Chapter 25 Behind the artificial rockery, his fingertips touched her lips, and...

"She's awake! The Empress Dowager is awake!" Mu Yunqi suddenly shouted excitedly.

Bai Xingzhi immediately stopped in his tracks.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the Empress Dowager had not only woken up, but her convulsions had also disappeared.

"General Qin, can you trust me now?" Gu Xi asked Qin Jianshan, who was only a few steps away from her.

Qin Jianshan looked at Gu Xi with a scrutinizing gaze. Although there was suspicion in his eyes, he did not make any further move to stop her.

"Your Majesty, I know some medical knowledge. May I ask you to treat the Empress Dowager?" Gu Xi looked up at Xiao Heng on the throne.

Xiao Heng hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Are you confident?"

Gu Xi nodded.

"Granted," Xiao Heng replied.

Having received permission, Gu Xi hurried towards the Empress Dowager. As she passed Consort Li, she heard her muttering, "Impossible... how could the candied fruit be poisonous..."

Gu Xi stopped in her tracks, took Li Pin's hand and said, "Sister Lu, don't be afraid, I can save you." She then gave her a reassuring look.

Seemingly not expecting Gu Xi to suddenly appear, Consort Li stared blankly at her at first. After understanding what she said, her eyelashes trembled, and her eyes were filled with hope.

Gu Xi came to the Empress Dowager's side and carefully examined the symptoms of poisoning, confirming that it was undoubtedly the Seven Poisons Powder.

"Miss! I've brought the medicine." Zhu Yin's voice came from outside the hall.

Gu Xi looked up and saw Zhu Yin being stopped outside the door by the Imperial Guards, holding a bottle of Rejuvenation Pills in her hand.

When the Empress Dowager vomited blood, she realized that she must have been poisoned, so she sent Zhuyin back to get medicine.

She had originally thought that if the Imperial Hospital could save her, she would never interfere. But now that things had come to this, she had no choice but to help. She didn't know who had poisoned her, but if the Empress Dowager died, it would be good if the poisoner could be found out. If not, Sister Lu would surely die. If she saved the Empress Dowager, perhaps she could plead for her and save her life.

“General Qin, the Empress Dowager cannot wait any longer.” Gu Xi looked intently at Qin Jianshan.

"Let her in," Qin Jianshan said.

Zhu Yin quickly came to Gu Xi's side and handed her the pills.

The Empress Dowager was currently in a semi-conscious state, her mind still unclear. Gu Xi used a small knife to cut the Empress Dowager's other wrist, then pressed her finger against the Empress Dowager's Tanzhong acupoint, forcing the Empress Dowager to vomit a mouthful of black blood. Finally, she used a silver needle to suppress the poison and then fed her a Rejuvenating Pill.

Finally, Gu Xi used a handkerchief to wipe the blood from the Empress Dowager's mouth, and then used a strip of cloth to bandage the wound that had just been cut.

After completing this series of actions, she felt a little tired and couldn't help but stop to catch her breath. Seeing this, Zhu Yin quickly helped her up.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager will regain consciousness in about half an incense stick's time," Gu Xi said to Xiao Heng.

"Consort Gu is tired, let's help her down to rest," Xiao Heng said.

Zhu Yin helped Gu Xi back to her seat. As Gu Xi passed by Bai Xingzhi, she noticed that he was looking at her with a complicated expression.

"Your Majesty, what should be done with Consort Li now?" Qin Jianshan questioned.

"I will hand this matter over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation. Consort Li will be confined to the Jiaofang Palace for now. If you are worried, Uncle, you can send troops to guard her," Xiao Heng said sarcastically. "These days, the Imperial Guards are still under your control, Uncle. Are you afraid she'll escape?"

Qin Jianshan didn't say anything more after hearing this.

After this incident, Gu Xicai realized that Xiao Heng's situation in the palace was not good, and she didn't know whether saving the Empress Dowager was a good thing or a bad thing for him.

Half an incense stick later, the Empress Dowager indeed woke up, her mind had returned to normal, but she was still somewhat weak.

Seeing this, Qin Jianshan softened his stance and agreed to let everyone in the main hall go back, but not to leave the palace. The officials had many complaints about this, but none of them dared to protest openly.

In the following days, the Ministry of Justice began an intensive investigation into the Empress Dowager's poisoning.

The ending was somewhat unexpected; the person who poisoned her was actually... Consort Wan?

Out of jealousy towards Consort Li, Consort Wan bribed the palace servants at the birthday banquet to poison the birthday gifts sent by Consort Li.

These past few days, Gu Xi was ordered to take care of the Empress Dowager's health. When she heard the investigation results at Cining Palace, she was truly surprised.

"Mother, Uncle, now that the investigation results are out, I wonder how you two plan to deal with Consort Wan?" Xiao Heng asked, taking the teacup from Qin Wanyu's hand.

"What else can be done? To murder the Empress Dowager is, of course, punishable by death!" Qin Jianshan said indignantly.

"Considering that she has served the Emperor for several years, let her be granted a length of white silk." The Empress Dowager said, leaning back slightly, her voice devoid of any emotion, but her eyes concealed a sinister glint.

"Then I wonder if Uncle could lift Li'er's confinement?" Xiao Heng said slowly.

“Of course,” Qin Jianshan said, his eyes gleaming.

"Then I will thank my uncle on behalf of Li'er." Xiao Heng's lips curled into a sarcastic smile.

Qin Jianshan was already losing face, but Xiao Heng didn't seem to have any intention of letting him off the hook.

