Quick Transmigration: What to Do When the Male Supporting Character You Saved Becomes Obsessed with

Chapter 214 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (114)

The hall fell silent for a moment, the air seemed to freeze and thicken, and everyone's eyes were focused on the dark red bloodstain that was spreading on the ground.

Then a piercing scream, as if it were about to make someone vomit blood, rang out: "Your Majesty—"

"Mother--"

The old nanny who had been serving Consort Rong rushed forward and hugged Consort Rong's body, her hands instantly becoming covered in blood.

"Your Majesty! Please have mercy! Please save the Empress! Your Majesty! For the sake of the Empress's service to you all these years, His Highness the Seventh Prince cannot live without her! Your Majesty—" The old nanny looked around.

Aside from the initial shock, the faces of the people in the hall either showed indifference or a desire to avoid the situation at all costs, as if they were afraid of becoming innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire...

Several imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital stood to one side, but none of them dared to step forward to check on Consort Rong's condition.

Before the Emperor, what do the others count for? Even the once infinitely glorious Imperial Concubine has no one to rely on, making her look pitiful or pathetic.

"Your Majesty—I beg you!"

The old woman kowtowed desperately, and in a few moments her hair became disheveled, and her forehead was covered in bruises.

But the Emperor showed no pity for Consort Rong. Instead, he became irritable and furious. He kicked over a candle holder with his bare feet, as if he felt no pain at all!

He truly couldn't feel it. At this moment, he felt as if he had been thrown into a pot of boiling oil, his flesh, bones, and internal organs being fried by constant, sizzling pain and itching. If he could, he would want to cut open his abdomen with a knife right now...

Take all the stuff out of there, throw it on the ground and stomp on it a few times to make them behave and stop causing trouble!

His head was throbbing so badly it felt like it was going to explode. Every sound made him want to kill. The more he moved, the more it hurt. This cycle continued, and his anger made him tremble all over.

Why! I am the Son of Heaven!

Who dares to stop me from doing whatever I want!

The immortal... the immortal's words are true, these people all harbor disloyal intentions! I will have them all, all of them...

The emperor's ears were ringing, and only this one thought remained in his mind.

"Take him out! Take him out—" the Emperor roared!

"Imperial physician, why won't you treat the Imperial Concubine?"

Just as everyone was shrinking back, even holding their breath, waiting for the emperor's anger to erupt, a gentle yet stern voice suddenly broke the silence.

His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the eldest prince had become the backbone of the palace, and his character and virtues were convincing.

"Although he cannot compare to the previous Crown Prince, but..."

"Are you out of your mind! Given the Crown Prince's current condition, he might very well..."

Such private discussions are commonplace.

The former Crown Prince, now the Third Prince, is impeccable in every aspect, whether in the court or in the palace, in the imperial court or in the distant world.

With such outstanding talents preceding them, even though those who follow are far from ordinary, they still fail to impress.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The imperial physician bowed deeply, his face showing reluctance.

"Go quickly and treat Consort Rong!" Ji Shuqin ignored his hesitation, raised his voice slightly, and showed a hint of sternness.

"Yes."

Seeing that the Emperor did not speak to stop him, the imperial physician glanced at the Empress and noticed that she was also silent. He steeled himself and stepped forward to check Consort Rong's breath.

Consort Rong, who was once incredibly powerful and held half of the Phoenix Seal, almost becoming the mistress of the harem, has now fallen to such a state.

Blood streamed down his face, making it look like gold paper. Dressed in plain clothes, he lay unconscious on the ground in front of everyone, yet no one paid him any attention.

After sensing a faint breath, she was hurriedly carried out by several eunuchs and maids, while the old nanny following behind her continued to wail mournfully...

"Father, Mother." Ji Shuqin withdrew his gaze, entered the hall, and bowed to the Emperor and Empress.

"Why has Qin'er come here?" the Empress asked first, as she hadn't seen Ji Shuqin for several days.

Whether in the mountain temple before or after returning to the palace, Ji Shuqin always visited her to pay his respects without fail every day, but in the last two months...

Ji Shuqin had stopped coming to Fengyi Palace every day, but the Empress couldn't remember exactly when he stopped coming.

When she saw Ji Shuqin, she wanted to show her concern for him. Just as she was about to say something, she saw that Ji Shuqin had already looked away.

"I've come to pay my respects to the Emperor," Ji Shuqin said calmly, then looked at the Emperor and asked, "How is the Emperor's health today?"

"Qin'er..." The Emperor closed his eyes, trying to appear kind, but the flesh on his face was completely out of his control, and his expression was painful and ferocious, making him look terrifying.

