The night was deep and silent. A vermilion-lacquered carriage departed from the Duke of Guo's mansion.
Sitting inside the carriage, Chu Ruoyan pondered just how much the Emperor knew.
First, it was certain he had no evidence. Otherwise, imperial guards would have come to arrest her tonight.
But a sudden summons in the dead of night, delivered by Yin Shun himself... could it be they had discovered something crucial?
Just as she was puzzling over it, two coughs sounded from outside the carriage, followed by a young eunuch's concerned voice: "Godfather, are you alright?"
Chu Ruoyan's heart stirred. She lifted the carriage curtain to see Yin Shun on horseback, looking unwell and covering his mouth as he coughed.
She quickly said, "Eunuch Yin, are you feeling unwell? The night wind is harsh, please, come inside the carriage!"
Yin Shun waved his hand. "That wouldn't be proper... cough... I mustn't break protocol."
"Protocols are made by people. Had I known you were unwell, I would have called for another carriage. It's too late now, so I must ask you to make do, please?"
The young eunuch chimed in, "Yes, Godfather. Surely you can't go before His Majesty while ill?"
Seeing this, Yin Shun stopped insisting. He boarded the carriage and sat by the door, maintaining a distance.
A slight curve touched Chu Ruoyan's lips as she offered a cup of hot tea. "Eunuch Yin, you serve His Majesty year-round, toiling day and night. You must take care of your own health as well!"
Yin Shun hesitated, then accepted the tea and took a small sip. "Ah, it's all because this old body of mine is failing. Catching a chill from a mere night ride..." As he spoke, he glanced at Chu Ruoyan. Her gaze was clear and limpid, seemingly without any intention of probing him for information.
After a moment's hesitation, he couldn't help but speak up himself. "So, County Mistress Changle, when a person suffers from ailments, it's best to promptly 'see a physician'!"
The deliberately emphasized words "see a physician" instantly alerted Chu Ruoyan.
Of course! If the Emperor couldn't find evidence, the most direct method would be to summon a royal physician for a blood test to verify kinship!
She shot Yin Shun a look of immense gratitude. "You are absolutely right, Eunuch!"
The carriage stopped at the palace gates. Chu Ruoyan followed Yin Shun into the palace on foot.
After they had left, the coachman slipped into the carriage and retrieved a note from beneath the seat.
Unfolding it, he saw only three words written: Chief Imperial Physician Zhang!
The palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.
When Chu Ruoyan arrived, only the Emperor was inside.
Yin Shun led her in, whispered something in the Emperor's ear, and was dismissed with a wave.
"Changle pays her respects to Your Majesty. May the Emperor live ten thousand years!"
Her clear voice echoed in the hall. The Emperor remained silent, as if he hadn't heard her.
Chu Ruoyan's heart sank. She knew this was pressure tactics and remained properly kneeling.
One stick of incense's time passed, then two...
Then nearly half an hour...
She was with child, and kneeling on the cold, hard floor for so long began to make her dizzy.
Gritting her teeth, she started counting. Later, she began counting Yan Zhengs...
One Yan Zheng, two Yan Zhengs...
Just as her head grew heavy and muddled, the Emperor finally spoke. "Ah! So the Chief Counselor's wife has arrived. Please, rise!"
She cursed the Emperor's pretense inwardly but didn't hold back outwardly either. As she stood, she let her numb legs give way, collapsing to the floor. "Sss! Your Majesty, forgive me. Changle's legs have gone numb from kneeling..."
The Emperor was taken aback. This was the first time someone dared to mock him to his face!
"Hah, my Chief Counselor is a man of both letters and martial prowess. Who would have thought his wife would be so delicate, her legs going numb after kneeling for less than an hour?"
Chu Ruoyan lowered her eyes. "Your Majesty, forgive me. It is the child in Changle's womb who is delicate, making Changle far less resilient than before..."
The Emperor was speechless.
He had almost forgotten she was pregnant! Moreover, with his wife expecting, the Chief Counselor could still lead troops on campaign. What unparalleled loyalty, what supreme consideration for the greater good!
And what of him? He had summoned her to the palace and made her kneel for so long!
A rare pang of guilt struck the Emperor. He immediately said, "Attendants! Bring a seat for the Chief Counselor's wife!"
Eunuchs from outside hurriedly brought a chair. Once Chu Ruoyan was seated, the Emperor's expression softened considerably. "Changle, do you know why I summoned you so late?"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head.
The Emperor continued, "Then I shall speak plainly. Someone has accused you of not being Chu Huaishan's biological daughter. What do you have to say?"
Chu Ruoyan shot to her feet. "Preposterous! Your Majesty, who is slandering me? Changle wishes to bring charges against them!"
"It is I!"
A cold, imperious voice rang from outside the hall as Empress Dowager Su entered, her face full of contempt. "I received information that you are not Chu Huaishan's daughter, but a remnant of the previous dynasty!"
Chu Ruoyan's heart trembled. It seemed Consort Xue had given the secret letter to the Empress Dowager, who then presented it to the Emperor!
She clenched her fingers. "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Changle does not know who seeks to frame me. But for as long as I can remember, I have been cherished by my father, never leaving his side for a moment! If you do not believe me, you can summon my father to the palace for a direct confrontation!"
"Hmph! Do we need you to instruct us?" Empress Dowager Su snorted coldly. "Bring Chu Huaishan up!"
Soon, two young eunuchs led her father in.
Only two days had passed, yet he looked haggard and had grown thinner.
Chu Ruoyan's heart ached. "Father!"
Chu Huaishan glanced at her, his lips moving twice before he knelt forcefully before the throne. "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, this old subject does not know where such baseless talk originates. Yan'er is my own flesh and blood. Even if I were to meet our ancestors in the afterlife, these would be my words!"
Empress Dowager Su hadn't expected this old bones to remain so stubborn even after two days and nights of pressure.
Furious, she exclaimed, "Chu Huaishan! Do not play tricks before me! Everyone under heaven knows your father-in-law's Jiang family harbored remnants of the previous dynasty. Over two hundred of them were executed by the late Emperor! Who's to say you don't hold a grudge and seek revenge?"
"Empress Dowager! If this old subject truly sought revenge, I would have adopted a male child. Adopting a girl—could I possibly expect her to restore the fallen dynasty in the future?"
"Impudent!!" Empress Dowager Su slammed the table. The Emperor hurriedly said, "Mother, please calm your anger. Duke Chu's words are not without reason..."
"Emperor!" Empress Dowager Su was furious at his indecisiveness. "If Chu Huaishan truly harbors treasonous intentions, and this wretch he adopted is indeed a remnant of the previous dynasty, then our Murong family faces calamity! Have you forgotten? Her husband is the Chief Counselor, and he currently holds military authority in the southern frontier!"
The Emperor was stunned. Chu Ruoyan spoke loudly, "Your Majesty! But have you considered that if someone is deliberately framing me, aiming to sow discord between you and Duke Chu, and between you and Chief Counselor Yan, then believing them would be akin to destroying your own fortress walls?!"
These words struck directly at his weakest point.
The Emperor said gravely, "Mother, Changle speaks sense. The Chief Counselor is fighting on the frontier. Duke Chu manages the Ministry of Personnel for me. And Minister Cao is also implicated... they are all my right-hand men! We must not give in to suspicion and sever our own limbs!"
Empress Dowager Su hadn't expected the Emperor to be so protective. Her chest heaved twice before she shouted, "Summon the royal physician!"
