"Speaking the words, without waiting for the Crown Prince and Feng Xi Wu's brothers to say anything, she continued on her own, 'This must be the Qin Wang Fei? I've long heard she's a beauty of the highest order. For the Qin Wang to marry you, the Emperor of Qian must be heartbroken, no? Come closer and let this Palace have a look. Just what sort of marvel are you to make the Qin Wang so determined to marry no one but you!'
Every word, though seemingly filled with praise, struck the listener as oddly jarring. Lu Qing Wan, observing the various expressions of the people present, stepped forward a few paces, standing tall and straight like a young poplar. 'This concubine's beauty is ordinary, I dare not accept such high praise from Empress Dowager. I am favored by my King and dare not boast of overwhelming beauty, only enough to captivate him. I consider that sufficient!'
With a snort, Feng Xi Wu burst into unrestrained laughter. The Crown Prince, too, struggled to suppress his amusement, while the Crown Princess pinched the Crown Prince's arm, trying to stifle her giggles. The four seated above grew visibly angry, their faces turning green. The Empress Dowager's fury intensified, 'A seductive temptress, arrogant and overbearing, how can such a woman be worthy of being my Great Qin's Wang Fei? Qin Wang, for your marriage to her, the Emperor and I, considering your years in exile, have granted our consent. However, this woman cannot be the main consort. Even if you refuse to marry Yun Yi, you must marry a woman of pure lineage, gentle, virtuous, and obedient as your main consort. Yesterday, I met the Lian Hua Princess of Ping Ning Marquis's manor; I found that girl quite suitable. If you are unwilling to marry Lian Hua, then this Palace will bestow upon you the Bai family's daughter...'
'If the Emperor and Empress Dowager have no serious matters to discuss with this subject, then this subject will take his leave.'
As Feng Xi Wu finished speaking, he took Lu Qing Wan's hand and turned to leave. This turn of events was entirely unexpected by everyone, even astonishing the Crown Prince and his consort.
'Insolent!'
Emperor Geng Shi slammed his hand on the table and rose, 'The Empress Dowager is your elder, how dare you...'
Before he could finish, Emperor Geng Shi suddenly clutched his chest, convulsed for a moment, and then vomited a mouthful of blood. The black, foul-smelling blood was mixed with a decaying odor. Guards at the door immediately rushed forward, blocking Lu Qing Wan and Feng Xi Wu.
Over there, Concubine Li supported Emperor Geng Shi, shaking him violently. 'Your Majesty, don't frighten this consort, Your Majesty...'
The Empress, however, remained calmer, sternly ordering, 'Where are the imperial physicians? Summon them quickly!'
The reactions of these two were relatively normal, but the Empress Dowager, standing nearby, furiously exclaimed, 'What are you all shouting about? Where is Wei Kun? Bring the Emperor's Longevity Pill! Quickly, give it to the Emperor...'
This familiar name instantly captured Lu Qing Wan and Feng Xi Wu's attention. They turned to look at the Crown Prince, who silently nodded at them. Yesterday, the Crown Prince had stated his intention to let Emperor Geng Shi know the true composition of the Longevity Pill gifted by Lan An, and today the Emperor had such a severe reaction. It wasn't difficult for Lu Qing Wan and Feng Xi Wu to guess that this was his doing.
Lu Qing Wan tugged at Feng Xi Wu's sleeve, pretending to approach the Crown Prince casually, but she caught a faint medicinal scent on the Crown Princess. Lu Qing Wan discreetly took a bottle of deodorizer from her spatial laboratory and, under the cover of her wide sleeves, sprayed it bit by bit onto the Crown Princess. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess seemed to sense something and silently cooperated with Lu Qing Wan. While appearing to be frozen in shock, they were, in reality, covering for each other and destroying evidence.
