Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1101 - 132: Real Illness or Faked Illness? (2)

Her face turned solemn in an instant, her eyes sharpening piercingly.

"So this is the reason Noble Princess Consort Rong pretended to fall ill."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Jiang Chuan reflected inwardly that Noble Princess Consort Rong's chief goal was recalling Prince Dai to the capital. Leaving Prince Dai in the remote northern border would harm his position greatly.

"That vile woman, Noble Princess Consort Rong, proves truly cunning and vicious." Empress Xie dismissed Noble Princess Consort Rong’s fake illness lightly, since it wasn’t her first pretense. "My error in judgment."

"Your Majesty, you were feeling unwell yourself." Jiang Chuan inquired, "What’s our next move?" Blocking Prince Dai’s return to the capital was impossible. Plans must form for after his arrival. "Shall we reveal Noble Princess Consort Rong’s faked illness?"

Empress Xie sneered icily, "Everyone knows she’s faking illness; why bother exposing her?"

"That’s right."

"Summon Prince Jing."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Meanwhile, outside the Imperial Study’s entrance, Sun Doudou pressed Sun Kui on whether Noble Princess Consort Rong was really sick or just pretending.

"I don’t know." Sun Kui himself couldn’t confirm if Noble Princess Consort Rong was feigning illness. He hadn’t trailed the Emperor into the bedchamber to check on her.

"Master, did the Emperor mention anything?"

"The Emperor said nothing."

"I believe Noble Princess Consort Rong is faking it, though this time it’s very convincing; Imperial Physicians attend Yongxin Palace daily, and medicines there flow without pause." Sun Doudou whispered lower, "Servants in Yongxin Palace all carry that bitter herbal scent; the Noble Consort truly invested heavily this round."

Sun Kui stayed silent.

"Master, is the Emperor genuinely concerned or just acting for the Noble Princess?"

Sun Kui shot Sun Doudou a glance: "Tired of your head already?"

Sun Doudou ducked his head, then lightly slapped his own cheek: "I deserve death."

Sun Kui jabbed a finger at Sun Doudou: "No more talk of Noble Princess Consort Rong’s business."

Sun Doudou nodded meekly: "Understood, Master."

"I’ll go see Miss Xiao." Sun Kui headed toward the Imperial Kitchen, requesting Xiao Siyun prepare some pastries.

Xiao Siyun had once worked in the Imperial Kitchen, mastering dim sum from the Imperial Chef with great skill.

Sun Kui sat close by, observing Xiao Siyun craft pastries as they chatted idly.

"His Highness Prince Han prefers pastries not overly sweet; he claims those are the finest."

Xiao Siyun was familiar with Zhao Yao’s preferences.

"Miss Xiao, your pastries avoid excess sweetness; His Highness Prince Han will adore them on return." Sun Kui added, "Know that His Highness Prince Han is a true gourmet?"

"Who in the capital doesn’t know that?" She’d tried shops endorsed by His Highness Prince Han, finding them superbly tasty.

"Since His Highness Prince Han departed for Lingnan, the palace has missed fresh delicacies for ages." Nostalgia crossed Sun Kui’s face as he said, "With His Highness Prince Han here before, new treats appeared regularly, letting us all savor them too."

Though Xiao Siyun never met Zhao Yao, he claimed a special spot in her heart. During Zhao Yao’s time in the capital, rare sightings of His Highness didn’t hinder her awareness of his welfare. Yet after His Highness left for Lingnan, updates on his condition ceased.

"Mr. Sun, how fares His Highness Prince Han in Lingnan?"

Sun Kui froze briefly at Xiao Siyun’s first query about Zhao Yao, then answered gravely: "Frankly, His Highness Prince Han struggles in Lingnan." He spoke without intent to alarm her.

Xiao Siyun dropped her spatula in fright upon hearing this. Gazing up at Sun Kui with anxious worry, she asked: "Does His Highness Prince Han face perils in Lingnan?"

Sun Kui noted Xiao Siyun’s worried look and pondered continuing.

Catching Sun Kui’s hesitant face, Xiao Siyun urged: "Mr. Sun, has ill befallen His Highness Prince Han?"

"Fear not, His Highness Prince Han remains safe; nothing’s happened."

