Chapter 944: Chapter 942: Chu Jinling, It’s Maddening

Chu Jinling accompanied Chu Yihan into the palace, matching his pace step by step.

Chu Yihan raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, “What has happened in the palace?”

“Oh, Your Highness, with you in charge, what could possibly go wrong! You used to treat entering the palace like a stroll, and now you should do the same, just wander around at will!”

Chu Jinling scratched his ear, clearly reluctant to speak.

If it weren’t for his mother forcing him, he would never have taken on the task of leading the officials to greet Chu Yihan!

Welcoming Chu Yihan into the palace was a big trouble!

How could Chu Yihan not know? With Chu Jinling’s temperament, unless all the princes were dead, he would never fulfill the duties of a prince.

Today at the city gates, it must have been Noble Consort Xiao who forced him! If Noble Consort Xiao did this, it must mean that there were disturbances in the palace.

The empress was unable to command the situation, which is why Noble Consort Xiao wound up grasping great power.

Chu Yihan headed straight for the imperial study. His esteemed Imperial Brother, claiming he would rather die than leave the imperial study, had clung to the dragon throne ever since his royal seal had been taken from him by Chu Yihan. Living and eating in the imperial study as if he feared Chu Yihan would snatch away the throne.

Chu Jinling watched Chu Yihan enter the imperial study and then stood outside, not moving.

As soon as Granny Song entered the harem, she kept a close eye on him, and upon seeing Chu Yihan go in while Chu Jinling stood outside, she hurriedly rushed forward, tugging at his sleeve, “Your Highness, why are you dawdling? Why don’t you follow His Highness in? The emperor, the empress, and the Seventh Prince are all inside! If you want to know what will happen between them and the Ninth Prince, you must wait inside! In case the Ninth Prince needs it, you can offer your help!”

Chu Jinling shook his head, the picture of clarity, “I wouldn’t dream of it! With my uncle’s martial prowess, even if my father, the empress, and my seventh brother are inside, let alone the entire imperial guards of the palace rallying behind them, Uncle doesn’t necessarily need my help! With just a flick of his fingers, Uncle could subdue them all!”

He wouldn’t go inside to add to the commotion!

“Oh! But you should at least go in to gather some intelligence for the Noble Consort. If something happens to the emperor, the Noble Consort will need to secure an escape route for you and herself!” Granny Song stomped her foot anxiously, thinking to herself that Chu Jinling simply did not understand how to protect his own interests!

By being there, even if he could not seize the throne, he could at least get closer to Chu Yihan!

Once Chu Yihan ascended to the throne, wasn’t being granted a title and lands just around the corner?

Then, Noble Consort Xiao’s status wouldn’t plummet drastically!

But he…

“I am delicate, I can’t stand the sight of blood.”

Chu Jinling rubbed his arms, as if a cold breeze in the palace road could knock him down.

Granny Song almost spewed blood!

Inside the imperial study, desolation filled the air.

In a matter of months, Chu Mingyuan’s hair had turned mostly white, and he appeared utterly deflated, like a decrepit old man slumped on the dragon throne, awaiting the Grim Reaper to take him away.

But the one who entered was not the Grim Reaper, it was Chu Yihan.

“Chu… Chu Yihan…”

Chu Mingyuan’s lips trembled violently, yet he couldn’t articulate Chu Yihan’s name.

Chu Yihan frowned slightly.

The empress stood beside Chu Mingyuan with a dagger pressed against his throat, her voice ice cold, “Ever since you took the royal seal, the emperor has fallen ill, immobilized, hardly recognizing people, and struggling even to speak clearly.”

She narrated calmly as if discussing someone else’s matter, not her own husband’s.