Inside Lingjiu Hall.
The palace servants knelt on the ground.
The young monks serving the National Teacher were all trembling.
No one knew when the National Teacher had disappeared.
But now, Feng Yexuan had personally led people to search the entire Lingjiu Hall, and indeed, there was no trace of the National Teacher.
Had he left, or had he been abducted? No one knew!
"Your Majesty, this matter... this matter cannot..."
Xiao Shunzi was one of the very few who knew that the Emperor was impersonated by Feng Yexuan.
Feng Yexuan naturally understood that this matter absolutely could not alarm his master.
How important was the National Teacher to their Nanming Kingdom?
If they knew the National Teacher was missing, his master, even if still seriously ill, would struggle to get up and search for him personally.
The National Teacher could not be missing; they had to find him quickly.
But where had he gone?
Yang Xun also arrived. After personally searching again with no results, he came to Feng Yexuan's side and whispered, "Is it possible that he was taken by Prince Yu's people."
"He has no motive to take the National Teacher."
The disappearance of the National Teacher was a matter concerning the entire Nanming Kingdom. It had little to do with their internal royal struggles, but it was enough to unsettle the people of Nanming and even shake the morale of the defending generals.
At such a time, if other countries were to launch a large-scale invasion, the gates of Nanming would be precarious.
The National Teacher's misfortune brought no benefit to Prince Yu.
"Your Majesty..."
"This matter cannot alarm anyone else. You send people to guard Lingjiu Hall and do not allow any unauthorized personnel to enter or exit. The rest of you, continue searching. You must find the National Teacher for me, or all of you will lose your heads!"
...Tonight, Lingjiu Hall was heavily guarded.
Chu Lingyang had been uneasy since nightfall.
He had tried to enter the palace several times but was stopped by the Princess Consort of Ling.
"Last night you caused a scene in the palace, and the matter has spread completely. Although His Majesty is unharmed, it is a fact that someone harbored ill intentions towards His Majesty."
The Princess Consort of Ling poured him a cup of tea and persuaded him to sit back in his chair before continuing, "The innocent are not punished with the guilty, so last night, His Majesty did not blame anyone."
"But we were clearly dragged into this. The person who poisoned him wanted to use you as a scapegoat. We might not be free from suspicion now."
"How could I..."
Chu Lingyang put down his cup and looked at her, "Lan'er, I am loyal to His Majesty. How could His Majesty suspect me?"
"Whether His Majesty suspects you or not is too early to say, but do you really think all the officials won't suspect? Do the common people truly believe you?"
"Lan'er, how can this..."
"Lan'er, don't rush, listen to me first."
The Princess Consort of Ling pressed Chu Lingyang, who was about to get up, back down and said softly, "We ourselves are loyal to His Majesty, and we know it. But, your identity as a prince cannot be ignored."
"What if I am a prince? Does that mean a prince cannot be loyal to His Majesty?" What kind of twisted logic is this?
However, Chu Lingyang knew he lacked strategy and had always listened to his wife on many matters over the years.
So, despite his anxiety, he still listened to her advice and did not act rashly.
"You are a prince, and a prince with a son. Compared to His Majesty, who currently has no heir, there is naturally a competitive relationship."
"Lan'er, you must believe me, I am loyal to His Majesty..."
"I believe you, how could I not? But, outsiders may not!"
The Princess Consort of Ling sighed helplessly, "In the eyes of others, what Prince Yu can do, you can also do. Prince, you yourself have a motive to act!"