Chapter 86
**Chapter 86: An Excellent Team**
The princess was plotting in her mind—using Li Yao's poisoning incident to bring down Shen Wei, or at least any of the other concubines, would not be a loss.
Naturally, the Yan Wang did not believe that Shen Wei would do such a thing. However, Shen Wei had fed Li Yao the cold cake, and was thus reluctantly drawn into this conflict.
The royal physician had yet to arrive, so the Yan Wang sent someone to the Liuli Pavilion to summon Shen Wei.
...
In the Liuli Pavilion, Shen Wei was happily enjoying steamed bass. Outside, the air was stifling, but inside, it was cool. She didn’t have to serve the Yan Wang dinner or put on an act, which made her feel quite at ease.
Tonight was oppressively hot, with the wind blowing incessantly and birds flying low. A heavy rain was on the way. Shen Wei planned to go to the courtyard after dinner to pick the ripe tomatoes, lest they be knocked off the vine by the impending storm.
Cai Ping rushed in, whispering a few hurried words in Shen Wei's ear. News traveled fast in the royal household, and Cai Ping, being well-versed in the gossip of the palace, quickly brought the news of Li Yao's poisoning to Shen Wei.
“Poisoned?” Shen Wei calmly set down her chopsticks and asked Cai Ping, “Do you know how to handle this?”
Cai Ping nodded, her bright eyes sparkling with intelligence. “My lady, Mama Liu has already sent someone to find you. They should be at the courtyard gate soon. Don’t worry, I’ve divided the tasks with Cai Lian. She and Ji Xiang have gone to find those who ate the cold cake today and are ready to respond to your summons. Mama Rong and the others are guarding the Liuli Pavilion to prevent any unexpected situations.”
Shen Wei was quite pleased.
Under Shen Wei's careful guidance, the maids and eunuchs of the Liuli Pavilion had become increasingly astute.
An excellent team doesn’t just need a clever leader at the helm; it also requires capable employees to support the cause. If Shen Wei were to encounter trouble in the future and couldn’t show her face, Cai Lian and Cai Ping would be able to resolve issues in the Liuli Pavilion on their own.
Unity and collaboration in problem-solving—this was a team that was gradually taking shape.
Moments later, Mama Liu, who was close to the princess, stormed into the Liuli Pavilion.
Shen Wei feigned surprise, letting her chopsticks clatter to the floor, her expression flustered. “Mama Liu, what brings you here at this hour? Is something wrong?”
Seeing Shen Wei’s timid demeanor, Mama Liu felt a surge of disdain.
What could a farmer’s daughter do, even if she was favored? She crumbled at the first sign of trouble.
“Lady Shen, the prince requests your presence,” Mama Liu said coldly.
Shen Wei stood up stiffly, taking Cai Ping with her as they cautiously followed Mama Liu out.
The sky had darkened further, the air thick and heavy, with birds chirping incessantly. The howling wind rustled the trees, signaling that a downpour was imminent as Shen Wei stepped into the brightly lit courtyard.
From a distance, the Yan Wang spotted Shen Wei entering.
She was dressed lightly, her slender figure swaying precariously in the gusty night wind. How could such a frail woman be the culprit behind the poisoning?
The Yan Wang gently helped Shen Wei, who was bowing, to sit down.
“Your Highness, is there something wrong?” Shen Wei asked cautiously, seemingly unaware of the situation.
Seeing Shen Wei’s naive expression, the princess’s suspicions eased significantly. No matter how foolish Shen Wei might be, she wouldn’t dare poison someone in front of so many witnesses.
The maid who served Li Yao briefly explained the situation to Shen Wei. After hearing it, Shen Wei was taken aback. Instinctively, she looked at the Yan Wang and stammered, “Your Highness... I did see Sister Yao this afternoon... but the cold cake really wasn’t poisoned; I ate quite a bit myself.”
Mama Liu sneered, her voice sharp. “Perhaps you poisoned Lady Yao’s bowl while leaving yours untouched.”
Shen Wei seemed stunned.
