Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan went to the Imperial Study.
Knowing that the Emperor wanted to see them, the young eunuch let them pass without announcing it.
Inside the Imperial Study, the Emperor was reviewing memorials.
The two stepped forward and bowed to the Emperor.
Why did the Empress Dowager beat the King?
The emperor casually closed the memorial and asked his question in a very casual manner.
Xie Jingyan raised an eyebrow and said, "Because Prince Cheng broke the teacup, disturbing the Empress Dowager."
The Emperor glanced at Xie Jingyan. "You believe that reason?"
The Empress Dowager's excuse for beating the Prince was too flimsy; no one would believe it.
But the Empress Dowager still struck.
It's clear that he couldn't vent his anger without a fight; King Cheng had already angered the Empress Dowager to the point of no return.
To anger the Empress Dowager to this extent, Prince Cheng must have committed a capital offense.
It's highly likely that even the emperor wouldn't forgive them.
In addition, the Empress Dowager used her pardon to save Prince Jin's life, but then tried to poison Empress Song. There was also the fact that Prince Cheng had previously protected the person who poisoned his heir...
This series of inexplicable actions, along with the events involving Prince Cheng and Xie Jingyin in Shen Wan's dream, lead to an obvious guess.
However, catching adulterers in the act and catching thieves red-handed is a matter of the Emperor's reputation. Even though Xie Jingyan was used to contradicting the Emperor, he dared not say anything without evidence.
Seeing the Emperor looking at him, Xie Jingyan said, "What can I do if I don't believe it? If the Empress Dowager doesn't say anything, who will know?"
After a pause, Xie Jingyan said, "It's one thing for the Empress Dowager to keep it from others, but she didn't even tell Father Emperor. Could it be that Prince Cheng's crime is related to Father Emperor?"
You shouldn't make wild guesses without evidence, but it's okay to plant a seed of doubt.
The Emperor was already somewhat suspicious, and Xie Jingyan's words made him frown and his expression turn very unpleasant.
Eunuch Yuan stood aside, his heart trembling. What the Empress Dowager feared most was the Emperor and Prince Cheng's brothers fighting each other. If the Empress Dowager knew that Prince Ling had said such things to sow discord between the Emperor and Prince Cheng, and between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, she would probably be so angry that she would want to execute Prince Ling.
However, there's no smoke without fire, and Prince Ling's suspicions weren't unfounded. Given the Empress Dowager's actions that had raised suspicions before, it's no wonder Prince Ling would be so suspicious.
Seeing that the Emperor remained silent for a long time, Eunuch Yuan called out from the side, "Your Majesty..."
The Emperor came to his senses. He had not summoned Xie Jingyan to ask if he knew why the Empress Dowager had punished Prince Cheng. He said, "I have drawn up a list of those who participated in saving the First Prince that day so that I can reward them."
This was important business. Eunuch Yuan brought over the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and Xie Jingyan wrote down the names one by one.
Eunuch Yuan presented the list to the Emperor for review.
There are quite a few names on the list.
But the first was Shen Wan, the second was Xie Jingyan himself, and the third was Doctor Tao.
The Emperor looked at Xie Jingyan and asked, "Wan'er deserves the most credit for saving the First Prince?"
Xie Jingyan said, "If Wan'er hadn't wanted to go to the river to eat a whole fish feast, there wouldn't have been the rescue later."
The emperor had nothing to say.
Xie Jingyan said, "Shall we go to the warehouse and choose ourselves?"
The Emperor glared at Xie Jingyan and said, "You weren't satisfied with just causing trouble in the Empress Dowager's private treasury, and now you're eyeing my things?"
"Go back and wait for your reward."
The emperor was frightened and dared not let Xie Jingyan into his storeroom again.
The Emperor changed the subject, asking, "Has the assassin from the Lantern Festival been found?"
Xie Jingyan didn't know why the Emperor suddenly asked about the assassins. Not a single one had been left alive, so how could it be easy to investigate? He replied, "Not yet."
The Emperor picked up his teacup and said, "Princess Huyang's birthday is just a few days away. She will not hold a birthday banquet this year. She asked for my permission to hold a lantern festival outside the palace. I have granted her request. The assassin has not been found, so you should not wander around the streets."
Shen Wan, "..."
Xie Jingyan, "..."
Xie Jingyan's lips twitched slightly, while Shen Wan wished she could disappear into the ground.
The Emperor was busy with countless affairs of state, and even the Empress Dowager's illness did not cause him any worry. Yet, the Emperor was concerned about how they would celebrate the Lantern Festival, fearing that they might be assassinated again while out on the streets.
Moreover, she said it to her face, clearly believing the Eighth Prince and his group's nonsense, worried that Xie Jingyan was truly afraid of his wife. She wanted to go out, and Xie Jingyan couldn't stop her, so he had to give in and simply forbade them from going out.
Xie Jingyan is the Emperor's biological son. How could the Emperor not know what kind of temperament his son has? Does she think she can do whatever she wants with him?
I feel wronged, but I don't dare to speak out.
The Emperor had summoned them for these matters. Once everything was settled, Xie Jingyan and Shen Wan took their leave.
As they left, the Emperor frowned. Eunuch Yuan smiled and said, "Soon Your Majesty will be able to hold the eldest grandson."
The Emperor said, "I will not be at ease until the baby is born."
"I've never seen anyone so carefree. Back in my day..."
At this point, the emperor abruptly stopped speaking, his face darkening.
Eunuch Yuan didn't dare to reply. Back when Consort Chen was pregnant with Xie Jingyan, the Emperor was even more nervous than Consort Chen, fearing that something might go wrong. Unlike Prince Ling and Princess Ling, who were assassinated at the Lantern Festival but didn't catch the assassin, they still dared to go out and enjoy the lanterns. They weren't afraid, but the Emperor was worried that Princess Ling would get hurt and harm the baby in her womb.
After leaving the Imperial Study, Xie Jingyan asked Shen Wan, "Are you tired after walking so far?"
Shen Wan shook her head repeatedly, "I'm not tired."
She was afraid that Xie Jingyan would carry her away.
Although there have been times when she was even more flamboyant, she's really not used to it.
Fearing Xie Jingyan wouldn't listen to her, Chen Wan said, "Walking around more is good for childbirth."
Xie Jingyan looked at her, "Really?"
Shen Wan said, "If you don't believe me, ask Doctor Tao."
Xie Jingyan gave up the idea of taking Chen Wan in his arms. Besides, it wasn't far, and Chen Feng drove the carriage to wait for them at the place closest to the Imperial Study.
We boarded the carriage and headed straight out of the palace.
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