Chapter 146: Volume 1, Chapter 146: Uproot the Weed by the Roots

"Your Majesty the Empress's words are truly laughable. If Your Majesty does not believe it, just send someone to Guanju Palace to have a look." Consort Ming sat there with a composed expression, a trace of cold mockery at the corner of her lips, without the slightest look of guilt.

But Consort Ming was extremely anxious in her heart, terrified that the Empress would really send someone to Guanju Palace.

The Empress had dealt with Consort Ming for many years, and faced with her current demeanor, she could not tell for a moment whether her words were true or false. If she sent someone to Guanju Palace and Zhao Qing was not there, that would be one thing—but what if she was?

She feared that after His Majesty woke, Consort Ming would lodge a complaint, which would bode ill for both her and the Crown Prince. Without absolute certainty of catching Zhao Qing's handle, the Empress could only reluctantly let the matter go.

"I was merely asking casually." The Empress dismissed Consort Ming with an offhand remark.

Consort Ming gave a cold snort upon seeing this and did not engage with the Empress further. Cold sweat covered her back in a dense layer, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, only hoping that her daughter would hurry back.

The Emperor remained unconscious. When the medicine was finally prepared, feeding His Majesty the medicine was another exceedingly difficult task. The Empress naturally would not let anyone else do it—she had to play the part of a proper Empress before everyone—so she personally took a small spoon to feed His Majesty the medicine.

It was no easy feat to pour medicine into an unconscious person. The Empress patiently used the small spoon to gently pry open His Majesty's mouth, trickling the medicinal broth in little by little.

A small bowl of medicine took nearly an entire hour to feed. The Empress's hands ached from exhaustion, her head was covered in sweat, and her mood naturally grew even worse.

Han Xinglan watched from the side, occasionally glancing toward Consort Ming and her son from the corner of his eye. Though they appeared calm, upon closer inspection, one could see a trace of anxiety deep in their eyes.

With the Empress presiding over the situation, he as the Crown Prince had no need to show off before a group of consorts, so his presence was extremely low-key. But in secret, he had already had Shi An deliver a message to Xiao Shen, and Xiao Shen would naturally handle the rest.

Han Xinglan composed himself and sat there waiting quietly.

Prince Qi saw how calm and composed the Crown Prince was, and his heart grew ever more anxious. He still had many things left undone. This military exercise had been far too unexpected—the Three Great Camps had actually produced new weapons.

His Imperial Father was of course extremely pleased. The reason he fell unconscious afterward was because the generals of the Three Great Camps stated before all the officials that these new weapons had all been provided by the Crown Prince.

Prince Qi felt his hands and feet go cold on the spot. He could of course see that His Imperial Father was displeased, but before the assembled ministers he could not express dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince's actions—he even had to offer a few words of praise before everyone.

Who would have known that His Imperial Father would collapse on the way back to the palace, catching Prince Qi somewhat off guard. At this very moment, he truly regretted it—if he had known this would happen, he should not have wasted his time in the rear courtyard of his residence these past days.

His uncle had been unable to depart for the border patrol, leaving no one to make contact with the former Crown Prince and former Princess of Qingxuo Kingdom, which meant that subsequent plans could not be carried out. Especially with His Imperial Father's sudden collapse this time, Prince Qi's current feelings were truly beyond words.

Too fast—how could the Crown Prince move so fast? And where did he find the expert to make these weapons?

Clearly, their strengths had once been evenly matched, each keeping the other in check. But in the past half year or so, ever since he married Rong Luoge, nothing had gone his way. Step by step, the gap between him and Han Xinglan had grown ever wider.

Prince Qi prayed that His Imperial Father would wake soon, and that this time would pass without real danger. Give him one more year... no, even half a year would do. He planned to personally request an imperial decree to patrol the border once His Imperial Father regained consciousness, so that he could surely make contact with Di Yue Nu and her brother.

He could not let Han Xinglan ascend to that position so smoothly. Winner takes all—if Han Xinglan took that seat, how could he possibly spare him?

The crowd at the Daoist temple waited in silence. Meanwhile, on Rong Luoge's side, progress had been made. Yuan Bao had already traced the handler of the young palace maid who tended the fire.

"After this young palace maid's older sister met with misfortune back then, the young maid soon entered the palace for selection. But this time she was not assigned to Guanju Palace—instead she was sent to the Hou Gong's laundry. After half a year in the laundry, she was transferred to the Labor Bureau. Later, when His Highness the Crown Prince moved out of the Hou Gong to take up residence in the Dong Gong, this young palace maid was assigned to the Dong Gong. This servant has already sent someone to investigate the managing eunuch who handled the matter at the time, and news should come very soon," Yuan Bao reported in a low voice.

Rong Luoge thought for a moment after hearing this, then asked, "How did this young palace maid's older sister die?"

"It is said she offended Her Majesty the Empress and was punished to kneel in the rain. She later caught a chill and could not be saved," Yuan Bao said.

Rong Luoge fell silent for a moment. It was connected to Her Majesty the Empress. Knowing this, if the young palace maid wanted to avenge her sister, infiltrating the Dong Gong to serve as Consort Ming's spy was perfectly logical.

She had a motive!

"Have you verified the death of that palace servant? Is it truly connected to Her Majesty the Empress?" Rong Luoge asked.

Yuan Bao nodded. "Back then, Consort Ming was in high favor and showed disrespect to Her Majesty the Empress. This young palace maid likely wanted to stand out before Consort Ming, so she provoked Her Majesty the Empress with her words, which was why she was punished."

Rong Luoge:...

Throwing her weight around like a dog relying on its master's power—utterly brainless.

It was true that the Empress lacked favor, but she held the authority of the Six Palaces in her hands—she was no powerless puppet Empress. For someone to step on her head and be unable to fight back was one thing, but this fool had brought about her own death, and in the end the Empress had to take the blame while the Crown Prince suffered the consequences.

Where were they supposed to find justice?

Rong Luoge looked at Yuan Bao. "You must find the managing eunuch who originally placed her in the Dong Gong. Once we have him, we can follow the vine to the melon and root out all of Consort Ming's hidden agents in the Hou Gong."

Only by crippling Consort Ming's hands and feet, leaving her with no one usable in the Hou Gong, could she be truly subdued.

Otherwise, as long as Consort Ming's claws and teeth still held significant power, even if they caught this young palace maid this time, there was no guarantee she would not plant another spy in a few months.

Rong Luoge certainly could not give Consort Ming another such opportunity. This time, she had to uproot the weed by the roots.

"Yes, this servant will go at once," Yuan Bao said immediately.

"Go." Rong Luoge looked at him. "Once you find him, do not act too hastily. Do not let him take his own life—he must be kept alive."

If the person died, the trail would be cut off. What would be the point of interrogation then?

Yuan Bao's heart tightened. "Yes, this servant will be careful."

Yuan Bao left in a hurry. Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

Rong Luoge looked at Rong Xin and Que Cai, who had been waiting at the side, and asked, "How are things?"

"Rest easy, Good Lady. Her Majesty the Empress has already gone to the Daoist temple. Your guess was correct—Consort Ming was indeed going to make a move. Fortunately, Her Majesty the Empress arrived in time," Rong Xin said.

Que Cai then also spoke up. "Wet Nurse Zhao sent word. According to the information she gathered, His Majesty is still unconscious. They say the earliest he could wake is tomorrow morning. If things take a bad turn, it may be delayed even further—exactly when is hard to say."

Rong Luoge's fingertips lightly tapped the armrest. What if His Majesty never woke up?