Chapter 8: Concubine Qin’s Doubts

Mu Ling withdrew her hand and said calmly, “Your Highness, the poison has been completely detoxified. Your body has no problems now. After a few days of recuperation, you will be healthier than before. During this detoxification, I also managed to heal the hidden injuries you’ve suffered from years of warfare.”

Jun Mohan could feel the changes in his body. Although he was surprised, he could also tell that the little girl was still angry because of what he had just said, which made him forget all about the surprise.

“Mu Ling, we are betrothed; you don’t have to call yourself a subject in front of me. Also, it’s not that I don’t believe you; it’s just that some things were too sudden for me to accept, which is why I said the wrong thing. Please don’t be angry, alright?”

A handsome guy trying to soothe someone—who could resist that?!

Mu Ling’s face turned red again, “Um… you don’t need to worry, I’m not angry. It’s just that if you believe my words, be cautious of the first prince. Also, please tell the Empress that Concubine Qin… is not as disinterested as she appears.”

“Alright, I understand. As for my mother, you don’t need to worry; I will handle it personally. By the way, are you hungry? Shall I accompany you for a meal?” Jun Mohan, recalling the little girl’s stomach rumbling earlier, felt a pang of sympathy.

Mu Ling nodded, and then as if remembering something, she waved her hands at Jun Mohan, “I can eat, but as for you…” She thought seriously for a moment, “You haven’t had a proper meal in so long; you should only eat something light. How about this, I will personally go to cook you some nutritious porridge, and teach your chef a bit. For the next few days, you will need to eat nutritious porridge. But you also don’t need to worry about getting bored; I will leave him several recipes he can follow, so you won’t get tired of it.”

After Jun Mohan regained consciousness, he immediately sent Lang Yi to the palace. Now that his health had improved, he no longer needed to worry his father and mother, which was more important to him than anything else.

In Fengxi Palace, the Emperor and Empress held each other and wept, having long prepared for the worst in losing their beloved son. They never dared to imagine they would one day hear the good news of his recovery. If it weren’t for the Crown Prince’s reluctance, they would have already gone to the Eastern Palace to see their son.

“Your Majesty, Empress, Concubine Su requests an audience,” a guard’s voice came from outside the door.

The Empress looked at the Emperor, and both had equally grim expressions.

“Ask her what urgent matter she has to see us at this time,” the Emperor’s voice was cold, as if it carried shards of ice.

“Let her in; I actually miss this good sister of mine,” the Empress gently patted the Emperor’s hand.

“Fine, let her in.” The Emperor raised his voice and instructed the guard outside.

Before long, Concubine Qin, dressed in pale yellow court attire, entered with a faint sorrowful expression, wiping her eyes as if she didn’t want anyone to know she was heartbroken.

“Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty and the Empress,” Concubine Qin bowed, looking delicate and fragile, especially with tears in her eyes, which indeed tugged at one’s heartstrings.

“What’s wrong? Does Concubine Qin have something to say?” The Empress’s voice remained gentle as always.

No one expected Concubine Qin to suddenly kneel down. Just moments ago, her beautiful eyes were filled with tears, but now she was shedding them freely, “Your Majesty, Empress, I am guilty. Please punish me!”

“Oh? What crime has Concubine Qin committed? Speak and let me hear it.”

Concubine Qin suddenly felt something was off. Normally, at this time, wouldn’t the Empress come to help her up? At the very least, wouldn’t Old Madam Liu be here to support her? Then she would softly comfort her, and no matter what the mistake was, the Empress would plead for her in front of the Emperor. But now… what was going on?

While Concubine Qin was still pondering, the Emperor spoke again, “What’s wrong? Don’t want to say? If you don’t want to speak, you can just leave. However, since you acknowledge your guilt, I can’t let you off lightly. Let’s see, I’ll punish you… punish you to house arrest for half a year. Take this decree and thank me.”

Concubine Qin was so furious she almost lost control and exploded, but she still tried to adjust herself, a glimmer of cruelty flashing in her eyes before vanishing, and she replaced it with a pitiful expression.

Despite her quick recovery, the Emperor still caught that hint of cruelty. Ha! It seems I underestimated this woman.

