Please Call Me Your Highness (GL) - Chapter 18

“What are the identities of the assassins? Was there a mastermind behind them?”

“Your Majesty, the three assassins claim to be wandering vigilantes who fancied themselves champions of justice. According to their confession, they attempted to assassinate Ming Zhexiu because they believed she should bear responsibility for the recent rebellion, yet suffered no punishment. Hence, they decided to take matters into their own hands. As for a mastermind—they claimed there was none.”

“They claimed?”

“I sent men to investigate. So far, we’ve found no signs of a mastermind. It seems this incident… may have simply been an unfortunate accident.”

The Emperor remained silent for a long time, her stillness weighing heavily on the attending minister, who felt a chill run down his spine.

“If that is the result of your investigation… then proceed according to the law.”

“As you command.”

“You may leave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Once the minister withdrew, the Emperor sighed faintly. “There are so many ‘accidents’ in this world. A single glib explanation, and all plots and schemes are wiped clean.”

Now, only Prince Kangning and Zheng Dayuan remained in the hall. The two exchanged a subtle glance before Zheng Dayuan knelt down.

“Your Majesty, much has transpired lately, and most of it stems from the absence of a Crown Princess. I beg Your Majesty to formally appoint the heir to the Eastern Palace and thus reassure the people.”

The Emperor showed no reaction, her gaze slowly turning to Prince Kangning.

“I too believe Your Majesty should act swiftly to designate the Crown Princess, to show the realm that the empire has a clear successor,” Prince Kangning said, also kneeling.

The Emperor’s eyes swept over them. “I’ve heard enough of these arguments. What I want to know is—who do you support?”

A deadly question.

As one of the Emperor’s most trusted officials, Zheng Dayuan had no choice but to respond. “Your Majesty, matters tend to follow the path of least resistance. If the process of appointing the Crown Princess follows tradition, no outsider’s opinion will pose a problem.”

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to Prince Kangning.

Prince Kangning raised his head and met her eyes. “No matter who Your Majesty appoints as heir, I swear on my life to protect her.”

Prince Kangning owed her rise to power to her unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, having supported her from the time she was merely Crown Princess herself. Her words now were simply a reaffirmation of that loyalty.

The Emperor let out a cold laugh, the smile on her face tinged with mockery. “The Fourth Princess has been found. I’ve decided—she will be the new heir to the Eastern Palace. There are too many rumors out there. Spread the word—I want to hear praises for the Fourth Princess.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Dong Xiaoning awoke in a daze. Seeing Dong Yanning beside her, she lost all interest in speaking and slipped back into unconsciousness.

Dong Yanning was deeply alarmed and quickly consulted the military physician.

“Your Highness, the Fourth Princess’s injuries are severe. She won’t recover quickly. The best course of action is to find a safe place for her to rest and recover over time.”

“No.” Dong Yanning rejected the idea at once, her cold gaze locked on the physician. “Rumors are running wild. If I don’t bring the Fourth Princess back to the capital immediately, you know what could happen. We’re leaving for the capital—no matter what.”

“I understand.” The physician bowed his head, sweat breaking out on his forehead. “There is one potent medicine. It could help her endure the journey, but once we reach the capital, we must find the miracle doctor Han Congxuan—or she may not survive.”

Dong Yanning’s lips curled into a smile. “Prepare it.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Dong Yanning turned to look at Dong Xiaoning lying on the bed. The arrow had nearly pierced her heart—only sheer luck had saved her. Otherwise, Dong Yanning didn’t know how she would’ve coped.

Though she understood why Dong Xiaoning had fled, she couldn’t accept it. Members of the royal family had never controlled their own destinies—not in the past, and not now.

“No matter what, you’re coming back with me.”

Her resolute voice echoed in Dong Xiaoning’s ears, weaving its way into her dreams. In the dream, the voice changed—it became Xiao Fu’s.

“Xiao Fu!”

Dong Xiaoning cried out, suddenly waking to an unfamiliar room. She froze in confusion.

“Her Highness is awake!”

Excited voices rang outside, followed by hurried footsteps. Soon, imperial physicians, palace attendants, and finally the Emperor and Empress entered the room.

“Xiaoning, how are you feeling?” The Emperor sat at her bedside, her face filled with maternal affection.

“…” Dong Xiaoning had no desire to speak. She tried to sit up, but the movement pulled at her wound, and pain shot through her body.

“Don’t move,” the Emperor said gently. “You’re still recovering. Just lie still. If you need anything, tell the attendants.”

“…” Dong Xiaoning lay still this time, closing her eyes to shut them all out.

“I’ve already informed the court. Once you recover, we’ll hold the ceremony to appoint you Crown Princess. Any obstacle in your path—I will remove it.” The Emperor’s tone was firm, unfazed by Dong Xiaoning’s silence.