"I am much better today." With De Cheng's help, the Emperor sat down and had a palace maid kneel on the ground to put his shoes on.

Ji Shuqin seemed oblivious to what had just happened, and echoed the Emperor's words, saying, "Your Majesty seems to be in much better spirits; the imperial physician's medicine is very effective."

The imperial physician cast a grateful glance at Ji Shuqin, knowing that the Crown Prince was speaking up for him and hoping that the Emperor would not take his anger out on him.

"It's still not quite satisfactory." The Emperor changed his tune, a hint of impatience resurfacing in his expression.

“If Father is unwell, he should rest more. Why do this…” Ji Shuqin frowned slightly, his concern growing stronger.

"However, however..." When facing Ji Shuqin, the Emperor involuntarily softened his attitude, leaving everyone feeling puzzled and wondering why.

Could it be that the Emperor really likes the eldest prince that much?

However, some people still harbored doubts. Something was amiss. The Emperor was cold and indifferent to everyone else, yet he was so kind to the Empress and the First Prince. There must be something going on here.

Even Ji Shuqin himself had doubts, wondering why the emperor would treat him differently.

He wanted to ask the Empress, but he felt a sense of resistance. He had now discovered that his mother, whom he had always trusted, had lied to him countless times!

Even now, knowing that she doesn't want to accept the path she has prepared for her, she is still deceiving herself. Ji Shuqin can't even tell which of her words are true and which are false.

If I ask her again, will she tell me the truth?

If I take the initiative to ask her, will she think that I am compromising and indulging her?

"Your father is unwell himself, so he is even more worried about your seventh brother. That's why he thought of calling him to come and see him. I don't know what Consort Rong was thinking..." the Empress explained softly, and personally fastened the Emperor's clothes.

"That's right. I... I wish for all of you to be safe and sound now." The Emperor said to Ji Shuqin somewhat blankly, agreeing with the Empress's words.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that Seventh Brother's health has not fully recovered. The Noble Consort is probably too protective of her son. In that case, Father and Mother, please do not force Seventh Brother to come."

Ji Shuqin felt extremely distressed as he listened to his own lies that went against his conscience.

If, as they both claim, they merely wanted to know how well the Seventh Prince had recovered, yet they went to such lengths, even driving Consort Rong to the point of committing suicide by hitting her head against a pillar in protest, it is utterly absurd and laughable!

"Qin'er is right. Your Majesty's health is the most important thing. Everything else can wait." The Empress patted the Emperor's back as he coughed.

"Now that Qin'er is here, let's have lunch together. Lunch will be in my palace..." The Empress looked at Ji Shuqin hopefully.

"I am still a little unwell today, so I will dine with Mother Empress again next time," Ji Shuqin said calmly, looking away as if he hadn't seen the Empress's gaze.

"Qin'er, if you have something to do, go ahead and do it..." the Empress said regretfully, her tone wistful. In the past, Ji Shuqin would never have been able to bear seeing the Empress so disappointed, but now, he couldn't tell whether the Empress was truly disappointed or just pretending. If he went with her, would she bring up those suffocating demands again?

Ji Shuqin no longer wanted to hear a single word; he was utterly fed up with the struggle for the throne!

With just a few words, the Emperor gave up the idea of ​​seeing the Seventh Prince. No one could match the Empress and the First Prince's ability to influence the Emperor's mind.

This thought remained in the minds of those around him, and their gazes toward Ji Shuqin were filled with an undisguised scrutiny and inquiry, making Ji Shuqin feel as if he were being pricked by thorns.

He had never been speculated about like this before. Although he didn't know what they thought of him, Ji Shuqin knew that it must be different from what he thought.

A virtuous person is not afraid of rumors, and his uprightness is reflected in his actions. Although Ji Shuqin knew this was the case, he could not help but feel annoyed by them.

“Your Highness the First Prince… Just a few days ago, the Emperor wanted to summon the Third Prince to the palace.” Later that evening, De Cheng suddenly appeared outside his study.

Silently, all alone.

Ji Shuqin saw him dressed in eunuch's robes, standing hunched over in the night, his tone sinister, even somewhat ghostly.

"What do you want to say?"

"His Majesty summoned the Third Prince to the palace, but the Empress stopped him." De Cheng's gaze was meaningful as he gestured to Ji Shuqin as if to read out an imperial edict.

"Why did Father Emperor... and what was the matter? And why did Consort Rong smash her head against the pillar today?" Ji Shuqin demanded sternly!

