Chapter 385: Chapter 380: Imperial Concubine
"Sister, father and the others are already on their way, what exactly is your plan?" Ye Mu asked with a worried heart.
"It’s fine. Although father and uncle are returning, elder brother and Second Prince are still at the border. Based on their military achievements over the years, they are more than capable of holding their own."
"But didn’t the Emperor send the Martial Arts Champion there?"
"The Martial Arts Champion is only skilled in martial arts, and do you think he can outdo elder brother and Second Prince who have returned from battling on the front lines?" Ye Qiu sneered, "Fighting a war isn’t just about having high martial skills. Does he understand the habits of the Liao People and the Western Regions people? Is he able to deploy troops and form up battalions? If elder brother and Second Prince can’t suppress him, then they don’t deserve to be called the Young Generals by the soldiers."
"But didn’t the Emperor say to have elder brother and Second Prince come back? Why are only father and uncle returning now?" Ye Mu never could understand how her sister managed to deal with the Emperor. In his mind, the Emperor had always been a vengeful and ambitious ruler, but somehow, her sister turned him into a pleasure-seeking and muddle-headed one.
Zi zi... Ye Mu inwardly marveled, feeling that his sister was indeed extraordinary, no wonder their grandfather fully supported her.
"Send a letter to elder brother, appropriately provoke a conflict with the Liao People and stimulate that Martial Arts Champion to go out and engage in battle."
"What if he wins?"
"Then find a way to make sure he doesn’t win!"
"Your Ladyship, there has been an incident at Cining Palace," Ye Qiu was discussing with Ye Mu when the little eunuch came in to report.
"What’s the issue?" Ye Qiu said impatiently.
The little eunuch was somewhat frightened: "Both the Eldest Prince and Second Prince fell into the water, and someone saw that it was the palace maid from Consort Jia who did it."
Ye Qiu’s expression turned grave: "Are the two princes alright?"
"Both princes have been rescued, and while they are in no danger of losing their lives, they have been unconscious the whole time."
"Let’s go and see." Ye Qiu stood up, glanced at the sleeping Emperor, and handed several letters to Ye Mu, "Take these to grandfather."
"Your Majesty, it’s time to wake up." After sending Ye Mu away, Ye Qiu woke Ji Fei up.
Ji Fei’s face was still handsome, but he looked very tired and had dark circles under his eyes. He seemed surprised to see Ye Qiu fully dressed: "My beloved princess, what’s the matter?"
Ye Qiu certainly understood what he meant and smiled gently: "Your Majesty, have you slept muddled? It’s just barely 5 p.m now!"
Ji Fei looked dazed and listless: "Then why did my beloved princess wake me up? Is it time for the meal?"
"There has been a little issue at Cining Palace."
Ji Fei furrowed his brows tightly, sounding impatient: "What is it with Cining Palace always having issues?"
"Let’s still go take a look. I’ve heard that Eldest Prince and Second Prince are still unconscious."
Hearing that his two princes were in trouble, Ji Fei finally became more serious, and his expression cleared up a bit: "Then let’s go."
Ji Fei and Ye Qiu arrived at Cining Palace to find the atmosphere extremely noisy, especially Fang Pin, who was praying with tears for her Eldest Prince to wake up soon, while ceaselessly crying to Empress Dowager Wang to harshly punish Consort Jia.
"Empress Dowager, you cannot shield her just because Consort Jia is your own niece. She attempted to murder the Heir; the entire clan should be executed."
Hearing Fang Pin’s words, Empress Dowager Wang’s face darkened. To execute the entire clan—wouldn’t she have to kill herself?
"Aunt, you have watched the Second Prince grow up with your own eyes. How can you bear to watch him lying comatose?" Lady wasn’t showing weakness either; her fiery gaze fixed on Wang Yajing, as if she wished to flay her alive.
Wang Yajing revealed a vengeful smile towards her, then kneeled on the ground, "Aunt, truly, I had no idea that girl would be so bold. The Second Prince is my own cousin, would I harm him? Aunt, I am wronged! Someone must be framing me, we must investigate thoroughly."
"Enough, sobbing and wailing is disgraceful," Empress Dowager Wang said with a headache, watching the concubines with anger and irritation close to exploding. Not a single one was well-behaved, utterly foolish!
Empress Dowager Wang gave Wang Yajing a covert glare. She knew that this matter couldn’t just be a palace maid’s own doing. And just so coincidentally, after putting two Princes in danger, the maid drowned herself.
But she couldn’t let a thorough investigation reveal the truth. If it was indeed Wang Yajing’s doing, just the charge of plotting against the Heir could lead to the Wang family’s downfall.
All from the Wang family, why couldn’t they properly scheme for the clan’s benefit instead of this internal slaughter?
Empress Dowager Wang suddenly felt tired. Calculations upon calculations, yet the results drifted further from her expectations. What should she do to preserve the Wang family’s glory and wealth?
"Take Consort Jia away for a strict interrogation." Ji Fei walked in and ordered the servants.
"Your Majesty!" Both Empress Dowager Wang and Consort Jia were shaken, both fearful and incredulous. Was the Emperor showing them no mercy?
"Take her away!" The coldness emanating from Ji Fei made everyone tremble with fear; even Qiao Qingyue felt the same.
She looked at the frosty Ji Fei and felt an increasing sense of alienation within her. Her gaze shifted to his waist—her wallet was not there—and the sense of loss and panic almost overwhelmed her.
However, Ye Qiu was surprised to discover that today Qiao Qingyue didn’t seem as affected by Ji Fei as before.
"What does the Imperial Physician say?" Ji Fei sat at the head of the table, uncommonly without greeting Empress Dowager Wang first.
With something weighing on her mind, Empress Dowager Wang didn’t dare to pick on this. The world’s most esteemed mother and son, acting like two strangers, sat apart from each other.
"The Imperial Physician says the Princes are not in life-threatening danger, but they are shocked, and it may take a while for them to wake up." Lady and Fang Pin cried with tears streaming down, Consort Hui stayed back at Yijing Palace because of her pregnancy, while Qiao Qingyue couldn’t wait to speak to Ji Fei, so she stood out, her movements graceful and elegant, very unlike her usual quiet and indifferent temperament. But at this moment, no one cared about her change.
But the scene Qiao Qingyue imagined, where Ji Fei would pay attention to her, did not happen. Instead, he turned to Ye Qiu, "Beloved Princess, I’ll leave this matter in your hands, catch the true perpetrator at all costs."
After listening to Ji Fei’s arrangement, Empress Dowager Wang’s eyes flickered. Everyone knew she didn’t get along with the Imperial Concubine, wasn’t handing over this matter to the Imperial Concubine like giving her a weapon?
"Your Majesty, since this incident occurred outside of Cining Palace, why don’t I take charge of the investigation," Empress Dowager Wang struggled to stay calm, trying to appear fair and impartial.
Ji Fei didn’t give her any face though: "There’s no need for that. Before, Empress Mother said you would manage Cining Palace affairs by yourself. Now in just a short two or three months, first Consort Jia had a miscarriage, then two Princes fell into the water. Since Empress Mother can’t handle it, from now on, you should stop meddling and just peacefully enjoy your retirement!"