When he heard the news, Old Marquis Qi hurried anxiously to Mingyue Pavilion. As soon as he saw Qi Yuan, he exhaled heavily: “Qi Wang has had an accident…”
His expression was complicated as he looked at Qi Yuan.
No one knew better than they did what had actually happened—Qi Wang’s injury clearly came about when he was chasing after Qi Yuan, only to be outmaneuvered by her.
And now, the blame had been pushed onto the Crown Prince.
It was obvious this was Qi Wang’s move after suffering a string of setbacks.
But what no one expected was that this time, the target wasn’t Qi Yuan—it was directly aimed at the Crown Prince.
Of course. Qi Yuan’s real backing was Xiao Yunting.
But Xiao Yunting was the Crown Prince’s eldest son. If something happened to the Crown Prince, would Xiao Yunting still remain the heir?
What a ruthless, precise move—hitting multiple targets with a single strike.
Perhaps after so many smooth years, even Old Marquis Qi himself had grown a bit uneasy.
So now, with trouble closing in, he actually wasn’t that shaken. After all, too many things had happened recently that were hard to accept—what’s one more?
He sat across from Qi Yuan, carefully watching her reaction.
Qi Yuan merely let out a quiet “Mm,” and said calmly, “Qi Wang has been back for so many days and stirred up so many things. Maybe now he’s confirmed that his leg can’t be saved.”
So now he resorted to this desperate move.
Old Marquis Qi worried, “The Emperor will probably punish the Crown Prince severely.”
Qi Yuan smiled and shook her head, “He won’t. With the Crown Prince’s son still there, and this incident clearly not intentional, there’s no way they would depose the Crown Prince over this.”
The words “depose the Crown Prince” came so lightly from her mouth that Old Marquis Qi had to take a deep breath, momentarily unsure of what to say.
In Qi Yuan’s world, nothing ever seemed to be a big deal. No matter how difficult the road, she always found a way to break through.
A little girl could be so composed—if he showed fear now, wouldn’t that make him the one with no experience?
Old Marquis Qi was a man of experience. He took a deep breath: “Let’s hope so.”
When Xiao Yunting entered the palace, he didn’t go to the Eastern Palace first but went straight to Yongchang Emperor’s Taiji Hall and knelt outside.
It happened to be snowing. The wind blew, and snowflakes fell on his head and shoulders, adding to the biting cold.
Xia Gongong anxiously hurried down the steps with an umbrella in hand, “Oh no, Crown Prince’s son! You can’t kneel out here—this wind and snow will make you sick!”
Xiao Yunting didn’t move, kneeling firmly in place.
Xia Gongong stamped his feet in frustration and quickly signaled his disciple to continue holding the umbrella for Xiao Yunting while he rushed inside to report to the Emperor.
On that windy, snowy night, Yongchang Emperor stood by the window, looking at the kneeling figure outside.
Like a young bamboo shoot—already grown tall—kneeling through wind and snow without bending.
Xia Gongong carefully approached him, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s son has been kneeling outside since he arrived. No one could persuade him to leave…”
Yongchang Emperor coldly snorted, “If he wants to kneel, let him kneel!”
What happened today reminded him of the past.
His original Wangfei, before he ascended the throne.
And Noble Consort Xiao Liu, who only entered the palace years later after his coronation.
Along this journey, he had indulged the Feng family far too much.
When the Embroidered Uniform Guard finished their investigation today, they concluded it was an accident.
The two consorts arguing in the Crown Prince’s carriage both hanged themselves as soon as they returned home.
The coachman who lost control of the horses did the same.
Yes—every time, it’s an accident.
Always such seamless accidents.
But this time was different. This time, it was Qi Wang’s leg!
The imperial doctors said Qi Wang’s leg would likely never fully recover. Yongchang Emperor’s heart clenched in pain.
He said coldly, “Leave him be.”
Xia Gongong didn’t dare argue and quietly agreed, continuing to assist Yongchang Emperor with his documents.
After quite some time, Yongchang Emperor asked indifferently, “Is he still kneeling outside?”
Xia Gongong slipped out quietly and soon returned: “Your Majesty, he’s still kneeling.”
It had already been half the night.
Yongchang Emperor grew angrier and more annoyed. He threw down his brush and coldly ordered, “Bring him in!”
Xia Gongong understood immediately. He strode out and gently persuaded Xiao Yunting to first change his clothes: “Otherwise you’ll alarm His Majesty.”
Xiao Yunting readily complied, changing in a side hall before entering the Taiji Hall.
Yongchang Emperor sat on the throne, watching him. His face was pale, even his lips faintly discolored. Even though the floor heating was on in the hall, he was still shivering.
Yongchang Emperor glanced coldly at a nearby young eunuch, who quickly withdrew.
“Why kneel before me?” Yongchang Emperor coldly snorted, “Every time something happens, you come to kneel?”
Xiao Yunting silently kowtowed three times, “Royal Grandfather, my Royal father would never harm his own brother. You watched him grow up—you know what kind of person he is. This truly had nothing to do with him!”
Mentioning the Crown Prince made Yongchang Emperor’s expression grow colder.
He didn’t want to hear it.
But seeing Xiao Yunting’s pale face, he turned his head away and said coldly, “Enough, go back. I know how to handle this.”
Xiao Yunting seemed to want to say more but ultimately only kowtowed again and withdrew.
Meanwhile, Noble Consort Xiao Liu sat teary-eyed by Qi Wang’s side.
Qi Wang had developed a high fever that afternoon. No matter how hard the imperial doctors tried, they couldn’t bring it down.
The doctors were panicking. The patient was a most precious prince—no one dared risk aggressive treatments. Qi Wang eventually burned to the point of delirium.
It was Princess Baorong who decisively ordered high-proof liquor mixed with water to repeatedly wipe down Qi Wang’s body.
Fortunately, the method, though risky, worked. Qi Wang’s fever finally broke.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
It was just at this moment that Yongchang Emperor arrived and happened to see Noble Consort Xiao Liu faint right in front of him. He rushed to catch her.
He loudly ordered people to come treat her immediately.
That same day, a message spread through the palace: Because Qi Wang, while sick, missed his parents, Yongchang Emperor personally granted permission for Duke Chu and his wife to enter the palace to visit Noble Consort Xiao Liu and her son.
Even Old Marquis Qi, no matter how cunning, couldn’t sit still now. He looked at Qi Yuan and lowered his voice: “This isn’t a good sign. Noble Consort Xiao Liu has already won completely.”
She really had won. No one knew who was behind this chain of perfectly executed moves.
In an instant, Noble Consort Xiao Liu and Qi Wang’s favor soared.
Old Marquis Qi couldn’t help but glance at Qi Yuan, already convinced in his heart—this would surely be Qi Yuan’s future nemesis.
But did Qi Yuan realize yet that this time her opponent was completely different from the ones she’d faced before?
Old Marquis Qi’s expression was grave.
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