Three people spoke in turns, ostensibly caring about Emperor Jingyou, but in reality, they only cared about one thing: whether Emperor Jingyou was dead or alive, and if he had left a will.
If he had, who would inherit the throne?
The officials behind him were no different. Feng Xiwu's heart filled with disgust.
He said coldly, "All of you, be quiet!
His Imperial Brother is not seriously injured, merely over-fatigued and in urgent need of rest.
Now, everyone shut up and go in to listen to His Imperial Brother speak. Whoever dares to speak out of turn and disturb His Imperial Brother, causing him distress, will have Xie Sixiu as their example!"
Hearing that Emperor Jingyou was about to speak, everyone was stunned, their faces showing disbelief.
However, Feng Xiwu's threat of the Imperial Prison was very effective!
Despite their doubts, no one dared to grumble and make noise anymore.
Feng Xiwu returned to the sleeping quarters and saw Lu Qingwan nod at him, knowing that Emperor Jingyou had already woken up.
He had Liyang push him directly in front of Emperor Jingyou and quickly explained the situation. The latter weakly blinked his eyes.
"Help me up, and let them in."
Feng Xiwu was inconvenient to move, so he had Tang Xiao and the chief eunuch help Emperor Jingyou.
When the officials entered, they saw Emperor Jingyou sitting weakly on the dragon bed, his face pale and devoid of energy.
A group of people, each with their own agenda, performed the grand ceremony, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"I did not know Xiwu had returned, and only summoned Prime Minister Wen, Prince Nan, Marquis Lu, and Scholar Chi. Yet, you all have come.
Your news is quite well-informed!"
These few words sent chills down the spines of the officials, and they instantly regretted getting involved in this mess.
Emperor Jingyou's chilling voice continued, "I have disappointed you. I am still alive, and I will not die anytime soon.
I am well aware of your intentions, but as long as I am alive, the masters you are currying favor with will have to continue waiting!"
As he spoke, he waved his hand and sent the teacup handed by the attendant flying. The splashing tea debris scattered over the three princes.
"All of you, get out! Get out!"
With these furious shouts filled with ferocity, the officials were personally driven out by Emperor Jingyou.
Emperor Jingyou leaned against the head of the bed, panting heavily, "Everyone is waiting for me to die, and I am only fifty. They can't wait any longer!"
Several old officials stood below, not daring to breathe.
Feng Xiwu, unafraid of death, deliberately provoked him, "Let them wait if they want. You aren't really going to die, so why get angry with them?
Don't faint again by accident. I won't go to such great lengths to save you again!"
"Get out!"
Emperor Jingyou threw the pendant in his hand at him.
Feng Xiwu complied readily, "Alright, then I'll get out.
My consort and I were dragged here by Prime Minister Wen to save you as soon as we returned to the capital. We haven't even had a drink of water, and I'm too lazy to waste any more time with you."
Saying this, he made a gesture as if to leave. Emperor Jingyou was so amused by him that he coughed, and while coughing, he asked Lu Qingwan, "It is truly unfair to you to be married to such a childish person!
If sister-in-law is unwilling, say so sooner rather than later, and I will find you another good match..."
"I think your illness is completely healed!"
Feng Xiwu grabbed Lu Qingwan's hand and walked out. "Meng Tang will stay to take care of His Majesty, Tang Xiao will provide close protection, and everyone else will go home."
Several officials looked at each other, unsure if Feng Xiwu was joking or being serious.
Moreover, if they really listened to the prince and left, wouldn't His Majesty be enraged?
Lu Qingwan explained helplessly, "My lords, His Majesty's residual poison has not been resolved. His current clarity is entirely due to the acupuncture just performed. Any further delay will be detrimental to His Majesty's health."
The crowd then naturally took their leave from Emperor Jingyou and returned home.
Lu Qingwan looked at Feng Xiwu, "What about us?"
"Meng Tang and Tang Xiao will guard His Imperial Brother here. We will return to our residence."
Feng Xiwu took Lu Qingwan's hand and bid farewell to Emperor Jingyou.
Emperor Jingyou was indeed lacking in energy and waved his hand, letting Feng Xiwu leave without saying much.
Lu Qingwan got into the carriage, still feeling uneasy, "Are we really okay leaving like this?"
Emperor Jingyou had just escaped danger and had not explained anything to the officials. In their minds, Emperor Jingyou was probably on his deathbed.
His angry dismissal was merely a pretense. In such a situation, if they left the palace directly, wouldn't someone take the opportunity to rebel?
"Currently, the danger does not lie with the high officials and nobles in Shangjing, but with the various feudal lords and regional governors outside the city."
Feng Xiwu seemed to have no qualms about sharing court affairs with Lu Qingwan.
He told Lu Qingwan in a casual tone, as if chatting during tea, "Nearly four hours have passed since His Imperial Brother was poisoned. This is enough time for much news to spread.
I temporarily do not have the time to investigate who administered the poison or who incited the officials to come to the palace to inquire about His Imperial Brother's condition.
What I need to do now is to ensure that no army attacks the city by tomorrow morning. Otherwise, even if I kill the poisoner now,
and apprehend the person who incited the officials to come to the palace to inquire about His Imperial Brother's condition, it will be meaningless."
"I understand."
Lu Qingwan looked at him earnestly, "Under a collapsed nest, there are no unbroken eggs. The stability of the court and the continued existence of Da Gan is the foundation.
But I still want to tell you something."
Feng Xiwu raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Duke Xu may know my identity."
Lu Qingwan thought of Duke Xu's nervous expression when he saw her earlier. "The young master of Duke Xu's mansion had two peanut allergies. The first was an accident, but the second was clearly intentional.
Before they proposed that I treat Prince Jing, I wasn't very guarded against them.
If Duke Xu is determined to investigate my identity, I fear my disguise is not entirely foolproof."
Feng Xiwu nodded, "I noticed. He didn't want you to see His Imperial Brother."
"Yes, I knew you noticed too."
Lu Qingwan unconsciously snuggled closer to Feng Xiwu, "Do you think it's possible that His Majesty's poison was administered by him?"
Feng Xiwu hadn't had time to investigate. Hearing this, he asked instead of answering, "What poison did His Imperial Brother ingest?"
"Mushroom poison."
At the time, fearing that if she revealed it, the poisoner would get wind of it and destroy the evidence, Lu Qingwan deliberately avoided mentioning the source of the poison.
"It's a common mushroom from the southern lands, but it's not common in Shangjing. Moreover, I checked His Majesty's menu, and there was no such mushroom.
I investigated, and this poison was in the soup of 'Fu Shou Quan Guo.' It's likely that this mushroom was used when making the broth, and then the mushroom dregs were removed."
Feng Xiwu's brow furrowed as he listened, "To prevent accidents, kitchen waste from the Imperial Kitchen is kept for more than three days before being discarded. I will immediately order someone to investigate."
Lu Qingwan nodded, "An investigation is necessary, but don't hold out too much hope.
The perpetrator's methods are very sophisticated. If you investigate now, you likely won't find much."
Then, she changed the subject, "However, in a place like Shangjing, the number of people who can come into contact with poisonous mushrooms and bring them into the palace is limited, isn't it?"