Chapter 233: There's a way

There's a way.

Emperor Shuncheng……wants to see her?!

At once, hearing Gao Caiyong's words, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but freeze. She then turned her head to glance at Yin Fengzhan beside her, before turning her gaze back to Gao Caiyong.

"Um... Eunuch Gao, I don't know what the Emperor wants with An Guo."

Emperor Shuncheng's emotions are very unstable these days, so even Nie Jinxuan can't tell what he intends to do. Moreover, last night's incident blew up so badly; the Emperor might……

For a moment, Nie Jinxuan felt a twinge of unease. At that moment, before Gao Caiyong could speak, the silent Yin Fengzhan beside her spoke up first.

"Not going!"

Yin Fengzhan replied decisively. His words carried the clear intent to see her off. Upon hearing this, Gao Caiyong couldn't help but startle, then hurriedly explained.

"Your Highness Prince Chen has misunderstood. Although this servant doesn't know what the Emperor means, I believe the Emperor certainly bears no ill will toward Princess An Guo, so……"

"Then I'm not going either!"

Having said that, Yin Fengzhan then actually stood up. Seeing this, Gao Caiyong panicked, immediately stepped forward, and actually knelt before Yin Fengzhan with a "plop."

"Your Highness, please, this servant begs you! The Emperor's health is poor now, and last night's affair dealt him a heavy blow. In this state, Your Highness, please indulge the Emperor a little… The Emperor has no other intention; I expect he merely wants Princess An Guo to say a few words… So Your Highness……"

As he spoke, Gao Caiyong couldn't help but recall the Emperor's current state, and tears streamed down. Seeing him like that, Yin Fengzhan's face darkened. Nie Jinxuan beside them couldn't bear to watch, so before Yin Fengzhan could speak, she rose on her own, grabbed his sleeve, and bent to help Gao Caiyong up.

"Eunuch Gao, please don't do this—An Guo agrees to your request."

"Then…… then……"

Nie Jinxuan agreed, and Gao Caiyong's expression eased a little, but upon thinking of Yin Fengzhan, he instinctively glanced at him. Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan sighed, glared at Yin Fengzhan, then turned to Gao Caiyong and said.

"It's fine, don't mind him!"

Nie Jinxuan's soothing words finally calmed Gao Caiyong. She then let him go first, promising to come over shortly after tidying up, and only then did Gao Caiyong leave.

After Gao Caiyong left, Nie Jinxuan turned to change her clothes, but Yin Fengzhan grabbed her.

"Why did you agree to him?"

Obviously, Yin Fengzhan was dissatisfied with Nie Jinxuan's agreement. But upon hearing her, she shoved him away.

"Why shouldn't I agree?"

Saying this, Nie Jinxuan glared at Yin Fengzhan again, then reached out to smooth his collar, pressed her lips, and spoke softly.

"Fengzhan, don't be like this. The Emperor is gravely ill now—you saw it yourself last night. No matter what, his feelings for Noble Consort Ning are genuine, and he's not young anymore. Whether or not he's your father, he's an elder; why do you still quarrel with him?"

"Hmph, he started the quarrel with me!"

"Enough! Stop dragging this on! The Emperor has already conceded to you—what more do you want?!"

Having said that, Nie Jinxuan tidied Yin Fengzhan's collar, then gave it a pat, but Yin Fengzhan grabbed her at once.

"Then I'm going too!"

"What are you going to do? Want to anger the Emperor to death?"

These past days, Nie Jinxuan has noticed that whenever Yin Fengzhan and Emperor Shuncheng meet, they inevitably erupt into a huge argument, ending with the Emperor driven mad by anger. So now that the Emperor has just awakened, Nie Jinxuan does not want Yin Fengzhan to go and provoke him with cold words.

Upon hearing this, Yin Fengzhan instantly became displeased again, his face darkening. But Nie Jinxuan pinched his cheek and said.

"All right, don't be angry! It's fine—I'll be right back!"

Saying this, Nie Jinxuan tiptoed and lightly kissed Yin Fengzhan's cheek like a dragonfly touching water, then changed into palace attire, tidied her appearance, and left with Shui Yun……

……

Nie Jinxuan made her way all the way to Emperor Shuncheng's sleeping quarters. As soon as she arrived, Gao Caiyong, who had been guarding the door, ushered her in. Upon entering, a strong medicinal smell hit her face.

It seems Emperor Shuncheng's illness has worsened again!

Thinking this, Nie Jinxuan frowned, then after going around the screen, she saw a vague figure lying within the gauzy canopy.

Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan pressed her lips together. Gao Caiyong turned to signal her, whereupon Nie Jinxuan hurriedly adjusted her dress and bowed.

"Princess An Guo greets Your Majesty!"

Nie Jinxuan's voice was gentle and soft. Yet after she finished speaking, there was still no response from the Emperor.

At once, Nie Jinxuan raised her head in confusion. Gao Caiyong hurried to the bedside and whispered.

"Your Majesty, Princess An Guo has come to see you……"

"Hn……"

This time, Emperor Shuncheng finally reacted. Gao Caiyong then lifted the curtains and sat him up…… Once the Emperor was settled upright, he slightly lifted his eyes and spoke softly.

"Get out!"

"Yes!"

