Chapter 419: A Trial

After going through such a bout of turmoil, the manor where Gu Jiu Ling resides has become much calmer.

The palace, however, was not tranquil, and a few people hurried into Empress Dowager Ning An's chambers at that moment.

Leading the group, Xiao Wei followed the palace matron and hurried into the Imperial Grandmother's chambers.

The matron went in to report, and after a short while emerged, bringing Xiao Wei into the chamber.

Xiao Wei lifted his gaze to the Empress Dowager Ning An, seated on the phoenix throne before him, stepped forward, fell with a thud to kneel on the floor, and respectfully kowtowed several times.

This was the first time, after the series of events in Shang Jing, that Empress Dowager Ning An met her imperial grandson alone.

"Imperial Grandmother, blessings!"

The Empress Dowager looked at the slightly gaunt Xiao Wei before her, sighed inwardly, and thought how quickly he had become like this.

She had always valued this youth, first because Xiao Wei wielded military authority.

Secondly, she felt a certain affinity for him; his mother was her niece, making the bond even closer.

If she had to choose among these juniors to inherit Southern Qi's great throne, she would fully support Xiao Wei.

She did not expect that the youth had been schemed against and turned into a eunuch.

Although a lowly maid bore a concubine for him, that child has not even been born yet.

How could an infant possibly shoulder the affairs of Southern Qi?

Although she was a daughter married out from the Duan family, she is also a daughter‑in‑law of the Xiao family.

The conflict between her own son and the Duan family grew larger; weighing pros and cons, she naturally stood on her son's side.

So she helped her son suppress the Duan family, hoping Xiao Wei would take those Duan people with him to Quzhou.

After all, relying on her venerable face could still keep them safe.

If this continued, once her son acted, the Duan family might be exterminated, leaving not even a concubine.

It was then that Empress Dowager Ning An decided to send Xiao Wei to Quzhou as a feudal prince, the best plan she could make for the Duan family.

She did not expect Xiao Wei to request an audience tonight, which left her somewhat displeased.

She had already considered the Duan family to this extent; could this youth still have objections?

The Empress Dowager calmly looked at the kneeling Xiao Wei and said slowly, "Rise, there is no need to stay on your knees."

Xiao Wei then rose, bowed, and stood before the Empress Dowager, saying, "Imperial Grandmother, today your grandson has come to see you."

"I came to speak a few more words before departing for Quzhou; after all, Imperial Grandmother has always cared for her grandson. Since we have been apart for such a long time, I wonder when we shall meet again."

"Your grandson has brought some tonic to present to Imperial Grandmother."

The Empress Dowager's expression softened a little, and she looked up, glancing left and right.

The matron led the attendants on either side out of the chamber, leaving only the two generations—grandmother and grandson—in the vast room.

The Empress Dowager smiled, "Come sit, there are fresh pastries here, all the ones you loved as a child."

Xiao Wei bowed again, then cautiously sat at the Empress Dowager's side, picked up the freshly made pastry, took a bite, and smiled.

Yet his smile was tinged with bitterness: "Imperial Grandmother, your pastries are still as delicious as ever; I loved them as a child, and today I am truly fortunate."

The Empress Dowager nodded, "If you enjoy them, take the imperial chef with you to Quzhou."

"Quzhou may be farther away, but its scenery is beautiful and its produce abundant; becoming a feudal prince there and enjoying a leisurely, affluent life would be fine."

Xiao Yin, hearing the Empress Dowager's words, tightened his fingers around the pastry, his expression unchanged.

He shoved the pastry into his mouth, looked at the Empress Dowager and said with a smile, "Grandson, thank Imperial Grandmother for the care; I shall not be polite—I'll take the pastry master with me."

"However, I also came today to clarify one matter with Imperial Grandmother; otherwise my heart has been uneasy."

The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered slightly, uncertain what this imperial grandson wished to discuss with her.

She felt a slight tension in her heart—could it be that he did not wish to go to Quzhou?

If so, she would not blame him for being blunt.

The Duan family has been involved in countless unsavory deeds; hasn't she been covering them up for them in the harem?

Now the Duan family is clashing with her own biological son, and it is becoming intolerable.

She even tolerated Chen Fu'an of the Duan family secretly meeting the palace consort, leaving her own son unprotected.

She would never forgive the Duan family for this.

Moreover, Third Prince Xiao Wei no longer holds any value, and her son would never make the Third Prince heir.

In that case, keeping this child in Shang Jing is a disaster; the farther he is sent away, the better.

At this moment, Xiao Wei's sudden remark aroused the Empress Dowager's vigilance.

The Empress Dowager sat up slightly, looked calmly at Xiao Wei and said, "If you have anything, tell Imperial Grandmother; Imperial Grandmother will certainly act on your behalf."

Third Prince Xiao Wei steadied himself, looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "These days I suspect Ninth Imperial Uncle is feigning illness; he was never actually poisoned."

The Empress Dowager was startled, her brows furrowing sharply; it turned out to be about Xiao Yin.

Xiao Wei continued, "Imperial Grandmother may not know, although that Bei Di Princess Yuanqing seems insane, speaking incoherently, she repeatedly stresses that when we were discussing the matter, we were set up, and I suspect Ninth Imperial Uncle is behind it."

"The legend of Princess Yuanqing says Gu Jiuding did not die; he had obtained information, wanted the case, tried to kill someone in the old wine, but Gu Jingling turned the tables, framing him, leaving him and Su Er locked in that room, and even set fire outside the trembling chamber. A mere Gu family miss cannot possess such ability; perhaps Xiao Yun backs him."

The Empress Dowager's brows furrowed deeply; Xiao Wei's words now sounded completely incoherent, as if he were mad. Gu Jiu Ling had long been burned to death in the city gate tower.

"Feigning illness?" Empress Dowager Ning An gasped, staring steadily, "How could that be? Chief Physician Zhang was personally promoted by me; his words would not be involved. Every time Chief Physician Zhang personally attended to Prince Rui's welfare, it was indeed poisoned. If he were feigning illness, why would his body be inexplicably poisoned?"

"Gu Jiu Ling has been dead for so long; how could he return to plot the young princess again?"

Empress Dowager Ning An, after a brief pause, said slowly, "Indeed, when Princess Leqing first uttered those words, we thought it was just the nonsense of a madwoman and dismissed it, but now our hearts have some doubts. Others may not understand, yet we have deep insight. When the son went to Tangtuo Temple, he was indeed set up. Whether this effect has any truth, whether Gu Qiulin is truly dead, perhaps Princess Yuanqing's words are true. In that case, we might as well test it."

You saw the Empress Dowager's brows raise; you had thought Xiao Wei's arrival was about his going to Quzhou, yet he brought up feigning asthma with anti‑inflammatory injections. What does he truly intend now, Empress Dowager Ning An? The local effect is far greater than a broken bridge.

Xiao Wei steadied himself, looked at the Empress Dowager and said haltingly, "Imperial Grandmother, Song'er indeed has a testing method."

The Empress Dowager looked at Xiao Wei and asked, "What method?"

Xiao Wei coldly replied, "Bestow a marriage!"