Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Bloodline Kinship
In the evening, Lin Wanyi again served the Emperor and the Second Prince their dinner.
Not long after the meal, the medicine for both the Second Prince and Lin Wanyi was delivered.
The two exchanged a smile and swiftly drank it all down.
With a piece of candied fruit in their mouth to counteract the bitterness, the Emperor looked at them with some amusement.
"You’re drinking medicine like water now, without even blinking."
As soon as he spoke, he felt it was somewhat inappropriate.
After all, the fact that they had to keep drinking medicine was partly due to his lack of protection.
A trace of discomfort flashed in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared.
Lin Wanyi didn’t miss that look; frankly speaking, she had poisoned herself.
So the Emperor’s hint of self-reproach made her feel a bit guilty.
Thus, she spoke to ease the atmosphere.
"Actually, the medicine prescribed by the Imperial Physicians isn’t very bitter. In the past, drinking it in small sips with a spoon made the bitterness unbearable, but it’s better to drink it all in one go; by the time your mouth reacts, the medicine is already in your stomach."
The Second Prince nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, the medicine here at Lady Lin’s is brewed much better than what the nannies used to make before, which was truly bitter; I couldn’t drink much of it."
His words deepened the Emperor’s gaze.
Indeed, someone was tampering with his medicine.
Unfortunately, Doctor Dou has yet to determine what kind of poison it is, so there’s no specific antidote available for him at the moment.
He can only focus on keeping his body healthy before making any plans.
The three engaged in casual conversation for a while, and Nanny Du, seeing the hour approaching, intended to take the Second Prince to rest in the back courtyard.
"Emperor, Miss Lin, the Second Prince is still young; he should eat and sleep more, and I can see the time is about right, so perhaps he should rest."
"Hmm, Nanny is right; with you around, I am quite at ease."
Nanny Du, rarely smiling, melted much of her previous sternness and determination.
After the Second Prince withdrew, Lin Wanyi approached the Emperor.
Seeing his expression gradually grow serious, she knew he must have troubling matters again.
She never asked much, merely quietly getting onto the couch, still helping the Emperor relax and relieve tension as before.
Smelling the familiar scent and hearing the gentle breeze by her ears.
The Emperor found himself seldom enjoying this moment of tranquility.
Meanwhile, at Princess Consort Yi’s place, she had been anxious and troubled for several days.
"How’s the matter concerning the Third Brother?"
Princess Consort Yi faced constant worry since learning that he was taken by Yingtian Prefecture.
Grandmother at home had fainted three or four times from crying, continuously sending family letters to the Northwest, but yet there’s no news.
Her lack of favor in the harem didn’t bode well for her.
Her current status is fully reliant on the Liu Family’s achievements.
Even if she wished to plead with the Emperor for mercy to spare her Third Brother’s life, she had no chance to sway them with her pillow talk.
"Please don’t worry, Lady, I believe there is room for a turnaround in this matter. If the Emperor truly intended to put the third young master to death, he would’ve executed him immediately; why bother sending someone to imprison him?"
Perhaps it was just to make an example.
Ruyi comforted her from the side, the fan in her hand never ceasing.
This hot weather already made people irritable.
Encountering such matters, naturally, made one extremely anxious.
"Though it’s said that, what’s so special about Yingtian Prefecture? How dare they come to my Marquis Mansion to seize people? Behind this, there surely is an order from the Emperor to thoroughly investigate. That family is all dead, even if we wanted to bribe someone with money, there’s no one to take it; how can I not be worried."
Regarding this cousin from her third uncle’s side, sometimes she felt Grandmother doted on him excessively, considering him highly unpresentable.
Especially compared to her elder brother and second brother in the Northwest Army; he couldn’t compare at all.
But after all, he’s family by blood, and usually, he affectionately called her elder sister, elder sister; how could Princess Consort Yi truly watch him die?
"Lady, please don’t lose your composure; you are the backbone of our Marquis Mansion in Shengjing City; isn’t the Old Madam still waiting for your reply?"
"Reply? I don’t even know how to tell Grandmother about this."
Princess Consort Yi found herself caught in this dilemma.
Grandfather was wise and mighty, but the Third Brother’s actions ruined the reputation of the Northwest Marquis Mansion, undermining the achievements and public praise the Liu family has earned over the years with hundreds of lives.
Logically speaking, such a black sheep should indeed be dealt with properly.
But how was she to explain to Grandmother?
Thinking of how the Third Brother was personally raised by Grandmother; if something happened to him, would Grandmother also face doom?
These days of worries left her unable to eat; she even lost weight.
As she was distressing here, Bai Pin and Lady He walked in from outside.
Seeing Princess Consort Yi’s face full of anxiety and chaos, they immediately asked.
"What’s wrong, Lady?"
Bai Pin asked first, Princess Consort Yi retracted much of her sad expression, steadied her emotions, and then asked.
"Why have you come over?"
Bai Pin chuckled lightly and had someone deliver a basket of peaches, then said.
"These are freshly picked from the peach forest, and since they’re fresh, I sent some for Lady to taste."
"Hmm, you’re considerate. Ruyi, please take them."
"Yes, at Lady’s command."
Ruyi walked to those little eunuchs carrying baskets, gesturing them to move outside.
While Ru Huan hurried to serve tea to Bai Pin and Lady He.
Once they were settled, Lady He took a sip of tea and pleasingly said.
"The tea here at Lady’s place is particularly tasty; every time I visit, I drink several cups."
Normally, when saying such words, Princess Consort Yi would respond somewhat.
But today, there was no response, leaving Lady He feeling a bit uncomfortable.
However, hailing from a merchant family, she was least afraid of awkwardness.
She thought for a moment before changing the topic.
"Lady, have you heard? Lin Guifei had quite a setback."
Upon hearing these words, Bai Pin also chuckled lightly, eyes revealing the excitement of enjoying the spectacle!
"What happened?"
Princess Consort Yi had been so troubled by family matters that even the servants avoided disturbing her with external affairs.
Therefore, she was unaware of what Lady He was talking about.
"I heard Lin Guifei planned to hold a grand birthday feast for the Second Prince at the Lotus Lake Pavilion, but was rejected by the Emperor; furthermore, out of respect for the Second Prince’s filial piety, he posthumously promoted Su Pin to Princess Consort Su and invited monks from Baolin Temple to the traveling palace, intending to recite scriptures for several days!"
Upon hearing this, Princess Consort Yi knitted her brows.
Why suddenly hold the idea of posthumously promoting Su Pin?
Could it be done intentionally for her to see?
After all, in the harem, currently, only she and Su Pin have given birth to princes.
Now, with Su Pin elevated to consort status, though she’s gone, her title ultimately matches hers; even if there isn’t a special title, what of it.