"I recall, people outside say Yu'er died from a sudden bout of lust?" Consort De asked softly.
"Replying to Your Ladyship, that is not the case. The eldest young master was poisoned. The one who administered the poison... was most likely instigated by the Empress Dowager!" Qing Jun lowered her gaze and spoke slowly.
"The Empress Dowager, it's the Empress Dowager again!" Consort De gritted her teeth. She had her son taken away, and now her son had been murdered. If this hatred was not avenged, she would be unworthy of being a mother!
Minister Jin had not attended court for many consecutive days, having taken sick leave.
Imperial physicians had visited several times. Minister Jin was frail and weak, even his speech was faint. Sometimes, when Minister Jin suffered an attack, even the imperial physicians would fall ill.
The Imperial Hospital sent their reply to the Emperor. Upon hearing this, the Emperor ordered Qin Zeyan to temporarily manage the Ministry of Revenue in place of Jin Xiao. Everyone understood that His Majesty was preparing to move against the Jin family.
Although the matter of Prince Qi had been suppressed by His Majesty, it remained like a thorn in His Majesty's flesh; if not removed, it would continue to cause hidden pain.
Jin Rong looked at Jin Xiao lying on the bed, barely clinging to life. There was no strong emotion in his eyes, as if the person lying there was a stranger, not his father.
"Rong'er, why have you come?" Madam Jin entered with medicine in hand. Seeing Jin Rong, she quickly put down the medicine and examined him, "The clothes fit you well. I'll make you a couple more sets another day."
"Thank you, Mother."
Madam Jin was delighted to hear Jin Rong call her mother. "Rong'er, I've found a young lady for you. What do you think..." Su Dan Novel Network
"Mother, I already have someone in my heart," Jin Rong said slowly. "In this life, I will only marry her."
Upon hearing this, Madam Jin quickly pressed, "Whose daughter is she? What is her character and appearance like? What is her family background? If she is suitable, Mother will pick an auspicious day to propose to you."
"There's no rush. Once the messy affairs of the household are settled, it won't be too late to tell Mother." Jin Rong looked at Minister Jin. "In our current situation, I'm afraid it would frighten the young lady."
"It was Mother's oversight." Madam Jin rubbed her hands excitedly. To see her son married and have children would be the fulfillment of her life. However, she had wronged him so much over the years; she didn't know how to make amends.
"Father needs to take his medicine."
"Yes, it's time for medicine." Madam Jin helped Minister Jin sit up, while Jin Rong picked up the medicine and fed it to Minister Jin spoonful by spoonful.
Minister Jin opened his eyes and saw Jin Rong sitting by the bed. This son, whom he had never truly valued, was now the pillar of the family.
"How is the family business?"
"Very good, Father, don't worry."
"What about Prince Qi?" Minister Jin was most worried about Prince Qi.
Jin Rong's gaze swept over Madam Jin. Killing intent flickered in Madam Jin's eyes. When Jin Rong looked at her, her expression turned to one of loving kindness again. She applied a slight force to the hand holding Minister Jin, causing him pain. He couldn't help but look at Madam Jin.
"My lord, Prince Qi is His Majesty's son, a favored child of heaven. Who could do anything to him?" Madam Jin said with a smile. "Even if His Majesty were to do something to him, as a subject, could one possibly confront His Majesty?"
"Madam, what you say is incorrect. Prince Qi is our reliance..."
"My lord is speaking nonsense again. How can Prince Qi be our reliance? That is merely your reliance. My reliance is my son!" Madam Jin said, her gaze particularly affectionate as she looked at Jin Rong. "No one can surpass my son!"
Minister Jin felt that Madam Jin's words held hidden meaning, yet he couldn't understand the true intention behind them. "If Prince Qi were to ascend the throne..."
"My lord, it's best not to speak such treasonous words. The current Emperor is in his prime. If these words were to reach His Majesty's ears, our heads might not be saved." Madam Jin released her grip on Minister Jin. He slumped back onto the bed, struggling to prop himself up.
"What are you doing?"
"Rong'er, you go and attend to your business. Leave this to Mother." Madam Jin took the medicine bowl from Jin Rong and escorted him out. "If you have nothing else, ask the young lady you like out. Mother will handle the household matters as quickly as possible."
Jin Rong nodded and turned to leave. Minister Jin was his biological father. No matter how much he hated him, he could not act against him. Even though this man had never treated him as his son, he could pretend not to see what Madam Jin was doing.
As soon as Jin Rong left, Madam Jin's smile vanished. She placed the medicine bowl heavily on the small table. "Jin Xiao, you truly went to great lengths for that bastard child you had with the Empress Dowager!"
Jin Xiao's face changed dramatically. "What nonsense are you spouting? Empress Dowager and I were innocent!"
"Innocent?" Madam Jin sneered. "If you were unclear with that woman, may lightning strike you down and may you die a horrible death!"
"You venomous woman! Prince Qi has always respected you, how dare you be so presumptuous?"
"Respect?" Madam Jin sneered. "It was merely for his own use. Didn't you marry me back then because you coveted my family's influence?"
Minister Jin looked at Madam Jin's cold expression, his heart filled with unease. "You... you dare not speak such drivel!"
"Everyone outside knows that you had an affair with the Empress Dowager and that Prince Qi is your illegitimate son with the Empress Dowager. Although His Majesty suppressed this matter, it will forever be a painful thorn in His Majesty's heart. Prince Qi will henceforth be estranged from the throne. Our Jin family must also sever ties with Prince Qi. However, as long as you are alive, the Jin family can never completely sever ties with Prince Qi. What is to be done?"
"What do you want to do?" Minister Jin asked in terror. Before, he thought Madam Jin's methods were ruthless and she could always handle household matters efficiently. Now that Madam Jin's methods were to be used against him, he was afraid.
"I don't care how you arranged for your illegitimate son. But you should never have, never have, plotted against my son!" Madam Jin said through gritted teeth. "The child born to the Empress Dowager is your child, is the child born to me not yours? How cruel must you be to hand my child over to a lowly slave to raise, to let him be trampled upon and bullied since childhood? And to make me raise another woman's son as my own, to watch another son bully my own son every day, and I was unaware, even once wanting to kill my own son. Jin Xiao, Jin Xiao, tell me, how should I repay you for everything you've done to me?"
"This... I was unaware. It was the Empress Dowager who sent people to switch your child, not me!"
"Liar!" Madam Jin rebuked angrily. "You were unaware? In this Jin family, even the Empress Dowager could not possibly have all the household staff expelled. However, her arrogance won't last much longer. The Emperor cannot tolerate her, and Consort De detests her to the bone. Her good days are coming to an end!"
"Madam, please calm down. We are one. If anything were to happen to me, the title of Minister of Revenue would fall into other hands. At that time, the Jin family's prestige would surely suffer a heavy blow!"