With a respectful reply, Gao Caiyong quietly withdrew, also sending out the other palace attendants. In the blink of an eye, the vast sleeping chamber held only Nie Jinxuan and Emperor Shuncheng, who sat leaning on the dragon throne.

All was silent around them. At that moment, the Emperor lifted his gaze and fixed it on Nie Jinxuan.

"Rise……"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The Emperor's voice was weak. Upon hearing her, Nie Jinxuan rose and slowly lifted her head—but the moment she saw the Emperor on the dragon throne, she couldn't help but freeze.

All she saw was that, in just one night, Emperor Shuncheng had grown markedly older. His hair was nearly all white, his eyes sunken, his cheekbones pronounced, his frailty such that even speaking caused him to gasp slightly.

Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan felt a sour ache in her heart, and she softly said.

"Your Majesty, An Guo wishes to make amends to you. Last night, in her panic, An Guo…… and furthermore, Fengzhan had those guards……"

Nie Jinxuan had slapped Emperor Shuncheng the previous night—a grave breach of etiquette. Even though the circumstances were extraordinary, if the Emperor truly held it against her, she would deserve to die ten times over. As for Yin Fengzhan, it was even more terrifying: without hesitation, he slaughtered so many imperial guards—if tallied…… But Nie Jinxuan never expected that, before she could finish her words, the Emperor would suddenly raise his hand, wave it, and cut her off.

"It's fine; I bear you no grudge. As for Lao Si, he did the right thing……"

Saying this, the Emperor coughed twice, then lifted his eyes to Nie Jinxuan and continued.

"I summoned you here because I want you to tell me…… last night…… was what you said true?"

Word by word, Emperor Shuncheng spoke softly, while his sunken eyes gazed steadily at Nie Jinxuan, as if conveying an unspoken plea.

At once, Nie Jinxuan almost immediately grasped the Emperor's thoughts; her expression settled, and she firmly nodded.

"Your Majesty, An Gu can guarantee with his life; every word An Gu said last night is completely true!"

"True, really……"

"Really!"

"Once again affirmed, there was not a shred of doubt in what Nie Jinxuan said. And until this moment, Emperor Shuncheng couldn't help but tremble all over, and then tears immediately flowed out again……"

"However, this time Emperor Shuncheng made no sound, only silent weeping; that silent anguish instantly made Nie Jinxuan's eyes turn red as well, and then, seeing Emperor Shuncheng unable to hold back his sorrow and start coughing, Nie Jinxuan hurried forward and then raised her hand to pat his back."

"Your Majesty, are you alright?! If not, An Gu will have Eunuch Gao come in and call the Imperial Physician to help you……"

"Nie Jinxuan feared Emperor Shuncheng might come to harm, but at this moment, Emperor Shuncheng suddenly grabbed her."

"No…… I am fine……"

"Saying this, Emperor Shuncheng coughed twice forcefully, then raised his hand to wipe his face, and then lifted his head to look at Nie Jinxuan again."

"Then I ask you…… Wan, Wan'er, exactly how did she die? How did she die?"

"At this moment, Emperor Shuncheng gripped Nie Jinxuan's wrist tightly; that deep force made Nie Jinxuan instinctively feel as if her bones were about to be crushed, but Nie Jinxuan knew that, compared to her own pain, Emperor Shuncheng's heart was feeling even worse at this moment, so she endured the pain while speaking softly."

"Your Majesty, because An Gu cannot rashly move Noble Consort Ning's corpse, we cannot yet confirm her true cause of death. But An Gu is certain that Noble Consort Ning did not drown!"

"Oh, yes, yes, not moving Wan'er's body is correct on your part…… Then what next? Does not being able to move Wan'er's body mean we cannot find the cause?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, that can indeed be said! After all, the essence of examining a corpse is not just surface inspection; more importantly, it is autopsy. However, considering all aspects, although we cannot move Noble Consort Ning's corpse for now, An Gu will not give up, and will try other methods to see if we can get to the bottom of it……"

"Hmm, good, then that's good……"

"After hearing Nie Jinxuan's words, Emperor Shuncheng nodded on his own, then spoke softly."

"An Gu, I now have nothing else I seek; I only wish to uncover the truth about Wan'er, so you must not disappoint me…… Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, rest assured! An Gu will surely do his utmost!"

"Having nodded in agreement to Nie Jinxuan, Emperor Shuncheng then gave her two more instructions, and then let Nie Jinxuan leave. But as soon as she stepped out of Emperor Shuncheng's bedchamber, she saw Yin Fengzhan waiting outside for her."

"This bastard, said not to let him come, yet he still came!"

"Nie Jinxuan complained with her mouth, but her heart was sweet. Afterwards, the two returned together to Ningxin Pavilion, and Nie Jinxuan also told Yin Fengzhan in detail about Emperor Shuncheng's condition and his request."

"But upon hearing this, Yin Fengzhan slightly furrowed his brow."

"Then, since we cannot touch the corpse, how will you investigate?"

"Yin Fengzhan was a bit puzzled, but at this moment, Nie Jinxuan, after a moment of contemplation, suddenly raised her elegant eyebrows and then smiled with pursed lips."

"I have my own way!"

"One chapter uploaded, and there will be another chapter later!"