Chapter 238
Inside the room, Consort Liu held a handkerchief wrapped with ice and gently applied it to Qi Xi's face, causing him to hiss and groan in pain.
"It hurts so much, Mother! You must kill her!"
At such a young age, his innocent face was filled with the ferocity and murderous intent that only adults possess.
Consort Liu frowned and said softly, "You must never say this outside. If your father finds out, it will not only worsen his impression of you, but may even cause him to harbor resentment."
Suddenly, she thought, what if Qi Roufu, the villain, made the false accusation first, and the Emperor believed it?
So she said, "Have someone go to the small kitchen to prepare soup immediately, as I am going to see His Majesty."
While there was still time, Consort Liu ordered someone to bring over her usual cosmetics. Her personal maid asked, puzzled, "Your Highness, why are you covering up the little prince's injury?"
"Wouldn't it be better to show it to His Majesty like this?"
She smiled faintly and said, "Which do you think is more effective: being deliberately discovered or being discovered unintentionally?"
The head palace maid thought about it carefully and suddenly understood. If she deliberately went there with her injury, it would seem like she was there to complain, not because she was genuinely concerned for the Emperor's health.
But if the injury is concealed and then accidentally discovered by the Emperor, who then asks about it, then Consort Liu, who has not mentioned anything, will appear exceptionally innocent, and the child exceptionally pitiful.
Consort Liu used powder to slightly cover the injuries on his face, making them less obvious but still noticeable at a glance.
Soon, the servants brought up the soup, and Consort Liu led her son Qi Xi to the Guangzheng Hall.
Inside the Guangzheng Hall, Wuxuzi lay sprawled on the steps, his face full of sorrow, sighing as he watched Emperor Mingyou crawl on all fours, devoid of any imperial dignity or self-respect, searching for the scattered elixirs.
His eyes were glazed over, his messy hair was streaked with silver, and his face was flushed. He picked up a black pill and started laughing hysterically. Then he put it in his mouth, swallowed it, and looked completely satisfied.
"Look at you, why did you have to arrange a marriage for that young lady out of the blue? Don't you know she's Duan Gan's woman?"
"I was originally thinking of letting you stay up there for a few more years, but it seems that won't be possible now."
Wu Xuzi gloated and mocked the incoherent emperor before him, his eyes full of ridicule, thinking that a high and mighty emperor had fallen to such a state.
It seems that Emperor Mingyou was nothing special after all.
The decisive, ruthless, and cold-blooded Emperor Mingyou of yesteryear has long since vanished under the ravages of time and the corrosive effects of elixirs.
He sat on the steps, gazing outwards at the eagles soaring freely and unrestrained in the clear blue sky.
“Master, I’ve cleared your debts for you. You mustn’t call me an unfilial disciple again.”
Just as he was feeling sad by himself, a commotion broke out outside the door.
Gao Liangui looked at the esteemed Consort Liu with a smile and said, "This servant greets Your Highness and the young prince. May I ask what brings Your Highness here?"
Consort Liu smiled gently and said softly, "Seeing that His Majesty is working hard day and night, I have specially prepared a nourishing soup for him. Please trouble Eunuch Gao to inform him of this."
Upon hearing this, he looked troubled and said, "Your Highness, when His Majesty is handling state affairs, he does not like to be disturbed. Even a servant cannot enter to announce his arrival unless His Majesty specifically requests that a servant be allowed to enter."
"So, I'm truly sorry, Your Highness. Perhaps you could come back later?"
Before Consort Liu could speak, Qi Xi, who was standing to the side, shouted loudly, "I want to see the Emperor! I want to see the Emperor!"
Gao Liangui immediately became alarmed, his face contorted with grief, "Oh dear little ancestor, please stop shouting! If the Emperor were to blame us, things would be terrible!"
"Your Highness, you really can't go in. This servant just wants you to go in, but His Majesty won't allow it. Please forgive me."
Consort Liu frowned and sighed regretfully, "I understand, and I will not make things difficult for you. Please take this soup inside to His Majesty."
He nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes." As he reached out to take it, Qi Xi, who had been standing to the side, darted inside like an arrow.
Everyone was caught off guard. Gao Liangui panicked and turned around to chase after him, shouting, "Young Prince, you can't go in! Come out quickly!"
Consort Liu, who was standing still, followed behind at a leisurely pace, her smile unchanged. "Xi'er, slow down, don't offend your father."
At the desk, Emperor Mingyou was writing furiously when he heard someone run in. He looked up and managed a weak smile on his pale, bluish face.
"Xi-ge'er is here. Did he come alone?"
The little boy, without any hesitation, ran headlong towards his father, hugged his waist, and said in a spoiled tone, "Father, you haven't come to see me for so long. I've missed you."
Gao Liangui caught up from behind and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This servant failed to stop the young prince."
Emperor Mingyou glanced at him coldly, "Alright, you can go now."
Gao Liangui responded and turned to leave, only to see Consort Liu walk in behind her. She didn't say anything, just bowed slightly and walked out.
Consort Liu scolded, "Xi'er, don't be rude. This is your father. I told you not to come, but you insisted. Look, isn't your father busy?"
"Let's go, so as not to disturb your father's handling of state affairs."
"No, no, I want to stay with Father Emperor and not go anywhere else."
Qi Xi pouted, her face full of reluctance. A lot of the makeup on her right cheek was rubbed off by her clothes. Only then did Emperor Mingyou realize that something was wrong.
He frowned and asked in a deep voice, "What happened to your face?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Liu gasped softly, her expression becoming somewhat flustered. She quickly said, "Your Majesty, Xi'er just accidentally fell and is perfectly fine."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Qi Xi chimed in, protesting, "It wasn't an accident! It was Aunt! Aunt slapped me! It hurts so much! And Mother won't let me tell anyone!"
As he spoke, he suddenly burst into tears, his tears washing away the makeup and revealing a bright red handprint on his fair face.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Mingyou's face instantly darkened, and he angrily rebuked, "What exactly is going on with Qi Roufu? How could an aunt lay a hand on her nephew?!"
"Tell me, why did she hit you?"
"She stole my kite!"
Consort Liu, wiping away tears, listened as her son recounted everything that had happened before her eyes, and then took the soup from the tray.
"It's alright, Your Majesty. After all, the Princess is an aunt and has the right to discipline her nephew. But Xi'er is still young. Could... could you ask her to be a little gentler in the future?"
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