After Zhongli Mingye sent Song Jinyu back to the prince's mansion, he rushed to the palace in a hurry.
"So soon? Is he ill again?"
Song Jinyu paced back and forth in the room. Things seemed to be getting a bit out of her control. After all, according to her plan, it would take at least half a year for the emperor's health to decline.
But now, it happened so soon. Could there be something wrong with one of the steps?
As she had expected, the emperor was overly reliant on the magic pills. The appearance of Concubine Xue excited him even more. Eager to prove his virility, he took almost three pills a day instead of one every three days as prescribed. So the pills that were supposed to last for half a year were all consumed within two months.
He then had to switch to the pills provided by the Golden Water Palace.
Unexpectedly, less than half a month after taking the new pills, the emperor suddenly fell into a coma! The queen and the other concubines in the harem hated Concubine Xue to the core, but the woman just whimpered and cried.
The crown prince looked ashen, for if the emperor really fell seriously ill because of the pills they provided, his position as the crown prince would be over.
Grand Tutor Shen hinted to him that he must stay calm. If the emperor really fell seriously ill, he could ascend the throne directly. After this conversation, Zhongli Chengze gradually calmed down.
When the Golden Water Palace received the news, Ouyang Jinse was only shocked for a moment.
However, compared to the news from the palace, she was more worried about Ouyang Weiyi, for she hadn't seen him for more than a month.
Since the incident on Tianmen Mountain, Ouyang Weiyi seemed to have disappeared from the world.
The most terrifying thing was that although Ouyang Jinse was the master of the Golden Water Palace, in fact, she relied on Ouyang Weiyi for many important matters.
Now he was neither seen alive nor found dead.
This made Ouyang Jinse a bit panicked.
Zhongli Mingye listened to the report from the imperial physician. His heart sank gradually. The emperor's serious illness might have a great deal to do with the magic pills.
The timing was too coincidental. He had to be on guard.
After all, not long after the pills from Tianmen Mountain were used up, the emperor fell ill after switching to the pills provided by the Golden Water Palace...
When he entered the room, he saw Concubine Xue out of the corner of his eye.
He understood immediately. Maybe the emperor was too indulged in women, which triggered the hidden diseases in his body. And the appearance of Concubine Xue just made the emperor infatuated with her beauty.
The crown prince and his wife were by the emperor's bedside, taking care of him. Prince Yu and Prince Yong were also there accompanying.
Zhongli Mingye thought for a moment and motioned for Eunuch An to make other arrangements. Whether this matter had anything to do with Song Jinyu or not, he had to clear her of any suspicion.
The crown prince had tested the pills before, and the effect was the same as before. Then why did the emperor fall ill directly after switching to the new pills? He couldn't figure it out. He originally wanted to ask Song Jinyu, but this wasn't the right time.
After the imperial physician's diagnosis, he only said that the emperor had taken too many magic pills. Meanwhile, the new pills provided by the Golden Water Palace were taken out again by the imperial physician.
And these new pills happened to fall into Zhongli Mingye's hands.
"The emperor's body is just weak. If he is well taken care of, he will recover," the imperial physician's words really relieved everyone present.
Only the crown prince and the queen were slightly disappointed.
When Zhongli Mingye returned to the prince's mansion, it was already midnight. Song Jinyu had already fallen asleep. He only stood outside the door for a moment before returning to the study.
Yu Nianbai was waiting for him. "My lord... I've asked someone to examine this new pill."
"It's really no different from the previous magic pills."
"Then why did Father fall ill?" Zhongli Mingye was very worried that this matter was related to Song Jinyu. "According to the information from Eunuch An, the emperor almost spent every day and night drinking and having fun with Concubine Xue."
"So... he damaged his body."
Concubine Xue was from the Tingran Pavilion. And Xiao Xueyi sent her here at his order. Most of the beauties sent before were only favored for a month or so.
So when Xiao Xueyi recommended Concubine Xue, she won the emperor's favor at once. This was also within his calculation. But... now it was unexpectedly involved with the magic pills.
His fingers tapped on the desk, and his eyes were far - reaching. It was time for the Prince of Cheng to regain his title. Otherwise, if the emperor's health really failed, the crown prince would become too powerful, and they brothers would all be in danger.
"Handle Ouyang Weiyi's body properly..."
"...Let Ouyang Jinse be in a mess for a while in the Golden Water Palace!"
Zhongli Mingye vaguely felt that there was a big problem with the new magic pills the emperor took. He really wanted to ask Song Jinyu if it had anything to do with her.
But... Yu Nianbai told him that there was nothing wrong with the pills.
This was rather strange. What exactly was Song Jinyu's plan for revenge? What she wanted to do most was to destroy the Golden Water Palace and then the crown prince as well.
But... several months had passed.
Song Jinyu didn't seem to be in a hurry at all. Was it because she had no way for the time being or was she waiting for an opportunity?
The Prince of Cheng had never given up his ambition to ascend the throne. Now that the emperor was seriously ill, and he had obtained the blood - letter that was a great threat to the queen and the crown prince.
Therefore, he almost waited by the emperor's bedside every day, acting like a filial son.
Until the emperor woke up. Overjoyed, the emperor directly restored the title of prince to Zhongli Shuoyi. Not long after the emperor recovered, a little eunuch suddenly blocked the imperial carriage.
It turned out to be the blood - letter from Concubine He!
After reading it, the emperor was so angry that he fainted on the spot. The little eunuch who presented the blood - letter immediately committed suicide.
In the Great Xia Dynasty, there was a well - known rule that if someone died in remonstrance, the matter must be thoroughly investigated!
At that time, there were also several other important court officials accompanying the emperor.
Therefore, no matter what, the death of Concubine He must be investigated! After the Prince of Cheng heard the news in his mansion, he was very proud, for today's drama was all his arrangement.
Now, the crown prince and the queen were in a dilemma.
The news spread to the court, causing an uproar. The crown prince had insulted Concubine He? The queen had forced Concubine He to death? The ministers could almost imagine a big drama.
The next day, after the emperor woke up, he immediately imprisoned the crown prince. He also questioned the queen, implicitly hinting at the intention to depose her.
However, Grand Tutor Shen, the Duke of Rong and other officials remonstrated desperately. Otherwise, the queen's position would have been in jeopardy.
Zhongli Mingye was playing chess with Song Jinyu in the Liuyun Pavilion. "Did you learn your chess skills from Master Miao?"
"I was first taught by my father. Later, after I went to Tianmen Mountain, I often played chess with my master." Song Jinyu played the chess calmly, on a par with Zhongli Mingye.
Few people could be a worthy opponent for him. Zhongli Mingye became more and more interested. "Father is well... The crown prince has been imprisoned."
"Although it hasn't been said that the crown prince will be deposed, it seems that Father has the intention to replace him."
Song Jinyu stopped moving the chess piece. "I don't understand the affairs of the court."
"I want to know... what's your plan?"
Zhongli Mingye didn't beat around the bush with her anymore. His phoenix eyes stared at her coldly. "I'm just going with the flow. There's no plan."
"..." Until now, Song Jinyu still refused to tell the truth. Zhongli Mingye couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.
Song Jinyu calmly glanced at him. "The game has actually started... My lord, just wait and see."
She dropped the last chess piece, then got up and left the Liuyun Pavilion.
On the chessboard, it was a draw.
He pondered. Did Song Jinyu mean that the game had started? Had she told him the truth or not?
Looking at the chessboard, Zhongli Mingye shook his head with a smile. What should he do now?