"Consort Shu..." Song Yue murmured the title repeatedly, a slow smile curving her lips as she thought to herself that Linghu Ning had succeeded.
Yun Dong and Amber exchanged glances, somewhat confused by their master's words.
It has been three days since the second prince of Southern Xinjiang was released.
The Second Prince's every move was still under Song Yue's watchful eye. Looking at the terrain map, she calculated how long it would take for Xuan Yuan Chen's men to find the Second Prince.
Since Xuanyuan Chen was poisoned, the border has been quiet for a few days.
May
Temperatures at the border are rising; it was already hot at midday. Standing in the sun for a while would make your cheeks flush and leave you with a thin layer of sweat.
At noon, General Shen personally came to report the news: "Xuanyuan Chen's men have found the Second Prince. Huo Xi rode at full speed, but he was still a step too late. However, Huo Xi is already in pursuit."
Whether or not the Second Prince can be intercepted before Xuanyuan Chen's men take him back to Japan depends on each person's abilities.
Song Yue's eyes sharpened: "Then I'll trouble General Shen to personally bring the Second Prince back."
General Shen was taken aback.
"We haven't left Northern Chu yet. General Shen, are you confident?"
"It's not difficult at all."
In just two days, General Shen knocked the second prince unconscious and brought him back, tied his hands and feet, and forced him to drink a sleeping potion, keeping him in a deep sleep.
The Japanese mistakenly believed that the people had been kidnapped from the southern border.
The people of Nanjiang believed that the Second Prince had been kidnapped by the Japanese. Upon hearing this, Huo Xi was furious and hated the Japanese to the core.
He vowed to personally take them back.
During this time, Xuanyuan Chen suffered another relapse, and the pain was so intense that he wanted to bang his head against the wall and even contemplated suicide. If the imperial physician hadn't restrained him and given him medicine in time, Xuanyuan Chen would probably have picked up a dagger and committed suicide.
"The potency of this medicine is unprecedented," the imperial physician muttered.
After waking up, Xuanyuan Chen pressed for details: "Where did this medicine come from?"
Since the second prince couldn't be found, the medicine shouldn't be available either.
"It was given by the Emperor."
"Royal brother?" Xuan Yuan Chen asked in confusion. How could his royal brother have a medicinal ingredient?
It wasn't until the imperial physician whispered, "The Consort Shu in the palace took the Bu Bu Sheng Lian a few years ago. Although it wasn't much, it was better than nothing and could temporarily suppress the Gu poison in the Fourth Prince's body."
Xuanyuan Chen's brows furrowed so deeply they seemed to knot together, and he suddenly thought of Linghu Ning: "Is this why my brother made that woman a concubine?"
The imperial physician remained silent.
"Foolish!" Xuan Yuan Chen said helplessly.
After being scolded for being confused, the Japanese emperor went to Jingyang Palace after court. Every time he went there, he would see Linghu Ning holding a bowl of medicine and taking small sips of it, her beautiful brows furrowed.
"Your Highness, why don't you take a rest?" The palace maid couldn't bear to see it anymore; there were already several empty bowls on the table.
Linghu Ning took a deep breath, drank the tonic in her hand in one gulp, and then quickly picked up a candied fruit and stuffed it into her mouth. Before she could even open her mouth, blood welled up under her nose. She reached out and touched it, then hastily took out a handkerchief to wipe it.
"Your Majesty, you are too weak to take such nourishing supplements. This won't do for you," the palace maid advised.
Linghu Ning shook her head: "My body is too weak and I need to strengthen it. Once I'm stronger, I can be used as medicine for the Emperor."
"But……"
"Is there any more tonic for today?"
The palace maid shook her head: "No, that's all."
Linghu Ning breathed a sigh of relief, lowered her head and sniffed: "I have an unpleasant medicinal smell on me, do you have a sachet to cover it up?"
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, what fragrance do you like?"
"Crabapple blossoms, perhaps."
The palace maid nodded: "I'll go to the flower room to get some crabapple blossoms in a bit, and then arrange some fresh flowers to put in the vase, how about that?"
Linghu Ning's eyes lit up: "Can I pick them myself? I'm cooped up in the house all day long, I want to go out for some fresh air."
"But your body can't stand the wind."
Linghu Ning's face fell, and she lowered her eyes pitifully.
The Emperor of Japan witnessed this scene, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face. He turned his head and looked at Jingyang Palace, which was indeed bare and had no scenery.
He pointed to the open space on both sides: "Give the order to plant these two crabapple trees."
The young eunuch nodded: "Yes."
The Emperor of Dongying hesitated for a moment, then pushed open the door and went inside. Linghu Ning looked up, surprised and delighted at the visitor: "Your Majesty has come to see me!"
Seeing the childlike smile on Linghu Ning's face, he couldn't help but smile as well. He nodded and asked someone to bring over a large box. When the box was opened, it revealed a collection of rare and exotic antiques.
Linghu Ning got up and walked towards the Emperor of Dongying. After taking a few steps, she frowned and gasped. A palace maid quickly stepped forward to support her: "Your Majesty, your wound has not yet healed. Please walk slowly."
"Alright." Linghu Ning slowed her pace, looking at the Emperor of Dongying with a smile in her eyes. The Emperor of Dongying bent down and sat down, patting his thigh. Linghu Ning grinned and sat on his lap, hooking one arm around his neck: "Your Majesty, I missed you so much."
"I've been busy these past few days, but I'll come to see you whenever I have a spare moment." The Emperor of Dongying spoke gently, his eyes softening as he smelled the strong medicinal scent emanating from her.
Linghu Ning withdrew her hand and instead held and played with the Emperor of Dongying's hand: "Your Majesty, could you allow me to go out for some fresh air?"
"You've fully recovered."
"Could you please get me some little rabbits? I'm feeling really bored."
Faced with Linghu Ning's request, the Emperor of Dongying agreed without hesitation: "I will have someone send it to you tomorrow."
Linghu Ning thanked him happily, her eyes darting around. The Emperor of Dongying smiled: "Anything else?"
"I drink bitter medicine every day, and my mouth feels both astringent and numb. I heard that Consort Xian has a chef who is extremely skilled at cooking. Could you lend him to me for two days?"
The Japanese emperor hesitated for a moment.
"Otherwise, sending some food would be fine too." Linghu Ning changed her mind, pulling on the Emperor of Dongying's hand and acting coquettishly, her fingertips tracing across his hand.
The Emperor of Dongying grasped her restless little hand: "That's not difficult. I'll have Consort Xian send the person over in a moment."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Linghu Ning's smile deepened. After chatting for a while, she yawned sleepily and rested her head on the Emperor's shoulder. Soon, her even breathing could be heard.
The Emperor of Japan frowned and looked at the palace maid, who explained, "Consort Shu sleeps for three to five hours during the day."
"So long?"
"Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that the Empress is frail and therefore sleeps for long periods of time."
The Emperor of Dongying silently picked her up and placed her on the couch. Gazing at her beautiful face, he sighed deeply. If it weren't for the fact that Linghu Ning had only consumed the Step-by-Step Sacred Lotus when she was five years old, he would have suspected that this was a setup.
Linghu Ning's Step-by-Step Sacred Lotus was picked by General Linghu from the border to protect her health. She had a tragic fate since childhood, suffering from a weakness she was born with.
After watching for a while, the Emperor of Japan straightened up: "Go to Consort Xian's palace!"
After the person left, all was quiet.
The person on the bed opened their eyes; their innocence and naivety were long gone, replaced only by endless resentment and mockery.
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