“Brother Emperor, how are you feeling?” Xue Xingyue watched Xue Xingchen, who was slowly opening his eyes on the bed, finally felt her heart settle.
“Xingyue, brother emperor made you worry.”
Xue Xingyue suppressed the tears streaming down her face and said, “Brother Emperor, if there is a next time, and you do this again, I will not forgive you.”
Xue Xingchen nodded, “No more. How could I bear to make Xingyue sad again?”
After chatting for a while longer, Xue Xingyue withdrew after seeing Xue Xingchen fall asleep.
Feng Ming, who had been waiting outside, stepped forward. “Your Highness, the interrogation is complete.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Xingyue’s gaze tightened, and she asked, “Who instructed them?”
Feng Ming whispered, “Consort An.”
“Impossible, they are lying.” Xue Xingyue denied.
“Why are you so sure, Your Highness?” Feng Ming was also a little surprised. If it weren't for knowing that Your Highness and Consort An were irreconcilable and that Your Highness and His Majesty had a deep brotherly love, he would have thought Your Highness and Consort An were on the same side.
Xue Xingyue said, “Consort An is not that foolish.”
“Why do you say that, Your Highness?” Feng Ming was a little confused.
“It’s simple. Tianyue has not yet been made Crown Prince by Brother Emperor. How could she possibly attack Brother Emperor?” Xue Xingyue reasoned.
Feng Ming suddenly understood, “Your Highness is indeed wise. Then I will go and interrogate them again.”
Xue Xingyue said, “No need. Since they would mention Consort An, they must have made full preparations beforehand. They are all dead by now, aren't they?”
Before her words had even fallen, Feng Jiu hurried over from not far away and bowed to her, saying, “Your Highness, they have just committed suicide by taking poison.”
Feng Ming was stunned. “Your Highness, you guessed correctly.”
Feng Jiu heard this and asked, “Guess? What did Your Highness guess?”
“Your Highness guessed that they would die by now. I didn’t expect you to come,” Feng Ming said.
“Your Highness, what should we do now?” Feng Jiu asked.
“Seal the news. Do not allow anyone to know that they confessed Consort An’s name,” Xue Xingyue ordered.
Feng Jiu and Feng Ming were both taken aback. “Your Highness, isn’t this incident a perfect opportunity to capture Consort An?”
“And after that? Should Tianyue ascend the throne with a mother who attempted to assassinate his father?” Xue Xingyue looked at Feng Jiu and Feng Ming and asked.
Feng Jiu and Feng Ming fell silent. They both knew that Your Highness was doing this for the sake of the First Prince.
“Follow me to Anhe Palace.” Xue Xingyue headed towards Anhe Palace.
Consort An was not very surprised to hear of Xue Xingyue’s arrival.
She looked at the young girl who walked in, and her heart trembled slightly. She tightly grasped the handkerchief in her hand, trying her best to appear as usual. “What wind blew Princess Xingyue here?”
Xue Xingyue looked up at Consort An, who was seated above, retracted her gaze, and sat down on a chair. “Consort An, are you sure you want everyone in your chambers to hear our conversation?”
Consort An’s gaze turned cold upon hearing this. She sneered, “Is there anything that cannot be said openly? I conduct myself with integrity and am not afraid of gossip.”
“Of course, Consort An is not afraid, but what about Tianyue? Are you not afraid either?” Xue Xingyue picked up her tea and said slowly.
Consort An’s eyes immediately turned cold. She waved her hand and said coldly, “You all withdraw. No one is allowed to disturb me and Princess Xingyue.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.”
After everyone withdrew, Consort An said coldly, “The people are gone, Princess. You can speak now, can’t you?”
“Regarding the assassination attempt on Brother Emperor, I presume Consort An has heard about it?”
Consort An’s brow furrowed slightly. “You’ll have to ask the assassins. Why are you asking me? I don’t know anything.”
Xue Xingyue hooked her lips into a smile. “Yes, Consort An, you truly don’t know. It’s a pity that they accused you of being the culprit.”
Consort An let out a few laughs and looked at Xue Xingyue, saying, “Princess Xingyue, you cannot frame me just because you and I are at odds, can you?”
“Frame? Is it necessary?” Xue Xingyue raised her head and looked at Consort An with a chilling gaze.
Consort An looked at Xue Xingyue’s calm eyes, and for a moment, she felt a pang of unease. Could Xue Xingyue be telling the truth?
“Princess Xingyue, I will not admit to anything I have not done. Don’t try to frame me,” Consort An said angrily, slamming her hand down on the armrest of her chair.
Xue Xingyue did not get angry. She simply looked at Consort An and said word by word, “Consort An, I am not here to interrogate you. Of course, although we sometimes have disagreements, I know you would not do such a thing for Tianyue. However, think carefully, why did they accuse you and not someone else?”
Consort An snorted coldly, “How would I know?”
“Consort An, no matter how much we fight, there is one thing you must remember: barring any unforeseen circumstances, Tianyue will be the future Emperor’s consort after Xingchen. This is undeniable. I hope that when you do anything, you will remember the consequences and the responsibility of bearing them. Do not let Tianyue bear the consequences of your actions, as that would be too unfair to him.”
“How I act is none of your business,” Consort An said coldly.
“I have said what I needed to say. Consort An, take care of yourself!” Xue Xingyue said and left Anhe Palace.
Consort An watched Xue Xingyue’s retreating back, her teeth gritted so hard she almost broke them. “Xue Xingyue, I swear we are mortal enemies.”
After leaving Anhe Palace, Feng Ming stepped forward and said, “Your Highness, you meant well, but Consort An may not appreciate your kindness.”
“She doesn’t need to appreciate it. I just want her to know that someone is watching her, watching Tianyue, and even eyeing Brother Emperor’s position.”
Feng Ming was stunned. “Your Highness, what you are saying is…”
Xue Xingyue said, “Think about it. Because Brother Emperor is frail, he has had no imperial heirs for many years, only an adopted son, Tianyue. If Tianyue cannot become Emperor, what will happen to Brother Emperor?”
“Your Highness, are you saying that the assassins were sent by Qi Kingdom?” Feng Ming asked subconsciously.
“It’s hard to say. Feng Ming, send someone to Qi Kingdom to investigate,” Xue Xingyue said.
“Your Highness, rest assured, I will do it immediately.” Feng Ming received the order and left.
Suddenly, a faint sound came from not far away. Xue Xingyue’s gaze turned cold, and she shouted, “Come out.”
No one appeared. She drew her sword as she said coldly, “If you don’t come out, don’t blame me for being impolite.”
“Auntie.”
Xue Xingyue was startled. She saw Xue Tianyue appear from behind a tree.
“Auntie, it’s me.” Xue Tianyue lowered his eyes slightly, like a child who had done something wrong.
Xue Xingyue sheathed her sword and walked forward. “Why are you here? Why didn’t you speak earlier? If Auntie hadn’t stopped in time, I might have hurt you.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Tianyue suddenly looked up at her and asked, “Auntie, is what you and Feng Ming were saying just now true?”
Xue Xingyue was stunned and asked, “You heard everything?”
Xue Tianyue nodded. “Yes.”