Chapter 781: Ambushed
For a moment, Xiao Changqing genuinely wished Gu Qingshu would just leave and never return. He couldn't bring himself to kill her.
If she herself no longer wished to live, he couldn't easily stop her.
He had thought that by delaying, Gu Qingshu wouldn't return, but unexpectedly, she hadn't used much force and had avoided her arteries.
After hearing the imperial physician's report, Xiao Changqing simply replied, "Understood."
Without even waiting for Gu Qingshu to fully recover from her injuries, he ordered her belongings packed and secretly sent her back to Jiangnan to await her marriage.
Xiao Changqing only reported this matter to His Majesty. Regarding this orphaned girl, the Emperor didn't pay much attention—the favor she received wasn't even half of what Shen Yingruo received.
The Youning Emperor merely listened and casually bestowed some jewelry as her dowry. Against the backdrop of several major events, this matter passed like a goose flying overhead, leaving not a single ripple of interest.
Shen Xihe began focusing on nurturing her pregnancy. Since His Majesty hadn't ordered her to hand over palace affairs to someone else, she delegated authority to the Six Bureaus. With their assistance, no major issues arose...
In June, the palace, which had been shrouded in gloom, welcomed a joyous event, bringing a breath of fresh air to the oppressive court—the wedding of Prince Lie.
Xiao Changying's wedding took place, but Shen Xihe did not attend, using her pregnancy as a reason to remain in the Eastern Palace. However, Xiao Huayong went personally to congratulate him, bringing generous gifts.
Upon returning, he seemed to be in extremely high spirits. Holding Shen Xihe, he was reluctant to sleep. "In a couple of days, I'll find an opportunity to finalize our departure date for the Blackwater Tribe."
"With consecutive disasters striking the court, His Majesty is anxious to find a chance to move against us. Going to the Blackwater Tribe now would be handing him a ladder!" Shen Xihe placed her hand on her slightly rounded belly. She didn't want to take risks.
Although she trusted Xiao Huayong, she also didn't want him to overexert himself.
"Precisely because His Majesty can't find an opportunity, he will agree," Xiao Huayong covered her hand with his, both of them feeling the little life beneath their palms.
Hearing this, Shen Xihe knew he was about to stir up trouble again. She couldn't help but think: Did he want to anger His Majesty to death?
Just as Shen Xihe suspected, if he couldn't live past this year, he would take the Emperor with him.
But these words, Xiao Huayong had no intention of telling Shen Xihe. Speaking them would only add to the sorrow.
"Sleep now. Tomorrow, I'll go see Ruogu again," Xiao Huayong covered Shen Xihe's eyes with his hand, adjusted to a comfortable position for her, and held her as they fell asleep.
Shen Xihe closed her eyes and only drifted into a hazy sleep after a long time. When she woke the next day, Xiao Huayong was no longer by her side, nor was he in the Eastern Palace.
During this period, Xiao Huayong had been frequently visiting Xie Yunhuai to regulate his health. Since Xie Yunhuai held no official position, frequently summoning him into the palace was inappropriate and would arouse suspicion. Therefore, Xiao Huayong always secretly left the palace to seek him out.
Since Xiao Huayong was determined to go to the Blackwater Tribe with him, he had to ensure his health was regulated to the best condition, at least to prevent another poisoning episode.
At Xie Yunhuai's thatched cottage in the outskirts of the capital, Xie Yunhuai was preparing Xiao Huayong's medicinal bath. The two chatted idly while working.
Both were well-read and widely traveled individuals. Whether discussing distant lands, the Four Books and Five Classics, or even current affairs and people's livelihoods, they could always find common ground.
Once the medicinal bath was ready, Xiao Huayong lay in it, and Xie Yunhuai began applying acupuncture.The method of using medicinal baths to expel toxins and remove the cold energy accumulated and blocked in Xiao Huayong's body due to toxin buildup was not difficult to control the toxins. It merely delayed the onset of poisoning and reduced Xiao Huayong's pain.
