Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 299 The Fourth Prince

Faced with such a question, Jiu Que simply shook his head.

“I have not come here today for that purpose; I wish to request an audience with His Majesty.”

As expected, Jiu Que saw a troubled expression on Wei Yuan's face. If there were no trouble in the palace, Wei Yuan would never have looked like that. And Jiu Que wasn't boasting; with her current status and position, why would Wei Yuan be so hesitant to request an audience with His Majesty?
Having confirmed her suspicions, Jiu Que decisively had the guards behind her bring out the Imperial Sword. This was a self-defense item given to her by His Majesty when she went to the Northern Border. Since her return, His Majesty had never mentioned taking it back, so Jiu Que had kept it as a keepsake. She never expected to actually use it today.

Upon seeing the imperial sword, Wei Yuan said nothing and readily made way for Jiu Que, quietly following behind as Jiu Que left.

"You no longer need to guard the city gate?"

“I was supposed to be on duty, and I was just about to change shifts when you came over.”

This reason...

Forget it, none of this matters.

Jiuque had been to the palace before. Although the inner palace was strictly governed and the palace servants came and went in a hurry, they were quite organized. But today, she walked straight in and didn’t see many palace servants doing their work.

When Jiu Que looked back at Wei Yuan, Wei Yuan was once again expressionless, with an aloof and selfless demeanor that kept strangers at bay, leaving Jiu Que speechless.

When Jiuque finally arrived at His Majesty's resting palace, he saw an unexpected figure. The one pacing anxiously outside the palace was none other than the Fourth Prince, who had been elusive lately. Why was the Fourth Prince guarding outside His Majesty's palace?
The Fourth Prince, who had been looking anxious, looked up and saw Jiu Que the moment he heard the noise. Even from a distance, Jiu Que could see the undisguised resentment in his eyes.

Why would someone look like that?
Jiu Que couldn't understand what she had done to offend the esteemed Fourth Prince. Moreover, when she stepped forward to pay her respects, she was certain that the Fourth Prince had deliberately delayed her from rising. Even though she believed she had no grudge against this prince, Jiu Que couldn't help but think to herself that even if there was some hatred between them, the Fourth Prince shouldn't have embarrassed her in front of so many people; it was incredibly petty of him.

A ruler should be magnanimous; such pettiness is not the behavior of a ruler.

However, he did manage to get Jiu Que to get up, though his tone wasn't very pleasant.

"Shouldn't Lord Ying be at the Six Ministries right now, overseeing the smallpox vaccination campaign? How come he has time to come to the palace?"

"...Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. The work of smallpox vaccination is done with the hard work of all my colleagues. I have only done a small part. I have not seen Your Majesty for many days, and I have come today to pay my respects."

"Oh? Lord Ying is truly thoughtful. If all the civil and military officials were as obsequious as Lord Ying, would there be any ministers left in the court who would do anything of substance?"

……

Has the Fourth Prince taken the wrong medicine or something? Why is he speaking so rudely? But he is of imperial lineage, while she is merely a subject, essentially working for him. Why should she quarrel with the next heir? So she magnanimously changed the subject.

"Your Highness is very filial, and I imagine you have been serving His Majesty these past few days. But I wonder what His Majesty's condition is now? Not only this humble servant, but all of my colleagues are also concerned about His Majesty."

"Father is fine, but Lord Ying, you came to the palace for no reason, which is very rude. You should go back to your work."

The Fourth Prince didn't mention His Majesty at all; he simply flicked his sleeves and gestured for the eunuchs and guards around him to escort Ying Jiuque out.

Those who could accompany the Fourth Prince were naturally his confidants, and at this moment they didn't care that the person in front of them was the newly risen noble of the court, the second-rank Princess Ruian. They swarmed forward, wanting to invite Ying Jiuque out of the palace.

Something's wrong, something's very wrong. His Majesty must have encountered some trouble. But before Jiu Que could even react, Wei Yuan behind him had already led his men forward to block the eunuchs and guards who were trying to reach out. The scene immediately descended into chaos.

Upon seeing this scene, a thin layer of anger appeared on the Fourth Prince's face.

"You, Wei Yuan! Are you trying to steal from me? The Emperor ordered you to patrol the palace, and this is how you protect it? Seize them right now!"

Both sides stuck to their own version of events and refused to concede. Just as things were getting chaotic, the tightly closed palace doors suddenly creaked open, and a thin figure stepped out.

It was none other than the Nine Fortunes Chief Steward, who had inexplicably lost a lot of weight.

Upon seeing him, both sides involuntarily stopped. The Fourth Prince rushed forward even more eagerly.

"Eunuch Jiufu, how is Father Emperor's health? Is he conscious? I've been very worried. Please let me in to see Father Emperor..."

"The Fourth Prince."

For some reason, Jiu Fu's cold expression and actions sent a chill down the Fourth Prince's spine. Although he had never been valued by his father and brothers, he had always been respectful whenever he saw Eunuch Jiu Fu. Unlike now, he exuded a coldness from the inside out.

Jiu Fu flicked the dust off his hand, subtly distancing himself from the Fourth Prince.

"Spying on the Emperor's whereabouts is a grave crime. What is the Fourth Prince trying to do?"

"I... I didn't. I just wanted to see what was wrong with Father Emperor. Why hasn't he come out for three whole days? I was worried about Father Emperor. How did that become spying on the Emperor's whereabouts?"

"If that's what the Fourth Prince says, then it is."

Jiu Fu looked up and saw Jiu Que waiting quietly to the side, a gentle smile appearing on his face. He then straightened his expression and read out His Majesty's decree.

"His Majesty summons the Fourth Prince and Princess Ruian to an audience."

The Fourth Prince was initially delighted, but then quickly realized what was happening and glared fiercely at Ying Jiuque. He had waited here for three whole days, and his father hadn't even offered to see him. Yet this Ying Jiuque, who had only been here for less than half an incense stick's time, was summoned by his father. She was just a subject, and an unpopular one at that, yet his father valued her so much—where did he put his own dignity?
But forget it, why bother arguing with him now? In any case, he'll still be the one calling the shots in the future.

Straightening his clothes and forcing a worried expression onto his face, the Fourth Prince took the lead and went inside.

Jiu Que shifted his body, and a slight resistance came from behind him. It was Senior Cui Zhufeng, who had been silent all along.

"Don't worry, senior. It was His Majesty who summoned us. It's alright."

Cui Zhufeng stared at Jiu Que's face for a long time before slowly withdrawing his hand. Jiu Que was somewhat confused, but with Eunuch Jiu Fu watching nearby, she couldn't delay any longer. So she gently patted Senior Cui's arm and followed him inside.

Jiufu closed the palace doors, expressionless, and gestured for Wei Yuan to step forward. He then read out several imperial edicts in succession, leaving Wei Yuan utterly incredulous. However, Wei Yuan wasn't one to pry, so he remained silent, only harboring his doubts, and turned to attend to his duties. Watching his retreating figure, Jiufu slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his eyes filled with worry.

(End of this chapter)