Chapter 317: Chapter 317: I Would Rather Die than Talk (Thanks to ’Looking Forward to the Future’ for the extra monthly ticket)
Seeing Xiaosuisui run to Xie Pan’Er, Xie Pan’Er worriedly asked her what was wrong.
"Sis, I’m fine. I just twisted my ankle."
Xie Pan’Er held Xiaosuisui, looking her up and down.
"I heard something happened at Fengxian Palace. How are you? Were you affected?"
Xiaosuisui quickly shook her head. "I’m okay, but Grandma was really scared. The ancestral tablets at Fengxian Palace were all struck by Celestial Thunder."
"What? Something like that happened!"
Xie Pan’Er was extremely surprised. After exclaiming in shock, she felt several piercing gazes on her.
She was startled and hastily said, "Princess, we must not talk about what happened at Fengxian Palace anymore. You must keep this a secret, understand?"
After Xie Pan’Er told Xiaosuisui this, she felt those piercing gazes disappear, and she secretly sighed in relief.
"Oh! I understand. I won’t talk about it. I’d rather die than say anything!"
Xiaosuisui quickly covered her mouth.
By then, the young Emperor had helped the Empress Dowager approach them.
The National Master was also following behind the young Emperor and Empress Dowager. His gaze lingered on Xie Pan’Er’s face for a long while before shifting away.
"Greetings to Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, and National Master."
Xie Pan’Er and the two Palace Maids hurriedly bowed.
The Empress Dowager replied with an "HMM" but said nothing more.
The young Emperor, however, asked, "Miss Xie, have you injured your foot?"
Xie Pan’Er lowered her head and replied, "I was walking too quickly earlier and twisted it."
Upon hearing this, the young Emperor ordered the two young Palace Maids assisting Xie Pan’Er.
"Take Miss Xie to rest in the Side Palace of Cining Palace. Then, invite the most skilled bone-setting Imperial Physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau to examine her."
The two young Palace Maids quickly responded, "Yes," and escorted Xie Pan’Er away.
Without a second thought, Xiaosuisui followed her beautiful elder sister to the Side Palace.
Seeing this, the young Emperor couldn’t help but smirk. It’s all set. Once we’re back at Cining Palace, whether the National Master wants to open his Heavenly Eye or try anything else, he can bring it on!
Thinking this, the young Emperor continued to assist the Empress Dowager towards Cining Palace.
He didn’t notice the peculiar expressions on the faces of the National Master and the Empress Dowager when he had ordered an Imperial Physician to examine Xie Pan’Er.
「Back in Cining Palace」
The Empress Dowager sat on the phoenix throne. After Palace Maids had arranged seats for the young Emperor and the National Master and served tea, the Empress Dowager finally spoke.
"Today, the heavens have shown an omen. I wonder what the National Master thinks of this? Is it truly as the courtiers claim, that this celestial warning is because His Majesty has not appointed an Empress or selected consorts?"
The National Master held his teacup, remaining silent for a long moment before speaking.
"This servant investigated Fengxian Palace. It was indeed a Celestial Thunder strike. There were no signs of human intervention. Moreover, a similar heavenly omen occurred before this in Xun’an County. This servant already suspected something was amiss back then and never expected that a bolt of Celestial Thunder would strike Fengxian Palace here in the Imperial Palace!"
Everything the National Master said was true. Previously, he had exhausted all his divinatory efforts but still couldn’t ascertain the cause. Therefore, he planned to open his Heavenly Eye this time to check if the Emperor’s Dragon Qi had been affected.
"A heavenly omen also occurred in Xun’an County? Why haven’t I heard the Emperor mention this?"
The young Emperor looked at the Empress Dowager and quickly said, "It’s because I have been overwhelmed with state affairs since my return, so it slipped my mind."
But in his heart, he thought, How could I dare mention it to you!
Then, a thought struck him, and he felt a pang of regret. If I had told the Empress Dowager about this after I returned, wouldn’t today’s incident have been avoided?
Now what? How can I tell the Empress Dowager everything?