Chapter 941: with translation of chapter title

After a while, apart from Murong Jin and the imperial physicians, everyone inside the hall gradually dispersed.

Outside the hall, only Xiao Yuanhang and Song Jingxian stood side by side.

A eunuch came out, bowed, and said, "Her Majesty the Empress invites the two of you to enter the outer hall and be seated."

"Thank you, Empress." Xiao Yuanhang and Song Jingxian lifted their feet, about to go inside.

Behind them came the sound of footsteps.

The two turned around and saw Xiao Ningyuan and Xiao Ningxun walking over.

"Father." Xiao Ningyuan glanced at the hall door and asked, "Has His Majesty not awakened yet?"

Xiao Yuanhang shook his head.

Xiao Ningxun stepped half a pace closer, lowered his voice, and whispered a few words into his father's ear.

After hearing it, Xiao Yuanhang let out a heavy snort.

Song Jingxian's brow twitched slightly: "Something else has happened?"

"Chen'er has requested to be relieved of duty and await punishment," Xiao Yuanhang said, his voice clearly angry, "and was sent straight to the Main Camp of the Ministry of War to stay there."

Song Jingxian fell silent for a moment, then advised, "The mountain flood bursting its banks is a natural disaster, beyond human capability."

"Although Xiao Ningchen bears responsibility for guarding, this matter cannot be blamed entirely on him."

"Even so, we must wait for His Majesty to awaken and let His Majesty decide," Xiao Yuanhang said firmly, "How can it be right for His Majesty to lie inside while he returns home to recuperate?"

Knowing his temperament, Song Jingxian saw that persuasion was useless and thus said no more.

Xiao Ningyuan glanced at his father's ashen face and said, "Father, I and my third brother will return to the manor first to check on Mother and Tuan Tuan."

Xiao Yuanhang fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Don't tell them for now."

"Yes." The two bowed, turned, and walked toward the palace gates.

Prince Ning and Song Jingxian sat motionless in the outer hall all night.

Until the palace lamps burned out and the sky was about to dawn, a sudden shout came from inside the inner hall from Eunuch Cheng: "Your Majesty? Your Majesty has awakened!"

Murong Jin's hair was disheveled, her eyes swollen and red, clearly she too had not slept all night.

She grabbed the Emperor's hand in one grip, tears bursting forth: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Xiao Jieyun's eyes had opened, but his breath was feeble; his lips moved a few times, yet he could not utter any sound.

Imperial Physician Guo hurried forward to take the pulse.

Murong Jin wiped the tears from her face, leaned in close to the Emperor's lips, but could not hear anything clearly.

Following the Emperor's gaze, she turned her head and realized he had been staring at the doorway.

"Prince Ning and Lord Song have been guarding outside all night," she hurriedly said, "Does Your Majesty wish to summon them in?"

Xiao Jieyun closed his eyes briefly, as if assenting.

Murong Jin rose at once: "Quickly summon Prince Ning and Lord Song inside!"

She glanced at the imperial physicians: "You all step out first and wait."

"Yes." The imperial physicians hurriedly filed out in single file.

Eunuch Cheng stepped outside and said, "Your Highness Prince Ning, His Majesty summons the two of you to enter."

Xiao Yuanhang and Song Jingxian had already risen; hearing this, they entered one after another, bowing and saying, "We pay our respects to Her Majesty the Empress."

Murong Jin nodded, glanced at the Emperor on the bed, tears streaming again, and walked out step by step, looking back each time.

The two walked to the imperial couch and knelt down.

Song Jingxian spoke first: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's whereabouts are unknown; it does not necessarily mean misfortune has befallen him."

"Your Majesty should prioritize preserving your dragon body."

Xiao Yuanhang interjected: "I have already ordered the Six Ministries and the Military Council to confer; state affairs will not be halted because of this."

"Your Majesty, rest easy in your recovery; do not worry."

Xiao Jieyun gazed at the canopy above, tears gradually filling his eyes.

