shocking change
The signs of improvement brought by the "medicine rhyme" were like a ray of light peeking through a gloomy sky, briefly illuminating the dead silence of Jinglan Courtyard. Although Xie Wuqi hadn't regained consciousness, his breathing became steady, and the lingering pain between his brows faded slightly. The frayed nerves of Jingzhe and Steward Yan finally relaxed a little.
However, this glimmer of light failed to dispel the heavy, dark clouds that hung over Prince Jing's residence. Far from easing, the pressure from the Crown Prince intensified. The guards patrolling outside the residence became more frequent, their glares increasingly hostile, as if waiting for a single order to tear the palace apart.
Xu Xianyue knew this all too well. The prince's patience was running out, and he wouldn't allow Xie Wuqi even a moment's respite. While the "Medicinal Rhythm" was potent, it could only alleviate the pain, not eradicate the "Burning Heart" poison. The Qingling Grass remained the key to a breakthrough.
She locked herself in her workshop, continuing to optimize the weaving rhythm of "Medicine Rhythm," attempting to make its effects more lasting and stable, while racking her brains to find a way to obtain the Qingling Grass. Breaking into the Prince's private vault was like hitting a rock with an egg. Lin Qingyan hadn't heard from her since the last time he risked delivering the herbs, so his situation must have been extremely difficult.
In this suffocating stalemate, a sudden piece of bad news broke this brief calm like a thunderclap.
That evening, Wan Cui practically crawled into the workshop, her face pale and her voice trembling: "Miss! It's bad! Doctor Lin... Doctor Lin... He's been imprisoned!"
The ice silk thread in Xu Xianyue's hand, which was used to hook "Yao Yun" and was stained with red blood vine powder, broke at the fingertips with a "snap".
She slowly raised her head, and the coldness that instantly condensed in her eyes made Wan Cui shiver.
"Speak clearly." Her voice remained steady, but it carried a sense of oppression as if a storm was about to come.
Wan Cui gasped for breath, her words incoherent. "It was... it was the old servant in the mansion who delivered the news... His family just desperately passed on the news... saying that Imperial Physician Lin was... taken away from the Imperial Hospital by people from the Eastern Palace! The crime is... colluding with the Prince's Palace, stealing the palace's secret medicine, and having ulterior motives!"
Collude with the royal palace! Steal the secret medicine!
Every word was like a poisoned needle, piercing Xu Xianyue's heart. Sure enough, he was implicated! The Crown Prince had finally traced it back to Lin Qingyan! The so-called "stealing of secret medicine" probably refers to the auxiliary medicines sent to the mansion! This was clearly a deliberate frame-up!
A cold rage surged from the depths of her heart, threatening to shatter her usual calm. Lin Qingyan, a sincere and pure doctor who devoted himself solely to medical research and saving lives, was actually imprisoned because of her scheme!
"Miss...what should I do? Doctor Lin..." Wan Cui was so anxious that tears streamed down her face. Although she had not had much contact with Lin Qingyan, she knew that he was a rare and kind person.
Xu Xianyue closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forced herself to suppress her turbulent emotions. Her nails dug deep into her palms, bringing a sharp pain that instantly cleared her confused mind.
Can't be chaotic.
The prince's move was, first, to cut off Xie Wuqi's possible support, second, to make an example of someone to frighten the monkeys, to deter all those who might be involved with Prince Jing's Mansion, and third... perhaps to force her, or force Xie Wuqi to take action.
If she loses her composure, she will play into the other party's hands.
"Where's Jingzhe?" She opened her eyes, and a cold silence had returned to her eyes.
"Lord Jingzhe... after he heard the news, he immediately went to the prince's side!"
Xu Xianyue no longer hesitated, stood up and walked towards the east wing. His steps were still steady, but a little faster than usual.
"Don't cry, what's the point of crying? You reacted so strongly when he got into trouble..."
Inside the east wing, the atmosphere was more solemn than usual. Xie Wuqi remained unconscious, but Jingzhe wasn't by his bedside. Instead, he stood by the window, his back to the door, radiating a nearly tangible, cold, murderous intent. Butler Yan stood by, his hands hanging low, his face drooping.
Hearing the footsteps, Jingzhe turned around suddenly, and his eyes, which were always calm, were now burning with terrifying anger and anxiety.
"Miss Xu!" He almost gritted his teeth and said, "Doctor Lin..."
"I understand." Xu Xianyue interrupted him, his eyes sweeping over Xie Wuqi, who was still unconscious on the bed, and finally fixed on Jingzhe's face, "The prince is trying to cut off our external support and force us to take action."
"I'll go break the prison right now!" Jingzhe's eyes were bloodshot, clearly furious. Lin Qingyan had helped the prince, and to Jingzhe, he was also someone he respected. He couldn't just sit back and watch!
