CHAPTER 140: CHAPTER 140 ESTABLISHING MERIT

Taihe Palace.

The Emperor’s bedroom.

The Emperor lay on the Dragon Couch, listening to the sound of paddling coming from outside, his face filled with anger.

Outside of the hall, Eunuch Fu stood there overseeing the interrogation.

Yesterday, after he left the ointment behind, everyone who had entered his room was under suspicion and brought in for questioning.

Poisoning the ointment, this was an attempt to harm him.

Eunuch Fu could guess who harbored ill-will against him, but he couldn’t speak without evidence.

To aid in harming him was an act of sheer recklessness.

The result of failing to harm him dragged the Emperor into this misfortune. If the poisoner wasn’t caught, it would be Eunuch Fu who’d suffer the consequences.

Concerned as it was a matter related to him, how could Eunuch Fu not take it seriously?

"Hit!"

"Hit them hard for me!"

"If none confess, beat them all to death for me!"

The sound of paddling drowned out Eunuch Fu’s voice.

Eunuch Fu’s face turned purple with rage. After more than a dozen paddles, the little eunuchs were beaten until their skin broke, crying out in pain.

Finally, one of the little eunuchs couldn’t bear it anymore and said, "I confess! I confess!"

"Quickly say it! Who instructed you to poison the ointment?" Eunuch Fu demanded harshly.

The little eunuch gasped, "No, it wasn’t me."

"It was, it was him."

The little eunuch raised his hand and pointed.

The eunuch lying on the bench over there turned pale instantly.

He hurriedly denied, "I wasn’t the one who poisoned it!"

The little eunuch said, "When I delivered the clothes to the room, thinking no one was inside, I went in directly. He was startled and even scolded me for not knocking before entering..."

The little eunuch was only responsible for delivering clothes.

He clearly remembered that as soon as he entered the room, the eunuch looked flustered.

Just now, when questioned by Eunuch Fu, he guessed it was him, but he didn’t dare speak out.

But the paddling hurt so much he couldn’t stand it.

He was in the palace to survive, not to be involved in implicating others and dying unjustly.

Once the little eunuch confessed.

The paddling stopped for everyone else and the interrogation began on that eunuch.

Looking at him, Eunuch Fu’s gaze turned icy.

Because this eunuch was his confidant.

"Beat him hard for me! Until he confesses!"

Yongning Palace.

The Empress Dowager leaned on the phoenix couch, her cheeks slightly swollen.

Her eyes were closed tightly, and she could vaguely sense some unease.

Outside, a series of footsteps approached.

The Empress came in with a smile, saying, "Has the Empress Dowager heard? The Emperor has also been stung by a hornet."

Upon hearing this news, the Empress couldn’t contain her happiness, even the sting on her hand didn’t hurt as much.

He defended that female bandit, and when his daughter was stung, he didn’t punish her, even allowed her to rob the Empress Dowager.

Unexpectedly, heaven had eyes, and he too was stung by a hornet.

If the Emperor didn’t taste the sting of the hornet, he’d really think hornet stings didn’t hurt!

The Empress joyfully shared this with the Empress Dowager, but when she approached and saw that the Empress Dowager wasn’t the least bit happy, the Empress frowned slightly, "What’s wrong with you, Empress Dowager?"

She asked Nanny Li.

Nanny Li clasped her hands tightly, absent-mindedly.

Outside, a little eunuch rushed in, saying, "Not good! Something happened! Eunuch An from the Imperial Study confessed to Eunuch Fu that it was Nanny Li who instructed him to poison Eunuch Fu’s ointment."

Nanny Li wobbled, nearly falling to the ground.

The smile on the Empress’s face froze.

Such incompetence in handling affairs!

Why not simply have a palace maid arrange such a minor task like instructing Eunuch An, instead of doing it personally? Eunuch An pointed her out, directly leading trouble to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager taking Eunuch Fu’s life wouldn’t be a big deal, but causing harm to the Emperor, that’s a major issue.

The Empress’s heart was heavy, wondering how this matter would be resolved.

Taihe Palace.

The Emperor lay on the Dragon Couch, eyes icy.

Eunuch Fu stood beside him, having just reported to the Emperor about Eunuch An’s confession.

But surprisingly —

The Emperor didn’t say a word.

However, inside, Eunuch Fu was somewhat pleased.

Though trusted by the Emperor, the Emperor was actually worried he’d be bought by the Empress Dowager.

