Tang Nian touched her nose, a little embarrassed: "Isn't this just giving someone a push in the dark?"
Lou Mu took a sip of water, said nothing, and just stared at her with a smile.
Tang Nian coughed twice: "Well, it's just that I'm too bored staying in the manor every day."
"Stretch out your hand." Lou Mu put down his teacup and sat down on the bedside.
Tang Nian shook her head and quietly pulled her hand further under the covers.
"Hmm?" Lou Mu raised an eyebrow slightly.
Tang Nian looked up at Lou Mu and swallowed.
She had been at the Prime Minister's residence for four days, and every night she dreamed of the little white fox that inexplicably resembled Lou Mu. Coupled with the "gift" Tang Nian gave Lou Mu on the first day, she now felt a little embarrassed whenever she saw Lou Mu.
She slowly reached out her hand, only to have it grabbed by Lou Mu.
Tang Nian carefully looked up to observe his expression, and couldn't help but shrink back.
After a long while, Lou Mu released Tang Nian's hand and sighed.
He knew that Tang Nian's injuries had worsened because she had forcibly dispersed the poison from the poison sac into her body.
Lou Mu had long noticed that although Tang Nian's injuries seemed to heal quickly, they actually left some marks. If she were to get injured again, her injuries would be more serious than before.
"you……"
He suddenly realized that if Tang Nian couldn't return to her original form, her poison couldn't be fully released. He sighed, swallowed the words he was about to say, and thought that he should nourish her body these days.
"Do the imperial physicians have any way to treat your snake venom?"
Do you want a cure or no cure?
Tang Nian countered with a question, but it was clear that the imperial physicians couldn't detect her snake venom. If Lou Mu wanted, she could dilute it or use a different type of venom.
Lou Mu smiled and shook his head: "This is good."
"What do you plan to do about cases of missing citizens?"
Tang Nian knew that Lou Mu seemed to be in the mansion every day, but in reality, he was secretly sending people to investigate the case. This was clearly the responsibility of the Dali Temple, but the Chu Emperor had dumped the case on Lou Mu and even made him sign a pledge. Tang Nian wished she could unleash a poisonous snake to bite him to death.
Both she and Lou Mu knew that the case was orchestrated by the Chu Emperor, and they couldn't possibly find a scapegoat. Besides, the Chu Emperor's goal was to get rid of Lou Mu, so finding a scapegoat would be tantamount to walking into a trap.
"Then it's up to you," Lou Mu said, smiling at Tang Nian.
Tang Nian paused for a moment, then suddenly understood what Lou Mu meant. She asked with some confusion, "But what about the pledge?"
"The military pledge was made between me and the Chu Emperor in the Imperial Study. As long as the Chu Emperor doesn't bring it out, no one will know about it."
So this is just a delaying tactic. Tang Nian added, "You didn't search the Imperial Study?"
"Of course." Lou Mu shrugged, clearly indicating that he hadn't found it.
"or……"
Before the two could say anything more, Jingyao knocked on the door.
"My lord, the Chu Emperor has arrived."
Tang Nian and Lou Mu exchanged a glance. Tang Nian lay back down, while Lou Mu stood up, straightened his clothes, and pushed open the door: "Come with me to welcome His Majesty."
When Lou Mu arrived at the front hall, the Chu Emperor was sitting inside drinking tea, with a group of imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy standing beside him.
The Chu Emperor wore a bright yellow robe embroidered with a dragon soaring over the sea. The embroidery was exquisite and neat, and his hair, which was beginning to turn white, was tied up with a golden crown.
A hint of mockery flashed in Lou Mu's eyes. Of all the emperors in history, only the Chu Emperor would wear his dragon robe after the morning court session.
He lowered his head and quickly walked into the hall to bow.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."
"My dear minister, there's no need for such formalities." The Chu Emperor waved his hand and stood up. "I heard from Physician Chang that a guest in your household is unwell, so I came to visit him."
"I'm sorry to trouble Your Majesty." Lou Mu's anxious expression seemed genuine, and the Chu Emperor nodded slightly.
Lou Mu led the Chu Emperor and his entourage to Huasheng Pavilion. He gently pushed open the door and invited the imperial physicians inside.
The Chu Emperor stood outside the door, glanced inside, and saw a girl lying quietly on the bed. He gestured for the imperial physicians to go in and take her pulse, while he stood outside.
Lou Mu stood quietly beside the Chu Emperor, glancing into the room from time to time. The Chu Emperor saw all of this and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I've heard that you encountered Master Tang in Muyun County?"
As expected, the Chu Emperor couldn't help but ask.
"Your Majesty, are you referring to Tang Nian, the Celestial Master Tang?" Lou Mu clearly had a bad impression of Tang Nian, and upon hearing the name "Celestial Master Tang," he couldn't help but frown slightly. "This humble subject is not familiar with Celestial Master Tang."
Although Lou Mu didn't say much, the Chu Emperor could still see the disgust he felt for Tang Nian from Lou Mu's expression.
Lou Mu doesn't usually show his emotions so openly, so it seems that Miss Tang in the room and the so-called Master Tang are not the same person.
The Chu Emperor didn't say much, but simply waited outside with Lou Mu for the imperial physicians to make their diagnosis.
After a long while, several imperial physicians walked out of the room with solemn expressions.
"How is Miss Nian...?" Lou Mu rushed forward anxiously.
"This..." The imperial physicians looked at each other silently, unsure of how to begin.
The Chu Emperor frowned and said in a low voice, "Hurry up and speak."
Several imperial physicians quickly knelt down: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Physician Chen quickly spoke up: "Your Majesty, Miss Tang's illness is likely caused by poison in her body. I can only prescribe some remedies to alleviate her symptoms. If you want a complete cure..." He shook his head as he spoke.
Physician Chen was the most authoritative physician in the Imperial Medical Academy. When Emperor Chu heard Physician Chang's report in the palace, he was worried and specially summoned Physician Chen to accompany him to the Grand Secretary's residence to investigate.
The other imperial physicians echoed this sentiment.
Lou Mu swayed slightly, but quickly regained his balance. His face was pale, and his lips were bloodless.
"Thank you for your help, Physician Chen."
"Are you alright, my dear minister?" Emperor Chu asked Lou Mu seemingly with concern, but Lou Mu could clearly see a hint of smugness in Emperor Chu's eyes.
He gently shook his head: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine."
"My dear minister, you should stay in the manor and keep Miss Tang company these days. The medicinal herbs Miss Tang needs can be obtained directly from the Imperial Hospital."
"But Your Majesty, regarding the disappearance of the people..." Lou Mu appeared flattered, but then remembered the case against him, and his voice softened.
"I will entrust this matter to the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review for investigation." The Emperor's voice carried a barely perceptible hint of pleasure. "My dear minister, spend more time with Miss Tang."
Clearly, the Chu Emperor had come up with a better solution than destroying Lou Mu.
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."
Seeing the scene that pleased him, the Emperor of Chu did not linger in Lou Mu's residence, nor did he allow Lou Mu to see him off. Lou Mu quickly instructed Jing Yao, who was waiting nearby, to escort the Emperor of Chu.
Lou Mu stood there for a long time before letting out a long sigh. He went into the room, walked to the bedside, and bent down to wipe the cold sweat from Tang Nian's forehead.
"You may all leave now," Lou Mu said softly, as if afraid of waking the person in front of him.
"yes."
The servants waiting inside responded softly.
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