Chapter 484: Miss, Don't Look

A few people froze instantly.

Emperor? Twelfth Prince?

It's so late; what is he doing in Longevity Palace? And who is the one speaking?

Two palace maids carrying tea cups walked toward them, and Xiao Ningyuan looked up at the roof.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance, each reaching out to support his shoulders, and they landed on the roof of the main hall.

Lu Qi gently lifted a tile and saw the main hall brightly lit inside.

The Empress Dowager sat upright in the center, twirling a string of agarwood beads, her eyelids half lowered.

Noble Consort De held the Twelfth Prince Xiao Jin tightly as he sat at the lower seat.

Xiao Jin's tiny body was almost entirely curled in his mother's arms, only his pale little face showing.

Opposite them, Qing Wang stood with his arms crossed, his complexion a steely blue:

"Since his ascension, he claims illness every day and skips court! A headache today, a fever tomorrow, a fall the day after—His Majesty, is this a genuine illness, or is someone teaching him to feign it?"

Noble Consort De lifted her head, tears in her eyes: "Your Highness, why say that?"

"Jin Er is young and frail; can one foresee his ailments before they appear?"

"The imperial physician checks his pulse daily, the pulse records are all there; could they still be forged?"

Chen Wang leaned against a chair, a cold smile curling his lips: "Pulse records?"

He chuckled lightly: "Noble Consort De, oh, no, Empress Dowager, you've spent half a lifetime in this palace; crafting a pulse record that's hard to tell true from false shouldn't be difficult."

He sat up slowly: "You should understand, if he weren't young and ignorant, he could be 'assisted'; this chair was never meant for him to sit on!"

Noble Consort De's complexion turned ashen in an instant.

"Enough," the Empress Dowager said slowly, "Both of you, Your Highnesses, should leave some leeway in your words."

"The Emperor is young, and his frailty is a fact; since the two of you handle state affairs, whether he attends court or not is not particularly important."

"Not particularly important?" Qing Wang whirled around, glaring at the Empress Dowager, "Do you know how the court and the world are talking now? The Upright Scholars' pens are sharper than swords!"

"They say His Majesty 'ascended while still a child, virtue unrefined, body already slack,' that is 'lacking diligence, betraying the ancestors' trust'!"

"They even cite classics, saying 'Jade uncut makes no vessel; a ruler who does not study knows no righteousness,' questioning us both: His Majesty doesn't even come to the throne hall; how will he govern in the future?"

Noble Consort De's lips trembled: "Jin Er is only five! How can you expect him to be 'diligent'? To 'know righteousness'? He hasn't even learned all the characters yet!"

"Then let him learn!" Qing Wang snapped toward her, stepping forward a few paces, "Sit honestly on that dragon throne and wait!"

"He need not speak, but he must sit there so the world sees the Emperor is still there!"

Chen Wang murmured: "If His Majesty is truly too ill to sit up, then this 'illness' may need to be described differently."

He looked up at Noble Consort De: "There are other princes in the imperial clan; if His Majesty were gravely ill and passed, we could simply replace him with another."

"In my view, the Eleventh Prince's physique is much sturdier, and his age isn't much different."

"How dare you!" Noble Consort De, like a mother beast clutching her cub, sprang up, shielding Xiao Jin tightly against her chest, her voice sharp: "You are committing treason! If His Majesty returns..."

"His Majesty?" Chen Wang sneered, "Xiao Jieyun is already unable to protect himself; how can he still control you? Stop dreaming!"

The Empress Dowager raised her hand to halt them: "Noble Consort De, regardless, Jin Er is already the Emperor; his never attending court is indeed unbecoming."

"You should not act on your own any longer; let the Emperor do what he ought to do."

Noble Consort De looked at the three people before her, tears welling up.

Seeing his mother weep, Xiao Jin, who had been trembling, suddenly wriggled half of his small body out of her arms.

His little face flushed bright red; he shouted with all his strength: "You—You may not bully my Mother Consort!"

The childish voice rang through the hall.

Qing Wang was first startled, then enraged, bent down and seized Xiao Jin's slender arm, yanking him hard out of Noble Consort De's embrace:

"How come you still can't remember now?"

"You are the Emperor! What Mother Consort? She is the Empress Dowager! You must call her 'Mother Empress'!"

Noble Consort De lunged forward: "Your Highness! Let go! Your Highness!"

Xiao Jin was lifted so high his feet left the ground, his eyes wide, tears streaming, staring blankly at the snarling face before him.

"Speak! Call her Mother Empress! Let me hear whether you, Emperor, truly recognize what your current status is!"

Noble Consort De, frantic like a madwoman trying to snatch the child back, was signaled by Chen Wang; two eunuchs immediately stepped forward and held her firmly.

"Jin Er, Jin Er, don't be afraid," she sobbed, struggling to reach out both hands toward her son.

Xiao Jin's little mouth trembled for a while, finally squeezing out two weak, mosquito‑like sounds, a fragmented voice: "Mo... Mother Empress..."

Qing Wang snorted coldly and tossed him to Noble Consort De.

Noble Consort De clutched her son tightly; mother and son wept together.

"Tomorrow's morning court, if His Majesty falls ill again," Qing Wang said leisurely, adjusting his cuff, "then regarding this illness, I will personally summon the imperial physician to treat him properly!"

He exchanged a glance with Chen Wang, brushed his sleeve and turned: "We take our leave."

The two strode out of the hall's doors like meteors.

The Empress Dowager massaged her temples, looking at Noble Consort De, who was crying to the point of fainting, and sighed: "From now on, restrain yourself, teach the Emperor proper conduct, and stop provoking their displeasure."

Having said that, she rose slowly, and, supported by palace staff, walked out.

The vast hall, in an instant, was left with only a mother and son embracing and sobbing.

Tuan Tuan's tiny hands clenched tightly, staring unblinking at Xiao Shi Er and Noble Consort De, her eyes reddened with anger.

These two big villains! Watch how I vent my anger on Xiao Shi Er!

She lowered her head to untie the Embroidered pouch at her waist, but Xiao Ningyuan hurriedly pressed her hand down and whispered in her ear: "First find the key; we still need to rescue the Seventh Prince; now is not the time."

Xiao Er extended his large hand and gently covered Tuan Tuan's eyes: "Miss, don't look."

Lu Qi pressed his lips together, murderous intent surging in his eyes.

From beneath the tiles, a suppressed, desperate wail drifted out, like a cold needle piercing each person's heart.

Xiao Ningyuan patted Xiao Er and Lu Qi, then pointed downwards.

The two understood, they supported him and leapt to the ground, then sneaked towards the Sanqing Hall.