Chapter 146 The Lame Grass
The two arrived at the flower hall, and after they were seated, Qin Yingying stated her purpose directly.
“Aunt… Her Majesty the Empress asked me to come and thank you for saving Yongning.”
Xie Yunyu smiled and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. It is our duty as juniors to help our elders."
Qin Yingying smiled casually after hearing her polite words.
"Sigh, I came here today specifically to see your twins. I didn't see them at the last palace banquet."
Xie Yunyu quickly waved for someone to bring the child over.
Qin Yingying looked at the two children carefully, then pointed at Yuan Xi and said:
"This one really does resemble the Emperor and the Eldest Princess."
Then, pointing at Yuanzheng, he said, "This looks like you."
Xie Yunyu smiled and agreed, "Yes, that's what everyone says."
After seeing the child, Qin Yingying said with reluctance:
"Alas, I specifically asked Her Majesty the Empress for this task today."
I came here to ask you for the secret to having a baby.
To be honest, I have been married to the Second Prince for some time now, but I have not yet conceived, which may displease our elders.
I was thinking of coming to ask you about it.
Xie Yunyu's eyes widened in surprise.
In my past life, I was a newbie in the emergency room, not in gynecology...
The two went to stroll in the backyard garden together. Xie Yunyu pulled her along as they walked and talked, explaining in detail what a woman's menstrual cycle is like in a month.
I also told her about her ovulation period and asked her to go back and try it.
Qin Yingying was stunned: "So there are so many passageways inside?"
The two chatted and strolled around the courtyard. Qin Yingying gained knowledge and happily headed home.
Inside the palace, Xiao Ling and Xie Yunman were continuing their work from the previous day.
The Crown Prince suddenly received a message from Wei Ningyan:
The eldest prince left his fiefdom without permission and went to the western border.
The crown prince's face was extremely grim.
Xiao Ling took the paper from the Crown Prince's hand, looked at it, and said:
“Let Yanchi go to the Western Regions and see his father.”
The crown prince nodded and turned to ask the emperor for instructions.
Xiao Ling sent someone to summon Pei Yanchi.
Pei Yanchi arrived at the East Palace, greeted the busy Xie Yunman, and then sat down to Xiao Ling's left.
Soon the Crown Prince returned and said, "Father has given his permission."
He was also given a detachment of 100 cavalrymen to accompany him.
"Me?"
Pei Yanchi looked at the Crown Prince and asked.
"Yes, the border in the Western Regions is unstable. The Crown Prince has been trying to contact your father, so there is a risk of war."
"I have already informed my father, and he has sent you to the Western Regions to visit him."
Pei Yanchi's expression was complicated upon hearing this.
I was happy, but also a little disappointed.
The good news is that my biased father has finally gotten into trouble.
Unfortunately, his own father knew that he didn't have the guts to rebel.
"Hmm, what is my main mission there?"
Pei Yanchi asked.
The crown prince reached out and handed him the secret report he was carrying.
Pei Yanchi opened it and read that it said his main purpose in going to the Western Regions was to find out who the Crown Prince was cooperating with.
First, gather information and avoid rash actions; await His Majesty's further instructions.
After reading it, Pei Yanchi tucked the secret report into his bosom.
"Alright, I'll go and see how my father, whom I haven't seen in years, is doing lately."
After saying that, she looked at the Crown Prince and asked, "I'm leaving now. Keep a close eye on Lady Xing, the wife of the Duke of Xing."
I thought she wouldn't contact Consort Shu anymore if she didn't go to the palace, but a couple of days ago I discovered someone lurking outside the mansion.
Following him, they found that the man had returned to the palace.
The crown prince frowned upon hearing this and asked, "When did this happen?"
Two days before the Dragon Boat Festival.
"Was that two days before my uncle was poisoned?" Xiao Ling asked.
"Yes. Around dusk."
As the three were talking, a eunuch suddenly came to report:
"Oh no, His Majesty has fainted again."
The Crown Prince, Xiao Ling, and Pei Yanchi dropped what they were holding and ran outside.
Soon the crown prince arrived at the emperor's bedside, where the imperial physician was already examining him.
The atmosphere was extremely oppressive, and no one dared to make a sound.
The Crown Prince glanced at the Empress, who immediately began wiping away tears.
After a long while, the imperial physician finished taking the pulse, got up, and went to the side to prescribe medicine.
