Chapter 221: Indeed From the Hand of One Person!

"Young Master! Someone is looking for you and the Young General."

Hearing this, Cheng Sitao furrowed his brow slightly.

"Bring them over."

The visitor was a burly escort. Hearing the voice, Cheng Chengxuan also came out.

"What business do you have with us?"

The burly man looked the two brothers over several times, and only after confirming they were indeed the two before him did he pull a letter from his chest.

"Someone paid me to deliver this letter into your hands."

"The letter has been delivered. I take my leave!"

Having said that, the man cupped his fist in a salute and turned to leave.

Cheng Chengxuan opened the envelope and glanced at it, his brow knotting tightly.

"The Shunhe Emperor actually has another elite troop."

Cheng Sitao also carefully examined the handwriting above; it didn't look like the penmanship of anyone he knew.

"Who could have sent it?"

"Do you think this matter is credible?"

Cheng Chengxuan deliberated for a moment.

"Later I'll send word to Chu Yuan and have him help investigate."

"Mm, that's fine."

At this moment, Sun Yanqing happened to pass by.

"Big Brother, what are you looking at?"

Walking closer and seeing the handwriting on the letter clearly, he frowned and thought for a moment.

Not knowing what came to mind, he turned and ran straight into the tent.

"Wait for me a moment!"

Soon, he returned with a slip of paper.

"Big Brother, Cheng Chengxuan, look quickly—don't these two sets of handwriting look very alike?"

The three carefully compared them.

It couldn't be said to be nearly identical; it could only be said to be exactly the same!

The three exchanged a glance.

Indeed from the hand of one person!

……

The Capital, the Imperial Palace.

Late at night, the Emperor's bedchamber was lit as bright as day.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Hearing this commotion, the imperial physicians keeping watch nearby all crowded around.

"Your Majesty!"

"Xiyue Emperor, you've finally awakened!"

Seeing them packed in so tightly there was no way to squeeze through, Shi Gui hopped anxiously on the outside.

These people, how utterly outrageous!

To think they'd steal his spot!

Clearly he was the person His Majesty trusted most!

He was the one who most deserved to stay by His Majesty's side, standing in the spot where His Majesty would see him the moment he opened his eyes—ahhh!

The Shunhe Emperor opened his eyes for a look, then immediately closed them again.

He reached up to rub his brow, his tone impatient.

"Stop crowding around here, all of you, keep away from me!"

Opening his eyes only to see a dense thicket of old faces was truly frightening!

Hearing this undisguised disdain, the imperial physicians all retreated sheepishly.

The room fell quiet again. The Shunhe Emperor sat up, leaned against a soft pillow, and looked at Shi Gui.

"How goes the investigation?"

Shi Gui's face showed hesitation.

"This…"

"Speak quickly!"

"Cough, cough!"

The Shunhe Emperor grew agitated and coughed heavily twice in his anger.

Seeing the situation, Shi Gui could only answer obediently.

"Someone in the Court of Judicial Review confessed, saying they were acting on the Empress Dowager's orders, and when fetching the medicine, secretly added an abortifacient to Lady Jia's tonic."

"The Empress?"

The Shunhe Emperor let out a cold laugh.

"Just as I expected—it was her!"

Sensing the bone-chilling cold, Shi Gui shrank his neck and continued.

"We also caught an imperial physician. He said that over the years, the Empress Dowager has been secretly having him watch the pulse readings of the Imperial Consorts (Gongzhu) in each palace, and if there were any signs of pregnancy, to determine the sex as quickly as possible."

"If it were a female fetus, leave it; if a male fetus, then…"

"How dare you!"

Hearing this, the Shunhe Emperor was beside himself with rage, slamming his fist against the bed several times.

"How does she dare!!!"

The fury attacked his heart, and he spat out another great mouthful of blood.

"Puh!"

"Cough, cough..."

Shi Gui turned pale with fright.

"Xiyue Emperor!"

"Imperial physician! Imperial physician!"

The imperial physicians waiting outside came swarming in again.

Seeing the emperor in such a state, his breath faint as a gossamer thread, they were instantly alarmed and shot Shi Gui a barrage of furious glances.

What on earth did this fellow say to the Xiyue Emperor?

How could he have angered the Xiyue Emperor to such a state in just a short while?

Looking at his condition, would he still be able to lead the Civil and Military Officials before Taiji Hall tomorrow to send the Seventh Princess off in her bridal sedan?

The imperial physicians exerted every ounce of their skill, each one bringing out their best, and finally managed to pull him back.

Seeing the emperor's breathing and complexion return to normal, Shi Gui let out a sigh of relief, pressed his palms together, and bowed toward the heavens.

"Thank the heavens for their protection. Old Heaven up above, you must protect the Xiyue Emperor."

"Brew the medicine according to this prescription and have him drink it for half a month. I can't say he'll recover fully as before, but it can keep him going another year or so."

The old imperial physician instructed Shi Gui, his tone exceedingly grave.

"But remember, you absolutely must not let Your Majesty get angry again."

Shi Gui hurriedly agreed.

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll go brew the medicine right now!"