After a while, he moved his lips several times before managing to utter two words with difficulty.

"Old… Seven…"

His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible.

Xiao Yuanhang and Song Jingxian's eyes reddened simultaneously.

Xiao Yuanhang lowered his head, barely suppressing the surging emotions.

Song Jingxian turned his face aside, lifted his sleeve, and pressed at the corner of his eye.

Xiao Jieyun slowly raised his hand.

That hand trembled violently; the fingertips barely lifted, pointing at Xiao Yuanhang, then at Song Jingxian.

The two glanced at each other, momentarily unable to grasp its meaning.

Xiao Jieyun's breathing grew ragged; summoning all his strength, he lifted his finger again.

He pointed separately at each of them once more.

The two understood.

Xiao Yuanhang extended his hand, palm upward.

Song Jingxian glanced at him, also extended his hand, palms facing, one above the other, stacking together.

Xiao Jieyun stared at the two overlapping hands, giving a slight nod.

Xiao Yuanhang's voice low: "I, your servant, will surely not betray Your Majesty's trust."

Song Jingxian's eyes glistening with tears: "Your Majesty, rest easy in your recovery; I and Prince Ning will share the same boat, united in purpose, with no divided loyalties."

Xiao Jieyun seemed to have expended his last vestige of strength, slowly closing his eyes.

Eunuch Cheng shouted shrilly: "Imperial physician!"

Guo Taiyi led the charge in, and a dozen or so imperial physicians swarmed around the imperial bed, leaving no gap.

Murong Jin also rushed in, tears streaming down unstoppably: "His Majesty! His Majesty!"

Xiao Yuanhang and Song Jingxian exchanged a glance, then silently withdrew outside the hall.

For several consecutive nights, the mansions of nobles and officials in Jingcheng kept their lights burning all night.

Hushed talk was locked inside each household's courtyard by the high walls.

In the depths of one such courtyard, the candlelight made a bronze mask flicker between light and dark.

The Masked Man sat upright in the chief seat, silent and speechless.

"Supreme Venerable Sir!" one person rose to his feet, excited, "Our people haven't even acted yet, and the Crown Prince has already fallen to his death from a cliff—this is heaven's help!"

Another person interjected: "Xiao Ningchen has always boasted of his martial prowess, yet he couldn't even protect the Crown Prince! This has utterly disgraced the Ning Prince's Mansion."

"Supreme Venerable Sir, the great undertaking is imminent—let's act!"

The Masked Man slowly shook his head: "That's far too coincidental."

"A flash flood erupted, the Crown Prince fell from the cliff, and the Emperor is gravely ill."

"These matters, linked one after another, seem as if someone has taken care of everything for us."

He lifted his gaze to scan the crowd: "Let's wait until those sent out to verify return before we discuss further."

The first to speak stared for a moment, then lowered his head: "It was my impatience."

Another person nearby quickly echoed: "Supreme Venerable Sir acts with caution; I admire him."

His eyes flashed with sharp light: "Even if the Emperor cannot recover, confirming the Crown Prince's death would be adding insult to injury."

The Masked Man gave a slight nod: "Let's wait a few more days; there's no rush."

He shifted the conversation: "What are Xiao Ningchen and his several thousand troops doing these days in the War Ministry Main Camp?"

One person rose and replied: "They're all demoralized."

"Each day they listlessly neglect even their routine drills."

"I've gone to check several times; the soldiers sit in twos and threes in the Main Camp, worried that if His Majesty awakens he'll punish them."

The Masked Man fell silent for a moment, then asked: "Is Xiao Ningchen's left arm truly broken?"

"Indeed, the day he came to the War Ministry I had a Secretary examine him."

"I also secretly monitored him for several days, checking his prescriptions and the bandages he'd removed."

"It's definitely broken; there's no faking it."

"Good, well done." The Masked Man tapped the armrest.

"Watch them closely." His voice calm: "If there's any movement, kill them."

"Yes, I will obey your orders."