The Grand Secretary's Pampered Wife

Chapter 580: Power

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The matter of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing and her daughter served as a harsh lesson for the Emperor.

He would no longer conceal crimes for anyone. Besides, even if he wanted to hide it, it was impossible now. Princess Xinyang had already exposed Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's crimes in front of the civil and military officials in the imperial audience hall, and there was no taking it back.

As for Princess Ning'an's story, it had to be announced to the world, and the various crimes of the false Ning'an would also be made public.

All these matters were handed over to the Ministry of Justice.

The case was overturned and Minister Xing was acquitted and released this morning.

Xiao Heng and Assistant Minister Li personally went to the Central Judicial Office to bring him back.

Assistant Minister Li bowed to Minister Xing apologetically, saying, "Lord Xing, this lower official slandered you as part of the act that day, I had no choice. this lower official apologizes!"

"You scoundrel!" Minister Xing raised his hand as if to slap Assistant Minister Li.

Assistant Minister Li shrank his neck in fear.

Minister Xing finally restrained himself, just giving him a light kick with his foot, "And you didn't even give me a heads up! I always treated you well, how could you turn around and pour dirty water on me!"

Assistant Minister Li smiled awkwardly, glancing at Xiao Heng beside him, "Liulang didn't let me tell you. Liulang said it was already dangerous enough for me to pretend to be bought by her; letting more people know might reveal the secret."

Minister Xing was incredulous, "So, what? You can act, but I can't?"

Assistant Minister Li smiled bitterly, "You... you just can't act, my Lord. You're too honest of an individual..."

Minister Xing's anger subsided by half with this flattery. He looked at the two of them and said seriously, "Just this once, don't let it happen again. If you have any plans in the future, remember to inform me beforehand, don't keep me in the dark!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Assistant Minister Li smiled and agreed.

As they spoke, they exited the Central Judicial Office, and the carriage stopped by the roadside.

Assistant Minister Li helped Minister Xing onto the carriage himself. Then, he turned around, looking embarrassed as he walked towards Xiao Heng, lowering his voice, "Liulang, this time... Thank you."

Assistant Minister Li wasn't pretending to be bought by the Heavenly Music House Young Owner; he was genuinely bought.

After the truth came out, it was Xiao Heng who stepped forward, stating that Assistant Minister Li had adopted his suggestion to pretend to meet with the other party, with the aim of luring the fish to take the bait.

Xiao Heng said, "Assistant Minister Li, you're too polite."

Assistant Minister Li said with embarrassment, "This time, I was completely muddle-headed. I won't dare to do it again. I'm deeply grateful for your lifesaving grace. If you need anything in the future, just tell me, and I will definitely go to great lengths to help!"

Xiao Heng smiled faintly, "No need to be so polite."

Whether Assistant Minister Li was genuinely grateful enough to go to great lengths for him wasn't important. What mattered was that Xiao Heng held this leverage, and Assistant Minister Li would be used by him.

From this moment on, Xiao Heng began the first step of building his power.

The ledger of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was handed over to Xiao Heng by Princess Xinyang. Xiao Heng understood Princess Xinyang's implication. If he wished, he could hand over the ledger or choose to keep it in his own hands.

With those pieces of leverage, the network Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing had built over the years became Xiao Heng's tool.

Back at the Ministry of Justice, Minister Xing immediately had Xiao Heng bring the case files.

Xiao Heng organized them clearly, and Minister Xing was very satisfied.

He felt that after this incident, Xiao Liulang should be promoted.

As Minister Xing was going through the case files, he said, "The arrangements for Sun Ping's affairs will be handled by Assistant Minister Li. You focus on organizing this case. Oh, Princess Ning'an..."

Mid-sentence, Minister Xing remembered that the present Princess Ning'an was a false Princess Ning'an. He corrected himself, "Since this matter is being handled by the Ministry of Justice, send someone to the Central Judicial Office later and bring the Heavenly Music House’s Young Owner over."

Xiao Heng said, "The Heavenly Music House’s Young Owner has been taken away by His Majesty's men. His Majesty said he would deal with her personally."

"Is that so?" Minister Xing nodded. "...Alright."

What else could he say? His Majesty was the ultimate boss.

"My Lord! My Lord!"

As they were talking, a prison guard hurriedly entered, bowing and reporting, "Lord Xing, a eunuch surnamed Su from the palace has arrived, saying there's an urgent matter for Official Xiao."

