The others were all shrewd individuals and could understand Lu Qingwan’s unspoken meaning.
Liyang, being straightforward, immediately asked, "So, Your Highness, were you deliberately feigning panic outside because someone was spying on us at that moment?"
"It was just a feeling."
Lu Qingwan felt a pang of regret that Dabai wasn't with her. Dabai…
"I'm going!"
Lu Qingwan jumped up abruptly, "Dabai!
I forgot Dabai and Tengshe in the Imperial Garden!"
She had a feeling something was off since she returned yesterday; she hadn't heard Dabai meow in her mind, nor had Tengshe slithered on her wrist from time to time.
It was only when she thought about Dabai monitoring the situation in the manor that she remembered she had left the two little ones in the Imperial Garden.
She had initially thought that since they were small and like common animals, they wouldn't attract much attention.
She had hoped they could gather some intelligence by interacting with the palace animals, which would be useful when dealing with Consort Ye and Duke Xu.
Now that the coup was over, she had completely forgotten about the two little ones.
Lu Qingwan covered her face with both hands, "Quickly send someone to the palace to look for them."
Lijin and the others knew Dabai was Lu Qingwan's beloved pet.
As for Tengshe, although they didn't know much about it, since Lu Qingwan was so anxious, they would naturally search for it.
Lijin tried to comfort Lu Qingwan, "Your Highness, please don't worry. It's winter, and hardly anyone visits the Imperial Garden.
I'll send a message to Lisu right away to help search. They should be found very soon."
Lu Qingwan nodded, "Try your best to bring them back. Dabai is one thing, but Tengshe is the guardian beast of the Samsara Hall. It should be quite valuable."
Everyone's expressions immediately turned awkward. So, her urgency wasn't because Tengshe was the guardian beast of the Samsara Hall, but because it was valuable?
Lijin and the others seriously suspected that if someone offered a good price, Lu Qingwan might actually sell Tengshe.
For a moment, they didn't know whether to pity Tengshe or the Samsara Hall.
After all, their sacred beast was considered less valuable than gold and silver in their Princess Consort's eyes, which was quite pathetic.
Having handed over the search for Dabai and Tengshe to Lisu, Lu Qingwan returned to the main topic.
"The manor is so large, with so many servants inside and out, and we can't guarantee that everyone here is trustworthy.
Please work hard for these few days. I won't keep you so busy all the time."
Let alone the fact that Feng Xiwu's safety concerned the stability of Daqian, Lijin and the others would treat Lu Qingwan's words as gospel for the sake of their Prince's safety.
"However, Your Highness, about the matter that the Princess Consort interrupted earlier, should we continue reporting it?"
After the various trivial matters were concluded, Lijin finally remembered that he was reporting on palace affairs to Feng Xiwu.
Lu Qingwan had suddenly vomited blood, interrupting them. Feng Xiwu was currently extremely weak, and he was unsure whether he should continue.
Feng Xiwu’s eyes lit up as he looked at Lu Qingwan, filled with affection. "Go ahead, let the Princess Consort hear it too."
Lijin then diligently began his report.
"It's like this, Your Highness. Yesterday, you and His Highness were discussing having His Majesty feign a serious illness, weren't you?
But it was too late last night, so His Highness didn't send the intelligence to His Majesty.
As a result, news spread from the palace early this morning that His Majesty was critically ill, and a large half of the imperial physicians were summoned to the palace for treatment.
I thought His Majesty was deliberately playing along, so I specifically inquired with Doctor Shen and Doctor Meng. Only then did I learn that His Majesty was truly ill."
This outcome surprised Lu Qingwan as well.
"When I treated His Majesty’s poisoning, I examined him very carefully. His Majesty had suffered damage to his heart and lungs from mushroom poisoning. After detoxification, he was fine.
How could he suddenly fall ill? What did Meng Tang and Shen Ci say? What illness does His Majesty have?"
She was confident in other matters, but when it came to medicine, Lu Qingwan had absolute confidence.
She believed she wouldn't misdiagnose such a simple mushroom poisoning. When she treated Emperor Jingyou that day, his health was quite good.
Not only was there nothing wrong, but he was even much better than many people his age.
To fall ill after just one night, she found it hard to believe.
However, Lijin's answer was clear, "Doctor Shen said it was due to a sudden surge of anger followed by a chill.
But Doctor Meng said His Majesty's symptoms resemble a condition called Jin Chuang Zhi Zong. The two doctors' diagnoses are inconsistent.
However, one point they both agreed on is that His Majesty’s illness is progressing rapidly and will likely not recover in a short period."
"Jin Chuang Zhi Zong? That's unlikely."
Lian Yu frowned, looking at Feng Xiwu and Lu Qingwan. "Doctor Shen is a military physician. Besides common external injuries, he sees Jin Chuang Zhi Zong the most. Wouldn't he recognize it?"
Feng Xiwu agreed. However, "Regarding the Emperor, A'wan, you should go into the palace to see him.
Your medical skills are superior to theirs. If His Majesty is truly ill, having you by his side will be a guarantee for his safety."
Lu Qingwan nodded. "Then should I go as the Regent's Consort, or as Lin Sa?"
With Duke Xu, that gossip, knowing her identity was already quite widespread.
Moreover, many ministers had witnessed her detoxifying Emperor Jingyou that day.
But Lu Qingwan still disliked facing those ministers directly. Lin Sa's alias could, to some extent, save her some trouble.
Fortunately, Feng Xiwu seemed to have guessed her thoughts and said in tacit understanding, "Go under the name of Lin Sa.
Those ministers know you are skilled in medicine, but they don't know you are the renowned Divine Doctor Lin of the capital.
Duke Xu has been apprehended, and I have instructed my subordinates to conceal your identity for you.
I will have Tang Xiao personally escort you. With him there, no one will dare to prevent you from seeing the Emperor."
Lu Qingwan didn't want to always practice medicine as the Regent's Consort and still wanted to keep her alias hidden.
However, despite Divine Doctor Lin's great reputation, she was, after all, a doctor from the common folk. Going into the palace to treat the Emperor, she worried about obstruction from the ministers. Acting without the identity of the Regent's Consort would be more convenient.
Feng Xiwu's arrangement solved all her concerns.
"Then have Tang Xiao come to pick me up now. I'll take this time to prepare some medicine for you. If you feel unwell, drink some.
The medicine I'm preparing is a patent medicine, so don't worry about addiction or side effects."
She then earnestly cautioned him, "Remember, do not use internal energy, and do not get overly emotional.
Absolutely do not let all my previous efforts be in vain!"
Feng Xiwu obediently agreed, and Lu Qingwan hurried off to the pharmacy.
Once the medicine was prepared, Tang Xiao also arrived. Lu Qingwan, transforming into Divine Doctor Lin, entered the palace once more.
In Weiyang Palace, Emperor Jingyou lay on the dragon bed, delirious from fever.
A line of imperial physicians knelt before the dragon bed, from the oldest to the youngest. It seemed all the physicians from the Imperial Hospital had been summoned.
Prime Minister Wen, Lu Zhenting, and Academician Chi, along with the Prince of Nan, were in the outer chamber, along with Feng Qingheng.