He feared the Empress Dowager, dreaded her wrath, and was eager to sever ties with the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion—

But he failed to.

With the Empress Dowager poisoning his ointment, in the Emperor’s eyes, he surely wasn’t in league with the Empress Dowager.

This could be considered an unexpected gain.

But this gain came at the cost of the Emperor’s suffering.

A royal sore so swollen it invoked pity.

Inside the bedroom, it was silent for a long while.

Worried the Emperor might have fallen asleep, Eunuch Fu called softly, "Your Majesty?"

"Bring me the memorials."

"What?"

"I want to review memorials!"

"...."

Eunuch Fu’s mouth twitched.

My Emperor, have you been stung by the hornet until your mind’s not right?

Usually not this diligent; now lying in bed unable to move, yet so industrious.

If the Emperor wanted diligence, Eunuch Fu couldn’t dissuade him, and quickly had someone fetch the memorials from the Imperial Study.

The Emperor reviewed memorials right on the Dragon Couch.

If not for the Emperor’s much faster pace in handling state affairs, Eunuch Fu would’ve called the Imperial Physician again.

....

The Emperor was stung by a hornet, ceased morning audiences for three days.

....

On the morning of the third day.

Su Jin was eating buns when suddenly, she sneezed.

Almost tearing from the acidity.

She rubbed her nose, looked at Xie Jingchen opposite her, and grumbled, "Did the Emperor not attend the morning court again today?"

"Yes."

"...."

"It’s been three days already, and the Emperor’s royal sore is still not subsiding?" Su Jin said, massaging her forehead.

"...."

"Just stung once by a hornet, yet the Emperor lies on the Dragon Couch for three days, his derrière is indeed so delicate," Xingxing envied.

"...."

Xie Jingchen felt he wouldn’t have a peaceful meal.

"Why should the officials scold me when it’s not my doing the hornet stung the Emperor," Su Jin sulked.

"Possibly it’s not the officials scolding you," Xie Jingchen replied.

Su Jin looked at him, "You seem to know who’s scolding me?"

"The faction of Duke Chong," Xie Jingchen answered.

"Are you serious? The hornet stung the Emperor; the faction of Duke Chong should be secretly delighted, shouldn’t they?" Su Jin was puzzled.

The Emperor shielded her, the Empress Dowager was furious, and Duke Chong was the Empress Dowager’s nephew.

With the Emperor stung, there shouldn’t be anyone happier than the Empress Dowager and Duke Chong.

And now they’re saying that Duke Chong’s faction is scolding her? Are they out of their minds?

Su Jin had only Xingxing by her side attending to her, no one in the palace reported the happenings to her.

Xie Jingchen said, "These days, although the Emperor hasn’t attended court, while resting and healing on the Dragon Couch, he dealt with three of Duke Chong’s prized protégés—killed one, demoted another, and exiled another. The vacated positions were filled by the Emperor’s people."

"I am a bit confused by what you’re saying. Something I don’t know must have happened," Su Jin said.

"The Empress Dowager’s people poisoned the ointment you gave to Eunuch Fu, causing the Emperor’s wound to swell; the Emperor hasn’t pursued the matter. Now he’s acting against Duke Chong, neither the Empress Dowager nor Duke Chong dare to make a sound," Xie Jingchen explained.

"...."

"Then, in that case, the Emperor should thank that hornet?" Su Jin said with a hint of sarcasm.

"...."

"In a certain sense, you could say that."

"So, does wishing the Emperor get stung by hornets count as an accomplishment?" Xingxing joyously asked.

"...."

"It indeed counts as an accomplishment. Next time you see the Emperor, you can ask for a reward. The Emperor, being so generous, will surely give you a few extra paddles as a reward," Su Jin chuckled.

"...."

Xingxing shook his head like a rattle drum, wearing an expression that said he hadn’t just spoken.

Su Jin looked at Xie Jingchen and asked, "And then?"

Xie Jingchen massaged his forehead.

"Now no minister dares to submit memorials to the Emperor, but the Imperial Physicians remain helpless with the Emperor’s wound."

"...."

"Without surprises, it looks like you’ll contribute again," Xie Jingchen said, his mouth twitching.

"...."

"Could you please step outside?" Su Jin lightly coughed.

"Why?" Xie Jingchen frowned.

Su Jin was silent for a moment and said, "I can’t help but laugh; I fear laughing too raucously will mar the dignified image I hold in your mind."

Xingxing, "...."

Xie Jingchen, "...."