Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1565: Chapter 1565: Blood Stains the Inner Palace_1

Bai Ruozhu looked toward Ning Yu, wishing she could silence his words. How could he shout such things without any regard for caution, implicating a plot to usurp the throne and assassinate the Emperor? Shouldn’t he have been more discreet in front of Hao Feng and Fen Wan?

Her heart raced with urgency, but it was already too late to stop him.

Tang Yin’s face turned ashen, and after a long pause, he said, ”So the target was me after all.”

He let out a bitter laugh, ”If I were struck by witchcraft and fell into critical condition with no prince to inherit the throne, to whom would this position pass, I wonder?”

By his side, an official hurriedly supported the Emperor, whispering, ”Your Majesty, please do not be angered. You are the true Son of Heaven, and their schemes will not succeed.”

”Yes, they have repeatedly attempted to harm the Consort Le, all because they did not want me to have an heir. Yet Xinxin was born despite their efforts. Maybe they thought a little prince wasn’t a threat, but something went wrong, and the curse fell upon Xinxin instead.” As Tang Yin spoke, tears streamed down the corners of his eyes. His gaze was filled with hatred, remorse, and such sorrow that it was unbearable to look at him directly.

Bai Ruozhu gently pulled Ning Yu to one side, then glared at him fiercely. Couldn’t he have broached such a sensitive matter more subtly?

Ning Yu, however, didn’t understand her at all and looked at her with confusion. She could only sigh silently, blaming the National Master for thinking the curse had affected his body, hiding in the Astrology Tower to recuperate, which meant Ning Yu also spent all his time in the tower reading books, with very little contact with the outside world—innocent as a sheet of blank paper.

Could such a naive Ning Yu and Diao Bin truly be safe after they left the Imperial Palace? Would they suffer a great deal?

Bai Ruozhu quickly brought herself back to the present, realizing that whether Ning Yu could even leave was another matter altogether.

Hao Feng and Fen Wan exchanged glances, their anger subsiding somewhat in the face of Tang Yin’s distress, giving way to a measure of understanding.

Hao Feng sighed and bowed to Tang Yin, ”Your Majesty, my disciple and I have no intention to harm anyone. Please grant us an opportunity to prove our innocence. I am willing to assist Your Majesty in uncovering the truth and will comply with your commands.”

Bai Ruozhu also quickly spoke up, ”Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The steps Fen Wan took to break the curse were correct, please believe in them this time.”

Tang Yin waved his hand wearily, ”Very well, since Master Hao Feng is willing, help the official to uncover the real criminal.”

Just then, Wang Shun and others hastened inside. Tang Yin said to Wang Shun, ”Issue my decree for Jiang Yichun to enter the palace immediately to conduct a thorough investigation with the Shadow Guard.”

”Yes, I obey the command,” Wang Shun replied, clearly unsettled by the turn of events and not daring to ask further questions. He hurried out after acknowledging the order.

Bai Ruozhu sighed, seeing herself and Achun once again entangled in these political conspiracies against their will—and from which they couldn’t seem to escape.

Clearly, at this moment, there were few whom the Emperor trusted, and Achun was one of them.

”Chief Doctor Bai, the Empress Dowager and Consort Le’s health are now in your hands; you must not let their conditions deteriorate,” said the Emperor sternly.

Bai Ruozhu quickly bowed, ”Yes, I heed Your Majesty’s command.”

At that moment, rushed footsteps came from the inner hall, and Princess Diao Bin burst in with red eyes, crying, ”Imperial Brother, let me go marry into the foreign land. I didn’t know I would harm Diao Yao; she shouldn’t have to suffer that fate.”

Tang Yin knew that Diao Bin was unaware of Prince Xinxin’s condition and he shot a sharp glare at Bai Ruozhu and Ning Yu. If Diao Bin found out that Xinxin had been cursed because of her, she would likely be more agitated than the Empress Dowager when the guilt piled up.

