"Reporting to Your Highness, the rumors circulating in the city today have already twisted into Magistrate Song defecting to another prince and deliberately framing Your Highness."
"Magistrate Song requested an audience with Your Highness this morning. He kept insisting he was wronged. This subordinate had him tied up and thrown in the firewood shed."
"Also, Old Madam Song has already set off for Fengcheng today with the other child."
Ling Feng reported each matter one by one.
The Prince of Pingyang sat by the bedhead, stroking the jade thumb ring on his finger.
"Spread the news to the capital," the Prince of Pingyang coldly instructed.
"And also, go out and find a few more physicians, have them come for a consultation. If asked, just say this prince is still unconscious."
"When they enter the mansion, have them wait for tea in the front hall, then give them some money and send them away."
"Yes. And what should be done about Magistrate Song?"
"Lock him up for a few days first. Give him nothing but water."
"A minor official like him, how dare he scheme against this prince! The tiger shows no fierceness, and he truly takes me for a sick cat!"
The Prince of Pingyang's tone was calm and even, yet it carried a murderous intent.
"Then shall this subordinate send someone to abduct that girl back? This subordinate sent people to check; they only brought a dozen or so servants."
Ling Feng's tone showed he didn't consider those people worthy of attention at all.
The Prince of Pingyang shook his head.
"If they dare to leave so openly and unafraid, they must have received that person's guidance."
"It's quite possible that person is waiting for us to make a move!"
"This prince simply won't act. I want to see what's more important: a lucky star, or man's determination conquering fate!"
The Prince of Pingyang narrowed his eyes.
"Your Highness, are we just going to swallow this matter then?" Ling Feng felt very indignant on his behalf.
The Prince of Pingyang glanced at Ling Feng.
"Didn't I tell you to spread the news to the capital?"
"Don't forget, the Emperor has more than just the Second Prince as a son!"
"This prince may not have the opportunity, but there are plenty of others who do!"
Upon hearing this, Ling Feng suddenly understood.
"This subordinate thought Your Highness wanted the Emperor to know..."
"Tch!"
The Prince of Pingyang scoffed.
"To our father, this prince is already a useless person."
"Towards a discarded chess piece, he would not have an ounce of sympathy!"
Since ancient times, the struggle for the throne has been the greatest conflict.
The Emperor's delay in appointing a Crown Prince, to put it plainly, is because he wants to see which prince is truly the most capable of ascending the throne.
Of course, the Emperor's health is still robust, so it's also possible he is unwilling to abdicate.
"Right, also spread the news that Magistrate Song's eldest daughter is a lucky star, and obtaining her means ascending to the throne!"
Ling Feng's eyes lit up.
"This subordinate will go and handle it immediately!"
After Ling Feng left, the Prince of Pingyang stroked his completely numb legs, filled with deep resentment.
Back then, his horse had gone berserk for no reason and thrown him from its back.
By the time he regained consciousness and ordered Ling Feng to investigate, the horse, because of its frenzy, had already been put down.
The reason for the horse's madness was also untraceable, as if everything was just a coincidence.
But that was a warhorse that had followed him for many years; he didn't believe it would go berserk without cause.
By the time he returned to the capital, the rumor that his killing was too heavy, causing even horses to fear him, had already spread throughout the capital.
And, the most outrageous rumor spreading was that his lack of a son was heaven's punishment.
There was also a covert rumor saying he was an ill omen.
That he had brought misfortune upon his own birth mother, and even Noble Consort Shu, who raised him afterwards, had also been brought to misfortune by him.
After he returned to the capital, his father, aside from receiving him on the first day to take back the tiger tally, did not visit him a single day afterwards.
"Tch!"
The Prince of Pingyang scoffed again.
He didn't need to think to know whose handiwork the rumors among the common people were.
None other than his so-called good brothers!
Among them, the one with the greatest suspicion was undoubtedly his second brother!
In that case, he would give them a taste of their own medicine!
Also, wasn't his father just wanting to watch his sons fight over the throne?
As his father's son, naturally he should be filial to his father—he would give him a helping hand!
Thinking this, the Prince of Pingyang couldn't help but clench his fist tightly, his eyes filled with hatred.
Then, he relaxed, calmly smoothing out the trousers he had wrinkled with his grip.
It was then he discovered his knees were completely intact, and his heart skipped a beat.
He clearly remembered that because he reached out to pull Duoduo at the time, he and his wheelchair both went into the water.
And he happened to hit his knee on the wheelchair; at the time he felt a piercing pain.
The Prince of Pingyang pulled up his trouser leg to carefully examine the injured spot.
Because of his waist injury, his lower limbs lacked movement. Even though Ling Feng gave him massages daily, his legs were still atrophying, making his kneecaps appear even more prominent.
Yet, on his knee, he couldn't see a single wound, nor any scar.
Strange?
The Prince of Pingyang's heart was filled with doubt.
At that moment, Ling Feng walked in again.
"Your Highness, it's done."
"Mm. By the way, did the physician use any particular medicine on this prince yesterday?"
Ling Feng hurriedly took the prescription from his robe and handed it to the Prince of Pingyang.
The Prince of Pingyang unfolded it and glanced; they were all ordinary medicines, nothing unusual.
"How is the injury on this prince's knee gone?"
Confusion also rose in Ling Feng's eyes. "This subordinate heard from Her Highness the Princess Consort that it might be related to this ointment."
Ling Feng took the ointment from the cabinet beside them. The Prince of Pingyang took it and smelled it.
"Are you sure it's the effect of this ointment? Where did this ointment come from?"
"The Princess Consort said this was specially sent to her by the Emperor through someone."
"Yesterday, aside from the medicine taken orally, the Princess Consort only applied this ointment on Your Highness."
The Prince of Pingyang put the lid back on the ointment and handed it to Ling Feng.
"Take it to find an unfamiliar physician and have him examine it."
Ling Feng was taken aback. "Your Highness, is there something wrong with this ointment?"
After saying this, Ling Feng felt it wasn't right.
If the ointment was problematic, then how did Your Highness's knee heal?
"First take it to be checked. Also, investigate what other things were sent to us by our father after we left the capital."
The Prince of Pingyang absolutely refused to believe his father would be kind enough to send him a box of ointment.
Unless someone was using his father's name falsely!
In the past he might have believed it, but since his leg was broken, he no longer believed in any fatherly kindness or filial piety.
Parental love, for the cruel and merciless royal family, is a joke!
"Yes."
Ling Feng placed the ointment in his robe.
The Prince of Pingyang saw Ling Feng standing still, not leaving, and glanced at him.
"Is there something else?"
Ling Feng had been struggling over whether to mention it. Hearing the Prince of Pingyang's question, he simply reported.
"Just now, the steward came to report that the child brought back yesterday is missing!"
The Prince of Pingyang frowned.
"Missing? Since when? Has anyone been sent to search?"
"The steward said it was not long after Your Highness fainted yesterday. Her personal maid has been searching all over the mansion."
"This morning, the Princess Consort found out and had the steward search the entire mansion, but she wasn't found."
"Also, the gatekeepers were asked; they said she didn't leave."
The Prince of Pingyang rotated the jade thumb ring on his finger, lost in thought for a moment.
"Last night, were there any other people entering or leaving the prince's mansion?"
