"Did Prince Chu also have an accident?" Xiao Xiang asked in surprise.
"Prince Chu is fine, but Prince Qin had an accident." Third Concubine clicked her tongue twice. "Prince Qin has the highest popularity among the princes, apart from His Highness the Crown Prince. I wonder how badly he was injured. If it's like the eldest daughter, then only three princes will remain."
As Third Concubine was gossiping, she suddenly thought of a question: "Daughter, do you think one of the remaining three might have attacked the eldest daughter?"
"Aunt, you can't speak without evidence!" Xiao Xiang looked around. Seeing no one, she breathed a sigh of relief. Two princes had accidents in one day, one dead and one seriously injured. Coupled with Xiao Man, who was also a princess personally bestowed by His Majesty, was someone targeting the royal family, or eliminating rivals?
"I'm just guessing."
"You can't guess carelessly." Xiao Xiang pulled Third Concubine and left quickly. She felt that things were not that simple. With Xiao Man's personality, how could she be so seriously injured? It just didn't feel right no matter how she thought about it.
Lin Concubine was walking back and forth in the room while urging Fourth Miss to do her homework. She felt a vague sense of unease. Every time the eldest daughter had an accident, someone in the household would inevitably be involved. This time, who would be next?
"Aunt, stop pacing in front of me, my eyes are getting dizzy."
"I told you to do your homework, why are you staring at me?" Lin Concubine said irritably.
"I see you're very flustered, Aunt. The eldest sister's accident has nothing to do with you, so why are you flustered?" Fourth Miss, who was always shrewd for her age, had long understood what her aunt was worried about.
"Every time she has an accident, someone in the household is bound to be involved. Aren't I worried?"
"As long as it wasn't you who did it, it will only be someone else who has an accident," Fourth Miss said while writing her homework. "Besides, Third Sister is missing now. Everyone knows that Third Sister was taken out by the eldest sister, and then Third Sister never returned."
"Are you saying that Third Miss was…?" Lin Concubine made a throat-slitting gesture, feeling a sudden chill. Then she remembered Xiao Man poisoning Fourth Miss, and Lin Concubine felt that Xiao Man was capable of killing Xiao Ling.
"Aunt, I didn't say anything. You shouldn't talk nonsense either. If Father knows, he'll be unhappy!"
Lin Concubine's eyes darted around. Xiao Man was only barely hanging on to life. She wondered how much silver this news would fetch from the Cen family master. She was used to spending lavishly, and now, without the Cen family's support, she was almost broke.
Hu Wan went to Prince Qin's mansion and then to the General's mansion. After understanding their situations, he returned to the palace to report to the old emperor, who frowned. "Little Four is very seriously injured?"
"The imperial physicians said that the wound almost took Prince Qin's life. Fortunately, Prince Qin is resilient. Anyone else, stabbed through and through, would have died on the spot."
"How is Little Four now?"
"His Highness Prince Qin is unconscious."
"Have the perpetrators been identified?" Su Dan Novel Network
"This... they haven't been identified. It's said the assassins took poison and committed suicide, leaving no one alive."
"How badly is Yongning injured?"
"Your servant went to the General's mansion to visit. She is unconscious. I also asked several imperial physicians, and they all said that Princess Yongning is only hanging on by a thread and could die at any moment. The imperial physician told the Great General to prepare for the funeral. The Great General was furious and almost beat the imperial physician to death."
The old emperor slowly sat down, his expression shifting several times. "So seriously injured?"
"Indeed. Princess Yongning's clothes were completely soaked in blood. The Great General is now searching everywhere for the culprit," Hu Wan sighed. "Princess Yongning's fate is truly tragic. She has survived multiple assassination attempts, but this time, it seems she cannot escape."
The old emperor sighed. "Alas, I hope that girl can turn misfortune into good fortune."
"Your Majesty, Consort Xian is still causing a scene."
The old emperor frowned in disgust. "Ignore her. Handle Little Ten's funeral arrangements first. He will be buried with the rites of a prince. As for Consort Xian, let her recuperate in her palace due to the shock. She is not allowed to leave her palace."
"Yes."
Prince Qin was seriously injured, Xiao Man was on the brink of death, and Prince Han was killed. News spread, and the capital was in a state of panic. Especially those who participated in the siege of Prince Han that day feared that they would be held accountable by the court. Some even packed their belongings and fled the capital.
Ling Xuan bowed to receive the imperial decree from the palace. Before he could finish reading, Master Ling closed it and placed it on the table. "His Majesty has decreed that the murderer of His Highness Prince Han shall be hanged at the city gate for three days as a warning."
"No further investigation into others?"
"The law does not punish the masses. Moreover, Prince Han was in the wrong from the start. Even though His Majesty grieves for his son, he must also consider the reputation of the royal family," Master Ling said in a low voice. "It's just unclear whether the injuries of Prince Qin and Princess Yongning are related to this matter."
"I heard that Prince Han had an argument with Princess Yongning before he was attacked by the common people."
"Xuan'er, do not speak without evidence. Remember, you are a constable, an enforcer of the law. You must be cautious with your words and actions."
Ling Xuan lowered his eyes. "Father, is it true that Princess Yongning is seriously injured and dying?"
"It's all over the streets, so it should be true. I heard the National Preceptor is using a secret medicine to keep her alive." Master Ling sighed. "The storm is coming. I didn't expect the world to change so quickly."
"Father, what do you mean?"
Master Ling stood up and pushed open the window. A clap of thunder sounded, and large raindrops began to fall. The spring rain should have been gentle, but this rain was particularly fierce, beating down the delicate flowers on the branches. "The storm has arrived."
The capital began to implement a curfew. Imperial guards patrolled the streets at all times, searching house by house for suspicious individuals. Anyone with an unknown identity was detained. For a time, the people were in a state of great anxiety.
Nangong Yu woke up two days after falling into a coma. The first thing he asked upon waking was, "Where is Man'er? How is she?"
"Don't move!" Ye Qing held him down. "Do you still want to live?"
"Ye Qing, how is Man'er?" Nangong Yu's movement was too large, pulling on his wound, and he immediately gasped in pain.
"She's fine, recuperating at the General's mansion." Ye Qing did not tell Nangong Yu the truth, because he knew that if he told Nangong Yu that Xiao Man was only barely hanging on to life and might die, Nangong Yu would crawl there to see her.
"I want to see her."
"Don't make trouble. In your condition, going to see her would only make her feel guilty," Ye Qing scolded him. "Besides, she's not lightly injured either. If you go, you won't be able to do anything and will only add to her troubles."
Nangong Yu calmed down. Ye Qing was right. At this time, going to see Xiao Man would only make her feel self-reproach and sad. She was already not lightly injured, and he couldn't burden her further. He would wait until he recovered and his injuries were not obvious, then go to see her.