As Gu Shenci spoke, she seemed to be feeling unwell and was about to collapse.
Si Ruian, though clearly worried about her, held her with both hands, fidgeting anxiously, but remained silent.
Seeing this, Lu Qingwan grabbed Si Fengwu's hand and seized the opportunity to move closer.
"Fengwu, no!"
Gu Shenci cried out in alarm, but by the time she finished, Lu Qingwan had already taken her pulse.
Si Fengwu looked at her nervously, "How is it? Can it be cured?"
Lu Qingwan chuckled, "Are you insulting me?"
Since her transmigration, she had encountered people with damaged internal organs whom she couldn't save, but for someone poisoned to want to die under her care?
That seemed rather difficult.
Si Fengwu's eyes curved into a smile, "It is this King's fault. Then, we shall trouble the Consort."
"You should be saying that to it."
Lu Qingwan grabbed the Tengshe and tossed it onto Gu Shenci's arm, "Eat up, this is all your nourishment."
Si Fengwu was surprised, "You don't need to do anything yourself?"
"I think there are reasons why Meng Fuyuan, as a prophet, could only achieve so much."
She then took Si Ruian's wrist again, took his pulse, and said, "The poisons Mother Consort suffered from are indeed potent, but if I recall correctly, they are all recorded in the Poison Scripture left by Empress Qinghuang."
Si Fengwu, being intelligent, immediately understood.
"He gathered so many talented individuals not to research new things, but to replicate what Empress Qinghuang and the Grand Tutor Nan Xuan once possessed?"
"Clever!"
She released his hand, "Father King has a bit of trouble. The poison has damaged his throat. Detoxification alone is not enough; he will need a minor surgery later."
The two chatted as if no one else was present, their relaxed tone leaving the Crown Prince and his Consort somewhat bewildered.
Si Ruian, his vocal cords damaged, was unable to speak and could only poke Gu Shenci with his fingers.
The latter carefully opened her mouth, "Fengwu, Awan, what are you talking about? If I understand correctly, you're saying that the poison my husband and I contracted is easy to cure, and that your father can speak again?"
Si Fengwu looked at Lu Qingwan for confirmation.
Although Lu Qingwan appeared confident that she could cure the Crown Prince and his Consort and restore Si Ruian's voice, he, not being the one to do the work, had no right to make any promises to Gu Shenci on Lu Qingwan's behalf.
Lu Qingwan smiled gently and softly said, "Mother Consort, you understand correctly. The poison you and Father King have contracted is not difficult to cure, and Father King's throat can also be healed, so please rest assured. Our people will be here to escort you and Father King to a safe zone shortly. You two should go rest for a while. Once the King and I have dealt with those people in the laboratory, we will escort you back to Tianfeng."
They had thought they would perish on this deserted island today, but to be rescued by their son and daughter-in-law and regain their freedom was beyond their wildest dreams.
The Crown Prince and his Consort were overjoyed.
Gu Shenci grasped Lu Qingwan's hand, overcome with emotion. After a long pause, she finally said, "Father and Mother are incompetent, causing you trouble!"
As she spoke, her hand held Lu Qingwan's, but her eyes were fixed on Si Fengwu, her heart filled with a pain and affection so profound it seemed almost tangible.
However, Si Fengwu, who could usually debate with officials in court and drive his subordinates to despair in private, was now like a speechless fool, unable to utter a word for a long time.
Gu Shenci's disappointment and sadness were palpable.
Although Lu Qingwan intended to mend the rift between mother and son, she did not want to push Si Fengwu too hard.
Therefore, she pretended not to notice Gu Shenci's eagerness to get closer to Si Fengwu and took out a silver needle, "Please, Mother Consort, extend your hand. I will begin to detoxify you now."
Gu Shenci complied and extended her hand, but her gaze remained fixed on Si Fengwu.
The latter looked at Lu Qingwan with a hint of confusion, wondering why she needed to intervene if the Tengshe could cure the poison.
Lu Qingwan's expression remained unperturbed, "The acupuncture might hurt a little. Please relax your arm, Mother Consort, and do not tense up your body. It will be more effective."
After twenty-six years, Gu Shenci had finally seen her child, and her eyes felt glued to Si Fengwu.
However, the upbringing of a noble lady did not permit her to repeatedly ignore Lu Qingwan, especially when she was the one detoxifying her.
Thus, even though Gu Shenci wished to gaze at Si Fengwu constantly, she turned her attention back to Lu Qingwan.
"I have long heard of Awan's exceptional medical skills, praised even by the Hall Master of Samsara. I never expected to meet you for the first time while you were detoxifying me. I am truly sorry."
Gu Shenci was as gentle and benevolent as her name suggested. Every word she spoke was comforting.
Lu Qingwan smiled in response, "Mother Consort, where did that come from? If I cannot even save my own family, then all my medical knowledge is for naught! It is only by saving you and Father King that I feel my years of study have been worthwhile."
As the needle pierced her arm, Gu Shenci flinched slightly.
Lu Qingwan smiled, "Is Mother Consort afraid of needles?"
Gu Shenci's face flushed, "It's not that I'm afraid of pain, it's just that the moment the sharp needle penetrates the body is quite frightening."
Lu Qingwan chuckled, "That's quite a coincidence. When I first gave the King acupuncture, he had the same reaction. I even teased him, saying that he could face arrows on the battlefield and being cut by swords without flinching, yet he acted as if he were being tortured when it came to needles. I called him a coward, and he still denied it. However, Imperial Brother and Xiao Yuan are not like that..."
As Lu Qingwan inserted the needles, she chattered away, and Gu Shenci unconsciously relaxed. Listening to Lu Qingwan recount Si Fengwu's quirks, she no longer felt the urgent need to get close to him.
She then turned to the Crown Prince, "Father King's poison is a bit unusual. I will use silver needles to expel the toxins, and then I'll have the Tengshe draw out the remaining poison. Although the Tengshe looks fearsome, it won't attack people on its own. Father King, please bear with it and do not move recklessly, as it would be very dangerous if the silver needles shift."
Si Ruian not only resembled Si Fengming in appearance but also in temperament, possessing a remarkable ability to remain composed. Upon hearing that Lu Qingwan could not only detoxify him but also cure his throat, he was excited but showed no outward emotion. He merely nodded faintly, his eyes conveying encouragement, appearing very easy to get along with.
Lu Qingwan then proceeded to administer acupuncture. After inserting several silver needles, she placed the Tengshe on his arm.
Just then, Gu Shenci suddenly became tense, "Someone is coming."
With several needles already inserted and a venomous snake coiled around his arm, Si Ruian immediately drew his long sword.
Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu turned at the sound and saw more than a dozen small boats approaching from all directions, each carrying people holding torches aloft.
Lu Qingwan let out a sigh of relief, "Father and Mother, don't worry. It's our brothers coming to pick us up."
Gu Shenci's grip on her arm finally loosened.