No matter how sincerely Emperor Jing You prayed, Feng Xi Wu remained unconscious, oblivious to his brother's suffering and earnest hopes.
And as the culprit behind Emperor Jing You, the dignified ruler of Da Gan, being so distressed, Lu Qing Wan had absolutely no inkling that she might have offended this great boss. She was still immersed in her disinfection efforts.
She sprayed strong alcohol in every corner of the hall and burned mugwort and vinegar for a long time before she finally stopped.
"Bring fine gauze, dip it in strong alcohol, and wipe the floor thoroughly. Leave no dead spots."
Li Jin looked at the vast palace that still needed to be cleaned and his head already throbbed, "Your Highness, can we have the palace servants who handle sweeping do it?"
They were generals on the battlefield and guards in the manor; they were truly not rough laborers!
Lu Qing Wan did not commit, but merely tilted her head to look at him, "Do you want everyone to know that His Highness is poisoned?"
Feng Xi Wu was the stabilizing force of Da Gan. If news of his collapse spread, the border would surely be unstable.
Li Jin decisively clasped his fists, "Apologies, Your Highness, your subordinate will find people to wipe the floor now."
The number of Feng Xi Wu's trusted subordinates brought into the palace was limited. Even if Li Jin was unwilling, he had to do the work.
The guards soon arrived at Wei Yang Palace. Lu Qing Wan took a detoxification pill and gave it to Li Yang, "Tell the brothers to be careful. Although it's been disinfected, there's no guarantee there aren't any stragglers."
Li Yang took the detoxification pill, but was puzzled, "Your Highness, is it necessary to be so cautious?"
A princess, acting so extravagantly in the Emperor's palace, would have long been thrown out by Emperor Jing You's men if she weren't Feng Xi Wu's princess.
Lu Qing Wan also knew that her actions would surely be seen as overly alarming.
She meticulously wiped her fingers, her gaze passing over Li Yang and directly towards Emperor Jing You behind him.
"Does Your Majesty remember how much time passed between us hearing the sound of the flowerpot falling and Shen Ci's poisoning?"
Emperor Jing You's expression was unfathomable, "Less than five breaths."
"Then does Your Majesty think my actions are too alarmist?"
Emperor Jing You did not commit, "The thing attached to that pot of _Bai Ye Ling Lan_ was not just Bai Nian Sheng?"
"What was attached to the _Bai Ye Ling Lan_ was indeed only Bai Nian Sheng, but the soil in the flowerpot contained thousands upon thousands of poisonous insects, so small that our naked eyes could barely see them, yet they could take a life in an instant."
Lu Qing Wan said, her eyes growing slightly cold, "The person who sent this pot of _Bai Ye Ling Lan_ to His Highness was not merely plotting to poison His Highness."
...
Lu Qing Wan's words were validated when Lian Yu entered the palace.
By then, Feng Xi Wu had finally woken from his slumber and regained some energy, no longer drowsy.
Emperor Jing You watched Lu Qing Wan examine his body and administer several decoctions, then cautiously asked Feng Xi Wu, "How are you? Do you have any discomfort?"
For a whole day and night, Feng Xi Wu had first a fever, then fright and palpitations, and nightmares. One symptom after another kept Emperor Jing You and Lu Qing Wan on edge.
Feng Xi Wu smiled weakly, "I feel fine.
Your brother is incompetent and was careless, suffering a loss, which has worried imperial brother."
"What are you saying?"
Emperor Jing You said unceremoniously, "If anyone has worked hard, it is your princess, who has been both treating your蛊 and investigating the source of the poison.
She has been the most hardworking all day and night."
Hearing Emperor Jing You mention Lu Qing Wan, Feng Xi Wu's eyes softened unconsciously.
Without avoiding Emperor Jing You's gaze, he reached for Lu Qing Wan's hand, "Princess, you have suffered."
