Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, whose original name was Yan Yuan Chi, was a physician who lived a nomadic life, considering the world his home.
He had an old acquaintance with Bian Si Yue’s grandfather and stayed at the Bian residence when he was in Duan Jing.
Noticing Bian Si Yue’s talent in medicine, he took her as a disciple, intending to pass on all his lifelong knowledge to her.
However, after teaching her only the rudiments, he had to leave on an errand.
When he returned, the Bian residence was deserted.
It was then that he learned the Bian family had been implicated in Prince Ming’s rebellion. Those who were not executed were exiled, leaving only the very young Bian Si Yue, who was sent to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau.
“Then how did you become the Imperial Preceptor?” Wang Qing Yao asked.
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, sighed, “After the Bian family’s downfall, I became disheartened. Emperors are suspicious, showing no regard for loyalty, and are ruthless in disregarding human life. Though I was renowned as a divine physician, I could heal the body but not the heart.”
“So, I transformed myself into a sorcerer from the distant East, gained the late Emperor’s trust, and was allowed to stay in the palace. I stayed by the side of the then Crown Prince, now Emperor, and under the guise of the Imperial Preceptor, I subtly instilled in him righteousness, benevolence, and kindness…”
Xiao Yun nodded, a sense of sudden realization dawning on him.
Wang Qing Yao: “Elaborate on how you transformed yourself.”
Xiao Yun: “…”
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, coughed and said haughtily, “I once stayed in Nan Zhou and learned a bit of witchcraft, though not proficiently…”
It seemed the late Emperor was quite easily fooled in this regard.
Perhaps all emperors harbored a desire for immortality, and Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, happened to be skilled in medicine. The combination made it easy for people to believe he was extraordinary.
“You stayed in Nan Zhou, so do you know about the Green Demon?” Wang Qing Yao asked directly, getting straight to the point.
Xiao Yun glanced at her nervously and cleared his throat with a fist to his mouth.
A bit too eager…
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, however, was unfazed. “Yes, I know. The Green Demon is a very potent poison, colorless and odorless. Those poisoned show no symptoms after death, and nothing can be detected. However, after seven days, their bones turn green. Isn’t that strange? Hmm? Why does Your Highness the Consort ask about this?”
That was a long story.
Wang Qing Yao stated concisely, “Have you heard the rumor that the curse on Prince Ding An was man-made?”
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, nodded.
“It was indeed man-made. It was the eunuch Chang Shou, who once served in the Empress Dowager’s palace. However, after our investigation, we found that he only provided the Green Demon, and the one who administered the poison was Eunuch Shun Feng, who is by the Emperor’s side.”
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, was both shocked and bewildered, as if his CPU had overloaded, and he couldn’t quite process it.
After a moment, he clapped his hands together. “I knew it! These were all discovered by Your Highness the Consort. When I cast the fates for both of you, I said that Princess Ding An’s destiny was noble and could break the Xiao family’s curse. See? Wasn’t I right?”
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, puffed out his chest proudly. “This is something I calculated with my true skills. Tsk, tsk, tsk, I must add this to my little notebook later.”
The Xiao family’s curse being man-made was something Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, had heard of, but he was unaware of the specifics.
Who would have thought it involved the Emperor and the Empress Dowager!
“No, why would someone by the Emperor’s side poison the Prince? Doesn’t the Emperor dote on the Prince? That’s not right. My teachings were successful! When did the Emperor become so cruel? That’s not right. Didn’t the Emperor order me to go to Nan Zhou to find an antidote for the Green Demon last time? What is going on???”
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, looked terrified, falling into self-doubt.
Xiao Yun said, “It wasn’t the Emperor. This is a long story. We called the Imperial Preceptor here today, firstly to treat the Consort’s eyes, and secondly…”
Before he could finish, Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, interrupted him, “The Consort’s eyes are not blind at all.”
“As expected of a divine physician,” Wang Qing Yao applauded him.
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, sniffed haughtily. “Secondly, what?”
“Secondly, we wanted to ask if the Imperial Preceptor has a way to produce an antidote for the Green Demon. Shun Feng is highly skilled in martial arts, and it’s hard to guard against him. What if he poisons…”
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, stroked his beard and sighed, “When I was still living in Nan Zhou, I began researching the Green Demon, but I never managed to create an antidote. The last time the Emperor sent me to Nan Zhou, he also asked me to find an antidote for the Green Demon. Not to mention an antidote, I couldn’t even find the Green Demon poison itself.”
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, sighed mournfully, making Xiao Yun and Wang Qing Yao feel a chill.
“However,” Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, added, “you needn’t worry too much. After I returned, I happened to discover that young Shun Feng had a bottle of Green Demon, so I swapped the poison. The Green Demon Shun Feng now has is actually just a bottle of water.”
!!!!!
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, said it so casually and lightly.
Wang Qing Yao, however, cried out in surprise, and Xiao Yun’s face also lit up with joy.
Given Shun Feng’s nature, he would not try to kill Xiao Yun in any way other than with the Green Demon.
A curse, a curse, the most important thing is that it is undetectable!
“Imperial Preceptor, you are so cool! You’ve helped us immensely!” Wang Qing Yao looked at Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, with shining eyes.
Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, straightened his back involuntarily. “Heh heh, I’m just ordinarily cool, ordinarily cool.”