She gave birth to... 5 in appearance.
Xiao Hezhen responded with a smile.
But she did not accept her blessing.
"It’s getting late." Xiao Hezhen stood up, "Sister-in-law should also rest, I won’t disturb you any longer. Hezhen takes her leave."
"Hezhen." Ye Qichi called out to her.
"Does Sister-in-law have any other matters?" Xiao Hezhen asked.
"Be mindful of those around you." Ye Qichi said.
Xiao Hezhen was slightly startled.
Ye Qichi did not say more.
Because she wasn’t clear on who exactly it was.
Some of the plot points stretch further than what she had seen in the novels.
Xiao Hezhen nodded, "Yes."
Xiao Hezhen bowed respectfully.
Walking out of the palace gate.
Xiao Hezhen’s steps hesitated momentarily.
The security in the Imperial Palace had been tightened even further due to today’s assassination attempt.
At present, at the palace gate, there were twice as many Imperial Guards stationed than usual.
Xiao Hezhen looked towards one of the guards.
The guard’s gaze was lowered, not daring to look directly, extremely respectful.
Xiao Hezhen’s eyes were tinged with red.
She turned around and left.
After she left, that Imperial Guard slightly raised his head, watching her departing figure, restraining his emotions, not daring to reveal them.
Inside the sleeping chambers.
Ye Qichi’s eyes narrowed, "Lu You, bring over the soup Princess Hezhen just brought."
Lu You was surprised.
Hadn’t the Princess just rejected it herself?!
Why did she suddenly want to drink it now?
If she was going to drink it, wouldn’t it have shown a deeper affection had she drunk it when they were together?
Lu You didn’t understand, but obediently brought the soup back out and placed it in front of Ye Qichi.
Ye Qichi sniffed it again.
It was indeed poisoned.
But Xiao Hezhen was not a villain; she came today to express her gratitude sincerely, it was impossible for her to harm her.
Furthermore, even if she wanted harm, she wouldn’t personally deliver the soup; wasn’t that just seeking death plainly?!
Unless someone was framing her.
But who was being framed, Xiao Hezhen or her?!
To tell the truth, Ye Qichi also couldn’t figure it out right now.
But she felt that what Lu You said was right, one should better not come to the Imperial Palace.
It would not only bring about one’s own death but also involve others.
Her gaze shifted slightly, "Where did Xiao Jinxing go?"
"When this servant came, the Prince was already gone, it seems, it was said that the Empress Dowager sent someone to call him away."
Ye Qichi’s eyes tightened.
Wen Jingtang was someone who could not be underestimated!
The sleeping chamber of the Empress Dowager Wen Jingtang.
Xiao Jinxing sat in a wheelchair, extremely respectful.
Wen Jingtang lay on a soft couch, also only left with a few servants attending to her.
"Ye Qichi isn’t dead?" Wen Jingtang asked.
"According to the Imperial Physician, her injuries are severe, but there is no immediate danger to her life."
"Her life is indeed tenacious."
"I don’t understand, why does Grandmother still want to kill Ye Qichi? Ye Qichi is useful to us." Xiao Jinxing expressed his puzzlement.
Wen Jingtang sneered coldly, "Killing her is not the aim; it is merely to divert suspicion from us."
Xiao Jinxing pursed his lips.
He had actually guessed it.
But... he dared not say it aloud.
"The news of the epidemic in Yuzhou City has been spread far and wide by Wu Liangyuan; it will undoubtedly be reported to the imperial court in the next few days. Your father will definitely be enraged and will send people to Yuzhou City immediately to investigate."
"I know. I have already met with Xufan, and he has informed me of the situation in Yuzhou City." Xiao Jinxing replied.
"The Military Governor of Yuzhou has been bought by Xiao Jinsen. Once Xiao Jinsen steps in to handle this matter, the Military Governor of Yuzhou will certainly be preserved. Given Yuzhou’s strategic position as a key gateway in the North Pass Region, if Xiao Jinsen truly colludes with the external Xiongnu, Yuzhou would become their point of invasion into Daxuan. Therefore, we absolutely cannot allow Xiao Jinsen to succeed in this location."
"Yes." Xiao Jinxing certainly could also think of this, "Previously when I met with Xufan, we also discussed this issue, we must weaken the Second Prince’s power. The ambition of the Second Prince is apparent, and if Father can’t decide to dethrone the Crown Prince, it is highly possible that the Second Prince will ultimately choose to force a palace coup."
"Therefore, today I staged this self-pain strategy." Wen Jingtang smiled sinisterly, continuing, "After today’s assassination attempt, your father will surely harbor panic. A few days later, when the Yuzhou City epidemic is reported, as expected, Xiao Jinsen will volunteer himself, but after today’s incident, your father will surely be more cautious. It’s not that he will suspect Xiao Jinsen, after all, Xiao Jinsen desperately tried to save him today, your father will naturally feel a renewed fondness for him, and this fondness will deepen your father’s reluctance to risk letting him leave the palace. Besides, with the epidemic being extremely contagious, he would not allow his most valued son to go to such a perilous place."