Chapter 306 Events from Twenty-Three Years Ago (by Linglang)
A flash of malice appeared in Yunxiu's eyes, and her slender fingers tightened suddenly, as if she were strangling an enemy. She gritted her teeth and said, "I wish I could strangle that bitch to death right now! May she never be reincarnated!"
Upon hearing this, Linglang's gaze suddenly turned cold, her tone filled with disappointment and scrutiny: "You're so impatient, always shouting for violence. Your personality is nothing like mine."
Upon hearing this, Yunxiu felt as if she had been strangled and couldn't breathe, with only her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
The fierce and malevolent look on her face was replaced by panic and fear.
She quickly lowered her eyelashes, concealing all the emotions in her eyes, and clenched her sleeves tightly with both hands. When she looked up again, a fawning, timid smile had appeared on her face, and her voice had softened: "Mother... I know I was wrong. I was confused by anger and spoke without thinking."
She cautiously approached, took Shu Linglang's arm, and whispered a promise: "I will listen to my mother and will be careful in my words and deeds in the future, and will never be reckless again."
Linglang silently scrutinized her for a moment, her gaze deep and unfathomable, making Yunxiu feel a chill run down her spine and almost unable to maintain her smile.
Just as Yunxiu was about to give up, Shu Linglang suddenly raised her hand and tapped her forehead lightly with her knuckles, saying indulgently, "Remember what you just said. Go down and don't think nonsense anymore."
Yunxiu quickly replied "Yes" and obediently withdrew.
Her mother retreated from the hall, her heart pounding with fear and lingering dread. She hurried along the corridor with her head down, nearly bumping into someone's arms.
"Ouch."
She exclaimed in surprise, looked up, and saw a gentle-looking man with an elegant demeanor; it was none other than her father, Yun Jing.
"Father."
Yunxiu quickly stopped and bowed respectfully, her face still showing some lingering nervousness.
Seeing her daughter's appearance, Yun Jing's eyes flashed with understanding, but she didn't point it out. She just smiled gently, reached out and gently tidied her slightly messy hair, her tone full of doting: "You're so clumsy. I just saw you coming out of Mother's. Did you get scolded again?"
Before Yunxiu could answer, he took out a small, exquisite brocade box from his sleeve, handed it to her, and said with a smile, "Here, the pair of South Sea pearl earrings that you had been longing for the other day, I had someone find them for you, and they are of excellent quality."
Upon hearing this, Yunxiu's eyes lit up instantly, and her previous anxiety was instantly dispelled by this sudden surprise.
She took the brocade box, opened it, and saw a pair of perfectly round, lustrous, and dazzling pearl earrings lying quietly on the velvet. They were indeed the treasures she had been dreaming of.
"Thank you, Father!"
She immediately beamed with joy, clutching the brocade box like a happy little bird, "Your daughter loves her father the most!"
Yun Jing looked at her face, which had instantly brightened, and shook her head with a smile, admonishing, "Go on, don't make your mother angry again."
"Okay!"
Yunxiu responded cheerfully and ran lightly towards her courtyard.
Yun Jing stood there, watching his daughter's joyful figure disappear into the distance, his gentle smile gradually fading.
He straightened his robes, a gentle smile returned to his face, and slowly walked into Linglang's bedroom.
Inside the hall.
Shu Linglang was facing away from him, looking out the window. Her posture was still upright, and she exuded an innate majesty. However, upon closer inspection, her shoulder and neck lines revealed a hint of imperceptible fatigue.
“Madam,” Yun Jing’s voice was gentle and concerned, “I saw Xiu’er go out just now, and she looked a little flustered. Did she upset you again? Your health is important, don’t worry about her childish temper.”
Upon hearing the sound, Linglang slowly turned around.
Facing Yun Jing, the sharpness in her usually piercing phoenix eyes subtly diminished, and her tone softened slightly: "It's alright, just a few words of instruction. In the current situation, she can't afford to be willful anymore."
She paused, looked at Yun Jing with a scrutinizing gaze, and asked directly, "You know about what happened that day?"
Yun Jing walked to her side, picked up the teapot very naturally, poured her half a cup of warm tea, and handed it to her, his smile unchanged: "I know. Whatever you do, Madam, you have your reasons. In my heart, whatever you do is never wrong."
Linglang smiled slightly.
He accepted the warm tea.
She felt guilty towards the person in front of her.
But.
A slight pang of sadness welled up in her heart; the person she loved was not him.
Twenty-three years ago.
In order to consolidate the court, the late emperor intended to win over the Yun family, the Minister of Personnel, and proposed a marriage alliance.
At that time, among Minister Yun's sons, only his eldest son, Yun Jing, had passed the imperial examination and had the brightest future, making him the best candidate for marriage.
However, Linglang had already set her sights on a talented but poor scholar who had also passed the provincial examination and was about to take the palace examination.
The two fell deeply in love, secretly pledged their lives to each other, and even conceived a child.
When the late emperor learned of this, he was furious, feeling that the imperial family had lost all face, and immediately ordered that the emperor be executed.
In the critical moment, Yun Jing stepped forward to protect the emperor, risking his life to plead for forgiveness.
In the end, the late emperor rescinded his order, exiling the talented scholar to a distant land and imprisoning Linglang in the deep palace.
After the storm subsided, Yun Jing disregarded societal criticism and insisted on marrying Linglang, vowing to treat the child in her womb as his own.
Although Linglang was grateful for his kindness, she couldn't forget their past affection and ultimately did not agree.
