CHAPTER 538: CHAPTER 538: GAINING THE UPPER HAND

Worried that Young Master Su and the others were running around in the palace, Eunuch Fu followed them out and ordered a little eunuch to escort them out of the palace.

He happened to overhear the conversation between Young Master Su and the Ninth Prince.

Eunuch Fu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The Emperor is the least likely person in the entire Daqi Dynasty to haggle.

The Emperor cannot bear to lose face.

Moreover, when haggling is truly needed, a group of ministers are at the forefront, and the Emperor doesn’t need to act himself.

He had been completely absorbed in the spectacle just now...

But even if Eunuch Fu had reacted, he wouldn’t have helped either the Emperor or the Eldest Prince.

If he inadvertently angered Marquis Dongxiang, and ended up having to cover the missing thousand taels, what then?

It was too likely to happen.

Not something they could afford to provoke.

In the distance, voices were heard:

"You know how to haggle, why didn’t you haggle when buying the parrot?" the Ninth Prince asked curiously.

"It’s not too late to haggle later," Young Master Su said.

"What if we can only haggle it down to eighty taels, and still can’t afford it? It would be so embarrassing."

"..."

Young Master Su and the others walked off, laughing and talking.

Eunuch Fu turned around with a smile and went back inside the hall.

The Emperor stayed for a little while and then went to Chengde Hall to see the Second Prince.

The moment the Emperor left, the Eldest Prince instructed the guards, "Leak the matter of the Second Prince’s fake injury to Consort Li."

"At your command, I will handle it right away."

Changchun Palace.

Consort Li was seated on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch, eating white fungus and lotus seed soup.

After taking a couple of bites, she set the bowl down and used an embroidered handkerchief to wipe her mouth.

Outside, a little eunuch hurriedly approached and whispered, "Your Highness, there’s talk in the palace that the Second Prince’s injury isn’t severe, just a minor external wound."

Consort Li let out a laugh.

It stands to reason that the Second Prince’s injury is not severe.

The Eldest Prince needs the antidote for his poisoning and must go through the Second Prince to get it from Duke Chong’s Mansion; is the Imperial Hospital useless?

This move by the Second Prince plainly indicates that the assassin was sent by Duke Chong’s faction.

Returning injured was nothing but a ruse, a calculated move to gain sympathy.

"Now that I’ve eaten my fill, it’s time to stretch and move around a bit."

Consort Li raised her arm, and the palace maid hurried to help her up from the Imperial Concubine’s Couch.

Phoenix Palace.

Nanny Zhou supported the Empress’s hand as she sat on the Phoenix Chair.

The Empress had just returned from visiting the Second Prince.

Walking over from under the sun, beads of sweat had formed on her brow.

The palace maid quickly fanned the Empress.

The Empress wiped the sweat from her neck, saying, "Why hasn’t summer passed yet?"

"I’m afraid it’s still early," Nanny Zhou replied.

As they were chatting, a little eunuch ran in, exclaiming, "Empress, something bad has happened!"

The Empress frowned.

Nanny Zhou scolded, "Mind your manners! How should you report?"

"What exactly has happened?" Nanny Zhou asked.

The little eunuch hurriedly replied, "News is spreading in the palace that the Second Prince’s injury is only superficial. When Consort Li heard this, she went to the Second Prince’s quarters."

The Empress suddenly stood up.

In her haste, she felt a moment of dizziness and swayed slightly.

Nanny Zhou quickly held her steady, and the Empress anxiously commanded, "Hurry, support me to Chengde Hall quickly."

The true severity of the Second Prince’s injury was something they were well aware of.

Doctor Liu had informed the Emperor that the Second Prince’s wound was deep, visible to the bone.

If Consort Li were to examine him, the truth would surely come out.

Pretending to be gravely injured over a mere superficial wound, causing the Emperor concern—should the Emperor find out, his wrath would be inevitable.

They were eager to eliminate the Eldest Prince precisely because he was registered under Consort Yun’s name and called Marquis Jibei "grand-uncle."

Marquis Dongxiang’s power was gradually escalating, and Duke Chong’s repeated attempts to suppress it had failed, causing more ministers on the court to watch and wait.

At this time, news of the Second Prince being reprimanded by the Emperor must not get out.

