Chapter 825: Let me inspect everything!

Eunuch Cheng took out a roll of bright‑yellow brocade, cupped it in both hands before him: "Seventh Prince, you examine it yourself."

Xiao Ze took the imperial edict, unfolded it and looked.

"Fangfei Garden is the domain of Princess Huguo; I, the Emperor, consider the princess still young, fear the garden's affairs are complex, therefore I specially order Prince Jing to go there to inspect on her behalf, to prevent any errors."

"This morning the central affairs are busy; after Prince Jing finishes matters with the Princess Huguo, he must return promptly, no delays."

He slowly rolled up the edict: "But is anyone meddling with me?"

Eunuch Cheng nodded: "The documents were passed around a few copies, but His Majesty didn't approve a single word."

He sighed lightly: "Your Highness, His Majesty is protecting you and the princess."

"Since Your Highness and the princess are coming by imperial order, the petty officials' accusations become baseless."

"With this edict issued, if anyone dares to make a fuss over this matter, they will be at odds with His Majesty."

Xiao Ze put the edict away.

Eunuch Cheng said: "Your Highness, there's no need to think about other places for now; take the princess back immediately."

"His Majesty makes it clear he wants to protect you; return early so His Majesty can take proper care of you."

Xiao Ze was silent for a moment, gently nodded, just as he was about to speak,

"I'm back!" Tuan Tuan held a bunch of fresh flowers she had picked along the way, trotting toward the pond.

Xiao Er followed behind her, holding a small magnetic jar.

Tuan Tuan pointed with her little hand at the jar: "Third Elder Brother, the royal kitchen's venison is so delicious! Tonight we'll have meat, you don't have to sit here fishing for little fish anymore!"

Xiao Ze smiled slightly: "Take it back to the mansion for them to try; Third Elder Brother won't eat it, Father Emperor is urging us to return."

"Go back?" Tuan Tuan's little face instantly fell, "I don't want to leave! Aren't you happy here? Why go back?"

She looked up at Eunuch Cheng: "Grandpa, if Third Elder Brother doesn't leave, you shouldn't leave either, okay?"

Xiao Ze crouched, supporting her small shoulder, said gently: "Third Elder Brother has to go back on business; he'll come another day to play with you."

Tuan Tuan pouted.

Xiao Er understood a bit: "Miss, you haven't seen Xiao Feifei and Xiao Jinjin for several days; they surely miss you as much as you miss them."

"We'll go back to see them, then play again; this manor can't run away, whenever we want to come back is just a matter of saying a word."

He looked down at the venison in his hand: "Take this back for the Prince and Princess Consort to try, okay?"

Tuan Tuan glanced at Xiao Er, then at Xiao Ze, and didn't persist.

She thrust the flower into Eunuch Cheng's hand: "This is for Grandpa!"

After speaking, she ran over, grabbed Xiao Ze's hand, and obediently walked out.

Eunuch Cheng lifted his foot and followed, looked down at the flower in his hand, couldn't help but laugh; the princess is truly cute.

A few days later, the Empress's legitimate son Xiao Che fell gravely ill, the palace shook.

In the Phoenix Ritual Palace, candles burned brightly.

Xiao Jieyun sat at the edge of the couch, motionless, gazing at the tiny infant in the swaddling cloth.

Xiao Che lay in the cradle, his little face flushed bright red.

He closed his eyes, his little mouth slightly open, his cry feeble like a newborn kitten, weakly whimpering, as if he barely had the strength to sob.

Two tiny hands clenched into fists, occasionally twitching, resting on a moon‑white pillow, his body covered by a bright‑yellow silk brocade quilt.

Murong Jin sat beside Xiao Jieyun, her hair loose, a few strands clinging to her face still marked by fresh tears.

She grasped one of her son's little hands, fingertips trembling slightly, her voice already hoarse from crying: "Che'er, Che'er, look at the Empress, look at the Empress…"

Guo Taiyi knelt at the foot of the couch, slipped his hand into the cradle, three fingers gently resting on Xiao Che's slender wrist.

