Transmigrating with a Five Million Dollar Retirement Life

Chapter 230 Lady Huide

Seeing the eunuch frequently glancing at the Empress, the Emperor flicked his sleeve and said, "I want to see what's going on. Go to Anxiang Pavilion."

As soon as the Emperor set off, everyone followed. It was originally a family matter of the royal family, and the ministers were supposed to avoid it. However, judging from the Emperor's appearance, he had no intention of doing so.

Taking advantage of this moment, Madam Chengen slowed down and came to Song Jiaojiao's side. She had just seen Song Jiaojiao go out.

"Jiaojiao, are you alright?" Madam Chengen asked.

"It's nothing," Song Jiaojiao said. There were too many people around, and it wasn't appropriate to tell Madam Chengen what had just happened.

They soon arrived at the Dark Fragrance Pavilion, and sure enough, they didn't see anyone outside.

"Where are the Embroidered Uniform Guards? Search them for me!"

As soon as the Emperor gave the order, the Imperial Guards sprang into action and soon dragged out a man who was unconscious with a bleeding wound on his abdomen.

"It's Xiao Yezi! Your Majesty, this is the Second Prince's personal attendant. The prince must be nearby," Consort Li said anxiously, her words revealing a mother's worry for her child.

"Your Majesty, the body of a palace maid has been found near the artificial hill, with a sachet still clutched in her hand." The leader of the Imperial Guard knelt before the Emperor, holding the sachet high in his hands.

"Bring me the coroner and the imperial physician. I want to see what kind of monsters and demons are trying to pull in front of me."

The chief eunuch, with keen insight, brought out a grand chair and helped the emperor sit down.

Time ticked by, but the Second Prince was still nowhere to be found, and Consort Li paced anxiously back and forth.

"Your Majesty, this woman was stabbed in the throat. No other wounds were found on her body. I need to go to the crime scene to identify the murderer."

With a wave of his hand, the emperor sent the coroner away with the Imperial Guards.

"Imperial Physician, how is this person? When will he wake up?"

"Your Majesty, this person has fallen into a coma due to excessive blood loss. I will give him acupuncture immediately, and he will wake up in no time."

The imperial physician knelt on the ground and said respectfully.

"Then hurry up and go," the Emperor said.

The imperial physician hurriedly took out silver needles, selecting the largest one. The needle was so thick that it looked painful, making it hard not to suspect that the physician was doing it on purpose.

A needle was inserted into the man's philtrum and the web between his thumb and index finger. In an instant, the man was awakened by the pain. He was about to shout when he saw a crowd of people around him, and he immediately swallowed the shout that was about to come out.

"Your Majesty, the person has woken up." After saying this, the imperial physician stepped aside.

"I ask you, are you a servant of the Second Prince?"

"Your Majesty, this servant is..." Xiao Yezi said weakly.

Where is your master?

"Your Majesty, this servant...this servant does not know. This servant accompanied the Second Prince to change clothes, and on the way back, a person dressed as a eunuch or palace maid suddenly ran out and tried to assassinate the Second Prince. This servant pushed the Second Prince aside and was stabbed by the assassin. I only saw the Second Prince heading in the direction of the banquet."

Upon hearing Xiao Yezi's words, the Empress's expression changed drastically, and she immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

"Your Majesty, it was my oversight."

The Emperor glanced at the Empress and then spoke to the Imperial Guards.

"Go, search along the direction of the plum garden."

After the Imperial Guards left, the Emperor looked at the Empress kneeling on the ground and said,

"Alright, you can get up too, the ground is cold."

The wind was biting cold, and snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the sky. The group had been standing outside for half an hour. Many of the young ladies who were not in good health were being supported by their maids. Since the Emperor had not given the order to leave, no one dared to leave without permission.

Song Jiaojiao was also freezing cold. They had come in a hurry and no one was wearing a cloak. If the Second Prince wasn't found soon, they would all freeze to death.

Finally, the Second Prince made his appearance.

Upon seeing the people following behind the Second Prince, Song Jiaojiao's eyes widened in shock.

"Greetings to Father, Empress, and Consort." The Second Prince stepped forward and bowed.

"Second brother, where did you go?"

"Your Majesty, I was just being chased by an assassin disguised as a palace maid. Fortunately, I encountered General Chang Sheng and was able to escape."

The second prince bowed respectfully and said...

"Oh? What about the female assassin?"

Wang Chi, his face grave and deathly pale, said, "Your Majesty, the female assassin escaped after I struck her in the back with a piece of wood."

"Ran away?" the Emperor asked in a harsh tone, and instantly the Imperial Guards and the Empress all knelt down.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. This was due to my negligence, which caused the Second Prince to be frightened. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

The Emperor looked at the Empress without speaking for a long time. The sachet she had just used was her usual one, and the plum blossoms on it were her unique embroidery technique. He suddenly remembered what he had overheard in the Empress's palace the day before yesterday.

"Your Majesty, one of your plum blossom sachets is missing. It was your favorite sachet," said the Empress's personal maid.

"It must have been lost somewhere while you were busy with the palace banquet these past few days. Send someone to search for it quietly." The old woman nodded to the tired Empress. Her Majesty had been working tirelessly for the palace banquet these past two days.

"As the mother of the nation, you have indeed failed in your duty. I hereby punish you by making you copy Buddhist scriptures a hundred times and hand them over to the Empress Dowager. Are you willing to do so?"

"Your Majesty, I obey your decree and thank you for your mercy." After expressing her gratitude, the Empress stood aside.

The Emperor looked at Wang Chi, who was kneeling on the ground with a pale face, and asked, "General Changsheng, are you injured?"

"Your Majesty, I was accidentally slashed on the arm by the assassin."

"Alright. Stand up and speak! I heard your wife has arrived. I wonder if she came today?" The Emperor looked at the man before him, recalling the words of the Grand Eunuch.

"Your Majesty, my wife has arrived today."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Song Jiaojiao immediately came out, knelt down, and bowed.

"This humble woman greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

The moment Song Jiaojiao came out, the Right Chancellor's eyes widened. If it weren't for the Emperor's presence, he probably would have gone out to find out the truth immediately.

Everyone in the capital knows that the Right Chancellor's only daughter was kidnapped by bandits while offering incense more than a decade ago. The other children who were kidnapped with his daughter have long been found, but his daughter is nowhere to be found. His wife is deeply worried about this, and her health has deteriorated in recent years.

Fortunately, Song Jiaojiao had learned palace etiquette a couple of days ago, so she didn't embarrass herself today.

"Get up! I've heard that you raised several children on your own; you are truly a model woman," the Emperor praised with a smile.

"This is a common woman's duty." Song Jiaojiao didn't understand what the Emperor was trying to do. Weren't they talking about the Second Prince? How did it suddenly come to her?

"Very well, someone come and convey my decree: Song, the wife of the ever-victorious general, is loyal, virtuous, and a model of women. She is hereby granted the title of Third-Rank Consort, the fief of Yunshui Town, one hundred acres of fertile land, one hundred taels of gold, and the title of Lady Huide."

Upon hearing this, Song Jiaojiao and Wang Chi quickly expressed their gratitude.

"Your Majesty, I thank you. Long live the Emperor!"

Opinions on Song Jiaojiao's receiving the title are mixed.

Everyone knows that Wang Chi is the missing eldest son of the General of the North. It is said that the General of the North did not go north this year, and even handed over his military seal upon his return. It is unknown whether this appointment will be good or bad for the General's Mansion.