The Empress was in a hurry to get to Chengde Hall, and Nanny Zhou, despite her age, could only follow along.

Chengde Hall.

The Second Prince was furious about the sudden rumors swirling in the palace.

A eunuch came in to report that Consort Li had come to visit him.

The Second Prince’s face turned dark with anger.

The little eunuch hurriedly said, "Consort Li is hoping to catch Your Highness and the Empress off guard. Her visit surely means trouble."

How could he not know that Consort Li never made a move without ulterior motives?!

The Second Prince clenched his fist, saying, "Fetch Doctor Liu quickly!"

The little eunuch was somewhat perplexed.

But the Second Prince’s orders were not to be disobeyed.

The little eunuch darted out in haste.

The Second Prince glanced at the dagger by the pillow.

Outside the hall.

Consort Li approached, accompanied by palace maids and eunuchs.

The palace maid quickly showed deference to Consort Li.

Consort Li was about to enter when the palace maid blocked her, saying, "Please return, Imperial Concubine, the Second Prince is gravely injured and not seeing anyone."

Not seeing anyone?

Is this because they fear she’ll expose the ruse?

A mere little palace maid wouldn’t be able to stop Consort Li; she pushed the maid aside and stepped into the hall.

Behind her, the Empress coldly asked, "What does Consort Li intend to do?"

Consort Li halted and turned to look at the Empress.

The Empress stepped forward, "The Second Prince’s injuries are serious and require rest. Does Consort Li not know this?"

Consort Li gave a formal bow to the Empress, saying, "Rumors in the palace speak of the Second Prince’s injury as a ruse. Since the harem is under my sister’s charge, if I do not investigate these rumors, they might tarnish the Second Prince’s reputation."

"Now that I’ve reached Chengde Hall, yet am not allowed to see for myself, these false rumors might as well be validated."

With a charge of deceit laid bare, the Empress could not withstand it.

They locked eyes.

Consort Li’s smile was faint.

The Empress was so angry her fists clenched.

At that moment, a voice came from the hall, "Quick, call the physician!"

"The Second Prince’s wound has opened!"

The Empress strode inside.

Consort Li followed closely behind.

The Second Prince was sitting by the bed, blood gushing from his arm, his hand covering the wound was soaked in blood.

The bed and even the footstool were stained with blood.

Upon seeing this scene, Consort Li’s eyebrows knitted tightly.

So much blood was not typical of a faked injury.

The Empress was frantic, "How did the wound open?"

The Second Prince glanced at Consort Li, but said nothing.

A little eunuch spoke on his behalf, "The Second Prince was in deep sleep when a commotion outside the outer hall awakened him suddenly."

"Startled, the Second Prince attempted to rise hastily, forgetting the injury on his arm. As he exerted force, the wound split open."

Consort Li’s expression changed dramatically.

The Second Prince had pinned the blame for the reopening of the wound on her.

The Empress shot a sharp glare at Consort Li, "Now, are you satisfied?!"

Consort Li turned her head thoughtfully and understood the situation. She remarked to the Empress, "Is my sister blaming me for the Second Prince’s wound reopening?"

"Perhaps I should go take responsibility before the Emperor and summon more physicians to examine the wound?"

"Yesterday, when he was carried back to the palace, he didn’t bleed this much. After applying medicine and resting for a day, the situation worsened—those doctors in the Imperial Hospital are nothing but incompetents and should be expelled from the palace at once."

The Empress’s face turned icy.

Consort Li bowed slightly and turned to leave.

Leaving Chengde Hall, a palace maid looked at her and asked, "Why doesn’t Your Highness pursue the matter?"

Consort Li’s gaze was cold and deep, "If it really comes before the Emperor, I wouldn’t come out unscathed either."

"Being able to force the Second Prince into stabbing himself has already put us on advantageous ground. This trip wasn’t in vain."

Inside the hall.

The Second Prince grimaced in pain.

Doctor Liu arrived to bandage the Second Prince’s wound.

No one knew better than Doctor Liu what was truly happening.

To inflict such a severe wound upon oneself, even Doctor Liu’s hands trembled while applying the medicine.

After Doctor Liu withdrew, the Empress was so distressed she was close to murder.

Consort Li!

If this vendetta is not avenged, all her years of being the Empress would be in vain!