Please Call Me Your Highness (GL) - Chapter 4

“Your Majesty, it is poisoning.”

“Poisoning?”

“A slow-acting toxin, typically administered through food in small doses, making it difficult to detect. When symptoms appear, it can easily be mistaken for a common illness—killing without a trace.”

The Empress Regent’s expression darkened. She fell into deep thought before asking, “How long has she been poisoned? Is there a way to treat it?”

The imperial physician bowed and replied, “According to my assessment, the princess has been poisoned for no more than a month. It seems the culprit was too impatient and miscalculated the dosage, causing the poison to take effect earlier than intended. Ironically, that very mistake gives us a chance to save her.”

“Use every means necessary to cure her.”

“Your Majesty, I will give my utmost efforts and not fail your trust.”

The Empress Regent walked away with heavy steps, returning to her Imperial Study, where only two people awaited her—Prince Kangning and Zheng Dayuan.

The moment Prince Kangning heard what had happened, she immediately knelt. “Your Majesty, this is my failure.”

“These underhanded methods are the most insidious of all. What fault is yours? What matters now is that you investigate thoroughly and uncover the mastermind behind this.”

“I obey.”

Prince Kangning lowered her head even further, feeling a deep sense of failure. She had believed that capturing a few assassins and a would-be poisoner was enough to ensure Dong Xiaoning’s safety—but clearly, she had been mistaken.

“No need to kneel. Get up.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Even as she stood, Prince Kangning remained rigidly deferential—far removed from the commanding general she was on the battlefield, resembling instead a mere servant within the palace.

The Empress Regent took a sip of hot tea, then spoke slowly.

“You are both among my most trusted. Tell me—if the Fourth Princess does not survive, who should inherit the throne?”

Prince Kangning had barely composed herself before she felt a chill run down her spine.

The future of Great Yu… this was not a question one could answer lightly.

Zheng Dayuan immediately fell silent.

The Empress Regent’s gaze swept across them. “Speak freely.”

Prince Kangning dared not open her mouth.

After a long pause, Zheng Dayuan finally stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, according to imperial tradition, the throne is passed down among Qianyuan. If the Fourth Princess…” she hesitated, then continued, “the closest bloodline within the royal family would be County Princess Chengyu.”

The Empress Regent’s expression remained unreadable, but she signaled for Zheng Dayuan to continue.

“However,” Zheng Dayuan explained, “County Princess Chengyu is descended from the late emperor’s younger sister. Her bloodline is distant from Your Majesty’s. If bl00d ties are the priority, then Your Majesty’s two Kunze sisters would be more suitable candidates.”

She paused, carefully choosing her next words.

“Yet, there has never been a precedent in Great Yu for a Kunze ruler. Moreover, when the late emperor arranged their marriages, he decreed that their daughters must take their fathers’ surnames, signifying that they had no claim to the throne.”

After another deliberate pause, she continued, “If the Fourth Princess does not recover, I advise Your Majesty to take a concubine. Only a direct descendant of Your Majesty could rightfully inherit the imperial throne.”

Prince Kangning’s eyes widened in shock.

She had never imagined that she would hear such a suggestion.

Was this Zheng Dayuan’s own idea, or was it a reflection of the Empress Regent’s true thoughts?

A deep sense of unease crept over her.

The Empress Regent’s expression remained unreadable.

Meanwhile, in Empress Ming’s quarters, an elderly woman from the Ming family had entered the palace for a private conversation.

However, before addressing the true purpose of her visit, she began with some idle chatter.

“Your fourth daughter… that one is truly unfilial.”** The old woman sneered. “In the past, she aligned herself with the Ji family, stirring up endless trouble. If not for Heaven’s mercy and Her Majesty’s wisdom, she would have been nothing more than a poisonous thorn. The fact that she was allowed to live at all was already an act of great clemency.”

Then, with a chilling smirk, she added,

“And now she has returned, only to be poisoned the moment she arrived. It seems even the heavens cannot tolerate such a menace.”

“Mother, please stop.”

“I refuse to stop.”

The elder matron of the Ming family scoffed, her tone sharp. “I know you don’t even want to hear that name, so I won’t say it. But do you remember? When you gave birth to her, you nearly died in childbirth. You barely survived, but at the cost of never being able to conceive again.”

She sneered. “Otherwise, with the Empress and Empress Regent’s deep affection for each other, having seven or eight more Qianyuan and Kunze children would have been effortless. Why should you be facing such a predicament now?”

“……”

“Now that this wretched girl is as good as finished, all you have left are two Zhongyong daughters. How can a Zhongyong inherit the throne?”****”I have an idea.”

Her voice lowered conspiratorially.

“Your younger sister Yuzhou and Princess Ancheng have been married for years. They have plenty of children—Qianyuan and Kunze alike. Originally, we had hoped to keep the imperial bloodline pure, so we gave one of their Kunze daughters to the late Crown Princess as a consort. But now, with the Crown Princess gone and her widow having birthed only a Zhongyong, what good does that do?”

Despite her age, the old matron’s voice was clear and unwavering, her imposing presence undeniable. Even Empress Ming found it difficult to interrupt her.

She continued excitedly, her words carrying a smug undertone.

“Princess Ancheng is the Empress Regent’s own sister. Her children are of royal bl00d. Yuzhou is your sister, so her children are your children—she simply carried them for you, that’s all. Why not pick one of them, claim them as your own, and petition the Empress Regent to change their surname? That way, they will inherit the throne while ensuring your old age is well taken care of.”

By the time she finished speaking, she could no longer hide the satisfaction in her smile.

