Yun Shu was puzzled.
She had questioned the young eunuch stationed outside, yet all she managed to learn was that the Sixth Prince had said nothing before suddenly rushing out of Fengyang Palace in a panic, taking his attendants with him.
Still bewildered, Yun Shu decided to send a small eunuch to Yaohua Palace to investigate. If something had happened to Yun Chuhuan, she needed to be informed. It would be far too troublesome if he ended up causing another incident out of nowhere.
What Yun Shu could not have imagined, however, was that Yun Chuhuan had not returned to Yaohua Palace at all. The moment he left Fengyang Palace, he had charged straight toward the imperial study with unrestrained urgency.
At that hour, Emperor Xuanwu was deep in discussion with his ministers over state affairs. When Yun Chuhuan burst in, Li Dehai tried to stop him at the entrance. The prince grew increasingly agitated, practically jumping in place.
"Why are you blocking me? I have something important to report to Father Emperor! Do you even know that Fifth Sister has been poisoned? If something happens to her, can you bear the consequences?"
Princess Sheng An had been poisoned?
By whom?
Could it be... the Crown Prince again?
Li Dehai's expression changed drastically. He no longer cared that the room was filled with the highest officials of the court. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and whispered urgently into Emperor Xuanwu's ear.
The Emperor, already irritable due to the unending storm, slammed his palm against the desk in shock and fury.
"What is the situation now? Has an imperial physician been summoned?"
"I do not know, Your Majesty!" Li Dehai quickly bowed, his voice rapid. "His Highness said he rushed here the moment he discovered the matter. As for what happened afterward, he has no idea either."
"Prepare the carriage!"
"Your Majesty—"
The call for an imperial physician, combined with the involvement of the Sixth Prince, alarmed everyone present. The Left Prime Minister, fearing something may have happened to his cherished daughter in the harem, quickly stepped forward.
"Has something happened to Noble Consort Liu?"
"This has nothing to do with Noble Consort Liu."
At that precise moment, the news of Princess Sheng An being poisoned had also reached Emperor Xuanwu. Much like Li Dehai, his first reaction was to suspect the Crown Prince.
The matter was grave and still unclear. Emperor Xuanwu dared not speak carelessly in front of the court and stir unrest. He merely stated that the discussion would pause for the day, then swiftly departed with Li Dehai in tow.
Though the Left Prime Minister remained uneasy, learning it had nothing to do with Noble Consort Liu brought him some relief. The Sixth Prince had also appeared unharmed, which calmed his nerves further.
On the other hand, the Right Prime Minister and several others, unaffected directly by the incident, were thinking more clearly. Some had already begun speculating about the matter.
Aside from Noble Consort Liu, who else in the palace could move the Sixth Prince to brave such heavy rain and dash out so recklessly?
Who else but Princess Sheng An?
No one knew what trouble she had stirred up again.
Could it be... no, this does not bode well.
This move might have been aimed directly at the Crown Prince!
That Princess Sheng An had a mind as deep as a well.
With this relentless rain, and her prophetic dream coming true before the eyes of all, the citizens of the capital now revered her. Some even spoke of her as a divine maiden.
If, at this moment, word were to spread that the Crown Prince and his faction had previously submitted multiple petitions to impeach Princess Sheng An... and that he had possibly ordered someone to poison her...
Those well-versed in court scheming could not help but think along such lines.
The more the Right Prime Minister pondered, the more certain he became. Without delay, he sent word to those in the Eastern Palace, alerting them of the situation.
While the core of the Crown Prince's faction stood on high alert, preparing for a political storm, in Fengyang Palace, the supposed mastermind, Yun Shu, sat quietly with a bowl of brown sugar water in her hands, still entirely confused.
Soaked from head to toe, Emperor Xuanwu and Yun Chuhuan stood before her.
"Father Emperor? Why have you come?"
"...We heard someone tried to poison you?"
Upon entering and seeing Yun Shu sitting there safe and sound, Emperor Xuanwu immediately sensed something was amiss.
Yet upon closer inspection, he noticed that her complexion did appear slightly paler than usual. His gaze then shifted to the bowl in her hands, its contents resembling a medicinal decoction.
"Are you drinking medicine?" he asked in a deep tone.
Huh?
How did this become a case of poisoning?
Yun Shu blinked several times before the pieces clicked in her mind. Her expression turned sheepish.
"Replying to Father Emperor, this daughter is only drinking brown sugar water."
Brown sugar... water?
Though he ruled over a harem of thousands, Emperor Xuanwu was no stranger to such matters. He immediately understood what the drink was for.
Combined with what Yun Chuhuan had reported earlier—the blood on the divan, Ting Xue helping Yun Shu leave in a rush—it all came together.
There was nothing more to explain.
Now it was the Emperor's turn to feel awkward.
Could he blame Yun Shu for not explaining things clearly to Yun Chuhuan?
Not really.
Could he fault Yun Chuhuan for panicking and running to him for help?
Also no.
The former was human nature, the latter was concern clouding reason.
In truth, Emperor Xuanwu even felt comforted that Yun Chuhuan cared so deeply for his sister.
After all, this rebellious son was someone who had once nearly tripped his own father over a petty disagreement.
How rare it was, to see him show such earnest care for anyone.
If only it did not make things so mortifying.
Face solemn, Emperor Xuanwu gave a small nod.
"Since there is no danger, then rest well."
"Yes, Father Emperor."
Yun Shu hesitated, then recalled something Yun Chuhuan had mentioned earlier. She could not help but ask,
"By the way, Father Emperor, I heard from Sixth Brother that Grand Preceptor Ye failed to enter the palace today without reason. Did something happen?"
"It is this cursed rain," Emperor Xuanwu replied casually, then remembered her dream and the accuracy of its warning. Perhaps she knew more than he did.
So he elaborated.
"This storm has lasted eight days without pause. Though the river outside the city has risen, the embankments were built well and should hold for now. Still, parts of the capital lying at lower elevations are deeply flooded. Some areas are no longer habitable.
Grand Preceptor Ye encountered a child nearly swept away by the water this morning and rushed to save him. In doing so, he missed the hour to enter the palace. Someone from his household has since come to report."
"Have many citizens been affected?"
Yun Shu furrowed her brows, worry seeping into her voice.
"If the people have nowhere to stay in such conditions, it could become a serious matter."
"It is far more than just housing," Emperor Xuanwu said, shaking his head. With hands clasped behind his back, he turned toward the rain-drenched window.
"Some neighborhoods are still habitable for now, but the danger is growing. I wish to have these residents relocated in advance, but even that is difficult to arrange."