When he woke up, he was the only one lying in bed. Could it be that seeing Qu Qingxi lying next to him was just a hallucination? He Liufeng looked at the bed beside him and found it to be very flat, not like anyone had been lying there.
He Liufeng stretched his skills and stepped outside, only to find that it was already evening.
Qu Qingxi was right after all; he would be unconscious for a day and a night, and it was already the afternoon of the second day.
"Ling Mu," He Liufeng called out to the outside.
"Your Highness." Ling Mu was hesitating outside whether to come in or not when he heard He Liufeng calling him.
"You've been staying here all day yesterday?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Ling Mu nodded. Yesterday, the prince said that he would be unconscious for a day and a night. Ling Mu was worried and had been guarding the courtyard, afraid that something might happen.
"When did the princess leave?" He Liufeng wanted to know if what happened that morning was a hallucination or if it had actually happened.
"The princess left at noon."
"You stayed here all night and didn't leave until noon today?" He Liufeng confirmed again.
"Yes." Ling Mu nodded. He had been staying in the courtyard since the prince started acupuncture last night, until the princess left at noon today.
"Alright, I understand. You may leave now." He Liufeng's face lit up with joy, so he wasn't hallucinating. Last night, Qu Qingxi had given him acupuncture and then shared a bed with him. She must have felt embarrassed today, which is why she left early.
"Your Highness, news has come from the Crown Prince's side that last night, the Crown Prince and his entourage were attacked, but fortunately the Crown Prince had anticipated this and all the attackers were killed. Only one person on the Crown Prince's side suffered minor injuries."
"Did you expect this? Hmph, let him be." He Liufeng waved his hand, signaling Ling Mu to step back.
Was it something he had anticipated, or had someone tipped him off?
After taking a bath and changing his clothes, He Liufeng walked happily toward Qu Qingxi's courtyard.
Seeing He Liufeng walk over in high spirits, Qu Qingxi couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. It seemed that He Liufeng had basically recovered. His steps were steady, and his complexion had become rosy. Her medical skills were indeed impressive.
Seeing Qu Qingxi smile at him, He Liufeng was even more delighted; she was indeed starting to treat him differently.
"How do you feel?" Qu Qingxi looked He Liufeng up and down.
"It seems like she has fully recovered." He Liufeng sat down next to Qu Qingxi, picked up the chopsticks placed beside him, and began to eat, his tone full of ease.
"Yes, it's almost healed. Just one more acupuncture treatment in half a month will be enough for a full recovery," Qu Qingxi nodded.
"By the way, don't tell anyone about this for now. If anyone asks, just say that this poison is very troublesome and will take a long time to develop," Qu Qingxi instructed.
"What do you mean? What are you doubting?" He Liufeng's smile faded, and a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.
Do you know what this poison is called?
He Liufeng remained silent. Those who had taken his pulse before said they did not recognize the poison, only that it was extremely rare. When Qu Qingxi agreed to treat him, she did not explain what kind of poison it was.
"This poison is called 'Shukuang'. It has a certain incubation period in the human body. That is to say, if someone is poisoned by this poison, there will be no external manifestations within five years. After five years, the poison will slowly show up and gradually erode the body."
The most amazing thing is that this poison is not only rare, but also has color and smell, making it almost impossible to be poisoned without being detected, unless it is forced down one's throat. However, I think that given your status, such a situation is unlikely to occur.
"Think back five years from when you first experienced symptoms of poisoning. During that time, did you eat or drink anything strange or with an unpleasant smell? Perhaps the person who gave you that thing was the one who poisoned you."
Qu Qingxi's words plunged He Liufeng into an ice cellar. He was twelve years old when he first took the poison, and according to Qu Qingxi, he was poisoned when he was seven.
When he was seven years old, his father was still alive, and the current emperor was still the crown prince. His mother was also alive. He was extremely favored at the time, and the people around him were all arranged by his father and mother, so there was no possibility that they would harm him.
Something that smelled bad? He remembered that when he was seven years old, he had only eaten one bad thing that year, and that thing was something he gave himself.
Could it be that the person who poisoned him was actually him?
He Liufeng closed his eyes. This was impossible. But Qu Qingxi wouldn't lie to him, and besides, she didn't know anything at all.
It was him? How could it be him?
"I understand." He Liufeng nodded, the ease that had appeared on his face vanishing completely.
Qu Qingxi guessed that He Liufeng must have a plan and a candidate in mind. Looking at his depressed appearance, she knew that he had a very good relationship with this person, so good that he had never doubted him.
"For the next two weeks, you must abstain from alcohol and sex, and also make sure to get plenty of rest. Avoid extreme joy or sorrow. After two weeks, everything will be over," Qu Qingxi instructed again.
"Um."
Qu Qingxi didn't say anything more, letting He Liufeng ponder on his own. Some things are beyond the control of what others say; let him get over it for a while and figure it out himself.
After finishing her meal, Qu Qingxi returned to her room to rest, while He Liufeng took advantage of the night to go to the imperial mausoleum.
The next day was the fifteenth of August. A banquet was to be held in the palace, but due to the recent severe flooding of the Ling River and the displacement of people, the banquet was not held in a grand manner. Instead, the families of the ministers were invited to eat in the palace.
When He Liufeng and Qu Qingxi arrived, almost everyone else had already arrived.
The Emperor and Empress arrived late. After the Emperor said a few polite words, the banquet began. The banquet started with a dance performance by dancers from the Imperial Music Bureau, which gradually eased the tense atmosphere.
Qu Qingxi looked up at the dancers on the stage. Their dance moves were exquisite and their figures were enchanting. It was clear that they had been practicing dance for many years. Qu Qingxi looked at everything in front of her with great appreciation.
The palace maid who came to serve here was pouring tea for He Liufeng when she accidentally spilled the tea on Qu Qingxi, instantly wetting the hem of her skirt.
Qu Qingxi turned her head and glanced at the palace maid. He Liufeng also looked at the palace maid. The palace maid was so frightened that she knelt on the ground and begged for mercy and apologized repeatedly.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. Your Highness, please forgive me. I didn't mean it."
In an instant, the scene fell silent as everyone looked over. The Emperor and Empress also noticed the situation.
"Alright, hurry up and take the princess downstairs to change her clothes, lest she catch a cold," the Empress said gently.
Immediately someone stepped forward, "Your Highness, please follow me this way."
Qu Qingxi glanced at the kneeling palace maid, then at the Empress, said nothing, nodded slightly, and followed the palace maid away.
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