Lu Qing Wan let him hold her hand, her face showing unconcealed fatigue, "Let's not be polite. Someone used me as bait and meticulously set a trap for you; no one could have avoided it.
However, you must get well quickly. Your Majesty was poisoned first, and you were poisoned later. With so many incidents happening in succession, I have a feeling the other party is not just targeting you yourselves."
Feng Xi Wu blinked slightly, about to speak, when a guard reported at the door, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Young Master Lian Yu requests an audience."
Lu Qing Wan was startled, "Lian Yu shouldn't know you're awake, right?"
Feng Xi Wu's expression was subtle, "Lian Yu holds no official position and does not usually enter the palace."
Lu Qing Wan continued smoothly, "Then this is an unusual situation?"
Emperor Jing You watched the couple converse as if they were alone and said helplessly, "Let him in."
Lu Qing Wan pulled away from Feng Xi Wu's hand, stood up, and tidied her clothes, assuming a serious demeanor.
Feng Xi Wu looked confused, "What is Princess doing?"
If he remembered correctly, Lu Qing Wan hadn't been this serious even when meeting his imperial brother.
Lu Qing Wan coughed twice, "The strategist is an important bridge connecting you and the Qilin Army. I cannot let him think I am an immodest, seductress concubine."
Feng Xi Wu laughed so hard his upper body straightened, then he frowned in pain.
Emperor Jing You quickly pushed him back down and said with extreme exasperation, "Sister-in-law, are you really not considering re-studying 'Wife's Sayings'?"
Lu Qing Wan was puzzled, "Wife's Sayings, whose sayings?"
Emperor Jing You was completely speechless. Feng Xi Wu's eyes curved, and he smiled as he explained to Lu Qing Wan, "Imperial brother is referring to 'Wife's Sayings' among the four virtues of women, along with 'Wife's Work,' 'Wife's Appearance,' and 'Wife's Virtue.'
However, Princess does not need to re-study; this is quite good."
Lu Qing Wan let out a belated "Ao," and had no time to say more, for Lian Yu had entered.
Given Lian Yu's special status, Tang Xiao directly led him into the inner chamber. Upon entering, Lian Yu saw the awake Feng Xi Wu, a hint of joy appearing on his usually indifferent face, "His Highness is awake?!"
"Just recently.
Why have you entered the palace at this time? What has happened?"
Lian Yu held no official position in the court, but within the Qilin Army, he was equivalent to a deputy commander.
With Feng Xi Wu incapacitated, he should have been managing affairs outside, unless something was so important that he had to report to Emperor Jing You on Feng Xi Wu's behalf.
Lian Yu then cupped his hands to Emperor Jing You, "This commoner greets Your Majesty and Your Highness."
Lu Qing Wan raised her eyebrows in surprise. Lian Yu called himself a commoner and only bowed to Emperor Jing You. Yet Emperor Jing You did not seem to mind.
Emperor Jing You nodded as if it were usual, "You are excused. Have you personally entered the palace because of border disturbances?"
Lian Yu stood up and explained at a moderate pace.
"Intelligence from the Northern Frontier indicates that Northern Wei has suddenly mobilized troops to the border, with a hundred thousand troops ready to press towards the border of our Da Gan.
Additionally, there is a blizzard in the Northwest, and a large number of disaster victims fleeing towards Shangjing are being forcibly suppressed by the local officials. The common people have suffered countless casualties and riots have already broken out.
Judging by the signs, it is continuing to escalate. If not dealt with promptly, it is likely to lead to great chaos."
Lian Yu's hurried visit to the palace brought no good news.
Emperor Jing You and Feng Xi Wu's faces were grim. Just then, an inner attendant ran in in a panic.
"Bad news, Your Majesty!
The ministers have somehow heard that Your Majesty has been poisoned and His Highness is seriously ill and unconscious. The ministers are now demanding to see Your Majesty, and the Divine Strategy Camp's soldiers can barely stop them!"