It was likely that those around Emperor Geng Shi were accustomed to him taking this so-called Longevity Pill. Hearing the Empress Dowager's words, the head eunuch by Emperor Geng Shi's side immediately went to a side table and retrieved an exquisite purple sandalwood box. A pill the size of a thumb was directly fed into Emperor Geng Shi's mouth. Lu Qing Wan quickly activated her spatial laboratory for poison analysis. The results were astonishing; Lan An truly had no fear of death. She had expected the Longevity Pill to contain excessive lead or perhaps some other tonic. However, the Longevity Pill Lan An had given Emperor Geng Shi was essentially a massive poison pill. It contained over thirty medicinal ingredients, any one of which was capable of causing a chronic illness.
Still, after reviewing the poison analysis report, Lu Qing Wan understood Lan An's plan. She quietly slipped over to Feng Xi Wu, about to say something, when she heard Concubine Li let out a high-pitched shriek, 'Your Majesty!'
Lu Qing Wan looked up hastily and saw that Emperor Geng Shi, who had only vomited blood and was still breathing, had fallen unconscious after taking the so-called Longevity Pill. He lay sprawled on the chaise lounge, his body convulsing as if having a seizure. Veins bulged on his neck, and foam began to appear at the corners of his mouth.
'Where are the imperial physicians? Hurry, imperial physicians!'
The Empress, in her fury, pushed Concubine Li, who was still shaking Emperor Geng Shi, aside and shouted at a nearby eunuch, 'Why aren't you helping to move His Majesty onto the couch...' Several eunuchs and guards clumsily carried Emperor Geng Shi into the inner chambers. The imperial physicians also arrived. A group of physicians, carrying their medicine boxes, rushed in, and were about to pay their respects to the Crown Prince and others when Empress Lan scolded them, 'What time is it? Stop with the formalities and get in there to treat His Majesty!'
Having said that, her sharp phoenix eyes swept over Lu Qing Wan and the others, 'You all, come in with me. If His Majesty meets an untimely end, you shall commit suicide to atone for your sins!' With that, she hurried into the inner chambers and anxiously attended to Emperor Geng Shi, appearing to be the most worried person in the entire Zichen Palace. Lu Qing Wan and the others had intended to observe the aftermath; even without Empress Lan's command, they would have followed.
Somehow, news of Emperor Geng Shi's condition spread. Soon, a eunuch reported, 'Reporting to Empress Dowager, the Prime Minister, the Grand Commandant, the Censorate Minister, the Minister of Justice, the First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Princess request an audience.'
'Make them wait outside!'
As Emperor Geng Shi's condition did not improve, Empress Lan grew increasingly irritable. After dismissing the eunuch, she turned to the imperial physicians, 'What is wrong with His Majesty? Can you provide a diagnosis?'
The group of physicians knelt on the ground, trembling, only crying out, 'Empress Dowager, spare our lives.' They refused to utter a single useful word.
'Spare your lives, spare your lives, you useless lot! Guards, drag this good-for-nothing out and beat him to death!' She pointed at the physician she had questioned and gave the order. Guards quickly rushed in and dragged the physician away. The other physicians' faces turned pale with fear, but when questioned again, they only continued to plead for mercy. In a short while, Empress Lan had beaten three physicians to death.
Just as a fourth physician was about to suffer the same fate, Lu Qing Wan said coolly, 'Empress Dowager, perhaps you should find someone else to treat His Majesty. They are not incapable of healing, but unwilling. Either they are taking orders and refuse to treat His Majesty, or they know what ails His Majesty but dare not treat it. If you delay further, the palace will not lack physicians, but His Majesty's life may not last.'
Empress Lan suddenly turned her gaze to Lu Qing Wan, 'This Palace almost forgot, the Qin Wang Fei is a renowned divine physician from the Qian Dynasty. You stand so far away, can you discern anything?' Empress Lan, who had shown formidable authority towards the imperial physicians and eunuchs, maintained a dignified and elegant demeanor towards Lu Qing Wan, though her eyes held a scrutinizing gaze that could not be ignored."