Chapter 186: Why Must You Splash Dirty Water on Me?

Virtuous Consort could not help but choke on her words.

Xiao Mingyu took two steps forward, blocking the way in front of his Virtuous Consort.

Nan Xueyin looked over from behind Xiao Youlan; seeing him again now, it was clear Xiao Mingyu had changed into a different set of clothes, and there was a not-so-obvious red mark on the left side of his face—although he had tried very hard to cover it with powder, it was still visible.

In other words, at the inn, facing Yan Zhirong and her father, Xiao Mingyu had taken a slap, and likely suffered other things too; otherwise, why change his clothes?

But now, he and Virtuous Consort had regrouped and entered the palace.

Xiao Mingyu's gaze swept over, seeing Xiao Youlan, and also looking at Nan Xueyin.

His line of sight paused briefly on her face, seemingly doubting her identity.

"How is the Emperor?"

Outside the door, Prince Kang rushed in hurriedly.

Behind him, Zong Taihou also arrived a beat late.

Nan Xueyin had not seen them for several months; Prince Kang was the same as ever, but Zong Taihou looked visibly older and more haggard—it seemed her days in the palace during this time had not been easy.

Prince Kang and Zong Taihou both went to the bedside to take a look at Emperor Yongzheng.

Seeing that the two of them had arrived, Virtuous Consort finally regained her composure.

She sobbed, tears falling in torrents, and began to complain: "Just now, the Crown Prince said I was crying like this as if the Emperor had already passed away... but how could the Crown Prince not know that I haven't seen the Emperor for several months! I was just worried and lost my head... Now, both inside and outside the palace, everyone listens only to the Crown Prince; without the Crown Prince's nod, I cannot even get a glimpse of the Emperor..."

As she spoke, she took the handkerchief in her hand to wipe her tears, looking utterly miserable and mournful, "I know, although I can be considered the Crown Prince's half-mother, the Crown Prince has always only had Empress Rouyi in his heart and does not acknowledge me... I know I cannot compare to Empress Rouyi, but I ask myself, I have always kept to my own duties. I do not know why the Crown Prince has always guarded against me and avoided me; now, he won't even let me see the Emperor. If Mingyu hadn't happened to be in the capital today, saying he wanted to come pay his respects to the Emperor, I wouldn't have dared to come, and I wouldn't have known the Emperor had fallen ill to this extent..."

Xiao Youlan's tone was icy, "Virtuous Consort is truly becoming more and more eloquent. Virtuous Consort did not give birth to me, nor did you raise me. Setting that aside, Virtuous Consort is not even the Empress of the Central Palace. If this is enough to make me chase after you and call you mother, then there would be far too many mothers for me in this palace."

Virtuous Consort's face turned pale instantly.

Xiao Youlan continued: "Virtuous Consort also says I forbid you from seeing the Emperor. Go and ask around everywhere; have I issued an order for house arrest, or have I sent people to seal your bedchamber? I have done neither. Why must Virtuous Consort splash dirty water on me?"

"I..."

"Finally, regarding the Fourth Brother," Xiao Youlan curled one corner of his lip, "I would very much like to ask, why exactly did the Fourth Brother come to Fengdu? Did you receive the Emperor's summons? Or are you here to report on your duties? Does the Fourth Brother want to pay respects to the Emperor, or do you want the Emperor to help you solve your troubles?"

Xiao Mingyu was pressed by these questions one after another until his face turned ashen.

Nan Xueyin suddenly turned her eyes to look at Xiao Youlan beside her.

In the past, she actually felt a little strange, because Xiao Youlan was too clean; the officialdom she had witnessed was always filled with private dealings and power-for-sex transactions.

Nan Xueyin felt that Xiao Youlan was out of place in such a world, and she always felt he could not control it.

But she realized at this moment that Xiao Youlan was simply someone who understood the ways of the world without being corrupted by them; he had methods and a clear head.

He was the kind of politician worthy of being loved by everyone.

Upon hearing her son being mocked and ridiculed, Virtuous Consort gritted her teeth and began to cry again: "Then the Crown Prince might as well say it! The last time I saw the Emperor, he was perfectly fine; how is it that today, he is suddenly unconscious?"

