Chapter 181 What she wanted was never an apology.

Yuanbao reported everything that had happened at the entrance of the Prince's mansion to the two people in the study.

After listening, Shen Qingci simply responded with a faint "yes".

Chu Jichen turned his head and looked at her calm expression, his eyes smiling as he said, "Qingqing, you did this on purpose, didn't you?"

“Deliberately…proposing such harsh conditions.” His voice was full of understanding and approval, “all so that the mother and daughter…would completely drift apart.”

A slight smile slowly curved the corners of Shen Qingci's lips.

"Yes," she did not deny it, "Your Highness guessed my intentions in an instant."

“Liu Ruolan was spoiled since childhood, and she is arrogant and disdainful of others. To make her kneel down and kowtow to me, the person she despises the most, in front of the entire capital, and to post a letter of repentance and confess her crimes... this is more painful for her than killing her.”

"There is absolutely no way she would agree to that."

“But if she doesn’t agree, I won’t hand over the ‘antidote.’ To save her husband, the Prime Minister’s wife will definitely try every means to force her. One is unwilling, and the other is forcing her…” A hint of sarcasm flashed in Shen Qingci’s eyes. “Tell me, can this mother and daughter still be of one mind?”

"The reason why Liu Ruolan was able to bully me so recklessly before was simply because she was the daughter of the Prime Minister, and because of this status, she could bring endless benefits to Huo Yunzhan."

"But once she loses her loyalty to the Prime Minister's Mansion, once something happens to Liu Wenyuan... she will lose her support, and how will that greedy beast Huo Yunzhan treat her?"

"At that time, she will become a tiger with its teeth and claws pulled out, and it will be much easier to deal with her."

Shen Qingci's gaze turned fierce in an instant.

What she wanted was never Liu Ruolan's few perfunctory apologies.

What she wanted was for Liu Ruolan to lose everything and experience all the suffering she had endured in her previous life!

She wanted to make Liu Ruolan suffer a hundred times, a thousand times, more than she had in her previous life!

She thought to herself, but didn't say these words aloud. Instead, she changed the subject and looked at Chu Jichen: "By the way, Your Highness. Didn't we send out quite a few people to pretend to be searching for a miracle doctor who could cure your leg in order to deceive Liu Wenyuan and Emperor Yongming?"

"Now, this is just right, it has come in handy."

"We can take this opportunity to change our search for a miracle doctor to cure our legs to a master of detoxification."

Chu Jichen's eyes lit up instantly.

Shen Qingci looked at him, her eyes gleaming with wisdom, her thoughts crystal clear: "Currently, on the surface, you and Liu Wenyuan are both suffering from a strange poison and are unconscious. Emperor Yongming has temporarily taken over the administration of the court."

"He finally regained power, and he will definitely do everything he can to consolidate his position and eliminate his rivals. I don't want his fire to spread to us."

“So,” a hint of cunning crept into her voice, “we can spread the word that the Prince’s Palace has found a reclusive master who can cure the strange poison in Your Highness’s body. However… this master is eccentric and unwilling to leave his secluded place of cultivation, so Your Highness must… personally visit him for treatment.”

"It would be best to take this a step further and to a different angle."

"At that time, I can legitimately enter the palace and ask His Majesty for an imperial decree to allow us... to take the unconscious prince away from the capital for medical treatment."

"Although Emperor Yongming wished the prince would die immediately, he had only recently assumed power and his foundation was not yet secure, so he had to maintain appearances. Faced with such a reasonable request from his uncle for medical treatment due to his serious illness, he would surely grant it, even if it was just to silence public opinion."

"In this way, we can pretend to leave the capital, while in reality... we can hide in the shadows and quietly watch what kind of wonderful show will unfold in the capital next."

After listening, Chu Jichen looked at her eyes, which shone with scheming, and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Qingqing's plan is brilliant!" His eyes were full of undisguised admiration and doting. "Alright, everything will be done as you say."

Shen Qingci's plan was immediately put into practice.

The next morning, Yuanbao had already arranged everything and came to report back.

"Your Highness, everything is settled!" His voice carried a hint of excitement. "I have found the most suitable candidate! It is none other than Physician Li's master, the renowned physician known as the Ghost Hand and the Heartless Elder!"

"Elder Yao is now over eighty years old and has long since retired. He lives in Medicine Valley outside Bright Moon City, hundreds of miles from the capital. He is quite old and has a strange temper. He is unwilling to leave Medicine Valley, which... just meets our requirements!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci nodded in satisfaction.

Without further delay, she changed into her royal court dress, prepared her carriage, and entered the palace again.

...

Inside the Taiji Hall, Emperor Yongming looked down at the woman who was earnestly pleading for a cure for her husband, his face so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.

In his heart, he naturally wished that Chu Jichen would die suddenly.

But now, he has just regained imperial power, the situation in the court is unstable, and the old fox Liu Wenyuan is still unknown.

If he were to kill Chu Jichen right now, not only would it give Chu Jichen ammunition to criticize him, but it might also... force Chu Jichen's men to act desperately.

Sending him away from Beijing to "seek medical treatment" was indeed a good choice.

After all, that poison might not be curable, and it might not be... easy to cure.

Once Chu Jichen truly recovers from the poison and returns, perhaps... he will have already completely seized control of the court!

Furthermore, he could also arrange for people to "escort" him along the way and keep a close eye on Chu Jichen's situation.

If it's absolutely necessary... it wouldn't be difficult to keep him "in a coma" for a while longer.

Thinking of this, Emperor Yongming finally nodded slowly, forcing a compassionate expression on his face.

"My imperial uncle has worked tirelessly for the country, and now he is afflicted with a serious illness. I am heartbroken."

"Now that we have found a divine healer, then... it is approved."

He had barely finished speaking when he immediately added, his voice filled with an undeniable "concern": "However, Your Majesty's journey is long and arduous. Without a capable protector by your side, I... am uneasy."

“Alright then,” he decided, “I will dispatch a special team of palace guards to escort you, my uncle and my princess, along the way, to ensure your safe journey.”

Send the Imperial Guard?

Ostensibly an escort mission, but in reality... surveillance!

Shen Qingci sneered inwardly, but on the surface she appeared extremely grateful. She bowed gracefully, her voice filled with just the right amount of excitement and sobs: "Your Majesty is benevolent! This humble woman... this humble woman, on behalf of the Prince, kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your divine grace!"

She knew that Emperor Yongming was still uneasy.

However, it doesn't matter.

Since she dared to propose leaving Beijing, she must have already thought of a solution.

Having accepted the favor, Shen Qingci did not linger any longer and turned to leave the Taiji Hall.

But as soon as she stepped out of the palace gate and reached the corner of the palace road, she happened to run into the Prime Minister's wife, who was also hurrying towards the Taiji Palace.

The two locked eyes, and the air instantly filled with the invisible glint of swords.

Shen Qingci quickly understood the purpose of the Prime Minister's wife's trip.

Presumably, the physicians in the manor were helpless against the poison that Liu Wenyuan had been given, and she had nowhere else to turn. So she came to ask Emperor Yongming to intervene and issue an edict to force her to hand over the antidote.

A cold smile slowly curved Shen Qingci's lips.

Instead of avoiding her, she... simply went straight to meet her.