For a moment, Xiao Changqing truly wished Gu Qingshu would simply leave. He couldn’t bring himself to harm her. If she didn’t want to live, he couldn’t easily stop her. He had hoped that after some time, Gu Qingshu wouldn’t return, but she hadn’t used much force and had avoided the arteries.

After hearing the Imperial Physician’s report, Xiao Changqing only replied, “I understand.” Without waiting for Gu Qingshu’s wounds to heal, he ordered people to quietly pack her belongings and send her back to Jiangnan to await marriage.

Regarding this matter, Xiao Changqing only reported it briefly to His Majesty. The Emperor didn’t pay much attention to this orphaned girl, and the favor she received didn’t amount to half of what Shen Xihe had. Emperor Youning merely listened and casually bestowed some jewels as dowry. Against the backdrop of several major events, this matter passed like wild geese leaving no trace, creating not even a ripple of interest.

Shen Xihe began nurturing her pregnancy. Since His Majesty hadn’t instructed her to hand over palace affairs to others, she delegated authority to the Six Palaces Bureau. With their assistance, there weren’t any major issues.

In June, the gloomy palace welcomed a joyous event that brought a touch of vitality to the oppressive court atmosphere—Prince Lie’s grand wedding. When Xiao Changying married, Shen Xihe didn’t attend, using her pregnancy as an excuse to remain in the Eastern Palace. However, Xiao Huayong brought generous gifts to offer his congratulations.

After returning, he seemed to be in an excellent mood and held Shen Xihe close, reluctant to sleep: “In a few days, I’ll find an opportunity to finalize our departure date for the Black Water tribe.”

“The court has suffered consecutive misfortunes, and His Majesty is anxiously seeking an opportunity to deal with us. Going to the Black Water tribe now would be like handing him a ladder!” Shen Xihe’s hand rested on her slightly curved belly; she didn’t want to take risks. Though she trusted Xiao Huayong, she didn’t want him to be too restless.

“It’s precisely because His Majesty can’t find an opportunity that he’ll approve,” Xiao Huayong’s hand covered Shen Xihe’s, and together they felt the presence of the small life beneath their palms.

Hearing this, Shen Xihe knew he was planning another scheme and couldn’t help but think he wanted to anger His Majesty to death.

Just as Shen Xihe suspected, if he couldn’t survive this year, he’d take His Majesty with him. However, Xiao Huayong didn’t want to tell Shen Xihe these thoughts; speaking of them would only cause unnecessary grief.

“Sleep now. Tomorrow I’ll go see Ruogu again.” Xiao Huayong covered Shen Xihe’s eyes with his hand, adjusted to a comfortable position, and held her as they fell asleep.

Shen Xihe closed her eyes, taking a long while to drift off drowsily. When she woke the next day, Xiao Huayong was neither by her side nor in the Eastern Palace.

During this period, Xiao Huayong had been regularly seeking Xie Yunhuai for body treatments. Since Xie Yunhuai held no official position, frequently summoning him to the palace would be inappropriate and raise suspicions. Therefore, Xiao Huayong would secretly leave the palace to visit him.

Since Xiao Huayong had decided to go to the Black Water tribe with him, he naturally needed to get his body in the best possible condition, at least to prevent another poison attack.

In Xie Yunhuai’s thatched cottage outside the capital, Xie Yunhuai was preparing Xiao Huayong’s medicinal bath. The two chatted while busy with preparations. Both were well-read and widely traveled men who could converse about everything from distant lands to the Four Books and Five Classics and even current politics and people’s livelihoods.

When the medicinal bath was ready, Xiao Huayong lay down in it, and Xie Yunhuai began administering acupuncture. Using the medicinal bath to detoxify and remove the cold qi that had accumulated in Xiao Huayong’s body due to the poison wasn’t difficult to control. It merely delayed the poison’s effects and reduced Xiao Huayong’s pain.

After an hour of medicinal bath and acupuncture, the medicine that was to be taken alongside finished brewing, and Ale brought it in. Only Xie Yunhuai and Ale were at the cottage, and they had always been the ones caring for Xiao Huayong. Ale had originally been invited by Xie Yunhuai to diagnose Xiao Huayong’s poison, and by coincidence had also saved Cui Jinbai’s life.

They had been waiting for Xiao Huayong to arrange everything so they could go to Ale’s tribe for treatment.

Xiao Huayong took the medicine and, as usual, drank it all in one gulp. He set down the bowl and began dressing.

Halfway through dressing, Xiao Huayong suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. He supported himself against the table edge, his expression changing drastically.

Hearing the commotion, Xie Yunhuai and Ale rushed over, but before they could reach Xiao Huayong, he spat out a mouthful of toxic blood and collapsed.

The guards outside heard Xie Yunhuai’s startled cry and rushed in to see Xie Yunhuai supporting the unconscious Xiao Huayong, one hand checking his pulse.

Then, pale-faced, he told the guards: “Send someone to call Ahxi! Quickly!” After speaking, his eyes filled with cold light as he stared at Ale and ordered the guards: “Keep him under watch!”

Xiao Huayong had been poisoned again. After the medicinal bath and acupuncture, Xie Yunhuai had just checked Xiao Huayong’s pulse, and at that time, Xiao Huayong had only taken the medicine brought by Ale.

He had no time to think about these details; saving the person was urgent. He helped Xiao Huayong onto the couch, quickly administered acupuncture, found medicine, and mixed it with water, then made Xiao Huayong drink it.

Although Ahxi was the Eastern Palace’s physician, he lived outside the palace and arrived quickly. Xie Yunhuai immediately had Ahxi perform acupuncture to force out the poison, absolutely preventing the two poisons from mixing.

After the emergency treatment, though it had been dangerous, they saved his life. However, even though they had responded as quickly as possible, the poison had still entered his body and inevitably stimulated the poison already lurking within Xiao Huayong.

Thus, Xiao Huayong woke up in what felt like a sheet of ice. Despite the many braziers burning in the room, the thick quilts and light fur covering him, and the blazing sun outside, he was shivering uncontrollably from the cold.

“Your Highness, I was negligent.” Seeing Xiao Huayong awake, Xie Yunhuai lifted his robe and knelt.

Xiao Huayong suppressed the chill in his body: “What happened?”

At this moment, Xiao Huayong still didn’t know he had fallen victim to a plot, thinking either the treatment had gone wrong or the poison in his body had changed.

During Xiao Huayong’s unconsciousness, Xie Yunhuai had enough time to investigate everything. Poison powder was found hidden under Ale’s fingernails, matching the poison residue in Xiao Huayong’s medicine bowl.

Ale had been bound, but he looked bewildered, as if unaware he had tampered with Xiao Huayong’s bowl.

“Your Highness, I’m not making excuses for Ale, but he has no ties in the Central Plains and can barely communicate. It’s almost impossible for someone to bribe him. This matter is extremely suspicious.” After reporting the facts, Xie Yunhuai expressed his doubts.

Xiao Huayong closed his eyes: “I feel intense cold. Can these symptoms be alleviated?”

“Your Highness, please endure for another half hour. After Ahxi administers acupuncture once more, it should ease.” Xie Yunhuai had already anticipated Xiao Huayong’s symptoms upon waking and had prepared countermeasures.

“Mm.” Xiao Huayong gave a soft acknowledgment. “Ruogu, rise. This isn’t your fault.”

Xiao Huayong didn’t say anything more, while Xie Yunhuai remained anxious and concerned, especially given Xiao Huayong’s current unfavorable condition.