Chapter 71: The Emperor is a Physician

Seeing that the Emperor hadn’t erupted in anger, Consort Wei could only suppress her fury.

No matter how the Empress’s niece had fallen into the water, she had come today solely to coax the Emperor away.

The Empress saw through her intentions and didn’t bother to respond.

Because of those two lines Yao Yao had spoken in support of her, the Empress immediately exuded authority. “Consort Wei, I’m sitting right here—can’t you see me?”

The Empress’s status ultimately outranked Consort Wei’s, forcing her to bow her noble head and reluctantly salute the Empress.

“Your concubine greets Your Majesty.”

Consort Wei had always been loud-mouthed, but when she had to salute, she suddenly became shy, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s wing.

The Empress knew Consort Wei was prideful and arrogant, and that Yao Yao publicly embarrassing her would surely provoke resentment.

She had originally planned to let the matter pass, but unexpectedly, Yao Yao kept her eyes fixed on Consort Wei, her face beaming with an innocent smile as she spoke again, “Auntie, did you not eat enough? Do you want me to share some of my pastries with you? The ones in this room are really tasty.”

Consort Wei’s face turned green.

Not only her—everyone present caught the sarcasm in Yao Yao’s words.

How was this not blatant mockery over the barely audible greeting?

And let’s be honest—Consort Wei’s private kitchen created new pastries daily to send to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. There’s no way the Empress’s pastries could outshine hers.

It was clearly just for show.

After speaking, Yao Yao immediately looked to the Empress and said sweetly, “Pretty Auntie, can I stay here and eat pastries with you?”

The fondness in the Empress’s eyes could hardly be contained.

“Of course, of course.”

She had always liked well-behaved and sensible children, and from the moment she first saw Yao Yao, with her chubby, joyful face, she had taken an immediate liking to her.

Especially after Yao Yao helped her regain face in front of Consort Wei—the Empress appreciated her all the more.

Just as the Empress was considering what she could give Yao Yao from her private collection, the Emperor suddenly spoke up: “Consort Wei, have I been too indulgent with you lately? Is that why you’ve become so unruly?”

The Emperor’s words were like a thunderclap, making Consort Wei’s eyes instantly fill with tears. She said aggrievedly, “Your Majesty, how can you say such things about your concubine? What have I done to make you so angry?”

Lady Yuan, standing to the side, held back her nausea and turned her head away from Consort Wei.

To serve the same man as the sister of her father’s murderer—what torment.

The Emperor let out a cold snort and gave Consort Wei a look, telling her to reflect on her behavior.

After several failed attempts to gain favor, Consort Wei dared not act out anymore. She pretended to be obedient and properly saluted the Empress.

Before the Emperor could even nod, the little girl beside him broke into a bright smile.

Yao Yao’s earnest and bobbing head amused the Emperor for no reason. When he let out a chuckle, Consort Wei, who had just bent down, froze.

What did that laugh mean?

Was her bow not satisfactory?

Before Consort Wei could try another display of submission, the Emperor had already ordered Lady Yuan to step forward and confront her.

Consort Wei adamantly denied everything, shifting all the blame onto Lady Yuan’s palace maid.

Lady Yuan didn’t argue much, only repeatedly looked to the Empress for help.

The Empress knew perfectly well that this had nothing to do with Lady Yuan. She had just been innocently dragged into this mess.

Still, the final judgment would have to come from the Emperor.

At that moment, Nanny Zhao helped Xu Sanning out from the inner room.

Although Xu Sanning looked pale, her mind had cleared.

Upon learning that her fall into the water had not only worried the Empress but also alarmed the Emperor, she hurried out of bed in a panic to come over.

Yao Yao stared at Xu Sanning’s face for a while and couldn’t help but think to herself—

So many beauties in the palace! Her little eyes weren’t enough to admire them all.

Seeing Xu Sanning getting out of bed, the Empress showed a trace of concern. “Sanning, the imperial physician said you should rest and recuperate for now.”

Xu Sanning smiled faintly and saluted. “Sanning is fine now. I’ve worried my aunt and uncle.”

Seeing Xu Sanning walking again, Consort Wei deliberately jumped in, “Since Miss Xu is fine now, this must have just been a misunderstanding. Isn’t Your Majesty still planning a banquet in the palace? Why let such a small matter ruin something so important? It’s a shame, really—my chest pain’s been acting up lately. I can’t sit too long or catch wind, so I won’t stay to accompany Your Majesty any longer.”

Consort Wei gave Xu Sanning no chance to speak, clearly wanting to brush the matter under the rug.

She hadn’t expected the wretched girl to recover so quickly.

Consort Wei had gambled on Xu Sanning staying unconscious for a few hours. In that time, she could pin the blame, dump the responsibility, and come away clean.

Now that she had suddenly regained consciousness, everything was thrown into disarray.

She could only think of ways to lure the Emperor away so the incident would be dropped.

Consort Wei looked to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, when I’ve had chest pains before, you always came to the Hall of Eternal Joy to stay with me.”

In the past, the Emperor would soften the moment she played the victim.

Just as Consort Wei confidently assumed the Emperor would leave with her again, Yao Yao suddenly looked up at Xie Yixing and said in a sweet, soft voice, “Brother Persimmon, so the uncle in the yellow robe is a doctor?”

The Emperor had indeed felt a flicker of sympathy earlier, but upon hearing what Yao Yao said, he immediately hardened again.

He—an Emperor—was being mistaken for a doctor?

And Consort Wei, bringing up her old chest pain again?

If she was sick, she should go find a physician. He couldn’t treat illnesses.

The Empress couldn’t help but laugh beside him.

This child Yao Yao, while unfiltered in her words, knew just how to poke at the Emperor’s heart.

To prevent the Emperor from taking out his irritation on Yao Yao, the Empress quickly waved for Xu Sanning to step forward and identify those responsible.

She had been there—she knew exactly what had happened.

Xu Sanning focused her gaze on the three young men, and unpleasant memories flooded back.

One of them immediately panicked and tried to nudge the person beside him, but that person dodged away.

Seeing the three of them tacitly drop their heads, Xu Sanning then turned her attention to the young palace maid kneeling between Lady Yuan and Consort Wei.

The maid quietly glanced sideways at Consort Wei. Seeing her cold expression and the hatred in her eyes, she felt the threat loud and clear.

The maid knew that no matter who the investigation uncovered, she would not survive.

Rather than drag her sister down with her, it would be better for her to die alone.

She could only hope that Consort Wei would keep her word and spare her sister.

Xie Yixing stood protectively in front of Yao Yao, his gaze falling on the maid. Noticing her trying to rise, he seemed to sense her intent. For the first time, he broke his silence and pointed at the kneeling girl in the center of the main hall. “She’s going to ram into the pillar!”

The Emperor reacted first and immediately ordered, “Hold her down!”

The commotion startled Consort Wei beside them. She had just been thinking that having the maid take her own life would neatly close the case.

With no witness left, the matter would be buried.

She hadn’t expected two meddling brats to interfere.

Consort Wei fumed internally, completely losing her patience with the two kids from the Marquis of Chengming’s household.

“Your Majesty, you are a wise ruler. How can you let two little brats lead you by the nose? If word of this gets out, the court officials will say you lack judgment!”