Chapter 316: Chapter 313 Conspiracy to Rebel

“If you can’t bear to leave, then you should focus on recuperating.”

Qing Wu put on a tender smile.

He Ying looked at her and always found it strange, “Ah Yan, what’s wrong with you… Has someone been whispering things in your ear?”

He felt that “Sang Yan” was acting very cold towards him.

He guessed that someone had said something to her, perhaps urging her to leave him, and it had shaken her resolve.

At that thought, his heart immediately panicked.

“I don’t believe in a husband-killing fate. Ah Yan, you shouldn’t believe it either.”

Bearing the pain, he reached out his hand, “Good girl, don’t be afraid, come here.”

Qing Wu didn’t go over, shaking her head, “You should lie down and rest. We can talk about everything after you’ve recovered.”

Upon hearing this, He Ying felt even less secure, “After I’ve recovered, what is it you want to tell me?”

He sensed that “Sang Yan” wanted to leave him.

She had harbored such thoughts before.

It had taken him a great deal of effort to dispel those thoughts.

Now that he had an accident, clearly, those thoughts in her had reignited.

“Ah Yan, don’t listen to others, just listen to me. I love you, and I can’t be without you. Ah Yan, please don’t leave me.”

His eyes reddened as he spoke, his tone bordering on pleading.

He didn’t care about maintaining his Emperor’s image at all.

The officials present all frowned upon hearing this: Love really made people weak. Look at the Emperor now, where was the vigor he once had?

Qing Wu, however, felt secretly thrilled: Look, how pitiable he was. If he could remain this way, the Great Da He would be hers to control.

“You’re overthinking it. I won’t leave you.”

As she said this, it still didn’t give He Ying much reassurance.

He Ying looked towards Pei Muyang, giving instructions, “Have the Empress stay in the side palace. I want to see her at all times.”

He was wary that Sang Yan might sneak away.

Pei Muyang, despite his opinion on this request, complied, “Yes.”

But he didn’t make a move.

He Ying just kept staring at him, waiting for him to issue the order.

Pei Muyang felt rather helpless under his gaze, “Emperor, I won’t forget.”

He Ying remained silent, just continuing to stare at him.

Left with no choice, Pei Muyang had to give the order in front of him to the palace attendants, “You there, quickly, pack the Empress’s belongings into the side palace.”

As for Luo Shan in the side palace?

Thinking of Luo Shan, Luo Shan arrived.

After He Ying’s condition had stabilized, Luo Shan had returned to the side palace to carry on with her normal routine rather than staying by his bedside day and night.

When He Ying woke up, the palace attendants informed her immediately, but she was too exhausted to come over.

Now that she had rested enough, she came to visit.

“Greetings to the Emperor, greetings to the Empress.”

After entering the hall, she paid her respects one by one.

Upon seeing her, Qing Wu, imitating Sang Yan’s demeanor, affectionately yet respectfully said, “Doctor Luo, I truly thank you for the Emperor’s safe awakening.”

Luo Shan truly deserved the thanks.

If it had not been for her timely medical intervention, He Ying might not have pulled through.

However, she didn’t take credit, smiling, “The Emperor is the True Dragon, blessed by the heavens, which also provided me the fortunate opportunity to not fail my duty.”

She had promised “Sang Yan” that she would do her utmost to save the Emperor, and now it seemed she had fulfilled that promise.

The entire hall was filled with an atmosphere of joy.

Of course, there were also those who dampened the spirits.

“The Emperor is blessed with good fortune from heaven, allowing him to awaken safely, but the evidence is conclusive that the youngest daughter of the Sang Family, Sang Ruoshui, attempted to assassinate the Emperor. This must be thoroughly investigated.”

The speaker was Mr. Wu Lianqiu from the Prison Department.

He was nearing sixty, always keeping a low profile in normal times.

But when a low-profile person took a high stance, they must have had something to gain.

Wu Lianqiu’s gain was toppling the Sang Family and suppressing the Empress’s faction.

By calling for a thorough investigation, he was also casting suspicion on the Sang Family for harboring rebellious intentions.

Even if they were not guilty, he still wanted to sling some mud, “The Empress had just conceived when the Emperor was almost assassinated–it’s deeply frightening upon reflection! I urge the Emperor to thoroughly investigate the Sang Family!”

