Chapter 320 The Storm is Coming
Shen Yuexi and Xiao Zhuo discussed that they originally wanted her to fake her death, and Xiao Zhuo would act like he was too sad to fall ill in bed, so as to force the enemy to make their next move.
But before this plan could be implemented, three things happened in succession and the plan had to be delayed.
First, on the morning of the second day after Shen Yuexi sent the queen away, Madam Li and the Qiang Lin couple returned to Shengjing after their wedding in the north, and entered Prince An's mansion with music and dance.
It was not yet the time for Shen Yuexi to "die of poisoning", so she had to welcome the newlyweds with Xiao Zhuo.
While everyone was talking, Madam Li learned that the Queen had been here and brought an imperial edict to restore her title. She was so excited that she cried and laughed. She took Shen Yuexi's hand and asked why the Queen left in such a hurry, when there was clearly an edict that had not been given, and why she did not stay in Shengjing for two more days.
Without waiting for Shen Yuexi to answer, Madam Li pulled Li Wan to catch up with Queen Wen's convoy.
Queen Wen had only been gone for less than a day, and if they chased after her, they might be able to catch up with her.
Qiang Lin was in a dilemma. He was from the Western Rong region and was not suitable to go to the capital. Shen Yuexi was also worried. Since the other party had poisoned her, it would be too dangerous for Madam Li and her daughter to go to the capital.
However, for Lady Li, the Emperor Ming of Qi's decree to restore her former status was a great joy. She would not listen to anyone and insisted on going no matter what.
Everyone was scratching their heads when Ji Yunyan came over from Xiliang, bringing gifts from Queen Meidai.
After Mei Dai and Shen Lan returned to Xiliang, they learned of Shen Yuexi's pregnancy and wanted to visit her. However, King Duoma of the Western Rong had already won the civil war, gained the support of a large number of soldiers, and was leading his army to attack Nanping City. Mei Dai and Shen Lan were forced to personally travel to Nanping to stop the Western Rong attack. After several battles in Nanping, the Western Rong army temporarily retreated, prompting Mei Dai to send Ji Yunyan to visit Shen Yuexi as the Queen's special envoy.
Shen Yuexi was very happy to see Ji Yunyan and made a request to Ji Yunyan: ask her to lead 500 cavalry to escort Madam Li and her daughter to the capital.
Madam Li was away when Empress Wen brought the decree. They couldn't call Empress Wen back, so Madam Li had to go to the capital herself. With Ji Yunyan, a top expert, escorting her, they could rest easy.
Ji Yunyan agreed and was about to go out by car with Madam Li and her daughter when Hua Duoduo's wife came to see Shen Yuexi in person. When she saw Shen Yuexi, she burst into tears and told her that Hua Duoduo and Doctor Hua and his son had gone to a village south of Shengjing for a medical consultation a few days ago and had not returned yet.
Hua Duoduo's wife was waiting anxiously, so she sent the men from Shenghetang to the village to inquire, only to find out that Dr. Hua and Hua Duoduo had left the village two days ago.
Doctor Hua and his son left the village and could return home that same day. However, two days passed without a trace of them, as if they had vanished without a trace.
Hua Duoduo's wife was just an ordinary woman, without any special abilities. She knew that Shen Yuexi had helped Doctor Hua and his son, so she went to Shen Yuexi in person out of desperation.
Things happened one after another, and Shen Yuexi felt dizzy.
Although Doctor Hua was not from a prominent family, he had a very close relationship with her. When she and Xiao Zhuo arrived in Daliang Village, it was Doctor Hua who cured Xiao Zhuo's arrow wound, otherwise Xiao Zhuo would have died at that time.
This is a benefactor, we must not ignore him.
She was comforting Hua Duoduo's wife when Xiao Zhuo said, "Yuexi, don't worry. I'll send Feng Zhang to find out the whereabouts of Doctor Hua."
Chen Yuexi suddenly had an idea and said to Qiang Lin, "Your Majesty..."
Qiang Lin's tracking ability is unmatched, so he can be asked to assist Xiao Zhuo in tracking the whereabouts of Doctor Hua and his son.
Her calling him "king" made Qiang Lin's face turn green. He said to Shen Yuexi, "Although I have already broken the oath with the princess, if the princess has any instructions, just follow them as before. Don't call me king."
Shen Yuexi reacted quickly and immediately changed her words: "Cousin-in-law."
"Why."
"I have a favor to ask of you. Help my husband track down the whereabouts of Dr. Hua and his son, and then report back to me."
Qiang Lin agreed.
