The two of them emerged, and the crowd was shivering, their noses sniffling.
Controlled by the soldiers, no one could move. The Empress's face was ashen, and she looked like she would collapse. Prince Ru Nan’s face was ashen, his usual refinement gone, his eyes dark, his fists clenched and then released.
The First Prince and the Great Shaman were stomping their feet and chatting.
Upon seeing the pair emerge, their eyes lit up.
“Let’s go! Into the Taiyi Hall!”
Xiao Shan shouted, his voice loud and resonant.
Ling Yao’s ears buzzed, and she pinched his arm in anger, “Can you be a little quieter!”
Xiao Shan immediately lowered his head to touch her belly, “Forgot, forgot. Almost scared the child.”
At this moment, Ling Yao no longer needed to hide. She let her cloak sway with her steps, occasionally revealing her swollen belly.
Princess Ling Yao is pregnant?
With the Divine Martial General!
“Little sister, you, you’re pregnant?” The Second Prince, unsure of his emotions, had been in the palace for several days. She had always covered her belly with a wide cloak and never confided in him.
Why? Was she guarding him too?
He looked at the First Prince, who showed no surprise, clearly having known for a while.
Wasn’t his little sister the closest to him? Why was she now indifferent to him but so close to his elder brother?
Moreover, she was having a child with this big brute. Did he deserve her?
Did she know how this big brute had embarrassed him in the border city and sent him back to the capital?
He claimed Prince Ru Nan was plotting rebellion, but it was he himself who looked like a rebel!
“Yes, I am pregnant.” Ling Yao scanned the crowd with their varied expressions. “Today, I will tell you all! A year ago, I did not go to the Turks at all. Instead, I was saved by the Divine Martial General. He and I have already paid homage to heaven and earth and reported to the spirits. We are a rightful husband and wife.”
She announced loudly, making their relationship public.
Xiao Shan couldn’t suppress the smile on his lips. Regardless of the surrounding whispers, he reached out to adjust her cloak and hat, showing utmost attentiveness.
The Great Shaman couldn’t stand him and muttered with displeasure, “This uncouth fellow is truly unworthy of my princess.”
Minister Cao, representing the crowd, asked, “Divine Martial General, we heard you have driven the Turks out of Honghai Grassland. Is this true?”
“Hmph! Of course, it’s true. If it weren’t for the Emperor being controlled by that slut a year ago and issuing twelve imperial decrees to retreat, this general would have long ago driven those barbarians back to their homeland. Why wait another year! Soon, the Turk envoys will come to present their surrender. At that time, Minister Cao will need to attend to the capital’s defenses.”
Minister Cao and the others rejoiced, “Naturally, please rest assured, General!”
The defeat of the Turks was a great occasion for Jing Country to hold its head high.
A stable Jing Country could then recuperate and consolidate its people’s livelihoods.
Wasn’t this what the Emperor most wished to see?
As for whether Princess Ling Yao had gone to the Turks, it no longer mattered.
After all, the Turks dared not cause trouble.
Minister Cao wiped away excited tears from the corner of his eye. At this moment, he was just waiting to enter the hall to see the Emperor to determine who was telling the truth, but in his heart, he already almost believed Xiao Shan and Princess Ling Yao.
Prince Ru Nan said gravely, “General Xiao, Imperial Sister-in-law is weak. May we allow her to return to Fengluan Palace to rest first.”
Imperial Sister-in-law, he still knew his Imperial Sister-in-law!
Ling Yao spoke, “No! Mother and Father Emperor have deep affection for each other. You should go and see them!”
“Ling Yao, you–” Prince Ru Nan was about to get angry, but he saw her gaze turn cold and merciless. She mocked him, “Uncle, don’t meddle in my Father and Mother Emperor’s affairs. You are old. The women you took to Baocui Tower that day must be your beloved. If you like them, marry them. Don’t hide it. By the time the child is born, it will be too disgraceful.”
As she spoke, she casually glanced at the Empress’s belly.
The Empress immediately stiffened and looked sharply at Ling Yao, her face so pale it was almost bloodless.
Prince Ru Nan lowered his head and said no more. The veins on his hands under his sleeves bulged, trembling uncontrollably.
Xiao Shan had already understood something and cast a cold glance at the Empress.
The Great Shaman also looked at the Empress with a heavy gaze.
