Chapter 563: Have Ningning Enter the Palace
Chapter 563: Chapter 563: Have Ningning Enter the Palace
「An hour later.」
By the Emperor’s Dragon Couch stood the Divine Doctor, Mo Lingwei, Great General Chen, and the head of the Imperial Guards, Lord Lu.
Fortunately, the Divine Doctor had arrived in time to perform acupuncture on the Emperor, stabilizing his condition.
"Frankly, from what I’ve seen, His Majesty’s illness stems mostly from matters of the heart. If there is something weighing on the Emperor’s mind, he should resolve it as soon as possible, or it will hinder his recovery."
The Divine Doctor said this in front of everyone.
Mo Lingwei pursed his lips and looked toward the Dragon Couch, at the Emperor whose face was sickly pale.
’What could be troubling Father? Is he still vexed about my marriage?’
The Emperor nodded slightly, unwilling to say more. "Ling Wei, escort the good doctor out of the palace for Us."
Mo Lingwei did not defy him this time and made a welcoming gesture.
Once outside the grand hall, the Divine Doctor, Sima Han, stopped and looked up, his face aged yet benevolent.
"Your Highness, I am but an outsider, and it is not my place to speak out of turn. However, as I am the one treating the Emperor, I feel compelled to offer a word of caution."
"Please, speak freely, good doctor," Mo Lingwei said respectfully.
Sima Han said, "His Majesty’s condition is such that he must not be angered again. When I took his pulse just now, I found his circulation to be obstructed by pent-up frustration."
"This situation is quite similar to what Second Master Xie experienced years ago. If he suffers another major emotional fluctuation, I’m afraid I don’t need to elaborate on the consequences."
Mo Lingwei’s pupils constricted.
Second Master Xie’s bout of extreme anger had ended with him vomiting blood and becoming paralyzed. More than a decade had passed, and he was only now beginning to slowly recover.
The danger was clear without the good doctor needing to elaborate.
Snapping back to his senses, Mo Lingwei cupped his hands. "I understand."
After seeing the Divine Doctor off, Mo Lingwei went and shut himself inside the Imperial Study Room.
The Emperor sent someone to inquire. The Chief Eunuch returned and reported, "I’ve asked the attendants outside the Imperial Study Room. They all say the Crown Prince has been shut inside for four hours now. Wu Fang went in once to deliver tea and saw His Highness with his head in his hands, pondering something deeply."
The Emperor held his medicine bowl without a word, his eyes fixed on the gentle sun outside the window.
The Chief Eunuch knew the Emperor was in low spirits, so he carefully chose his words to try and cheer him up.
"Your Majesty, if this servant may be so bold as to guess... could it be that the Crown Prince has had a realization? Seeing you in poor health, His Highness may not show it, but he is surely worried sick."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor’s expression softened. He nodded slowly and took a sip of his medicine.
He sounded slightly gratified. "Ling Wei has been rebellious since he was a child, but We know he is not a truly heartless or unfilial son."
The Chief Eunuch added, "Yes, this servant thinks so as well. Perhaps this time, His Highness is secretly reflecting and has decided to heed Your Majesty’s words from now on."
The Emperor sighed. "Let’s hope so."
’That was a close call, though. I almost let Mo Lingwei find out that Shen Ningning had sent Wanchun out of the Capital City.’
’If the boy were to grow suspicious and send someone to investigate, he would learn everything once he found Wanchun.’
The Emperor downed the medicine in one go. The liquid was incredibly bitter, but a complex mix of emotions washed over him as he drank.
After all, having held power for decades, he was accustomed to thinking like a ruler.
Just moments ago, upon realizing the secret might be exposed, the Emperor’s first instinct had been to arrange for men to intercept and kill Wanchun on the road.
’An insignificant person who might reveal a secret... of course it would be easier if she were simply dead.’
But as soon as the thought arose, the Emperor hesitated for a moment before pushing it down.
’I can’t push Shen Ningning too far.’
’Otherwise, things could easily spiral out of control.’
「Meanwhile.」
The tightly closed doors of the Imperial Study Room finally swung open.
Mo Lingwei summoned Wu Fang.
"Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"Have this decree delivered," Mo Lingwei said, handing over a Bright Yellow Imperial Decree.
Since the Emperor had fallen ill, the Crown Prince had been acting as regent, handling all of Cangyun Country’s affairs, both great and small.
Therefore, it was nothing new for Mo Lingwei to issue edicts directly.
But what surprised Wu Fang was the content of the Imperial Decree.
