Chapter 218

Chapter 218: Causing Great Trouble

Just as Qi Fei Rui opened her mouth to speak, two nannies approached to find her and Commandery Princess Ming Jia, forcing her to put aside her confusion for now.

Qi Fei Rui had accompanied Commandery Princess Ming Jia into the palace today at Noble Consort Qi’s behest. Noble Consort Qi and Commandery Princess Ming Jia’s royal mother had long been close friends. When Ming Jia entered the capital but declined to stay within the palace, Noble Consort Qi worried for her, thus ordering Qi Fei Rui, who had been Ming Jia’s constant companion these days, to accompany her into the palace.

However, their first destination was not Noble Consort Qi’s Emerald Splendor Palace, but rather the Serene Benevolence Palace, residence of the Empress.

Noble Consort Qi had always behaved this way; despite being favored by His Majesty, she maintained an appearance of gentle humility, avoiding rivalry.

Though previously the Empress had disapproved of such pretensions, today she welcomed Ming Jia warmly, as Ming Jia was Prince Huai’s only daughter. If the Crown Prince married Ming Jia, Prince Huai’s support would be secured.

As soon as the two girls entered Serene Benevolence Palace, Ming Jia tried to pay respects, but the Empress quickly stopped her, gently pulling Ming Jia by the hand and seating her at her side.

“It’s been years. You’ve grown into such a lovely young lady. There’s no need to stand on ceremony; let me take a good look at you.”

The Empress behaved affectionately, speaking warmly to Ming Jia for a long time, almost forgetting Qi Fei Rui who stood quietly to the side.

After a while, the Empress turned and looked her over. “You must be Duke Qi’s second young lady. You are truly graceful and charming.”

Qi Fei Rui respectfully greeted the Empress again. The Empress noted with approval how gracefully she handled being overlooked earlier, and asked gently about Madam Cui’s health.

Qi Fei Rui answered softly, eyes moistening with tears.

As the Empress continued her gentle inquiries, suddenly noise erupted outside. Frowning slightly, she summoned a palace attendant to inquire.

The attendant returned quickly, reporting softly, “Fourth Princess has gone missing, Your Majesty. The servants are frantically searching everywhere.”

Ming Jia and Qi Fei Rui exchanged a quick glance.

The Empress smiled faintly, “Children love playing games; perhaps she’s just hiding somewhere. Take a few of our palace servants and help look for her.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The attendant bowed and turned away, but before she fully left, Ming Jia tugged on the Empress’s sleeve. Smiling indulgently, the Empress looked at her.

Blushing slightly, Ming Jia admitted, “Empress, Fourth Princess is at the rockery near Jade Lake. She called me bad names earlier, so I left her there to scare her.”

“What?” The Empress was stunned for a moment, then tapped Ming Jia’s forehead gently. “You’re still behaving like a child at this age, fighting with a little girl?”

With a helpless laugh, she instructed someone to retrieve Fourth Princess.

Qi Fei Rui watched quietly, amazed at the Empress’s indulgence toward Ming Jia. But she soon understood the Empress’s intentions—she was eager to use Ming Jia to win Prince Huai’s support. Even if Ming Jia misbehaved, the Empress wouldn’t mind, as long as Ming Jia married the Crown Prince.

Unfortunately for the Empress, Ming Jia had already set her sights on the Third Prince.

Just as the Empress smiled and was about to call another palace attendant, the first attendant hurriedly returned, panicked: “Your Majesty! Fourth Princess was found!”

“Oh?” The Empress paused.

The attendant continued nervously, “Fourth Princess somehow climbed atop the rockery and fell off, hitting the ground by the Lotus Pond. She hasn’t woken yet!”

“What?” Shocked, the Empress accidentally knocked over the teacup beside her.

Ming Jia’s face instantly turned pale.

“It can’t be…the rockery isn’t even high…”

She had dared to bully princes and princesses alike since childhood without consequence. But if Fourth Princess was seriously hurt, even her royal status wouldn’t protect her from severe punishment!

She had only intended to scare the girl—how did it end this way?

Ming Jia trembled with fear, and Qi Fei Rui turned deathly pale beside her.

Seeing their reactions, the Empress regained her composure quickly. She ordered someone to take medicine to check on Fourth Princess’s condition first.

Once alone, the Empress grabbed Ming Jia’s hand. “Ming Jia, you’ve made a terrible mistake today. Normally, it wouldn’t matter, but you’ve harmed an Imperial Princess. If Fourth Princess truly dies, and it’s discovered that you put her on the rockery…”

The Empress sighed deeply. “We must go immediately to your Imperial Uncle to beg forgiveness. Perhaps, you might still keep your life.”

Keep her life? And only perhaps?

Ming Jia burst into frightened tears. “No, I don’t want to!”

“What else can we do?” The Empress hugged her soothingly. “I know you didn’t mean it, only wanted a joke. It’s just that Fourth Princess has poor luck. But if you don’t confess, punishment will only worsen.”

“No! Please, don’t tell my uncle!” Ming Jia begged. “No one saw, no one knows…”

“So, only the three of us know about this?” The Empress narrowed her eyes.

Ming Jia nodded desperately.

The Empress turned slowly toward Qi Fei Rui.

Qi Fei Rui immediately knelt, her voice trembling, “This servant saw nothing. I will follow Your Majesty’s instructions entirely.”

The Empress’s expression softened—at least this girl knew her place and need not be silenced.

“But what if Fourth Princess wakes up?” The Empress asked Ming Jia quietly.

Ming Jia’s face turned even paler, but then her eyes hardened. “Then…we must make sure she never wakes again!”

The Empress felt a chill at Ming Jia’s ruthless answer. She had thought the same herself, but hearing it aloud disturbed her. Was such a ruthless girl suitable as the Crown Princess?

It mattered little, the Empress comforted herself. In the royal household’s inner court, there were countless ways to make someone disappear, especially during childbirth. She could easily manage that.

Aloud, she continued tenderly, “Don’t say such nonsense. Fourth Princess was already unlucky; perhaps she won’t survive anyway. I’ll have the Imperial Physician visit personally.”

…

At Lotus Elegance Palace, Imperial Concubine Fu sobbed bitterly. Little Princess Hui lay still and pale on the bed, her round body motionless. The two maids who had cared for her trembled in terror, kneeling on the floor.

They had never imagined the princess could run out and come to harm.

If Princess Hui truly died, His Majesty and their mistress would surely demand their lives in return.

The Imperial Physician sighed after checking her pulse. “Fourth Princess struck her head in the fall, causing internal bleeding. If the blood doesn’t dissipate soon, she might never awaken.”

“I will prepare a prescription immediately. Whether it helps…will depend on the princess’s fate.”

Concubine Fu thanked him, weeping quietly.

Medicine quickly arrived from the palace pharmacy. Concubine Fu tried feeding her daughter herself, but either from choking on pond water or her own trembling hands, no matter how many times she tried, not even a drop went down.