Lu Qing Wan looked up at him from the ground, "Are you going to wait until I'm dead before coming back to collect my corpse?"
Feng Qing Heng's stool, and the disguised hairpin knife of Yu Mei Ren, had all left significant marks on her.
Lu Qing Wan could only see a dazzling galaxy before her eyes, as if falling into the clouds, feeling dizzy and disoriented.
"Don't talk nonsense, what dead or alive, it's inauspicious."
Feng Xi Wu was clad in black armor, his hair pulled up, tied with a silver crown, still carrying the grim aura of the battlefield.
He also held his helmet in one hand, while Li Yang, standing by, shrewdly took it from him.
Feng Xi Wu then bent down to help her up, but Lu Qing Wan unceremoniously extended her hand.
"Carry me to His Majesty's side. If you dawdle any longer, you two brothers won't get to see each other for the last time!"
Covered in blood splattered by Feng Qing Heng's assault, and having rolled on the ground with Yu Mei Ren several times, Lu Qing Wan's current appearance was the epitome of mess and disarray.
"You've become a little dirty cat!"
Feng Xi Wu, though verbally disdainful, picked her up with care.
"Didn't they say you grew thin with longing? You've gained weight since I've been gone for so long?"
Lu Qing Wan's expression was arrogant, her eyes challenging, "Does Your Highness mean you haven't become weaker yourself?"
"Pfft, cough cough..."
Prime Minister Wen, watching Meng Tang attending to Emperor Jing You, had intended to give the two some space to reminisce.
But hearing their words drift towards unspeakable territories, he quickly made his presence known.
"It is truly a joyous occasion for His Highness to return safely. How is the Princess Consort's health? Can she still treat His Majesty?"
"Of course, I can!"
Lu Qing Wan, embracing Feng Xi Wu's neck, declared, "If His Majesty doesn't wake up, my crime of regicide will remain unpunished.
But what did Yu Mei Ren say? That I poisoned the Regent King, and to prevent my crime from being revealed, I poisoned His Majesty to silence me.
Yet now the Regent King is alive and kicking. Doesn't Yu Mei Ren owe an explanation?
What is going on here?"
Her tone was clearly provocative, meant to anger him.
However, Yu Mei Ren's ribs had been broken by Feng Xi Wu's kick countless times, and she was now lying there, barely breathing.
Whether dead or alive, upon hearing Lu Qing Wan's words, she twitched with rage.
Lu Qing Wan raised an eyebrow at this, "She's still alive? What resilience!"
The officials' mouths twitched uncontrollably. What was with that tone of disappointment?
But they were thinking too much. Lu Qing Wan was merely lamenting. She truly didn't want Yu Mei Ren to die just yet.
Her stage had just been set, and the main actress had kicked the bucket prematurely. How could the play continue?
With her feet dangling, she had Feng Xi Wu carry her to Emperor Jing You's bedside. Lu Qing Wan, clinging to Feng Xi Wu's neck, spoke imperiously.
"Meng Tang, go and examine Yu Mei Ren.
She was the first person to stay by His Majesty's side for over a decade. It would be a shame if she died like this."
Meng Tang turned around in surprise, and upon seeing Lu Qing Wan's appearance, he understood everything.
He bowed his head silently, "Yes, Princess Consort."
Making way for Lu Qing Wan at Emperor Jing You's bedside, Meng Tang retreated to tend to Yu Mei Ren.
Li Yang, with his usual keenness, brought a chair and placed it by Emperor Jing You's bed. Feng Xi Wu settled Lu Qing Wan on the chair, naturally allowing her to examine Emperor Jing You.
Emperor Jing You was convulsing severely. Lu Qing Wan quickly reached out to Feng Xi Wu, "Silver needles."
"Here!"
Li Yang, with practiced ease, handed the medical kit to Feng Xi Wu, who took out silver needles and passed them to Lu Qing Wan, even disinfecting them with alcohol cotton before handing them over.
Lu Qing Wan took the silver needles. The way she held them made Feng Qing Heng easily recall how Lin Sa had treated him.
Recalling her profound medical skills, Feng Qing Heng broke out in a cold sweat.
After much thought, he decisively walked up to Feng Qing Heng and said with an air of impartiality, "Imperial Uncle, Lu Qing Wan is still suspected of harming Father Emperor. For Father Emperor's safety, I request Imperial Uncle to have someone else examine Father Emperor."
"Who else?"
Feng Xi Wu looked at him coldly, "Chen Yan Zhang or Zhao Wu Mian?
Are all physicians who don't draw conclusions according to your wishes considered quacks?
Your recommended Dean Zhao is so capable, yet Brother Emperor is still convulsing. Do you want to replace the doctor to save Brother Emperor, or to kill him imperceptibly?"
"Imperial Uncle misunderstands..."
"Since it's a misunderstanding, let me continue to misunderstand!"
Feng Xi Wu's tall frame blocked Feng Qing Heng, and without turning his head, he instructed Lu Qing Wan, "With me here, you treat. Don't worry about anything else."
Lu Qing Wan pouted, "If I waited for your notice, the yellow flowers would be cold by then. I've already started."
Feng Xi Wu glanced back, and indeed, Emperor Jing You's body was already gleaming with silver needles, instantly silencing him.
With Feng Xi Wu holding the fort and Lu Qing Wan saving the patient, the situation should have been stable.
But at that moment, a flustered voice rang out, "Someone is impersonating the Regent King and attempting to assassinate His Majesty. Quickly, protect the Emperor!"
The same sentence, repeated over and over, became increasingly alarming.
The officials, horrified, backed away from Feng Xi Wu, who was only inches from Emperor Jing You, and Lu Qing Wan, who was already seated by Emperor Jing You's bed, utterly bewildered.
Gu Ci En, the Minister of Justice, hesitated, "That voice… it sounds like Prince Guang Chang. Why would he be in the palace at this time?"
Prince Guang Chang held a noble title but no actual power. Apart from visiting Emperor Jing You during festivals, he rarely entered the palace.
Gu Ci En's words made all the officials find it strange. Duke Pei, who had been disappointed by Feng Xi Wu's appearance, saw hope again.
He said with great urgency, "Prince Guang Chang doesn't usually enter the palace. If he's this anxious, could it be that the Regent King truly has some issue?"
His words clearly aimed to induce suspicion among the officials regarding Feng Xi Wu's identity.
As the officials trembled with fear, with Prince Guang Chang's repeated shouts, the sound of disordered footsteps approached.
A group of Imperial Guards in red armor stormed into Weiyang Palace, heading directly for the sleeping quarters.
The man at the forefront entered the sleeping quarters in a few strides. Upon seeing Feng Xi Wu and Lu Qing Wan, he sternly commanded, "Guards, arrest this impostor of the Regent King who attempted to assassinate His Majesty!"
At his command, the Imperial Guards rushed forward to seize the man.
Prime Minister Wen became anxious. After finally waiting for the Regent King, how could he allow such a disturbance?
He quickly supported his aching back and stepped out, "Wait a moment, Commander Du!
You claim this Regent King is an impostor. Do you have proof?"
"Of course, I do!"
A proud female voice rang out. Everyone turned to see Consort Dowager Wen, clad in a grey Taoist robe, slowly approaching, with Prince Guang Chang, who had spoken earlier, by her side.
"Though I am old, I still recognize my own son.
I personally testify that my son is bedridden and cannot even stand. This person is an impostor.
Prime Minister, I personally testify. Is this testimony weighty enough?
If not, I can also provide physical evidence."