Xiao Youlan said coldly: "The Imperial Physician is right here. Virtuous Consort, feel free to ask the Imperial Physician why the Emperor is unconscious; there is no need to be ambiguous, speaking as if I were the one who harmed the Emperor."

Zong Taihou also spoke in a deep voice, asking: "Imperial Physician, how is the Emperor's condition exactly?"

The Imperial Physician replied with the same words: "pent-up frustration" and "advanced age."

Zong Taihou fell into deep thought and said nothing.

Virtuous Consort, however, said: "Now that the entire palace is under the Crown Prince's control, how the Emperor is and what the Imperial Physician says—isn't that all up to the Crown Prince's word?"

Once these words were out, everyone in the hall looked toward her one after another.

Nan Xueyin also frowned.

Because the meaning in these words was very clear: she was saying the Emperor's illness was caused by Xiao Youlan. More seriously, it meant that while the Emperor was not yet dead, Xiao Youlan had already usurped his authority, which was almost equivalent to treason.

Xiao Youlan was not angry, however, maintaining his indifferent demeanor, "If Virtuous Consort does not trust the Imperial Physician, feel free to invite a doctor you trust. I will state clearly today: the Emperor's illness has nothing to do with me. It is Virtuous Consort who insists that I harmed the Emperor. If the doctor you bring can truly find something amiss, I will certainly admit my fault. If not, Virtuous Consort, what crime should you be charged with? Slandering the Heir Apparent, sowing discord between the Emperor and me, and disrupting the inner palace... do you think these crimes are enough for you to be stripped of your title and lose the Consort rank you are so proud of?"

Virtuous Consort was unable to refute him for a moment.

The Crown Prince dared to speak so blatantly, which proved that the Emperor's illness likely had nothing to do with him.

Otherwise, he would not be so confident.

If that were the case, was this palace really going to be under Xiao Youlan's rule from now on?

The Crown Prince must know about some past events, know about the matter of Empress Rouyi...

In this world, I fear there will soon be no place left for her and Xiao Mingyu!

Virtuous Consort's legs went weak, and she uncontrollably took half a step back, as if she might faint at any moment.

Xiao Mingyu supported her in time, "Mother!"

Xiao Youlan glanced at Virtuous Consort, his eyes cold and sharp.

To be so unable to keep one's composure—if she were to see what would happen later, she would probably faint on the spot, right?

Thinking this, Xiao Youlan turned to Zong Taihou and Prince Kang, "Grandmother Empress Dowager, Uncle."

After finishing his salute, he added: "The Emperor is now unconscious, and in my view, it is indeed somewhat strange. The Imperial Physician cannot diagnose anything unusual; I think we must find another way."

"Find another way? What does that mean?" Zong Taihou frowned.

"Summon the Imperial Observatory," Xiao Youlan said.

Zong Taihou was stunned.

Prince Kang nodded: "That makes sense!"

Zong Taihou pondered for a moment and passed down the order: "Go and summon them!"

A palace servant ran off quickly.

Xiao Mingyu supported Virtuous Consort as she sat down to the side; hearing them talk about summoning the Imperial Observatory, he already felt a hidden sense of unease in his heart.

I fear today's events will not end well.

Before long, the Director of the Imperial Observatory arrived, bowing respectfully and saluting the nobles in the hall one by one.

"Have there been any unusual movements in the celestial phenomena recently?" Zong Taihou asked.

"In reply to the Empress Dowager, just two days ago, this humble official observed the heavens at night and saw a comet sweeping across the Taiwei star enclosure; this is an omen of disaster."

"Two days ago, by my count, was exactly when the Emperor fell unconscious," Xiao Youlan added.

Zong Taihou looked solemn and asked again, "A comet sweeping across the Supreme Tenuity enclosure—what is the reason for this?"

The head of the Imperial Observatory replied, "The so-called comet sweeping across the Supreme Tenuity enclosure means a comet is encroaching upon the Supreme Tenuity asterism, which is a sign of an offense against the sovereign. I fear that some prince has a deficiency in his virtue, which has affected the celestial phenomena; this inauspicious energy endangers the fate of the nation and also harms the Emperor's dragon body."

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Mingyu understood everything perfectly.

A prince with a deficiency in his virtue?

Isn't that talking about him?

Xiao Youlan had clearly bribed the Imperial Observatory and was coming for him!