Chapter 1046 A Person Who Suddenly Disappeared

　　It was confirmed that Feng Yuheng did not have good intentions, but did it mean that Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui had good intentions? This was simply a match, not only were they having a battle of intelligence and wits, they were also fighting over the Emperor’s time.

　　Feng Yuheng did not know how long the Emperor could hold out under the control of the Gu technique, how long was his lifespan? How long could he maintain the court? She knew, regardless of how the Emperor’s body was like, that person controlling the Gu would not allow him to live too long, once the Eighth Prince’s influence was stable, or, once the Eighth Prince sat on the crown prince’s seat, the old Emperor’s life might come to an end. This was a race against time, she could not wait any longer.

　　She looked up at the Emperor, the Emperor had not agreed with what she asked yet, but a vague sign of expectation could be seen on his face. Having a child when they were old, this was something good which everyone would secretly hope for, right? She took one step forward to strive for what she wanted: “Father Emperor should have a good idea of Ah-Heng’s medical skills, wanting Her Highness Imperial Concubine Gui to conceive dragon spawn, only Ah-Heng adjusting her physical constitution would be the best choice. Father Emperor, do you believe I am correct?”

　　Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui could not longer sit still, standing up with a “Duang”, blurting out: “This One’s body is fine! There is no need for adjustments.”

　　Feng Yuheng was not perturbed, speaking with a smile on her face: “Your Highness is mistaken, making adjustments does not mean your body is no good. If a woman has her constitution adjusted by a professional before conceiving, not only would it increase the chances of conceiving, it can guarantee the healthy development of the fetus. The child born would be healthy, good looking and intelligent. Your Highness, why not go ahead with it?”

　　In the group of concubines and noble ladies, Imperial Concubine Gu Xian, who normally did not involve herself in matters, interjected. She said: “In the past, since the day the Concubine and Noble Ladies enter the palace, the imperial physicians would visit to check our pulse every few days, but how can the imperial physicians match up to the medical skills of Princess Yu.”

　　“That’s right!” Imperial Concubine Shi De also spoke, “Your Majesty wishes for a child and has deep feelings for Imperial Concubine Gui, if so, there is a stronger need to attend to Imperial Concubine Gui’s body so that in the near future, there will be another prince.”

　　After these two spoke, the Emperor was tempted. In addition, he always remembered that this Ninth daughter-in-law was a divine doctor and remembered further that she still had a Hundred Herb Hall outside. He heard that complicated conditions which were normally untreatable was considered nothing in her hands. He looked at Imperial Concubine Gu Xian again, vaguely remembering that he heard many years ago that Feng Yuheng had cured the First Prince’s infertility, allowing him to have another royal grandchild after Feiyu.

　　Thinking about this, the Emperor felt that Feng Yuheng suggesting to manage Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui’s body at this time was truly being too sensible and truly thinking about him. With Feng Yuheng taking care of things, wanting another child would be an easy matter. So he laughed out loud, leaning forward to ask Feng Yuheng: “Then can you make Us have a daughter? We already have nine sons, having one more would not be that interesting. We want a daughter, then it would be complete.”

　　Feng Yuheng said with a smile: “Daughter-in-law would try my best, Father Emperor can be rest assured.” Saying this, she said to Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui: “Do not worry, Your Highness, Ah-Heng would adjust your constitution properly, making sure that you would get a daughter in the near future.”

　　Everyone would say get a son, but with her, she said get a daughter, making it sound rather mocking. But the people in the court of Da Shun all knew that the Emperor loved daughters, if not he would not have spoiled Princess Wuyang to the skies, so no one thought it was inappropriate. It was just that Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui’s mental state was in a mess. With the Emperor agreeing to have Feng Yuheng manage her health, did that not mean that this Feng Yuheng will frequently enter the palace and frequently make contact with her? She always felt this young girl was ominous, but she could not pinpoint which part was ominous. Either way, the more she made contact with Feng Yuheng, the more worried she felt.

　　Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui glanced at the Eighth Prince Xuan Tianmo, but she only saw her son frowning deeply, so her heart remained in suspension, unable to land on the ground for a long time.

　　However, matters were already decided, even if she was unhappy, she could not overturn things. Though the Emperor was extremely close to her due to the Gu technique and listened to her for everything, that stubborn temperament did not change at all. No one was allowed to disagree with what he had decided on, else the consequences would not be good.

　　Feng Yuheng obtained such a task for herself and returned to her seat while feeling satisfied. Looking over to where the princes were sitting, she saw Xuan Tianming, Xuan Tianhua and Xuan Tianfeng look at her with worried gazes. She shook her head minutely, expressing that it was alright. But in reality, how can everything be alright? It could be said that this was filled with danger. The Gu poison was all pervasive, with more contact with Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui, she would be in more danger.

　　But, how can they catch the tiger without enter the tiger’s den? If she did not make contact with Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui, how could they unravel the mystery behind the huge change in the Emperor’s temperament? For all of this, they needed to take it one step at a time, hoping that every step they take from now would be headed towards a positive direction and that the situation would not get worse.

　　“Older sister.” Zirui poked her elbow from beside her, asking softly: “Can Zirui follow you out of the palace today?”

　　Feng Yuheng looked at Zirui, sighing faintly, “These days, our Zirui had a hard time.”

