RPAGF Chapter 384 Telling the Heart
Chapter 384 Telling the Heart
Even the imperial physicians following behind, though shocked, managed to suppress their emotions. Si Xingzhi, however, was dumbfounded. What had he just heard?
He heard his daughter, in a moment of crisis, pouring out her heart to the emperor.
Because the dagger was stuck in his younger sister's back, the emperor couldn't put her down, so he simply held her and said to the imperial physician, "Remove the dagger!"
The imperial physician hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this will defile your body."
The Emperor glared at him: "Wan'er took the knife for me. This is Wan'er's blood. How could it be dirty?"
The younger sister struggled but couldn't move, grabbing the Emperor's arm and shaking her head: "Your Majesty is alright... I'm relieved. Please, Your Majesty, don't let go of me..."
The imperial physician was in a real predicament.
It was the second sister who stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, in my condition, it's inconvenient for the imperial physicians to move around if you hold me. Father, please come and help me so that I can lie face down on the couch."
"Huh? Oh!" Si Xingzhi stepped forward, forcing himself to be brave.
He didn't even know how to meet His Majesty, but the Emperor only had eyes for his little sister and didn't care about anyone else around him.
At that moment, he was completely shocked. In this critical situation, even his favorite concubine only thought about hiding behind him.
And Wan'er... she was so far away from him, yet she rushed up to him without hesitation, just to save him.
What deep affection this is!
She loved him so uniquely and so devotedly, never asking for anything in return, and was even willing to die for him.
And what about him? He was clearly the emperor, standing at the very top of power, but he considered himself a wise ruler and Wan'er's elder, and he was absolutely unwilling to cross the line!
He used to think he was despicable, but now he realizes he was just too cowardly!
While the imperial physician was treating the younger sister's wound, the emperor did not leave, his hand tightly holding the younger sister's hand.
Prince Ning entered from outside and, upon seeing this scene, was slightly taken aback. He then stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the palace may still require Your Majesty's accommodations."
The Emperor, growing impatient, declared: "Give the matter entirely to the Crown Prince!"
Prince Ning said, “Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance and may be related to the Second Prince. His Highness the Crown Prince dares not act on his own and has ordered me to request Your Majesty’s assistance.”
"Second Prince?" The Emperor then raised his head to look at Prince Ning.
Just then, the younger sister let out a soft moan, and although she had fainted, she seemed to regain consciousness.
The Emperor immediately grasped her hand tightly, and without turning his head, said to Prince Ning, "Xiao Youchuan, I trust you. I entrust this matter to you. Investigate it thoroughly and then report back to me!"
"...I obey your decree!"
After the imperial physician finished bandaging the younger sister, he said, "Your Majesty, the county princess's injuries are quite severe, and the dagger is poisoned. She needs to be observed carefully!"
"The dagger is poisoned?" The Emperor flew into a rage, barely suppressing his anger as he said, "Tell me, what do you need to do?"
The imperial physician pondered, "I'm afraid other doctors from the Imperial Medical Academy will need to come and consider the medication. Furthermore, if we move outside the palace, the imperial physician will need to accompany us at all times, lest the bumpy journey cause..."
"No need. It's inconvenient for her to move out of the palace, so she can stay in... my Zichen Palace!"
The Duke of Zuo, the Duke of Feng, and the Right Chancellor, who were waiting outside the side hall, were all startled when they heard this.
The Duke of Zuo was the first to kneel down: "Your Majesty, Zichen Palace is your sleeping quarters. How can anyone else live there?"
"She saved my life!" The emperor turned around angrily.
The Duke of Feng turned to look in the direction of the main hall. His son, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was assisting Prince Ning in handling the case that had just taken place in the main hall.
And he should...
After a moment's hesitation, the Duke of Feng also knelt down: "Your Majesty, I believe the Duke of Zuo is right!"
Of the three close advisors, two opposed it.
The emperor, losing face, shouted: "Shut up!"
Only the Right Chancellor's eyes darted around, and he knelt down, saying, "In my opinion, the debt of saving a life is of utmost importance. Everyone has seen the situation in the main hall; it was extremely critical. Miss Si was quick-witted and bold, risking her life to save His Majesty. It is perfectly appropriate for His Majesty to place her in the Zichen Palace, which is the closest to here!"
He was the most shrewd and, more importantly, he saw clearly that in the most dangerous moment, his foolish adopted daughter not only failed to shield the emperor from harm but also hid behind him.
He was already thinking of a solution, and now that he had the opportunity, how could he not seize it?
As expected, the Emperor's expression improved considerably after hearing Prime Minister Hu's words: "What you say makes sense!"
Although the Duke of Zuo still opposed the emperor, after a brief struggle, seeing that the emperor's mind was made up, he fell silent. Meanwhile, the Duke of Feng, despite his advanced age, knelt in the cold wind outside the palace, seemingly willing to risk his life as a remonstrating minister.
Si Xingzhi was frantic, kneeling and weeping, wanting nothing more than to take his daughter back, but ultimately failed. The Emperor, disregarding the bloodstains on his body, personally carried his little sister to the Zichen Palace.
Si Xingzhi was completely bewildered and collapsed to the ground. He grabbed Si Muyan's hand and asked, "Big sister, how could this happen? Why is this happening! What are you doing, little sister? What are you trying to do?"
Si Muyan's gaze was deep, and after a long while she helped him up: "Father, let's go back first."
Si Xingzhi's hair turned white overnight, and he fell ill from a cold and never recovered.
Si Muyan took care of him without taking off her clothes.
The second sister and younger brother did not leave the palace, but knelt not far from the Duke of Fengguo.
Besides them, many other resolute court officials also knelt, even though the emperor was determined to go his own way.
The Crown Prince returned to the Eastern Palace, fiddled with the string of beads in his hand, and after a long while said, "Si Muwan is quite interesting! It seems she has a good relationship with Gui Yuan?"
The palace maid serving him was none other than Song Yin.
Song Yin's voice was clear and melodious: "Your Highness, this servant remembers Si Muwan. She is a smart person."
"I like intelligent people, but they must be able to serve me!" The Crown Prince looked at Song Yin and reached out to pull her into his arms. "A Yin, I have said that when it is just the two of us, you do not need to refer to yourselves as servants."
Song Yin rolled around with him and said sweetly, "Ayin thanks Your Highness for your kindness. Ayin still remembers that Si Muwan made things convenient for me, allowing me to stay with Your Highness. That's enough."
"You are the kindest... Don't worry, no one else is as precious to me as you."
Prince Ning hadn't rested all night, and all signs pointed to the Second Prince being involved in today's events. However, his intuition told him something was amiss!
If we investigate further, we might find something else.
He tapped his fingers on the table, still deep in thought.
Feng Ziheng entered and bowed: "Your Highness Prince Ning, the Emperor is furious. Has this case been closed?"
Prince Ning looked up at him, his lips pressed together for a long time before he asked, "What does the Crown Prince think?"
Feng Ziheng smiled and lowered his eyes.
The Prince of Ning in the past would never have asked such a question. He would have only said that the case was closed, or that there were doubts about the case and that it needed to be investigated in detail.
It is clear that Prince Ning discovered something amiss in this case and should have investigated it thoroughly, but it seems he was unwilling to do so.
Feng Ziheng knew everything, but he didn't say it aloud. He only said, "I think the case should be closed."
Prince Ning took a deep breath: "Case closed. I'll go report back to the Emperor."