Chapter 68 Chapter 68 "Can you draw eyebrows?"

Xu Qing'an raised his hand to signal the palace maid to stop talking, and also stopped him from going to call the imperial physician.

"It's nothing serious. The weather has been hot lately, so it's inevitable that your body will be hot. There's no need to go see a doctor for this."

"Can……"

The palace maid looked worriedly at the young man with a bright red spot under his nose. He looked weak and fragile, like white porcelain. But he took out a square handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped it with a calm and careful movement but a casual look.

Seeing him smile, the palace attendant said, "Nosebleeds aren't a big deal. You've probably seen this happen many times before, right? But why do you always call a doctor? Do you just want to stop the bleeding?"

The palace people thought Xu Qing'an was right.

Nosebleed is not a serious symptom, it can even be considered a common occurrence. If nosebleed is the only symptom at the same time, most of the time it is just a matter of stopping the bleeding as he said. It is very rare to ask a doctor to treat this symptom.

Besides, the man said, "Mr. Zhang also needs to have a good rest, so don't bother him with this."

The palace maid was unable to influence his thoughts and could only agree in a low voice.

——

Although Zhang Fan was out of danger and awake, he still felt weak in his legs. Xun Yang and the imperial doctors had tried many methods in the past few days, including decoctions, medicines, and acupuncture, but with little effect.

This morning, after Xun Yang finished giving Zhang Fan an acupuncture, he took the opportunity to chat with Xu Qingan while packing up.

"Mr. Zhang's leg might be..." Xun Yang hesitated, then said, "The brain is the seat of the soul, so Mr. Zhang's leg isn't the problem. However, the injury is too severe. Saving his life is already a struggle. We shouldn't do anything provocative right now."

Xu Qing'an could roughly understand what Xun Yang meant.

Zhang Fan's current foot injury is due to the sequelae of the previous severe head impact. Therefore, according to convention, repair should start from where the problem occurred. However, Zhang Fan was injured in the head, and the lesion site is inherently fragile. Any slight mistake in the repair process will easily disturb the soul and add new symptoms. That's why Xun Yang said, "Don't do any other stimulating things."

Xu Qing'an pondered. He was familiar with Xun Yang's medical skills. If Xun Yang could say such an almost absolute statement, he knew that Zhang Fan's leg condition was not optimistic.

He whispered, "Well, I understand. You are a master, so everything will be done according to your plan."

Xun Yang nodded, having an idea, and asked, "Should you report Mr. Zhang's condition to the person in Lizheng Palace? Or should you let the Imperial Hospital report it directly?"

"I'll go and talk to you."

"Um."

"By the way," Xun Yang was stopped by Xu Qing'an just as he took a step forward. "Now that you are free, please take my pulse."

Xun Yang's eyes gradually widened, but the look in the man's eyes was clearly sincere, as if those words were spoken from the heart.

This is really strange. As far as Xun Yang is concerned, this seems to be the first time in four years that Xu Qing'an has taken the initiative to have his pulse taken.

So he immediately asked, "What's wrong with you? Are you angry again?"

Xu Qing'an shook his head, his voice still low. "No, I just feel a little strange. From the time Zhang Gong was injured until today, I've had nosebleeds three times in just three days. I didn't take it too seriously the first two times, but the third time I felt something was wrong."

Before Xun Yang finished listening, he had already pushed Xu Qing'an to sit down and grabbed his wrist to feel his pulse.

Xun Yang frowned.

"What's going on?" Xu Qing'an watched closely.

However, this time, Xun Yang's brows remained furrowed. "I told you before that your pulse was irregular. It had improved for a while, but now it's irregular again."

"But is it related to the remaining poison?" Xu Qing'an asked.

Xun Yang pondered and said, "It's hard to say. There are too many factors affecting you these days. Maybe it's because Mr. Zhang was injured that you were affected. Maybe it's because you've been guarding Mr. Zhang day and night and your energy has been depleted. Or maybe it's..."

