kiwanis-nylisc Chapter 206
Chapter 206
"You mean to say that Third Brother didn't fall into the water by accident, but was pushed in by Qi... Fourth Brother during an argument?"
The Crown Prince blurted out instinctively, a flash of schadenfreude in his eyes.
Feeling a piercing chill from above, Xiao Zhuzi said with trepidation, "Your Majesties, please spare my life! That is not what your servant meant. I am merely reporting exactly what I saw and heard!"
The Crown Prince scoffed coldly. "But it sounds to me like you're implying Fourth Brother pushed Third Brother. Otherwise, how could a perfectly fine Third Brother just fall into the water?"
Sui retorted, "I did not push Third Imperial Brother. Don't you dare slander me!"
With his injured hand, he couldn't put his hands on his hips, so he could only hold his arms level, though his imposing manner remained undiminished.
Pei Qian raised his chin and chimed in, "Exactly! My cousin isn't that kind of person! The three of us are on great terms. Crown Prince cousin, don't try to sow discord among us!"
Ignoring the two of them, the Crown Prince couldn't resist complaining to Emperor Jingxuan, "Imperial Father, if Fourth Brother didn't push him, why is he so agitated?"
Unexpectedly, Emperor Jingxuan merely raised his eyes and gave him a faint, sweeping glance. His tone was unreadable. "I see you are quite agitated as well. As the eldest brother, does seeing your brothers at each other's throats bring you such joy?"
These words were like a basin of ice water poured over the Crown Prince's head, instantly extinguishing the smugness in his heart.
"Im... Imperial Father, that is not what your son meant..." he mumbled submissively, lowering his head.
Seeing this, Consort Xian frowned imperceptibly.
She smiled to smooth things over, speaking up for the Crown Prince. "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is just worried about the Third Prince. Since he fell into the water under such unclear circumstances, we must find out the truth to give the Third Prince and Sister Lu a proper explanation."
Yun Wan's lips curled slightly, a trace of indifference flashing across her breathtakingly beautiful face. "If we are to find out the truth, we must seek evidence and listen to testimonies, rather than believing a one-sided story, twisting the truth, and misleading others."
She raised her eyes to look at the two of them, her tone carrying a hint of mockery. "Could it be that Consort Xian and His Highness the Crown Prince do not understand such a simple principle?"
Consort Xian's smile faded, and she did not reply.
Seeing their silence, Yun Wan questioned Xiao Zhuzi, "Since you saw them arguing, do you know what they were arguing about?"
Xiao Zhuzi hunched his back and said anxiously, "Your servant heard it very clearly at the time. After a fish took the bait, the two Highnesses disagreed on when to reel in the line."
"The Little Prince believed the fish hadn't fully bitten the hook yet and that they needed to wait patiently for a moment, while the Third Prince insisted on reeling it in right then."
Thus, the argument occurred.
"Your servant was just hesitating over whether to step forward and intervene, but in the blink of an eye, the Third Prince fell into the lake."
After speaking, he lowered his head. It truly sounded as if he were merely stating an objective fact.
Sui explained with a solemn face, "We did have a disagreement, but we didn't get angry, let alone get physical. It was just a fish. If we lost it, we lost it. How could I lay a hand on my own flesh and blood?"
"Who knows?"
The Crown Prince muttered under his breath. Upon hearing him, Pei Qian glared at him fiercely.
He really wanted to beat the Crown Prince to a pulp.
The Crown Prince sneered coldly, deciding not to stoop to the level of this brawny barbarian.
Yun Wan patted Sui to comfort him, then turned her head to continue her questioning. "Since you were so close, what did you do after Chenghui fell into the water?"
Xiao Zhuzi replied, "Your servant does not know how to swim. After the Third Prince fell in, I immediately ran to call for help."
Knowing he had failed in his duty, he prostrated himself on the ground, awaiting punishment.
However, no reprimand came. Yun Wan withdrew her gaze and said to Emperor Jingxuan:
"Your Majesty, I believe Sui is not the kind of cruel and ruthless person who would harm his own brother. But outsiders do not know Sui's true nature. To ensure fairness, why not wait until Chenghui wakes up tomorrow to ask him before making a decision?"
Xiao Zhuzi was merely a bystander, yet his few words had made Sui the target of suspicion. Whether it was intentional or not, they would know once the Third Prince woke up.
Whether he was pushed or fell on his own, a simple question would reveal the truth.
Emperor Jingxuan nodded. "The Empress makes a valid point."
He turned his head, intending to announce this decision, when a figure appeared at the door and hurried inside.
It was Consort Lu.
"Your Majesty! Where is Hui'er?" As soon as she entered, she looked around, searching for the Third Prince.
She had rushed over from the palace and was covered in the dust of her journey. Not seeing the Third Prince, she said in a panic, "How is Hui'er? I heard he was pushed into the water. Who was it? Who would be so bold?"
Her tone was aggressive and rushed, and her gaunt face revealed a touch of gloom and paranoia.
Seeing this, everyone frowned, wondering if Consort Lu had gone mad. Was she using such a tone to interrogate the Emperor and Empress?
Only Consort Xian explained to her, "Sister Lu, you might have misheard. It is still undetermined whether the Third Prince slipped and fell into the lake by himself or if he was pushed by the Little Prince."
Hearing this, Consort Lu turned her fierce gaze toward Sui. "It must be you! It definitely is you! Our Hui'er has been so good to you, why would you push him?"
After saying this, she looked at Yun Wan, crying and laughing at the same time. "Your Majesty the Empress, even if you harbor resentment against me, I beg you to direct it at me. Do not target Hui'er! He is innocent!"
Yun Wan was startled by her behavior, feeling that Consort Lu's emotional state was quite unstable.
Emperor Jingxuan merely took one look before coldly ordering, "Guards, Lady Lu is suffering from hysteria and speaking nonsense. Take her away!"
"As the Empress suggested, we shall wait until Chenghui wakes up tomorrow to investigate the truth," he commanded.
"This matter remains undecided. If I hear any idle gossip smearing the reputations of the Empress and her son, the offender will be punished by having their tongue cut out."
.........
That night, the Third Prince indeed developed a high fever. After a bout of intense treatment by the imperial physicians, the fever finally broke, and he passed the critical stage between life and death.
Everyone left, exhausted, leaving behind a maid who leaned against the foot of the bed, keeping a close watch on the Third Prince's condition.
Footsteps echoed from the doorway, startling the drowsy maid awake.
Seeing the visitor, she was taken aback. "Your Highness Consort Lu?"
Consort Lu kept a cold face. "I could not sleep, so I came to see Hui'er."
Thinking she was just worried about her child, the maid offered, "His Highness's fever has broken. His life is no longer in danger, so please rest assured, Your Highness."
Consort Lu gave a noncommittal hum. Looking at the Third Prince on the bed, whose cheeks were flushed but lips pale, she motioned for the maid to leave.
"I have not seen Hui'er for a long time. I wish to stay with him alone for a while."
The maid hesitated for a moment, but considering that the woman was the Third Prince's biological mother, she nodded. "Then your servant will go brew a pot of tea for you."
She quietly withdrew, leaving the mother and son alone.
The candlelight flickered on the stand. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Consort Lu lowered her eyes, her lashes concealing the emotions swirling in their depths.
She had already figured out the entire sequence of events.
Now, the blame for Hui'er falling into the water pointed toward Yun Wan's son, which was why His Majesty intended to wait for Hui'er to wake up before making a final decision.
Thinking of Hui'er's alienation and coldness toward her over the past six months, and the grievances she had suffered, Consort Lu's gaze darkened.
If this child were gone, wouldn't it be a case of dead men tell no tales?
Would the good days for Yun Wan and her son also come to an end?
The Empress's son murdering his own brother... the rumors alone could kill a person.
An eerie flash of excitement and madness crossed Consort Lu's eyes. She slowly pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, staring at the small, sleeping face on the pillow.
And covered it.