Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1101: Chapter 132: Real Illness or Faked Illness? (2)

Her expression instantly became solemn, and her gaze sharp.

"So this is the purpose behind Noble Princess Consort Rong feigning illness."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Jiang Chuan thought, the main purpose of Noble Princess Consort Rong is to bring Prince Dai back to the capital. If Prince Dai stays in the northern border, far from the capital, it would be disadvantageous for him.

"That despicable woman, Noble Princess Consort Rong, is indeed insidious and mean." Empress Xie did not take Noble Princess Consort Rong’s feigned illness to heart, after all, it was not the first time she feigned illness. "It was my oversight."

"Your Majesty, you were unwell as well." Jiang Chuan asked, "What should we do now?" It’s impossible to prevent Prince Dai from returning to the capital. We can only think about what to do after he returns. "Should we expose Noble Princess Consort Rong’s feigned illness?"

Empress Xie sneered coldly, "Everyone knows she’s feigning illness, is there any need to expose it?"

"That’s true."

"Go and call Prince Jing."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

On the other side, at the door of the Imperial Study, Sun Doudou was also asking Sun Kui if Noble Princess Consort Rong was truly ill or feigning illness.

"I don’t know." Sun Kui was also unsure if Noble Princess Consort Rong was feigning illness. He did not follow the Emperor into the royal bedchamber to visit Noble Princess Consort Rong.

"Master, didn’t the Emperor say anything?"

"The Emperor said nothing."

"I think Noble Princess Consort Rong is feigning illness, but this time she has done it quite convincingly; the Imperial Physicians visit the Yongxin Palace every day, and the medicine in Yongxin Palace has never been interrupted." Sun Doudou lowered his voice and said, "The people serving in Yongxin Palace all have a bitter medicinal smell on them, the Noble Consort has really put effort into it this time."

Sun Kui did not speak.

"Master, do you think the Emperor is truly worried or just pretending to care about the Noble Princess?"

Sun Kui glanced at Sun Doudou: "Don’t you want your head anymore."

Sun Doudou shrank his head and then raised his hand to lightly slap himself: "I deserve to die."

Sun Kui pointed his finger at Sun Doudou and said: "Don’t talk about the matters of Noble Princess Consort Rong anymore."

Sun Doudou nodded obediently: "Got it, Master."

"I’m going to find Miss Xiao." Sun Kui turned to the Imperial Kitchen and asked Xiao Siyun to serve some pastries.

Xiao Siyun had previously stayed in the Imperial Kitchen, learned how to make dim sum from the Imperial Chef, and learned quite well.

Sun Kui sat by, watching Xiao Siyun make pastries while chatting with her.

"His Highness Prince Han likes pastries that are not too sweet; he always says pastries that aren’t too sweet are the best pastries."

Xiao Siyun knew Zhao Yao’s taste.

"Miss Xiao, the pastries you make aren’t too sweet; when His Highness Prince Han returns, he will surely love them." Sun Kui continued, "Do you know His Highness Prince Han is a gourmet?"

"Isn’t there anyone in the capital who doesn’t know about this matter?" She had visited shops reviewed by His Highness Prince Han, and indeed, they were delicious.

"Since His Highness Prince Han went to Lingnan, we haven’t tasted anything fresh and delicious for a long time in the palace." Sun Kui said, with a touch of nostalgia on his face, "When His Highness Prince Han was here, every period of time, he would come up with something new, and we could benefit from tasting as well."

Xiao Siyun had never interacted with Zhao Yao, but Zhao Yao held an extraordinary place in her heart. When Zhao Yao was in the capital, although she couldn’t see His Highness frequently, she knew well about His Highness’s well-being. But since His Highness went to Lingnan, she could no longer know His Highness’s status.

"Mr. Sun, is His Highness Prince Han doing well in Lingnan?"

Hearing Xiao Siyun ask about Zhao Yao for the first time, Sun Kui was momentarily stunned, then replied with a somewhat heavy expression: "To be honest, His Highness Prince Han is not doing very well in Lingnan." He said this not to scare Xiao Siyun.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Siyun was frightened enough to drop the spatula in her hand. She looked up at Sun Kui, worry etched on her face, and asked: "Is there any danger for His Highness Prince Han in Lingnan?"

Sun Kui saw Xiao Siyun’s expression filled with concern and wondered whether he should continue.

Seeing Sun Kui’s expression of hesitation, Xiao Siyun asked urgently: "Mr. Sun, has something happened to His Highness Prince Han?"

