“I know, perhaps I’m overthinking it. Is there any of that wine left?”
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, Prince Ning noticed the absolute trust and reliance in her eyes when she spoke of his father. He recalled various memories, including a time in his childhood when he had curiously asked his mother about the osmanthus wine she was making. His mother had explained that osmanthus wine, like any ordinary wine, would only grow more fragrant with time and would never spoil.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager dismissed his concerns, and knowing that what he had learned contradicted her words, Prince Ning didn’t want to worry the elderly woman. With a resigned nod, he asked her about the wine.
“I remember drinking a few cups with your father back then, and we finished it all. But the bottle should still be around, my dear grandson…”
Though she didn’t understand why her grandson was so interested in the osmanthus wine, the Empress Dowager still recounted the situation and instructed Eunuch Sun outside.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! You’ve finally awakened! You frightened me half to death, Your Majesty…” Hearing Prince Ning’s call, Eunuch Sun hurried in and, upon seeing the Empress Dowager sitting unharmed on the bed, burst into tears of relief.
“Enough, I’m fine. With Qing’er treating me, what illness could possibly remain? By the way, the empty bottle of osmanthus wine I drank with the Emperor yesterday—go fetch it for me. I remember specifically telling you to keep it and not wash it.”
The Empress Dowager smiled faintly as she gave her instructions.
“That bottle was indeed kept, Your Majesty. But—oh no! I stored it away, and at the time, I could still smell the strong, fragrant aroma of osmanthus. Yet when I checked today, the same bottle had no scent at all. It even seemed to have been replaced with a new one. This…”
Eunuch Sun, who had rushed back in, knelt before the Empress Dowager with this alarming report.
“What? You’re saying the bottle was swapped? This…”
Prince Ning found this even more baffling. In the end, the grandmother and grandson had no choice but to drop the matter for the time being.
Before leaving, Prince Ning specifically instructed Eunuch Sun to continue administering medicine to the Empress Dowager—though it was merely a drug that mimicked her previous poisoned state, inducing a death-like slumber. He emphasized that this was to protect both her life and his own, warning Eunuch Sun not to ask too many questions for his own safety.
“It seems the Emperor’s actions are indeed suspicious. Brother Ning, why would the Emperor poison the Empress Dowager? Does he have some secret or leverage she holds? I thought their mother-son bond was genuine. How could this happen…?”
That night at the Marquis’s residence, Wanqing listened to Prince Ning’s account and voiced her confusion, unable to comprehend the dynamics between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
“I don’t know either. Only the Emperor himself knows the truth. From what you’ve said, the Empress Dowager seems completely unaware—otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so certain after being drugged. Could Nightshade know something about this?”
Prince Ning’s murmured question left Wanqing equally puzzled. Thinking of Nightshade, who might hold the answers, she turned to Prince Ning.
“Even if he knows, would he tell us?” Prince Ning sighed helplessly at his sister’s speculation.
“Alright, we don’t have concrete evidence yet—it’s all just speculation. Don’t dwell on it. It’s late. Qingfeng, take good care of your master. I should rest too.”
Though her brother said nothing more, Wanqing understood his turmoil. How could anyone remain calm upon discovering that the father they had long revered was becoming increasingly incomprehensible, his actions baffling and disappointing?
Seeing his struggle, Wanqing didn’t press further. She watched as Prince Ning nodded and left under Qingfeng’s escort, his mind heavy with thoughts. Though she wished to comfort him, she held back, yawning and turning to her maids.
“It’s late. We’ll deal with everything after some sleep.”
But just as she returned to her room, someone began pounding at the gate.
“Who is it? Seriously, can’t they let people sleep? Go and drag that noisy fool inside. I want to see what urgent matter brings him here at this hour!”
Recognizing the voice as Qingfeng’s, Wanqing frowned. She had no idea why he’d come to her Bamboo Fragrance Pavilion so late, but thinking of his master—Leng Mingye, whose tangled history with the imperial family and the Emperor was no secret—she grew irritated.
Though she had helped save Liu Yufeng, easing tensions between them, this midnight disturbance was too much. With a sigh, she rose and instructed Honglian.
“Miss Mu, I beg you—please save my master! He’s…”
As she stepped outside, Qingfeng, who was being held at sword-point by Wanchun and Xiahe, immediately clasped his hands in pleading.
“Has his poison flared up again?”
Seeing Qingfeng’s grave expression, Wanqing suppressed her annoyance and asked.
“No, the pills you gave him have kept the poison at bay. But tonight, he was ambushed and injured in a fight, which aggravated the toxin’s spread. So…”
Qingfeng hesitated, knowing his master’s complicated feelings toward Wanqing. Despite Leng Mingye’s coldness, she had always helped him. Though unsure if she would this time, Qingfeng still pleaded.
“Fine. I’ll go with you.”
Resigned, Wanqing agreed. Honglian and Wanchun quickly gathered supplies and accompanied her.
“How was he injured this badly? Qingfeng, who did your master fight?”
At Leng Mingye’s residence, near the icy pool, Wanqing found him unconscious, a deep gash exposing his shoulder bone, guarded by his subordinates. Given his skills, she couldn’t fathom who could have wounded him so severely. As she examined his injuries, she questioned the others.
“Nightshade…” Baiyu answered coldly, recalling the scene.
“Nightshade? Why would they fight? Given his condition, he must have been ambushed to end up like this.”
Hearing it was Nightshade, Wanqing guessed the two had clashed after Nightshade left her place. Curious about their feud, she pressed further.
“Miss, can you save my master?” Xiao Zhu cut in anxiously, ignoring her questions.
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