CHAPTER 88: CHAPTER 88: THE CUNNING SERVANT’S CLEVER ARGUMENT

"Is everything alright?"

This sudden concern took the Second Prince by surprise.

He thought that his father would severely punish him.

After all, sneaking out in his condition, if not for running into Xiao Luzi and Qiu Ming,

it might have stirred another wave in the palace.

Feeling a bit guilty and blaming himself, he said,

"I’m fine, Father. On the way, I met Xiao Luzi from Lady Lin’s side and followed him to Huifang Courtyard. Lady Lin ordered food to be made for me, which I really liked."

Normally taciturn, the Second Prince suddenly spoke so much.

The Emperor found it a bit strange.

However, upon thinking about it, Lin Wanyi indeed had such an ability, which seemed understandable.

"Next time, if you want to go, have someone inform Dong Yuzhong so he can arrange it. Don’t do such sneaky things anymore, understand?"

"I understand!"

The Second Prince looked in surprise at the Emperor. He thought the Emperor didn’t like him having too much contact with the concubines.

Especially Lady Lin, who was rumored to be very favored by the Emperor nowadays.

Nothing else, but the food there was indeed top-notch, even the water tasted sweeter.

While speaking, the aroma of chicken soup and cabbage seemed to waft into their noses.

The food box had two pairs of chopsticks, and the Emperor picked up a pair and asked,

"What did you eat at Huifang Courtyard?"

"To Father, a bowl of chicken soup noodles, a plate of shrimp scrambled eggs, and a plate of spicy sour tripe strips."

It sounded good, but the food from that courtyard was always like this.

Simple yet still delicious.

The Emperor’s appetite was stirred while pondering whether to visit in the evening, when Nanny Chai, who took care of the Second Prince, arrived.

She appeared slightly plump, following behind Dong Yuzhong.

With a slightly nervous demeanor, especially upon seeing the Second Prince’s cold expression, her hatred grew.

Yet, her face remained composed.

"Servant Chai Baoping greets the Emperor, wishes the Emperor well, greets the Second Prince, wishes the Second Prince good health."

She prostrated on the ground, her fingers trembling slightly.

The Emperor, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed her guilty demeanor.

Fury surged in his heart.

He opened his mouth and reprimanded her.

"The Second Prince has been missing for so long, and none of you reported it. Was it negligence, or abandoning your duties?"

"Spare my life, Emperor, spare my life."

The Second Prince, witnessing Nanny Chai’s distress for the first time, felt a sense of satisfaction.

Dong Yuzhong didn’t give her the chance to argue, immediately replied.

"To the Emperor, when I reached the Second Prince’s courtyard, only two Palace Attendants were sweeping outside, while Nanny Chai, who should have been personally attending to the Second Prince, was enjoying herself. When I barged in, she was sleeping soundly."

Upon hearing this, Nanny Chai broke out in a cold sweat.

How could she have known, taking a nap and the Second Prince would sneak out?

Sneaking out was one thing; coming back to accuse her at the imperial court was another.

Truly, she had indulged him too much in the past, making him so audacious.

She immediately began to plead.

"Emperor, the servant is innocent! It is true that Mr. Dong saw me taking a nap, but I had my reasons."

Then she pointed at the Second Prince and said,

"The Second Prince suffers in the summer, tossing and turning every night, so I’m afraid of the cool breeze from open windows making him sick, hence I stay by his side every day waving a fan, which is why I fall asleep during the day."

"Had I known the Second Prince would sneak out, I would never have dared to act like this. Please judge wisely, Emperor!"

Hearing this cunning defense enraged the Second Prince.

His previously sallow face turned bright red with anger.

Pointing at Nanny Chai, he exclaimed angrily.

"When have you ever fanned me while by my side? Summer discomfort? Ha! I didn’t even know I had such an ailment!"

The Second Prince had been dissatisfied with Nanny Chai for a long time.

But due to lack of authority, he had to tolerate it.

Yet today’s such a great opportunity, if he didn’t seize it and completely bring her down, life under her control would only get harder.

So his tone left no room for retreat.

Having served in the palace for so long, Nanny Chai naturally had some tricks.

She immediately put on a wronged face, crying out,

"I know I’m clumsy, not as competent as others in serving the Second Prince, but my heart is truly sincere. The Second Prince says he doesn’t suffer in summer, then why does he always sleep uneasily come summer? Each time, I had to brew sleeping pills for you to take before bed, why is that?"

"Why? You know very well in your heart, don’t you?"

The Second Prince, though young, was eloquent and unafraid to confront her at the imperial court.

Realizing the firmness in his voice, the Emperor detected the underlying issues.

He immediately ordered someone to fetch Doctor Cheng.

Then he asked the Second Prince,

"How long have you been taking sleeping pills?"

The Second Prince’s eyes darkened and after a moment he replied,

"Ever since I can remember, I’ve been taking them, but half a year ago, after a big row with Nanny Chai, I haven’t taken any of her sleeping pills."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor looked at Nanny Chai with a fierce expression.

He had few children, thus each was carefully nurtured.

Princess Ming Ruo was raised by Lin Guifei, the Third Prince by Princess Consort Yi, both raised meticulously.

But the Second Prince was raised at Princess Consort Lan’s, constantly plagued by ailments.

Because he had a constitutional weakness from birth, everyone deemed continual medication normal.

Thus no one really paid attention to the potential consequences of overmedicating such a young child.

Thinking of this, the Emperor’s anger surged anew.

Looking at the Second Prince’s sallow face and his perpetually thin body,

for the first time, he felt that sending the child to Princess Consort Lan was a mistake.

Then he looked at Nanny Chai, speaking each word forcefully.

"You better pray nothing is wrong with that medicine, or I will have your entire family accompany you in death!"

Nanny Chai, hearing this, shivered greatly.

She never expected the Emperor to investigate this matter suddenly, thus had no preparation.

Her teeth chattered in fear, totally losing her earlier defiant demeanor.

Doctor Cheng arrived with Doctor Dou.

The Emperor glanced at Dong Yuzhong, who immediately replied.

"Fortunately, both doctors are on duty, so I thought to bring them over to ensure nothing goes wrong."

I must say, Dong Yuzhong’s ability to serve at the imperial court for so long without errors has its reasons.

His attention to detail and diligence is not something everyone possesses.

The Second Prince’s aversion to the sleeping pills was something Dong Yuzhong had noticed.