Chapter 304
**Chapter 302: Gossip for the Emperor**
The autumn wind blew gently, and the streets bustled with people going about their business, everything as usual.
Mo Xun picked up a black cap that had fallen to the ground, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she murmured to herself, “Could I have seen it wrong?”
After observing for a while, she found everything on the streets to be normal, with no signs of anything amiss among the passersby.
“Doctor Mo, it’s time to enter the Xie residence. What are you looking at?” an elderly physician beside her reminded.
Mo Xun snapped back to reality, quickening her pace as she replied, “I’m coming!”
Under the guidance of a servant, Mo Xun and another physician entered the Xie family courtyard.
Not far away, at the street corner, a dark figure slowly emerged, the hem of a black robe embroidered with intricate, ancient patterns swaying gently in the wind.
Beneath the veil of a black hood, a pair of eyes, deep and sorrowful like a hidden pool, watched the entrance of the Xie residence. Only when Mo Xun’s figure disappeared did he lower his gaze, a hint of elusive sadness flickering in his eyes.
He and she had once been husband and wife, and they had loved each other fiercely, disregarding everything else.
But now...
She had forgotten the past and kept her distance from him.
A young servant, looking somewhat like a lackey, asked, “Master Guoshi, should we bring the lady back?”
The wind rustled, revealing a corner of the black veil. The tall Guoshi of the Yue Kingdom replied coolly, “No need.”
Just a glance was enough; as long as he confirmed she was safe, he felt at ease.
If he pushed her too hard, she wouldn’t know where to run.
There was still plenty of time; he had all the time in the world to bring her home.
The Guoshi turned and walked deeper into the alley. The narrow path was desolate, with the sycamore trees on either side turning yellow, their dry leaves swirling down like confetti. As he stepped on the fallen leaves, the Guoshi suddenly halted.
At the other end of the alley, two armored guards approached, their arms adorned with fierce tiger totems, their gazes sharp and their steps steady.
The guards clasped their hands in salute, politely saying, “Master Guoshi, the Emperor requests your presence in the palace.”
The Guoshi raised an eyebrow, “How does Emperor Qing know I am here?”
The guard replied, “In this vast land, all is the Emperor’s domain. Once you step into our Da Qing territory, the Son of Heaven naturally becomes aware.”
The Guoshi said no more, his expression showing no sign of embarrassment as he followed the guards into the palace.
...
As dusk approached, Lan Pin arrived at Yongning Palace with her maidservants.
Just half an hour earlier, she had received a message from a maid in Yongning Palace, saying that the Guifei wished to invite her for tea. A sense of foreboding stirred in her heart.
In the main hall, Shen Wei was savoring delicious pastries, the faint scent of osmanthus wafting through the room.
Standing beside Shen Wei was Doctor Mo from the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Lan Pin furrowed her brows in silence and knelt to pay her respects, “This humble servant greets Your Highness, the Guifei. May I ask why Your Highness has summoned me today?”
Shen Wei set down the osmanthus cake and said, “Today, Doctor Mo visited the Xie family to check on Madam Wu.”
Lan Pin’s heart nearly leaped into her throat, “Doctor Mo, is there still hope for my mother’s illness?”
Mo Xun opened her palm, her tone resigned, “The poison has entered her lungs; she will surely perish within three months.”
Lan Pin was stunned, stammering, “Poison? What kind of poison?”
Mo Xun explained, “Today, I went to the Xie residence to check on Madam Wu. Her outward symptoms appear to be caused by coldness entering her body, leading to a deficiency in qi and blood, but in truth, it’s heart and lung failure caused by toxins. Based on my years of medical experience, this is likely due to long-term consumption of a certain poisonous wine.”
As she spoke, Mo Xun rummaged through her wide sleeves and pulled out two large silver notes.
With a slap, she placed them on the table.
