Imperial Brother, you are finally back in the capital.
Of course, this was within his expectations.
He closed the fake imperial edict and looked at Qin Shiyu, who was sitting next to him. "Lord Qin, what exactly is going on?"
Qin Shiyu parted the curtain of the carriage and glanced back before explaining with relief, "This official knew as soon as Your Highness arrived at the capital. I thought that Prince Yi would never let Your Highness return to the capital so easily, so I came up with this plan, hoping to avoid all of this before Prince Yi gave the order to kill. However, I was still a step too late and almost put Your Highness in danger."
Oh!
"You're not late. You came just in time."
"What do you mean?"
"If it weren't for Lord Qin's late arrival, this prince wouldn't have known that War Secretary Ji was working with Jing Yi to kill this prince. At the very least, this prince would be more vigilant against him and wouldn't suffer losses in the future."
You're quite open-minded!
Qin Shiyu sighed, "Everyone in the Imperial Court knows that War Secretary Ji is a cautious person who never openly participates in political disputes. Now that Prince Yi has taken the Ji family's daughter as Prince Yi's Consort, it is understandable that he chose to follow Prince Yi because of this."
"It's definitely not that simple." Jing Rong said, "Even so, War Secretary Ji wouldn't be at Prince Yi's mercy. There must be … more to this than meets the eye."
Qin Shiyu shook his head. "I'm not sure."
Moments later …
Jing Rong was apprehensive. "Lord Qin sent this fake imperial edict. Is that Imperial Father's edict?"
"Your Highness may rest assured. This lowly official knows that His Majesty will definitely issue a verbal decree to grant Your Highness permission to return to the capital. However, it may only come after Prince Yi has issued the order to kill you. That's why I boldly sent a fake imperial edict to help Your Highness out of this predicament. If His Majesty wishes to pursue this lowly official for passing a fake imperial edict, this lowly official will bear the crime alone."
"Lord Qin, you've made me feel ashamed."
"As long as Your Highness can safely enter the capital, everything will be worth it. Besides, the 'Lin Capital Case' has been dragging on ever since Your Highness left the capital, so Your Highness must smoothly enter the capital and solve the case with Teacher Ji as soon as possible."
Jing Rong nodded.
It had indeed dragged on for too long!
Suddenly —
The carriage stopped.
A city magistrate stood in front of the carriages and horses.
Jing Rong and Qin Shiyu looked at each other, but did not leave the carriage.
A voice came from the front, "His Majesty has ordered Prince Rong to bring the late Emperor's posthumous edict to the palace immediately without delay."
Finally —
The imperial edict had come!
Jing Rong's thin and cold lips curved upwards.
After a few months, he had finally returned to the capital!
The carriage continued to move forward. The carriage rumbled as it rolled on the official road, and the gravel made a "kacha" sound. Accompanied by the sound of hooves, it smoothly entered the capital city gate.
Just like when he left, the capital was still as prosperous as ever.
On the spacious road, pedestrians walked slowly, coming and going. The shops on both sides of the road were bustling with business. Hawkers were picking out goods to buy and sell. Passing merchants and horse caravans were shuttling back and forth. There were also children playing happily …
It was very lively.
After Jing Rong's caravan passed through the main road, it split into three directions.
One faced the direction of the palace gate.
One was heading towards Prince Rong's estate.
The other was in the direction of Yuhua Pavilion.
…
Imperial Palace, Zhangzhi Hall.
Concubine Xiao had been suffering from a headache recently. The imperial physicians had prescribed a lot of medicine, but none of it worked. She had also taken a lot of tonics.
But there was no effect.
Today, the imperial physician came to take her pulse again.
Concubine Xiao was lying on her side on the chaise lounge. She stretched out her hand and placed it on the soft cushion. A thin handkerchief was placed on her smooth wrist, allowing the imperial physician to take her pulse through the gauze.
Jing Xuan sat quietly at the side.
When she heard that her Imperial Mother was not feeling well, she immediately rushed over.