"What else could it be?" Xu Qing'an asked.

Xun Yang sighed slightly, looked up at him, and said, "Perhaps the residual poison has been in your body for too long and has finally penetrated into your lungs."

Xu Qing'an's breathing became heavier for a moment.

Xun Yang said, "However, we haven't confirmed what the situation is. The current symptoms are not too serious, so there is no need to worry too much. I will think of a way to help you stay calm first. You can discuss other matters after my master prepares the medicine for the next detoxification."

Xu Qing'an sighed: "This should be the fourth time..."

The fourth time of detoxification.

Xun Yang nodded: "Yes, the next time will be the fourth time."

I remember Xu Fengyi said during the third detoxification that each detoxification is like scraping bones to heal a wound. Every time, regardless of whether it is successful or not, the human body will be worn out. Therefore, if the poison cannot be completely removed, the body will eventually become weak. Even if the poison does not increase the body weight at that time, the person will eventually be unable to resist the erosion of the poison due to his own consumption.

This is also the reason why the time interval between each detoxification of Xu Qing'an is extended, in order to give the body time to recover after detoxification.

The first time was three months, the second time was a year, and the third time has been almost three years.

It is conceivable how much damage each detoxification process causes to the human body, and how long it will take for a person to recover. And if the fourth time fails... then judging from the extent of the damage to the body caused by detoxification and the time interval between the fourth time, Xu Qing'an has no idea whether the fifth detoxification process will come first or the remaining poison will corrode the internal organs first.

Xu Qing'an pondered for a moment and said softly, "Well, if there's anything you need my cooperation with during that time, just let me know in time."

Xun Yang looked up instantly, and after a moment, he replied, "Okay," and then said, "Actually, there's nothing special to pay attention to. Just remember to take the medicine I gave you on time, and don't worry too much. Especially since you've been accompanying Mr. Zhang these days, you should pay more attention to rest."

Xu Qing'an nodded: "Okay, I understand."

Xun Yang couldn't give a completely sure answer to Xu Qing'an's current condition, and seeing the worry on his face again, Xun Yang had to swallow back many words.

But on the bright side, he has now started to pay attention to his body and is more concerned about his condition, which will ultimately be beneficial to his subsequent detoxification.

——

As night fell, Xu Qing'an pushed open the door to the bedroom of Lizheng Palace. He walked slowly and silently towards the Arhat couch on the side of the palace.

Shangguan Xu sat there with his eyes closed and his forehead supported, not knowing how long he had been waiting there.

"Your Majesty..."

At a soft call, Shangguan Xu slowly opened his eyes, curved his lips and smiled at the visitor, but he could not hide his tiredness.

Xu Qing'an had a worried look on his face, and said softly, "I've said before that Your Majesty isn't very energetic at night. Why don't you go to bed early? We can always find another time to discuss things."

As if feeling his words were too naive and his ideas too good to be true, Shangguan Xu smiled helplessly, "Other times are not as convenient as nighttime. You constantly coming in and out of my bedroom in broad daylight will only attract gossip. Just look at how long we've been together. Someone with an eye for detail would easily notice what we're planning to do together."

He ignored her words: "But it's not good for your health if you don't rest well, madam."

Shangguan Xu raised her eyes and looked at him for a moment. He had really been more concerned about her recently.

Even after thinking about it carefully, he was aware of his concern for her in his various expressions and actions, but it was always hidden inside. It had never been as passionate and unconcealed as it was today.

After she looked at him, he looked at her calmly for a few breaths, then shifted his gaze to look elsewhere, finally stopping at one side of the hall.

"Why not go to the side room? When I saw Her Majesty in the side room that night, I felt that Her Majesty was in better spirits. I think perhaps in Her Majesty's mind, the side room is a place where she can relax her body and mind more, and thus can make Her Majesty feel better."