Empress Ming’s expression darkened.

Her tone turned icy. “Tell me, Mother—was it you who ordered Xiaoning’s poisoning?”

The matron was taken aback before her expression twisted in offended fury.

“That wretched brat? Do you think I would dirty my hands with such filth? If I wanted her dead, I would have done it honorably—with a clean stroke of the blade, not through such cowardly means!”

Empress Ming felt a headache coming on.

She didn’t actually suspect that the old matron had orchestrated the poisoning, but the sheer chaos of it all left her feeling utterly drained.

“Enough. Please, just let me think.”

The old matron beamed, completely unbothered by her daughter’s frustration.

“I know this isn’t easy. But tell me, can we really let the imperial throne fall into the hands of some distant royal branch that has nothing to do with our family?”

Her tone grew meaningfully softer. “Think it over, Your Majesty. I’ll take my leave now.”

Before Empress Ming could even make a decision, the news somehow spread—igniting a storm across the capital.

Soon enough, Second Princess Dong Yanning and Third Princess Dong Muning rushed into the palace.

“Mother, is it true?”

“Are you really planning to choose an heir from among our cousins?”

“How did you find out?” Empress Ming demanded.

Dong Yanning responded gravely, “The rumors are everywhere. Not only have officials started asking about it, but even our cousins themselves have come inquiring. Some are even asking which one of them you’ve set your sights on so they can prepare gifts in advance.”

“Outrageous!”

Empress Ming’s furious shout silenced both daughters immediately.

After a long pause, she took a deep breath, composing herself before speaking again.

“What are your thoughts on the matter?”

Dong Muning didn’t hesitate. “I have no objection. But I doubt everyone else will be as accepting.”

Dong Yanning, however, was more measured. She carefully observed Empress Ming’s expression before slowly responding,

“If something were to happen to Fourth Sister, our mother-empress’s bloodline would end. According to custom, a wise and capable Qianyuan from the imperial family would be chosen as an adopted daughter to inherit the throne. At that point, the Ming family could offer one of its Kunze daughters as empress consort, ensuring our family’s influence remains intact.”

Dong Muning scoffed, rolling her eyes. “How is that the same? That would just be marrying off a daughter. It wouldn’t even be our bloodline ruling.”

Dong Yanning gave her a knowing look but said nothing further.

At first, Dong Muning didn’t understand. But after a moment, realization dawned on her.

If bl00d ties were the key… who had a closer bl00d tie to the imperial family than their own younger sister—Empress Ming’s own daughter?

Seeing both daughters fall silent, Empress Ming sighed inwardly before finally asking,

“How is the Fourth Princess?”

This was the first time Empress Ming had proactively inquired about her condition since the news of her poisoning had spread.

Dong Muning hesitated, fumbling for an answer.

It was Dong Yanning who replied,

“I heard she has regained consciousness, but she spends most of the day asleep, only waking briefly. I discreetly asked the imperial physician, and he said there’s no cause for concern.”

Empress Ming pondered for a moment, then waved her hand dismissively. “I’m tired. You two should go check on her.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Understood.”

As they exited the Empress’s quarters, Dong Muning grumbled, waiting until they were alone.

“Why did you have to bring that up? Now I have to make a pointless trip.”

Dong Yanning glanced at her. “Do you truly wish for Fourth Sister to die?”

Dong Muning opened her mouth, but no words came out.

After a pause, Dong Yanning continued,

“Have you heard? Some ministers have already petitioned Her Majesty, urging her to take a concubine for the sake of the empire’s future.”

Dong Muning’s face immediately darkened with rage. “Who?! I’ll kill them!”

In Great Yu, the Empress was the ruler, and the Empress Consort was a politically empowered figure—not a mere woman confined to the inner palace. Generally, concubines were unnecessary, as there were no struggles for favor.

However, since an Empress Consort might not always bear a direct heir, the side concubine system existed to ensure the continuity of the throne.

Officially, any heir born to a concubine would be recognized as the Empress Consort’s child, ensuring the imperial lineage remained intact.

Dong Muning’s reaction was so extreme because she saw this as an insult to her mothers’ relationship.

Dong Yanning, in contrast, remained composed.

“Do you think just because you object, it won’t happen?”

Dong Muning fell completely silent.

The Fourth Princess had remained at Chengyou Hall ever since collapsing in the palace.

As the two sisters arrived, a high-ranking palace official stood at the entrance, blocking their way.

“Her Highness has just fallen asleep. She won’t wake for several hours. What an unfortunate coincidence for you two.”

Dong Yanning immediately recognized her—a trusted aide of the Empress Regent.

Not just her, but every attendant and guard present had been sent from the Empress Regent’s personal retinue.

If anyone wanted to know the Empress Regent’s stance on this matter, this was it.

Dong Muning, oblivious to the subtle implications, fumed on the spot. “We’ve come all this way, and you won’t even let us see her?”

The palace official remained unfazed. “If Your Highnesses must see her, you may only take a look from a distance.”

“You—!”

“Enough, Third Sister.”

Dong Yanning interrupted before she could escalate further.

“Even if we can only see her from afar, please allow us to do so.”

The palace official bowed. “This way, Your Highnesses.”

They entered the hall.

Through the thin silk canopy, Dong Yanning saw her Fourth Sister lying on the bed, still in deep sleep.

Beside her, a maid stood watch—the very girl Dong Xiaoning had brought back from the island.

At first, Dong Yanning had intended to brush this visit off as a formality.

But now, seeing that girl standing so devotedly by Dong Xiaoning’s side, a new idea took root in her mind.