"They wish to use a borrowed knife to kill, how can I willingly offer my throat to be slit!" The Fifth Princess's lips curled into a cold smile. "They want to maintain the current situation, but I refuse to let them!"
"Are you planning to make a move against the Fourth Princess?"
"I will not make a move against her. She has been heartless and unrighteous towards me, yet I cannot be unfeeling and unjust towards her." The Fifth Princess said softly, "Doesn't she want the imperial throne? Doesn't she want to reign supreme and become the Son of Heaven? I refuse to let her!"
The副将 was somewhat confused, unable to grasp the Fifth Princess's meaning.
"Go to the Imperial Concubine's residence and send a calling card. I will pay a visit tomorrow."
The副将 agreed and was about to prepare when he turned back. "Your Highness, will the Imperial Concubine allow us into her residence?"
The Fifth Princess's expression stiffened. She had almost forgotten that she had been listed as persona non grata by Xiao Man, and her people could not enter the Imperial Concubine's residence at all. Moreover, this matter required her personal involvement to be more convincing!
"Forget it. I will handle this myself. You may go."
A glint flashed in the Fifth Princess's eyes. If she couldn't get in through the front door, she'd find another way. With her skills, infiltrating the Imperial Concubine's residence was not a problem!
At the Imperial Concubine's residence, Xiao Man looked at Ye Qing, who lay on the bed, his life or death uncertain, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"He's as troublesome as ever," Xiao Man sighed, looking at He Qingyi. "Next time, do not bring people into the residence. There are many watchful eyes outside, and it is easy to expose yourself."
He Qingyi's expression changed slightly. "I understand. It won't happen again. Young Lady, I implore you to save him. He is severely injured, and my medical skills are insufficient to save him."
Xiao Man sat by the bed and took Ye Qing's pulse. A healthy person, reduced to this state by Feng Mo Ran, was unrecognizable. Feng Mo Ran indeed had a cruel method. However, after examining the pulse, Xiao Man found it a bit strange. She unbuttoned Ye Qing's clothes and began to feel around his body.
He Qingyi blushed slightly at the sight and quickly lowered her gaze. Then she thought that in a doctor's eyes, gender was irrelevant. At such a time, how could she still be thinking about such distinctions!
So He Qingyi stepped forward and asked, "Young Lady, how is it?"
Xiao Man looked at He Qingyi with a complex expression, hesitating to speak. He Qingyi thought that Ye Qing was beyond saving, and the taut string in her heart snapped. Tears streamed down her face. "Even you cannot save him? How can this be..."
Xiao Man looked at the weeping He Qingyi, her expression somewhat unexplainable. After a moment, she said, "I haven't even spoken yet, why are you crying?"
He Qingyi looked at Xiao Man with tear-filled eyes. "Can you save him?"
"I can, but it is very troublesome."
"It's good that you can save him! It's good that you can save him!" He Qingyi quickly wiped away her tears. "Young Lady, whatever you need me to do, please command me."
Xiao Man's expression became even stranger. "Are you my person, or his? You only care about his life and death?"
He Qingyi's expression froze. "We are all family, what is there to distinguish? Young Lady, please save him quickly."
"Alas." Xiao Man sighed deeply. "When the heavens want to rain, and a mother wants to remarry, there is nothing that can be done."
He Qingyi's face turned crimson. If the timing were different, she would have wanted to find a place to hide. Seeing He Qingyi stomping her feet anxiously, "Young Lady, what time is it, and you are still joking? Save him first."
"I want to save him, but the key is that I cannot save him right now!" Xiao Man rubbed her temples. Feng Mo Ran's mind was as meticulous as ever. He had likely foreseen someone coming to save Ye Qing and had set up a double trap: the guards and mechanisms in Yuhua Palace were the first, and the poison in Ye Qing's body was the second.
"Why?"
"To resolve this poison, it is neither difficult nor easy." Xiao Man rubbed her temples, feeling a headache. "To resolve this poison, only one ingredient is missing."
"What ingredient?"
"Use the pistil of a Silver Frost Flower that blooms at the third watch of the night, along with three drops of dew from its leaves, and the poison in his body can be resolved."
"Where can I find Silver Frost Flower? I'll go and pick it," He Qingyi said excitedly. She had seen Silver Frost Flower in medical texts, but it was highly toxic. Could it really detoxify?
"That's the problem. I do not have fresh Silver Frost Flower on hand," Xiao Man sighed. "The only Silver Frost Flower is in Feng Mo Ran's possession."
He Qingyi slumped down dejectedly. "Taking something from Feng Mo Ran's hands is not an easy task. Young Lady, is there truly no other way?"
Xiao Man gave a bitter smile. Feng Mo Ran indeed suspected her, which was why he had entrusted the Silver Frost Flower to her care. Once the Silver Frost Flower's pistil was removed, it would wither. If she tampered with it, Feng Mo Ran would immediately understand that Xiao Man had betrayed him. If Xiao Man did not treat him, Ye Qing, in his current state, would likely not survive for three days.
"Young Lady, what kind of poison has Senior Brother Ye been afflicted with?"
"This poison is called Mirror Flower Water Moon," Xiao Man said with a complex expression. "This poison was developed by my senior sister. Thus far, my senior sister has not developed an antidote. I only learned of the method to resolve it by chance."
"Feng Mo Ran cannot resolve it either?" He Qingyi asked, somewhat confused. After all, it was Feng Mo Ran who had administered the poison. If Feng Mo Ran couldn't resolve it, then he hadn't intended to spare Ye Qing from the beginning, had he?
Xiao Man lowered her gaze. It seemed Feng Mo Ran suspected she was still alive. However, Feng Mo Ran had not yet considered her. He suspected her of leaning towards Nan Gong Yu. If she were to detoxify Ye Qing, she would be putting herself in danger, and those around her would also be in danger. The risk was too great, and she dared not rashly save him.
"Young Lady, you will save him, won't you?" He Qingyi saw Xiao Man's hesitation. She had always known that Xiao Man had ambitions, but Xiao Man had always valued her feelings. If Xiao Man chose to sacrifice Ye Qing to conceal herself, she would have no recourse.
"I will stabilize the poison in his body first." Xiao Man did not answer He Qingyi directly, or rather, she could not answer at this moment. Feng Mo Ran was ruthless and would not consider their master-disciple relationship. She herself was fearless, but she feared implicating those around her.
Xiao Man applied acupuncture to Ye Qing to stabilize the poison in his body and left He Qingyi to care for him. She then exited the room and saw Nan Gong Yu leaning against a pillar, seemingly waiting for her.
"It's quite difficult?"
Xiao Man walked forward slowly. "He is suspicious, but not yet certain."
"What poison has Ye Qing been afflicted with?"
"Mirror Flower Water Moon." Xiao Man gave a bitter laugh. "Years ago, I developed this poison out of idleness. I never imagined that one day it would become evidence of my exposure."
"Only you can resolve this poison." Nan Gong Yu immediately understood. To be precise, only Du Gu Man could resolve this poison. If Xiao Man were to resolve it, Feng Mo Ran would become completely suspicious of Xiao Man.