"Your Highness, I am nothing but a lowly servant. I know nothing. It is not worth it for you to be angry with me."

Seeing Ji Shuqin get angry, Decheng remained calm and said, while he spoke words that belittled himself, he actually seemed to be guiding the conversation.

"You know what kind of filthy thing you are! If that's the case, why don't you answer my questions!" Ji Shuqin rarely got angry.

He has always been a gentleman, never uttering harsh or vulgar words. For him to say something like this means he has already turned hostile.

"This servant knows nothing. This servant is merely a messenger. You can ask Her Majesty the Empress yourself... Her Majesty the Empress has always hoped that you would be more filial..."

Decheng's voice was soft and feminine, and under the starless and moonless night, it sounded even more strange and unsettling.

"Don't you always think that Her Majesty the Empress doesn't care about His Highness the Third Prince? If it weren't for Her Majesty protecting him..." He always left his sentence unfinished.

"If you don't trust Your Highness, why don't you protect her yourself? If you ever find a servant displeasing, you can order someone to cut this servant into a thousand pieces and subject him to a slow slicing. At that time, whatever you do will not be wrong."

De Cheng spoke in a low, enigmatic tone, as if trying to bewitch Ji Shuqin.

"Get out!" Ji Shuqin pointed outwards, but immediately withdrew his hand, not wanting Decheng to notice that his fingertips were trembling.

"Have you forgotten what happened on the day of the sacrificial ceremony? You must make a decision quickly, lest Her Majesty worry too much. This servant takes his leave." After saying this, De Cheng turned and left, disappearing silently into the darkness.

The information he provided made Ji Shuqin ponder: the Seventh Prince, Consort Rong's suicide by hitting her head against the pillar, the day of the sacrificial ceremony...

All the information combined forced him to think about the worst-case scenario.

He wanted to ask Ji Shumin, but the thought quickly passed. No, if he contacted Ji Shumin now, it would attract too much attention and draw attention away from Ji Shumin.

After the blank imperial edict that day, Lu Liruan was a little paranoid.

But Ji Shumin remained unchanged, living his life routinely every day.

"Don't worry, Li Ruan."

What was thought to be words of comfort turned into Ji Shumin's next words: "They'll come back sooner or later, just wait."

Lu Liruan: ...Don't you think of any solutions?

"If someone tries to take me away one day, Li Ruan doesn't need to worry. Just stay in the manor and wait for me to come back."

A cold glint flashed in Ji Shumin's eyes: "At that time, Li Ruan's place might be more dangerous than the place I'm going to."

With his prior warning, just after dinner that day, a group of people entered amidst a commotion, with the leading eunuch carrying an imperial edict.

Are imperial edicts so worthless now?

In the midst of all the chaos, this thought still managed to pop into Lu Liruan's mind.

This imperial edict again ordered Ji Shumin to enter the palace immediately, and the wording was even more urgent and pressing.

Instead of allowing Ji Shumin to prepare, they ordered him to be taken away immediately!

No wonder the palace guards were with them; it turned out they were there to take Ji Shumin away.

"May Your Highness make some preparations?" Lu Liruan frowned.

"Your Majesty, please don't make things difficult for us servants. This is the Emperor's decree. Please, His Highness the Third Prince, leave the residence and get into the carriage."

This time, no second imperial edict contradicting it came to stop him. Lu Liruan watched helplessly as Ji Shumin, like a prisoner, was guarded and cautiously escorted into the carriage, which sped off towards the direction of the palace.

Lu Liruan stood alone in the wind, and the summer night felt rather chilly.

"Your Highness, please come inside... His Highness will be alright," Qinghe whispered.

Lu Liruan nodded. All she could do at that moment was to follow Ji Shumin's instructions, close the gates, guard the mansion, protect herself, and not cause any trouble.

He couldn't enter the palace by himself, so Ji Shumin had to deal with it alone!

"Your Highness, please."

The one who received Ji Shumin in the palace was none other than Decheng.

Ji Shumin was pushed into the courtyard, where there wasn't even a candle.

"Songjing Garden has been uninhabited for a long time. His Majesty, feeling sorry for Your Highness, has arranged for you to stay here temporarily..."

This was utterly blatant lying. Ji Shumin was pushed into the dark room, where he could smell the dust.

"Thank you, Father Emperor," Ji Shumin replied readily.

"Please rest first, and we will have someone come to serve you in a moment." The palace maids lit the candles in the room.

Ji Shumin calmly allowed himself to be manipulated without the slightest unease; on the contrary, he was quite indifferent.