WK Chapter 26.1

After Emperor Chongzhao left.

 

Qu Dubian made a show of fussing a bit, then settled down. When Ye Banban placed him on the dragon bed, he didn’t whimper.

 

He was really quite tired mentally.

 

His nominal father hadn’t slept all night, and he had barely slept either, at most just dozing lightly.

 

However, judging from the night’s situation, his nominal father’s tolerance for him was a bit higher than he had imagined. Even without much father-son affection from being raised together since childhood, he was still able to personally care for him all night, considering his mother consort and his fever.

 

Qu Dubian carefully reviewed the events of yesterday and today.

 

Using the [Prank Dream] to make his nominal father foresee his fever in advance, then using the missing note to evoke his guilt, and finally bringing the drug overdose and someone poisoning him to the forefront.

 

His image had thus shifted slightly from being an ill-fated child who caused his mother’s death to a victim that someone wanted dead.

 

There was much to ponder in this transformation.

 

As a victim, when did the harm against him begin?

 

His nominal father’s change in attitude towards him was also due to this — perhaps, with his maternal grandmother’s influence as well. He had heard his grandmother’s words last night, but wasn’t sure how important his maternal grandparents were in the emperor’s heart.

 

Another key point was that fire.

 

He was being held at the time, and heard someone report to Emperor Chongzhao, vaguely catching that there was a big fire at the Astrology Bureau, with the character for “lie” burned into the ground.

 

Whether it was the Astrology Bureau’s political enemies, his grandparents’ people, or someone else secretly helping him, Qu Dubian truly felt this fire was a stroke of genius!

 

Though blunt and crude, when all the events were put together, the Astrology Bureau would surely bear the emperor’s suspicion.

 

After all, according to what they said, his ill-fated energy was now at its peak. If the emperor paid attention to him, or was too close or intimate, bad things would happen.

 

He was now staying in Zichen Palace, closest to the emperor, so greater calamities should be occurring throughout the palace. But with the series of incidents, the emperor’s fury, and the palace under high alert, the chances of being caught if anyone acted again had greatly increased.

 

The final result could only be that he was living in Zichen Palace, but the palace remained calm.

 

How would those who harmed him explain this, and how would they avoid this predicament?

 

Before sleeping, Physician Yang came to check his pulse again.

 

Ye Banban’s inquiring voice murmured by his ear.

 

“His Highness still feels feverish, when will this temperature finally go down…”

 

“All night, it’s been up and down, we can only temporarily suppress it with medication. The previous overdose is affecting the absorption of subsequent medicines, we’ll have to observe slowly.”

 

Physician Yang replied one by one.

 

“If he safely passes through this, he’ll certainly be fine, but he’ll need to be well-nourished afterwards. The young prince’s physique is far behind children his age now, but it’s not a problem, he can catch up in the coming years…”

 

Qu Dubian relaxed his mind and gradually fell asleep.

 

–

 

Qianji Palace.

 

The court officials were well-informed and had heard something about last night’s events.

 

Regardless of their individual intentions, they all behaved exceptionally well today, afraid of angering the already displeased emperor.

 

Emperor Chongzhao sat on the dragon throne, listening to the officials’ reports, but his mind flashed to the weak, flushed face of his young son.

 

Would he have been crying constantly since he left?

 

Emperor Chongzhao sighed.

 

The Minister of Works, who was finally about to discuss budget allocations from the Ministry of Revenue, was in the middle of presenting the upcoming silver planning when he heard this sigh. He paused, “Your Majesty, did I say something wrong?”

 

“No, continue.”

 

Minister of Works: “…Yes.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao frowned. The temperature that had finally come down a bit, would it have risen again from crying in the short time he’d been away? And feeding medicine was so difficult, so different from his brothers and sisters.

 

Another sigh.

 

The Minister of Works fell to his knees with a thud, “Your Majesty, this minister is utterly loyal! I absolutely have no intention of embezzlement! Not a single coin will be misused, all will be used where it should be!”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “…”

 

Before he could wail, Emperor Chongzhao quickly said: “Minister, I didn’t mean that.”

 

The Minister of Works’ cry stopped abruptly. He patted his clothes and stood up, continuing his report.

 

Other ministers exchanged glances. They were all shrewd, and all non-urgent matters were held back. Today’s court session ended half an hour earlier than usual.

 

After court, Emperor Chongzhao headed straight for Zichen Palace.

 

At the hall entrance, he saw Zhang Fanming kneeling at the palace gate. He looked extremely haggard, his eyes full of red veins. Upon seeing Emperor Chongzhao, he crawled forward on his knees, “Your Majesty! This minister has matters to report!”

 

Although Astrology Bureau officials were officials, ancestral rules dictated they couldn’t attend court.

 

Head Eunuch Yu glanced from the corner of his eye.

 

Tsk, this Bureau head had been kneeling here since last night. After such a long time in the cold, his knees must be severely injured.

