The Supreme Divine Doctor: The Emperor Wants to Marry Down
This chapter is machine-translated by AI, with ongoing community review. Quality may vary between chapters.
“Your Majesty! The Third Prince requests an audience!”
The announcement suddenly rang out!
Everyone in the Great Hall was startled.
Emperor Jiawen frowned
“Tell him I am currently busy with matters. Tell him to wait in the Imperial Study!”
Eunuch Min wiped the sweat from his forehead
“Your Majesty, the Third Prince said the matter is urgent and that he must see you immediately!”
Emperor Jiawen’s expression darkened further, and he slammed his hand against the table.
“He is becoming increasingly insolent!”
The events of the past two days had already left him feeling irritable; he hadn't expected Rong Jiu to come and add to the commotion.
During his time in the Imperial Capital, the boy had been quite well-behaved. Why the sudden change?
Eunuch Min shrank back, feeling as though he were about to burst into tears.
“Your Majesty, the Third Prince said he came today because... because of the matter regarding the Fourth Princess...”
“Oh?”
Emperor Jiawen was somewhat surprised, his brow furrowing.
“He and Zhenzhen have never had much interaction. What is wrong with him today?”
Beside him, the Empress’s heart skipped a beat, a sense of unease surfacing.
The last time Rong Jin was placed under house arrest, it was because Rong Jiu had filed a complaint before His Majesty. She wondered what scheme he was plotting by coming here today!
She advised him with some concern
“Your Majesty, as the saying goes, family scandals should not be aired in public. Regarding Zhenzhen’s disappearance, it would be better not to make a scene, wouldn't it? Whether for the sake of the Imperial Family or for Zhenzhen herself, it would be better to investigate and handle it discreetly... If the Third Prince is dragged into this, I fear it will be difficult to clean up.”
Emperor Jiawen pondered for a moment, but then shook his head.
“Rong Jiu has always been steady and composed. Since he dares to come, he must truly know something.”
As he spoke, he gestured to Eunuch Min.
“Let him in.”
“Yes!”
Eunuch Min hurried outside the hall to invite Rong Jiu in.
The Empress bit her lip secretly, her heart becoming increasingly nervous for reasons she couldn't explain.
Soon, Rong Jiu strode into the hall with large, purposeful steps.
Having spent years on the battlefield, although he was only twenty years old—slightly younger than Rong Jin—his physique was robust, and he possessed an incredibly powerful aura.
Even though he wore a brocade robe, he could not hide the murderous aura of a military officer.
It was the kind of aura one only acquired after experiencing life-and-death struggles on the battlefield.
Rong Jiu’s gaze swept quickly across the hall, lingering for an extra moment on the Empress.
The Empress’s heart throbbed under his gaze, and she hurriedly averted her eyes.
“Your son greets Father Imperial, and Mother Imperial.”
Rong Jiu came to a halt in the center of the hall, cupped his hands, and bowed to Emperor Jiawen and the Empress.
Emperor Jiawen did not beat around the bush and asked directly
“There is no need for such formalities. You previously said you knew something regarding Rong Zhen. Is that true?”
Rong Jiu nodded
“It is precisely for this reason that your son requests an audience today.”
Emperor Jiawen sat up straight
“Speak!”
Rong Jiu’s gaze fell upon Chu Ning
“While your son was outside earlier, he heard that His Majesty intends to detain Lord Chu Ning. Is this true?”
Emperor Jiawen was puzzled but did not deny it: “It is.”
Rong Jiu shook his head
“Father Imperial must not do so. By doing this, you would be gravely wronging Lord Chu Ning! Your son can confirm that Lord Chu Ning has absolutely nothing to do with this matter!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, not only were Emperor Jiawen and the Empress shocked, but even Chu Ning looked stunned.
This... Rong Jiu had come to speak on his behalf?
Chu Ning quickly searched his memory; he didn't seem to have much interaction with this Third Prince...