After an hour of medicinal bath and acupuncture, the accompanying decoction was just brewed and brought in by Aler.
Only Xie Yunhuai and Aler were at the thatched cottage, and it had always been Aler and Xie Yunhuai taking care of Xiao Huayong. Aler had originally been invited by Xie Yunhuai to diagnose Xiao Huayong's poisoning and, by chance, had even saved Cui Jinbai's life.
They had been waiting for Xiao Huayong to arrange everything before accompanying them to Aler's tribe for treatment.
Xiao Huayong took the medicine and, as usual, tilted his head back and drank it in one gulp. Setting down the bowl, he stood up to dress.
Halfway through dressing, Xiao Huayong suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. Leaning on the table edge, his expression changed drastically.
Hearing the commotion, Xie Yunhuai and Aler rushed over. Before they could reach him, Xiao Huayong spat out a mouthful of foul blood and then collapsed.
The guards outside, hearing Xie Yunhuai's exclamation, rushed in and saw Xie Yunhuai supporting the unconscious Xiao Huayong while checking his pulse.
His face pale, Xie Yunhuai said to the guards, "Send someone to fetch A Xi! Quickly!"
Then, with a cold glare, he stared at Aler and ordered the guards, "Restrain him!"
Xiao Huayong had been poisoned again. Just after the medicinal bath and acupuncture, Xie Yunhuai had checked Xiao Huayong's pulse. During this time, Xiao Huayong had only taken the medicine brought by Aler.
Xie Yunhuai had no time to ponder this further—saving the patient was urgent. He helped Xiao Huayong onto the bed, quickly applied acupuncture, prepared a medicinal solution, and forced it down Xiao Huayong's throat.
Although Sui Axi was a physician of the Eastern Palace, he lived outside the palace and arrived swiftly. Xie Yunhuai immediately had Sui Axi perform acupuncture on Xiao Huayong to expel the poison, ensuring the two toxins did not merge.
After emergency treatment, the crisis was averted. Though Xiao Huayong's life was saved, the poison had still entered his body. No matter how promptly they responded, it inevitably agitated the latent toxins already present in Xiao Huayong's system.
Thus, Xiao Huayong awoke feeling as if he were encased in ice. Despite the numerous braziers burning in the room, the thick quilts and light furs covering him, and the blazing sun outside, he shivered uncontrollably from the cold.
"Your Highness, it was my negligence," Xie Yunhuai said upon seeing Xiao Huayong awake, kneeling as he lifted his robe.
Xiao Huayong suppressed the chill in his body. "What happened?"
At that moment, Xiao Huayong still did not realize he had been targeted, assuming it was either a mistake in the treatment or a sudden change in the toxins within his body.
During Xiao Huayong's unconsciousness, Xie Yunhuai had ample time to investigate. Aler had hidden medicinal powder under his fingernails, which matched the residual toxins in the bowl from which Xiao Huayong had drunk.
Aler had been tied up, but he appeared bewildered, as if unaware he had tampered with Xiao Huayong's bowl.
"Your Highness, I am not defending Aler, but he has no connections in the Central Plains and does not even speak the language. It is nearly impossible to bribe him. This matter is highly suspicious," Xie Yunhuai reported truthfully, voicing his doubts.
Xiao Huayong closed his eyes. "I feel extremely cold. Can the symptoms be alleviated?"
"Your Highness, please endure for another half-hour. After A Xi performs another round of acupuncture, it will ease," Xie Yunhuai replied, having already anticipated Xiao Huayong's symptoms upon waking and prepared countermeasures.
"Mmm." Xiao Huayong responded softly. "Ruguo, rise. This is not your fault."Xiao Huayong said no more, but Xie Yunhuai felt uneasy and anxious, for Xiao Huayong's current condition was truly far from optimistic.
(End of Chapter)
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