The infant's pulse points differ from adults; with only three specific points, Guo Taiyi could only rely on the subtle sensation at his fingertips to feel the thread‑like pulse.

He closed his eyes, focused for a moment, then gently lifted Xiao Che's eyelids to glance, and brought the swaddling cloth close to sniff.

Afterwards, his brows furrowed.

"His Majesty, Empress," Guo Taiyi released his hand, bowed low and said, "Please allow this old minister to examine the young prince's bedding."

Xiao Jieyun slightly nodded.

Murong Jin lifted the brocade quilt, gently lifted Xiao Che into her arms.

Guo Taiyi leaned forward, bringing his face close to the tiny embroidered pillow.

He brought his nose close, gave a light sniff, then stepped back half a step, opened the quilt and the mattress lining, his fingertips gliding slowly along the stitches, then brought his nose close again for another sniff.

His complexion changed instantly.

He took a pair of scissors from the medicine box, cut open one side of the quilt along the seam, poured the cotton stuffing onto the bed, and spread it out carefully with his hand.

Some dry grass fragments, snow‑white like cotton yet as fine as smoke threads, fell onto the bed.

Murong Jin's eyes widened instantly: "What is this?"

"Empress, please remain calm; allow this old minister to investigate fully before reporting in detail."

Xiao Jieyun pulled Murong Jin into his arms, gently patted her: "Don't worry."

Guo Taiyi immediately opened the pillow and mattress again; inside both contained the same fine grass fragments.

"His Majesty," Guo Taiyi bowed low and reported, "This substance is called Hui Cao."

Xiao Jieyun slightly furrowed his brows: "Hui Cao?"

"Exactly."

Murong Jin's face turned deathly pale: "Is it poisonous?"

"No," Guo Taiyi shook his head: "Hui Cao is a common medicinal herb from the Jiangnan region, can clear the lungs, resolve phlegm, and unblock the meridians."

"However, its medicinal nature is fierce, volatile, and it has a subtle odor; it is a great taboo for infants."

"The young prince's organs are delicate, his meridians not yet formed, no need"

"And over time, it will…"

Xiao Jieyun's face turned ashen: "What will happen then?"

Guo Taiyi gritted his teeth: "Vitality is severely damaged; life is in jeopardy."

Mu Rongjin gasped a cold breath sharply, and tears instantly welled up like a spring.

Her eyes reddened, she looked at her trusted aide Siyu: "How did these items get into the Fengyi Palace? Why didn't you examine them carefully?"

Siyu let out a "thud" and knelt to the ground: "The items used by the young prince, I have personally inspected them all!"

She kept kowtowing: "I did not know when this fragrant herb was mixed in. It is my negligence! It is my guilt! Please, Empress, punish me!"

Guo Taiyi, unable to bear it, interjected: "Empress, the fragrant herb's scent is extremely faint; ordinary people cannot detect it at all, and even if they do, it causes no harm."

"It is only that infants are delicate, so they cannot endure it."

"Moreover, these fragrant herbs have been deliberately ground into powder and mixed into the cotton stuffing; unless one is intimately familiar, it is truly hard to detect."

Mu Rongjin, clutching her son, broke free from Xiao Jieyun's embrace, knelt on the couch, seized the edge of Xiao Jieyun's robe, and tears rained down wildly:

"His Majesty! Someone is trying to harm our Che'er! His Majesty!"

"Please, His Majesty, investigate thoroughly! Please, His Majesty, advocate for Che'er!"

Xiao Jieyun hurriedly helped her to her feet, gently pulled her into his arms, his voice low: "Do not fear, I am here."

"Our Che'er will be fine."

He turned his head toward Eunuch Cheng: "Cheng Jinyan."

"The old servant is here."

"Investigate immediately."

The Emperor's face grew dreadfully grim: "Everyone in the palace who has handled these bedding, not a single one shall be missed; I will inspect them all!"

"Yes." Eunuch Cheng bowed and stepped back, his footsteps swift.