The crown prince quickly followed and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with His Majesty?"
The imperial physician said calmly, "Your Highness, please rest assured, His Majesty is fine."
Just like last time, wind-evil entering the body is a precursor to stroke.
It's best not to tell His Majesty bad news recently, to avoid triggering his emotional instability and worsening his condition.
The crown prince nodded.
After the imperial physician administered acupuncture, the emperor awoke, looked at the people around him, and after a long while asked:
"I've fainted again?"
The Crown Prince said by the bedside, "Father, the imperial physician said that extreme anger has affected his heart, a precursor to a stroke. He advised you not to get angry recently."
The emperor closed his eyes after hearing this.
He was indeed angry because of the eldest prince.
After a while, the emperor opened his eyes and said, "Empress, my elder sister stays, the rest of you may go back."
Then he glanced at the Crown Prince again: "Handle state affairs properly."
The crown prince bowed his head and acknowledged.
By the time they returned to the East Palace, it was already late, and Xie Yunman and Du Zhengming had already left the palace.
Xiao Ling and Pei Yanchi stayed at the East Palace that night instead of going home.
Xie Yunyu was at home and saw that it was already late at night, but no one had come back yet.
Not long after, the Duke of Qi sent someone to deliver a message that something had happened in the palace and that the Princess and Xiao Ling would not be returning that night.
He also instructed Xie Yunyu to take good care of the child and keep a close watch on the household.
Upon hearing this, Xie Yunyu immediately understood what had happened and instructed Qingchen:
"Guard the gates and ensure that no unauthorized personnel are allowed to move around after nightfall."
Qingchen accepted the order and left.
Xie Yunyu tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. The sudden emptiness beside her, coupled with matters in the palace, made her uneasy.
Morning finally arrived, but Xiao Ling didn't return; instead, Qingfeng did.
"My lord asked me to tell the Princess that His Majesty's illness has flared up again, but the imperial physician has examined him and he is fine now."
"I'm afraid I'll have to stay in the palace again tonight. I specifically sent my subordinate back to inform the Princess, so please don't worry."
Xie Yunyu nodded in agreement, then seemed to be deep in thought.
"Are you going to the palace again later?" Xie Yunyu asked Qingfeng.
"Yes, I brought some things back for you, my lord."
Xie Yunyu turned and instructed Gu Yu to pack Xiao Ling's things.
After gesturing for Qingfeng to sit down, he asked, "When did Your Majesty fall ill with this ailment yesterday?"
"It should be past mid-Shen time."
"Did you experience any trauma?" Xie Yunyu continued to ask.
"It seems she fell ill from hearing news about the eldest prince."
Xie Yunyu thought for a moment and then said, "Go and tell the Prince to take a look at His Majesty's menu."
"To spy on the Emperor's whereabouts without permission, this..."
The breeze hesitated.
"Just tell him, he'll know what to do."
Qingfeng could only say, "Yes, I understand."
"Is my second brother still in the palace?" Xie Yunyu asked again.
"Lord Xie has been in the Eastern Palace these past few days, helping the Crown Prince investigate things," Qingfeng replied respectfully.
Xie Yunyu then said to Qingfeng, "After you enter the palace later, please tell my second brother that he seems to be getting old."
He'll understand when he hears it.
After saying that, he instructed Qingfeng: "You can only tell this to my second brother. Don't mention it to anyone else."
"Can't even the Prince say?" Qingfeng asked.
"He wouldn't understand even if you told him. You can say it in front of both of them."
Qingfeng was relieved after hearing this.
If the prince doesn't find out, it probably won't work.
Soon, Qingfeng returned to the palace and repeated the two sentences in front of the two of them.
Xie Yunman's expression changed drastically upon hearing this.
"Your Highness, quickly go and take a look at His Majesty's menu."
Xiao Ling frowned: "Explain yourself first, what do you mean by 'suspected aging'?"
“My grandfather once said that in my hometown of Jiangnan, there is a poisonous plant on the mountain that the locals call ‘the lame grass’.”
If this herb is ingested by mistake, the symptoms are very similar to those of wind-related illnesses, and over time it can lead to hemiplegia and bedriddenness.
Even with the treatment of a skilled doctor, the patient will eventually become paralyzed in both legs.
That's why it's called the "lame-legged grass."
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