Upon hearing this, Shangguan Sui pouted slightly.
On the surface, she continued to act like a normal three-year-old, but inwardly she began to complain wildly.
【Honestly, if she’s feeling unwell, she should go see an imperial physician! Why come looking for my father? He doesn’t know how to treat illnesses!】
【Just another petty trick to gain favor~】
【My father, that big pig trotter, is definitely going to fall for it again. Tsk, tsk.】
Shangguan Lin: …
What exactly was a “big pig trotter”?
Originally, he hadn’t thought much of it, but after hearing Sui Sui’s thoughts, he realized that Consort Rou did seem to fall ill quite frequently—especially whenever he was visiting other consorts. In the past, he would always go to see her, but now…
Frowning, Shangguan Lin said, “Tell Consort Rou to summon an imperial physician herself. I have no time.”
【Wow, my dad actually refused Consort Rou!】
【Looks like the big pig trotter has made some progress. I’ll give him a small compliment~】
Shangguan Lin: …
What did she mean by a small compliment? Didn’t this deserve high praise?
Well, never mind. The fact that Sui Sui was willing to compliment him at all was already quite good.
But when would she ever praise him with three sentences like she did for others?
Shangguan Sui clutched her bowl and ate heartily.
Consort Chen and Shangguan Lin watched her with gentle expressions.
Sui Sui ate like a little piglet—how adorable.
After eating her fill, Shangguan Sui nestled into Consort Chen’s arms. Watching Shangguan Lin sip his tea, she blinked her eyes.
【Why hasn’t my dad left yet?】
【Don’t delay my time to sleep with my mother!】
【Ah~ I’m sleepy. I really want to sleep with my beautiful mother!】
Shangguan Lin: …
Why was she so disdainful of him?
However, Shangguan Lin understood that since Sui Sui’s birth, he had rarely spent time with her. It was only natural that she wasn’t close to him.
But it didn’t matter—he would make it up to her in the future.
After finishing his tea and chatting for a while, Shangguan Lin returned to the Imperial Study to continue handling state affairs. There were still many matters to address regarding the Marquis of Zhenbei.
The Next Day
Shangguan Lin looked at Shangguan Sui, who was still sleeping soundly in his arms, and sighed.
He had brought her to the Imperial Study to hear her inner thoughts and identify any traitorous officials around him.
Unexpectedly, even though it was already late in the morning, Sui Sui was still asleep…
Fortunately, he hadn’t brought her to the morning court; otherwise, she might have slept through the entire session.
Yet he couldn’t bear to wake her, deciding instead to let her sleep until she awoke naturally.
“Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen has sent over a bowl of fish soup,” Eunuch Chen said softly.
Shangguan Lin nodded. “Very well.”
After a busy morning handling state affairs, he was indeed feeling a bit hungry.
Just as Shangguan Lin lifted the porcelain lid of the bowl, the little figure in his arms suddenly opened her eyes and stared intently at the fish soup in his hands.
【I woke up because of the aroma~ This fish soup looks so delicious!】
Shangguan Lin thought to himself: My daughter… seems to be quite the foodie.
In the end, the bowl of fish soup naturally found its way into Shangguan Sui’s mouth.
While she was happily eating, Shangguan Jue’s voice suddenly sounded beside her.
“Your son greets Father Emperor.”
“Rise,” Shangguan Lin replied calmly. “I will entrust you with investigating the Marquis of Zhenbei’s embezzlement of military funds.”
“Your son obeys.”
【Woohoo, it looks like Father Emperor has already begun to take action. The Marquis of Zhenbei’s schemes will surely fail!】
【I can continue to live peacefully as a carefree little freeloader~】
The two discussed further details. After arranging everything, Shangguan Lin suddenly asked, “I heard that your medicinal soup was poisoned?”
Shangguan Jue was puzzled. “How did Father Emperor know?”
Wasn’t he the only one who could hear his Fifth Sister’s inner thoughts?
Shangguan Lin replied, “Physician Xu informed me. He said that you brought a bowl of medicinal soup to him this morning to identify the poison.”
Indeed, Physician Xu had visited earlier and reported that the medicine Shangguan Jue had been drinking was poisoned. However, what truly alerted Shangguan Lin to the matter was Sui Sui’s inner monologue from the previous day.
Naturally, he could not reveal this to his eldest son, as only he could hear her thoughts.
Shangguan Jue nodded, accepting the explanation. He had indeed visited Physician Xu that morning. Unfortunately, even Physician Xu could not determine the exact poison used.
Looking at his eldest son’s pale complexion, Shangguan Lin felt a pang of guilt. He had truly neglected his children for far too long.
“Have you discovered who is behind the poisoning?” he asked.
“Not yet,” Shangguan Jue replied.
As Shangguan Sui continued eating her fish soup, she complained inwardly once more.
【Who else could it be? Of course it’s Consort Xian!】
【This Xiao Yun is one of Consort Xian’s people. Even the incident last year where she ‘saved’ my eldest brother was deliberately staged by them!】
【But Consort Xian and Xiao Yun are extremely cautious. You probably won’t be able to catch any evidence against them.】
Shangguan Lin: ?!
Shangguan Jue: ?!
Neither of them had expected that Consort Xian would be the mastermind.
Shangguan Lin silently fingered the jade prayer beads in his hand. If Consort Xian was indeed behind this, the matter would not be easy to handle.
He was not a tyrant who could arrest her without clear evidence. Moreover, Consort Xian was the mother of the Third Prince, and her natal family—the Marquis of Zhenbei—wielded immense power.
Although he was preparing to deal with the Marquis, it was not something that could be accomplished overnight. Careful planning was required.
After hearing Sui Sui’s thoughts, Shangguan Jue’s mind raced, and he quickly came up with an idea.
“Father Emperor, I have a plan. Why don’t we lure the snake out of its hole to expose the mastermind behind this?”
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Sui set down her spoon and perked up her little ears, listening attentively.
..
Eldest Prince’s Residence
“What? Master Yunxing is returning to the capital?”
Xiao Yun couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.
“Yes. Master Yunxing is a renowned physician of this era. With him here, my illness will surely be cured soon,” Shangguan Jue replied with a faint smile. “Why? Aren’t you happy for me, Yun’er?”
He had indeed once liked Xiao Yun. But the moment he learned the truth, that affection vanished completely.
Biting her lip, Xiao Yun forced a smile. “Of course I’m happy. It’s wonderful news that Master Yunxing is returning.”
Though she maintained a pleasant expression, anxiety surged within her.
Master Yunxing is coming back?Will he discover the poison in the medicine?What will happen to her and Consort Xian’s plan?
Observing the fleeting panic on Xiao Yun’s face, Shangguan Jue’s lips curled slightly.
Late that night, a slender figure quietly slipped out through the back gate of the Eldest Prince’s residence.
From the darkness not far away, Tang Xing asked in confusion, “Your Highness, we’re just letting Xiao Yun go like this. What if she never returns?”
Shangguan Jue chuckled softly. “She won’t. She has been planted by my side for an entire year—how could she give up so easily?”
“She is surely going to meet Consort Xian now to discuss their countermeasures. If we can implicate Consort Xian as well, this matter will be successfully resolved…”