Lu Qing Wan immediately calmed down. "Excellent, with this, I can make a preliminary diagnosis even without seeing my father. Once he arrives in the capital, have them send him directly to Bai Xing Lin. The medical facilities there are the best."
She made her requests without any hesitation, and Feng Xi Wu readily agreed. However, he still had doubts. "I've seen the intelligence reports from the Shen Ce Battalion. It said a barb from the poisoned arrow remained in Marquis Lu's heart. Can it still be removed?"
"As long as my father can return to the capital alive, I will be able to save him." Lu Qing Wan had absolute confidence in her medical skills. However, she then asked, "Who poisoned you last night? Have they been found?" Her father's life was paramount, but her own safety couldn't be neglected. Someone had used her hand to poison Feng Xi Wu yesterday, and today someone had openly laced her tea. If this wasn't thoroughly investigated, how could she ever have a peaceful life?
"It was Xi Niang. When she was discovered, she had already taken poison and committed suicide." Feng Xi Wu showed no signs of annoyance at being poisoned. Instead, he had the leisure to ask Lu Qing Wan, "Why did you suddenly ask about this? Were you scared?"
"Not really." Such precise poisoning methods didn't really scare her. She just didn't want to be left in the dark. She hesitated for a moment before asking Feng Xi Wu, "I heard that you and Noble Consort have a mother-son-like relationship, very close?"
"Yes." Feng Xi Wu did not avoid the topic. "My birth mother began her ascetic practices after giving birth to me. I was young and had no one to care for me. Coincidentally, the Noble Consort had no children, and the palace was quiet. My imperial brother asked the Noble Consort to look after me. In that sense, the Noble Consort is both a teacher and a mother to me."
Lu Qing Wan felt a pang of regret for bringing it up. Hearing this, she suspected that Feng Xi Wu might not believe her even if she spoke, and might even suspect her of sowing discord. But Feng Xi Wu was such a perceptive person; her slight hesitation immediately aroused his suspicion. "Did something happen when you went to the Noble Consort's palace to offer tea today?"
"You are all in the same boat. As long as he hasn't harmed you, trust your allies." Lu Qing Wan persuaded herself and then shared her findings with Feng Xi Wu.
As expected, his brow furrowed. "Have you found out what else was in the tea, and what was on that Flowing Light Brocade?"
"I haven't had time to check, but I'm certain it's nothing good."
"Then let's investigate thoroughly before we say anything more." His tone was still calm, but it was evident that he was not in a good mood when he said this. Lu Qing Wan nodded silently, no longer speaking.
At the Regent's Mansion, in the Wutong Courtyard.
The Flowing Light Brocade gifted by Noble Consort Ye and Lu Qing Wan's handkerchief were placed on the table. Doctor Shen spoke slowly. "Both are drugs for infertility, but more insidious than the common safflower and musk. They are colorless and odorless, making them difficult to detect. Furthermore, prolonged contact not only makes it difficult for the Consort to conceive, but also for the Prince to have offspring."
They had only married yesterday, and today the gifts from the palace were tainted with such a substance. Doctor Shen broke out in a sweat for both of them. "Fortunately, the Consort is well-versed in medicine. An ordinary person would likely have suffered this loss in silence."
Feng Xi Wu did not understand medicine, but seeing how long Doctor Shen had been studying it before reaching a conclusion, he knew this substance was not simple. "Your Highness?" Li Jin asked with a serious expression, "What should we do with this Flowing Light Brocade?"
"Throw it away." Feng Xi Wu waved his hand with disgust. "Don't let me see this thing again."
"Don't!" Lu Qing Wan picked up the Flowing Light Brocade. "This is a valuable and beautiful item. Wouldn't it be a waste to throw it away?"
"Are you going to make clothes out of it?" Feng Xi Wu's face turned ashen. Did she know what she was saying? Wearing clothes made from fabric tainted with infertility drugs, was she trying to make him heirless?
Lu Qing Wan inexplicably deciphered his train of thought and said with a dark expression, "I have no masochistic tendencies. It's just a bit of medicine, it can be treated. Moreover, if we throw it away, won't we alert the enemy? Don't you want to see the reaction of the person behind this when I wear clothes made from it?"
Li Yang and the others were somewhat swayed, but Feng Xi Wu's attitude was firm. "Luring the snake out of its hole cannot come at the expense of your health. Be good and throw this piece of fabric away. At worst, I'll have someone find another piece for you. With the same pattern, who would be able to tell?"
What was this about being "good"? Yet, strangely, Lu Qing Wan was pacified by these two words and obediently agreed. "Alright."
Feng Xi Wu was then satisfied. Seeing the atmosphere between the two masters ease, Li Jin quickly led his companions away. Lu Qing Wan sat there with nothing to do. They were married, after all, and it wasn't feasible to avoid each other constantly. So, she tried to make conversation. "Are there any affairs in the mansion that I need to manage?" For example, concubines or maids. Although she was reluctant to deal with those alluring women, it was an inevitable situation. She would rather know the circumstances early than be caught off guard.
Feng Xi Wu, however, stared at her intently without a word. Lu Qing Wan was perplexed. "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong? It's fine if you don't want me to get involved in the mansion's affairs; I have no objections." Thinking she had guessed Feng Xi Wu's intentions, Lu Qing Wan stood up. "In that case, Your Highness, please rest. Allow me to go and inventory my dowry." The renovation of Bai Xing Lin would definitely not be enough with what she had "borrowed" from the Lan family before. She needed to see if there was anything in her dowry she could sell for money to get Bai Xing Lin up and running.
But as soon as she stood up, Feng Xi Wu spoke leisurely, "It seems you are very eager for me to have many wives and concubines?" Even before they were married, she was thinking of picking pretty dowry maids to be his concubines. On their wedding day, she was inquiring about side consorts and concubines. What wife wouldn't wish for her husband's harem to be empty and for him to only dote on her? This woman, though beautiful, had a strange mind.
"Your Highness is joking. Am I not just fulfilling my duty in my position?" Lu Qing Wan said innocently. "Of course, it would be best if Your Highness had none." Feng Xi Wu's lips had yet to curl into a smile when he heard her continue, "I am lazy and afraid of trouble. Places with many women are especially troublesome. If Your Highness can spare me this trouble, I will definitely thank you properly." This dog of a man was more sensitive than any woman. It was exhausting to placate him! Lu Qing Wan just wanted to be a freeloader; this dog man was ruining her dream and was so annoying!
Listening to Lu Qing Wan's words, Feng Xi Wu felt like a fool with mood swings, oscillating between happiness and anger. But in the end, he couldn't help but smile. "There are no other women in the mansion, only one child named Shu Yuan. You go ahead and busy yourself. I will bring him to pay his respects to you at dinner."
"Oh." Lu Qing Wan turned to recall her one hundred and eight strategies for dealing with mischievous children. As the saying goes, if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked. If the father was so infuriating, the child was likely also a handful. It was wise to prepare!