"Then can those ministers who are currently living in the palace be sent back as well?"

"I leave it to His Majesty to decide!" Qin Jianshan replied awkwardly.

“Then I will not disturb the Empress Dowager any longer,” Xiao Heng suddenly turned his head and glanced at Gu Xi, who had been standing to the side. “This Consort Gu has been in Cining Palace for some time now, and it is time for her to return to Weiyang Palace.”

Gu Xi was surprised that Xiao Heng would suddenly mention her.

"Your Majesty, this girl has taken good care of me these past few days, and I would like to keep her for a few more days." She had indeed taken good care of her these past few days, but she had other reasons for wanting to keep her.

"It would be more appropriate to entrust the Empress Dowager's health to the Imperial Hospital," Xiao Heng insisted.

“The Emperor is right, so I won’t insist on keeping you,” the Empress Dowager said, changing her tune when she saw Xiao Heng’s insistence. “Then I’ll just have to trouble Gu Xi to make a few more trips every day to keep this old body of mine company.” She then looked at Gu Xi with a loving expression.

Gu Xi glanced at Xiao Heng and, seeing that he did not object, agreed.

After receiving permission, Gu Xi took her leave and returned to Weiyang Palace. Not long after, Xiao Heng and Qin Jianshan also asked to leave.

As Liu Mama watched Xiao Heng's departing figure, she asked, "Your Majesty, have you noticed that the Emperor has been visiting Cining Palace more frequently these past few days?"

"He doesn't care about my health at all," the Empress Dowager said coldly. She didn't believe that her poisoning had nothing to do with him.

"What is the Emperor doing?"

"It's because of Consort Gu," Qin Wanyu said definitively.

"You noticed it too? Don't you guys think she resembles someone?"

A face immediately appeared before Qin Wanyu's eyes: "The Empress Dowager is referring to... Consort Shu?"

“That’s right. If she hadn’t suddenly appeared that day, I wouldn’t have remembered her.” The Empress Dowager picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said calmly.

"No wonder the Emperor..." Qin Wanyu suddenly realized.

"Then could we make use of this Consort Gu?" Granny Liu suggested.

"That's true, but our emperor is no romantic at all," the Empress Dowager said sarcastically.

Qin Wanyu seemed to suddenly think of something and said, "Your Majesty, this servant has a plan..." Then she whispered a few words in the Empress Dowager's ear.

The Empress Dowager's eyes flashed: "Do it this way."

After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she picked up the teacup beside her and took a sip. Then, supported by Granny Liu and Qin Wanyu, she slowly walked towards the bedroom.

"Your Majesty, is Consort Wan really executed like this? Her father is still working for us, this..." Granny Liu hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

"Therefore, I cannot personally handle this matter."

"So, according to the Empress Dowager, she wants... Consort Xue?" Qin Wanyu asked tentatively.

"That's right. The two families already have a grudge. Adding this one more thing will only make them take their anger out on the Xue family in the future."

"The Empress Dowager is wise."

*

After leaving Cining Palace, Gu Xi walked slowly towards Weiyang Palace. Suddenly, she remembered that she hadn't seen Zhu Yin and the others for many days and wondered if they were worried about her, so she quickened her pace.

Just as she reached the vicinity of the rockery in the Imperial Garden, her arm was suddenly pulled forcefully behind the rockery. Gu Xi was startled and was about to shout when the person covered her mouth.

"It's me."

Gu Xi was embraced tightly, and the familiar scent of ambergris instantly filled her nose. Only when that familiar voice came from above her did she dare to confirm that the person in front of her was Xiao Heng.

Xiao Heng removed his hand from her mouth.

"Your Majesty?" Gu Xi looked up at Xiao Heng.

She didn't know why Xiao Heng had suddenly appeared here. She had seen him at Cining Palace every day for the past few days, but they hadn't exchanged a single word.

Gu Xi instinctively wanted to push Xiao Heng away.

But Xiao Heng didn't give her a chance, holding her tightly in his arms and whispering in her ear, "Don't move, someone's watching."

Gu Xi immediately stopped struggling.

Xiao Heng continued to whisper in her ear, "Wait for me tonight." His hot breath brushed against the back of her ear, making her shrink back uncomfortably.

Xiao Heng couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Have you missed me these past few days?" Xiao Heng looked intently at Gu Xi, the smile on his lips still lingering.

Gu Xi was taken aback. Had she been thinking about him? In the past few days, she had indeed often thought of Xiao Heng, his cold gaze in the main hall that day, and the sad expression on Consort Shu's face.

Unable to get a reply, Xiao Heng tightened his grip on her, as if to punish her.

"Do you have it?"

"No, Your Majesty, I'm very busy every day and don't have time to think about you," Gu Xi said, turning her face away.

Xiao Heng held Gu Xi's neck with one hand and turned her face back without saying a word. The two looked at each other for a moment.

His gaze lingered on her slightly parted lips, which opened and closed as she spoke, revealing a slightly moist lip line. His fingertips traced the soft shape of her lips repeatedly, and under his touch, they gradually became rosy, then even more luscious and tempting, making him want to pluck them.

Gu Xi blushed at his actions; the heat in his eyes seemed to burn her.

Xiao Heng's Adam's apple bobbed a few times, but he managed to hold back.

I was afraid of scaring her.

He stopped what he was doing and said in a hoarse voice, "Alright, go back now." Then he released her.

Having gained his freedom, Gu Xi staggered back a few steps and finally fled as if escaping.

A note from the author:

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The male lead is so good at flirting with the female lead! [laughing and crying emoji]