Jiang Si unconsciously glanced at Yu Jin.
Understanding the underlying meaning, she wondered if the Emperor had summoned her because he suspected this wasn’t a mere illness.
Yu Jin gave a slight nod.
Everything had its advantages and disadvantages. Since Si hadn’t chosen to hide her talents, there would naturally be many occasions requiring her expertise. Refusing now would only appear suspicious.
Jiang Si stepped forward to examine Emperor Jingming.
After being scrutinized for quite some time, the Emperor couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you need to check my pulse?”
Jiang Si smiled gently. “No need, Father Emperor. Please wait a moment.”
She began her examination with his eyes, then proceeded to check his mouth, nose, neck, and fingers. Her expression grew increasingly serious.
Emperor Jingming maintained his composure, though his heart was racing.
The Seventh Prince’s wife hadn’t concluded yet – could his condition be more complicated than the Empress Dowager’s previous situation?
The Empress, understanding the Emperor’s anxiety and his reluctance to show weakness before his daughter-in-law, asked, “Prince Yan’s Wife, what is His Majesty’s condition?”
Jiang Si pondered for a moment before asking, “Father Emperor summoned me – perhaps you suspect this isn’t an ordinary illness?”
The Empress glanced at Emperor Jingming and nodded. “Indeed. Earlier, when the Fifteenth Princess was poisoned by a dancing girl, the dancer suddenly died of heart failure during questioning. His Majesty’s current symptoms appeared rather suspiciously, and we wondered if it might be connected to Matron Duo…”
Jiang Si and Yu Jin exchanged glances.
With Matron Duo dead, the Emperor and Empress suspected there might be other accomplices in the palace.
Jiang Si’s expression turned peculiar.
The Empress couldn’t help but say, “Prince Yan’s Wife, whatever the situation may be, please speak frankly. Both your Father Emperor and I can handle it.”
Since Prince Yan’s Wife could suppress curse insects and even resolve the mother-child connecting curse Matron Duo had placed on the Empress Dowager, surely she could help the Emperor as well.
Emperor Jingming added, “Indeed. Seventh Son’s Wife, just tell me directly about my condition. Even if it can’t be resolved, it’s fine.”
Jiang Si finally spoke, “Father Emperor, Mother Empress, it’s not that your daughter-in-law dares not speak, but after a thorough examination, I’ve found that Father Emperor’s symptoms are unrelated to curse insects…”
This was precisely what she found strange – while the Emperor and Empress suspected something unusual about the illness, her examination revealed nothing out of the ordinary.
Both Emperor Jingming and the Empress were stunned, looking at each other in bewilderment.
“Could it be that I truly just have heart disease?” Emperor Jingming muttered, his heart sinking.
If it had been curse insects, with his Seventh Son’s Wife present, there would have been hope. But if he truly had heart disease, the situation could be dire.
Emperor Jingming’s spirits fell.
“Prince Yan’s Wife, are you certain His Majesty’s symptoms are unrelated to curse insects?” the Empress asked.
Emperor Jingming furrowed his brows as he glanced at the Empress.
Such a question put their Seventh Son’s Wife in a difficult position.
As both father and sovereign, he understood well that some questions weren’t easy to answer.
However, Jiang Si replied simply: “Certain.”
Those two words were crisp and decisive.
Emperor Jingming couldn’t help but look at Jiang Si more carefully.
Compared to their first meeting at the plum blossom banquet, where she had appeared as a delicate beauty, the woman before him now possessed more composure – a calm that suggested she would remain unperturbed even if Mount Tai collapsed before her.
Emperor Jingming felt quite pleased.
This was how a royal daughter-in-law should be.
The Empress, meanwhile, was surprised by Jiang Si’s boldness.
She had only asked because she couldn’t accept that the Emperor was truly ill. With Prince Yan’s Wife’s ability to suppress curse insects present, actual illness would be the most troublesome outcome.
She hadn’t expected such a definitive answer from Prince Yan’s Wife.
The Emperor and Empress exchanged glances.
Emperor Jingming laughed self-deprecatingly. “It seems I was overthinking things.”
The Empress said apologetically, “It wasn’t Your Majesty overthinking, I was the one letting my imagination run wild—”
Emperor Jingming shook his head, interrupting the Empress’s words. “The Empress was only thinking of my welfare, no need to say more.”
Jiang Si quietly retreated to Yu Jin’s side.
“Pan Hai, call them all in,” the Emperor commanded.
Pan Hai hesitated before carefully asking, “And the Crown Prince—”
After a long silence, Emperor Jingming said, “Call the Crown Prince in as well.”
Since his health was failing, it was all the more important to maintain stability. He would wait until he recovered somewhat before properly discussing the matter of deposing the Crown Prince with his ministers.
Hearing the Emperor’s decision, Pan Hai’s eyes flickered.
Having served the Emperor for decades, he understood him too well.
That the Emperor was willing to see the Crown Prince at such a time didn’t bode well for the Crown Prince.