Shangguan Xu watched him look at the concubine and then turned back to speak to her.

She did feel more relaxed physically and mentally in the side room. This was not only because of the portrait, but also a habit she developed when she lived in Lizheng Hall in her early years.

Shangguan Xu agreed to his proposal.

——

In the side room, Shangguan Xu sat on the beauty couch, watching the man skillfully press the incense ash and refill the orchid incense in the incense burner.

Tonight, because she had no intention of going to the side room, the scrolls and incense in the side room were not opened or lit, and what he was doing now was what he said himself, not what she asked.

Shangguan Xu held up his forehead and looked at him, seeing that his back was broad and straight, and his posture was as upright as a pine tree. After looking at him for a long time, he felt that he now had the air of a gentleman as elegant as jade and bamboo.

"Why did you choose the orchid fragrance directly without even asking if I wanted to smoke the peony fragrance?"

Xu Qing'an was stunned by the words behind him.

Shangguan Xu took a look, then raised his eyes and continued to look at his cheek.

But since his back was facing away from her, she couldn't actually see his face.

Xu Qing'an said in a normal voice, "I saw the orchid fragrance that Your Majesty had used the last time I came, so I didn't ask any more questions this time." But he then asked, "Have you ever thought about why Prime Minister Su happened to be so focused on the aristocratic families this time?"

Shangguan Xu didn't think too much about whether he was deliberately changing the subject, and his previous answer made sense, and what he mentioned later was also what she was concerned about.

Shangguan Xu said, "I've thought about it, and I think it's quite coincidental. Not only is it coincidental that he's focused on the aristocratic family, but the timing is also coincidental. Everything he does seems to be just to get ahead of me."

"How many people know about the Empress's original plan for the family?"

"Before today, no one in the court knew about this except you and me."

Their eyes locked, and Shangguan Xu continued, "Outside the court, those who know about this are the new forces I want to win over."

Xu Qing'an repeated the gesture of sending incense seals: "If I remember correctly, some of the noble families in the procession this time were once friendly with the Shangguan family."

"Yes," Shangguan Xu did not hide it, "but I haven't had much private contact with them in recent years, and Su Wang has always cared about the aristocratic families, so perhaps that's why a few of them defected."

Xu Qing'an lit the incense, closed the incense burner, and turned to her. "Ever since Lord Shangguan was alive, the Shangguan family has always adhered to the principle of following the Lord's example. We can make close friends, but we will never form cliques or engage in self-serving activities. We have clear boundaries. Your Highness follows Lord Shangguan's way of life, so the so-called defections of several families have nothing to do with you."

He walked towards her and naturally sat down on the side of the beauty bed. He looked at her without moving his eyes. He said, "It's just because they are driven by profit."

"So," Xu Qing'an lowered his eyes and thought carefully, "perhaps it was these few noble families that Your Majesty once thought were on good terms who sensed Your Majesty's intentions the moment she made a move and leaked her plans. This is how Prime Minister Su got the news in advance and, hoping to get there first, snatched the victory over Your Majesty at the Shuo Dynasty."

Shangguan Xu pondered, "I think so too, so I've sent people to investigate these past few days. Then, by cooperating with those emerging forces to launch a counter-espionage plan, perhaps we can break this situation. Those old factions who have defected to Su Wang have a lot of leverage over them."

Xu Qing'an: "Yes, my people happen to be doing the same thing. When they join forces with the Empress, the destruction of the old guard won't be far away."

Shangguan Xu felt a sense of satisfaction and peace of mind after hearing this, as if a huge rock had fallen from his chest. He suddenly closed his eyes and sighed, "That couldn't be better."

Xu Qing'an only cared about her eyes which were closed due to fatigue. He put his arm around her shoulders and let her lie on his legs.

Shangguan Xu also did not show any resistance.

She noticed his fingertips touching her eyebrows gently, and asked in a mysterious way, "Can you draw eyebrows?"