"No," he said in a hoarse voice.
As the two were talking, they suddenly heard Xiao Chengrui's loud voice from outside: "Is Mingxuan feeling any better? I've brought a miracle doctor with me!"
The so-called "miracle doctor" was none other than Qin Sang. It turned out that she had recently gained considerable insights into the medical techniques of the Northern Barbarians and had come specifically to treat Qi Mingxuan.
"Although the poison in the prince consort has been neutralized, the remaining poison has invaded his meridians," Qin Sang said after examining his pulse. "He needs acupuncture at the acupoints, along with a medicinal bath, which may cure him completely."
So every afternoon, Qi Mingxuan would receive acupuncture treatment. The process was extremely painful, but he never uttered a sound, only holding Xiao Chengyu's hand tightly.
During the acupuncture treatment that day, he suddenly groaned and vomited a mouthful of black blood.
"Mingxuan!" Xiao Chengyu exclaimed.
"It's alright." Qin Sang's face lit up with joy. "This is accumulated poisonous blood; it's good to spit it out."
Sure enough, Qi Mingxuan's complexion improved day by day after that. Although he still couldn't stand for long periods, he was able to walk independently, and most of his memory had returned.
As the year drew to a close, a banquet was held in the palace. This was Qi Mingxuan's first public appearance since returning to the capital, and all the officials eagerly awaited his arrival.
Halfway through the banquet, the Northern Di envoy suddenly launched an attack: "I heard that the Prince Consort of Liang was seriously injured and lost his mind. Seeing him today, it's clear he can't even hold a wine cup properly?"
Everyone looked at Qi Mingxuan—his hands were trembling, and he had indeed spilled some wine.
Xiao Chengyu was about to lash out when Qi Mingxuan gently pressed him down. He looked up at the envoy, a slight smile playing on his lips: "My hand trembled because I remembered something—is the dagger at your waist owned by the Northern Di royal family?"
The messenger's expression changed drastically, and he instinctively pressed down on his dagger.
"As far as I know," Qi Mingxuan's voice remained gentle, yet each word was clear, "the laws of the Northern Barbarians stipulate that royal tokens cannot leave the country. Is your envoy's action a violation of the law, or..." He paused, "...is this dagger a fake?"
The envoy immediately broke out in a cold sweat. The dagger was indeed a fake; he had intended to show it off, but it had been seen through at a glance.
Qi Mingxuan chuckled, "It seems your esteemed envoy has also been misled. However..." He changed the subject, "If this matter gets out, it might damage the harmony between our two countries. Perhaps we should just drop the matter?"
The envoy felt as if he had been granted a pardon and repeatedly agreed. All the court officials present were full of admiration—such a quick-witted response, how could he possibly appear "out of his mind"?
After this incident, no one dared to underestimate Qi Mingxuan anymore. His relationship with Xiao Chengyu also deepened. Although he was still suffering from illness, they supported each other through thick and thin, becoming even sweeter than before.
The day had just ended after the snowfall, and Qi Mingxuan was in slightly better spirits. He accompanied Xiao Chengyu for a walk in the plum grove. When they reached an old plum tree, he suddenly stopped.
“This tree…” he said thoughtfully, “I think I buried something here.”
Xiao Chengyu ordered someone to bring a flower hoe, and sure enough, they dug up an iron box under the tree. Inside the box was a stack of yellowed letters, which turned out to be the love letters they had exchanged back then.
"So this is where it was." Qi Mingxuan chuckled. "That day I wanted to take it out to relive the memories, but then I heard you had returned to the manor, so I hastily buried it here."
Xiao Chengyu flipped through those words and couldn't help but smile: "The poems you wrote back then were really pretentious."
"Your Madam's words are wise," he said, feigning solemnity. "How about we rewrite one now?"
So the two of them stood under the plum tree, composing poems one after another. Sunlight filtered through the branches, scattering golden light across them.
In the distance, Xiao Chengrui, supporting the heavily pregnant Ashina Yun, laughed and said, "Look at them, they're so lovey-dovey."
Ashina Yun sighed softly, "To be able to remain like this after experiencing life and death is their blessing."
Yes, they had faced life and death together. Looking at the gentle profile of the person beside him, Xiao Chengyu's heart softened. Although the road ahead might still be filled with storms, as long as they walked hand in hand, they would have nothing to fear.
However, they all understood that the shadow of the Shadow Pavilion had not completely dissipated. Although the Northern Barbarians had temporarily ceased hostilities, undercurrents still surged along the border. And within the court, who knew how many conspiracies were still lurking?
But at this moment, the sun shone brightly, and the fragrance of plum blossoms filled the air. Qi Mingxuan gently held her hand, his fingertips warm yet firm.
They have plenty of time to sort things out.
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