Chapter 24

Hearing the words “Jade Lady Pill,” the Emperor who usually masked his emotions, was visibly taken aback.

If the Qin Shizi from the past had been solely focused on martial arts and military strategy, he might not have known about such a thing.

But now, after five years of ruling the Emperor had become intimately familiar with every detail of the capital’s affairs, from the highest princes and ministers down to the lowest commoners.

He knew that the Jade Lady Pill was a powerful aphrodisiac used in brothels to control new girls who didn’t obey the madam. It was known for its strong potency and its effect of preventing pregnancy, with its influence lasting for several years.

As he recalled Kang Yuyi’s strange and inexplicable behavior over the past seven years and her persistent inability to conceive, realizing it was all due to this drug…

The Emperor’s heart tightened with fury, his usually impassive eyes narrowing with anger.

Liao Jingyi continued to sob uncontrollably, “Your Majesty, please have mercy! I was forced into this! I never meant to harm Yuyi!”

Desperate to avoid further punishment, she added, “I even left a window open for Yuyi to escape through! Please understand, Your Majesty!”

This was of course, a fabrication. She had hoped that Kang Yuyi’s small frame, combined with the effects of the drug, would make it impossible for her to escape through the window, so she hadn’t bothered to secure it.

The Emperor remained silent, reflecting bitterly on his long-standing misjudgments and his subtle disdain for Kang Yuyi.

He also recalled the joy he felt when Kang Yuyi gave birth to their eldest son, and how he had been unable to face her afterward.

All of this was due to the treachery of this vile servant and his cousin Cui Mulin!

The Emperor’s rage was so intense that he wished he could tear them apart and destroy them completely!

Liao Jingyi continued to plead, “Your Majesty, please spare me! Yuyi and I have been like sisters since we were children. She’s always been kind-hearted and would never want to see me die a cruel death!”

“How dare you even utter the name of Noble Consort?” The Emperor’s voice was laced with barely contained fury.

Fortunately, the interrogation room at the Northern Zhen Fu Si was designed with excellent soundproofing. Otherwise, the people waiting outside would have heard Liao Jingyi’s agonizing screams in their entirety.

After a prolonged period, the Emperor emerged from the interrogation room where Liao Jingyi was held. He looked up at the waning moon in the summer sky, momentarily lost in thought.

“Send someone to find a chance to ‘invite’ Cui Mulin to the Northern Zhen Fu Si,” he ordered with icy resolve. “Ensure that no one, especially the Cui family from the Marquis of Boling is alerted.”

The Cui family was connected to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor did not want to escalate the situation to the point where it would involve his mother, who had been mourning her husband’s death for many years.

The Commander of the Jinyiwei was taken aback. Cui Mulin was not only the Emperor’s cousin but also the Empress Dowager’s nephew.

Despite his surprise, he maintained a neutral expression, bowed respectfully, and immediately dispatched his men.

The Emperor then hurried back to the Lu Hua Palace.

By this time, the night had deepened. The Emperor had expected to find Kang Yuyi resting peacefully, but instead he was met with the sight of her playing with the crown prince on the rosewood bed.

The crown prince had fallen asleep after his evening milk, but had woken up just a couple of hours later. Unfamiliar with the new surroundings of the Lu Hua Palace, he began to cry loudly. His cries were so piercing that even Kang Yuyi in the main hall could hear them clearly.

Feeling a pang of maternal distress, Kang Yuyi could not bear the sound. She hurriedly summoned the wet nurse to bring the crown prince into the main hall.

When the crown prince saw his beloved mother, his cries ceased instantly. He sniffled adorably, reaching out for a hug.

Kang Yuyi remembered how he had rubbed against her chest for milk earlier and felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety and fear.

She instructed the wet nurse to place the prince on the bed, then took a soft satin handkerchief, dampened it slightly, and gently wiped the tears from his chubby face.

The little prince babbled and mumbled to Kang Yuyi in a soft, milky voice, his chubby hands continuing to reach out as if desperately wanting her to hold him.

Kang Yuyi struggled to suppress her rising panic and, with a gentle smile, embraced the eldest prince.

The Emperor arrived at Lu Hua Palace just in time to witness this tender scene. Seeing the mother and son in such an intimate and affectionate moment, he felt a surge of emotion.

The attendants around him quickly bowed and paid their respects. Noting that Kang Yuyi was preparing to get up, the Emperor raised his hand and said, “There’s no need for formalities.”

Recalling the dark, damp, and musty interrogation room he had just left, the Emperor chose not to approach Kang Yuyi and the prince. Instead, he went straight to a side room to bathe and change.

The crown prince thrilled to be held by his favorite mother consort joyfully grabbed the sleeve of Kang Yuyi’s ivory satin gown and shook it with delight.

Kang Yuyi feeling her heart melt, leaned down and kissed his chubby face tenderly.

The little prince, delighted by the kiss, laughed joyfully and leaned in to try to kiss Kang Yuyi’s face in return.

Noticing his drooling mouth, Kang Yuyi smiled and pretended to turn her head to avoid his slobbery attempts at kissing.

Determined, the little prince squirmed and twisted his body like a little fat worm, trying to kiss her despite the teasing.

In their playful struggle, they ended up rolling around on the soft bed.

Zisu Qingzhu and the other attendants couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the sight, though they were also deeply surprised and astonished.

Although Kang Yuyi had been visiting the Renshou Palace more frequently lately, such uninhibited playfulness was something they had never witnessed before.

By the time night was fully upon them, and the crown prince’s eyelids were drooping with sleepiness, the attendants carried him to the side hall.

The Emperor rolled over and lay down beside Kang Yuyi. After a while, he suddenly whispered, “Just now, at the Northern Zhen Fu Si, I conducted a detailed interrogation of Liao Jingyi.”

“Did she confess?” Kang Yuyi asked instinctively.

“Yes,” the Emperor replied. “She admitted that it was my cousin, Cui Mulin who had instructed her. The large sum of money used to cover her brother’s gambling debts was also provided by Cui Mulin.”

The Emperor’s tone still carried a trace of barely contained anger.

Kang Yuyi felt a mix of relief and frustration. She was initially relieved that her mother was not involved, but her face flushed with anger and her eyes filled with tears. “That cousin of yours is truly despicable! How could he be so cruel and manipulative?”

Immediately after she spoke, Kang Yuyi felt a pang of regret.

No matter how vile her husband’s cousin might be, he was still the Emperor’s close relative and the nephew of the Empress Dowager. Would the Emperor be displeased with her harsh words?

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