Bai Ruozhu quickly signaled to Ning Yu with her eyes, shaking her head and saying, ”Do not speak further.”

Fortunately, Ning Yu was no fool; he nodded in understanding, but his face was exceptionally solemn.

”Diao Bin, stop making a fuss. I shall arrange everything freely and ensure that Diao Yao won’t be wronged. Take good care of yourself and don’t worry your mother and me anymore.” The Emperor’s voice was gentle as he comforted Diao Bin, showing great affection for his sister. Even though the witchcraft curse was transferred to the Prince, he did not vent any anger on Diao Bin.

After all, whom could one blame here? The real objects of hatred were the unseen instigators behind it all.

Diao Bin looked up and wiped her eyes, suddenly asking, ”Why haven’t I seen Mother? She isn’t unwell, is she?”

Bai Ruozhu replied hastily, ”The Empress Dowager has been too worried and mentioned she had a headache. I prescribed a calming formula for her to sleep well. Princess, you must not disturb her, or it will worsen her headache if she wakes now.”

Upon hearing this, Diao Bin nodded quickly, ”I understand. I shouldn’t trouble Mother anymore and won’t bring this matter up in her presence again.”

Tang Yin tenderly caressed his sister’s white hair, saying with heartache, ”Our Diao Bin has grown up; she has become so sensible.”

For some reason, Bai Ruozhu felt Tang Yin’s gaze was filled with desolation, so forlorn it seemed hopeless as though he had nothing left to live for. But in an instant, Tang Yin returned to the composed and indifferent sovereign, as if the previous moment had been a figment of Bai Ruozhu’s imagination.

Tang Yin told Diao Bin to go back and rest, and then he left swiftly, as if a storm of bloodshed was about to erupt in the Palace.

Not long after, Jiang Yichun arrived and conferred briefly with his colleagues, then turned to Bai Ruozhu and said, ”You might not be able to return to the Residence these next few days; take good care of yourself.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”You too, be careful. The Palace is not a safe place.”

Thinking of the masked figure she had mentioned, Jiang Yichun nodded gravely.

Indeed, that night, the Palace underwent its greatest purge to date. No one knew why, just rumors that someone had tried to poison the Empress Dowager. Cining Palace locked down the news. No one knew the Prince had been afflicted by witchcraft, and the nanny in charge of Xinxin was also taken into custody, forbidden from leaving Cining Palace or contacting anyone else.

To care for the Empress Dowager and Consort Yue, Bai Ruozhu stayed in the Palace overnight and consequently heard many heartbreaking cries and pleas for mercy. The air was thick with the smell of blood, making her extremely uncomfortable and sinking her into a somewhat depressive mood.

When Consort Yue awoke, she seemed distraught. It was only after Bai Ruozhu repeatedly assured her that the Prince’s curse could be lifted that she was willing to eat. When the Empress Dowager woke up, she cried; Bai Ruozhu had to bring up that Princess Diao Bin couldn’t withstand any stress and everything should be kept from her, persuading the Empress Dowager not to grieve too deeply, which sparked a semblance of spirit in her.

During the night, Bai Ruozhu faintly heard a palace maid weeping softly outside, with one saying in a whimper, ”Sister Taomu has been taken away. They say she’s been beaten until she’s covered in blood; it’s doubtful she will survive.”

Bai Ruozhu pricked up her ears; by the name, Taomu seemed to be one of the palace maids associated with Hao Mu.

”Sister Taomu can’t possibly be a spy; she has always been so kind to us. She must have been implicated by someone. What do we do? Can we save her?” another palace maid spoke through tears.

”Are you out of your mind? Just being slightly suspicious is enough for the Emperor to hand out severe punishment. Speaking up for her now is like asking for death!” a palace maid said in terror.

From afar came distant screams, and the air’s scent of blood appeared to grow even thicker...

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These past two days, Mouka has been underperforming. Today there will be five updates as an apology (ten thousand words), and also, I’m asking for monthly votes~