"Finally, we're in. Just a hair's breadth from being exposed."
Feng Jin grumbled, the entry proving to be incredibly difficult. She'd almost been caught, which would have led to another massive headache.
This was her first time sneaking around like this, and her heart had nearly jumped out of her chest from fright.
"It's all your fault for being too careless. How can a grown person not even tie a sachet properly? You almost got me implicated."
Chu Chenyi complained, having been genuinely startled just now. His heart was still racing uncontrollably, beating like a drum. It had been a close call.
Fortunately, Madam Qin was quick-witted and managed to smooth things over. Otherwise, they would have been trapped and unable to return.
"If you hadn't begged me to come, I wouldn't have bothered. And now you're trying to blame everything on me. Prince Jing, your ability to shift blame is truly astonishing, faster than your alleged frailty."
"I'm telling you one last time, my health is perfectly fine, I am not weak at all!"
Chu Chenyi stated with unwavering resolve, his expression firm. He spoke so loudly, as if afraid Feng Jin hadn't heard him, that even Madam Qin was startled.
"Your Highness, please keep your voice down. Don't alert anyone else!" Madam Qin quickly cautioned, her face pale with worry. After all their effort to sneak in, being driven out immediately would be a significant loss.
Besides, since when was Prince Jing frail? Hadn't the Princess Consort just announced her pregnancy? Prince Jing certainly didn't appear to be suffering from any deficiencies; his voice was full of vigor, even startling her.
However, Madam Ling, the young lady, was a skilled physician. If she said so, it was likely true. She hadn't expected Prince Jing, so young, to have already worn himself out.
If the Empress Dowager were to learn of this, she would undoubtedly be worried. She hoped that this time, the Princess Consort would bear a son, ensuring the continuation of Prince Jing's lineage.
"Madam Qin, don't listen to her nonsense. She's just spouting rubbish. My health..."
"Your Highness, the situation is critical. We shouldn't discuss these matters now. You are still young, and the young lady is a skilled physician. She will surely be able to cure your ailment... We should go see His Majesty quickly."
Madam Qin interrupted Chu Chenyi and hurried ahead, leading the two of them further inside.
"Prince Jing, you must understand one thing: the more you try to explain, the worse it gets. The more you attempt to clarify, the more people will suspect you're trying to conceal something. Therefore, the best course of action is to remain silent. As time passes, the attention on this matter will fade, and it will be easily forgotten. So, Your Highness, please stop explaining..."
"When you encounter such situations again, just smile it off. Never argue with others. Doing so will only cause you to lose face, and for others, it will be of no consequence. They might just be looking for some excitement."
Chu Chenyi took Feng Jin's advice to heart, finding it quite reasonable. From then on, whenever he encountered people discussing the matter, Chu Chenyi would simply offer a faint smile.
Unbeknownst to him, this was interpreted by others as his tacit admission of the rumors. Consequently, the whispers about Prince Jing's supposed hidden ailment spread like wildfire throughout the capital.
It reached a point where even three-year-old children knew about it. By the time the news reached Chu Chenyi, it was already too late to stop or explain.
All he could do was regret his foolishness, wondering why he had been so easily swayed by Feng Jin's words, even believing she was offering him good advice.
"That's right, you make a lot of sense. If I just ignore it, it will eventually fade, and no one will discuss it anymore..."
"Yes, Prince Jing, you understand perfectly."
Feng Jin suppressed a smile, maintaining a composed expression, trying her best not to reveal any hint of her amusement to Chu Chenyi.
"Your Highness, we should go inside first. We need to attend to urgent matters. This other issue is not important... not important at all."
She was also worried that if she couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter, revealing something, all their efforts would be in vain. It was best to change the subject quickly.
Given Chu Chenyi's intelligence, he probably wouldn't figure it out anytime soon.
Chu Chenyi didn't overthink it. After all, the most crucial matter at hand was His Majesty's illness. Following Feng Jin's lead, he hurried inside.
Feng Jin took a deep breath, her expression calm as she walked in.
The Empress Dowager, who was attending to Emperor Xuanwen, saw them enter one after another and immediately stood up to greet them. "You two have finally arrived. Did you encounter any obstacles along the way..."
The Empress Dowager's concerned words brought Feng Jin a sense of relief, and her mood improved considerably.
"Replying to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, everything went smoothly. It is thanks to Your Majesty's resourceful planning that Madam Qin came to escort us. Otherwise, it would have been truly difficult to get in."
She was truly grateful to the Empress Dowager for her meticulous planning. If it weren't for that, with Chu Chenyi alone, they would have been led straight to the Empress's chambers, let alone gaining entry.
Chu Chenyi let out a cold snort. He had never realized Feng Jin could be so flattering. Look at how well she praised the Empress Dowager, charming her so quickly.
Honestly, Feng Jin's skill in flattery was remarkable. He was utterly convinced and completely surrendered.
"What are you looking at? Do you expect yourself to be the one to enter..."
She had long noticed Chu Chenyi's gaze. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's presence, she wouldn't have tolerated it. This fellow seemed addicted to staring at her like that.
When a tiger doesn't show its might, it's truly mistaken for a kitten. Did he really think she was easy to bully?
"As a man of honor, I don't stoop to arguing with women. Say whatever you wish."
Chu Chenyi shrugged, completely unwilling to argue with Feng Jin. After all, he could never win against her in an argument, so it was better to concede defeat and act as if he hadn't heard anything she said.
Feng Jin snorted dismissively. While he was slow to learn many things, he had picked up this particular tactic quite quickly and was now using it with practiced ease. He was truly talented.
"Chenyi, how old are you? You're about to become a father, yet you're still acting like a child. Feng Jin is younger than you; you should be more accommodating. Why engage in verbal disputes over such trivial matters!"