The imperial physicians went to great lengths to stop the bleeding for Song Tingyue and Pei Feng.
Pei Feng is skilled in martial arts and is strong and robust, so his injuries should be less severe than Song Tingyue's.
Surprisingly, he had significantly more wounds than Song Tingyue, and even his face had been pecked in several places.
Consort Yun's eyes reddened, filled with more fear than heartache. She ordered the imperial physicians to treat her carefully, leaving no scars whatsoever.
Since the founding of the Dayong Dynasty, there has been no precedent of an emperor having a scar on his face.
If Pei Feng's face is disfigured, he will be forever barred from the throne.
Pei Xi is neglecting her duties; she has always pinned her hopes for seizing the throne on Pei Feng, and now a woman is going to ruin them.
She looked at Song Tingyue, her eyes filled with a hatred that seemed to want to devour her.
"You two were in the same room, so why is Feng'er more seriously injured than you?"
Song Tingyue huddled behind Zhou Shi, biting her lip.
In the past, when she was being harassed, Pei Xuan would always stand up for her. But now, he just glanced at Song Tingyue coldly and remained silent.
He was jolted awake by excruciating pain, and when he opened his eyes, his body was covered in bloody holes.
If it had been a moment later, the eagle would have pecked out his eyes.
He witnessed Song Tingyue shielding him with her own eyes, acting as her human shield.
At the time, I was just angry; now, upon reflection, I feel mostly terrified.
What was Song Tingyue's purpose in drugging him? And when did she bring the young eagle from Donglai and smuggle it into the palace without his knowledge?
Just how many things is this woman hiding from him?
Consort Yun was not about to let Song Tingyue off the hook, and she pressed her for answers: "Did you bring that white sparrow into the palace? Did you order it to attack Feng'er? What kind of schemes are you plotting?"
Song Tingyue clutched her wound, her voice hoarse: "No, it's not."
Seeing her pitiful state, Pei Xi couldn't help but say, "Mother, this must be an accident. That white sparrow was meant to be presented to Father by Sister Anyang..."
At this moment, Jiang Wan stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, how could an ordinary white sparrow be so fierce? I think that thing looks like a hawk, from Donglai, a ferocious beast on the battlefield."
"What?"
Consort Yun gasped, her hand, smeared with cinnabar, pointing directly at Song Tingyue.
"You actually brought such a dangerous thing into the palace? And you even wanted to present it to His Majesty? Did you intend to assassinate him?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingyuan and the Empress's expressions darkened.
No! That's not how it is!
Song Tingyue was shocked.
How could Jiang Wan recognize a hawk? That's impossible!
She pushed aside the imperial physician who was bandaging her leg, dragged her badly injured leg, and knelt on the ground, saying...
"Your Majesty is wise! That...that was just an ordinary white sparrow, not some ferocious beast!"
Zhou was even more furious. She grabbed Jiang Wan and, if it weren't for the fact that they were in front of everyone, she would have slapped her.
"That's utter nonsense! What do you know about eagles? Why are you slandering Sister Yue?"
Seeing that Jiang Wan remained silent, Zhou Shi shoved her hard, almost making her fall to the ground: "Are you mute? Hurry up and apologize to Yue'er!"
Enraged, Wang stepped forward and pulled Jiang Wan away.
"Madam Zhou, your daughter has caused trouble, what kind of logic is it to take it out on your daughter-in-law?"
The Empress was also quite displeased with her behavior, and frowned, saying, "Jiang was merely stating her guess, why are you so impatient?"
Song Tingyue knelt down and said, "Your Majesty is right. I believe Awan did not mean to slander me. She just misunderstood."
Her face was covered in blood, and she lay on the ground, which inexplicably evoked a sense of pity.
“A-Wan, you’ve never been to Donglai, so please don’t mislead people.”
Jiang Wan smiled gently and said nothing more.
Song Tingyue quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, that beast had already flown away, otherwise she would have been really dead.
The New Year's Eve had turned into a farce, and Emperor Jingyuan was displeased. He ordered the back hall to be cleaned up and prepared to return to Yunshui Palace.
Just then, a hawk's cry suddenly came from the dense bushes.
Those who had just weathered a storm felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this voice.
Song Tingyue turned deathly pale and trembled as she tried to hide in the crowd.
How could that beast come back?!
A dark shadow appeared in the sky, with white feathers and black claws—it was the eagle!
It was injured and seemed to become even more frenzied, charging recklessly into the crowd.
"Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor!" The Imperial Guards were alarmed.
At this moment, Jiang Wan was talking with the Empress.
The change came so suddenly that she was slightly startled.
Staring directly into those eagle eyes, out of a sense of danger, she was almost certain that the eagle was coming for her.
Perhaps it was because of the lingering scent on her body.
But how could the eagle have lost control? Where is the bodyguard Ah Qi?
Jiang Wan looked at Pei Xuan and noticed that he was also frowning slightly, as if something unexpected had happened.
Seeing the eagle flying towards the women, Emperor Jingyuan shouted, "Quickly! Protect the Empress!"
Although the Imperial Guards were numerous, they were still somewhat outmatched when the eagle got close.
Ignoring its wounds, the eagle charged violently into the crowd, as if it had gone mad.
Biluo stood in front of Jiang Wan and quickly whispered something in her ear.
Jiang Wan opened her eyes slightly, reached into her purse, and sure enough, found the silver whistle.
In an instant, the eagle was already approaching with a sharp cry.
Unexpectedly, it veered slightly and charged towards the Empress. The next moment, its blood-red beak was about to peck at the Empress's face.
Jiang Wan was startled. She stretched out her arm to block with one hand and took out her whistle with the other, blowing it loudly.
Upon hearing the whistle, the eagle tilted its head and paused for a moment in surprise.
Taking advantage of this rare opportunity, the guards immediately set up a net and successfully captured it.
"A-Wan!"
Wang, who was standing nearby, ran over anxiously and said, "You're injured!"
The Empress, recovering from the terrifying moment, turned slightly pale. She personally took Jiang Wan's arm in her hands and frowned with heartache upon seeing the bloodstains on it.
Having survived the ordeal, she said to Emperor Jingyuan, who had rushed over, "Your Majesty, if it weren't for Lady Jiang's rescue, I'm afraid I would already be..."
Emperor Jingyuan nodded; everyone had clearly seen what had just happened.
"Where is the imperial physician? Why hasn't he come to treat Madam Jiang yet!"
With the emperor's order, the imperial physicians had no choice but to put aside Song Tingyue and focus on bandaging Jiang Wan.
"Good child, thank you." The Queen was moved and held her hand tightly.
Jiang Wan shook her head.
If the Empress hadn't stood too close to her and picked up the scent from her clothes, she wouldn't have suffered this undeserved misfortune.
It was only right that she saved him.
Emperor Jingyuan looked at the subdued eagle and snorted angrily: "Summon General Shaoguang to the palace!"
General Shaoguang once fought against Donglai, so he must be able to recognize what this eagle is!
Song Tingyue bit her lip hard, her legs went weak, and she almost couldn't stand up.
General Shaoguang is quite old, and it took some time for him to be summoned from his residence.
The eunuch led him into the inner palace and then said to Emperor Jingyuan, "Your Majesty, the Lady of the Elder Palace has also arrived."
The matriarch, who should have been chanting scriptures all night at the general's mansion, hurriedly entered the palace.
Jiang Wan's expression hardened slightly, and her gaze gradually turned cold.
The elder lady's information network is truly impressive.
They came to the rescue so quickly.
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