Li Xi couldn't believe it; Chairman Wang had actually returned to Kyoto on his own.
Seeing that only Chairman Wang had returned, Meng Zhelan couldn't help but feel puzzled. "Sister Lianyi, why didn't Xi'er come back with you?"
Chairman Wang mysteriously pulled her aside to whisper, "I came back on my own. I wanted Xiaoxi and Master Feng to spend more time together. I found that the two of them are a perfect match."
Meng Zhelan's eyes widened, speechless for a moment. She hadn't expected Chairman Wang to act this way, and didn't know what to say. "Chairman, isn't what you're doing inappropriate?" Meng Zhelan asked cautiously.
"What's wrong with that? Xiaoxi and Master Feng are a perfect match, a match made in heaven," Chairman Wang replied nonchalantly.
“But Li Xi is appearing as a man now, isn’t that a bit inappropriate?” Meng Zhelan didn’t think this forced pairing would succeed.
After listening to Meng Zhelan's words, Chairman Wang nodded thoughtfully.
She realized that her actions might have been too hasty, failing to consider Li Xi's true identity.
"You're right, Lan'er. I should have handled this matter more carefully." Chairman Wang sighed softly, a hint of regret in his expression.
After thinking it over, Meng Zhelan realized there were other advantages as well. "It would be good to let Xi'er travel around with Master Feng. He is very knowledgeable, and Xi'er can benefit a lot from it. I think Master Feng also appreciates her very much."
The next morning, Meng Zhelan went to Ren'an Hall. She had thought about it for a long time last night. If Li Xi was destined to wander in the martial arts world, relying solely on his martial arts skills would probably lead to many difficulties.
Therefore, she decided to refine some practical medicines for future use.
Just as she was engrossed in various medicinal herbs and prescriptions, a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Master, people from the palace have arrived." The apprentice's tone was tinged with panic.
Meng Zhelan's heart tightened. Had the Emperor summoned her to the palace again?
Recalling her discussion with Prince An the day before, she went into her room and changed into a clean and tidy dress. After preparing herself, she followed the eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree into the palace.
Having learned from her previous experience, she was prepared to handle all kinds of situations this time.
"This commoner, Meng Zhelan, kowtows to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!" She knelt on the ground, her head almost touching the floor, and bowed respectfully.
"Get up." The emperor's voice sounded somewhat cold, and Meng Zhelan couldn't help but feel a little nervous, but she still remained calm.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." She slowly rose and looked up at the emperor sitting on the high throne. Prince An stood beside the emperor, looking at her expressionlessly.
The emperor picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, then put it down and looked directly at Meng Zhelan. "Meng Zhelan, do you know why I summoned you to the palace?"
Meng Zhelan's heart tightened, and she lowered her head, saying, "This humble woman is foolish and dull."
"I've heard that you've been treating Yu'er's health for the past six months!" the emperor asked without changing his expression.
“Your Majesty, for the past six months or so, His Highness Prince An has indeed frequently sent me to his clinic for treatment,” Meng Zhelan replied truthfully.
"What exactly is wrong with Prince An's health? Why is it not getting better?" The Emperor's tone was tinged with anger.
Meng Zhelan calmly took out a booklet from her bosom and handed it to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, please take a look. This is the recent medical record of Prince An."
Eunuch Yan carefully accepted the booklet and then respectfully presented it to the emperor.
The emperor was engrossed in reading the booklet, his brows gradually furrowing.
"Why didn't you have Judge Meng present such a serious matter to me?" the emperor suddenly questioned, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger.
Meng Zhelan was so frightened that she knelt down again. "Your Majesty, spare my life! I am just an ordinary doctor. Last year, on my way back to the capital, I encountered Prince An who had collapsed from poisoning. After I cured him, I continued on my journey. Later, I met Your Highness at the pharmacy, who had also been poisoned. I spent a great deal of effort to cure him. Afterwards, Your Highness thought I had some knowledge of the poison in his body, so he often asked me to come to his home for treatment. The reason I kept it a secret was at His Highness's request, after all, I am just a common doctor..."
Meng Zhelan was trembling violently at this moment, perfectly portraying the fear of a small person facing an emperor.
"How could I blame you?" The emperor sighed again. "Get up and speak."
Meng Zhelan kowtowed repeatedly, "Your Majesty, I have something else to say. Although I have some understanding of the poison in His Highness Prince An's body, I have not yet found an antidote."
However, I will continue my efforts to find an antidote and will do everything in my power to cure Your Highness.
The emperor was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Since you have done your best, then go back now." Meng Zhelan knelt to thank the emperor, then left the hall.
"Yu'er, don't worry, I will definitely have the imperial physicians find an antidote, and Doctor Meng can continue to try to detoxify you. The person who poisoned you must be found and chopped up." The emperor comforted Qi Yu.
Meng Zhelan had just stepped out of the gate when she ran into the Empress Dowager. After not seeing her for a long time, the Empress Dowager grabbed her and wouldn't let her leave, saying, "Wait for me for a moment, I'll be right back."
The Empress Dowager hurried into the Imperial Study. The Emperor was somewhat surprised to see her. "Mother, what brings you here?"
"You weren't planning to tell me even though I didn't come? You didn't tell me about such a serious matter as Yu'er being poisoned. Have you found the poisoner yet?" The Empress Dowager sat down to the side.
"Your Majesty, this matter involves many aspects. I originally intended to investigate it first before reporting to you and the Emperor Emeritus." Although the Emperor had been on the throne for over a decade or two, he was still somewhat afraid of facing the Empress Dowager's questioning.
"Who exactly poisoned him? Has their identity been identified?" The Empress Dowager's words were sharp.
"It was the steward of Yu'er's household who had been slowly poisoning Yu'er's food for a long time. However, after his crimes were exposed, he committed suicide by poisoning himself." The Emperor patiently explained, knowing that his mother was an impatient person.
The emperor took a sip of tea and continued, "Currently, the clues we've found point to the Red Lotus Sect."
Upon hearing about the Red Lotus Sect, the group fell silent.
Upon hearing this conversation, Prince An inwardly sneered. He knew all too well that the Red Lotus Sect had close ties with Prince Liang, and that the poisoning of the prince was likely instigated by Prince Liang at the behest of the Red Lotus Sect.
Prince An knew in his heart that his father would not believe that this matter was related to Prince Liang. He was just taking this opportunity to get rid of the spy planted in the mansion in a legitimate way.
"It seems there are quite a few monsters and demons in Yu'er's household. Yu'er, your grandmother will replace these people for you." The Empress Dowager turned to the Emperor and said, "In that case, I will personally lead a group to accompany Yu'er out of the palace later."
"Mother, do you really need to help with this? I can send someone myself." The Emperor knew that his mother had once again found an excuse to leave the palace.
"I'm worried. Let's go, Yu'er." The Empress Dowager didn't say anything more and walked straight out.
"Lan'er, Yu'er, come back to Cining Palace with me," the Empress Dowager instructed Prince An, who had followed her.
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