"Oh my, our prince is so clever." Yan Nangui said with a smile, ladling him a bowl of soup.
Shu Chengfeng smiled and accepted it.
After lunch, Shu Chengfeng received a message from the Empress. Only then did he learn that His Majesty had fainted the night before and had only woken up this morning.
After pondering for a moment, he said nothing, but simply summoned someone to tell the Empress that he was alright and would visit her again after the morning court session the next day.
After the visitor left, Yan Nangui came out from behind and said, "Lie down first."
Shu Chengfeng responded and lay down on the couch in the outer room to bask in the sun. At this moment, he felt weak all over and his fever had not completely subsided.
After waiting a while, the medicine was delivered. Yan Nangui didn't feed him spoonful by spoonful; instead, she stirred it to cool it down before handing it to him.
Shu Chengfeng downed the medicine in a few mouthfuls.
I drank some water again.
"Your Highness, Wei Xiao requests an audience," said Eunuch Liu from outside.
"Come in."
A short while later, Wei Xiao came in.
Seeing the wild geese returning south was somewhat unexpected. After quickly offering my greetings, I was momentarily unsure whether I should say anything.
"May I excuse myself?" Yan Nangui said with a smile as she stood up.
Shu Chengfeng stopped him, saying, "No need, you can speak."
Wei Xiao said "Oh," and then added, "That guard has been taken to the Ministry of Justice. He's being stubborn and is being interrogated. His Highness the Second Prince was very agitated, and it was only through Lord Shangguan's intervention that the guard was taken away. The guard's family members have also been arrested."
"We're still looking for those assassins we didn't catch. We went into lockdown yesterday, so they shouldn't be able to escape."
"Hmm, have those dead people been properly returned to their homes?" Shu Chengfeng asked.
“They’ve all been sent back to their original families…” Wei Xiao said, his voice heavy with sadness. “According to the rules, they all received compensation.”
"The people are all gone, so money is nothing. Pass on my message: from now on, you must treat their parents and family well," Shu Chengfeng said.
"Yes." Wei Xiao nodded.
“In the palace…” Wei Xiao hesitated.
"Speak up, what's on your mind that you can't let others hear?" Shu Chengfeng sneered.
"What I'm saying is that Yu Qi went into the palace and stayed for about half an hour before leaving. I... had someone follow him." Wei Xiao thought to himself, "I really don't want to say this."
Yan Nangui was eating fruit and pretended not to hear.
What a novel thing...
After Wei Xiao left, Shu Chengfeng said, "You're quite good at pretending to be stupid."
"...I really don't care to play dumb. It's just that you're keeping an eye on what's going on in the palace. At this hour, if you're not keeping an eye on things, wouldn't you be a fool?" Yan Nangui rolled her eyes at him.
How did you know I'm only starting to watch now?
"When did I say you're only now keeping an eye on me? Why are you always testing me? I'm your concubine, do you think this is wrong? Or do I think you're scheming and not the dashing gentleman I see?" Yan Nangui snorted.
"Where did I test you..." Shu Chengfeng was speechless.
He wasn't testing him; he was just curious.
Would other women get nervous if they heard this?
I'm worried that I've heard something I shouldn't have.
But this woman made it all sound so natural... Never mind, I really shouldn't have asked.
“The wounded should rest and recuperate. Tomorrow we’ll be going to the palace, and we won’t be able to rest for at least half a day. Shouldn’t we hurry up?” Yan Nangui said.
Shu Chengfeng nodded. People who lose too much blood are indeed prone to fainting.
But after a short while, he fell asleep again.
Yan Nangui did not stay overnight; he left after dinner.
She wasn't in a hurry to go back, and went straight to the main courtyard.
When the Crown Princess saw that she had arrived, she naturally had to see her.
"How is His Highness?" The Crown Princess was already angry during the day that His Highness had actually sent Lady Yan to attend to him while he was ill.
"Your Highness is seriously injured. I thought Your Majesty would be worried, so I came to inform Your Majesty," Yan Nangui said.
The Crown Princess snorted, but didn't say anything unpleasant: "Let's talk while sitting down."
Yan Nangui sat down and briefly explained Shu Chengfeng's injuries without offering any further explanation.
After she left, the Crown Princess frowned and remained silent for a long time.
He said, "Don't be jealous. Yan Liangyuan is quite sensible; she's here now."
The Crown Princess hummed in agreement: "Do you think... the weather is about to change?"
Madam He was taken aback: "This... if the weather changes, it's a good thing, Your Majesty."
“Yes, it’s a good thing… I need to tell my grandfather not to waver,” the Crown Princess said.
Madam He nodded. Yes, if the Ning family wavers now, they will inevitably be purged in the future.
The next day, Li, who was far away in the imperial estate, met Chanyi.
Chanyi smiled and said, "Aunt Li, it's been so long, how have you been?"
Although Li is now living a frugal life, she seems much more energetic now that the life-threatening torment is gone. Although her health is completely ruined, at least it hasn't gotten any worse.
“Miss Chanyi… but… but did Consort Yan give any instructions?” Madam Li asked cautiously.
“Of course, it’s time for Aunt Li to step up. Once these tasks are finished, Aunt Li will be free. Our Lady said she’ll give you your freedom,” Chanyi said with a smile.
"I...I do." Li Shi was no longer the arrogant Li Shi of the past.
Knowing full well that with Yan Shi around, the Meng family could not be saved.
Her family doesn't care about her anymore; whether she lives or dies is none of their concern. Besides, after the Meng family's downfall, only her vicious aunt will die. The rest of the Li family won't be involved.
Even if it gets involved, the worst that can happen is that things will be a little harder in the future. What else can you do?
She was truly terrified of being tormented. She was afraid she would never be free again and would continue to be tormented.
Chanyi smiled and said a few words before leaving the royal estate.
Li sighed, thinking that this day would come sooner or later, and that it would be a good thing if she could really regain her freedom.
So the next day, Li knelt in front of Liao Jing, the Prefect of the Capital, holding the petition.
In the bustling streets, they repeatedly denounced the Meng family.
"I am Li, the concubine of Meng Junxian, the eldest son of Lord Meng Jianghe. There is written proof. I am the niece of the Meng family's matriarch, Li. However, I was abused by the Meng family. When the old lady was recuperating at the estate, she tried to kill me. I escaped and dared not show myself. Now that I have heard of His Highness the Crown Prince's assassination attempt, I know that it must have been done by my father-in-law, Meng Jianghe, and the Second Prince! I personally overheard my father-in-law and the Second Prince discussing how to get rid of His Highness. I also know that when my father-in-law was in Quzhou, he gave the Second Prince a large sum of money. If you do not believe me, sir, just investigate the money in Quzhou."
Liao Jing could tell at a glance that this woman must have been arranged by someone.
Arrangements may be made, but the truth is also the truth.
He was not one to back down from trouble, and immediately said, "Since you keep insisting on suing your husband's family, I can't very well refuse. Come with me to the Ministry of Justice. This is a serious matter, and it's not something a mere magistrate like myself can handle."
Lady Li kowtowed: "I am willing."
People around were whispering and saying all sorts of things, but the Meng family was now in deep trouble, and it would be difficult for them to escape unscathed.
It's one thing for outsiders to criticize, but for a concubine of the Meng family, especially one who is the mistress's niece, to come out and accuse them of their crimes... tsk.
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