Xiao Shan whispered, “Never mind others. Let’s go see Father Emperor first.”
“You have to call me Father Emperor.”
“Right, let’s go see our Father Emperor.”
Taiyi Hall was sealed off tightly. How many men had Xiao Shan brought? Prince Ru Nan’s eyes flickered, wondering if the thirty thousand troops from the West Suburb Barracks could contend.
“To avoid disturbing the Emperor, all officials will wait here first. Ministers Cao and Cheng will go in to check.”
Xiao Shan naturally had other concerns. He only designated two leading officials, and everyone agreed. Then he lowered his head to Ling Yao and said, “Or, you wait too. I’ll go in and see the situation first.”
“No, I’m going in.”
She knew what he meant. If the situation inside was bad, he was afraid she wouldn’t be able to handle it.
She could handle it. She was no longer so weak.
Since she insisted, Xiao Shan had no choice but to escort her into the hall.
Granny Zhou supported the Empress, followed by the Second Prince, the First Prince, Prince Ru Nan, the Great Shaman, and others.
Upon entering Taiyi Hall, they felt the air was thick with smoke. A dense incense aroma hit them. Inside, a circle of hypocritical Taoist priests was performing a ritual, setting up an incense altar.
“Faking divinity, throw them all out!”
“General Xiao!” Prince Ru Nan’s face was filled with worry. “At this point, I can’t hide it anymore. My Imperial Brother has indeed become strange, as if he has lost his soul. Many doctors have been unable to diagnose him, which is why I invited these Taoist priests to see if there is any hope.”
He was still making excuses at this point, but clearly, others were not fools and scoffed at his words.
“Forget it, you’ll know when you go in and see,” he said helplessly.
The Empress looked at him, her face somewhat bewildered.
Ling Yao sneered, “Mother Empress, didn’t you come to see Father Emperor a few days ago? What, you didn’t know? You kept saying Father Emperor needed rest and that his own children couldn’t see him, yet you brought a group of charlatans here to perform rituals. What do you think of the ruler of a nation?”
The Empress lowered her head, not daring to speak, her face lost and dejected.
A flash of pain crossed Prince Ru Nan’s eyes.
“Don’t be angry. Let’s go see Father Emperor first.” Xiao Shan put his arm around her and led the way into the inner hall.
The inner hall was devoid of any attendants, and the light was dim, without a single lamp lit.
“Daddy, Daddy–”
“Father Emperor–”
“Your subject Cao Li requests an audience with the Emperor–”
Xiao Shan suddenly drew his sword and pointed to a corner, “Come out!”
A shadow rolled out and knelt down trembling. It was a young eunuch.
“The, the Emperor is, is in the sleeping quarters.”
“Seize him!”
The young eunuch was dragged out by the soldiers behind him.
Ling Yao hurried towards the sleeping quarters but was grabbed by Xiao Shan, “Be careful, stay by my side.”
The Empress looked at Prince Ru Nan with fear in her eyes, “Your Majesty, he…”
“Don’t you believe me either?” His voice was so faint it seemed to dissipate.
The Empress bit her lip and followed towards the sleeping quarters.
As everyone entered the bedroom, they were startled by the dark figure sitting upright on the bed.
“Your subject Cao Li pays respects to the Emperor!”
“Your subject Cheng Zhishuo pays respects to the Emperor!”
“Bold!” The person on the bed shouted, and by the sound of it, it was indeed the Emperor.
Xiao Shan’s eyes could see in the dark. He now saw the Emperor’s abnormality and ordered all the palace lanterns to be lit.
Prince Ru Nan tried to stop him, “No, Imperial Brother fears the light.”
But no one listened to him. The soldiers had already efficiently lit the palace lanterns. As the bright lanterns were lit, the Emperor became uneasy.
Only then did everyone see clearly. The Emperor was thinner than half a month ago, his eyes bulging, looking particularly terrifying. His dragon robe hung loosely on him, emitting a strange odor.
He began to pant, like a ferocious beast, glaring at everyone fiercely.
This was nothing like a normal person!
Ling Yao clutched Xiao Shan’s arm, her eyes reddening, “Daddy, I’m Ling Yao.”
“Ling Yao!” The Emperor stared at her intently, “Send her to the Turks for a marriage alliance!”