Soon after, Linglang gave birth to a daughter while under house arrest.
Unexpectedly, the baby was stolen that very night.
Upon hearing the news, Yun Jing searched diligently and finally found the baby girl several days later. He also brought back conclusive evidence, proving that the talented man had stolen the baby only to extort money and official position, and that he had already absconded with the money.
The evidence was irrefutable, and even though Linglang was extremely unwilling, she had no choice but to believe it.
Out of gratitude and to give her child a proper status, she finally agreed to the marriage.
After marriage, in order to repay this debt of love, Linglang used the power and connections of the eldest princess to help Yun Jing clear away obstacles from inside and outside the family. She also paved the way for Yun Jing in the court, helping him accumulate political achievements and eventually become a minister, reaching the highest position in the court.
For the past twenty-three years, Yun Jing has treated Yun Xiu as his own daughter, taking great care of her; he has been even more considerate and compliant with Ling Lang in everything he does.
Linglang's resentment towards the late emperor for forcibly separating her from the Yun family and forcing her to marry into the family has not diminished over the years.
Because of this lingering resentment, after the late emperor's death, she spared no effort in using the prestige and connections she had accumulated in both dynasties to fully support Shu Heng's ascension to the throne.
She made great contributions to both dynasties and held a prominent position.
The next day, Yunshang Pavilion.
Lu Zhaoruo did not go to the Xiao residence again, but instead buried herself in the many affairs of Yunshang Pavilion.
The familiar sounds of cutting, the whispers of the embroiderers, and the requests from the supervising matrons—these busy sounds allowed her to temporarily escape from her immense grief and bewilderment.
Occasionally, a light cough would interrupt her concentration. She would cover her mouth with a handkerchief, her brows furrowing slightly, before continuing to give instructions after a while.
Around noon, the imperial physician Wang, sent by the palace, arrived. He explained that he was acting on His Majesty's orders to check on Lady Shu's pulse and show His Majesty's favor.
Lu Zhaoruo knew perfectly well that this "consideration" was actually a way for Shu Heng to verify the truth of her claim that "she felt chest and lung discomfort after smelling the fragrance."
She calmly rose, politely expressed her gratitude, and gracefully extended her wrist.
Just then, a sudden cough surged up, and she turned to the side to cover it with her sleeve, her shoulders trembling slightly.
She felt no fear; on the contrary, she hoped that the imperial physician could make a definitive diagnosis of the abnormality.
Because the information that Ah Bao risked her life for was absolutely true, the toxin of "five-day consumption" must have quietly invaded her lungs like a seed.
Physician Wang concentrated and examined her carefully for a long time, paying particular attention to changes in her pulse when she coughed. He also respectfully inquired whether she had recently experienced symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough.
Lu Zhaoruo answered truthfully one by one.
After the examination, Physician Wang put away the pulse pillow, his expression respectful yet solemn. He didn't say much, only that Lady Shu's pulse was weak and unstable, and that she needed to rest and recuperate, and should not overexert herself. Then he took his leave and returned to the palace to report.
The Imperial Palace, Qinzhengzhai (Hall of Diligent Governance).
Imperial Physician Wang bowed and reported: "Your Majesty, I have examined Lady Lu's pulse. Her pulse is indeed thin and weak, especially her lung pulse, which is slightly rapid and weak. This is a sign of external pathogens invading the body and causing stagnation in the chest. Her symptoms are quite consistent with the pulse I examined. She does have palpitations, shortness of breath, dull pain in the chest and ribs, and a hoarse cough. In my humble opinion... this condition is not like ordinary wind-cold invading the lungs, but rather seems to be caused by... something harmful or foreign."
After Physician Wang left, Shu Heng's gaze deepened.
He gazed out the window, pondered for a moment, and then made his decision.
This toxicity is extremely strange and difficult to detect. Even with so many people and such expertise, the Imperial Medical Academy might not be able to find an antidote.
Just then, he remembered someone.
Qing Lexian, the Crown Prince of Qing, is currently discussing marriage alliances with a vassal state.
Although this child is young, his personality is as cheerful as the rising sun, yet he is obsessed with the ways of medicine and poison.
More importantly, he is about to marry Yongfu...
"Chuan Qing Le Xian".
Shu Heng instructed the eunuch, "The secret passage must not be known to anyone."
A moment later, a tall and imposing figure appeared silently inside the hall.
Qing Lexian was still dressed in a neat blue shirt, his eyebrows and eyes relaxed, and even in such a private occasion, he seemed to exude a refreshing aura.
He bowed respectfully, his smile hearty: "Your Majesty summoned me; what are your orders?"
Shu Heng dismissed his attendants and briefly informed them of Lu Zhaoruo's poisoning, emphasizing that the "five-day consumption" poison might have originated overseas.
Finally, he looked sharply at his future brother-in-law: "Your Highness is an expert in this field, and I intend to entrust this important task to you. Spare no expense to develop the antidote. If this succeeds, I will remember your kindness, both publicly and privately."
Upon hearing this, Qing Lexian showed no fear on his face, but instead revealed an excited light as if he had encountered a challenge.
He straightened his back, his tone crisp and decisive, full of sunny confidence: "Your Majesty, rest assured! Detoxifying and saving lives is what Le Xian desires, especially since this matter concerns Lady Lu, the most beloved concubine of Prince Yongfu. Le Xian will do his utmost to find a way to detoxify as soon as possible!"
Looking at the unwavering confidence and sense of responsibility in his eyes, Shuheng felt a little at ease.
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