Xue Xian instinctively retorted, “Why did you call him out?”

Yan Wenjing blinked in confusion. Consort Rong explained, “Your Highness may not know, but Wenjing previously studied at the Imperial College and was good friends with Young Master Xue. Hearing that his eyes had been harmed, he was very worried. So, accompanying me here this time, he also wished to visit him.”

Every sentence was perfectly reasonable, without a single flaw to be found.

Xue Xian was stumped for a moment before saying, “Baiqing is ill. It’s not suitable for him to receive guests today.”

“Ill?” Consort Rong frowned, clearly recognizing this as an excuse.

The corner of Yan Wenjing’s mouth lifted slightly, a look of concern appearing on his face. “Is Xue Baiqing sick? What did the imperial physician say?”

Xue Xian replied coldly and stiffly, “The physician said he needs quiet rest and cannot see anyone. You should come another day!”

Yan Wenjing let out an “Oh,” and said obediently, “Then, Aunt, shall we leave first? We mustn’t disturb Her Highness while she’s caring for him!”

Consort ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‍Rong hadn’t expected him to want to leave so soon. She curtsied and said, “Noble Consort, may I take my leave then?”

Xue Xian, who had wanted to send them away anyway, waved her hand, signaling them to go quickly.

Inside the side hall, Xue Baiqing, who had heard Yan Wenjing’s voice, struggled desperately, but the palace servants firmly covered his mouth. “Young Master Xue, we beg of you! If we are discovered, we will all lose our lives!” The young eunuch holding him whispered a plea. Xue Baiqing’s body trembled, and he stopped resisting.

Two lines of tears streamed from his tightly closed eyes. Goodbye, Wenjing brother, he said softly in his heart.

Back in the Yikun Palace, interrupted by this incident, Xue Xian also abandoned her intention to seek out Consort Hui.

She ordered Xue Baiqing to be brought before her. Seeing the tear stains on his face, she flew into a rage. “You cried? I didn’t see you cry when your father, your mother, your uncle, or your grandmother died. And now, because of a little bastard from the Yan family, you actually cried?”

Xue Baiqing tensed his body, awaiting her wrath.

But Xue Xian gave a cold laugh. “Since you like crying so much, then go cry your fill in the pond! Anyway, I’ve already told everyone you’re ill. Let the illness be real, to better silence others’ mouths!”

It was still early spring, and the water in the pond was bone-chillingly cold.

Xue Baiqing was so young and covered in injuries; how could he possibly endure it?

The young eunuch who had covered his mouth earlier couldn’t help but plead, “Your Highness, have mercy. The weather is so cold. Perhaps another method…”

Xue Xian’s cold gaze fell upon his face. “Oh? You plead for him? Fine, then you go down in his place. But there’s no need for you to come back up.”

Two guards immediately moved to drag him away when suddenly—”Ah!”

It was Yan Wenjing, who had left earlier, running back in. “Noble Consort, I dropped a sachet… Huh? Isn’t this Dummy Xue? You’re not sick?”

Xue Baiqing trembled violently. Xue Xian shouted angrily, “Take the young master away at once!”

The guards obeyed the order. Just then, a eunuch’s announcement sounded from outside the palace: “His Majesty the Emperor arrives! Consort Hui and Consort Rong arrive!”

An indescribable panic rose in Xue Xian’s heart. She reached out to grab Xue Baiqing, but the boy dashed out first.

“Stop!” Xue Xian urgently scolded.

But Xue Baiqing stumbled and staggered, running toward Yan Wenjing’s direction.

Blind, he crashed headlong into the Emperor who was walking in.

The Emperor frowned. Before he could speak, he saw the boy hiss in pain and clutch his arm.

“How dare you! You actually dare to collide with His Imperial Majesty—”

Eunuch Yin Shun’s reprimand was cut short as the Emperor stopped him.

He looked at the child with considerable interest. “It seems I was the one who was bumped into, wasn’t I? Why do you look like you’re in pain?”

Xue Xian was horrified. She swiftly stepped forward. “Your Majesty, please forgive this offense. It is all my fault. Because Baiqing was not diligent in his studies, I disciplined him slightly. I never imagined this child would be disobedient and run out in a rage, thus colliding with Your Majesty. The fault is entirely mine!”