When He Ying woke up, his mind was filled with thoughts of Sang Yan.

Even knowing that Sang Ruoshui had injured him, he momentarily forgot to pursue accountability.

Reminded by Wu Lianqiu, he suddenly recalled and immediately furrowed his brows, his voice growing cold, “What is Sang Ruoshui’s current situation?”

He truly hadn’t expected Sang Ruoshui to have the audacity to attempt to assassinate him.

If she couldn’t have him, then she would destroy him.

Truly, a woman’s heart is the deadliest of poisons!

And facing such a venomous woman, he would not show mercy!

Wu Lianqiu, seeing the Emperor’s somber and frosty face, guessed it was due to Sang Ruoshui and continued, “According to reports, she’s detained in the Prison Department. Such a serious offender should be immediately sent to the Ministry of Justice or Dali Temple for interrogation. I intended to interrogate her, but the Sang Family blocked me, saying they would wait for the Emperor to recover and decide.”

He Ying could understand why the Sang Family did this–while he was comatose and his fate uncertain, if he had survived, a big issue might become small, and a small issue might disappear; he could have been weak-hearted and spared her life.

But he couldn’t afford to be weak-hearted.

“Interrogate what? Such a poisonous woman, failing to win my love, hence harboured the intent to kill the Empress. Fortunately, I moved quickly and protected the Empress.”

He was altering the account of what happened–changing Sang Ruoshui’s assassination attempt on him to an attempt on Sang Yan.

In this way, the intent to rebel was out of the question.

Wu Lianqiu didn’t expect the Emperor to say this; he was stunned for a moment before responding, “Emperor, palace attendants have testified that Sang Ruoshui went straight for you. Her target was you, not the Empress.”

He well knew the Emperor was protecting the Empress’s lineage.

Utterly foolish!

For the sake of the Empress, he handled even his own brush with death so carelessly.

“Which palace attendant?”

His gaze swept coldly across, murder written all over it.

At that, the attendants present instantly knelt down, with none daring to speak up.

Seeing this, Wu Lianqiu grew anxious and hurriedly sought alliance, “Mr. Jiang, Mr. Xie, the assassination is no trivial matter. To ensure the Emperor’s personal safety in the future, we must investigate thoroughly!”

Jiang Chongyu was a staunch and loyal Royalist and naturally agreed, “Mr. Wu is right. Please, Emperor, decree to transfer Princess Consort Sang to Dali Temple for a thorough investigation.”

He actually believed the Empress was not a woman of ambition.

But he couldn’t overlook the demons and monsters by her side.

Sang Kun had always been full of ambition.

It was impossible not to dream of taking the heir to command the world!

Otherwise, why would the news of the Empress carrying the heir become public immediately after the Emperor was attacked? Even the Emperor had left an Imperial Decree for the Sang Family to support the Empress ruling from behind the curtain?

The matter must be investigated thoroughly!

“Mr. Jiang’s words are mistaken.”

The speaker was Wen Zhao Sheng, the newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Not long ago, after Doctor Luo’s incident, there had been a significant shuffle at the Dali Temple–now Wen Zhao Sheng had a seat that had not yet warmed, and he did not want to handle this hot potato.

The reasons were simple.

First, the Emperor wanted to execute Sang Ruoshui but protect the Sang Family; such blatant favoritism was hard to justify. To not defy the Emperor’s wishes, he’d have to oppose the ministers, making it easy to garner a reputation for sycophancy. And this reputation might not leave a good impression in the Emperor’s heart. In other words, it was a thankless task.

Second, executing Sang Ruoshui was easy. But after her execution, might the Emperor regret it? With the Empress firmly in place, the execution probably wouldn’t happen anytime soon. Then, as the interrogating officer, wouldn’t he offend the Empress? The Emperor was clearly whipped by his wife–wouldn’t he just end up as the scapegoat in the end?

In short, he simply couldn’t take on this task.

“How can Princess Consort Sang, an imperial concubine, be sent to the foul place of Dali Temple?”

Wen Zhao Sheng politely declined with utmost seriousness, “In my view, the Prison Department is quite suitable.”

The Prison Department was, after all, in charge of overseeing the court’s people and affairs.

This matter should by no means fall onto his head!