Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1100 - 132: Real Illness or Feigned Illness?

Noble Princess Consort Rong lies stricken with a grave illness. The news has sparked enormous turmoil in both the imperial court and the harem.

Speculation runs rampant among the common folk over whether her sickness is genuine or fabricated.

Folks widely doubt that Noble Princess Consort Rong is faking her illness, especially since it struck right after Marquis Xuanping's demotion to commoner status. The timing feels far too convenient, fueling suspicions that it's all a ruse.

Feigning illness ranks as a classic scheme in the harem. Nearly every concubine has pulled this stunt at least once. A concubine who hasn't faked sickness to win favor simply isn't up to par. Besides, Noble Princess Consort Rong has resorted to this trick more than just once or twice. Upon hearing of her ailment, the other harem women instantly assumed she was at it again, scheming for the Emperor's sympathy and love.

Noble Princess Consort Rong's ploy of pretending to be sick never failed, sparking intense envy among the rival concubines. They could only fake illness a couple of times before it lost its power. Yet her deceptions succeeded every single time, no matter the frequency. That marked the key distinction.

Once Noble Princess Consort Rong took ill, the Emperor promptly ordered Prince Dai from the distant northern border to rush back to the capital, igniting jealousy in the other concubines as expected. Still, a faint comfort came when he didn't instantly reinstate her brother's rank. Deep down, though, everyone knew an imperial decree restoring Marquis Xuanping's title was inevitable sooner or later.

All anticipated Noble Princess Consort Rong's feigned illness and eagerly awaited her usual show, yet this round her portrayal proved astonishingly lifelike.

Inside Zhao Yang Palace at that moment, Empress Xie had just swallowed half a Divine Pill. Lately, she limited herself to half a pill each time. Though less potent than a full dose, it just managed to preserve her youthful beauty.

Having ingested the half Divine Pill, Empress Xie sensed immediate relief. Her persistent headaches had flared up again recently, albeit milder than past episodes. She was convinced that skipping the Divine Pill would bring them back fiercer than ever.

The Divine Pill didn't just soothe her chronic headaches; it also calmed her mounting anxiety. Lately, beyond the head pain, unease plagued her. Before, anxiety only gripped her when crises arose.

Jiang Chuan watched Empress Xie's face intently and noted her furrowed brows easing, the pain and frustration fading from her features. He breathed a deep sigh of relief inwardly. The Empress's headaches had returned these past days, milder sure, but he'd been tense throughout.

"Empress, are you feeling a bit better now?"

"I felt relief right after the Divine Pill," Empress Xie smiled and replied, "Without Divine Pills ahead, how would I bear my days?"

"Your Highness, didn't His Highness Prince Jing secure a replacement medicine for the Divine Pill? No need to fear running out of Divine Pills henceforth."

"Yet it's no true Divine Pill."

"Your Highness, without more Divine Pills, a substitute is a great blessing already."

"True enough," Empress Xie agreed, hand propping her forehead, her look weary, "Better than nothing at all."

"Your Highness, might I speak my mind?"

Empress Xie looked up at Jiang Chuan, "Go ahead."

"Your Highness, while Noble Princess Consort Rong fakes illness for the Emperor's compassion, your suffering is real. Why not summon the Imperial Physician for an exam?" Jiang Chuan pressed on, "Should the Emperor learn of your illness, he'd visit for sure. You could then beg for the Duke, and he might reinstate the Duke's title."

Empress Xie's lips twisted in scornful amusement, "I refuse to stoop to that harlot's despicable methods for the Emperor's mercy." Straightening up, she added, "Summoning the Imperial Physician would make everyone assume I'm mimicking that wretch Noble Princess Consort Rong's pretense."

"Your Highness, Noble Princess Consort Rong’s ploy of pretending to be ill has worked brilliantly. Look, the Emperor has even summoned Prince Dai back," Jiang Chuan said with worry, "Prince Dai secured a major triumph at the northern border, so he’ll definitely beg on behalf of Marquis Xuanping. Then the Emperor will reinstate Marquis Xuanping’s title. People everywhere claim the Emperor brought Prince Dai back for Noble Princess Consort Rong’s sake and to find a proper excuse to restore Marquis Xuanping’s honors."

"The Emperor won’t reinstate Marquis Xuanping’s title that fast."

"Your Highness, should Prince Dai leverage his battlefield exploits to trade for Marquis Xuanping’s title restoration, the Emperor will surely consent." Ever since the Emperor ordered Prince Dai’s return to the capital, Jiang Chuan had picked up countless whispers within the palace, "Your Highness, Prince Dai already boasts impressive military feats. Now with yet another grand victory over the Xiongnu in the northern border, this could spell trouble for His Highness Prince Jing."

Plagued by constant headaches that clouded her thoughts, Empress Xie hadn’t pondered this angle before. But upon hearing Jiang Chuan’s words, she grasped that Prince Dai’s arrival in the capital might not be fortunate news after all.