In these few words, she shifted all the blame onto the child.

And she explained his injuries. The Emperor’s smile instantly faded. “So that’s how it is. I recall your second brother also disliked studying. It seems his son is the same. You have had your hands full, Noble Consort.”

Xue Xian breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly tried to order someone to take the boy away.

Unexpectedly, Yan Wenjing stepped forward and declared loudly, “What Noble Consort says is not right! I remember, Xue Baiqing was the most diligent student at the Imperial College!”

The palace fell silent. When the Emperor looked over, his eyes lit up. “You are… the Grand Commander’s eldest grandson?”

No wonder—these brows and eyes looked so much like Yan Xun, and bore a three or four parts resemblance to the Grand Commander himself!

Little Wenjing imitated an adult, clasping his fists. “Yes, Your Majesty! Third Uncle often teaches Wenjing to study hard and practice martial arts diligently, so that when I grow up, I can be Your Majesty’s Grand Commander, just like my grandfather!”

The child’s naive, young voice held no trace of flattery or calculation.

The Emperor was instantly pleased. “Good, good! The Chief Tutor teaches well, and Heir Apparent Yan has raised a fine son! When you grow up, I shall await you becoming my Grand Commander!”

Little Wenjing exclaimed with delight, “Truly? But Your Majesty, a Grand Commander is no good without advisors! Can I then choose Dummy Xue to be my advisor?”

The Emperor laughed heartily. “You even know you need advisors? Of course you can!”

Little Wenjing immediately reached out to pull Xue Baiqing. “Dummy Xue, did you hear that? His Majesty is going to appoint you as my advisor—”

Before he finished speaking, Xue Baiqing winced in pain and shrank back.

With a ripping sound, his already frail sleeve tore, revealing an arm covered in bruises and countless needle pricks!

The Emperor’s expression changed instantly. Consort Hui, who followed behind him, also gasped in shock. “Heavens! How are there so many injuries?”

Xue Xian’s heart leaped to her throat. She whirled around and harshly rebuked, “Wretches! How dare you mistreat Baiqing behind my back?”

The servants of the Yikun Palace hastily knelt. Xue Xian pretended to step forward to embrace him, but Xue Baiqing shrank away in fright.

A shadow passed through her eyes, but on her face she wore an expression of painful remorse. “It is all my fault. I failed to take good care of you, Baiqing. Now, the Xue family has only the two of us left to depend on each other. I swear I will treat you well from now on!”

Hearing “the two of us,” Xue Baiqing fell silent. But Yan Wenjing tilted his head and said, “But Noble Consort, didn’t you say Dummy Xue was sick and couldn’t see anyone? So these injuries on him are what you call being ‘sick’?”

It was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

The child’s innocent, uncomprehending words jolted everyone awake.

The Emperor’s gaze, sharp as a sword, shot toward her. “You knew? And you allowed those under you to mistreat him like this?”

Those wounds were horrifying to behold. Even he, the Emperor, felt his scalp prickle looking at them!

Xue Xian hurriedly knelt. “Your Majesty, I knew nothing of this! It was all the underlings acting recklessly. They… they deceived me, falsely claiming Baiqing was ill. I believed them. The fault is entirely mine!”

Hearing she was unaware, the Emperor was about to relax.

Who could have expected the servants of the Yikun Palace to speak up.

First there was Auntie Yu Ru, then there was Auntie Yang. Whether loyal or disloyal, the end was the same: death. So why not risk everything to beg for a way out?

“Your Majesty! We are wronged!”

“We never laid a finger on Young Master Xue! It was all Noble Consort herself who did it!”

“Yes, Your Majesty! How would we lowly servants have the right to touch embroidery needles or nail guards!”

“We beg Your Majesty to see the truth clearly!”

Xue Xian’s vision darkened. The Emperor’s breath hitched.

With a dark expression, he strode swiftly to Xue Baiqing and lifted his upper garment, then his trouser legs…

From head to toe, apart from his face and hands, not a single patch of skin was left unmarred…

Gazing at the dense, crisscrossing wounds, the Emperor, furious, demanded: “Xue Xian! What possible explanation can you offer for this?!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep