12dz Chapter 126 The Sixth Prince Dies
Chapter 126 The Sixth Prince Dies
"A mere maidservant dares to lay a hand on my son?"
Upon hearing this, Tong Fei also felt that it was somewhat inappropriate. After all, she had once come from this industry herself. If she looked down on her like this, wouldn't she be looking down on her original self?
Therefore, before she could even speak, He Lingyi had already spoken up in defense.
"A hero's origins are irrelevant; as long as he has real skills, he will be respected wherever he goes. What do you think, Consort Tong?"
Consort Tong could understand He Lingyi's meaning, but since the words had already been spoken, she had no choice but to be firm, otherwise the scene today would become too ugly.
"I don't care about heroes or anything like that. If I'm not allowed to see the Crown Prince today, then I'll hold the Crown Princess responsible for any trouble the Sixth Prince may cause in the future!"
He offered her a jujube, but the other party refused and even slapped it away. Given this behavior, He Lingyi was too lazy to waste any more words with her and simply said...
"In that case, Consort Tong may do as she pleases. Xingluo, return to Qi'an Palace. I need to report today's events to the Emperor. If the people in the Imperial Hospital cannot cure Sixth Brother's illness, they are superfluous to keep them around. Let them all be exiled from the palace to avenge Sixth Brother!"
"You! What are you going to do? Are you planning to go to His Majesty and complain about me?"
Although Consort Tong's words and actions were eccentric, the old emperor was still in charge of the palace at this time. If she were to be falsely accused by the Crown Princess, wouldn't she be in trouble? Therefore, she felt quite apprehensive and naturally lost her arrogant and conceited demeanor from before.
"Your Highness, Consort Tong, has misunderstood. Your sixth brother is ill, and you have even sought help from the Crown Prince. It is conceivable that the people in the Imperial Hospital are incapable of treating him. Keeping such a group of quacks around will only cause trouble for the nobles in the palace in the future. It would be better to get rid of them as soon as possible! In this way, we can recruit capable people from all over the country to come to the palace to treat your sixth brother. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
"You, you, you...you're trying to pin this on me! When did I ever say I wanted to kick everyone from the Imperial Medical Academy out!"
Consort Tong clearly hadn't expected He Lingyi to be so eloquent.
With just a few words, they put the mother and son in a very difficult position! If they really drove away the people from the Imperial Hospital, what would happen to His Majesty's illness? And how would they protect their reputation?
Murder and kill!
Although she can't do anything particularly impressive, she can still tell the problem from her ears.
But He Lingyi clearly had no intention of letting her off the hook, and went on to speak earnestly.
"I just don't understand what Consort Tong is saying. You went to the Eastern Palace and the Crown Prince simply to ask us to help cure Sixth Brother's illness. I suggested that the female physicians around you help with the diagnosis, but you refused, and your words were full of disappointment and distrust towards the Imperial Medical Academy. That's why I offered you a suggestion. How did it turn into me trying to pin the blame on you? So many people are listening. Do you all think that's what I, the Crown Princess, meant?!"
"Never!"
The uniform responses infuriated Consort Tong. The maids accompanying her were all bullying and arrogant, far inferior to the people of the Eastern Palace. Therefore, when the other party spoke, they couldn't help but shrink back.
Not to mention them, even Consort Tong didn't get a good deal. If they dared to show their faces, they would be nailed to the ground. So no one dared to step forward to protect their master.
The wind and snow grew heavier, falling on He Lingyi's hair, the tip of her nose, and even her eyelashes. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, adding to the chill of her already aloof face. Consort Tong was caught in a dilemma, having not gotten what she wanted.
Just as she was struggling with whether to return empty-handed or fight to the death, a palace eunuch suddenly appeared, scrambling up to Consort Tong and crying out.
"Your Highness, please go back and check on the Sixth Prince. He's having another seizure."
Upon hearing this, what mother could possibly hold back? She would naturally cry out, "My son!" and then leave quickly, sobbing.
When they left, everyone in the Eastern Palace thought that this was probably a conspiracy between Consort Tong and the palace eunuchs, so they didn't take it seriously.
But He Lingyi was always cautious in his actions, so he said to Xingluo.
"Go, summon all the imperial physicians on duty at the Imperial Hospital to Consort Tong's palace to examine the Sixth Prince. Also, mention today's events to the Emperor, mainly to clarify Consort Tong's statement that the Sixth Prince is only alive today because of the Crown Prince's favor. There's no need to say anything else."
"Yes, Princess."
Xingluo had many ways to send messages before the emperor, so the story of Consort Tong stopping the carriage for her son quickly spread throughout the palace.
The Eastern Palace, the Court of Ten Thousand Law Firms.
The Crown Prince and He Lingyi were playing chess. Both of them were top players in the game, so they were naturally going to fight to the death!
Snow is falling heavily outside, and the weather seems to be getting colder and colder.
About two hours later, it gradually got dark. The two in the study had been fighting for half a day without a clear winner, but the Crown Prince was already very excited. After all, apart from his teacher, He Lingyi was the first person who could fight him to this point.
Therefore, he felt that marrying the Crown Princess was even more worthwhile.
Suddenly, a sound came from outside the door. Someone knocked and entered. It was a familiar face to He Lingyi, Eunuch Xia Jing. His expression was not good. After bowing respectfully to the two of them, he spoke.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, news has just come from the palace that the Sixth Prince has passed away."
Before He Lingyi could even place the white piece in his hand, he paused for a moment and said with some surprise.
"Died? Was it really from a cold?"
"The Sixth Prince's health was already poor; it was a miracle he had lasted this long. This cold came on so suddenly and fiercely that he naturally couldn't hold on..."
Snowy days are the days when God takes people away.
Many people will perish in such wind and snow, such as the sixth prince whom He Lingyi never even met, who was thus lost in the royal family.
"Prepare a funeral ceremony. Also, remove all the red silk lanterns and other festive items from the mansion. Don't give anyone cause for discussion."
"Yes, Princess."
Although the death of a prince was not enough to warrant the Crown Prince wearing white mourning clothes, it was still unsightly to have them hanging there. That's why He Lingyi gave this order. The Crown Prince was even more composed than her, as if the person who died had nothing to do with him.
"How is Father doing?"
"His Majesty fainted upon hearing this terrible news. Fortunately, there was an imperial physician by his side the whole time, so he woke up after acupuncture. But when I heard the news, he vomited blood and looked even weaker."
With the emperor ailing and the sixth prince deceased, the only hope in the palace was the unborn child in Consort Jia's womb, but compared to the adult and married crown prince, it was clearly insufficient.
So He Lingyi said something with a hint of worry.
"I'm afraid the Crown Prince is going to be in trouble."