Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

Chapter 166: The Needle Hidden in the Saddle

Wanyin ran towards Yongqi, kneeling on the ground without caring about her image, picked up Yongqi, let him lean on her arms, and cried loudly: "What's going on? Why is Yongqi in the martial arts training ground? Shouldn't he be reviewing his lessons with the Third Prince in the imperial study today? Why is he here? Yongqi, wake up, mother is here."

Shunxin knelt behind Wanyin, quietly wiping away tears, and advised: "My lady, please send the Fifth Prince back to Zhongcui Palace first. The imperial physician will treat him."

Lujun also rushed over and said, "Concubine Wan, Yongqi will be fine, don't worry too much."

Finally, Lujun called a few eunuchs, helped Yongqi onto the sedan chair, and returned to Zhongcui Palace.

Looking at Yongqi walking further and further away, I never thought that the retribution for being lame in this life would befall Yongqi. I just don’t know who wants to harm him.

Yuyan was afraid that Yongcheng would get into trouble, so she hurriedly took him back to Qixiang Palace.

Inside Zhongcui Palace, eunuchs and palace maids rushed in and out, attending to Yongqi's leg injury. After a while, the imperial physician emerged from the room, bowing and saying, "Empress Wan."

Seeing the imperial physician leave, Lujun hurried forward and asked, "How is it? Is Fifth Prince okay?"

"This..." The imperial physician looked up at Lujun, then glanced at Wanyin, who was twisting her handkerchief in anxiety, and said truthfully, "The Fifth Prince's leg has been injured. I'm afraid he won't be able to walk like a normal person in the future."

This was a bolt from the blue for Wanyin. How could a disabled prince ever serve the emperor? If Yongqi truly became disabled, his life would be over. Wanyin blamed herself immensely, lifted her skirt, ran to Yongqi's bedside, and wept bitterly, lying on top of him.

Wanyin's voice was hoarse, "Yongqi, wake up and look at mother. What's wrong with you?"

Yanwan was about to give birth and should not work hard. Lujun was afraid that there would be a lot of gossip in Zhongcui Palace, so she ordered people to send her back to Yongshou Palace.

After all, she was a woman, so Lujun felt soft-hearted and started wiping away her tears.

Lujun: "Kexin, have you sent someone to invite the emperor?"

Ke Xin: "My lady, they have already gone. The emperor should be on his way now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hongli walked in hurriedly.

"Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I've harmed Yongqi." Seeing Hongli enter the room, Wanyin hurriedly knelt down in front of him and cried.

Hongli sat down and said expressionlessly, "Get up. What did the imperial physician say?"

When faced with a major event, Lujun would retreat, and Wanyin would just cry and whine, which was really annoying. Hongli suddenly lost his temper and roared, "You bastard, how can you serve the Fifth Prince? Shouldn't he be reviewing his lessons with Yongzhang in the Imperial Study today? Why is he going to the martial arts training ground?"

Unlike Lujun's carelessness, Lanqi had already sent Wang Chan to gather information the moment Yongqi was in trouble. He actually managed to uncover some information. A young eunuch had spotted Yongqi emerging from the imperial study, where he happened to run into Jirimutu. Since he was the master, the servants didn't dare to disturb him, so they watched as Jirimutu took Yongqi away.

Until Yongqi was brought to the martial arts training ground.

Upon receiving this news, Lan Qi wasted no time, immediately dispatching Wang Chan to examine the weapons and horses used by Yongqi. She remembered that in her previous life, Yan Wan had hidden a needle in the saddle, causing pain during Yongxuan's horse training, which resulted in him falling and crippling him, sparking infighting between the Qixiang and Yikun Palaces. She hadn't expected to find herself reborn to find someone using the same methods they'd used to harm someone. But all the better, it completely eliminated Yongqi's chances of becoming crown prince.

When Lan Qi returned to Zhongcui Palace with the saddle, Yongqi just woke up.

No matter how hard he pounded his right leg, he felt nothing. His soul seemed to be gripped and torn by some invisible hand. He could almost hear his own fragile screams echoing through the rafters, but no one paid any attention.

Wanyin knelt helplessly beside Yongqi's bed and cried with him. At this point, she could only touch Yongqi's forehead and comfort him: "Yongqi, it's okay. The imperial physician can cure you. Even if he can't, you still have mother. Mother will be by your side."

Yongqi had to endure this at such a young age. As a father, Hongli couldn't help but feel distressed. He sat down on the edge of the bed, held Yongqi's hand tightly, and sighed, "Yongqi, the emperor knows you are sad, but can you tell me what happened first? I know that your horsemanship may not be as good as Yongsheng's, but compared to your brothers, it is still one of the best. How could you suddenly fall off the horse?"

Before Yongqi could answer, Lan Qi came in with physical evidence. She said righteously, "Your Majesty, I have just found physical evidence. The Fifth Prince did not fall off his horse accidentally, but someone is trying to murder him."

"what?"

The three of them were shocked at the same time.

Ever since the deaths of the eldest and ninth princes, and Ruyi's confinement, the harem has been quiet for a while. Now, Yongqi has been assassinated. While he survived, he has been left crippled, a devastating blow to a prince. Who could be so ruthless as to take a child's life? Could it be Jin Yuyan? After all, she has the most children in the harem, and with the support of the Yu clan, it's not impossible that she covets the throne.

At Lan Qi's command, Wang Chan presented the saddle. Hongli's face turned pale. He took one look at the saddle and asked, "What is this?"

Wang Chan lifted up the saddle, revealing the pin hidden inside.

Hongli was shocked and immediately understood.

Wanyin covered her mouth and took a few steps back, then knelt down again, grabbed Hongli's clothes, and choked out, "Your Majesty, please do something for Yongqi. There is actually such a vicious person in the harem. Your Majesty must not let this person go."

"Huang Ama..."

Yongqi wanted to get up.

Lujun was afraid that he couldn't bear it, so she hurried forward to support him.

Yongqi: "Your Majesty, it's... Empress Ying... Empress Ying's brother. I was originally practicing calligraphy with my third brother in the Imperial Study, but I felt the urge to pee, so I went outside. When I returned, I ran into Jirimutu, who lured me to the martial arts training ground. Thinking he was Empress Ying's brother, I took him along. After we brought him there, he chose a horse for me to ride with him, and then... then..."

As he said this, Yongqi started crying again.

After hearing the entire incident, Wanyin immediately understood that the Balin tribe was seeking revenge against her and Yongqi. There was no room for leniency within the imperial palace. Wanyin begged Hongli to severely punish Meiruo and Jirimutu. This put Hongli in a difficult position. While he wasn't truly afraid of the Forty-Nine Mongol tribes, a real fight would inevitably waste manpower, financial resources, and resources. If another nation invaded at this time, the entire Qing Dynasty would be plunged into crisis.

On one side is his own son, and on the other side is the country, Hongli was caught in a dilemma.

He asked Wanyin to take good care of Yongqi and then returned to the Yangxin Palace.