MCSCPM -Chapter 98 Raging Fury

“Your Majesty, I have ordered men to search the entire imperial city, but there is still no sign of the imperial physician. It’s as if… the physician has simply vanished into thin air.”

The captain of the imperial guards had left long ago, yet the words “vanished into thin air” still echoed through the magnificent, golden hall. Nangong Lin’s face was ashen. His thick, imposing brows were tightly furrowed, and the weathered face that once exuded supreme authority now carried only exhaustion, barely concealed.

How could a person simply vanish out of nowhere? If the one who spoke these words weren’t his most trusted Commander Wang, Nangong Lin would have surely punished him severely for such incompetence!

The atmosphere was unbearably tense, the air almost seeming to solidify. A young eunuch holding a tea cup by Nangong Lin’s side trembled violently, likely due to his inexperience. Even the faint clinking of the cup echoed slightly.

Already extremely irritated, Nangong Lin felt the faint “clink clink” of the cup amplify in his ears. His frown deepened, the storm clouds above his brow thickened, and tiny beads of sweat appeared at his hairline. His fists clenched tighter on the armrests of the dragon throne. Finally, with a loud CRASH, the tea cup shattered on the floor. High-grade Taiping Houkui tea spilled everywhere, releasing a strong, fragrant aroma. The magnolia-shaped white jade cup, a rare tribute from a foreign land and Nangong Lin’s favorite set, instantly shattered into fragments.

The young eunuch, pushed aside by the emperor in a fit of anger, turned pale. Desperately scrambling to his feet, he ignored the shards on the ground and fell to his knees with a thud before Nangong Lin, frantically apologizing: “I—I deserve to die! I deserve to die!” He even raised his hand to slap his own mouth repeatedly.

Standing nearby, Yin Qingyue watched coldly. The sound of the eunuch’s self-inflicted slaps echoed in the silent hall, causing her to frown slightly.

Out of the corner of her eye, her moonlit gaze swept past the seemingly calm, wise, yet inherently kind-hearted woman beside her. Nangong Xiao, standing silently, kept his usual cold expression and voice, and said, “Hurry up and leave!” Clearly, he was addressing the unlucky young eunuch.

His voice wasn’t loud, but each word carried an icy sharpness, like a wind of frost piercing the ears. If Yin Qingyue didn’t know him well, she couldn’t imagine such a cold voice could come from a warm heart.

As if receiving a reprieve, the eunuch fled through the side door, rolling and scrambling away.

The hall fell deathly silent again. Nangong Lin knew that when he was angry, the princes dared not speak unless he first did—an old rule from their childhood. Yin Qingyue, having been in the palace for some time, had learned this rule first.

“Xiao’er, what’s your opinion regarding the sudden disappearance of the imperial physician?”

His son had been exceptionally talented and meticulous since childhood. Though young, he had a rare insight into state affairs, reminiscent of Nangong Lin’s own style in his youth. This was a key reason he had made Nangong Xiao crown prince.

The country needed a ruler like Nangong Xiao—someone utterly calm and rational at all times.

Facing his father’s expectant gaze, Nangong Xiao paused, unsure how to answer immediately. His thin lips were pressed carefully together, and his already icy expression made him even more chilling.

“The Imperial Medical Bureau keeps records of every physician’s place of origin, residence, and all direct and collateral relatives. Commander Wang can access the files, and as soon as the physician contacts someone he knows, we will get news,” Nangong Xiao explained.

“However, the mysterious disappearance, combined with Qingyue’s recent discovery regarding the medicinal powders, should be kept secret. If someone is behind the physician’s disappearance, any leaked information might hinder further investigation.”

Some of these thoughts Nangong Xiao didn’t voice—but Nangong Lin had already considered them, unwilling to admit it, hoping the scenario wouldn’t become reality.

The person who knew the empress’s health best was none other than the imperial physician. Finding him meant uncovering the key to everything. Their only regret was not protecting him earlier, leaving them in this vulnerable position.

