Early in the morning, when Wei Dongling went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, she learned that the Emperor was ill and had not attended the morning court. All the concubines who had come to pay respects were greatly shocked and one after another expressed their desire to go and visit him.
The Empress Dowager looked gloomy. Worried, she waved her hand at the crowd and said, "The Emperor has taken the medicine and is lying down. Princess Five and Princess Seven can go and attend to him. Other concubines should not go and bother him. All of you may leave!"
"Yes!" The crowd left the Cining Palace in an orderly manner and couldn't help discussing among themselves.
Wei Dongling and Murong Yunxi exchanged a glance and then went together to the Emperor's bedroom.
In the huge bedroom, the Emperor was lying on the dragon bed, coughing non - stop. Eunuch Cao, who was beside him, knelt at the head of the bed, patting his back to help him catch his breath.
When Eunuch Cao saw the young eunuch leading two princesses in, he nodded slightly and motioned with his eyes for the young eunuch to bring the teacup on the table.
Wei Dongling stepped forward quickly, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of warm water, and then respectfully stepped forward. She used a small golden spoon to feed the Emperor water in small sips.
After a few sips of water, the coughing gradually stopped. The Emperor slowly opened his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Wanlin?"
Seeing the Emperor looking extremely haggard, Wei Dongling felt a pang of pain in her heart. Her voice hoarse, she said, "Father, your daughter is here."
Murong Yunxi quickly stepped forward and asked, "Father! Your daughter is also here. Father was fine yesterday. How could you fall ill overnight?"
The Emperor groped for his two daughters' slender hands and frowned, saying, "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
Eunuch Cao sighed and said, "Your Majesty, you're ill because of over - worrying. You need to rest well." The meaning of seeing them off was obvious in his words.
The Emperor said weakly, "It's okay for me to talk with the two princesses."
"Yes!" Eunuch Cao lowered his head and kept silent.
The Emperor grabbed Wei Dongling's hand and whispered, "When the arsenic was found that day, I saw you covered in blood and knew there was something else going on. I originally planned to order Commander Fang to investigate the Inner Court Department carefully. I didn't expect my princesses to be so smart and find out the truth so quickly. The person in the Inner Court Department who framed you has also been found out. It was indeed a blind - eyed eunuch who carried arsenic and secretly hid it in the bed drawer under the pretext of searching. I've already had him dragged out and beheaded. This matter has really wronged my two princesses." After saying this, the Emperor couldn't help coughing violently for a long time.
Eunuch Cao took the teacup and fed the Emperor warm water spoon by spoon.
Wei Dongling quickly knelt down and said, "I hope Father can forgive your daughter's recklessness that day!"
Murong Yunxi also knelt down and said, "This little bit of grievance is nothing! I hope Father can take good care of your precious body! You mustn't have anything wrong!"
The Emperor rested for a long time and then sighed, "Last night, there was an urgent report. Your fourth brother hanged himself in the You Mountain Imperial Mausoleum. I'm extremely heart - broken."
What? The fourth prince committed suicide in the imperial mausoleum?
Wei Dongling and Murong Yunxi's expressions changed greatly. How could this cowardly and greedy deposed crown prince commit suicide?
Even though the Emperor was not happy about what the deposed crown prince had done, he still cherished his offspring. After all, he had invested a lot of effort in him. Even after he was deposed, he still had a certain influence in the Emperor's heart. Even if he was sent far away to You Mountain, it was not impossible for the Emperor to recall him later and give him the position of a idle prince. But now such a thing had happened. The Emperor must be extremely sad. No wonder he fell ill overnight. It was likely that the Emperor hadn't slept all night last night.
Feeling pity in her heart, Wei Dongling stepped forward and massaged the Emperor's head and shoulders, hoping to make him feel more comfortable. She had learned this technique from Nurse Ruan. Although she was just imitating, it did make the Emperor feel much better.
Murong Yunxi asked nervously, "With Fourth Brother's personality, how could he hang himself?" Although her relationship with the deposed crown prince was not very good, and Murong Jingyu once resented her and her mother and younger brother because the Noble Consort Rong had given birth to a prince. But since the Emperor cared about him, Murong Yunxi still had to pretend to ask.
The Emperor said weakly, "I also think it's unlikely. I've already sent people to investigate this matter thoroughly. Yu'er's body is also on the way back to the capital overnight."
The Emperor's knitted eyebrows never relaxed. Wei Dongling sighed silently in her heart and had to increase the strength of her hands, trying her best to massage him to make him feel more comfortable.
Before long, the Emperor fell into a deep sleep.
Eunuch Cao invited the two princesses out of the bedroom.
Murong Yunxi and Wei Dongling walked side by side on the way back, followed by their respective maids.
Murong Yunxi glanced at Wei Dongling, raised her eyebrows, and said, "Fourth Brother died at a young age. It's really heartbreaking. If Elder Sister has nothing to do, why not go to the Cold Palace and tell Lady Xue this news? I'm sure she will be very grateful to you." With that, she led her maids and walked back swaying.
Wei Dongling thought to herself: Heartbreaking? Good younger sister! You can hardly hide the smug look on your face!
Seeing Princess Seven walking away so arrogantly, Minfang was secretly shocked. The fourth prince had died at a young age? These two princesses had just joined hands to bring down Lady Xue yesterday. Why were they acting so strangely today? Minfang didn't think much and quickly said, "Princess, let's go back?" What kind of good place was the Cold Palace? Why did Princess Seven always come up with such stupid ideas!
Wei Dongling glanced at Murong Yunxi's back and sighed softly, "What Princess Seven said is quite right. Lady Xue should at least have the right to know about the loss of her beloved son. Aunt Minfang, please go back and call Cheng Hao to go with me to take a look!"
Minfang was extremely reluctant in her heart. The Cold Palace was such a gloomy place. Her own princess seemed a bit stupid. As soon as Princess Seven set a trap, she rushed into it and couldn't be pulled back.
Although she was complaining in her heart, Minfang still obediently went to call Cheng Hao.
The three of them walked all the way to the most remote corner of the palace. It was cold and quiet here, and hardly anyone came.
Wei Dongling stood at the door, looked at the guarding eunuchs who bowed to her on both sides, and said to Minfang, "Aunt Minfang, please stay here and wait for us!"
"Yes!" Minfang was just worried about not wanting to go in. Hearing her princess's order, she was secretly happy and quickly retreated to a corner of the wall.
Wei Dongling led Cheng Hao into the door.
Looking around, the corridor showed a dilapidated appearance. The spider webs in the high places were piled up layer upon layer, as if they hadn't been cleaned for many years.
The thick dust on the ground made it hard to find a place to step on. Wei Dongling didn't care at all. Her delicate embroidered shoes inlaid with jade were soon covered with dust after just a few steps.
At the end of the corridor, someone was crying hysterically, and someone else shouted angrily, "What are you crying about? You've been crying from night to day. Do you still let people rest?"
Wei Dongling walked to the end of the corridor, pushed open the half - closed door, and interrupted the person's scolding.
In the cold and desolate room, there wasn't even a decent bed. Some damp and moldy hay was spread on the ground, and several women were lying on it in a disorderly manner. When these women saw someone pushing the door in, they all looked up.