"Oh?"
Hearing Nan Chaoyun's accusation, Ji Hong leaned forward slightly and asked in confusion, "Why does Your Excellency the Prime Minister say this?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, since this humble daughter married the Regent, she has been confined to bed, unable to even appear on three summons. This humble daughter is gravely ill, yet the Prince has not sought out a physician for treatment. Even if this humble daughter is not the person the Prince favors, she should not be treated so despicably. This humble daughter implores Your Majesty, for the sake of this old minister's many years of loyalty, to permit an imperial physician to visit the Prince's mansion and diagnose this humble daughter."
Is that all?
Everyone, who had expected the Prime Minister to unveil some grand scheme, felt a surge of doubt.
Even if the Regent was unkind to his wife, it was still a matter within his household. At most, it could only lead to the charge of mistreating his principal wife.
But what use was that?
Upon hearing this, Ji Jinmo let out a cold laugh. "How does Your Excellency the Prime Minister know that this Prince has not sought medical treatment for the Princess? Did someone from the household secretly inform you? Or does the Prime Minister spend his days solely monitoring this Prince's mansion?"
His imposing aura erupted, and a suffocating aura permeated the entire court.
The officials immediately fell silent as if struck by frost, not daring to take an extra breath, lest they catch Ji Jinmo's eye and incur his wrath.
Nan Chaoyun, however, replied fearlessly, "This humble daughter also has her dowry maids."
Ji Jinmo scoffed. What a convenient excuse!
He sneered, "The maids from the Nan residence are truly loyal."
Nan Chaoyun did not reply, lowering her head even further.
Ji Hong then interjected, looking at Ji Jinmo and asking with concern, "Uncle Prince, is the Princess ill?"
Ji Jinmo looked at Ji Hong, a sudden realization dawning upon him. The corners of his lips, which had been without a smile, subtly curved upwards. His voice remained cool as he replied, "A common cold, nothing more."
"Then she is indeed ill."
Ji Hong chided, "Since the Princess is ill, why did you not invite an imperial physician to examine her, Uncle Prince?"
His voice paused, then he turned to Nan Chaoyun and said, "The Prime Minister's deep concern for his beloved daughter is quite touching to me. Since that is the case, let Imperial Physician Li accompany you to the Prince's mansion."
"This minister thanks His Majesty for his benevolent grace."
Nan Chaoyun bowed deeply in gratitude for the imperial favor.
The onlookers watched the Prime Minister and the Emperor cooperate, unable to fathom the hidden meaning.
It couldn't possibly be merely the Prime Minister's earnest concern for his daughter, could it?
"This minister thanks His Majesty, but this minister's household affairs do not require His Majesty's concern," Ji Jinmo said languidly. Despite the Emperor's decree, he refused without the slightest hesitation.
What could be done if he defied the imperial decree?
"Your Highness, I am merely concerned for my daughter. In that case, may I not request that you allow me to visit the Princess in the mansion?" Nan Chaoyun suddenly looked up and questioned sternly.
"This Prince is unwilling."
Ji Jinmo glanced at Nan Chaoyun, his voice carrying a hint of malice and deliberate provocation at the end.
Nan Chaoyun gritted his teeth and angrily questioned, "Why is Your Highness unwilling to let me see the Princess? Has Your Highness done something to the Princess that cannot be known by me or others?"
At this point, the crowd suddenly felt as though they had grasped something, and their doubts began to clear.
Had the Prime Minister and the Emperor received some information, prompting them to insist on entering the Prince's mansion to investigate?
Ji Jinmo's pupils contracted slightly. Though he quickly regained his composure, it did not escape Nan Chaoyun's eyes.
Nan Chaoyun felt his heart settle, and his words became even sharper. "Your Highness, what exactly have you done to my daughter?"
"Presumptuous!"
Ji Jinmo furiously questioned, "Do you know the penalty for slandering this Prince?"
Nan Chaoyun retorted defiantly, "Whether it is slander or not, it will be clear once the imperial physician has examined her!"
"Good, very good!"
Ji Jinmo laughed in his anger. His gaze at Nan Chaoyun was cold and chilling, as if laced with frost. "Since that is the case, Prime Minister, feel free to examine her. If it is proven that the Princess is indeed ill, Prime Minister, we shall settle accounts for your slander against this Prince today. I hope you will not regret it then!"
With that, Ji Jinmo flicked his sleeve, turned, and strode out of the hall.
Ji Jinmo's reaction caused Nan Chaoyun to feel uneasy, but matters had progressed to this point, and there was no turning back. He looked up at Ji Hong, who nodded at him, and then said, "Very well, Prime Minister, rise. If all my esteemed ministers have nothing further, you may all disperse!"
"Your ministers have nothing more, we respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty."
The officials bowed to the Emperor and retreated. Only after Ji Hong's figure disappeared from the hall did they turn and leave.
...
The Regent's Mansion.
Nan Shiying woke up today with a sore throat, as if afflicted with a cold.
"My Lady!"
Lü Wan, seeing that she was indeed ill, could not help but worry. Hadn't they agreed to feign illness? How could she have actually fallen ill?
Lü Wan now understood Nan Shiying's intention in insisting on a cold bath last night. She just couldn't understand why, if she wanted to truly be ill, she needed to pretend for several days.
The illness did not affect Nan Shiying's appetite. After Lü Wan served her breakfast, she said, "My Lady, this servant will go invite the physician from the mansion to examine you."
Nan Shiying waved her hand, leaning weakly against the couch, "No need. Just wait."
She had been serving the Princess for four days, yet she still could not understand or fathom her. She felt that like His Highness, the Princess was seemingly within reach, yet always shrouded in a veil of mist. No matter how she tried to pry, she could only glimpse a fraction of the iceberg.
...
As noon approached, the Prince led Prime Minister Nan Chaoyun and the imperial physician Li Qing from the Imperial Academy to Xingyuan Pavilion. It was said that the Prime Minister was concerned for his daughter and had requested the Emperor to send an imperial physician to examine the Princess's pulse.
Lü Wan suddenly understood why the Princess had insisted on falling ill.
Could it be that before this, the Princess had already foreseen all of this?
This... Lü Wan could not help but feel a sense of dread.
The maid Bai Zhi ushered the group into the room. Upon seeing Nan Shiying, who was leaning against the headboard with a sickly appearance, Nan Chaoyun's unease instantly spread throughout his body. He suddenly looked up, his gaze filled with horror as he looked at Ji Jinmo.
Ji Jinmo turned around, a faint smile playing on his lips, which, in Nan Chaoyun's eyes, transformed into boundless mockery. "Imperial Physician Li, please proceed."
Li Qing bowed to the group and, carrying his medicine box, approached Nan Shiying. He bowed and said, "Pardon me."
With that, he placed his hand on Nan Shiying's wrist.
Nan Shiying coughed, her voice hoarse, and said to Imperial Physician Li, "Thank you!"
In just a moment, the imperial physician withdrew his hand, stood up, and said to Ji Jinmo and Nan Chaoyun, "Your Highness, Prime Minister, the Princess has merely contracted a sudden cold and is not in serious condition. Please rest assured."
Upon hearing Imperial Physician Li's words, Nan Chaoyun's vision darkened, and he stumbled back a step. At this moment, he knew that all of this was merely a strategy orchestrated by Ji Jinmo to turn the tables.
Nan Chaoyun's thoughts raced, but his expression suddenly changed. He pointed at Nan Shiying and questioned with wide, enraged eyes, "How can it be you? Where is your sister!"