　　Zirui shook his head, “It’s not hard, if I do not experience these, how can I understand that the palace was just like the Feng Manor in the past, a dragon’s lair? Of course, this place is a hundred times more dangerous than Feng Manor, if older sister requires it, Zirui can continue to stay, it’s not a problem.”

　　Feng Yuheng patted this child’s head while feeling exasperated, telling him: “Older sister had never needed our Zirui to face any dangers, leaving you in the palace was something I could not change. You have grown up, you should participate in these things. As you have seen today, the current palace, and the current Emperor, is completely different from before. Our side needs to investigate the reason as well as thinking of ways to correct the mistakes. Of course, if it truly cannot be done, there is a need to learn how to protect ourselves in this situation. Don’t worry, older sister will do all I can to bring you out, if it truly cannot be done, then tomorrow. Either way, this palace, older sister will not have you stay any longer.”

　　On this side, Feng Yuheng was consoling her younger brother. On the other side, the ministers started to congratulate the Eighth Prince, the concubines, noble ladies and women started to gather around Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui, saying some congratulatory words. After all, this imperial banquet was pretty much organised for the Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui’s sake, the biggest winners tonight were the Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui mother and son pair. People could tell, this Da Shun would be under the rule of this mother and son in the future.

　　The concubines and noble ladies in the palace were split into a few groups, the biggest one were of course close to the Eighth Prince’s group. After all, there were more people who have never given birth to a dragon child. And those who had princes, they would choose to be neutral or be like Imperial Concubine Gu Xian and Imperial Concubine Shi De, simply choosing to sway towards the Ninth Prince. But one person was more special, that would be Imperial Concubine Li.

　　At this time, Imperial Concubine Li was currently at her seat, quiet and deep in thought. Both her hands were placed on top of each other, her right hand on top of the bracelet worn on her left wrist.

　　That bracelet was given to her by Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui, it was what her Grandmother left behind when she was still at her family home, so she was always sentimental about it. Ever since the bracelet was given to her, she had always worn it, feeling that when she wore it on her wrist, it was as if she had gone back to the days when she was still being cared for by her Grandmother back in her family home. It was an intimate feeling. Therefore, she was grateful to Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui, at least she had given her a nostalgic item, even in this event today, she was really hoping her own son the Sixth Prince could inherit the rule, but when she heard the promise by the Emperor to Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui and the Eighth Prince, she did not feel much resentment. Other than slight feelings of jealously, her emotions were considered rather stable.

　　It was just that Imperial Concubine Li had a matter that she was hiding deeply in her heart, not daring to say it, but keeping it in was worrying, even frightening. It was a matter before Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui gained power. At that time, the Eighth Prince was sent to the condemned cell and her position was just restored. For a while, the palace staff, concubines and noble ladies could not guess what the Emperor’s intentions were and were afraid that offending her would anger the Emperor again, so Imperial Concubine Li had some influence in the imperial harem.

　　She made use of that period of time to secretly transport someone from outside the palace. That person as someone she had made contact with while in her family home when she was still very young, it was the son of a Gu Master whom the Liu family had good relations with. At that time, the Gu Master had received help from the Liu family, so their relations over the years were considered rather good. She had met that Gu Master’s son a few times, and the principles of poking the straw doll and conducting funeral for the living was learned during that time. It was a pity that she only had a partial understanding and it was not that effective.

　　During that time, she felt the Eighth Prince was at his end, and the only person left who could contest her son for the throne was the Ninth Prince, so she remembered that Gu Master’s son and did everything she could to bring that person into the palace, wanting to ask him to help her. But that person did enter the palace, but did not come to Chang Ning Palace, actually disappearing on the way at had not showed up until now. Imperial Concubine Li thought hard about it but did not understand why and this matter and this person drove a thorn into her heart.

　　After that, the Emperor had a huge change in temperament, released Old Eighth and restored Yuan Shu’s position, causing her to make a guess. That person must have been stolen by Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui on the way and made use of the Gu techniques he had learned from his father since he was young to control the Emperor, causing the current situation.

　　Imperial Concubine Li felt that her guess was likely to be correct, because the Emperor’s situation resembled being inflicted by a Gu too much, only Gu techniques can control a person to this point. Thinking about it again, the reason why she had the idea of looking for that person and bringing him into the palace to help her was because Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui mentioned this topic in private, causing her to have such thoughts.

　　Imperial Concubine Li was more and more certain that the person was stolen by Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui, but the troubling part was that she did not have evidence. In addition, with Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui’s influence enveloping the imperial harem, if she still wanted to investigate, it would be more difficult. A knot formed on Imperial Concubine Li’s brow, continuously thinking that if Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui successfully pushed the Eighth Prince upwards, then, which direction should her Feng-er go? The Eighth Prince who had rose in position, would he treat her Feng-er nicely? Should she continue to think of ways to help her son, or quickly improve the sisterly bond with Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui to pave a way for Feng-er’s future?

　　Imperial Concubine Li was troubled and Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui’s gaze stealthily shifted in her direction, but it fell on that bracelet between her wrists. Imperial Concubine Yuan Gui smiled slightly, it was an arrogant and noble smile, regardless of what happens, an escape route needs to be left open. If someone did investigate Gu techniques, then she would just push Imperial Concubine Li out. In the end, there will be someone to take the blame for her.