In a moment of crisis like this, anyone involved would face trouble. Others would avoid it like the plague, so why him—
“Rong Jiu, do you realize what you are saying?”
Emperor Jiawen’s expression instantly turned solemn, his voice filled with majesty.
Rong Jiu’s expression remained unchanged
“Your son knows. In fact, it is not just Lord Chu Ning; even Chu Liuyue has nothing to do with this matter.”
The Empress finally could not restrain herself
“Third Prince, are you aware that Lu Yun has already found Zhenzhen’s hairpin in Chu Ning’s home! The evidence is conclusive and cannot be denied! Why are you speaking for that father and daughter like this?!”
A meaningful smile appeared on Rong Jiu’s face. He looked at the Empress and said slowly
“Empress, was that hairpin truly dropped by Rong Zhen in Lord Chu Ning’s home?”
The Empress’s heart suddenly missed a beat
“Wh-what are you saying?!”
“I heard that it was Lord Lu Yun who led the men to conduct the search. As is well known, after severing ties with the Chu family, Lord Chu Ning and his daughter Chu Liuyue have been living in their new residence, and they haven't even hired any servants. During the search, only Lord Chu Ning was present.
If someone intentionally brought that hairpin there and lied about finding it, who could possibly discover it? Even if Lord Chu Ning had three heads and six arms, he likely wouldn't be able to watch every single person, would he?”
Emperor Jiawen’s expression shifted slightly.
What Rong Jiu said made sense.
The Empress’s hands tightened secretly on the armrests of her chair
“Third Prince, the hairpin was found in the backyard. Many guards were there to witness it at the time. Are you suggesting they are all lying?”
Rong Jiu paused, then suddenly asked
“Empress, I wonder if the hairpin sitting by your hand is the very same one found at Lord Chu Ning’s home?”
The Empress was already feeling flustered by his words; hearing him ask this, she nodded instinctively.
“Yes, it is this one.”
“Then that settles it.”
The expression on Rong Jiu’s face became even more intriguing.
“This hairpin is exquisite, magnificent, and very eye-catching. Even from where I am standing, at such a distance, I can see it at a glance. I wonder if Lord Chu Ning and Chu Liuyue are blind, otherwise, how could they have failed to see this hairpin and 'accidentally' left it in the courtyard?”
The Empress countered in a panic: “Perhaps... perhaps Chu Liuyue was too flustered at the time and failed to notice? After all, the courtyard is large; it is impossible for her to see every single corner—”
“Empress, you just said the hairpin was found in the backyard and that many guards saw it with their own eyes. Why are you now talking about 'every single corner'?”
Rong Jiu’s calm, light remark caused the Empress to stop abruptly.
The entire hall suddenly fell into a deathly silence!
Chu Ning’s expression tightened
“Your Majesty, I was in the front courtyard at the time, and the guards were in the backyard. I indeed did not see the moment they found the hairpin.”
Emperor Jiawen stared at the Empress, his gaze gradually turning cold and heavy.
“Empress, do you have anything else to say?”
“I... I merely misspoke!” The Empress hurriedly stood up and knelt. “Your Majesty, I have always stayed within the palace and have never gone out, nor did I witness the scene. I naturally do not know what happened. I just... I just had a slip of the tongue!”
Rong Jiu gave her a faint, half-smiling glance.
“Empress, it seems this matter truly has nothing to do with you at all?”
“Of course not! Zhenzhen is my daughter. Now that she is missing, I am naturally the most anxious!”
A flash of venomous resentment crossed the depths of the Empress’s eyes.
She could see it clearly now—Rong Jiu had come today specifically to drag her down completely!
She raised her head and looked at Emperor Jiawen with desperate urgency
“Your Majesty, every word I say is the truth! Situ Xingchen saw with her own eyes that Zhenzhen was with Chu Liuyue before she disappeared! She can testify to it!”