"Feigning illness?"
"Let her be!"
Ji Jinmo traced the prayer beads, his eyes half-closed as he leaned against a chair carved with chi-dragon patterns. He didn't even glance at Lu Wan, who stood by the desk, head bowed, reporting.
He simply said, "From now on, there's no need to report such trivial matters."
Lu Wan's heart skipped a beat, and her head dipped even lower.
...
For several days, the Princess Consort claimed to be ill and refused to see anyone. She hadn't informed them earlier, forcing Qin Yurou and the other two to wait for days. It was rumored that the Linglong Pavilion had smashed the imperial gift vase in their anger. It was evident they were furious.
However, it didn't seem like the Princess Consort was deliberately slighting the other madams. Even when summoned back three times, the Princess Consort had cited illness and not returned.
It was likely that she was genuinely ill.
"Ill?"
Nan Chaoyin looked at the servant from the Prince's estate who had come to deliver the message, a flicker of surprise hidden in the depths of his eyes. He rubbed the corner of his sleeve, his gaze upon the servant sharp as a knife, yet his voice held concern and anxiety, "Is she very ill?"
The servant dared not conceal anything and replied, "She is not seriously ill, but the Prince dotes on the Princess Consort, so... please forgive us, Prime Minister."
"It's good that she's not seriously ill, it's good," he murmured to himself.
The servant then said, "Does the Prime Minister have any message to send back with me? If not, I shall take my leave!"
Nan Chaoyin snapped back to reality and said, "I hope the Princess Consort will take care of her health."
"This servant will surely convey the Prime Minister's concern for the Princess Consort. This servant takes his leave!"
After the servant from the Prince's estate departed, Nan Chaoyin summoned Nan Yuan'er and Nan Yujin to the study.
"Claiming illness?"
Nan Yujin frowned slightly upon hearing this, "Is she afraid to see us?"
Nan Shiying had been forced into the bridal sedan chair. If their plan had gone awry and she hadn't died, given her timid and easily bullied nature, it was possible she might be so panicked and uneasy that she wouldn't dare to return.
Nan Yuan'er shook her head, "Don't forget, wet nurse Wang is still in our hands. If she were still alive, she would have likely scrambled back here long ago. How could she dare to claim illness and refuse to see anyone?"
"Unless... this is Ji Jinmo's doing."
"Are you saying Ji Jinmo knows?" Although their Nan estate was destined to be enemies with Ji Jinmo, hearing this still made Nan Yujin tremble with fear, and his expression immediately turned grim.
Nan Yuan'er nodded with a grave expression, "We cannot rule out this possibility."
She paused for a moment, then suddenly added, "Perhaps there is another possibility. Nan Shiying is already dead, and the Prince's estate is keeping her death a secret. If the person is gone, then naturally she cannot be summoned back three times, and can only claim illness and refuse to see anyone."
Nan Chaoyin nodded with approval, praising her with great satisfaction, "It is good that you could think of this."
With that, he sternly admonished Nan Yujin, "Learn more from your sister."
Nan Yujin moved his lips, wanting to argue, but in the end, he lowered his head and replied in a muffled voice, "Yes!"
Nan Yuan'er's eyes curved into a smile, and two beautiful dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth. "Daughter just thought of it before brother. Why should Father be so harsh on brother?"
Nan Yujin's hands, hanging at his sides, clenched slightly. The lowered lids hid the cold smirk in his eyes.
Hypocrisy!
Nan Chaoyin shook his head with a smile. As his only legitimate son, he naturally had different expectations for him. If his abilities could not surpass the mediocre by severalfold, what was the difference between him and the common masses?
He didn't say much more, but instead instructed Nan Yuan'er, "Keep a close eye on wet nurse Wang. If Nan Shiying is dead, then so be it. But if she is not dead, then wet nurse Wang is our trump card to control Nan Shiying."
Nan Yuan'er's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Wet nurse Wang... She dared not admit that she had privately crippled wet nurse Wang into a human pig, nor did she dare to say that wet nurse Wang had gone missing.
She suppressed the fear in her heart and calmly agreed, "Father, rest assured."
