The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1163 - 1163 564 Great Righteousness (Two more s)

Chapter 1163: 564 Great Righteousness! (Two more chapters) Chapter 1163: 564 Great Righteousness! (Two more chapters) Eunuch Wei said, “Yes.”

Empress Dowager Xiao asked suspiciously, “Were you present all the time when His Majesty was issuing the imperial edict?”

Eunuch Wei nodded, “Yes, it was your servant who prepared the ink and brush. After finishing the edict, His Majesty exhausted his vital energy and fell into a deep sleep again.”

Empress Dowager Xiao frowned.

She could doubt anyone, but she still tended to trust Eunuch Wei.

Empress Dowager Xiao sighed, “Understood. Keep the imperial edict safe and take good care of His Majesty. When His Majesty wakes up again, remember to have someone inform me first.”

“Your servant has memorized it.”

After leaving Kunning Palace, Eunuch Wei headed towards Huaqing Palace and had only walked a few steps when he saw a slim figure under a large tree.

He jumped in fright, “Princess?”

Princess Ning An turned around with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Eunuch Wei blinked, bowed, and said, “Princess, the Empress Dowager just asked…”

“There’s no need to tell me; I trust you wouldn’t dare betray me in front of the Empress Dowager.”

“Yes, yes,” Eunuch Wei replied with an embarrassed smile, “Then for what does the Princess wait for this servant here…”

“For this.” Princess Ning An tossed him a porcelain vial, “Tomorrow’s medicine. Make sure His Majesty takes it during the dinner hour.”

Eunuch Wei’s eyes flashed, “Ahh, yes, your servant will certainly follow the order.”

Princess Ning An laughed coldly, “If you don’t manage it…”

Eunuch Wei shook his head like a rattle drum, “I wouldn’t dare! My little life is in the Princess’s hands; if the Princess tells me to go east, I wouldn’t dare go west.”

Princess Ning An coldly curled her lips, “It’s good you know. Now go and take care of my royal brother. The medicine is not without its risks; if he really wakes up…”

Eunuch Wei hurriedly said, “Your servant will ensure that no one discovers His Majesty has awakened and will immediately report to the Princess.”

“Good that you know.”

After Princess Ning An spoke, she indifferently returned to Bixia Hall.

Once he was sure she was far away, Eunuch Wei breathed a sigh of relief and quickly returned to Huaqing Palace.

So much time had passed; he wondered how the swim bladder in the Emperor’s mouth was. Had the medicine been sprinkled on it? Had it been swallowed?

Eunuch Wei arrived at the Dragon Bed, sent the attending palace maids away, and then he pried open the Emperor’s mouth and slowly retrieved the swim bladder.

The medicinal juice was still inside.

A weight lifted off Eunuch Wei’s heart.

“I need to dispose of this quickly…” Holding the swim bladder, Eunuch Wei walked out, feeling as though he had forgotten something, but he couldn’t quite remember what.

The immobile Emperor thought, “My underpants! There’s something in my underpants!”

No walls in the world are impermeable to sound. The news of the Dowager Empress Zhuang’s collusion with Minister Xing to harm the Emperor quickly spread throughout the Capital City, and both officials and commoners were shocked to learn that the Dowager Empress was behind it all.

If one thought about it, it wasn’t hard to accept this fact, considering the Dowager Empress Zhuang’s history of controlling court politics and her oppression and interference with the Emperor.

Voices among the common people rose calling for the punishment of Dowager Empress Zhuang, and at such a critical time, the Zhuang family remained silent.

Grand Tutor Zhuang also claimed illness and stopped attending court.

This only worsened Dowager Empress Zhuang’s reputation and situation.

“Grandfather!”

Prince An charged into Grand Tutor Zhuang’s courtyard, the guards at the door were unable to stop him.

Grand Tutor Zhuang was practicing calligraphy in the study room. Hearing his grandson’s voice, he didn’t even lift his eyelids, dipped his brush into the inkwell, and said, “Shouldn’t you be on duty in the cabinet at this hour?”

Prince An had been to the cabinet, but after hearing some news, he immediately came back.

Thanks to his status, none dared to stop him in the cabinet.

He approached the writing desk and, seeing Grand Tutor Zhuang engrossed in calligraphy, understood that his grandfather hadn’t been truly ill these days but was intentionally avoiding court.

“Has Grandfather heard about Aunt’s affair?” he asked.

Grand Tutor Zhuang didn’t look at him, writing a character for ‘mountain’ and said, “This is not something for you to worry about.”

Prince An stared intensely at Grand Tutor Zhuang, “If it’s not something for me to worry about, what about Grandfather? Shouldn’t you make a stance to protect Aunt’s reputation and actively search for evidence of her being framed in Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang’s brush paused, and he glanced at him, “You already know it was a frame-up?”

Prince An replied earnestly, “Aunt would never do such a thing. If she wanted His Majesty dead, she wouldn’t have waited until now. Grandfather understands Aunt’s methods better than I do.”

Grand Tutor Zhuang: “So what if I do?”

Prince An looked deeply at Grand Tutor Zhuang, “Grandfather… do you plan to just stand by and watch?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang neither confirmed nor denied, “What I’m doing is for the Zhuang family.”