Dong Xiaoning didn’t feel joy—on the contrary, her heart was filled with frustration. She opened her eyes and swept her gaze across the faces of those gathered around her bed. This time, the palace attendants and imperial physicians were full of deference, the Emperor’s eyes were brimming with concern, and even Empress Ming, typically brimming with hostility, now displayed a rare trace of care.

As expected, from the moment the Emperor acknowledged her as heir, everything had changed.

But so what?

“Where is Xiao Fu?” Dong Xiaoning asked, throwing out the only question she cared about at the moment.

“She abandoned you and fled,” Empress Ming replied curtly.

Dong Xiaoning looked at the Empress, not even bothering to argue. She knew the Empress had no idea about her relationship with Xiao Fu. Any flicker of goodwill she had felt just moments ago evaporated completely with that single sentence.

“Yanning said they only found you at the scene—there was no sign of that maid. If you wish, I can send someone to search for her,” the Emperor offered.

“That won’t be necessary,” Dong Xiaoning answered flatly. “Don’t bother looking.”

The scene from that day resurfaced in Dong Xiaoning’s mind. She had many questions, but at this moment, she didn’t want answers. It was easier not to think about it.

“Rest well,” the Emperor said before departing.

Empress Ming had no intention of lingering either, and the grand bedchamber once again fell into silence.

Dong Xiaoning stared up at the canopy, lost in thought.

“Your Highness, Doctor Han has arrived.”

A palace maid led someone in, speaking softly.

At the mention of that name, Dong Xiaoning instinctively thought of a certain person. She turned her head—and indeed, it was Han Congxuan.

“A certain bold and reckless individual used a forbidden medicine while Your Highness was unconscious from the arrow wound, merely to bring you from Xiangbang Prefecture to the capital. The side effects of that medicine are severe, which is why you remained comatose for several days. Now that you’re awake, do you still feel restless or unwell?”

Han Congxuan took the opportunity to explain what had happened, then shifted focus to Dong Xiaoning’s current condition.

Dong Xiaoning didn’t feel like speaking, so she simply nodded.

“That’s normal.” Han Congxuan began taking her pulse. After a long while, she said, “Your Highness’s injuries are stable. In the coming days, avoid excessive joy or anger—maintain peace of mind, and you’ll recover in time.”

Dong Xiaoning looked at Han Congxuan. She desperately wanted to ask about Xiao Fu, but with palace servants present, even acknowledging that they knew each other was dangerous.

Han Congxuan clearly understood her dilemma. She offered a gentle reassurance: “Please be at ease, Your Highness. Don’t dwell on past misfortunes—there’s still a long road ahead.”

“Thank you.”

Dong Xiaoning forced the words from her throat, and even that felt as if it took all her strength.

Han Congxuan prescribed medicine and took her leave.

Afterward, Han Congxuan was summoned to the Empress’s palace to examine her pulse.

“Doctor Han, everyone claims you’re a great physician—you’d best live up to the name. Otherwise, to bear such a reputation without the skill would make you nothing but a charlatan.” Empress Ming’s tone was cool, her gaze lofty and scrutinizing.

This wasn’t the first time Han Congxuan had been called to treat the Empress—she had done so upon her arrival at Changyi Garden. At the time, her vague responses had displeased the Empress. After Dong Yanning returned with Dong Xiaoning and insisted on Han Congxuan treating her, the Empress had allowed it. Now that Dong Xiaoning was out of danger, Han Congxuan could no longer avoid this confrontation.

“Your Majesty,” Han Congxuan replied respectfully, “a physician is no deity who can cure all ills. Your Majesty’s health has surely been assessed by countless court doctors without success. How could I possess skills beyond theirs to reverse such matters?”

The Empress’s expression darkened. “Doctor Han, you should understand what ‘Heaven’s will’ truly means. The fact that I am speaking with you personally is a sign of utmost trust. I expect you to spare no effort in curing my affliction. Otherwise, when you leave here, how will you face the judgment of the people?”

That was a thinly veiled threat.

Han Congxuan loathed such tactics and, for a brief moment, felt a pang of sympathy for Dong Xiaoning. After all, it was difficult to live peacefully under the thumb of such a domineering and unreasonable mother.

“My skills are limited. Even if you take my head, I can only speak the truth.”

Seeing Han Congxuan’s stubborn resolve, Empress Ming grew uncertain and softened her tone slightly. “Doctor Han, is there truly no remedy?”

Her repeated honorifics—‘Doctor Han’ rather than ‘Physician Han’—were almost suffocating, like praise used as a weapon.

Han Congxuan remained clear-headed. “Over the years, Your Majesty has surely used various medicinal tonics and prepared diligently for conception. And yet, the result—you know it better than anyone.”

Empress Ming stared at Han Congxuan for several moments, then suddenly shouted in fury, “Guards! Seize this charlatan—have her executed in public!”