"Rest assured, His Highness Prince Han is well, nothing has happened."

Xiao Siyun didn’t quite believe Sun Kui’s words, "You just said His Highness wasn’t doing well in Lingnan."

Sun Kui hesitated for a moment but decided to tell Xiao Siyun.

"Because of the matter with the Divine Pill, His Highness Prince Han encountered an assassination attempt in Lingnan."

Xiao Siyun gasped in shock: "Assassination?" Realizing her voice was too loud, she quickly lowered it, "Is His Highness Prince Han alright?"

"It’s alright, His Highness Prince Han was unharmed." Sun Kui sighed slightly, "You have no idea, since His Highness went to Lingnan, after making so many good things, there have been repeated assassination attempts against him." For His Highness, assassination attempts have become almost commonplace. Just a few days ago, the Hidden Guard reported that His Highness faced another assassination, and it was blatant, right on the main road.

Xiao Siyun’s heart clenched, "Is His Highness truly alright? Were the assassins caught?"

"Miss Xiao, His Highness Prince Han is quite formidable; those assassins can’t harm him." Sun Kui remembered something and mysteriously said to Xiao Siyun, "Oh, and the people from foreign countries like Annan and Johor have been constantly sending beauties to His Highness Prince Han, but rest assured, His Highness hasn’t accepted a single one."

Xiao Siyun knew Sun Kui was deliberately telling this for her, her face slightly flushed, she said: "Mr. Sun, you..."

"Miss Xiao, you must be mentally prepared."

Seeing Sun Kui’s face suddenly become serious, Xiao Siyun’s heart was instantly on edge, "What mental preparation?"

"The Emperor and Lady Liang both believe His Highness Prince Han hasn’t opened his mind to relations between men and women; so you must be well prepared."

Xiao Siyun thought it was something significant, didn’t expect it to be this. She breathed a sigh of relief internally and also felt somewhat incredulous.

"His Highness Prince Han, he..."

"Rest assured, His Highness doesn’t like men; his favorite thing is probably making money."

Xiao Siyun saw Sun Kui misunderstood, feeling amused and helpless, she said: "Mr. Sun, I don’t mean that, I was just..." Not to mention His Highness Prince Han, even ordinary families, her brother already knew about relationships between men and women at twelve or thirteen, clamoring to marry a pretty wife.

Sun Kui understood Xiao Siyun’s meaning: "Miss Xiao, you also know His Highness has been creating very beneficial things for the country since childhood. After going to Lingnan, he’s been focused on ensuring the local people live well, wholeheartedly investing in making things and building trade ports, with no time to think about other matters."

Xiao Siyun also heard about what Zhao Yao had done in Lingnan, and she held deep admiration.

"Oh, a few days ago, the Emperor received a drawing sent by His Highness Prince Han, depicting the current Swamp Prefecture." Sun Kui had the fortune to glimpse it, "Let me tell you, His Highness Prince Han has developed Swamp Prefecture extraordinarily well, beautifully."

Sun Kui detailed the changes in Swamp Prefecture to Xiao Siyun, leaving her stunned.

"Miss Xiao, isn’t our His Highness Prince Han quite remarkable?"

"Very remarkable." She always knew His Highness was impressive, but didn’t anticipate he was even more outstanding than she imagined.

"Initially, when His Highness Prince Han set out to Lingnan to develop Swamp Prefecture, officials in the court laughed for a long time, thinking His Highness would die in Lingnan. But no one expected His Highness to not only live well in Lingnan but also earn quite a bit of money."

"Mr. Sun, I heard many officials in the court filed complaints against His Highness Prince Han; won’t this be detrimental to him?"

Sun Kui waved his hand: "The Emperor doesn’t take it seriously, and His Highness Prince Han even less so." With His Highness’s disposition, probably hoping the officials would complain about him daily, talk bad things about him, so he could completely stay away from the capital’s troubles.

"Mr. Sun, the pastries are ready." Xiao Siyun quickly finished making pastries while chatting with Sun Kui.

"Then bring them to the Imperial Study."

The Emperor coincidentally felt hungry, and Xiao Siyun brought the pastries timely.

"Help me write a letter to Little Ten." The Emperor instructed, "And make some of Little Ten’s favorite pastries; send them together with the letter to Swamp Prefecture."

Xiao Siyun was stunned: "Your Majesty, this..." The Emperor, letting His Highness Prince Han know about me?