Chapter 532: Twilight Years
The Eldest Princess let out a long sigh of relief. "Good! Good!"
At last, there was some good news. No matter the circumstances, Emperor Muwu waking up now was a joyous event for them all.
But this current situation...
The Eldest Princess looked at Ye Chutang again. "Chutang, is there anything else you’d like to ask?"
Ye Chutang’s gaze swept coolly over Xiao Lansi’s face.
Upon hearing that Emperor Muwu had awoken, Xiao Lansi merely frowned for a moment before her expression quickly returned to normal.
’It’s as if she doesn’t care at all.’
The corners of Ye Chutang’s lips curved.
"There is one more thing I must confirm with the Third Princess."
With that, she took a step forward and spoke with a calm directness, as if she were casually inquiring about the weather.
"If you have the antidote for Prince Lie in your possession, Third Princess, then I imagine you must have His Majesty’s antidote as well?"
Xiao Lansi’s head snapped toward Ye Chutang!
The crowd was stunned by the question. After a moment of shock, it dawned on them one by one—Ye Chutang was implying that Xiao Lansi was also the one who had been putting slow-acting poison in Emperor Muwu’s meals!
"Th-this..."
Several ministers exchanged glances, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief.
"Impossible, isn’t it? She left for Guanling long ago and hasn’t returned to the Capital City in years, let alone set foot in the Imperial Palace. How could she have had the opportunity?"
"One can’t be sure. Who’s to say she didn’t arrange for someone to do it in advance? After all, she wouldn’t have to do it herself."
"Exactly. If she resents the Second Prince, who’s to say she doesn’t feel the same way about His Majesty? And come to think of it, she was raised by Jiang Cairen as a child. Perhaps she knew about His Majesty’s heart condition even then!"
Put that way, it all made sense.
Very few people knew of Emperor Muwu’s heart condition, which was why their suspicion had fallen directly on Jiang Qingmei.
But Jiang Qingmei had absolutely no reason to do such a thing; it offered her nothing but harm.
However, if it was Xiao Lansi... that was a different story!
Xiao Chengxuan had realized it by now as well, and a towering hatred surged in his chest.
"So that’s it! My mother treated you like her own daughter, and this is how you repay her in the end!"
Xiao Lansi let out a soft, derisive laugh, as if she’d heard something utterly ridiculous.
"Her own daughter? You mean like Xiao Jiayi? No, how could I ever compare to her."
Xiao Jiayi was doted on from a young age. The moment she came of age, they painstakingly selected an excellent husband for her. Her wedding was a magnificent affair, with a dowry procession that stretched for miles and boundless pageantry.
’Meanwhile, I was cast aside in Guanling, only to be summoned back when they finally had a use for me.’
’How could that possibly be the same?’
Xiao Chengxuan’s fists were clenched tight. "If my mother hadn’t taken pity on you and insisted on bringing you to Yaohua Palace to be raised, you would have died in some forgotten corner of this Imperial Palace long ago! To think you’d repay her kindness with such malice! We were so wrong about you!"
Xiao Lansi had already grown impatient.
She stared coldly at Xiao Chengxuan, a hint of venomous resentment in her eyes, her smile dripping with sarcasm.
"You think your high-and-mighty charity demands eternal gratitude from others. You’re cut from the same cloth as her—just as hopelessly stupid."
Gone was any trace of her former timidity and gentleness.
A rush of blood went straight to Xiao Chengxuan’s head. "You!"
He lunged forward instinctively, but the guards were quick to intercept him.
The Eldest Princess’s brow tightened.
’A Prince and a Princess, making such a public scene!’
"What are you still gawking for? Take him away!"
She then looked at Xiao Lansi and took a deep breath.
"You will not be sent to the Ministry of Justice. Go back to where you came from!"
Xiao Lansi froze.
Clearly, no one else had expected this outcome either.
"Eldest Princess, she has committed a crime punishable by death! She should be taken to the Ministry of Justice for trial immediately!"
The Eldest Princess raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
"I understand everything you’re saying. A reckoning will come, but not now."
The officials wanted to argue further, but seeing the Eldest Princess’s resolute expression, they could only comply.
Ye Chutang, however, was not surprised by this.
’The Wazhen Mission is about to arrive in the Capital City. If this news were to get out now, it would undoubtedly cause chaos.’
’Therefore, everything must be kept under wraps for the time being.’
Ye Chutang glanced impassively at Xiao Lansi, noticing her stiffen for a fraction of a second upon learning she wouldn’t be sent to the Ministry of Justice.
Though it was just a fleeting reaction, it spoke volumes.
Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
She retracted her gaze and bowed to the Eldest Princess.
"Since His Majesty has awoken, I will take my leave now."
The Eldest Princess nodded. "Very well. You go on ahead. I will follow once things here are settled."
A small smile played on Ye Chutang’s lips as she turned and left.
As she brushed past Xiao Lansi, she paused, tilted her head slightly, and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Was it worth it?"
A jolt went through Xiao Lansi’s heart, but her expression remained unchanged.
Only the slight tremor of the hand hidden in her sleeve betrayed that she was not as unaffected as she appeared.
Ye Chutang didn’t linger. She simply turned and walked away.
...
Rounding the folding screen, the bitter scent of medicine assailed her.
It was accompanied by a low, hoarse cough.
Ye Chutang looked up to see Emperor Muwu already sitting up on the imperial bed, propped against a soft pillow.
Chu Qiyuan was sitting on a round stool by the bed, taking his pulse.
Hearing her approach, Chu Qiyuan immediately turned around, his face lighting up.
"Chutang, you’re here."
Ye Chutang first stepped forward to bow to Emperor Muwu before turning to Chu Qiyuan with a smile. "Yes. I came as soon as I heard His Majesty had awoken. I was delayed for a moment; I hope Your Majesty will not hold it against me."
Emperor Muwu, having regained some of his strength, shook his head.
"It is nothing. You are the one who saved my life; all else is trivial."
"I dare not."
Ye Chutang lowered her head slightly.
"Your Majesty is blessed by Heaven; it is only natural that you are safe and sound."
Emperor Muwu’s pale lips twitched, as if in a faint smile.
"I know my own body. There is no need to humor me with pleasantries."
Ye Chutang realized that Emperor Muwu had changed.
After this grave illness, his spirit was clearly diminished. He was not only more haggard and thin, but the sharp light in his eyes had also faded, replaced by the weary look of old age.
Now, dressed in his bedclothes and leaning against the headboard, he looked no different from an old man in his twilight years.
Even with the world’s most honored status, the richest lands, and the greatest wealth, in the face of life and death, he was just an ordinary man.
Ye Chutang said, "It was mainly the Chu Hospital Director’s work. I merely did what little I could and dare not claim any credit."
Emperor Muwu looked at her, then suddenly shook his head and smiled.
"Ye Zheng is such a straightforward man, always so righteous in his conduct. I never imagined he would have a daughter as clever and perceptive as you."
Chu Qiyuan finally drew back his hand and said with a smile, "His Majesty is already aware that after he fell into a coma, it was you who stabilized his condition with repeated acupuncture and medicine. You shouldn’t be so modest."
As he spoke, he stood and yielded his seat.
"Take His Majesty’s pulse and have a look."