Hearing his mother's cruel words, Yin Yi felt utterly hopeless.
The movement of collapsing was so smooth that Yin Yi felt quite comfortable lying down, as if his whole body was sinking into soft clouds, and he didn't want to get up.
Xiuning: ...
Looking at her son, who had no proper sitting or standing posture, Xiuning shook her head helplessly. As she walked over, she even pushed the plate of pastries on the small octagonal table to the opposite side.
"You really want to come back?" It's not impossible, but the methods need to be a bit brutal, like getting a serious illness or injury.
Upon hearing this, Yin Yi's eyes darted around, and he turned around and got up from the couch. "I was just joking. I'll go back to the Prince's residence in a bit." He still had his studies to finish, and thinking that his father would come to check on him early the next morning, Yin Yi gave up the idea of staying.
Seeing this, Xiu Ning chuckled and said, "You shouldn't get involved in Yinti and Yinreng's affairs if you don't have to."
Furthermore, if they still don't behave, you can turn around and tell your father, the Emperor.
"You're the youngest in the Imperial Study, so your father won't get angry if you occasionally parrot what others say."
After saying the last sentence, Xiu Ning reached out and lightly tapped the smooth tabletop.
Yin Yi blinked. Did Mother mean that he should seize the opportunity to tattle on him to Father Emperor?
Oh dear, why didn't he think of that? Although tattling is wrong, it can be a good tactic if used properly.
Reaching out to touch her chubby chin, Yin Yi thought about the time her father came over each day. Hmm, she only needed to provoke her cheap brothers then, and maybe she would reap great rewards.
"It's good that you know what you're doing," Xiu Ning said without pressing Yin Yi about what he was planning to do. However, she could tell from his overly bright eyes that he had definitely come up with a good solution. "Remember, you're still a child. Don't always think of yourself as an adult."
Adults tend to consider things comprehensively, while children tend to do things as they please.
In other words, while children in royal life cannot simply act like children, they should still act like children in front of adults.
The words are a bit convoluted, but the meaning is easy to understand upon closer examination.
Yin Yi wasn't stupid. After a little thought, he understood what his mother meant. She wanted him to act like a child in front of his father, the Emperor. Hehe, easy, he knew this trick well.
With an exaggerated wave at Xiu Ning, Yin Yi picked up a pastry from the small octagonal table, popped it into his mouth, and swallowed it in one gulp.
"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."
Rolling her eyes at the hurried Yin Yi, Xiu Ning simply poured a glass of warm water and handed it to him.
Yin Yi was enjoying his mother's kindness and was extremely happy.
After spending most of the day at Qixiang Palace, Yinyi finally returned to his prince's quarters with great reluctance.
Because of this, Yin Yi even made Yin Lu, who was still having a lot of fun, cry a couple of times.
Oh dear, Xiu Ning was worried, so she could only take Yin Lu out for a stroll in the Imperial Garden to clear her mind.
As it turned out, Xiuning spotted the pale-faced Consort An and the nervous-looking Consort Jing.
Hmm, what are these two doing hiding in the corner of the Imperial Garden?
While gently coaxing Yinlu, who was nestled in her arms, Xiuning beckoned Chunyu to go and investigate.
"Remember to be careful. Those two are acting suspiciously; they might be plotting something."
Chunyu nodded, "Don't worry, Master, I understand."
Chunyu left with small, quick steps. Seeing this, Xiuning simply took Yinlu to rest in the pavilion on the other side.
The pavilion was quite far from where Xiu Ning had found Consort An and Consort Jing, and it was next to a small lotus pond, half of which was filled with pink and white lotus flowers. It was also surrounded by trees and shady trees, making it a good place to escape the summer heat.
The wet nurse led Yinlu to play around, while Xiuning held a round fan in her hand, fanning herself back and forth.
"Xuanying, pick some lotus flowers to take back with you."
Xiu Ning had a flash of inspiration and simply assigned Xuan Ying a task.
Xuan Ying agreed upon hearing this, then turned and called over the eunuch who was originally in charge of this area. The two of them took a wooden boat and rowed around the pond, stopping and starting.
About a pillar's time later, as the wooden boat in the pond had sailed further and further away, Chunyu, who had been sent out, returned.
"How about it?"
Xiu Ning beckoned Chun Yu to her side and put down the round fan in her hand.
Chunyu shook her head, her expression conflicted and hesitant. She glanced at Xiuning several times before speaking, "This servant didn't understand what those two were saying. It sounded a bit confusing. It seemed they mentioned the assassination attempt on Wuya back then. It seemed that Consort Jing was quite afraid of Consort An."
Xiuning: ...
Xiu Ning sorted through Chun Yu's rambling words and concluded that Consort Jing and Consort Duan's previous actions had been exposed. Consort Jing was either the mastermind or Consort An had some major secret about her, which was why Consort Jing was acting so flustered.
"Judging from Consort An's complexion, she is clearly not in good health. Have you been in contact with the Imperial Hospital recently?"
Xiu Ning had to admit that she hadn't paid enough attention to Consort An. She would only ask her a couple of questions when she had nothing else to do, and she would forget about it whenever she was busy.
Chunyu nodded and then shook her head. "This servant did ask, but the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital are extremely wary of Consort An's matter. Moreover, the physicians' medical records only state that she is weak and needs to be nourished. Apart from that, there is no other information."
At this point, Chunyu was also quite helpless.
Normally, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital would reveal most of the information, but in Consort An's case, the Imperial Hospital couldn't get any information at all.
Well, it's not that we can't find anything, it's just that the information we do find is worse than not finding anything at all; it's practically fake.
Silently complaining to herself, Chunyu looked up at her master, who was deep in thought, waiting for his instructions.
Xiuning didn't speak immediately; she was pondering Chunyu's words.
Chunyu wouldn't lie to her; if she said that, it meant that was the truth.
But this also indirectly shows that Consort An has serious problems.
Even the Imperial Medical Academy couldn't find out the truth. "What do our own physicians say?"
Xiu Ning's brows furrowed slightly and then relaxed, her gaze calm.
Chunyu shook her head, "I don't know the details."
Xiuning: ...
“Start directly with Yonghe Palace, without investigating Consort An, Consort Wuya, Consort Jing, and Consort Duan.”
There must be a major threat behind Consort An's side, and the fact that she could keep it so well hidden, without revealing a single clue, is something only a handful of people in the harem could do.
Xiuning didn't need to guess carefully to know that it was a choice between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
But to be able to get one of them to take action, wow, Consort An dug up the Aisin Gioro family's ancestral graves?
Muttering a few words about Consort An's bad luck, Xiu Ning got up from the stone bench, called Yin Lu who was standing next to her, and hurried back to Qixiang Palace.
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