Before Honored Consort Ya left the palace, the Emperor had already warned her to detain and gag Honored Consort Xia without saying anything the moment she saw her in the Lord Guardian's Manor. Then, she would have to find the poison and accuse Ao Chenyi and Honored Consort Xia of rendezvousing. Her work would over once she accused them of secretly poisoning the Emperor as well.
The rest wasn't hers to worry about; all she had to do was hold on until the Emperor's decree came. By then, those in the palace would have discovered that the Emperor was poisoned and Ao Chenyi would be finished in that confrontation. As for Honored Consort Xia, well… The Empress would deal with a palace consort who had committed a crime.
Every layer of trap had been set. The entire scheme was quite an ingenious one. Knowing that the Emperor was beginning to attack Ao Chenyi, she was more than happy to lend him a hand. After all, it was obvious from the current situation that her so
Some said the Emperor found a lady that resembled Second Young Lady Hua to frame Prince Yi.Some said Honored Consort Xia was only a mysterious figure because the Emperor had wronged his younger brother.Some said Honored Consort Xia colluded with the Emperor to frame Prince Yi all those years ago and steal the throne that was supposedly his...Regardless, it became an undeniable fact that Honored Consort Xia was once Second Young Lady Hua.The rumor emerged from Lord Guardian's Manor, traveled throughout the capital, and then made its way out toward Annan...The Emperor was furious! Outraged!He had consumed a small amount of medicinal powder, enough to fake his poisoning. His body wasn't all that healthy lately, so he wouldn't dare to take too much poison. Little did he expect there would be such a change in the situation.He was lying in his residence when it happened, looking like he had b
Once the Emperor made sure that his face was free from the powder, he became enraged that a mere woman had tossed powder on him in front of so many people. He opened his eyes the second that he could and screamed at Honored Consort Xia. "Servants! Servants! Take this wench away and turn her…"Knowing that the Emperor wanted to turn her into mincemeat, Honored Consort Xia interrupted him with a slight sneer. "Your Majesty, if the powder is poisonous, you would have already swallowed some from all that talking. Are you sure you're okay?"Her words prompted the Emperor to shut his mouth. Even now, he felt the powder was poisonous. The sudden incident caught him off guard, and he was also aware that he had given Honored Consort Xia poison. That was why he lost his composure so badly."Your Majesty, please explain why the second lady of the Hua family, Prince Yi's fiancee, is in your harem." Several old ministers and their wives knelt together.
The news of Prince Yi's appointment as the Crown Prince sent a shock throughout all levels of society. No one thought that the Emperor would appoint a Crown Prince out of the blue.It had been so many years. The Emperor's intention was apparent to everyone, and it was clear that he was enemies with Prince Yi. To suddenly appoint Prince Yi as the Crown Prince was the Emperor's show of weakness. Moreover, the news from the Lord Guardian's Manor had spread. Nearly everyone in the capital found out that the Emperor had stolen his minister and younger brother's wife.It was an unethical crime that made the perpetrator look worse than a beast. To think that the Emperor would conduct himself like this! It was unbefitting of a monarch.Thus, the stubborn court officials submitted an official complaint of misconduct, though they didn't dare to impeach the Emperor. They first impeached Chief Hua of the Imperial Academy of poor character. He had failed to
Sure enough, it didn't take long for Commandery Princess Xianyun to send someone to invite Ning Xueyan to her place. Ning Xueyan didn't put up airs. She went over with Xinmei and Qingyu."Princess, can I meet the Empress? The Empress said there's follow-up business about my second sister's business. She's still my sister. I'm also partially responsible for her current state. I've wronged her."Commandery Princess Xianyun went straight to the point the moment she saw Ning Xueyan. Her eyes were red when she spoke. She had one hand pressed on her chest, looking sorrowful.She couldn't hide the fact that the Empress had sent someone for her. Ning Xueyan, as Princess Yi, had an iron-grip over the backyard of the manor. Ning Xueyan was the last person she could conceal the matter from.Her words were wrought in emotion and sincerity, as well as her guilt toward Yun Luoluo. Those who knew the truth of the matter realized that Yun Luoluo h
"Commandery Princess Xianyun couldn't make it?" the Empress asked angrily, slamming her hand on the table. She didn't expect Ning Xueyan to be so domineering and defy her order. Had this happened in the past, Ning Xueyan would have been beheaded for her crime, but things were different now. The Emperor was very ill and all the authority was in Ao Chenyi's hands. Her words were no longer useful.She had planned to wait for Commandery Princess Xianyun to bear a son and find a way to make the princes and Ao Chenyi face-off until they lost their lives. Then, she would adopt Xianyun's son and make him the next Emperor. She would become the Empress Dowager, instead of the biological mother, Xianyun. A mere prince's consort couldn't be compared to her.Since the new Emperor would be young, she would be able to govern behind the curtain and take on the role of a regent. She would raise the child on her own, making him into an obedient adult thankful for her role in
Ning Xueyan blinked after hearing several knocks on the window frame. Only then did she realize that Ao Chenyi was standing outside the window with his thin lips curved into a smile. His face looked handsome, almost enchantingly so, under the moonlight. There was a hint of impetuous languidness in his expression."How did you get here?" Without even thinking about it, Ning Xueyan stood up and looked out the window. Rather than asking him when he appeared here, she was asking how he came in without alerting anyone.Ao Chenyi grabbed the sill and hoisted himself through the window, landing gently inside the room. "I told them not to knock since it's so late. I came in myself," he said matter-of-factly.Why was he acting like a thief when he was just returning to his own home? She was speechless that he had to sneak in through the window.She walked to the table, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him. Even though he looked the sam
It was early in the morning after that Ming Feiyong's army departed the capital. By the time Ning Xueyan woke up, Ao Chenyi was no longer beside her and even the bed next to her felt cold to the touch. She didn't know what time he had left.All was calm in the capital over the next few days. However, there was a rumor that the Emperor had passed away. This rumor was, of course, circulating only among the ordinary folks. The Emperor was still in a coma but he was undoubtedly alive. The Empress had been serving him the entire time, and several imperial consorts were guarding the door as well. Even though they couldn't meet the Emperor, they could see the imperial physicians going in to help change his medicine.It was tense inside the palace.The Emperor had many children, but few managed to reach adulthood. Most of his imperial consorts were without children. If something were to happen to him, they would be done for. Therefore, they refused to
"What should we do now?" Ao Mingyu asked, going straight to the point, and looked at Xia Yuhang. He didn't have time to waste.Xia Yuhang thought about it before asking, "Do you want to save Honored Consort Ya or deal with Prince Yi first?""Deal with Prince Yi!" Ao Mingyu replied coldly without hesitation. His mother was imprisoned but not charged with any crime. She wouldn't have the freedom to move and her living environment would be poor, but that was all. Saving her wasn't as important as dealing with Ao Chenyi."Now that Prince Yi is the Crown Prince, he's staying in the Eastern Palace. The Eastern Palace is undoubtedly heavily guarded right now. It won't be easy for you to deal with him," Xia Yuhang replied, frowning. Ao Chenyi had outstanding guards. No assassin had ever succeeded in hurting him. Now that he had become the Crown Prince, his protection would only increase. Prince Xiang wouldn't be able to do anything to him.