Feng Jin pushed open the door and saw Chu Chenyi sitting there leisurely. Her mood immediately soured. She rolled her eyes, wondering how she could encounter someone she disliked wherever she went.
"What's with that look? This prince hasn't provoked you today."
He had been well-behaved, not saying a word, let alone provoking Feng Jin.
"Seeing you makes me extremely annoyed."
Feng Jin said indifferently, her gaze shifting to Ling Mo Han. "The matter is settled. The rest is up to you."
"What matter are you talking about?"
Chu Chenyi asked, completely bewildered. Had these two done something behind his back again?
"Your Highness Prince Jing, Baili Xi is currently detained at my humble abode. I'd trouble Your Highness Prince Jing to transfer him, interrogate him to determine his crimes, and then send him back to Xiliang."
"Are you out of your mind?"
Chu Chenyi felt that Ling Mo Han was daydreaming and hadn't woken up yet.
Forcing him to interrogate Baili Xi and determine his crimes – did he forget that Baili Xi was a subject of Xiliang? If he were to interrogate him, wouldn't that be overstepping his bounds? It would give Xiliang an excuse to cause trouble again.
"Baili Xi, the abduction of the Xiliang princess, the intent to disrupt diplomatic relations between the two countries, committing evil deeds within Dongchu, slaughtering innocent civilians... all his crimes are listed here."
Ling Mo Han produced a memorial and threw it in front of Chu Chenyi. He had already collected and organized Baili Xi's crimes, waiting for Chu Chenyi to take over.
Taking the memorial, Chu Chenyi skimmed through it with astonishing speed. Ling Mo Han's actions were truly swift; he had already analyzed Baili Xi's crimes articulately.
"Even if he's found guilty, will Xiliang acknowledge it?"
"You don't need to worry about that. I will make arrangements naturally. You just need to follow through."
With Ling Mo Han's assurance, Chu Chenyi felt completely at ease. "With your word, I have no reason to worry. I will handle the rest of the matter properly."
"The person is in the dungeon. Don't forget to take him with you when you leave, Your Highness Prince Jing."
Ling Mo Han kindly reminded Chu Chenyi not to forget to take the main culprit with him. He didn't want to keep such a menace at his residence; the thought alone made him feel disgusted.
"Don't worry."
Having long disliked Baili Xi, Chu Chenyi naturally wouldn't let such a golden opportunity slip by.
Feng Jin watched Chu Chenyi leave and then swiftly and heavily closed the door. The eyesore was finally gone.
"What are your plans now?"
"I've already arranged for people to spread the news in Xiliang and to lobby Xiliang ministers to pressure him. Even if the Xiliang Emperor wants to protect Baili Xi, he won't be able to."
Ling Mo Han's lips curved into a slightly sinister smile, his handsome peach blossom eyes filled with cunning schemes.
Feng Jin suddenly felt that Baili Xi was extremely unlucky. Who else could he have provoked but Ling Mo Han? This was like digging his own grave, and his current predicament was entirely his own fault.
"Then you handle it."
She had no intention of getting involved in these matters; it was clearly asking for trouble.
"I'm going to sleep for a while. You yourself..."
"Young Madam... Young General..."
The commotion outside the door interrupted their conversation. Feng Jin quickly opened the door to see what was happening.
"Young Madam, someone has arrived from the palace, urgently summoning the Young Madam and the Young General to the palace."
Feng Jin's gaze fell upon Ling Mo Han behind her, seeking his decision.
The man's expression darkened, and a bad premonition spread through him. Being summoned to the palace at this moment would surely not be good news.
"Should we go?"
"An imperial decree has been issued. Of course, we must go."
Ling Mo Han suppressed the impulse within him and said calmly, "Let's go to the palace first."
Whatever the situation, it was unknown. They would only find out once they went.
As soon as they stepped through the palace gates, Feng Jin sensed a tense atmosphere. She couldn't help but move closer to Ling Mo Han, taking his hand and whispering, "I... I feel a little scared and worried..."
An unsettling emotion had been lingering in her heart, making her very uneasy.
"It's alright, I'm here."
He squeezed Feng Jin's hand back. His voice was soft but full of security, and Feng Jin felt a little relieved.
The eunuch directly led them to Emperor Xuanwen's sleeping quarters. Feng Jin's gaze fell upon the line of princes and princesses kneeling outside the palace gate, and she immediately felt that something was amiss.
Could Emperor Xuanwen be at the end of his life? The events that followed only confirmed Feng Jin's guess.
"Feng Jin is here. Hurry inside and see how the Emperor is."
"Yes, Empress Dowager."
Before Feng Jin could even bow, she was sent into the hall to examine Emperor Xuanwen.
"How is he?"
The Empress Dowager anxiously inquired from the side. Emperor Xuanwen's illness was sudden, and the symptoms were more severe than last time. All the imperial physicians were helpless.
Feng Jin's brows were tightly furrowed. The pulse was intermittent, sometimes present, sometimes absent, a clear sign of his life force dwindling. It was no wonder the imperial physicians were unable to diagnose it. At this point, even an immortal would be unable to save him.
It seemed that the poisoning from last time had damaged his fundamental health. Even though the poison had been neutralized in time, his recovered body was not as strong as before. Coupled with day and night toil, even an iron body couldn't withstand it.
Emperor Xuanwen was already at the end of his life, beyond hope. Feng Jin slowly withdrew her hand from taking his pulse and knelt before the Empress Dowager.
"Empress Dowager, please forgive my incompetence. His Majesty's life force is depleted, and recovery is impossible. I implore the Empress Dowager to take charge of the overall situation."
The Empress Dowager felt as if a thunderclap had struck her head. Her vision went black, and she slumped onto the chair, utterly weak.
How could this be? He was fine just before. How could a healthy person collapse overnight?
She had lost her husband at a young age, and now in her old age, she had to endure the pain of losing her son. An elder burying a younger one. Heavens, are you truly this cruel?
"Empress Dowager..."
"Feng Jin, you... do you have a way to make His Majesty wake up?"
Feng Jin's expression faltered. There was a way, but it was too dangerous. If used, His Majesty would only have a few days left.
"It's fine, just say it."
"Empress Dowager, once it's used, His Majesty will only have a few days. It is merely a technique to prolong life briefly."
"Then use it. His Majesty absolutely cannot pass away in a coma like this."
The late emperor had left this world in a similar state, without uttering a single word, and had fallen into a deep sleep. It was precisely because of this that she had endured so much hardship on her journey.
This situation must not happen again. His Majesty must hand over all affairs. This is the final responsibility of an emperor.