"Your Highness, something terrible has happened…"
Xue Chang'an glanced at the person who rushed in and said coldly, "What is it that has you so flustered?"
"Your Highness, that Miss Gu has not left yet. She has been waiting outside the sleeping quarters."
Xue Chang'an paused, "Why hasn't she left?"
"Replying to Your Highness, Miss Gu was already waiting outside last night."
Xue Chang'an frowned and said coldly, "Let her in!"
Soon Gu Xiaoxiao walked in. Upon seeing Xue Chang'an, she curtsied and said, "This commoner greets Your Highness."
Xue Chang'an stood up from her chair and said coldly, "Did I not tell you not to come find me unless there was a matter?"
"Your Highness, this commoner is scared!" Gu Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, truly afraid.
"Gu Xiaoxiao, did I not say that with me here, no one would dare to touch you? What are you afraid of?"
Xue Chang'an did not expect Gu Xiaoxiao to be so timid. She wondered what she had been thinking to collaborate with such a person; had she been out of her mind?
"Your Highness, please look at this."
Gu Xiaoxiao handed over the note she had received last night. Xue Chang'an's gaze sharpened upon seeing the note.
"This is…"
"Your Highness, this is a threat this commoner received last night."
Xue Chang'an scoffed, "If they truly wanted to threaten you, do you think a mere note would suffice? Gu Xiaoxiao, are you foolish?"
"This commoner…" Gu Xiaoxiao seemed to realize it now. Princess Chang'an seemed to be correct. Was this how threats were made with notes?
But why had she believed it before?
"Go back. You are not allowed to see me again without my summons," Xue Chang'an said coldly.
Gu Xiaoxiao quickly departed.
Xue Chang'an watched Gu Xiaoxiao's retreating back and snorted, a useless person.
Channing Palace
"Your Highness, as you predicted, Miss Gu went to see Princess Chang'an. However, Princess Chang'an made Miss Gu wait all night, only letting her in this morning."
"How long?" Xue Zining asked.
Xue Lian replied, "Less than half an hour."
Xue Zining nodded, "Continue to keep an eye on Gu Xiaoxiao."
Xue Lian said, "Your Highness, rest assured. This servant will assign people to watch her without a moment's pause."
At night, news came from Consort Yan's palace that Xue Changjun had a persistent fever and was speaking incoherently.
Xue Zining, who had just gone to sleep, had to get out of bed, dress, and head to Consort Yan's Shu Palace.
On the way, she encountered His Majesty and the Empress.
"A Ning, why are you here?" The Emperor was very surprised. He had not known that Changjun and A Ning could be so close.
After all, A Ning had seemed to dislike Changjun quite a bit before.
"Your Majesty, Changjun is A Ning's imperial brother after all. It is only natural for an elder sister to care for her younger brother."
His Majesty patted her head, "A Ning has grown up."
Xue Zining knew that His Majesty had always hoped she and Changjun could get along peacefully. If they could have a deep sibling relationship, that would be even better.
After all, they were all His Majesty's children, and he hoped they could unite.
"Your Majesty, as I've said, A Ning is no longer a child. She has truly grown up."
His Majesty looked at her with relief, "A Ning, your father dreams of you siblings being united and having deep affection. After all, eventually, your mother and I will not always be by your side. With siblings, your mother and I will have no need to worry about you."
Xue Zining was slightly taken aback. She hadn't realized His Majesty had already been worrying about her at this time.
Upon arriving at the Shu Palace, Xue Zining, His Majesty, and the Empress entered. Consort Yan quickly came to greet them. For the first time, Xue Zining saw Consort Yan without her usual glamour. Consort Yan now looked somewhat haggard, her complexion pale.
"Your Majesty…" Consort Yan began to cry upon seeing the Emperor.
The Emperor sighed and walked forward, "Consort, what is this? Changjun is not a child. The imperial physicians are all here; he will be fine."
Consort Yan nodded, her gaze fell upon the Empress, and she curtsied, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The Empress said, "Your Majesty and I are very worried about Changjun. We rushed over as soon as we heard the news. Consort Yan need not worry; Changjun will surely be alright."
Although Consort Yan had not been the most favored in the harem over the years, she had remained a steadfast presence.
Besides having His Majesty's only son, Xue Changjun, and his elder sister Xue Chang'an, she had also maintained her position by being adaptable and never overstepping her bounds.
His Majesty trusted her, and so did the Empress.
However, Xue Zining knew that Consort Yan was not a person without ambition. Her ambitions were very, very great, but she had concealed them so well that they had all let down their guard.
To the extent that His Majesty only learned of Consort Yan's rebellion much later.
Thinking of this, Xue Zining's gaze deepened.
"Your Majesty…" The imperial physician emerged from within after his examination.
"What exactly is happening?"
The imperial physician said, "Replying to Your Majesty, the Third Prince is merely overly worried. This minister will prescribe some medicine for the Third Prince, and he will recover in a few days."
"Go and prepare the medicine!"
Consort Yan walked towards the bed within. Xue Zining, His Majesty, and the Empress also entered. On the bed, Xue Changjun's complexion was deathly pale, his eyes tightly shut.
"Changjun, your mother is here…" Consort Yan whispered.
"Consort Yan, since he is merely overly worried, do not disturb Changjun here. You may return," the Empress suddenly said.
Consort Yan looked up, then lowered her gaze, "The Empress is correct. This concubine will rest after ensuring everything is settled. Your Majesty and Your Majesty should also rest early."
As Xue Zining walked out the door, she felt, perhaps mistakenly, that a pair of eyes were fixed on her. When she looked back, the gaze was gone.
The next day, news spread from the Shu Palace that Consort Yan had summoned a Taoist priest, said to be enlightened, to perform rituals for Xue Chang'an.
Everyone in the palace went to watch.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor declared it absurd and headed to the Shu Palace with the Empress.
"Your Highness, aren't you going?" Xue Lian was somewhat surprised that her Highness, who usually enjoyed watching lively events, had suddenly become so quiet.
"I don't like watching," Xue Zining refused directly. She had a premonition that if she went, the Taoist priest would point at her and accuse her of offending Xue Changjun. She wanted to see how they would pin it on her if she didn't go.
However, she had still underestimated their capabilities. It was said that midway through the ritual, the talisman in the priest's hand suddenly caught fire. The priest, whose eyes had been closed, suddenly opened them and pointed in a certain direction, saying, "The person who clashes with the Third Prince resides in that place."
Everyone was shocked. That place was only the Channing Palace, the residence of Princess Channing.
"Absurd," the Emperor arrived, saying coldly.
Everyone knelt and kowtowed. The Taoist priest looked at the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, your future empire will be thrown into chaos by women. If you wish to avoid this…"
"Nonsense…" The Emperor was displeased and directly interrupted the Taoist priest.
Before the Taoist priest could say anything more, he was subdued and taken to the ground by the guards beside the Emperor.