"I remember there's a eunuch surnamed Su by the Empress's side..." Minister Xing didn't know Xiao Heng's background, but he understood that Xiao Heng was deeply favored by the two masters of the imperial palace. But when did even the Empress start getting involved?

Minister Xing looked at Xiao Heng, "Alright, go ahead. Don't keep people waiting."

Xiao Heng took his leave.

At the entrance of the Ministry of Justice, he saw Eunuch Su, who seemed agitated.

"Eunuch Su." He greeted.

"Oh!" Eunuch Su hurriedly ran over to him, grabbing his arm and whispering, "Little Marquis, something bad has happened to the Seventh Prince!"

Xiao Heng went to the medical hall, picked up Gu Jiao, and hurried to the imperial palace at the fastest speed.

"What happened?" Gu Jiao asked.

Xiao Heng said, "He fainted. After being rescued that day, he seemed a bit listless. The Empress had the imperial physician check him, but found nothing unusual, so they assumed it was just excessive fright. But at noon, he suddenly fell from his chair while eating. It's unclear if he fainted first and then fell, or fell first and then fainted."

Gu Jiao pondered, "What did the imperial physician say?"

Xiao Heng shook his head, "The imperial physician couldn't find any issues."

As they entered the Kunning Palace, they could hear Empress Xiao's crying from afar.

The Crown Prince had gone to court and was unaware of his younger brother's accident.

Empress Xiao hadn't sent anyone to inform him.

"Your Majesty, Lord Xiao and Physician Gu have arrived!" Eunuch Su reported from outside.

Empress Xiao dismissed the palace attendants, leaving only Eunuch Su.

"Ah Heng!" Empress Xiao choked up.

As the Empress of a nation, Empress Xiao had always been dignified and composed, rarely showing such a loss of control.

Xiao Heng comforted her softly, "Aunt, take care of yourself first. Let JiaoJiao take a look at Little Seven."

Empress Xiao stepped aside, saying, "JiaoJiao, you must heal Little Seven..."

Gu Jiao nodded, "I'll do my best."

Setting down her back basket, Gu Jiao opened the little medicine chest and took out a stethoscope. There were no abnormal sounds in the lungs, but the heartbeat was somewhat fast.

She also checked Qin Chuyu's pulse, which was very strange. She had never seen such a pulse pattern in her two lifetimes.

Gu Jiao asked Empress Xiao, "Could Your Majesty describe in detail the scene when the Seventh Prince fainted?"

Empress Xiao recalled, "At that time, Little Seven was eating, and he said he didn't want to eat vegetables. This Empress said a word to him, and he suddenly let out a cry, clutching his chest, and fell over."

"Clutching his chest? Is it angina*?" Gu Jiao murmured, then asked, "Is he like this on regular days?" [T/N: *a medical condition characterized by chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.]

Empress Xiao shook her head, choking up, "No, he's always been fine. It's just since he was abducted by that woman and brought back once, he's been a bit downcast. This Empress thought he was frightened, and so did the imperial physician. But he's still a child, and we can't just give him medicine randomly. The imperial physician said he would be fine after a while, but who would have thought..."

Gu Jiao pulled back the covers and undressed Qin Chuyu, carefully checking his body for any hidden wounds.

There was nothing.

Xiao Heng suddenly spoke up, "JiaoJiao, his right wrist."

Gu Jiao looked at Qin Chuyu's right wrist, but didn't see anything. She changed her angle, standing beside Xiao Heng, and this time she saw it clearly.

There was a gray-white mark on Qin Chuyu's wrist, which couldn't be seen clearly in either too bright or too dark light.

Gu Jiao rubbed it with her fingertip, but it wouldn't come off, "Did he have this before?"

Empress Xiao thought for a moment, then shook her head, "Probably not. Although this mark is very faint and hard to notice, if it had been there for many days, there would have been a chance to notice it."

Gu Jiao said, "So it's highly likely that it appeared recently."

Gu Jiao pondered for a moment, then said to Xiao Heng, "Where is the Young Owner of the Heavenly Music House? She should know what this is."

Xiao Heng replied, "She was taken away by His Majesty's men. His Majesty said he would deal with her personally."

Empress Xiao quickly ordered Eunuch Su, "Hurry to His Majesty and request her presence!"

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