He glanced at it and was so shocked that he immediately looked up.
"Your Highness, you’re summoning the blessed girl to the palace to pray for the Emperor’s recovery?"
Mo Lingwei was standing by the window, leisurely tending to a pot with a single, beautiful magnolia blossom.
At Wu Fang’s words, he lazily lifted his gaze and shot him a glance.
"My father’s condition shows no sign of improving. It is only natural that We ask the blessed girl to pray for him."
Wu Fang started, "But—"
Mo Lingwei cut him off. "We presume this is not a difficult task for the blessed girl. She has resolved natural disasters in the past; simple prayer should be well within her abilities. Deliver the decree at once and have her prepare to enter the palace."
Wu Fang was left with no choice. Though he found it absurd, he could only cup his hands. "Yes. Your subordinate will go at once."
When the Imperial Decree arrived at the Xie Mansion, Shen Ningning happened to be having a meal at home with Lu Shaoyuan.
Chancellor Xie led the family in receiving the Imperial Decree. Halfway through the eunuch’s announcement, he looked up in astonishment.
The eunuch announced, "Whereas the Emperor’s health remains poor and his recovery slow, the Crown Prince, in his great anxiety, invites the blessed girl to reside in the palace for several days to pray on His Majesty’s behalf."
With that, the eunuch smilingly presented the Imperial Decree, then tucked his hands into his sleeves. "Your Highness the Princess, the Emperor’s condition is quite volatile, and the Crown Prince is at his wit’s end. We ask that you pack your belongings and accompany this servant to the palace tonight."
Shen Ningning pressed her lips together, her pretty face clouded with dismay.
Chancellor Xie spoke up. "Sir, I am somewhat aware of the Emperor’s condition. The Divine Doctor himself said that His Majesty needs quiet rest. This is not a matter that can be resolved by Ningning’s prayers."
Xie Ming’an, ever impulsive, interjected with a dark, unhappy look, "My sister is a human being, not a god. It would do more good if the Crown Prince just stopped provoking the Emperor."
"Ming An!" Xie Mingxu, as the eldest brother, sternly rebuked him.
The eunuch’s expression grew troubled.
Xie Mingxu said politely, "My younger brother’s words were harsh, but he is not wrong."
Second Master Xie, standing to the side, nodded in agreement. "Furthermore, Ningning is about to have her marriage prospects discussed. It would be most inconvenient for her to stay in the palace at this time."
The eunuch felt helpless. ’This family is impossible,’ he thought, ’but what can I do?’
"Prime Minister, young masters, and Your Highness the Princess, please, I beg your understanding. This servant is merely a messenger. Please, do not make things difficult for me."
Chancellor Xie’s voice grew cold. "Please take the Imperial Decree back to the palace for now, sir. I will speak with His Highness personally during morning court tomorrow to discuss this matter in detail."
However, Shen Ningning, who had remained silent with her lips pressed tight, finally spoke. "Sir, we accept the Imperial Decree."
She held out her hand. The eunuch, as if passing off a hot potato, quickly placed the decree in her palm, terrified she would change her mind.
"Her Highness the Princess is as reasonable as ever. In that case, this servant will return to the palace to report. Someone will come for you after dusk."
He bowed hastily to Chancellor Xie and the others, then scurried away.
"Ningning! You really didn’t have to agree," Xie Suzhi said, his face filled with heartache as he looked at his daughter.
Everyone knew exactly why Mo Lingwei was summoning her to the palace under the guise of her being the "blessed girl."
He hadn’t given up.
Lu Shaoyuan, who had been standing to the side, hadn’t said a word the entire time. He watched Shen Ningning with a complicated, worried expression.
He had no right to interfere in her affairs with Mo Lingwei.
But in his heart, he was completely against her going to the palace.
Shen Ningning listened to her father, and her brothers beside her chimed in, all of them against her decision.
However, she knew that the more the Xie family defied an imperial command for her sake, the more they would incur the Emperor’s displeasure.
Shen Ningning understood this deeply. The Emperor’s earlier words had revealed his fear: if she became the Empress, the Xie family’s power and influence would overshadow the throne, threatening the Mo Family’s rule over the realm.
That was why, this time, she had no choice but to go.
Shen Ningning reassured her father and brothers.
She then turned to Lu Shaoyuan.
"Lu Shaoyuan, don’t worry," she said. "When it’s almost time for me to leave the palace, please come and get me."
Her words soothed him somewhat, and he nodded firmly. "I’ll be there."