authoritative, revealing neither joy nor anger: "Is it really the antidote developed by your princess consort?"

"Reporting to Father Emperor."

Qin Ye walked to the dragon desk and replied in a deep voice, "Yes."

In fact, Emperor Jiaqing would not have been unaware of what Eunuch Decai had witnessed firsthand.

He just still found it unbelievable.

Princess Xiao actually managed to develop the antidote?!

That was a secret medicine from their Qin palace; throughout the various states, who wouldn't turn pale at the mere mention of it?

Indeed, he does have some skill.

"I heard that you detained the seventh prince of Northern Yan in your residence for several days. Why did you detain him?"

Emperor Jiaqing then changed the subject and asked about Huyan Zheng.

Qin Ye remained calm and composed: "Because I suspect he harbors ulterior motives."

"oh?"

Emperor Jiaqing narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable: "As far as I know, it was he who offended Princess Xiao. Isn't your action a form of settling a personal score?"

"Father, you are wise."

Qin Ye's voice remained calm, without the slightest fluctuation.

“Huyan Zheng’s secret alliance with the Prince is treacherous. Before that, I blocked him in the secret passage leading to the Prince’s residence for two days. All my actions were for the stability of the nation.”

Emperor Jiaqing stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

The smile didn't reach his eyes.

"You're quite frank."

His tone was somewhat ambiguous: "I never thought of covering up for your second brother. In his current situation, you tell me these things. Aren't you afraid I'll suspect that you and your brother are not on good terms and that you're intentionally framing your second brother?"

"Father is so wise, how could I dare to deceive you?"

Qin Ye remained calm and composed: "Furthermore, the innocent are innocent. If my second brother has a clear conscience and has never done anything to betray the emperor and father, then the emperor will not wrong him. But if he has made a mistake, then it is his own fault and he should bear the consequences."

This answer was almost flawless.

Emperor Jiaqing looked at him silently for a moment before speaking again, this time with a slightly gentler tone.

"In that case, you shall continue to keep an eye on Huyan Zheng's matter."

He paused for a moment, then said, "You're not young anymore. You've been married for almost two years and still don't have any children. Let's find a date to hold your marriage with the eldest daughter of the Jiang family."

After saying that, he directly ordered: "Eunuch Xu, go and tell the Imperial Observatory to set an auspicious date as soon as possible, and then inform the Imperial Household Department to prepare for the marriage of Prince Xiao to his concubine in accordance with the rites for a principal wife."

Qin Ye's hand, hidden in his sleeve, suddenly tightened.

After Emperor Jiaqing made his decision, he looked at him and asked, "Do you have any objections?"

Qin Ye's fingertips almost dug into his palm, but his face remained expressionless. He lowered his head and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Seeing his submissive appearance, Emperor Jiaqing finally showed a satisfied look on his face.

"After you get married, come to the council hall every day to begin learning how to handle government affairs."

"yes."

Qin Ye knelt down to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Father Emperor, for your cultivation and trust."

"Yes, it's lunchtime. Stay and have lunch with me."

Emperor Jiaqing got up from behind the dragon desk, but as soon as he stood up, he felt his calves go numb and suddenly fell back down.

Xu Gonggong was so frightened that his face turned pale. He opened his mouth to shout "Summon the imperial physician!" but Emperor Jiaqing stopped him with a wave of his hand.

"Father, what's wrong?"

Qin Ye hurriedly stepped forward to check, but Emperor Jiaqing waved his hand and said, "It's nothing."

He paused for a moment, then stood up again.

Eunuch Xu remained rooted to the spot, not daring to go and help without permission.

He looked to Qin Ye for help, and Qin Ye went along with it, stepping forward to help the Jiaqing Emperor, which could be considered as doing a favor for Eunuch Xu.

"Father, what happened to your leg?"

Qin Ye's gaze fell on Emperor Jiaqing's legs, and he asked in a seemingly confused manner, but his eyes revealed worry.

Emperor Jiaqing saw the worry in his eyes, paused for a moment, then recovered and said: "It's just a minor problem. My legs are a little numb from sitting for so long. Don't worry about it. Just do your job well and don't disappoint your father."

"yes."

Qin Ye only supported Emperor Jiaqing for a moment before letting go slightly.

Emperor Jiaqing seemed uncomfortable with being helped, and he felt more at ease when Qin Ye let go. The two walked to the dining table one after the other.

This was the first time Qin Ye had dined alone with the Jiaqing Emperor.

When the meal was served, there were only three dishes and a soup.

When the late emperor was in power, the Great Qin Dynasty was not as prosperous as it is today, and the country was very poor. As a prince, Emperor Jiaqing was very frugal from a young age.

Because of his frugality, he caught the emperor's eye.

This habit has been maintained to this day.

"Not enough to eat?"

Seeing that Qin Ye did not move, Emperor Jiaqing looked at him with deep eyes: "One should not forget one's roots. With a prosperous life, one begins to trample on and waste food at will, forgetting the difficult times of the past."

"Father's reprimand is correct."

Qin Ye did not utter a single word of rebuttal.

He picked up his bowl and chopsticks and began to eat.

Emperor Jiaqing frowned almost imperceptibly.

Clearly, this was the submissive look he wanted...

He was a little irritated and stood up suddenly before Qin Ye finished eating: "I'm tired, you can eat slowly."

"Respectfully seeing off Father Emperor."

Watching Emperor Jiaqing leave, Qin Ye calmly continued eating, finishing all three dishes and one soup before leisurely leaving the palace and returning home.

Emperor Jiaqing showed no expression upon receiving the news.

It's impossible to tell whether they're happy or unhappy.

But when Eunuch Xu stood behind him, he felt that he could hardly breathe.

"Unpredictable".

He pointed in one direction and commanded, "Pass down the word: keep a close eye on the Xiao Prince's residence for me recently. Report any disturbance to me."

His response was a faint whooshing sound.

The enigmatic leader of the Phantom Guard, one of the four major guard teams.

The arrow that hit Yun Si under A Wu's protection was shot by him.

Later, when Emperor Jiaqing was assassinated and injured at the hunting grounds, he stayed by Emperor Jiaqing's side and never left his side again.

Besides him, some of the other Phantom Guards were scattered throughout the palace, while the rest were almost all in the residences of various princes and powerful officials in the court.

After issuing this order, Emperor Jiaqing looked at Eunuch Xu and said, "Tell Consort Hua that I need to see the name of the new Princess Consort of Lin within ten days. Also, if he continues to drink heavily, have his tombstone smashed."

"yes."

Eunuch Xu responded and immediately went to relay the order.

When Consort Hua, Zhu Qinghua, received the task assigned by Emperor Jiaqing, she was in her palace chatting with the Third Prince, Prince Xiang, Qin Feng.

“Feng’er, you seem to be in good health lately. Have you been visiting your maternal grandparents’ house more often? Now that Zhu Yurou is dead, their connection has been severed. You should visit them more often.”

"Mother."

Qin Feng had clearly heard these words before, and they annoyed him greatly: "My body is like this for the rest of my life, so don't count on it. You... should also take better care of my second brother; we owe him."

"Shut up!"

Consort Hua slammed her hand on the table in anger, her eyes filled with disappointment and frustration.

It's one thing for her family to not understand her because they care about their own interests and power, but now even her own son is siding with that bastard. It's outrageous!

"You must never utter another word like that again, understand?"

"Your Majesty, I can let it go, but could you please promise me that you'll treat my second brother better in the future? He's already suffered enough..."

"Do you know something?"

Consort Hua suddenly tensed up: "Did someone say something to you? Why are you suddenly feeling sorry for that bastard... feeling sorry for your second brother?"