Not only the ministers—even Prince Ling looked at the Empress Dowager in astonishment.
He had never expected that his concession would give the Empress Dowager a reason and an opportunity to intervene.
Prince Ling felt a trace of regret.
Then again, perhaps this was not necessarily a bad thing?
With that thought, Prince Ling decided to stand back and watch.
These ministers clearly intended to push someone else onto the throne. He would never let them have their way!
But killing every one of them at once…
Prince Ling still had some reservations.
Prince Rui was equally astonished.
“Grandmother, the ancestors explicitly decreed that the harem must not interfere in government affairs!”
“Besides, Grandmother, you spend your days praying and reciting Buddhist scriptures. You know nothing about affairs of state.”
The Empress Dowager glanced at Prince Rui.
“I am not interfering in government affairs. I am merely helping you keep watch over things.”
“I do not want you to bring your personal grudges into matters of state.”
“When that happens, it is the common people who ultimately suffer!”
“The Emperor is unconscious. I must protect the Xiao family’s empire and safeguard the people of this realm for him!”
“If you are unwilling to accept this arrangement, then agree to let the Crown Prince oversee the government!”
“At the very least, allowing the Crown Prince to handle state affairs was the Emperor’s own decision!”
After the ministers exchanged whispers, the Chancellor stepped forward and bowed.
“We will follow the Empress Dowager’s arrangements!”
“We are all acting for the sake of the empire. We only ask that Your Majesty keep your word and not interfere in government affairs without cause!”
A hint of mockery appeared on Prince Ling’s face.
In the end, these old ministers would rather let the Empress Dowager rule from behind the curtain than allow him to oversee the government!
The Sixth Prince looked delighted.
“Grandmother, since you said everyone would have a chance, there are six of us besides Second Brother!”
“How long will each of us take a turn? And how will you decide whether we have done well or poorly?”
“We won’t end up celebrating for nothing, will we?”
A cold smile tugged at the corners of Prince Ling’s lips.
See? Once the reward was tempting enough, even those who claimed not to care would be moved.
Prince Rui shot the Sixth Prince a warning look. The Sixth Prince turned aside, pretending not to notice.
The Empress Dowager looked at the Chancellor. “What do you think?”
The Chancellor lowered his head and considered for a moment.
“A period that short is hardly enough to accomplish anything.”
“How about one month per person? What does everyone think?”
The other ministers nodded one after another.
“Who goes first?” the Sixth Prince asked cautiously.
Prince Rui was just about to speak when the Chancellor cut in.
“Since the responsibility is to rotate, naturally we should begin with Prince of Pingyang!”
“Eldest Brother? Isn’t Eldest Brother’s leg crippled?” the Sixth Prince asked, feigning ignorance.
“Prince of Pingyang was personally taught by His Majesty,” the Chancellor explained to the others.
“If not for that accident, he would have been the Crown Prince candidate favored by His Majesty!”
“He only needs to manage state affairs now, not ride horses or shoot arrows. What problem could there be?”
Prince Ling studied the Chancellor for a moment, then turned his gaze toward Prince Rui.
Prince Rui did not appear angry in the slightest. Instead, he nodded in agreement.
“The Chancellor is right. Let us begin with Eldest Brother.”
Seeing that no one objected, the Empress Dowager sent someone to summon the other princes to the palace for a discussion.
Prince Xian and the Fifth Prince arrived soon afterward.
Prince of Pingyang came last, with Yunxiao accompanying him.
“Eldest Brother, you finally came!” Prince Rui greeted Xiao Yi the moment he saw him.
Xiao Yi glanced around the hall before stepping forward to salute the Empress Dowager.
“Grandmother, what happened that you had to summon Grandson to the palace so urgently?”
Once everyone had arrived, the Empress Dowager explained the entire situation.
Prince Xian and the Fifth Prince were delighted when they heard it.
They had never imagined that such an excellent opportunity would fall into their laps.
Prince Ling was actually willing to hand the throne over to them?
Could there be a trap?
The two of them began pondering the matter in secret.
Xiao Yi glanced at the Chancellor and the other ministers, then at Prince Ling, who had remained silent.
Finally, his gaze settled on the Empress Dowager.
“Grandmother, forgive Grandson, but I cannot obey.”
His words immediately caused the ministers to begin whispering among themselves.
The Empress Dowager was astonished. “Everyone agreed to this arrangement.”
“Besides, as one of the Emperor’s sons, should you not help your father manage state affairs?”
“Helping your father shoulder his burdens is your filial duty!”
The Empress Dowager spoke earnestly, trying to persuade Xiao Yi.
“Grandmother, you need not try to convince me. Ever since I returned from the gates of death, all I have wanted is to live in peace.”
“Besides, in my current condition, what can I accomplish?”
“If I take the position, I will only waste everyone’s time. It would be better to give the opportunity to my younger brothers.”
“I would rather spend that time keeping you company, Grandmother. That can also count as fulfilling my filial duty to Father.”
Seeing the determination in Xiao Yi’s eyes, the Empress Dowager knew that he had made up his mind.
“Very well. Since you have made your decision, Grandmother will not force you.”
“What about the rest of you? Does anyone else object?” the Empress Dowager asked the others.
The Seventh Prince hesitated for a moment.
“Grandmother, I do not intend to participate either.”
“I know my own limitations. I am simply not suited for this.”
The Sixth Prince glanced at the Seventh Prince, but ultimately said nothing.
The Empress Dowager nodded.
“Very well! Since no one else objects, Prince Xian will oversee the government beginning today for one month.”
“After that, Prince Rui will take over!”
The guards Prince Ling had sent to search the palace entered the hall.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, these are the items found in Consort Shu’s palace.”
The guard presented a small paper packet.
“Imperial Physician Li, take a look,” the Empress Dowager ordered.
Imperial Physician Li opened the packet and examined its contents.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this is indeed the substance.”
Consort Shu immediately cried out in protest. “I have never seen this thing before! You are framing me!”
The Empress Dowager rubbed her temples.
“Where was it found?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, it was discovered in the room of Consort Shu’s personal maid.”
Prince Xian stared at Consort Shu in astonishment. What had happened?
What exactly was inside that oil-paper packet?
A vague sense of foreboding rose in Prince Xian’s heart.
“What about the maid? Did you bring her here?”
The guard lowered his head.
“Please forgive me, Your Majesty. When we went to arrest her, she bit through her tongue and killed herself!”
Consort Shu fell to her knees and kowtowed to the Empress Dowager.
“Mother, someone must have framed me!”
“The Emperor and I grew up together. There is no way I could have poisoned him!”
“Mother, you must believe me!”
“If His Majesty cannot survive, I do not want to live either!”
Consort Shu wept so bitterly that her tears fell like pear blossoms in the rain, making her look utterly devastated.
When Prince Xian heard his mother’s words, it felt as though he had been struck by lightning.
Poisoning?
His father was unconscious?
Could it have something to do with his mother?
The ministers began whispering among themselves.
The Minister of Revenue stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, since Consort Shu is suspected of poisoning the Emperor, Prince Xian cannot be allowed to oversee the government!”