Xiao Siyun found Sun Kui’s words hard to accept. "You mentioned earlier that His Highness wasn’t faring well in Lingnan."

Sun Kui paused briefly before resolving to share the details with Xiao Siyun.

"Due to the Divine Pill incident, His Highness Prince Han faced an assassination attempt while in Lingnan."

Xiao Siyun let out a shocked gasp: "Assassination?" Noticing her tone was too high, she promptly softened it. "Is His Highness Prince Han safe?"

"He’s fine; His Highness Prince Han emerged unscathed." Sun Kui let out a soft sigh. "You wouldn’t believe it, but ever since His Highness arrived in Lingnan and produced all those amazing inventions, assassins have targeted him time and again." To His Highness, such attempts had turned nearly routine. Only recently, the Hidden Guard informed that His Highness suffered yet another attack, bold and out in the open on the main street.

Xiao Siyun’s heart tightened in worry. "Is His Highness really okay? Did they capture the assassins?"

"Miss Xiao, His Highness Prince Han possesses great strength; no assassin can touch him." Recalling a detail, Sun Kui leaned in secretively toward Xiao Siyun. "By the way, envoys from places like Annan and Johor keep dispatching stunning beauties to His Highness Prince Han, yet he’s turned every one away without exception."

Xiao Siyun realized Sun Kui shared this on purpose for her sake; a blush crept over her cheeks as she murmured: "Mr. Sun, you..."

"Miss Xiao, prepare your mind for what’s ahead."

Xiao Siyun’s pulse quickened as Sun Kui’s expression turned grave all at once. "Prepare for what?"

"The Emperor and Lady Liang think His Highness Prince Han remains oblivious to matters of romance; you need to brace yourself accordingly."

Xiao Siyun had braced for grave news, only to hear this instead. Relief washed over her inside, mingled with a touch of disbelief.

"His Highness Prince Han, he..."

"Don’t worry, His Highness has no interest in men; what he loves most is likely earning silver."

Amused yet exasperated by Sun Kui’s misconception, Xiao Siyun clarified: "Mr. Sun, that’s not what I meant; I just..." Forget His Highness Prince Han—even in regular households, her own brother grasped male-female relations by age twelve or thirteen, demanding a beautiful bride.

Grasping Xiao Siyun’s point, Sun Kui explained: "Miss Xiao, you’re aware His Highness has invented countless treasures for the realm since he was young. In Lingnan, he pours all his energy into improving lives for the locals, crafting innovations and erecting trade harbors, leaving no room for distractions."

Xiao Siyun had learned of Zhao Yao’s feats in Lingnan, filling her with profound respect.

"Oh, just days back, the Emperor got a sketch from His Highness Prince Han showing Swamp Prefecture’s present state." Sun Kui had caught a peek at it. "I’ll tell you, His Highness Prince Han transformed Swamp Prefecture into something extraordinary and splendid."

Sun Kui vividly described Swamp Prefecture’s transformations to Xiao Siyun, leaving her utterly amazed.

"Miss Xiao, isn’t our His Highness Prince Han truly exceptional?"

"Incredibly so." She’d long recognized His Highness’s talents, yet never dreamed he surpassed her wildest expectations.

"When His Highness Prince Han first headed to Lingnan to tame Swamp Prefecture, courtiers mocked him endlessly, certain he’d perish there. Yet against all odds, not only did he thrive in Lingnan, but he also amassed a fortune."

"Mr. Sun, I’ve heard numerous court officials lodged grievances against His Highness Prince Han; won’t that harm him?"

Sun Kui dismissed it with a wave. "The Emperor pays it no heed, and His Highness Prince Han cares even less." Given His Highness’s nature, he likely wished for nonstop complaints and slander from officials, allowing him to escape the capital’s chaos entirely.

"Mr. Sun, the pastries are done." Xiao Siyun had whipped them up swiftly amid their conversation.

"Take them to the Imperial Study then."

Hunger struck the Emperor at that perfect moment, and Xiao Siyun delivered the pastries right on time.

"Assist me in drafting a letter to Little Ten." The Emperor directed. "Prepare some of Little Ten’s beloved pastries too; dispatch them alongside the letter to Swamp Prefecture."

Stunned, Xiao Siyun stammered: "Your Majesty, this..." Was the Emperor planning to inform His Highness Prince Han about her?