"And then?" Xu Xianyue's voice was icy. "After robbing the Heavenly Prison, what next? With a severely injured prince and a powerless imperial physician, break out of the encirclement and flee to the ends of the earth? Or wait for the Crown Prince to use this as an excuse to immediately send troops to destroy Prince Jing's mansion?"
Jingzhe was speechless, his clenched fists white with strength, veins bulging. He knew this was a bad idea, but he couldn't bear to watch Lin Qingyan die!
"Are we just going to watch Doctor Lin..." Butler Yan couldn't help but speak out, his old face full of grief and anger.
"Of course not," Xu Xianyue said firmly. She walked to the bedside and looked at Xie Wuqi's pale face, which showed a hint of life. Her eyes were as sharp as a knife. "Since he wants to force us, then we... will do as he wishes and move!"
Jingzhe and Butler Yan looked at her at the same time.
Xu Xianyue turned around and faced the two of them, his cold eyes gleaming with calmness and wisdom. "The Crown Prince framed Doctor Lin for 'stealing secret medicine' simply because of those few auxiliary herbs. But he has no solid evidence, otherwise it wouldn't be a frame-up, but a direct arrest. He's testing us, but also forcing us."
"Our chance lies here." She lowered her voice, speaking quickly and clearly. "Since he's convinced we have the 'secret medicine', let's make him 'find' it! But not in our house, but in... somewhere he'll never expect!"
Jingzhe's eyes narrowed: "What do you mean, girl?"
"Diverting the trouble eastward, using the same old trick again." Xu Xianyue's lips curled up in a cold arc, "However, this time, the target will be changed."
She looked at Jingzhe and said, "You must immediately find a way to deliver the remaining, most recognizable 'Ninglu Flower' powder we have, to... the Third Prince's residence without leaving any trace."
The third prince? !
Jingzhe and Steward Yan both gasped! The Third Prince and the Crown Prince had always been at odds, competing with each other in the court, and was the Crown Prince's biggest political enemy!
"This..." Butler Yan's voice trembled, "Isn't this too risky? If we are discovered..."
"We have to make him aware!" Xu Xianyue's eyes were sharp. "Who is the Crown Prince most afraid of right now? Not our imperiled palace, but his brother, who is eyeing us covetously! What will the Crown Prince think if we deliver the 'stolen goods' to the Third Prince? Will he think we are colluding with the Third Prince? Or will he think that the Third Prince, through the hands of Imperial Physician Lin, is deliberately framing him and even intending to steal the Qingling Grass?"
She paused, her tone tinged with mockery. "Given the Crown Prince's suspicious nature, he'd rather kill someone by mistake than let go of anyone who might threaten his position as Crown Prince. Once he starts to suspect the Third Prince, Doctor Lin, this 'little fish', will become much less important to him, and our pressure will naturally be reduced as well. It might even lead to a fight between them!"
Jingzhe's eyes gleamed with brilliance! What a great move! Driving the Crown Prince's attention to the equally powerful Third Prince would not only relieve Imperial Physician Lin's predicament, but also buy the palace precious breathing time!
"It's just... how do I get the things into the Third Prince's mansion and make sure they're 'just' discovered by the Crown Prince's men?" Jingzhe quickly calmed down and thought about the details.
"That depends on the ability of Guard Jingzhe." Xu Xianyue looked at him, "I heard that the Third Prince has a favorite concubine who loves to collect rare treasures, especially those with exotic fragrances. The powder of 'Ninglu Flower' has a unique and refreshing scent..."
She hadn't finished her words, but Jingzhe understood. He'd exploited the connections within the Third Prince's residence to create an "accident," allowing the Crown Prince's spies to "accidentally" discover that the stolen goods, supposedly in Prince Jing's residence, had appeared in his political enemy's mansion! This was far more clever and insidious than a direct confrontation!
"I understand!" Jingzhe clasped his fists, his eyes lit with fighting spirit. "I will handle this matter myself! I will not leave any trace behind!"
"Be careful." Xu Xianyue warned.
Jingzhe said no more, and disappeared outside the door in a flash.
Steward Yan looked at Xu Xianyue with a complex expression: awe, wonder, and even a hint of fear. This Miss Xu, usually a reserved person, was truly terrifying when she got serious. Her meticulousness, decisiveness, and ruthlessness were truly terrifying. She was going to completely muddy the waters of the entire capital!
Xu Xianyue ignored Butler Yan's gaze. She walked back to the bedside, looked at Xie Wuqi, and whispered to herself, as if to say to him, "Did you hear that? There's going to be a storm in your capital."
And this storm will be created by her own hands.
She picked up the "Medicine Rhythm" placed on Xie Wuqi's chest, and gently brushed her fingertips across the petals that were intertwined with crimson and white, feeling the gentle yet firm rhythm of vitality flowing within them.
Lin Qingyan, hold on.
This game of chess has just begun.
The night grew darker and darker. And in this deep darkness, a turbulent storm that would sweep across the court was quietly brewing.
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