Chapter 30: The Lover Comes to the Door

Xiao Ningxun noticed Xiao Er's expression shift, followed his gaze and looked over: "Who is this? Do you know him?"

Remembering the Princess Consort's instructions, Xiao Er hurriedly shook his head: "I don't know him, he just looks somewhat familiar."

Xiao Ningxun didn't think much of it, leading his sister inside.

Xiao Er found an excuse to delay a moment, paying attention to that person's movements.

The man handed a visiting card to the servant at the gate; the servant took it and went inside, returning shortly: "Please follow me."

Xiao Er kept a distance, quietly following the two; he saw the man follow the servant into Defying Frost Pavilion.

Xiao Er's heart jolted: the Side Consort, really this bold?

The servant returned to the gate to resume duty; Xiao Er feigned nonchalance and asked: "Just now, who was that man? How can an outsider enter the inner quarters?"

He was the Chief Guard of the Prince's Mansion; it was only natural for him to inquire, and the servant showed no suspicion: "The card clearly states he is the Side Consort's maternal cousin, surnamed Jiang, given name Yuan, sent by elders to visit the Side Consort."

"I reported to the Side Consort, she consented, and then I escorted him in."

"I see; since he is the Side Consort's kin, it's no problem."

Xiao Er turned and went to Tranquil Orchid Pavilion, reporting this to Cheng Ru'an.

Cheng Ru'an's face darkened, heart burning with rage: Fang Qingyan! You dare openly meet your lover in the Prince's Mansion! Do you think we're all dead?

She thought: "In broad daylight he won't stay long; don't startle him. After he leaves, follow him to find where he stays."

"Yes."

Inside Defying Frost Pavilion.

Fang Qingyan ordered the servants to withdraw, closed the door, no longer hiding her displeasure: "How could you come so soon?"

Jiang Yuan took her hand and sat down, brows furrowed, face grim: "No choice; this is extremely urgent, I had to risk coming."

"Make it short. Do you remember the pill I had you give him years ago?"

Fang Qingyan recalled: "What happened?"

"That isn't ordinary poison; it contains Gu Worm larvae."

"What?!" Fang Qingyan couldn't help but exclaim.

"Keep it down! It's because of that Gu Worm he's been comatose for so long; even if he woke, he'd be an idiot infant. But that's only the larval Gu; I still keep a female Gu."

"A few days ago, the female Gu suddenly became restless all day, devouring the several larval Gu I had carefully raised. So I guess the larval Gu inside him has died. And he should have fully awakened."

"Don't you notice anything amiss in the Prince's Mansion lately?"

Fang Qingyan covered her mouth, face pale with panic, and thought carefully: "What you say does seem off lately; these days whenever I wanted to visit, I was always turned away with excuses. What should we do now?"

Jiang Yuan handed her a small brown porcelain bottle: "I have sealed the female Gu inside a pill; you must find a way for him to take it. The female Gu will avenge its offspring, once inside it will gradually block his seven orifices one by one, causing death after over a month, leaving no trace."

He stared intently at Fang Qingyan's eyes: "This time we can't wait any longer; we must finish him off completely."

"The female Gu must enter a human body within three days, otherwise it will perish; we must act quickly, absolutely no delay."

"You needn't worry; unless one is an expert in this art, ordinary imperial physicians can't detect it—last time they didn't find it either, did they?"

Fang Qingyan took the bottle, eyes flickering: "I understand. Hurry and leave; if you linger, the Princess Consort's people might intervene."

Jiang Yuan nodded, deliberately raising his voice: "Since all is well, Side Consort, take care; I, as elder brother, take my leave."

After saying that, he performed a perfunctory bow, pushed the door open and left.

Fang Qingyan paced back and forth in the room, her mind in turmoil; she now couldn't even enter the gate of Yangzheng Pavilion—how could she get the Prince to take the medicine?

"Let Shu'er go? No, I can't get in either; if Shu'er went, she wouldn't need the Princess Consort to intervene—Liu Mamam beside her could send her back with a single word."

"Three days, only three days—we must find someone who can get in."

She paused, a faint smile on her lips: "Second Master, then it's up to you."

She rose and went to Tranquil Orchid Pavilion, reporting to Cheng Ru'an, saying these past days she had been restless day and night, plagued by nightmares, likely because she hadn't returned home for days, her family elders missed her, and asked the Princess Consent to permit her to go home tomorrow to visit.

Cheng Ru'an did not stop her, nodding in agreement.

Meanwhile, after leaving the Prince's Mansion, Jiang Yuan deliberately made a big loop on the street, occasionally looking around to ensure no one was tailing him, before returning to his own home.

Xiao Er kept watch outside until late at night, until the lights in the house went out, confirming this was Jiang Yuan's residence, then returned to the Prince's Mansion and reported the location to Cheng Ru'an.

Cheng Ru'an gave a slight nod: "Well done, go rest."

"Yes."

Cheng Ru'an returned to the inner chambers, glanced at the soundly sleeping Tuan Tuan; this child, ever since coming back, hasn't stopped talking about the polo match, excited beyond words, now sleeping sweetly.

She tucked the blanket around Tuan Tuan, instructed Liu Mamam to take good care, then rose and went to Yangzheng Pavilion.

The Gu Worm having been expelled, various ginseng and tonic supplements continued daily; Xiao Yuanhang recovered quickly, now able to walk back and forth in the room, moving his legs, but still mainly resting; at this moment he was reading a military treatise by lamplight.

Seeing his wife arrive, they exchanged a smile; Xiao Yuanhang softly said: "Come over quickly."

Cheng Ru'an walked over, leaned against him, and slowly told her husband about Jiang Yuan's visit, Fang Qingyan's planned return home tomorrow, Xiao Er's tailing… all of it.

Xiao Yuanhang snorted coldly: "Looks like they're about to act; we can't wait any longer."

Cheng Ru'an leaned against his chest, feeling utterly reassured; with the Prince present, these petty troublemakers could frolic as they pleased, and she no longer needed to worry.

"You've worked hard, An'er; tomorrow you'll arrange thus…" Xiao Yuanhang whispered softly into his wife's ear.

The next morning, Fang Qingyan boarded a carriage and returned to the Fang Mansion.

But she only stayed half a day before driving to another residence.

After knocking and opening the door, she walked straight in.

The servant recognized her: "Second Master is currently in the study."

In the study, Xiao Yuanhua set down the book he was holding, rose to greet her, and pulled Fang Qingyan into his embrace: "Why have you come here today?"

Fang Qingyan wore a bashful look: "Come to see you, this faithless lover—you're at ease here while you leave me to guard an empty room over there."

Xiao Yuanhua pinched her chin, lifting her face to his: "Don't worry; soon I will inherit the Prince's Mansion, then I'll drive out the old matriarch and those few concubine-born sons, leaving only you and our Shu'er. Our family will then be reunited."

Fang Qingyan shoved him away: "What reunion? He's already fully awakened, and you're still dreaming here!"

Xiao Yuanhua turned pale with shock: "What did you say?!"