Although Shen Qing was concerned about his eldest son and daughter-in-law in the southwest, and his second son and daughter-in-law who had just taken up their post in Yangzhou, he was more worried about his daughter who was married in Kyoto and was about to become a widow.
Although Shen Qing didn't say it, how could Wan Jinlan not see the worry in her eyes.
After sitting in the garden for a while, the Duke of Zhenguo, who had gone out to meet friends, returned home.
Wan Jinlan followed his father to the study and asked him to help find someone with superb knife skills.
The Duke of Zhenguo did not agree with her acting on her own.
Wan Jinlan told her about Xiao Zheng coming to her to make a deal last night, and then said that she went to the palace today to inform the empress dowager.
"Father, I'm just making extra preparations." It's not her style to put all her hopes on others.
If the situation comes to a head and there is no other way, she will definitely ask someone to do it.
After thinking for a while, the Duke of Zhenguo nodded and said, "Leave it to me."
Wan Jinlan went to see his grandfather again before returning to Prince Qi's Mansion.
Checking on Xiao Feng's condition has become her daily routine. She is also used to cleaning him and feeding him porridge. The imperial physician's apprentice knows how to massage his legs, so she doesn't need to do it herself.
"Master, Jiang Huo is well now and wants to come and pay his respects to you." Chuntao came in from outside, holding a white jade bottle with flowers in it, and placed it on the table by the window.
Wan Jinlan put down the medical book in his hand and went to the hall.
Jiang Huo was Xiao Feng's subordinate. He parted ways with Xiao Feng because he was being hunted in Yangzhou. After returning home half a month ago, he has been recuperating from his injuries.
"I just have something for you to do."
Wan Jinlan only had two secret guards, assigned to her by her grandfather: Yu Song and An Xi. After An Xi recovered from his injuries, he went to Xuzhou to check on his brother Zhi Jing. As for Yu Song, he followed Xie Lao San to the southwest.
Jiang Huo asked respectfully, "What does the princess want me to do?"
Wan Jinlan said, "Go and keep an eye on Beigong's movements."
Jiang Huo took the order and withdrew.
Nine days passed in a flash, and Jiang Huo only reported back the news that someone was following Beigong.
Wan Jinlan was sleeping soundly at night when the noise from her hand woke her up.
This was not the first time that convulsions and vomiting of blood had occurred. Wan Jinlan put the medicine left by Yu Qi in front of Xiao Feng's nose, and then asked Chuntao to call Yu Qi.
The time intervals between Xiao Feng's attacks are getting shorter and shorter, and the medicine she has is taking longer and longer to work.
The lights were turned on, and Nanny Li and others arrived. Yu Qi and the imperial physician arrived shortly thereafter.
Xiao Feng was twitching continuously, veins on his forehead were throbbing, and he even groaned in pain.
"Princess, the poison is about to reach your heart!" The imperial physician was horrified.
Yu Qi, who was standing by, tried the method used in the Miao village to soothe the poisonous insects for a long time, but to no avail. The veins on Xiao Feng's neck were wriggling hideously, and Yu Qi was sweating profusely.
Wan Jinlan could naturally see the current appearance of the insect, which was twice as big as it was ten days ago, like a broad bean.
"Doctor Song, can you pierce the insect with a needle?"
Doctor Song was stunned. Yu Qi on the side waved his hands hurriedly and spoke in a strange official language, saying that the insect was very cunning. If the needle failed to hit its vital point, it would hide inside or resist, and the King of Qi would have no way out.
Wan Jinlan gritted his teeth and clenched the handkerchief tightly in his hand, looking at the imperial physician, "Can you delay it for another day?"
The imperial physician looked embarrassed, and finally said through gritted teeth: "I will try acupuncture, Princess, you may go out and wait." During this process, the King of Qi will surely be in extreme pain, so the princess should not watch.
Wan Jinlan went behind the screen, listened to Xiao Feng's unconscious hoarse cry of pain, and took a deep breath.
I wonder if the Queen Mother can send Princess Kangning away tomorrow.
This time, Xiao Feng felt pain for half an hour before he calmed down.
Wan Jinlan wiped the sweat off his body, looked at his unrecognizable face which was so thin, and fed him ginseng soup spoonful by spoonful.
By the time she fell asleep again, it was already the end of the hour of Chou.
He Yi had not fallen asleep for long when Chun Tao came in and woke her up, saying that Jiang Huo had returned.
Wan Jinlan woke up instantly, put on his cloak, and saw Jiang Huo in nightgown at the door.
"Princess, someone tried to move Princess Kangning today, but was discovered by the Royal Guards. Seeing that things were not going well, I hurried back to report."
Wan Jinlan clenched his fists.
The Queen Mother's actions were discovered!
Jiang Huo looked at Wan Jinlan's expression and asked, "Do you want me to go check it out again?"
Wan Jinlan shook his head, "No need."
How was the Queen Mother discovered?
Half an hour later, someone from the palace came to the gate of Prince Qi's mansion.
The emperor summoned Wan Jinlan into the palace.
When Wan Jinlan arrived at Taiji Palace, the empress dowager was also there, her face solemn and cold. A blind eunuch and an old nanny were kneeling in the hall.
The old nanny looked familiar; she was also from the Empress Dowager's palace.
"Wan, do you realize your mistake? You knew the truth but didn't report it, and you secretly interacted with the rebels! How is that different from treason?"
Emperor Jian'an's tone was so majestic and cold that it chilled Wan Jinlan to the bone.
She knelt with her eyes lowered, and was about to answer when the cup in the Queen Mother's hand made a crisp sound, making the air in the hall even more tense.
"I've said this, this matter was all done by me alone, and has nothing to do with Wan!" The empress dowager's hair was gray, but her back was straight, and her eyes were surprisingly sharp.
The Emperor said, "Madame Huang can prove that it was Wan who went to find the Queen Mother, and that's why the Queen Mother decided to rescue the rebel's wife from Kyoto."
The Queen Mother cast a disdainful glance at Nanny Huang, who was kneeling in the middle of the field. "How can you take the words of a traitorous slave seriously without the slightest evidence?"
Emperor Jian'an suppressed his anger and asked, "Then why couldn't the Queen Mother tell me in advance?"
"Your Majesty, you know now. Since you know, then tell me, Xiao Feng, your brother, will you save him or not?"
The Empress Dowager looked directly at the Emperor. The atmosphere between the two was not like that of mother and son, but rather like that of two enemies facing each other.
After a moment, Emperor Jian'an said, "Since the Prince of Guangling wants to rescue Princess Kangning, I naturally cannot hand her over like this. Mother, you must also consider the overall situation. If Brother Feng knew about this, he would definitely agree with my decision."
The Queen Mother's expression grew even colder. It was ridiculous that her son was so devoted to the Emperor, yet the Emperor didn't want to save him.
She knew the emperor would make this choice, so she decided to act on her own.
However, she did not expect that there was a traitor in her Ci'an Palace, and it was Nanny Huang who had followed her for nearly forty years. This lowly slave who betrayed her master had become the emperor's person at some point in time.
Wan Jinlan tried to minimize his presence as much as possible and listened to the confrontation between the two people above him.
"Ms. Wan, do you know your crime?" The emperor never thought of letting her go.
Of course Wan Jinlan refused to admit it. Her mother had already reminded her that there was no evidence at all, so what was she afraid of?
"I don't know what I have done wrong, nor do I know why this nanny would lie to me like this. I am innocent."
Emperor Jian'an's cold gaze fell on her back. Wan Jinlan knelt with her head on the ground, and a layer of cold sweat formed on her palms.
I don’t know if she can go home today.
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