 

Emperor Chongzhao didn’t stop, as if unaware he had been there since last night, and casually dropped a sentence, “As it happens, I also have questions for you.”

 

East Hall of Zichen Palace.

 

All serving palace staff were sent out, with only Head Eunuch Yu standing behind the desk like a transparent person.

 

Zhang Fanming knelt in the middle of the hall.

 

Emperor Chongzhao stood before the shelves, his fingers brushing over a decorative curved blade.

 

“Minister Zhang, do you have anything to say? Yesterday, a great fire suddenly broke out, leaving the character for ‘lie’ on the Astrology Bureau’s ground. Tell me, what does this ‘lie’ mean?”

 

Zhang Fanming held his breath.

 

“This minister came here for this very matter,” he bowed his head formally, “I implore Your Majesty to see clearly, the Astrology Bureau has absolutely not concealed anything from Your Majesty, nor have we ever lied to Your Majesty!”

 

“Last night’s fire was clearly deliberately set by someone to frame this minister.”

 

“Oh? Who wants to frame you, and why?”

 

Zhang Fanming lowered his head: “This minister does not know.”

 

“It’s not that you don’t know, it’s that you won’t say. I know your suspicions. But my young son — alone in the palace, a child just over two years old, who would help him, who would have the courage to burn your Astrology Bureau’s stone tablet?”

 

“This minister…”

 

Swoosh—

 

The cold blade was drawn, its icy edge pressed against Zhang Fanming’s neck.

 

“I’ve been watching you for two years since moving Xiao Qi to Ju’an Hall.”

 

Zhang Fanming’s heart nearly stopped, his pupils constricting.

 

Emperor Chongzhao held the curved blade, looking down from above, frost in his eyes. Zhang Fanming’s throat felt as if it were being gripped, his fingertips instantly turning cold.

 

The air in the hall seemed to be suddenly sucked out, a suffocating feeling washing over them. Even Head Eunuch Yu’s back hair stood on end.

 

“You know me. When I first ascended the throne, I killed quite a few people.”

 

Zhang Fanming’s body trembled slightly.

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “Was the matter of Consort Yun back then related to you or not? Is the prophecy that the child is ill-fated true or false?”

 

He bent down, grabbing Zhang Fanming’s collar, forcing him to look into his eyes. His tone was low and quick, concealing a storm.

 

“I know some things, Minister Zhang. If you have any hidden truths, speak them. I’ll consider your ancestors’ merits and won’t punish you severely. Causing Consort Yun’s death, slandering a prince, and now wanting to move the prince out of the palace – what are your true intentions!”

 

“Your Majesty!!” Zhang Fanming suddenly lurched forward, letting the blade graze his neck, blood flowing. He heavily knocked his head on the ground, instantly drawing blood.

 

“This humble servant’s divination results were exactly as reported, I have never deceived Your Majesty!!”

 

Tears in his eyes, his voice trembling, “Only regarding the recent suggestion to move the young prince to a detached palace did I have reservations and not fully disclose. If there’s even a hint of lies in anything else, may I die without burial! I’ve been diligent in my duties, never imagining I’d arouse Your Majesty’s suspicion. If so, I’d rather die to prove my loyalty!”

 

With these words, a resolute look appeared in Zhang Fanming’s eyes. He suddenly turned and rushed towards a pillar in the hall!

 

With a thud! He fell to the ground.

 

Anyone witnessing this would have to acknowledge his fierce determination.

 

The smell of blood permeated the hall. Emperor Chongzhao slowly stood up straight and beckoned.

 

Head Eunuch Yu immediately stepped forward to check, and quickly reported, “Your Majesty, he’s fainted. Physician Yang is here, shall we call him?”

 

“Call him.”

 

Physician Yang came quickly. After applying two acupuncture needles, Zhang Fanming regained consciousness, his head in severe pain.

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “What did you hide from me? Explain clearly.”

 

Zhang Fanming’s head throbbed. After a while, he crawled miserably to Emperor Chongzhao’s feet, “The young prince’s ill-fated energy being at its peak is true, but moving him to a detached palace isn’t the only solution. There’s another method, but it goes against ritual propriety and harms the country.”

 

“Continue.”

 

Zhang Fanming: “The position of Empress can suppress evil energy. Posthumously conferring the title of Empress on Consort Yun could resolve this situation. But according to ritual propriety, a deceased consort with a prince cannot be posthumously titled Empress. That’s why I didn’t mention it.”

 

“When you divined, was anyone else present?”

 

“Just some new officials, I… I didn’t pay attention!”

 

After listening, Emperor Chongzhao didn’t respond to his words, but threw the knife to the ground.

 

“Pick it up and put it back in its sheath.”

 

Zhang Fanming gritted his teeth, trembling as he stood up. With both hands, he respectfully placed the knife back in its sheath on the shelf.

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