Cai Ping suddenly knelt down, exclaiming, “Your Highness, Your Highness! Today, in the sweltering heat, my lady, being kind-hearted, had me distribute the extra cold cakes to the servants. With so many eyes watching, how could my lady dare to poison Lady Yao?”
“Dozens of people ate the cold cake and didn’t fall ill! Clearly, Lady Yao’s poisoning has nothing to do with my lady! If Your Highness and the princess don’t believe it, feel free to summon the servants who ate the cold cake to question them.”
Those who had eaten the cold cake could appear at any moment to testify for Shen Wei.
The princess frowned slightly.
What a coincidence that so many servants had received the cold cake?
The Yan Wang, unable to bear seeing Shen Wei wronged, said in a deep voice, “Let’s put the investigation of the true culprit on hold for now. The priority is to treat Yao’er. Fu Gui, go and hurry the royal physician along—”
After a pause, as if recalling a suitable candidate, the Yan Wang commanded, “Fu Gui, go to the Eastern Garden and invite Doctor Mo.”
In order to treat the Crown Prince’s elder brother’s illness, the Yan Wang had been searching for Doctor Mo in the martial world for years. He had only just found him and brought him into the royal household for temporary accommodation.
With Doctor Mo present, there was no need for the royal physician to treat Li Yao.
Fu Gui hurried out to fetch him.
Shen Wei sat obediently beside the Yan Wang, sipping a cup of mint tea. Her mind wandered to the mention of Doctor Mo.
Having been in this world for a few months, Shen Wei had learned about the elusive Doctor Mo, whose medical skills were renowned, hailed as the greatest physician of the age.
During a previous hunting trip in Dongshan, Madam Sun had also mentioned receiving three detoxification pills from Doctor Mo.
Before Doctor Mo arrived, two small figures stumbled in. It was Li Chengke and Li Chengzhen.
The two boys, having heard about Li Yao’s poisoning, rushed over in a panic, neglecting their studies. Li Chengke, the older of the two, remembered to greet the Yan Wang and the princess, awkwardly asking, “Father, Mother, how is Sister Yao?”
The Yan Wang patted Li Chengke’s shoulder, feeling quite comforted. “It’s good that you remembered to visit your sister at a time like this.”
Li Chengke pursed his lips slightly.
In his heart, he felt more fear and unfamiliarity towards the Yan Wang as a father. Perhaps it was because the princess often whispered about the Yan Wang’s “flirtatiousness” and “coldness” in the boys’ ears, leading Li Chengke to subconsciously believe that his father was a distant and unfeeling man.
The rift between father and son had long been sown.
As for the younger Li Chengzhen, he had already cried and thrown himself by the bed, repeatedly murmuring Li Yao’s name.
The princess clutched her handkerchief tightly, feeling quite irritated.
At this hour, Chengke and Chengzhen should have been studying in the study, not running into a girl’s chamber. They were only causing trouble, providing no help, and wasting precious study time.
But with the Yan Wang present, the princess could only swallow her reprimand.
She forced herself to speak in a gentle and loving tone. “Yao’er has been poisoned, and the royal physician will be here soon to treat her. You mustn’t cry; you’re young men, and it’s not right to shed tears so easily.”
Li Chengke and Li Chengzhen sniffled, their eyes brimming with tears.
They didn’t leave; instead, they silently kept vigil by the bedside.
In the royal household, their mother was overly strict, and their father was cold and distant. Only the young Li Yao had been sincere with them. Seeing her lying there, unconscious and pitiful, the two boys couldn’t help but let their tears fall.
Shen Wei sat quietly beside the Yan Wang, her curious gaze flitting between the princess, Li Chengke, and Li Chengzhen.
These two children seemed to have been poorly taught by the princess. In front of their own father, their eyes were filled only with fear and estrangement.
Shen Wei gently touched her still-flat belly, thinking that when her child was born, she must work hard to cultivate a good relationship with their father. She would involve the Yan Wang in the child’s education to strengthen their father-child bond.
“Your Highness, Doctor Mo has arrived,” Fu Gui called out.
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