After a pause, Yongchang Emperor said again, “Recently, the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau sent a batch of top-quality brocade. All of it is for you!”
Brocade was a precious thing, especially the finest brocade—which could be used almost like gold or silver.
At year-end, the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau’s tribute was at least five or six thousand bolts, which converted to silver was an enormous sum!
Princess Baorong was truly favored.
The palace maids and eunuchs all knew this well and exchanged glances.
Just as the atmosphere was warm and pleasant, Xia Gongong—who usually walked calmly before the emperor, showing no change of emotion even if mountains crumbled—hurried abruptly into the inner hall, urgently calling, “Your Majesty!”
Yongchang Emperor, who had been playing with Princess Mingcheng, raised his head with a hum.
Xia Gongong didn’t dare delay, and reported in a serious voice: “Your Highness, Qi Wang has had an accident!”
“An accident?!”
Yongchang Emperor’s smile vanished as he set down Princess Mingcheng, his face full of dark anger.
Noble Consort Xiao Liu dropped her cup with a clatter, shocked: “What happened?!”
Princess Baorong immediately hugged Princess Mingcheng, equally alarmed, and looked anxiously at Xia Gongong.
Xia Gongong hesitated, then grimly said, “It’s… it happened while trying to stop the Crown Prince’s carriage. He was injured…”
Yongchang Emperor stood up at once: “Where?”
“At the Shenwu Gate.” Xia Gongong hurried after him, speaking fast as if already fully informed.
“The Crown Prince was going out of the palace to visit the Huangjue Temple to enjoy the plum blossoms. On the carriage, no one knows exactly what happened, but an argument broke out. The horses were frightened…”
They grew more urgent as they went.
Princess Baorong, a few steps behind, had set down Princess Mingcheng and was steadying Noble Consort Xiao Liu: “Royal Mother, you don’t need me to tell you, right? Don’t say anything later—just cry.”
Noble Consort Xiao Liu gripped her daughter’s wrist tightly, then let go and anxiously asked, “Your brother’s leg… is it really…?”
When she first heard the news, Noble Consort Xiao Liu had broken down countless times at night.
Why did she marry Yongchang Emperor?
Wasn’t it because Empress Feng was never favored by Yongchang Emperor and misunderstandings between them were heavy?
Her son, Qi Wang, was exceptionally favored.
If her son could become emperor, she would be the most honored woman alive.
But Qi Wang’s leg was broken. That meant losing hope for the throne!
How could she bear it?
“None of that matters.” Princess Baorong pressed her hand, looking calmly at her mother: “What matters is, since his leg is probably ruined, you have to get something in return.”
Like Yongchang Emperor’s favor.
Like Yongchang Emperor’s guilt.
Or like the Crown Prince’s loss of power.
Those were the real priorities. What else matters?
She had a point: even a fool, a blind man, or a cripple can be emperor. Who says Qi Wang has no chance now?
At worst, as long as they keep favor, Noble Consort Xiao Liu still has a younger son.
They also have an older brother.
If the older brother becomes emperor, Qi Wang becomes regent—wouldn’t that be just as good?
Noble Consort Xiao Liu took a deep breath.
When they reached the Eastern Palace, they heard heavy objects hitting the ground inside.
By the time they arrived, layers upon layers of people were kneeling both inside and outside the Eastern Palace.
Princess Baorong glanced around: all the named concubines and consorts were present, as were several younger imperial granddaughters.
Only Xiao Yunting was absent.
She raised an eyebrow.
At this moment, Yongchang Emperor was taking a deep breath and gestured to the Crown Prince, who was about to speak, to stay silent.
He only asked the imperial doctors: “How is Qi Wang’s leg now?”
No one spoke at first.
Yongchang Emperor angrily asked again: “Are you all mute? I ask you—how is Qi Wang’s leg?!”
Court Official Sun timidly looked up: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, His Highness’s leg—his leg bone is broken…”
Yongchang Emperor closed his eyes and stepped back.
This child he had held in his arms since birth, this child he had doted on for over a decade—the confident young man who had just been pestering him to learn horseback riding like it was just yesterday—
How could his leg suddenly be broken?
Noble Consort Xiao Liu let out a sharp, piercing scream, then fainted.
The Eastern Palace descended into chaos.
Yongchang Emperor exhaled heavily: “Use every possible effort in treatment. Post an imperial decree to search for famous doctors everywhere. Qi Wang’s leg must be healed!”
Court Official Sun and others responded shakily.
Yongchang Emperor turned to look at the kneeling Crown Prince and suddenly lowered his voice: “Why did you leave the palace?”
The Crown Prince was terrified and almost lost his soul: “Royal Father, I, I wanted to go enjoy the plum blossoms… I really didn’t mean it…”
At the time his entourage was about to depart, Qi Wang did not display his princely escort.
During the accident, two of his consorts argued in the carriage, swaying the horses and frightening them.
The horses became restless.
Even though the guards were there, for some unknown reason, the two horses charged toward Qi Wang.
His leg was trampled and broken.
When he got off the carriage, he truly saw Qi Wang lying in a pool of blood.
He already knew it was bad.
Yongchang Emperor coldly looked at him and said nothing more, but glanced at Xia Gongong: “Send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate what really happened today!”
Xia Gongong lowered his voice in reply, not daring to say more.
When the news reached Xiao Yunting, he was at Mingyue Pavilion.
Lately, he often visited Qi Yuan, even without real reason, as if talking more made him happier.
Old Zhao’s expression was grave: “The Emperor is furious. Although he hasn’t directly reprimanded the Crown Prince…”
But everyone knew the Crown Prince was already disliked by Yongchang Emperor.
Now that he’d injured Qi Wang—accidentally or not—this was yet another major offense in the Emperor’s eyes.
Xiao Yunting immediately stood: “I’ll return to the palace first.”
Qi Yuan gave a faint hum, expression calm.
She didn’t believe in coincidences like this.
One could only say Qi Wang was deliberately turning his injury to the greatest advantage.
Breaking his leg quietly? No way would it be as grand and obvious as having the Crown Prince cause it.
And getting the Emperor’s sympathy on top of it?
However, this “playing the victim” trick would require breaking the leg again—which didn’t seem like something Qi Wang, who valued his life, would do.
Looks like some ruthless player was scheming behind the scenes.