“Concubine Qin, take the decree and thank me,” Eunuch Ming, who had learned about the Crown Prince being poisoned by the first prince, now regarded Concubine Qin as an enemy.

Originally, the Crown Prince’s recovery should have been a joyous occasion, yet she came here to add to the troubles, opening her mouth to ask for leniency.

Concubine Qin was completely bewildered. She only wanted to plead for the first prince; how did it turn out that not only did she not get to plead, but she was also sentenced to house arrest for half a year?

“Your Majesty, Empress, I…,” Concubine Qin still wanted to struggle.

The Emperor’s face darkened like a storm was approaching, “Do you not hear what I say? Take the decree and thank me!! And… get out quickly!”

Get out? One must know that the Emperor had never spoken to Concubine Qin like this before. He had always thought he owed her in terms of affection, so as long as he was not overly harsh, he would let things slide.

Today, he actually told her to get out?! What on earth had gone wrong?

Concubine Qin turned her tearful gaze to the Empress, “Your Majesty…”

The Empress, however, merely smiled lightly and said softly, “Concubine Qin, what’s wrong with you? Didn’t you come here to plead for forgiveness? Now why are you…? Are you saying you think the Emperor has done something wrong and you’re the one suffering?”

Boom! A huge hat was placed on Concubine Qin’s head, accusing the Emperor of wrongdoing—how many heads would she need to behead for that?

“Your servant… Your servant…”

“Concubine Qin,” Eunuch Ming interjected sarcastically, “Since you don’t think the Emperor has done anything wrong, hurry and take the decree and thank him. Concubine Qin, let me remind you to not lose your composure in front of the Emperor and Empress, otherwise, the ones who suffer will not just be you and the first prince; your family, the Earl of Yong’an, will also…”

Eunuch Ming abruptly stopped speaking.

But Concubine Qin was already drenched in cold sweat. She knew that Eunuch Ming was not one to speak carelessly, and if he dared to say that, it must have been tacitly approved by the Emperor.

It seemed she had to return for now and find someone to investigate what had gone wrong that made the Empress so indifferent and the Emperor show hostility toward her family.

“I take the decree and thank you! I will return to the palace for self-reflection, this very moment,” Concubine Qin said, glancing back repeatedly as she left.

As soon as she stepped out, Eunuch Ming began to mutter beside the Emperor, “Your Majesty, spare a thought for the Crown Prince; he has suffered for so long. If it weren’t for Miss Mu, he might have… I have watched him grow up, and my heart aches.”

The Emperor knew that Eunuch Ming’s feelings for Mohan were no less than his own, and perhaps even more. Ever since he heard from Mu Ling that the Crown Prince had been poisoned, Eunuch Ming had been murmuring in his ear all afternoon.

The Emperor understood that this old fellow wanted him to express his stance and ensure that the culprits faced severe punishment.

“Old fellow, don’t be anxious; I still want to see who else is wearing a mask in front of me pretending to be benevolent! When I pass the throne to Han’er, I will make sure it is a clean kingdom. Whether they are monsters or ghosts, I will not spare a single one.”

Hearing the Emperor finally express his stance, Eunuch Ming began to smile as he started to rub his back. As he rubbed, he cautiously asked the Emperor,

“Your Majesty, since the Crown Prince won’t let you go to the Eastern Palace, would you… could you allow this old servant a break? Let me have a look at the Crown Prince; my heart…”

Old Madam Liu beside him also chimed in, “Your Majesty, this old servant misses the Crown Prince too. How about… I accompany Eunuch Ming to the Eastern Palace?”

The Empress naturally agreed; she wanted to know if her son was well! But since her son didn’t allow her to go, saying he was afraid of alarming the enemy, she didn’t dare to ruin his plans. Letting Old Madam Liu go and take a look would be good; at least she would come back and tell her what was going on with her son, so she would feel more at ease.

“Alright, you may go,” the Emperor said first, “but keep the recovery of Han’er a secret from the Third Prince and Xiao Yu, lest they try to rush to the Eastern Palace and create a ruckus.”

“By the way, arrange for someone to keep an eye on that side. If anything happens, come back and report to me immediately.”

Eunuch Ming knew that “that side” referred to Concubine Qin and the first prince. As for this matter… he was willing to take it on!