Jiang Wan flipped through medical books all night and didn't sleep.
The following day, Song Yu came to visit her in person and brought back news from the military camp.
"General Song went to the military camp early in the morning and pulled several deputy generals who were participating in the martial arts test into his tent. When they came out, their faces were not very good."
Song Yu served Jiang Wan a bowl of porridge, added a spoonful of sugar, and stirred it slowly.
"Perhaps the intention was to make them defer to Song Lin, but the soldiers were not convinced."
Jiang Wan was slightly surprised: "He's courting death."
Song Ziyu had already lost the support of his troops, and his reputation was getting worse, which would only make his soldiers more alienated from him.
He might not have gone this far just for Song Lin.
Jiang Wan instructed, "This martial arts competition involves various forces, including several princes, who will take the opportunity to fight each other openly and secretly. I have been spending most of my time in the Empress's palace recently, so I may have to neglect you for a few days. You must be careful."
"Mother, don't worry," Song Yu said. "The second round of the competition is a draw to select opponents, which is very fair. I just don't know who that minister who was parachuted in is."
Jiang Wan narrowed her eyes.
Once the minister's identity is revealed, the matriarch will definitely rush to contact him for Song Lin's sake.
She also wanted to gain the upper hand.
She had mentioned this to her father the day before yesterday and held onto a sliver of hope, but had not received any news since.
Jiang Wan lowered her eyes, acknowledging that this approach was not feasible.
My father was an upright and honest official who never took sides in the government or the public and always adhered to his own principles.
Besides, the two had a deep misunderstanding, so even if he didn't side with her, she wouldn't harbor any resentment.
After having breakfast, Jiang Wan said to Song Yu, "Wait a moment. I will go to the palace this afternoon and see if I can get any information from the Crown Prince."
Having made this plan in mind, she asked Pei Xuan directly when she met him in the afternoon.
Unexpectedly, Pei Xuan merely glanced at her thoughtfully and gave her an ambiguous answer.
"You don't need to worry about this."
Jiang Wan was completely bewildered: "What do you mean?"
Pei Xuan said, "Father's imperial edict will be issued soon, and you will know then."
Before she could ask any more questions, Pei Xuan brought up another matter.
“There’s something wrong with that Physician Sun from yesterday. Half a month ago, he withdrew two thousand taels of silver from the bank using a distant relative’s name and also secretly bought a new house.”
Jiang Wan looked up at him, surprised.
It wasn't for any other reason than Pei Xuan's efficiency.
Physician Sun must have been extremely discreet in accepting money, yet Pei Xuan uncovered everything overnight.
“The person who contacted him is in the inner palace, which matches your guess exactly,” Pei Xuan continued. “It seems that the poisoning of the Empress Dowager was done by Consort Rong and Pei Jin.”
"It's pretty close," Jiang Wan said.
If the smallpox on the empress's body were discovered, it would surely cause a sensation throughout the entire palace.
The fact that there has been no news for two consecutive days must have surprised them.
As Jiang Wan administered acupuncture to the Empress, she whispered, "If Your Highness were them, what would you do?"
Pei Xuan's eyes darkened, and he uttered two words: "Break into the palace."
They succeeded as long as they exposed the Queen's unusual behavior to the public.
Just then, a eunuch came to report: "Your Highness, Consort Yun and Consort Rong are at the door, saying they have come to visit Her Majesty the Empress."
Pei Xuan stood up, his handsome face as cold as ice.
"My father has already given the order that there is no need to attend to their illness; please ask them to return home."
The eunuch returned and reported, "The two imperial concubines have left. They said they will come again tomorrow to pay their respects to Her Majesty the Empress."
After taking the Empress's pulse, Jiang Wan carefully placed her hand back under the soft blanket: "This is just a test. If we don't see her soon, she won't be so easy to deal with."
Jade asked fearfully, "Could they possibly force their way into the Queen's palace?"
Jiang Wan did not answer, but handed her a prescription: "Boil this in water and give it to Her Majesty to relieve her symptoms."
Pei Xuan said, "Thank you."
Jiang Wan shook her head: "I haven't thought of a cure yet. This prescription can only suppress the toxins and keep Your Majesty safe for the time being."
Use jade to decoct medicine.
Looking at the Empress's sleeping face, Jiang Wan lowered her voice and said, "Your Majesty is in a dangerous situation. Simply guarding against her is not a solution. If there is any oversight, it will be a disaster."
She dislikes defense and dislikes being passive.
Jiang Wan looked at Pei Xuan, a glint of light seemingly flickering in her eyes.
Now that we know their motives, why not…
Pei Xuanfeng narrowed his eyes slightly: "Let's play along."
"Song Tingyue entered the palace today, presumably to inquire about the Empress's situation."
Jiang Wan's eyebrows curved slightly.
"Will Physician Sun from yesterday come to pay his respects later?"
Just as the two had expected, half an hour later, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, as instructed by Emperor Jingyuan, came to take the Empress's pulse. Among the group following behind him was Physician Sun.
The Empress's pulse was the same as yesterday, and the imperial physicians found nothing unusual.
Just as everyone was about to leave, Jade hurriedly tucked the blanket around the Empress, and inadvertently, a patch of skin on the Empress's wrist was exposed.
Realizing her mistake, Jade hurriedly covered it up again.
Although it was only for a moment, Physician Sun had been secretly watching the Empress and naturally saw it; there was a smallpox on the Empress's exposed wrist.
He concealed his shock and bowed his head as he retreated.
Upon returning to her residence that night, Jiang Wan encountered Song Tingyue at the gate.
Upon seeing her from afar, Song Tingyue smiled and asked, "How is Your Majesty's condition?"
Jiang Wan said, "He hasn't recovered from his cold and hasn't woken up yet."
"I see." Song Tingyue's smile deepened. "Don't worry, it's just a minor cold, you'll recover quickly."
Jiang Wan remained silent and then left.
Song Tingyue watched her retreating figure, her eyes gradually turning sinister, and she sneered, "Trying to play dumb with me? Let's see how long you can keep up the act."
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