The Consort's gaze fell upon the eunuch standing by. The eunuch immediately approached Qing Ru, "Once Her Ladyship is ready, go and pay respects to the Empress Dowager."
Qing Ru nodded with a smile and turned to leave. As soon as she turned, the eunuch took a rope from his sleeve and put it around her neck. Qing Ru's face changed drastically, and she struggled in vain, unable to break free. After a moment, she ceased to move.
"Quickly drag her away and deal with her, lest she dirty Her Ladyship's eyes."
"Yes." Two young eunuchs immediately stuffed her into a sack and carried her out, throwing her into the abandoned well of the cold palace.
"Your Highness." Fu Yao waited by the entrance. "Last night, Prince Qi trespassed into the imperial palace and caused a disturbance while drunk at the palace gate. He was later escorted into the palace by the guards and has yet to emerge."
Nangong Yan chuckled indifferently, "Consort De raised him for nineteen years. Even if she knew he wasn't her biological son, she wouldn't be able to act ruthlessly. A biological child she's never met, versus an adopted son she's been with day and night for nineteen years. As long as the truth isn't revealed, Consort De can continue to deceive herself."
"Your Highness, should we reveal it?"
"Reveal it for what?" Nangong Yan said indifferently. "Not only can we not reveal it, but we must also help conceal it. However, how can one silence the wagging tongues of the masses? Thirteenth brother is completely out of contention for the throne."
"Indeed, this matter will be a lifelong stain. If the truth cannot be revealed, he will carry the stigma of illegitimacy for the rest of his life. Your Highness has a clever stratagem!"
"The one with the clever stratagem is not me. The one who revealed Thirteenth Brother's illegitimate status is the truly capable one!" Nangong Yan sneered. "However, it does benefit me."
"Your Highness, Prince Qin is not easy to deal with," Fu Yao said with some worry. Prince Qin holds considerable military power, is quite cunning, and has no discernible weaknesses. It is difficult to bring down Prince Qin through ordinary means."
"Everyone has a weakness," Nangong Yan said slowly. "Fourth brother also has a weakness, he just hides it very well. However well hidden, there will still be clues."
Fu Yao was puzzled, "Even if Prince Qin reveals a clue, we may not be able to do anything to him."
"Fu Yao, to deal with different people, one must use different methods to achieve twice the result with half the effort."
"This subordinate does not understand."
"If you understood, you would be a prince!" Nangong Yan teased. "Just wait and see, I've already prepared someone to deal with Fourth Brother."
As Nangong Yan was leaving his manor, he heard a loud rumble, as if the ground itself was shaking. Fu Yao quickly steadied Nangong Yan, "Is it an earthquake?"
Nangong Yan steadied himself. "No, an earthquake would be much larger. It must be something happening at someone's residence. Send someone to investigate."
Fu Yao immediately instructed someone to investigate, while Nangong Yan prepared to attend the morning court. However, not long after the carriage set off, the messenger returned.
"Your Highness, something has happened at Prince Qin's manor."
Nangong Yan lifted the curtain. "Something has happened at Prince Qin's manor? What happened?"
"We don't know. We only know that one courtyard in Prince Qin's manor has been razed to the ground. This subordinate found a high vantage point to observe, and it seems to be Prince Qin's courtyard. Prince Qin's manor is in chaos."
"What about Prince Qin?"
"He has not been seen."
Nangong Yan's brow furrowed. Nangong Yu's courtyard razed to the ground? Who dared to do such a thing to Prince Qin's manor, weren't they afraid that Prince Qin would exterminate their entire clan in his wrath?
"Your Highness, shall we go and see?"
"As brothers, Prince Qin and I must naturally go and see. Turn the carriage around, we're going to Prince Qin's manor."
When Nangong Yan arrived at the entrance of Prince Qin's manor, a considerable crowd had already gathered outside. However, the gates of Prince Qin's manor were tightly shut, and no one answered.
"Go and knock."
Fu Yao immediately stepped forward and knocked, but after a long while, no one came to open the door. The crowd outside began to speculate that something major must have happened inside Prince Qin's manor!
"I heard a loud noise early this morning and was so startled that I fell out of bed. Did you hear it?"
"Yes, we heard it, and the ground was shaking. I wonder if His Highness Prince Qin is alright?"
Nangong Yan waited for a moment, still no one opened the door. Nangong Yan frowned, "Knock again."
Fu Yao knocked on the door with a resounding bang. After a moment, someone finally came to open the door. It was Prince Qin's butler, Ye Yichen.
"Butler Ye, I heard something happened at Prince Qin's manor. Is my Fourth Brother alright?"
Ye Yichen hesitated, then finally invited Nangong Yan into the manor to speak and asked the crowd outside to disperse.
"Butler Ye, where is Fourth Brother?"
"His Highness Prince Chu, please follow me." Ye Yichen led the way. Along the path, the manor servants hurried about, and the guards seemed to be searching for someone. The entire Prince Qin's manor was under strict guard.
"I heard that a courtyard in your manor was razed to the ground. What exactly happened?"
"This matter is under investigation. As for the courtyard that was razed to the ground, it is precisely His Highness's courtyard."
"Is Fourth Brother alright then?"
Ye Yichen led them into a courtyard. This courtyard was close to the front yard, but it was not Nangong Yu's courtyard. Inside, the servants were busy moving in and out. Shan Yuyan paced nervously outside the door, her anxiety evident. Upon seeing Prince Chu enter, she quickly bowed.
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Chu."
"Rise. Miss Shan, why are you waiting outside? Is the person inside..."
Shan Yuyan's eyes immediately turned red. She quickly turned away, wiping her eyes. Ye Yichen led Prince Chu into the room.
A strong smell of blood permeated the room. On the bed lay a person, completely bandaged except for their eyes, which were visible. Blood seeped through the bandages, indicating severe injuries.
"This is..."
"It is our His Highness."
A flicker of wild joy flashed in Nangong Yan's heart. Heaven was helping him! Nangong Yu was so gravely injured! Nangong Yan's expression, however, was perfect, filled with concern.
"How did he get so badly injured? Have the culprits been caught?"
Ye Yichen choked back a sob. "His Highness was washing up when the courtyard was suddenly razed to the ground. If not for His Highness's profound internal cultivation, he would have been torn to pieces like those servants!"
"To raze a courtyard to the ground is no easy feat. It is likely that someone within the manor was complicit. We must investigate thoroughly to ensure the culprit who injured Fourth Brother does not escape. By the way, have the imperial physicians been called? I see Fourth Brother is badly injured; it would be best to have them come and treat him."
"Someone has already been sent to summon them, but it has not yet been reported to the palace. I must go to the palace to report and request leave for His Highness. In his current state, he will likely be unable to attend court for some time."
"With Fourth Brother having this incident and no one in charge of the manor, it might be inconvenient for you to leave. How about this, I will report this matter to Father Emperor." Nangong Yan volunteered immediately.
"In that case, I am indebted to Your Highness. I truly cannot leave at the moment." Ye Yichen thanked Nangong Yan profusely as he saw him out. Watching Nangong Yan's carriage depart, his expression grew even more somber.