Chapter 180: Realization

Chapter 180: Realization

After Yi Jieyu left Fengyi Palace with the list, Qiuqiu spoke softly to Empress Jiang about what happened in the hall earlier. She concluded, "Rou Pin targeted Yi Jieyu intentionally, probably also because today marks the seventh anniversary of the Seventh Prince's death."

Rou Pin and Yi Jieyu resided together in Changxin Palace. When Rou Pin was pregnant, she was just a minor court lady. If she had given birth, her child might have been directly handed over to Yi Jieyu to raise, naturally making Yi Jieyu very protective, ensuring the child's safe delivery. That child was the Seventh Prince.

However, the Seventh Prince passed away due to illness.

If Rou Pin suspects that the death of the Seventh Prince was not simple, logically, Yi Jieyu should be the last person to be suspected. But from Rou Pin's attitude towards Yi Jieyu, it's clear she genuinely believes Yi Jieyu harmed her child.

This is not inexplicable.

Originally, the Seventh Prince was born difficultly by Rou Li and was frail. Empress Jiang decided not to have him moved to Yanqing Palace but instead kept him with Rou Pin for nurturing.

When the Emperor intended to move the Seventh Prince to Jinlan Garden, Gao Zhaoyi advised the Emperor that since Rou Pin had been promoted to Noble Lady after giving birth to the prince, she was only one rank away from the Consort rank which qualified her to nurture imperial offspring. Gao Zhaoyi suggested keeping the mother and son together, as Rou Pin would inevitably be promoted to Consort rank during the next grand conferment of titles.

The Emperor agreed and, to make it official, promoted Rou Noble Lady to Rou Consort ahead of schedule, allowing her to personally raise the Seventh Prince.

"Seeing the nurturing of the Seventh Prince failing, it's understandable for Yi Jieyu to suppress Rou Pin, who was about to ascend to the rank of Ninth Consort."

"At least, that's what Rou Pin believes. Rather than accepting that her son died due to frail health and exposure to cold, she prefers to believe he was murdered."

Empress Jiang remained silent, stood up, and walked towards the warm chamber. After reclining on the consort couch, she said indifferently, "Everything happened just as Gao Zhaoyi wished."

"Suppressing Yi Jieyu, who was close to being promoted to Ninth Consort, and creating a moderate issue for her, while simultaneously winning over Rou Pin, and also eliminating the Seventh Prince, who was close in age and seemingly more favored than the Sixth Prince."

"You simply did not send the Seventh Prince to Yanqing Palace immediately, and as expected, Gao Zhaoyi seized the opportunity. Given the prince’s frailty, Gao Zhaoyi didn't need to do much. The servants merely had to be 'careless' in closing doors and windows, or feed him a bit too much during nursing, and he would fall ill. In this way, the Emperor wouldn’t notice anything amiss," Qiuqiu said quietly.

"The Emperor? Perhaps," Empress Jiang said with a slight smile, then suddenly asked, "Has Gao Zhaoyi been asking Yan Taiyi to check the pulse of the Sixth Prince these past few days?"

"Yes," Qiuqiu immediately responded, "Yan Taiyi is indeed skilled in medicine, having learned from Lin Yuanpan in the Imperial Medical Bureau and specializing in pediatrics."

Empress Jiang nodded, covered her eyes with the back of her hand to block the slanting morning sun, and instructed, "Have Qin Mama come to see me after noon."

Qiuqiu understood that her mistress wanted to inquire about the performance of the ladies-in-waiting and promptly agreed.

*

"Tomorrow is a day off, and the Imperial College will dismiss early. After the teacher and princes exchange salutations, the Third Prince, Xiao Xun, eagerly exclaimed, 'Big brother, second brother, fourth and fifth brothers, how about we go out of the palace tomorrow? I heard there’s a new restaurant in the capital, with a chef from Jiangnan’s Mingyuelou. His crab meat lion’s head is superb! And there’s squirrel mandarin fish, Wensi tofu, double-skinned autumn knife fish…'"

He was already drooling while talking.

The Second Prince, Xiao Xuan, glanced at him but said nothing. Xiao Liang, with a smile, asked, "Third brother, have you asked our mother for a palace pass?"

Since they hadn't established their own households, leaving the palace required the Emperor's or Empress's consent.

The Third Prince, taken aback, was about to respond when the Fifth Prince, with his handsome face, spoke up for him, "Big brother, the third brother just wants to coax you to join him. Mother surely won’t deny the palace pass."

"Little Five! What are you saying? Am I that kind of person?" The Third Prince retorted, not using the nickname 'Fifth Brother' anymore. "I just don’t want everyone to miss out on great food! Remember the locust fish we missed last time? That was a pity!"

Xiao Liang, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, coughed lightly before laughing, "I'll ask Mother for a palace pass later. You guys can go; I won't be joining. I'm on medication currently, as Lin Yuanpan advised me to diet."

"Big brother, are you sick again?" The Fifth Prince asked with concern.

"It's nothing serious, just caught a bit of a cold. A few doses of medicine should do the trick," Xiao Liang reassured with a smile, then dealt with the other brothers' concerns before leaving the Imperial College with Chen Qian.

The remaining princes exchanged glances, and the Third Prince had to ask again, "So, are you guys going or not?"

The Fourth and Fifth Princes looked at each other and shook their heads.

The Fourth Prince said, "If I go, I won't be able to finish my studies, better not."

The Fifth Prince added, "Third brother, my mother asked me to spend time with her tomorrow, so I'm not going either."

The Third Prince hesitated, then turned to the usually silent Second Prince.

The Second Prince finally nodded slightly, "Then I'll accompany the third brother. It's also a good chance to visit our eldest sister."

"Second brother, you really understand your little brother!" The Third Prince said joyfully, dragging the Second Prince out while excitedly discussing what dishes to order tomorrow.

The Imperial College, near the harem but technically in the imperial court area, adjoined the Astronomical Bureau. Usually, after class, they would head north from the Imperial College, pass by the Empress Dowagers' Ci'an Palace, and take the corridor to Yanqing Palace.

However, since tomorrow was a day off, the Third Prince, who would be dining at De Fei’s Guangyang Palace, walked with the Second Prince to the outside of Ci'an Palace before cheerfully saying goodbye, "Second brother, wait for me at Yanqing Palace tomorrow. I'll come to find you. It's a promise!"

"Alright," the Second Prince nodded, watching his slightly overweight Third Brother head towards Guangyang Palace.

In his childhood, the Second Prince disliked the day before the holiday most, for it seemed that all the princes except him would return to their mothers' sides on this day, leaving him alone in Yanqing Palace.

But as he grew older, such feelings diminished. He could now calmly listen to his siblings talk about their mothers.

His study companion had bid him farewell upon leaving the Imperial Academy. The Second Prince, accompanied by his attendants, returned to his residence in Yanqing Palace. After drinking half a cup of tea, he summoned his personal eunuch and asked, "Fusheng, did Lin Yipan visit yesterday?"

"He did," the eunuch named Fusheng nodded, replying, "Your Highness, after the Crown Prince returned from Jianzhang Palace yesterday, Jinxing Garden called for the Imperial Physician. It was then that Lin Yipan visited. I guess the Crown Prince caught a cold on his way back and fell ill again."

The Crown Prince had always been frail, so catching a cold and falling ill was nothing unusual in everyone's eyes.