She was extremely worried!
After the imperial physician finished taking her pulse, she quickly asked, "Imperial physician, how is my Imperial Mother?"
"The weather hasn't been good recently. Your Ladyship has caught a cold, so her body feels stuffy and her headache is getting worse."
"But you've prescribed so many medicines. How come none of them seem to have any effect after drinking them?"
"This is a chronic illness that requires time to recuperate. It won't get better immediately. Your Ladyship has been working day and night, so this is why. As long as she takes her medicine on time, she will gradually get better."
Working hard?
Working hard my ass!
All she did was stroll around the palace and cut flowers all day. She was clearly bored to death!
Now that she was the most powerful person in the palace, she didn't need to spend time fighting with the concubines below her.
The only place that she had to work hard was her son.
Jing Xuan waved her hand, "Alright, alright. You say the same thing every time you come. Hurry up and leave."
The imperial physician didn't dare to stay any longer.
He quickly responded, "Yes, this subject will take his leave."
He packed his things and left.
Concubine Xiao lay on the bed with a pale face, her eyes listless. She reached out and tugged at Jing Xuan, "Child, why do you have to be angry with the imperial physician?"
"Imperial Mother, look at yourself. The imperial physician has prescribed so many medicines, but you don't seem to have any effect even after drinking them. Xuan 'er is worried."
"My body is Imperial Mother's. Imperial Mother knows very well that the weather hasn't been good recently. Sometimes it's sunny, and sometimes it's raining. That's why I'm like this. You don't have to worry."
"As long as Imperial Mother is fine."
Jing Xuan ordered someone to bring a thick blanket and cover her body, "Imperial Mother, sleep for a while."
"En."
Concubine Xiao slowly closed her eyes.
Then, Jing Xuan got up and ordered someone to bring the incense she brought. She personally lit it and threw it into the incense burner.
The fragrance gradually filled the entire inner hall.
It was refreshing!
She placed the incense burner next to the chaise lounge and glanced at Concubine Xiao, who had closed her eyes to rest.
At that moment, Jing Xuan's hand that was holding the incense burner tightened. Her pair of innocent and harmless eyes dimmed.
She secretly gritted her teeth.
At this moment, a young eunuch hurried in.
"Greetings, Your Ladyship, Princess."
Jing Xuan instantly retracted the deep meaning in her eyes and released her hand from the incense burner.
Hearing this, Concubine Xiao opened her eyes. When she saw the eunuch, she said to Jing Xuan, "Xuan 'er, go back to your chambers first. Imperial Mother doesn't need your care."
"Yes, then Xuan 'er will leave."
She bowed slightly.
Obediently, she left the inner hall.
But —
She didn't leave.
Instead, she hid outside and listened with her ears open.
She heard the eunuch come forward and say, "Your Ladyship, Prince Yi's men were unable to stop Prince Rong outside the capital."
Concubine Xiao immediately perked up.
She sat up from the chaise lounge, her face full of worry. Her slender and long brows were tightly knitted.
She asked, "Where is Prince Rong now?"
"He has entered the palace and is on his way to the Imperial Palace."
Just as she finished speaking —
"Bang!"
With a flick of her hand, Concubine Xiao swept the incense burner that Jing Xuan had placed at the side to the ground.
When the incense burner fell to the ground, only a small amount of incense rolled out and was immediately extinguished.
The eunuch didn't dare to make a sound. He knelt on the ground and bowed.
At this moment, Concubine Xiao's face was clearly sickly and gentle.
But now, it was hideous and terrifying.
… …
Jing Xuan, who was outside the door, didn't make a sound and left.
After returning to her chambers, she summoned Duan 'er and instructed, "Prepare a big red kite for me."
"What does the Princess need a kite for?"
"Just go and prepare it. Don't ask so many questions."
Duan 'er hurriedly complied and left.
Jing Xuan looked in the direction of the Imperial Palace, her heart heavy with worry.
But she also seemed to heave a long sigh of relief.
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