The Emperor, upon hearing these words, suddenly struck the porcelain bowl with his golden spoon, producing a sharp sound.

“Cao Cheng, I am feeling unwell. Go and summon the best imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Academy.”

Cao Cheng immediately rushed out.

Jiang Fengyuan, kneeling below, was momentarily stunned.

Why did the emperor suddenly call for an imperial physician?

And what about what Yuanxi just said?

How could he make His Majesty understand?

The elderly physician arrived hurriedly, carrying his medicine chest. Along the way, he was practically carried by the guards.

“Your Majesty, this old minister apologizes for arriving late.”

The visitor was Li Zhen, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy.

The emperor pushed the bowl in front of Li Zhen, his meaning clear.

Having held his position for so many years, how could Li Zhen not understand the emperor’s intent?

“Ah, this soup smells rich and fragrant. May I ask Your Majesty for a bowl?”

The emperor glanced at Cao Cheng.

Cao Cheng immediately scooped a bowl for him.

The one who came to diagnose the illness was now drinking the soup himself. This soup was personally prepared by the Noble Consort for the emperor—only because of His Majesty’s great tolerance was this even allowed.

Li Zhen held the bowl up, sniffed it, and then took out a silver needle from his medicine chest.

He dipped the needle into the soup, but there was no reaction.

“Your Majesty, this soup is excellent. This minister thanks Your Majesty for the gift.” Li Zhen hurriedly drank it all, fearing that the emperor might change his mind.

The emperor frowned. Yuanxi had said there was something wrong with this soup, so why did the imperial physician find no poison in it?

[The soup is not the problem. But all things interact and counteract each other—foods included. Just like how I ate those fruit pastries earlier, if I drink this soup now, it will certainly harm my organs.]

[Noble Consort Jiang is truly skilled at poisoning.] Yuanxi secretly praised her.

Jiang Fengyuan, standing to the side, trembled inside his broad official robes.

This—this—

He had just overheard a royal secret—the Noble Consort was poisoning the emperor!

He was doomed!

Would he even live to see his beloved Xin Niang one last time?

He comforted himself internally.

No need to panic. The emperor couldn’t hear it—only he could hear Yuanxi’s thoughts.

Stay calm.

The emperor’s face darkened as he picked up the fruit platter beside him.

“Your Majesty, you must not!” Li Zhen quickly stopped him.

“Your Majesty, these fruits are all extremely cold in nature and conflict with this soup. You must not eat them together!”

“Are you saying I cannot eat them?” the emperor asked.

“Of course not. If they were ordinary fruits, it would be fine, but these are different. Eating too many over time will certainly damage your organs beyond repair.”

Cao Cheng froze, finally understanding the emperor’s intent.

These items had all been sent by Noble Consort Jiang, and this had been going on for a long time.

Did that mean…

“Li Zhen, check me,” the emperor ordered, extending his hand.

“Your Majesty, your pulse is weak and floating. Please stop eating these foods immediately. With proper medicine, I am confident I can restore Your Majesty’s health. But if you continue, even the gods will not be able to save you.”

The emperor snorted coldly and snapped the armrest of his dragon throne in half.

So, Noble Consort Jiang!

All these years, he had showered her with favor, yet in return, she had been methodically poisoning him. A woman so venomous could not be allowed to live.

“Guards! Noble Consort Jiang has attempted to murder the emperor—take her down!”

Despite their years of affection and the fact that she had borne him a son, the emperor spared her life—for the sake of the Second Prince.

[Wow, Emperor Uncle actually discovered Noble Consort Jiang’s poisoning by accident. Looks like emperors always have some level of divine luck.]

[But wow, Emperor Uncle sure is hard to kill.]

The Emperor: Was that supposed to be a compliment?

Jiang Fengyuan: Daughter, please stop talking. Your father is about to collapse.

[Every time Emperor Uncle visits Noble Consort Jiang, she gives him an aphrodisiac. Should I tell Emperor Uncle that, actually, the Second Prince isn’t even his child?]

Just then, the crown prince rushed in after hearing that the emperor was seriously ill.

But as soon as he stepped through the door, he heard this statement.

His legs went weak, and he collapsed to his knees.

S-Second Brother… actually…

Did that mean Father was… cuckolded?

The emperor’s face turned even darker.

[Oh, speaking of which, today just happens to be the day her lover sneaks into the palace.]

The Emperor’s rage exploded. With a sweep of his hand, he roared,

“Prepare my carriage! We are going to Yuluan Palace!”

..

Noble Consort Jiang leaned softly against a man, her eyes brimming with tears.

“My love, you’re finally here. You don’t know how much I have suffered missing you.”

Every day, she had to serve the emperor—it disgusted her.

Qian Yingcai’s eyes darkened.

“Didn’t I come to pamper you?”

The two laughed and flirted before tumbling onto the bed together.

He only had one chance to enter the palace each month, and with his beloved before him, Qian Yingcai couldn’t resist.

“I heard our son Shen’er was beaten?”

Noble Consort Jiang’s face flushed red, and she let out occasional soft moans.

“Yes… It’s all because… that Jiang family… and the Qian family… both times… they were involved.”

Qian Yingcai grunted. “Don’t worry. When I leave the palace, I’ll make sure to teach the Jiang family a lesson.”

..

The palace attendants of Yuluan Palace trembled.

The sounds coming from inside… the emperor would surely recognize them.

Such a vile woman!

The emperor’s eyes burned with murderous intent, and he kicked the doors open.

Inside, the two froze mid-action, instinctively turning toward the door.

“Ah!” Noble Consort Jiang screamed.

The two hurriedly separated, their clothes in disarray—any fool could see what had just happened.

Eunuch Cao immediately dismissed the other attendants.

The mighty emperor had been cuckolded, and even his son wasn’t his own.

[Ooooh! Caught in the act! So thrilling!]

[Oh my, such pale legs.]

The crown prince, exasperated, covered the little girl’s eyes.

[Why are you covering my eyes? I still want to watch.]

The crown prince pretended not to hear and pulled out a piece of yak jerky from his robe.

[Ooooh, jerky! Tasty, tasty, so fragrant…]

Noble Consort Jiang hastily covered herself with her robe, staring in horror at the emperor.

“Your Majesty, have mercy!” she pleaded on her knees.

“Guards! Skin them alive and execute them by slow slicing!”

Yuanxi suddenly lifted her head.

[What about the Second Prince?]

The crown prince: Even jerky can’t silence her thoughts.

The emperor glanced at Jiang Yuanxi and gritted his teeth.

“And that treacherous son—deal with him as well!”

His eyes burned red with fury.

For years, he had treated Noble Consort Jiang well.

Whatever she wanted, he gave without hesitation.

His heart had been fed to the dogs.

Noble Consort Jiang, hollow-eyed, laughed bitterly.

“Betrayal?” she sneered.

“When you forcibly took me from my love and separated us with an imperial edict—you were the third party.”