Rebirth: Inheriting Millions In The Eighties
Chapter 817 - 815 So That Means

Chapter 817: Chapter 815 So That Means

Upon hearing this, both the Crown Prince and Xia Wan were utterly shocked.

Only Xia Ningxing remained composed.

The medicine was personally prepared by her, with incredibly precise control of its efficacy, and it left no trace in the body.

The Emperor’s face turned even more sinister and terrifying.

He thought there was a glimmer of hope, but he did not expect it to turn out this way!

The Crown Prince roared angrily, his eyes bloodshot as he stared intensely at the Imperial Physician, "I clearly couldn’t move just now, which is precisely the condition caused by the medicine. On what basis can you say I wasn’t drugged?"

"I was also running a fever, obviously, I was drugged too!"

One after another, they all came to question him, and the chief Imperial Physician’s face grew increasingly dark with both anger and helplessness, and he directly turned to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I have been practicing medicine for decades and have never made a mistake, nor would I ever intentionally conceal anything. If Your Majesty does not trust me, you can surely summon another Imperial Physician to examine the Crown Prince and Prince Xia Wan!"

For a physician, questioning his medical skills is no different from insulting him.

"Father, please summon another Imperial Physician to diagnose me!" the Crown Prince pleaded urgently.

He knew that only by proving he had been drugged could he ensure his innocence.

Otherwise, being labeled with such an accusation would ruin his life!

"Why bother searching more!" The Emperor’s face was ashen, his words squeezed forcibly through his clenched teeth.

Dr. Zhao was the chief Imperial Physician whose medical skills were the highest in the entire Imperial Medical Bureau. If he could not detect it, then who could?

Moreover, Dr. Zhao was famously incorruptible and proud, never forming factions or alliances, and he was extremely upright, never engaging in slander.

Thus, it truly meant that this unfilial son had done such a thing.

No wonder there had been rumors before that the Crown Prince and Xia Wan, still in her boudoir, were very close.

The Emperor’s heart of reward and trust began to crumble, he coldly dropped the sentence: "The Crown Prince lacks virtue, strip him of his title, and confine him to the Crown Prince Manor for three months."

"Prince Xia Wan failed to uphold womanly virtue, shaming my son, demote her to a slave!"

Compared to the punishment for Xia Wan, the Emperor was still partial to the Crown Prince.

"Your Majesty!" Upon hearing this, Xia Wan let out a piercing scream, crawling and scrambling to clutch at the Emperor’s feet, her face streaked with tears as she desperately pleaded, "Your Majesty, I am wronged! I am truly wronged!"

She was the prestigious legitimate daughter of the Minister Mansion, how could she be demoted to a slave!

She refused to be a servant!

Absolutely not!

"Scram!" The Emperor, already resentful that she had wronged his intended future Crown Prince, now kicked her fiercely in the chest.

If it weren’t for considering the Minister Mansion behind her, he would have killed her long ago.

But even this kick was not light.

The Emperor, being trained in martial arts, kicked her so hard that Xia Wan flew into a large rock behind her, vomiting several mouthfuls of fresh blood on the spot, her complexion pale as paper, only exhaling without inhaling.

"Father, I beg you to discern the truth, I really didn’t do such a disgraceful thing!" The Crown Prince’s tears fell, his heart filled with unbearable frustration.

He had been clever all his life, and now he had been framed to this extent!

However, the Emperor had already been disappointed in him and, after giving him a cold stare, turned away in anger.

With such an incident, the Crown Prince was almost completely finished.

Later, someone reported to the Emperor that the Crown Prince and Mr. Xia had embezzled silver, and the Emperor was furious. This time, without any leniency, he ordered both the Minister Mansion and the Crown Prince’s Manor to be confiscated and exiled to the Cold Land.

Noble Consort Lang, upon hearing this, was so enraged that she spat out a mouthful of blood.

For the consorts, a son is life, a bargaining chip, even more crucial than the Emperor’s favor — but now, she had lost that.

"No, I must plead for my son!" When Noble Consort Lang went to the Imperial Study to plead, the Emperor drove her out immediately, not only did she fail to plead successfully, but she was also demoted.

Noble Consort Lang was so furious that she fainted on the spot.

When she woke up, Noble Consort Lang calmed down and thought through the incident thoroughly, realizing that the Crown Prince must have been framed.

Otherwise, her son wouldn’t have been foolish to such a degree.

She quickly investigated in secret, ultimately suspecting that Prince San and Prince Si were behind it.

After all, when the Crown Prince first fell into trouble, it was their factions who were the most jubilant.

As for Jianren Lu Tingli, he has always been uncompetitive and inconspicuous, focusing on playing the guqin and painting without any significant schemes – she did not take him seriously.

Afterwards, Noble Consort Lang focused on confronting Prince San and Prince Si.

Of course, that is a story for another time.

After returning from the palace, Lu Tingli took out a bottle of rare fine wine, to share with Xia Ningxing: "Xia Ningxing, how about a heartfelt drink with me today?"

Although he phrased it as a question, his slightly tense expression was very dominant, leaving no room for her to refuse.

Suddenly his tone softened, and he added, "I know you do not drink alcohol, so I have brought a fruit wine made from grapes. It is low in alcohol content, and it is said to beautify and condition the skin."

Under the flickering candlelight, his features were strikingly handsome, his eyes filled with immense satisfaction, as if he had just exacted his revenge.

With a rival gone, how could he not be delighted!

"Prince, you are thoughtful." Xia Ningxing glanced at him and did not refuse, taking the wine cup from his hand.

Toppling a Prince meant she and her brother were getting closer to gaining their freedom, and it was indeed a cause for celebration.

She tilted her slender, fair swan neck and drained the translucent fruit wine from the cup in one go.

Lu Tingli was drinking peach blossom brew, which was very potent, but he drank it like water, one cup after another, his narrow eyes fixed on the moon outside the window, his expression dim, seemingly lost in thought.

Perhaps it was Xia Ningxing’s illusion, but she felt he seemed somewhat sad.

"What’s wrong?" Xia Ningxing lifted her palm-sized face, her eyes watery as she looked at his face, and asked instinctively.

Having toppled the Crown Prince, he should be happy, right?

Lu Tingli took another sip of the strong drink before slowly speaking, "I was thinking about my mother."

For the first time he did not use "this prince" but said "I", his deep voice containing a trace of tenderness, shedding all defences, showing her the most tender and vulnerable part of himself.

"You might have heard, my mother was of low status, just a minor palace maid. The Emperor favored her once and then cast her aside, not even granting a title until she became pregnant with me. Only then did the Emperor show mercy and gave my mother the title of a Noble Lady, ha!"

His low laughter was filled with deep sarcasm, his lips curling disdainfully.