The eldest prince is recuperating at the Ling Prince's residence. As long as he doesn't attract assassins, it won't have much impact on Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan. Doctor Tao is there to treat the sick and save lives, as are Chief Physician Zhao and Imperial Physician Xu. Xie Jingyan doesn't have to worry about this, let alone Shen Wan.
Neither of them took the matter too seriously when they returned to Moyuxuan.
However, the news of the Crown Prince's assassination attempt and critical injury, which was hanging by a thread, spread to all the civil and military officials, especially the Crown Prince and the Prince of Jin's faction, who were filled with even more sorrow.
The Crown Prince's supporters were afraid that if the Crown Prince died, their seemingly guaranteed position as heir apparent would slip away, and they, who followed the Crown Prince, would die of depression.
The Prince of Jin's faction had mixed feelings. They hoped that the eldest prince would die, but they were also afraid that if the eldest prince really died, and it was Prince of Jin who was responsible, and the evidence was found, then the capital would be filled with bloodshed, and those of them who supported Prince of Jin would probably not have a good ending.
Furthermore, the Empress Dowager's decision to have the eldest prince treated at the Ling Prince's residence is even more intriguing.
Is the Empress Dowager implying to the civil and military officials that if the eldest prince really dies, she will support Prince Ling?
Prince Ling already wielded more power in the court than Prince Jin. If the Empress Dowager didn't hold Consort Chen's betrayal of the Emperor against Prince Ling and instead wholeheartedly supported him, then Prince Jin would truly have no chance of becoming the Crown Prince.
After the Duke of Maoguo came to visit the eldest prince and was sent away, many people came to visit the eldest prince that afternoon. Prince Cheng and Xie Jingyin came, and even Princess Huyang came to the Ling Prince's residence in a sedan chair, but no one was allowed to enter.
As evening approached, the Empress Dowager sent her most trusted nanny, Zhao. However, Zhao was not allowed into the Ling Prince's residence. Despite this, Zhao received special treatment. Although Xie Jingyan did not allow her into the residence, he sent Zhao Yuanzheng to the main gate to meet Zhao and inform her of the current situation of the First Prince, thus saving Zhao Yuanzheng the trouble of returning to the palace to report to the Empress Dowager.
Hearing that the eldest prince had not yet woken up, Granny Zhao left with a heavy heart.
Nothing happened that night.
But the next afternoon, Zhao Yuanzheng went to the palace to report to the Empress Dowager, and that night, assassins sneaked into the Ling Prince's residence.
When Chen Feng reported to Xie Jingyan, Xie Jingyan had just finished bathing and was about to go back to his room to rest. Chen Feng said, "Master, two people just sneaked into the Prince's mansion, but they were discovered as soon as they entered."
"Sending two assassins here? What does he think the Lingwang Mansion is?" Xie Jingyan asked. "Did you capture any prisoners alive?"
Chen Feng shook his head, "We just caught the assassin, and he bit his tongue and committed suicide."
Chen Feng began to doubt what the two assassins were doing at the Ling Prince's residence; it seemed more like they were there to die.
Xie Jingyan said, "Send more people to protect the pharmacy. No matter what happens in other parts of the Prince's mansion, they are not allowed to leave it even for a moment."
Chen Feng accepted the order and withdrew.
The next day, before Zhao Yuanzheng went to the palace to report, Xie Jingyan went to see the eldest prince. The eldest prince's face was still pale, but his lips were not as black as when he saw him by the river, so the poison in his body should have been cleared up.
Xie Jingyan asked, "How is the eldest prince?"
Dean Zhao looked worried. "The situation is not optimistic."
The eldest prince remained unconscious, showing no signs of waking up. He could not be fed and was kept alive only by herbal medicine, at most drinking some rice gruel.
Previously, Doctor Tao said that there was less than a 50% chance of curing the eldest prince, but now there is not even a 30% chance.
Xie Jingyan said, "When you see the Empress Dowager later, tell her that the eldest prince's condition has improved and he may wake up in less than two days."
Zhao Yuanzheng looked at Xie Jingyan and said, "Isn't this deceiving the Empress Dowager?"
They had no chance of waking the eldest prince within two days.
They were giving the Empress Dowager hope, but if her condition suddenly worsened and she questioned them, they couldn't bear her wrath.
Xie Jingyan knew Zhao Yuanzheng's concerns, and he said, "Do as I say. I will take full responsibility for anything that happens."
Since Xie Jingyan had already said so, what could Zhao Yuanzheng do but listen to him? Besides, this way of reporting to the Empress Dowager would actually save a lot of trouble, put the Empress Dowager at ease, and make him feel less uneasy when reporting.
Just as Zhao Yuanzheng had predicted, when the Empress Dowager heard that the eldest prince's condition had improved, tears of joy welled up in her eyes. Zhao Yuanzheng, standing below, felt uneasy. If the eldest prince had truly improved, even if it was just a couple of days later, it would have been fine. If he really couldn't be saved, heaven knows how heartbroken and angry the Empress Dowager would be.
Leaving Shou Kang Palace, Zhao Yuanzheng silently prayed that the eldest prince would recover soon. He couldn't understand why reporting this to the Empress Dowager would not only be unhelpful to Prince Ling, but would even sow the seeds of future trouble. He might be worried that the Empress Dowager's excessive worry would harm her health, but the Empress Dowager didn't seem to have much affection for Prince Ling, and Prince Ling wasn't particularly filial to her either.
Why did Prince Ling do this?
Although Zhao Yuanzheng couldn't figure it out, he was certain that he wasn't doing this out of filial piety.
However, Zhao Yuanzheng soon realized Xie Jingyan's purpose in doing so.
That night.
A few scattered stars dotted the night sky.
Xie Jingyan was reading a military treatise.
Page after page.
Shen Wan was also reading. She usually read in the inner room, but today Xie Jingyan asked her to keep him company in the study. Shen Wan figured it didn't matter where she read, so she read in the study.
She felt heavier, and her back ached after sitting for a while. She stood up and walked around. Xie Jingyan looked up at her and asked, "Your back is sore again?"
Shen Wan asked, "Are you sure I don't want to disturb your reading?"
Xie Jingyan said, "I can only feel at ease if you stay in the study."
Shen Wan, “…???”
Shen Wan was unaware that an assassin had broken into the Ling Prince's residence last night; Xie Jingyan hadn't told her.
She looked at Xie Jingyan with a puzzled expression, about to ask why, when Yinshuang's hurried footsteps came. Yinshuang ran in and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The Viewing Pavilion is on fire!"
Shen Wan was taken aback. She quickly turned to look at Xie Jingyan. Seeing that Xie Jingyan showed neither anger nor surprise, Shen Wan realized what was happening and asked, "You knew the Viewing Pavilion would catch fire?"
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