Nan Chaoyin nodded with satisfaction. After dismissing them, he pondered for a moment, then suddenly stood up and called for the gatekeeper to prepare his sedan chair.
He was going to the imperial palace.
...
In the evening, the moonlight was hazy.
Nan Shiying soaked in a bathtub filled with flower petals. She spread her arms wide, resting them on the edges of the tub, her head pillowed on her arm, her eyes closed comfortably.
Lu Wan stood by, serving her. She lowered her hand to test the water temperature, then bent to lift the wooden bucket.
"No need."
Nan Shiying opened her eyes. Her eyes, moist with water vapor, sparkled with a radiant glow. Her face was flushed, as if she had been drinking wine. She was so charming and alluring that even Lu Wan, a woman, felt a flutter of infatuation and found it difficult to maintain composure.
"Your Highness, the water is getting cool."
It was time to add hot water, otherwise it would become cold.
Nan Shiying let out a soft hum from her nose, but still said, "No need to add water."
Although Lu Wan did not understand, she still obediently put down the wooden bucket. After another moment, the water temperature gradually cooled. If no hot water was added, it would likely become completely cold.
Lu Wan spoke, "Your Highness, permit this servant to help you out of the bath!"
Nan Shiying waved her hand and smiled, "This weather is truly stifling and unbearable. A cool bath will relieve the heat."
How could it be stifling and hot in this late autumn season?
Lu Wan pursed her lips. She wanted to offer a gentle persuasion, but as the words reached her lips, Nan Shiying's sideways glance and gentle smile made her hesitant to speak.
Lu Wan lowered her eyes and softly replied, "Yes!"
After taking a cold bath, Nan Shiying sneezed a few times, her nose feeling itchy. Lu Wan instructed the small kitchen to boil some ginger and brown sugar water. When it was brought up, Nan Shiying did not take a sip.
"Your Highness?"
"You may go."
Lu Wan opened her mouth as if to say something more, but finally sighed, "This servant takes her leave."
After sending Lu Wan away, Nan Shiying lay lazily on the bed. She thought for a moment and then kicked the quilt to the foot of the bed.
...
The next day, at the imperial palace.
In the imperial court, the matter of disaster relief in Yuzhou was causing an irreconcilable dispute.
The officials loyal to the Emperor and those loyal to the Regent King engaged in heated arguments, neither willing to let the other side secure this lucrative position.
Ji Jinmo stood with his hands clasped, silently listening to the skirmish behind him.
"Uncle, whom do you think I should send to handle this matter?" amidst the argument, Emperor Ji Hong asked indifferently.
As soon as he spoke, the officials in the hall instantly quieted down.
Ji Jinmo looked up at Ji Hong and replied dismissively, "For such a trivial matter, the Emperor should handle it as he sees fit."
The blaming tone caused everyone's expression to stiffen.
The military officials, led by General Qin Qiancheng, lowered their heads to conceal the mockery in their eyes, while the civil officials, led by Nan Chaoyin, suppressed the anger in their hearts.
The censors from the Censorate wished they could raise their sleeves and loudly denounce Ji Jinmo's insolence and disrespect.
However, remembering the wall built from the heads of his colleagues a few years ago, they still felt such a chill that they dared not say more in Ji Jinmo's presence.
Silence descended upon the surroundings. Ji Hong's face, however, showed no trace of shame or annoyance. He simply chuckled and, in turn, handed the task to one of his own men, "Since that is the case, Hongyi, this task will be entrusted to you."
"I hope you will not disappoint my expectations."
Hongyi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, accepted the imperial edict and expressed his gratitude.
Seeing that the matter was settled, the officials bickered over various issues for a while longer. Seeing the sky darken, Ji Hong addressed everyone, "If my esteemed officials have no further reports, we shall adjourn the court."
"This minister has a memorial to present."
Prime Minister Nan Chaoyin stepped forward and knelt in the grand hall, holding up a memorial and stating loudly, "This minister impeaches the Regent King for mistreating his Princess Consort."
The resonant voice echoed throughout the court, soaring to the roof and striking the ears of all present. The officials exchanged glances, a sudden premonition of impending storm rising in their hearts.