……

An hour later, the door to the sleeping hall was pushed open.

Hearing the footsteps drawing closer, the Shunhe Emperor asked a question with half-closed eyes.

"What time is it?"

After waiting a while without any answer, the Shunhe Emperor's face showed displeasure as he opened his eyes.

"Little Guizi, I am asking you a question!"

Seeing who had come, he was slightly surprised and sat up, leaning against the soft pillow.

"Why is it you?"

The Sixth Princess smiled and handed him the medicine.

"Father Emperor, Stone Chief Steward was suddenly called away. Your daughter has come to deliver your medicine."

"The temperature is just right. Please drink it quickly."

The Shunhe Emperor lowered his gaze, lost in thought, then slightly raised his chin and looked to one side.

"Set it down for now."

"Does Father Emperor fear that your daughter has tampered with the medicine?"

There was indeed poison in this medicine.

An hour ago, she had been eavesdropping outside Fengyi Palace on her mother and brother's conversation. She hadn't expected to be discovered by her mother, and Shen Hao had come up with the idea of having her deliver the poison.

He had also said that only when her hands were dirty too, when she had taken part in this matter, would the three of them truly be grasshoppers on the same string.

He had added that someone who was not trusted and had overheard a great secret could not be allowed to keep living.

The killing intent in Shen Hao's eyes, the terrifying expression on his face when he said this—she still felt a lingering dread even now.

Thinking of all this, Shen Yuxi curved her lips, laughed soundlessly to herself, and casually set the medicine aside.

"You misunderstand Xi'er. I am not Mother Empress or Crown Prince Brother. Your daughter truly hopes you will live a hundred years and pass away peacefully of old age."

The Shunhe Emperor's gaze turned sharp, probing, and he demanded in a stern voice.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you know?!"

Shen Yuxi dragged a chair over and sat down before him.

"What your daughter knows is far too much."

She put on a troubled look.

"Where should I begin?"

"I've got it!"

She flashed a wicked smile, as if the person she spoke of had nothing to do with her—just some insignificant passerby.

"Let's start with Mother Empress's identity. Father Emperor, you would never guess—Mother Empress is actually a spy from Dongxun."

"In that case, Crown Prince Brother is also half a Dongxun person."

The Shunhe Emperor's eyes went wide. He stared at her in disbelief, so angry his breathing grew rapid.

"What?!"

"Father Emperor, don't get angry yet. What comes next will anger you even more."

Shen Yuxi dropped another bombshell.

"The truth is, it was Mother Empress who sent people to kill the Eldest Prince!"

"Puh!"

"Ah!"

Shen Yuxi was startled by the sudden mouthful of blood he spat out, and quickly stood up, dodging to the side.

Looking at the Emperor collapsed unconscious on the bed, her face went pale, and she walked over trembling, extending her index finger to hover near his nose for a moment.

Feeling his faint breath, she let out a small sigh of relief, and without bothering to wipe the specks of blood splattered on her, she ran out in a panic.

Seeing that the sky was already faintly lightening at the horizon, she ran desperately toward the Seventh Princess's sleeping palace.

She had to hurry, or there wouldn't be enough time!

Fortunately, she arrived just in time.

"Sixth Princess? Why have you come so early?"

The palace servants bustling about in the hall all bowed to her.

Shen Yuxi struggled to steady her breathing, and as usual, put on a haughty expression.

"This Princess has come to see Seventh Sister."

Having said that, she walked into the inner hall.

The Seventh Princess, draped in an exquisite and gorgeous wedding gown, sat dazedly before the mirror, letting the palace maids daub at her face and place a dazzling phoenix crown and hairpins on her head.

Seeing this, Shen Yuxi silently clenched her fists, and barely managed to pull out a smile.

"Seventh Sister!"

Hearing her voice, the Seventh Princess's swollen, tear-reddened eyes suddenly gained a spark of life, and she whipped her head around to look at her.

"Sixth Elder Sister!"

The two sisters, hand in hand, sat together on a soft couch nearby.

Shen Yuxi gave an order to the palace maids in the hall.

"All of you, leave. This Princess wishes to have a few words with Seventh Sister."

The palace maids showed hesitation on their faces.

"But…"

"What? With so many guards outside, are you still afraid I'll take Seventh Sister and run away?!"

Several palace maids hurriedly knelt on the ground to beg forgiveness.

"This servant wouldn't dare."

"Then why aren't you leaving yet?!"

Several palace maids scrambled out, afraid that one step's delay would bring the wrath down on them.

The Seventh Princess held her hand, looking at her with teary eyes.

"Mother Consort has been placed under house arrest by Father Emperor, and isn't even allowed to come see me off."

"It's a good thing Sixth Elder Sister came."

Shen Yuxi gently stroked her face, smiling with deep meaning.

"Of course I had to come."

Seeing her expression, the Seventh Princess was taken aback.

"What does Sixth Elder Sister mean by that?"

The next moment, she saw Shen Yuxi cover her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and immediately after, fling a handful of powder at her.

Then, she fainted.

Shen Yuxi smiled with a look of triumph.

"If I hadn't come, how would I go to Dongxun to be Empress?"