Yin Qingyue watched the father and son, whose expressions and features were strikingly similar, like cast from the same mold. Her mind raced. She knew what they feared: that the physician hadn’t vanished, but had been silenced. If so, unless Nangong Mei’er voluntarily revealed everything she knew, even the decisive emperor would be powerless.

Helplessness in the face of harm to a loved one, without even understanding why—that was something Yin Qingyue could empathize with. This was partly why she was determined to uncover the truth: out of sympathy for the sovereign.

Even the greatest, most formidable individuals have moments of weakness and need help.

“Your Majesty, the only option now is to continue interrogating the Second Princess,” Yin Qingyue said calmly and confidently.

At first glance, it seemed a matter of national security, threatening the queen’s safety and royal image. On a smaller scale, it was a family issue, and the prime suspect was the emperor’s own daughter. Yin Qingyue had hesitated, but ultimately decided to propose it.

Nangong Lin furrowed his brow in distress, rubbing his temples with a weary sigh.

“Xiao’er, what do you think?” This was probably the first time he had asked for someone else’s opinion so many times in his life. Exhaustion and sleepless nights were taking a toll on his aging body.

On one side were his father and mother; on the other, his sister. Despite Nangong Xiao’s cold demeanor, family ties were impossible to ignore—something Yin Qingyue, as an outsider, understood clearly.

She also knew that the small, delicate woman beside him possessed intelligence and bravery, which had amazed him before. In this critical moment, seeing his father ask, he instinctively decided to temporarily rely on her.

“For now, it seems there’s no other option,” he said, then turned to Yin Qingyue, his eyes full of determination and trust, with a faint glimmer of hope barely perceptible. Yin Qingyue, noticing it, could hardly believe it.

Nangong Xiao, the man who wielded absolute power and ruled over life and death, actually displayed a hint of hope?

Suppressing her disbelief, she readied herself to confirm, but his mind revealed only his usual calm detachment.

“Good! Then you two go to Princess Mei’er’s chamber immediately. Time is of the essence—discover everything and report back to me at once!”

Tonight, he would wait here. He had waited too long. He didn’t seek rest—he sought the truth.

Sensing the faint frustration emanating from his father, Nangong Xiao felt a subtle shock, yet silently resolved to help this stern elder. Bowing, he excused himself and strode toward the hall exit.

“Qingyue, leave now,” she called, following him like a meteor.

The already cold hall grew even more lifeless. Nangong Lin sat alone on the dragon throne, leaning weakly against the backrest, his gaze vacant.

From the imperial hall to Princess Mei’er’s Rose Pavilion required crossing the entire rear garden. By night, the once-vibrant flowers, rocks, and exotic plants lay dormant, quietly hidden in the darkness, reflecting faint silver light under the moon.

By around 3 AM, the two walked side by side, accompanied only by a eunuch and maid carrying lanterns. Surrounded by the fragrance of flowers and plants, there was no joy—only tense concentration.

Normally at this hour, Yin Qingyue would be playfully teasing her maids or asleep with a quilt. Tonight, however, she felt no drowsiness.

“Crown Prince, have you decided how to question the Second Princess further?” she asked tentatively, trying to make the walk seem shorter.

“No,” Nangong Xiao said firmly.

Indeed, it wasn’t the first time he had questioned Princess Mei’er. She either remained silent, acted foolish, or deflected with questions of her own, making it difficult to deal with her.

After a brief frown, Yin Qingyue asked cautiously, “If something happens to the Empress, who benefits the most? Could we follow this thread to uncover the suspect and interrogate them one by one?”

She immediately regretted the question, silently berating herself.

The palace was a place of intrigue and scheming. Even the most indifferent or popular person could be targeted. Many conflicts were hidden, imperceptible, and uncalculable.

As Yin Qingyue searched for words to cover her misstep, Nangong Xiao suddenly seemed to recall something.