Mo Xun continued, “Once I entered the Xie residence, countless eyes were on me. Especially that Aunt Zhao, who seemed eager to follow me everywhere. When I left the Xie household, she enthusiastically slipped me these two silver notes.”
The tension in Lan Pin’s heart finally snapped.
The silver notes bore the Xie family’s seal, making them impossible to counterfeit.
Mo Xun then took out a crumpled letter and handed it to Lan Pin, “Though Aunt Zhao was on high alert, I still found an opportunity to express my intentions to Madam Wu. She entrusted this letter to me, asking me to pass it on to you.”
Lan Pin’s fingers trembled as she accepted the wrinkled letter.
The letter was old and worn, clearly written a long time ago. For some reason, it had never been delivered and had been hidden away by Madam Wu.
“Read the letter yourself when you return to the palace. You can judge the truth for yourself,” Shen Wei waved her hand, and Cai Lian escorted Lan Pin out of Yongning Palace.
Lan Pin tucked the letter into her sleeve, bowed to Shen Wei, and left silently.
In the main hall, Shen Wei beckoned to Mo Xun, eagerly asking, “Besides the osmanthus cake, I also want the barley cakes and water chestnut cakes from the East Market. What about the pastries?”
Mo Xun looked exasperated, “Your Highness, I went out to diagnose the illnesses of court ladies; getting a box of osmanthus cakes was already quite enough. If you want other pastries, just send a maid to buy them.”
With no one else around, Mo Xun plopped back into a chair, still shaken as she told Shen Wei, “The Xie family is on high alert. While I was checking Madam Wu’s pulse, at least three pairs of eyes were watching me. Thankfully, I’ve been around for years and managed to find a way to gain Madam Wu’s trust and receive her plea for help.”
“Poor Madam Wu, she’s accumulated several types of poison in her body. She suffered multiple miscarriages in her early years due to being poisoned. Over the years, her health has deteriorated severely; even I can’t save her.”
Mo Xun chattered on, munching on the osmanthus cake as she spoke.
Shen Wei fell into deep thought.
Madam Wu was now like a solitary boat in a vast sea, trapped and unable to move, tightly ensnared by the Xie family. The head of the Xie family and Aunt Zhao were colluding, waiting for Madam Wu to perish so that Aunt Zhao’s son could inherit the Xie family.
Fortunately, in her dying moments, Madam Wu had realized she had been deceived for so long. After pondering for a moment, Shen Wei believed that the resentment Madam Wu had accumulated over the years might just be the key to toppling the Xie family.
...
As night fell, the palace lanterns in Yongning Palace flickered to life one by one.
Shen Wei finished dinner with Li Yuanjing and eagerly pulled him into the inner chamber, quickly shutting the door behind them.
Li Yuanjing raised an eyebrow playfully, teasing, “Why is Wei Wei so impatient tonight?”
Shen Wei silently rolled her eyes.
She pulled Li Yuanjing to the bedside, her bright eyes sparkling as she wiggled a finger in front of him, “Your Majesty, I’ve discovered a shocking secret! It’s about the Xie family, and you’ll be astonished!”
She lowered her voice deliberately, wearing an expression as if she had stumbled upon a monumental scoop.
Li Yuanjing couldn’t help but chuckle.
He enjoyed sharing whispers with Shen Wei. With no one else around, they could sit closely together, sharing their innermost thoughts and gossip.
It was fun, delightful, and intimate.
He sat at the edge of the bed, patting the soft mattress, “Sit down, I’m all ears.”
Shen Wei obediently settled beside him, “Your Majesty, here’s the thing: today, Mo Xun went to the Xie family to check on Madam Wu...”
Outside, the crescent moon hung low, and the sounds of insects filled the courtyard as Shen Wei animatedly recounted the gossip.
She embellished the story of Madam Wu’s poisoning, sharing it with Li Yuanjing.
At first, Li Yuanjing’s expression was warm, but as the tale unfolded, his handsome face gradually turned cold.
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