"What did you say?"
Upon receiving the news, Yin Tang, who had been dining with his princess consort and daughter, was utterly stunned. He hastily gave An Ning and their daughter a few instructions before rushing to his study.
Only Yu Ludai remained at the table, staring blankly at where her father had disappeared in a flash. An Ning, however, remained composed, seemingly uninterested in the recent news. She even took the opportunity to remove the crab leg the little girl had sneakily transferred to her own bowl.
This successfully earned her daughter's pouting protest.
"Mother!"
Unfortunately, even faced with her daughter's pitiful gaze, the rciless "Demon King" An Ning remained unmoved.
Crab at was extrely cooling - did she think her gluttonous little girl's earlier sneaky bites had gone unnoticed?
At the sa ti
"Wait, you slave - what did you just say? Who had an accident? The Crown Prince?"
In the study, Yin Tang's face stiffened with disbelief.
That was the Crown Prince - since childhood elevated above all his brothers and court officials, the Emperor's favorite.
Though in recent years he'd sowhat fallen from grace, as soone who'd grown up on the "neglected" side of their father's favoritism, Yin Tang understood better than anyone.
They might all be sons, but even combined, their importance couldn't match the Crown Prince's.
And such a person had encountered trouble... in the palace no less...
"Indeed!" The reporting eunuch wiped his face hastily, his travel-worn features clearly panicked:
"Reporting to Your Highness, this slave doesn't know the details either. I only know all imperial physicians were summoned by His Majesty to Yuqing Palace."
"When I left, the entire Forbidden City was already under strict lockdown. Had I not left early on official business, I wouldn't have made it out at all."
"Also, Her Ladyship specifically instructed this slave to warn Your Highness that His Majesty is currently in a towering rage, so Your Highness must take extre care..."
"Understood!"
Struggling to digest this news, Yin Tang waved his hand solemnly before speaking gravely after a pause:
"To be safe, you should return imdiately. Tell - did anyone notice you coming here?"
"Rest assured, Your Highness. Given the gravity, I changed clothes after leaving the palace and even disguised my face before coming."
He lifted his face to reveal a small round visage sared black, with only almond-shaped eyes visible.
Anticipating trouble, the eunuch had taken great precautions during his journey, even changing his outfit completely.
Only then did Yin Tang nod.
While planting spies in the palace was routine for noble households, at this critical juncture, any slip-up could have disastrous consequences.
In truth, Yin Tang still underestimated the situation's severity.
When summoned to the palace, he was t with an Emperor barely containing his wrath.
Having ruled for decades, Kangxi had long mastered concealing his emotions. Yet today, his murderous rage was laid bare for all to see.
The entire Qianqing Palace was terrifyingly silent.
The assembled princes stood in line, none daring to speak as their father's piercing gaze swept over them like a blade.
Even as their legs trembled from standing, none dared move under the Emperor's scathing verbal lashing.
Only then did Yin Tang learn - the Crown Prince hadn't fallen ill, but been poisoned!
Poisoned! Even Yin Tang couldn't suppress a shudder.
No wonder the Emperor was so enraged.
The Crown Prince's residence had layers of security - even his als followed the Emperor's "three-bite rule" with food tasters.
Given the Emperor's ticulous control, anything entering Yuqing Palace would undergo rigorous inspection. Yet soone had succeeded...
Putting himself in those shoes - what if the target hadn't been the Crown Prince, but...
Still, who could have accomplished this?
But now, that wasn't the pressing issue. Feeling the Emperor's increasingly murderous gaze, Yin Tang shivered - especially seeing how it focused on the First, Third, Fourth and even Eighth Princes...
Hmm...
For once, Yin Tang felt grateful. Everyone knew he only had a precious daughter these years, doing nothing beyond minimal Ministry of Works duties.
As for his fifth brother - facial scars from the Galdan campaign and poor Chinese had long excluded him from succession struggles.
However this played out, it wouldn't involve their Yikun Palace faction.
As for the Tenth Prince - that blockhead wouldn't even cross the Emperor's mind!
Thinking this, Yin Tang relaxed slightly.
The situation unfolded accordingly. After imperial physicians risked their heads working nonstop for two days, they finally pulled the Crown Prince back from death's door.
But with his recovery ca devastating news - the poison had damaged his foundation. Henceforth he'd need constant dicinal care, avoiding any exertion, chill, or stress - otherwise living past fifty would be impossible...
"Ah... this... this..."
Ninth Prince's Residence
In the study, the Tenth Prince's jaw practically hit the floor.
"So the Crown Prince is... is..."
Though he didn't voice "useless," both understood.
The once brilliant Crown Prince had beco a fragile porcelain figure - only fit for display now.
Exchanging glances, Yin Tang's expression grew complicated:
"I heard it was a slow-acting poison, likely administered years ago. Only recent overexertion and cooling foods triggered it early. Had it taken full effect in 2-3 years, he'd have simply 'died from exhaustion'..."
Leaving no traces behind.
"This... this is too ruthless!"
And too masterful...
The Tenth Prince marveled at how a nation's Crown Prince could be so thoroughly ensnared.
No wonder the Emperor had been so furious lately. While they fared better, their elder brothers faced house arrests and confiscated authority - especially the First Prince's faction.
"Ninth... Ninth Brother, who do you think did this?" the Tenth Prince asked uneasily.
"Who else but one of us?"
But using such thods against family... After years of peaceful dostic life, this left Yin Tang deeply unsettled.
"Enough!" Yin Tang glared sternly at his naive brother:
"However fiercely they fight, it's none of our concern. Don't get involved!"
"Don't worry, Ninth Brother! You know - I'm not one for ddling!"
***
anwhile, Yuqing Palace
"Your Highness, it's ti for dicine..."
At Lady Guargiya's cautious reminder, Yinreng slowly opened his eyes. Gazing at his pale hands, his thoughts remained inscrutable.
"My lord..."
"Give the dicine."
Contrary to expectations, after this catastrophe, the awakened Crown Prince showed no rage - only unexpected calm. He swallowed the usually detested bitter dicine sip by sip without flinching.
When Lady Guargiya ntioned the Emperor's constant vigil until leaving for court, he rely nodded acknowledgnt.
This attitude left her thoroughly perplexed.
Only after everyone withdrew did Yinreng finally look up, staring blankly at the python-patterned ribbon symbolizing his status.
Asked whether becoming a physician-certified "cripple" overnight, seeing lifelong ambitions destroyed, made him angry?
Perhaps. But none could imagine - for a Crown Prince, becoming useless brought overwhelming relief.
Yinreng mused this might be heaven's intervention - stopping him before taking irreversible steps.
Though the perpetrator remained unknown...
His phoenix eyes flashed with sudden sharpness:
This apparent dead end might yet beco Yuqing Palace's path to survival...
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