"Isn't this nice?" Feng Qingyi asked in return.
It seemed that since the Spring Festival, she had become increasingly relaxed around him. Unlike her previous reserved manner, she now spoke her mind more freely, becoming much more direct.
"It's very nice. Keep it up," he said. He enjoyed seeing her childlike side when she was with him; it warmed his heart.
Qin Yuchuan's hand touched Feng Qingyi's face, gently pinching her cheek.
Feng Qingyi glared at him. "Don't pinch my face."
"I'm merely returning the favor. Why should only the officials be allowed to start fires, while the common people can't even light a candle?" Qin Yuchuan chuckled softly.
"Hmph, why did you pretend to be asleep earlier?"
"If I hadn't pretended to be asleep, how could I have seen you like this?"
Qin Yuchuan's hand moved down, gripping Feng Qingyi's chin and touching her lips. At first, he only pecked her lips lightly, but then he deepened the kiss, their lips and teeth intertwining.
After a long moment, Qin Yuchuan finally released Feng Qingyi.
Feng Qingyi glared at him, her face flushed red. "How could you do that?"
"Although I want to express my feelings for you within proper bounds, sometimes I can't control myself." Especially when she looked at him seriously, he always wanted to do something to her.
Feng Qingyi grabbed the blanket and wrapped herself tightly. "You should get up now."
"Mmm, put on your shoes, and I'll take you back," Qin Yuchuan said.
Feng Qingyi waited until Qin Yuchuan had dressed before pulling back the blanket and looking around for her slippers.
"General, they're all waiting for you in the main tent," Yan Yang's voice suddenly rang out. A moment later, he lifted the tent flap and stood at the entrance.
"...Qingyi, Miss Qingyi, you're here too! Please continue, I didn't see anything, I didn't see anything!"
Yan Yang quickly retreated. Had he interrupted the General's intimate moment today? The General usually appeared so proper and dignified; who would have thought he'd already be sharing a bed with Miss Qingyi?
"You... you should explain to Yan Yang later that nothing happened between us. And didn't you say women weren't allowed in the military camp? You're breaking your own rules," Feng Qingyi said.
Qin Yuchuan brought Feng Qingyi's slippers to the bedside and helped her put them on.
"It won't happen again, and Yan Yang won't spread the word. Don't worry."
Feng Qingyi stood on the ground wearing her slippers. "They're all waiting for you, you should hurry and go!"
"Are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?" Qin Yuchuan asked.
Feng Qingyi sighed, "As the General, you need to set an example. Otherwise, how will you command respect? Take me back, and then quickly get to work."
Qin Yuchuan ruffled Feng Qingyi's hair. "Alright, I understand."
After escorting Feng Qingyi back, Qin Yuchuan went to the main tent.
Meanwhile, back at the villa, Feng Qingyi looked in the mirror at her hair, which resembled a bird's nest, remembering how Qin Yuchuan had ruffled it earlier. She suspected he had done it on purpose, but found this side of him rather amusing.
...
In Shengjing, at the Imperial Palace.
At the appointed time, Qi Tan once again left the palace to meet Fukang.
As usual, Fukang was dressed entirely in black, his phoenix eyes particularly sharp.
"Has His Majesty shown any unusual symptoms these past two days?" Fukang asked.
Qi Tan replied, "In response to the Divine Physician, His Majesty has taken the pills you provided. These past two days, he has been in high spirits and seems to be showing signs of improvement."
"Those pills are extremely precious and can easily handle minor poisoning from insect venom. Have you found the person who administered the poison?"
Only a few reclusive families in the Southern Borderlands raised such venomous insects. There must be someone from the Southern Borderlands close to Xuanyuan Sheng.
Qi Tan shook his head. "His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation, but no clues were found."
To be able to administer such poison and make the victim unknowingly consume drugs that nourish the venomous insects showed considerable skill. The fact that no information had been uncovered suggested the culprit was well-hidden.
However, recalling Xuanyuan Yan's statement that whether the poison was cured or not made no difference, it seemed he must know quite a bit about this hidden adversary.
The power struggles within the royal family had always been brutal and bloody. Who knew how this one would begin and end?
But knowing Xuanyuan Yan as he did, Fukang was certain he wouldn't make a move without absolute confidence.
He almost felt sorry for His Majesty, poisoned as he was. With a spy among his close confidants, someone secretly trying to take his life, and others coveting his position, he was truly caught between a rock and a hard place.
Fukang followed Qi Tan to meet Xuanyuan Sheng again. Compared to two days ago, the Emperor seemed more energetic.
"Your Majesty, let me be frank: the process of removing the venomous insects will be extremely painful. If Your Majesty can endure it, we'll begin. If not, we'll have to forgo the treatment," Fukang said.
Xuanyuan Sheng replied, "I trouble the Divine Physician to proceed."
Seeing this, Fukang sent everyone else out and began to apply acupuncture to Xuanyuan Sheng.
The process was excruciatingly long. Xuanyuan Sheng remained conscious throughout, the pain nearly causing him to faint several times, only to be awakened by Fukang.
After two hours, Fukang's forehead was covered in sweat. Black blood flowed from Xuanyuan Sheng's arm, along with the fully formed venomous insects.
Fukang placed the insects in a porcelain bottle he had brought with him. He glanced at Xuanyuan Sheng, who had passed out from exhaustion on the bed, then left with a flourish.
Qi Tan followed behind Fukang. "Divine Physician, is His Majesty cured now?"
"He's out of danger. He's lost a lot of blood, so have the palace physicians prescribe some blood-nourishing formulas for him to take gradually," Fukang said before departing.
Qi Tan dutifully returned to attend to Xuanyuan Sheng. After half a day of unconsciousness, Xuanyuan Sheng finally woke up.
Qi Tan stood nearby, tears streaming down his face. "Your Majesty, you're finally awake! Here are some tonics, please take them quickly to regain your strength."
Due to the previous incident with the tonics, Xuanyuan Sheng had developed an aversion to them. Upon hearing they were tonics, he showed no intention of accepting them.
Qi Tan immediately understood Xuanyuan Sheng's thoughts. "Your Majesty, the venomous insects in your body have been removed. The Divine Physician said you need to take these tonics."
Hearing that it was Fukang's recommendation, Xuanyuan Sheng finally picked up the medicine bowl and drank it all down.
In Changle Palace, when Murong Yan learned that Xuanyuan Sheng's poisoning had been cured, she was somewhat surprised.
Although there were rumors about Divine Physician Fukang's exceptional medical skills, she hadn't witnessed them firsthand and had been somewhat skeptical.
She hadn't expected him to be able to cure even the unique venomous insect poison from the Southern Borderlands. It seemed his reputation was well-deserved after all.
Now that the poison in Xuanyuan Sheng's body had been neutralized, her original plan had once again been thwarted.
The only thing that could be done now was to strike first and kill him. Otherwise, if he became suspicious of her, or if he discovered what had happened before, everything would become even more precarious.
At that point, not only she, but also the child in her womb, would be in grave danger.
"Yan Lan, instruct our people to lay in ambush. We'll take action in three days."
Aware of the gravity of the situation, Yan Lan hurriedly went to make preparations.
Outside Changle Palace, the caws of crows rose and fell like a funeral dirge, making the palace attendants uneasy.
