While the mother and son were still suspicious of each other, the other consorts also received the news and hurried over.
Everyone was startled by the Imperial Guards stationed outside the palace.
The consorts hurriedly sent people to deliver word to the princes outside the palace.
Prince Ling and Consort Li exchanged a glance. Just as Prince Ling was about to leave, he saw that the people they had sent out were all being escorted back.
“His Majesty has ordered that no one is allowed to leave the palace!”
“Your Highnesses, please return to your respective palaces.”
“His Majesty has said that anyone who leaves without permission will be killed without mercy!” Eunuch Li emerged from the hall, his voice harsh and ruthless.
“Xiao Lizi, how is Father?” Prince Ling was the first to ask when he saw Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li gave him a slight bow.
“Your Highness, His Majesty has been poisoned. The Imperial Physicians are treating him.”
“His Majesty has ordered you and Consort Li to remain here. The other consorts are to return to their palaces.”
The other consorts immediately looked at Consort Li and Prince Ling with jealousy when they heard this.
They left unwillingly, looking back every few steps.
After everyone else had gone, Eunuch Li bowed to Prince Ling and Consort Li.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, please follow this servant.”
Prince Ling and Consort Li followed Eunuch Li to a side hall, each harboring their own secret thoughts.
Eunuch Li bowed and withdrew.
Prince Ling glanced around.
There was no one else in the hall—only him and his mother.
Using the excuse of supporting Consort Li, Prince Ling said, “Mother, sit down first.”
When he drew close to her, he asked in a voice barely above a whisper, “Mother, didn’t I tell you not to act?”
Prince Ling and Consort Li had originally come prepared to make their move.
But after hearing the Emperor’s words, Prince Ling had hesitated.
He was already the Crown Prince. Judging from everything the Emperor had said, the throne would most likely be his.
Given the Emperor’s condition, even if they did nothing, he would probably not live until his birthday celebration.
There was no need to rush.
That was why he had signaled to his mother that they should wait.
Consort Li looked at Prince Ling in astonishment when she heard his question.
“I didn’t.”
“Your mother thought you were the one telling me not to act because you intended to do it yourself!”
Prince Ling froze.
He looked at his mother suspiciously, while Consort Li looked back at him.
They both saw the suspicion in each other’s eyes.
“It was Consort Shu!”
Consort Li suddenly realized what had happened.
“What a vicious scheme—framing us for it!” Consort Li gritted her teeth in fury.
“That wretched woman! How dare she frame us!”
Prince Ling glanced at the Imperial Guards outside, his mind racing as he thought of a way to deal with the situation.
He had been the one to give Father the medicine today.
If the Emperor investigated the matter, he would not be able to escape suspicion.
What was he supposed to do?
Just then, Consort Shu was brought in as well.
The moment Consort Li saw her, she raised her hand and slapped her.
“You wretched woman!”
Consort Shu had been on guard against Consort Li. When she saw her raise her hand, she dodged.
Consort Li’s slap missed.
Consort Shu patted her chest, her face filled with lingering fear.
“Sister, I haven’t offended you. Why did you try to hit me the moment I arrived?”
“The Crown Prince has not even been formally named the heir yet, and you already treat the other consorts this way.”
“His Majesty is merely ill, yet we are being insulted at your whim?”
“What if His Majesty dies? Will we consorts not even be allowed to live?”
After saying this, Consort Shu covered her face with a handkerchief and began to sob.
“You wretched woman! You know perfectly well what you’ve done!”
Consort Li pointed angrily at Consort Shu, her face flushed with fury.
“Sister, what crime are you trying to pin on me this time?” Consort Shu wiped the corners of her eyes and raised her head.
When Consort Li saw the expression on her face, she wished she could slap her across the face.
“Mother, calm down!”
Prince Ling frowned and pulled Consort Li aside.
It appeared that only the three of them had entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony today.
If neither he nor his mother had acted, then Consort Shu was the only possible culprit.
Since the Emperor had confined all of them here, that meant he was not certain who had poisoned him.
If they were innocent, they could not allow themselves to become entangled with Consort Shu.
Consort Li could not understand why Prince Ling was helping Consort Shu.
“Mother, Father’s life hangs in the balance. I am deeply worried.”
Prince Ling shot Consort Li a warning look.
She understood the meaning in his eyes and sat down unwillingly.
But Consort Shu had heard him.
“Crown Prince, what did you say happened to His Majesty?” Consort Shu asked, feigning astonishment.
Prince Ling turned away and ignored her.
Consort Shu circled around to stand in front of him. “Crown Prince, what did you just say happened to His Majesty? That his life hangs in the balance?”
“Wasn’t His Majesty perfectly fine just now? How did he suddenly become so gravely ill in such a short time?”
The expression on Consort Shu’s face was one of utter shock.
Consort Li could not stand the way she pretended.
“You know perfectly well what you’ve done!”
“Stop putting on an act here!”
“When His Majesty wakes up…” Consort Li deliberately paused, leaving the rest unsaid.
Consort Shu studied Consort Li and Prince Ling. Suddenly, she covered her mouth and quickly backed toward the door.
“You… So it was you… It was you two!”
Consort Shu pressed a hand over her mouth and tried to flee through the door.
At that moment, Eunuch Li appeared at the entrance.
“Your Highness, Your Highnesses, please come with this servant.”
Consort Li hurriedly stood up. “Xiao Lizi, has His Majesty regained consciousness?”
Eunuch Li did not answer. He merely gestured for them to follow him.
Prince Ling and Consort Li exchanged a glance before quickly following.
Eunuch Li led the three of them back to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Inside, the Emperor was sitting upright at the head of the bed, his face grim as he stared at the three of them.
The three immediately fell to their knees.
“Your Majesty, are you all right?”
“Father, how are you feeling?”
They asked in unison.
The Emperor glanced at Imperial Physician Li, who walked over to the three of them and bowed.
“Please forgive the offense.”
Imperial Physician Li first went to Consort Shu, who was standing closest. After a maid curtsied, she searched Consort Shu from head to toe.
In the end, she shook her head.
Imperial Physician Li then went to Consort Li. Consort Li cooperatively held out both hands.
After a thorough search, the maid shook her head again.
Finally, they reached Prince Ling.
Imperial Physician Li bowed to him.
Prince Ling already understood his father’s intentions. He rose and extended his hands.
Imperial Physician Li began the search.
Nothing in his sleeves.
Nothing in his purse.
Nothing at his waist.
Imperial Physician Li was just about to stop when he suddenly spotted a flash of white.
He lifted Prince Ling’s sleeve and carefully sniffed the white powder clinging to it.
His expression changed.
“Your Majesty, we’ve found it!” Imperial Physician Li lowered the sleeve and looked at the Emperor with a grave expression.
Prince Ling looked utterly bewildered.
When had white powder gotten onto his sleeve?
More importantly, did Imperial Physician Li’s words mean that the white powder was poison?
Prince Ling was just about to kneel and explain when the Emperor’s cold voice rang out.
“Guards!”
