"Heng'er, what are you two whispering about? Is something wrong with my health?" Emperor Cheng asked curiously.
Xiao Jinheng shook his head, pursed his lips, and smiled, "Your Majesty's dragon body is healthy and has no problems at all. Doctor Guan will prescribe you a calming and blood-replenishing medicine later. Please remember to drink it daily..."
It was better to keep this matter a secret for now.
If his father knew he had been poisoned, the consequences would be unimaginable...
"Then why are you acting so mysterious?" Emperor Cheng ruffled Xiao Jinheng's hair. "Is there anything you can't say in front of me? Must you go outside to whisper? You rascal, you're becoming more distant from me!"
Xiao Jinheng: "..."
Father, your son is not distant from you at all. It's you who has been poisoned and become irritable and restless.
Forget it. Since the matter has been investigated clearly, Xiao Jinheng must find a way to find the mother蛊 and save his father...
"Father, I haven't seen Mother for a long time. I want to visit her at Fengning Palace later!" Xiao Jinheng said with a smile.
Emperor Cheng's eyes lit up upon hearing this, "Alright, then I'll go with you..."
In fact, he felt a little guilty for being angry with Empress Xiao earlier.
He didn't know what was wrong with him lately; his mood had been particularly bad, and he would lash out at those closest to him whenever something displeased him...
Since the rascal wanted to see her, Emperor Cheng planned to go along, apologize to Empress Xiao, and avoid being locked out of the bedroom that night.
"No need, Father!" Xiao Jinheng cupped his hands in a salute. "Your son has many things to say to Mother. Father should rest early and not overexert himself..."
After speaking, without waiting for Emperor Cheng's reply, Xiao Jinheng turned and walked out of Yangxin Hall, heading quickly towards Fengning Palace.
Guan Zhongbo, having nothing to do, went to the Imperial Hospital for a stroll.
He heard that the imperial palace of Liang had many rare medicinal herbs, which were already revered as immortal medicines in the Northern Frontier. Guan Zhongbo wanted to take a look today and see what kind of precious medicine it was...
Inside Fengning Palace.
Empress Xiao sat on her phoenix chair, her hands tightly twisting a silk handkerchief. Her beautiful eyes were almost rolling to the heavens, and her mood was far from pleasant...
Nanny Qian came in with a teapot. Seeing the Empress frowning, she cautiously advised, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has been in a bad mood lately. You'd best not seek him out too often. Let the Emperor have some quiet time alone..."
"Quiet time?"
With a 'hiss,' Empress Xiao tore a strip from the silk handkerchief in her hand and said indignantly, "I didn't provoke him, nor did I cause him any trouble. Why is the Emperor saying I'm inferior to that vixen, Consort Hui? No matter how bad I am, I am still the Empress of the current dynasty, yet the Emperor doesn't respect me at all, sob sob sob..."
Nanny Qian: "..."
So, it's better for you to stay in Fengning Palace and not go anywhere.
When the Emperor's mood improves, he will naturally come to find you.
"I have been with the Emperor for so many years, and he has never retorted at me like this before, calling me ignorant and troublesome. I'm just puzzled, what trouble have I ever caused the Emperor? Sob sob..."
Empress Xiao cried more and more sadly, her eyes turning red.
Nanny Qian was utterly helpless. Just as she was about to step forward to wipe away the Empress's tears, a young palace maid walked in, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience..."
"Heng'er?" Empress Xiao suddenly raised her head and looked towards the hall entrance. "Heng'er is here, quickly, quickly invite him in!~"
At critical moments, it was still her own son who counted. Her daughters were unreliable.
She didn't know how long it had been since she last saw Xin Ling. That brat, since she thought Dashui Village was good, she should never come back...
"Yes!" The young palace maid replied and slowly retreated.
A moment later, Xiao Jinheng strode in, "Your son pays his respects to Mother!~"
"Oh, Heng'er, come here quickly, let Mother have a good look at you..." Empress Xiao quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, stood up, and forced a smile.
Xiao Jinheng took a deep look at Empress Xiao and asked in a low voice, "Mother, have you been crying?"
There was no need to guess; it must have been Father who made her cry...
If Father's illness wasn't cured as soon as possible, let alone Mother suffering, even the entire populace of Daliang would be implicated.
How could a ruler controlled by蛊 worms govern the country well?
"No... no!~" Empress Xiao took Xiao Jinheng's hand and had him sit beside her. "The wind was strong today, and sand got into my eyes!"
Xiao Jinheng: "..."
Mother, you are still so cute when you lie.
He saw through it but didn't expose her. Instead, he inquired about Emperor Cheng's affairs, "Mother, has Father left the palace recently?"
Since he had been poisoned, it must be someone who could get close to Father and those Father trusted the most...
Eunuch Zhao was loyal and wouldn't harm Father. Prime Minister Yang and the other ministers were old officials of the court, so they wouldn't scheme against Emperor Cheng.
Empress Xiao blinked upon hearing this, "Why is Heng'er suddenly asking this question?"
"Just tell me, Mother. Your son is just casually asking..." Xiao Jinheng said with a smile.
He didn't dare to tell Empress Xiao about Father being poisoned yet, for fear that she wouldn't be able to bear it and would faint.
Empress Xiao 'er'ed and pondered for a moment, "Your father is so busy every day that he doesn't even have time to drink water. He couldn't have left the palace..."
After speaking, Empress Xiao looked at Nanny Qian, "Nanny Qian, has the Emperor not left the palace recently?"
Nanny Qian was an old servant in the palace with extensive connections and was the fastest at gathering information...
"Your servant, your servant hasn't heard anything!~" Nanny Qian murmured.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinheng felt puzzled. If Father hadn't left the palace, who else could have approached him?
Thinking of this, Xiao Jinheng stood up and poured Empress Xiao a cup of tea, "Mother, have there been any new people entering the palace recently, especially those who are very familiar and close to Father?"
Empress Xiao: "???"
What's wrong with Heng'er? Asking so many questions?
"No... no, I don't think so!~" Empress Xiao shook her head, looking uncertain.
Xiao Jinheng: "..."
Mother, are you and Father really husband and wife? Why do you know nothing?
It was Nanny Qian whose eyes suddenly flashed, and she remembered something, "Your Highness, your servant heard before that Consort Hui secretly returned to the palace last month. Whether it's true or not, no one knows..."
After all, it was a secret return to the palace, and it must have been done very discreetly.
But even so, Nanny Qian still managed to gather a lot of gossip...
"Consort Hui?"
Upon hearing the words 'Consort Hui,' Empress Xiao trembled with anger, her temples bulging with veins.
Xiao Jinheng, however, breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed his guess was correct.
Besides Consort Hui, no one else would want to poison Father...