Everyone split up. Ji Yunyan and Madam Li, mother and daughter, were escorted to the capital by cavalry. Qiang Lin escorted them fifteen miles east of the city. After bidding Li Wan a fond farewell, Qiang Lin and Feng Zhang went south of Shengjing to investigate the whereabouts of Doctor Hua and his son.
Xiao Zhuo went to reorganize the 8,000 defenders in Shengjing.
Since the other party dared to poison Shen Yuexi, they obviously wouldn't stop there. Something big might happen next. Currently, the 30,000-strong An Wang army is still within Jingzhou territory, heading towards Shengjing under Qiu Liming's leadership. It's clear they won't be back for at least ten days or half a month. If an enemy attacks, they'll still need to rely on these 8,000 soldiers.
Shen Yuexi ate and drank in the palace, sitting back and enjoying herself.
That afternoon, Qiang Lin and Feng Zhang returned and told Shen Yuexi, "We inquired with the people in the villages south of the city and then traced the route. We discovered that Doctor Hua's carriage had turned midway and headed towards Zhongzhou. There were many horse hoof prints around the carriage, indicating the presence of dozens of horses."
"You went to Zhongzhou?"
Shen Yuexi was puzzled. What could possibly be going on in Zhongzhou that warranted a special visit to Doctor Hua and his son?
Besides, even if we were to ask Doctor Hua to come, there was no need to ask Hua Duoduo to come as well. Hua Duoduo's medical skills were far inferior to Doctor Hua's.
She thought the two might have encountered bandits and asked, "Were they kidnapped by bandits?"
Qiang Lin said, "It doesn't seem like it. I carefully examined the wheel tracks and found no signs of a fight, nor any traces of blood."
Shen Yuexi reminded: "Doctor Hua and the others don't know martial arts. Maybe there were too many people on the other side, so they didn't dare to resist."
Feng Zhang interrupted, "Master, I'm responsible for the security around Shengjing. If there were such a large group of bandits, the villagers would have come to me to report it. We have very good security here."
Qiang Lin said, "Princess, Doctor Hua and his son went to the village together to see a doctor. Could it be that the other party is not looking for Doctor Hua, but for Hua Duoduo?"
This sentence reminded Shen Yuexi, and Shen Yuexi slapped her forehead and said, "I remember, Xiao Beiheng."
Hua Duoduo once pretended to be an immortal teacher, and Xiao Beiheng believed that Hua Duoduo could exorcise evil spirits for him. However, Empress Wen once told her that Xiao Beiheng was now unable to sleep at night.
Now all the clues matched up. Why was he looking for Hua Duoduo? Why was the carriage heading to Zhongzhou?
Shen Yuexi immediately called Xia Lan over and instructed, "Send a fast horse to catch up with Madam Li and her group. Tell Sister Ji that when she arrives in Zhongzhou, she should first see if she can find the whereabouts of Doctor Hua and Hua Duoduo from Xiao Beiheng. If they are indeed being detained by Xiao Beiheng, rescue Doctor Hua and his son."
Ji Yunyan was free to come and go wherever she went, so she was the only one who could do this. Xiao Beiheng took Doctor Hua and his son away, apparently to have Hua Duoduo exorcise the evil spirit for him. This matter was quite urgent.
Xia Lan took the order and left. Shen Yuexi then said to Qiang Lin, "Brother-in-law, the situation isn't looking good right now. Go back and reorganize the army. You might be of use soon."
Qiang Lin asked, "Could it be that Xiao Beiheng is going to attack us?"
"I'm not quite sure yet," Shen Yuexi was also not entirely sure, "but it's always a good idea to prepare for a rainy day."
Qiang Lin also obeyed the order and left.
Shen Yuexi glanced at the time. Thirteen hours had passed since she drank the medicine yesterday. It was almost time for the poison to take effect.
She didn't bother, just fell onto the bed, closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Just as she was sleeping soundly, a maid came into the room to bring her some ginseng soup. Seeing her lying on the bed, she put the ginseng soup down and said, "Master, drink the soup."
Shen Yuexi said nothing. She had already eaten a full meal at noon and couldn't drink the ginseng soup.
The maid called out several times, and seeing that Shen Yuexi was abnormally unwilling to get up, she hurried to the bed to check. Seeing that Shen Yuexi had her eyes closed and was motionless, she quickly pushed her shoulders twice.
"Master, Master, what's wrong with you?"
Shen Yuexi still remained silent.
The maid patted Shen Yuexi's face again, but still didn't respond. She took two steps back in fright, stepped on her skirt and fell. She stood up and ran out, shouting, "Oh no! The master has fainted! Sister Xia Lan, come quickly... Someone, go and call the prince!"
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