Lu Yuyan then had Li Feng use a handkerchief soaked in strong liquor to wipe his body, avoiding the wound, to help lower his temperature.

Even so, by the time of Chenshi (7-9 AM) the next day, she still had a low-grade fever.

Fortunately, it was the dead of winter. If it had been the height of summer, the wound would have become infected repeatedly, and even if he had survived, his body would probably have been ruined.

Feng Yan also developed a fever, but since he was in good health, the fever subsided half an hour after he drank the medicine. He had a fever a few more times afterward, but it didn't return after midnight.

But Lu Yuyan also knew that their high fevers would recur in the next few days.

In the Imperial Palace, in the Zichen Palace where Consort De resided.

The palace maid Caiping told Consort De the news that the Third Prince had just sent.

Consort De was idly fiddling with the exquisite nail guards on her hands when she heard this, and a mocking sneer curled at the corner of her mouth.

“Bi Yueyi, that stupid woman, was sent to the Prince An’s mansion, but she didn’t know how to keep a low profile and think about her son’s future. Instead, she caused chaos in the Prince An’s mansion. She is truly ignorant and foolish.”

"If these things were to reach the Emperor's ears, I'm afraid he would dislike her even more, as well as his son Zhu Yu. Ha, all the military achievements Zhu Yu risked his life to gain on the battlefield have been squandered by his stupid mother."

Caiping brought Consort De a cup of tea and said with a smile, "That's right, so His Highness the Third Prince also said to treat it as a bit of fun. Let me tell you, Your Highness."

Consort De's smile deepened, and when she spoke of her son, her eyes were filled with tenderness.

“Tell Chen’er not to waste his energy on this matter. With Bi Yueyi’s character, Zhu Yu can’t cause any trouble. Now that he has lost his military power, he has not only clipped his own wings, but he also has such a troublemaker in his household.”

She chuckled and said, "Tell Chen'er to have the person you planted next to Bi Yueyi say a few words to her from time to time to stir up trouble in the Prince An's mansion. There's no need to put in any other effort."

Caiping replied, "Yes, Your Highness. The Third Prince said you can rest assured that there is still Lu Xiaoyun in the Prince An's residence, and Ren Yong'an also often goes to the Prince An's residence. Three women make a drama, one act ends and another begins, so we can just wait and watch the show."

Consort De couldn't help but laugh out loud: "This child, he just knows how to make his mother happy."

She added, "Let's spread this news to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. How can we not let them know about such a wonderful thing? Oh, and let Consort Xian be happy too."

Caiping smiled and said, "Yes, this servant will take care of it right away."

Meanwhile, Consort Xian in Qinghua Palace also received the news. She paused in her prayer beads, sighed, shook her head, and said to the palace maid Hongman, "Consort Duan is just being unreasonable. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, why does she have to do this? Alas, the Prince An's mansion, which had been peaceful for several years, is really going to be lively now."

Hongman helped Consort Xian up from the prayer mat: "Prince An and Princess An went to Ganlu Temple the day before yesterday and only returned to Prince An's residence this morning. It is said that Miss Yong'an is much better now and also went to Ganlu Temple the day before yesterday, arriving shortly after His Highness the Crown Prince."

Consort Xian sat up straight, picked up the teacup beside her and drank it slowly. After a while, she said, "Ren Yong'an, the eldest daughter of the Left Prime Minister's family..."

She sighed softly, but ultimately didn't say what she was going to say.

Hongman understood what Consort Xian was going to say and said, "However, it seems that Prince An did not know that Miss Yong'an was also in the temple. The servant who came to report the news said that Prince An personally carried Princess Consort up the mountain, and later Prince An also personally carried Princess Consort down the mountain. It is not like the rumors that the two have a bad relationship."

Hongman paused for a moment and then said, "But they didn't return the way they came down the mountain. We don't know where they went. His Highness the Second Prince couldn't find out where they spent the night either. They only returned this morning. When they returned to the manor, Prince An even personally carried Princess An down from the carriage."

Consort Xian paused, her hand holding the teacup still: "Oh? Princess An is asleep?"

Hongman shook her head: "I don't know. I only saw Princess An nestled in Prince An's arms from afar, as if she didn't want anyone to see her face. Your Highness, what if they were out all night...?"

Hongman blushed. Seeing this, Consort Xian thought to herself, "Princess An was also injured in that assassination attempt. It's only been a few days, so she probably hasn't fully recovered yet. It's not certain that they've already consummated their marriage."

She smiled faintly: "But according to you, their relationship is good, and it's only a matter of time before they consummate their marriage and have a legitimate son."

Hongman nodded and said, "That's why the day before yesterday, Consort Duan went to the palace to ask the Empress Dowager to let Miss Yong'an enter the Prince An's mansion with the rites of a second wife, but the Empress Dowager did not agree."

Consort Xian smiled and stood up: "Alright, it's getting late, let's get settled."

"His Majesty, he..."

"Consort De will serve you."

Hongman pursed her lips and stopped trying to persuade Consort Xian.

The guard who went out to inquire about the street and spoke up for Zhu Yu in the blue cloth clothes at the Second Prince's residence has returned.

"How is it?" Zhu Heng gently stroked the jade pendant at his waist and asked in a low voice.

The guard respectfully replied, "Your Highness, this man is named Guo Shaoning. He is from Pingcheng and comes from a poor family. His parents were killed by the Northern Qi people when he was young, so he hates the Northern Qi people very much and admires Your Highness Prince An even more."

"However, his family's financial situation has improved a lot in the past two years because he has won the top two prizes in the provincial and metropolitan examinations. He is a very talented person and a hot candidate for the top prize in the spring examination next March."

"He has a great influence in Pingcheng and the surrounding prefectures, and most students from poor families follow him as their leader."

Zhu Heng nodded calmly: "Understood. Keep an eye on this person, and find a suitable opportunity for me to meet him."

The guards acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Lu Xiaoyun woke up before dawn and didn't sleep well that night.

Seeing that it was still dark outside, he asked Jiang Chuan and learned that Zhu Yu had been burning up all night yesterday. He couldn't stay in bed any longer, so he put on an outer coat and got up.

I glanced down at the ring that had been burning all night, but was no longer hot. -6234 points.

Consort Duan.

Oh!

"Jiang Chuan."

Jiang Chuan entered in response; this was probably the earliest the prince had gotten up since his injury.

When Jiang Chuan opened the door and came in, a gust of cold wind blew in, causing the bed curtains to sway gently.

He served Lu Xiaoyun as she washed up, being even more cautious and careful. The prince was no longer the same as before; he no longer possessed martial arts skills.

Jiang Chuan's eyes were slightly red, and he kept his head down, not daring to let the prince notice anything amiss.

Lu Xiaoyun glanced at him, assuming he was just worried about Feng Yan's health, and said nothing.

While helping Lu Xiaoyun change and wash up, Jiang Chuan said, "The Imperial Concubine cursed all night in Yunmei Garden last night, and her words were extremely offensive."

Lu Xiaoyun rolled up her sleeves and said, "Let her make a scene."

Jiang Chuan gave a soft "yes" and then said, "Among the people brought by the Imperial Concubine, two were planted by the Crown Prince and the Third Prince."

Lu Xiaoyun knew about this matter and had asked Feng Yan to investigate it earlier. He even asked her if she wanted to deal with those two people, but she didn't.