The courtiers' faces were shocked, and they began to murmur amongst themselves.
Lin Yue grew anxious, "Your Highness! You, you are harming the Emperor! The Emperor is truly recuperating! There is something growing in his brain, and he needs absolute rest! He cannot be stimulated."
His eyes were urgent and angry, not panicked. His expression did not seem faked. Was he genuinely ignorant or pretending?
"Eldest Brother—"
The First Prince was about to continue when someone came running from a distance.
It was the Second Prince, whom they had not seen for a long time.
Compared to the First Prince, whom the Emperor did not favor, the courtiers trusted this Second Prince more. After all, he was the future crown prince. Although he had a falling out with the Emperor last year, it did not affect his legitimate position.
As soon as he arrived, the courtiers, led by Minister Cao, surrounded him.
"Your Highness, when did you return to the palace? Have you seen the Emperor?"
The Second Prince did not have time to answer the courtiers' questions and went to Ling Yao first: "Little sister, why are you here causing trouble? Hurry back."
As soon as he said this, Ling Yao had a bad premonition.
As expected, he was here to add to the chaos.
"Everyone, please stop arguing. My father, the Emperor, truly needs rest. Report any matters in court to Uncle, the Prince of Ruan. Currently, with the Emperor ill, he has permitted you to temporarily handle state affairs."
"Feng Shijin!" Ling Yao's face was icy, her anger reaching its peak. "Idiot!"
"Little sister, this is not the time for wilfulness. I know you want to see Father, but can't you wait a little longer? Wait until Uncle arranges things. Don't cause trouble now. He treats me like his own son. What you are thinking is impossible."
Facing the Second Prince's clear yet foolish eyes, Ling Yao almost couldn't resist reaching out and slapping him awake.
Yu Liu leaned forward and whispered, "Princess, don't get angry. If we can use force, we shouldn't argue. Everything is meaningless before might. Arguing is only for useless people. Let them argue. You can just watch the show. We will see the Emperor in the end anyway."
Yes, Xiao Shan said she could see her father today.
She glanced at Yu Liu, surprised by her bluntness. She had always been gentle before. Had she been angered too?
Seeing that she seemed to be listening, the Second Prince turned to the First Prince and said, "Eldest Brother, did you bring people here? Take them away quickly. Don't be suspicious for no reason."
The First Prince: "..."
He spoke softly to Ling Yao but was not polite to his elder brother.
Ling Yao's anger, which had subsided, flared up again. This second brother was truly infuriating. What kind of aphrodisiac had the Prince of Ruan fed him?
Minister Cao asked with suspicion, "Your Highness, is the Emperor truly recuperating? Is he... lucid?"
"Minister Cao, are you saying my father is foolish? I think you are the foolish one. Father is diligent and hardworking, and has fallen ill from overwork. Can he not rest? You cannot share his burdens, so don't come here to cause trouble! What are your intentions?"
"This, no, this old subject..." Minister Cao's arrogance diminished, and he glanced at the First Prince again.
The First Prince's narrow phoenix eyes were filled with mockery. He surveyed the crowd with a condescending gaze, as if everyone else was foolish and only he was clear-headed.
He simply remained silent.
It was Ling Yao who rolled her eyes and couldn't help but speak, "Second Brother, don't beat around the bush. Just tell me, since returning to the palace, have you seen Father?"
Had not seen...
The Second Prince could not answer. He looked at Ling Yao pleadingly. Did she have to cause trouble today? Little sister was not as obedient as before.
Seeing his expression, Minister Cao understood. He suddenly realized that even if the Emperor was recuperating, he would not refuse to see his own legitimate son, unless... unless he was truly on his deathbed.
But half a month ago, during court, although the Emperor was thin, he was not to the point of being unable to walk. Why had he not been seen?
"Princess Ling Yao, after you returned to the palace, have you seen the Empress?"
Minister Cao had not seen the Empress for a long time. In the past, the palace would organize flower viewing banquets, but this year, it was rumored that Princess Ling Yao had been married off to a distant land, the Empress was heartbroken, and the Emperor had fallen ill. She had directly closed her palace gates and devoted herself to praying daily.
Thinking about it now, this was unreasonable. Everyone knew how loving the Empress and the Emperor were. If the Emperor was ill, the Empress would not fail to attend to him. Princess Ling Yao had also returned, and she should be happy.
Ling Yao had naturally not seen her mother. Moreover, she knew that the Fengluan Palace was empty, with only a few guards at the gate. No one knew where the Empress had gone.
But she could not reveal this.
If the entire palace was being controlled by the Prince of Ruan, then only he would know the Empress's whereabouts.
She thought of the woman walking alongside the Prince of Ruan.
Had he abducted her mother?
Ling Yao broke out in a cold sweat.
"Imperial sister, Minister Cao is asking you a question. Have you seen the Empress?" The First Prince looked at her, his eyes showing a hint of comfort.
"My mother's condition is not good. She stays in the Buddhist hall every day because Father doesn't even see her. So, Minister Cao, do you think this is possible? Father can refuse to see us, his children, but he cannot refuse to see Mother."
Ling Yao steered the conversation back to the Emperor.
The First Prince chimed in, "Yes, Father and the Empress are most loving. It's impossible that he wouldn't even see her, unless Father has a problem and fears the Empress will see through the deception."
This time, even the Second Prince had nothing to say.
Because since his return to the palace, he had been blocked from seeing his mother several times, with the excuse that she was sincerely praying for the Emperor and could not be disturbed.
Father doesn't even see Mother?
Minister Cao nodded gravely, and his gaze turned back to Lin Yue: "If I do not see the Emperor today, I will die by crashing into the Taiyi Hall!"
The courtiers: "We stand with Minister Cao! We will see the Emperor today at all costs!"
Lin Yue, seeing the situation turn around again, felt utterly miserable. Just as he didn't know what to do, he saw the Prince of Ruan hurrying over.
"Your Highness, Your Highness has arrived!"
It was evident that the Prince of Ruan had come in a great hurry. Usually so composed, he was wearing only casual attire, and his gentle face was etched with seriousness.
As soon as he arrived, he reprimanded the two princes and Ling Yao, like an elder scolding juniors, as if they were all ignorant children making unreasonable demands.
"I told you, your father is at a critical juncture. His emotions cannot fluctuate even slightly. If he is met rashly, it could cause the thing in his brain to rupture, with unimaginable consequences. Inside are only physicians. Even I report state affairs while waiting outside."
"Physicians?" The First Prince sneered. "Qu Yu Pan is the most skilled imperial physician in the palace, and also the most upright. I only believe his words. Please ask Uncle to let him come out. As his son-in-law, I have yet to kowtow to this father-in-law!"
The Prince of Ruan's face darkened. "Qu Yu Pan is not inside."
"Of course, Qu Yu Pan is not inside. Qu Yu Pan can no longer be in the palace, because he died long ago, on the very day he learned the Emperor's true condition! Someone ambushed him on the road! Those inside are not the physicians you sought, but some江湖术士 (jianghu shushi - martial arts practitioners/quacks) who only know base tricks. Uncle, you are letting these lowlifes treat the Emperor of a nation. What are you trying to do?"