Chapter 31: The Concubine's Plan

Fang Qingyan told him about the recent situation in the mansion and fully disclosed the matter of the Gu worm.

She took out a porcelain bottle and handed it to him: "They are now guarding us mother and daughter tightly; I can't even enter the gate of Yangzheng Pavilion now, so I can only rely on you."

Xiao Yuanhua stared at the porcelain bottle in his hand: "This medicine, can the imperial physician really not detect it?"

"Indeed, this medicine is colorless and tasteless; the one that made him unconscious a few years ago was what I put in his soup and gave him to drink. The imperial physician happened to be there then and examined it on the spot, yet found nothing. What? Are you afraid, Second Master?"

Xiao Yuanhua set the porcelain bottle on the table: "Impossible! I will return to the Prince's Mansion tomorrow. By the way, where did you obtain this poisonous insect poison? This is not an ordinary thing."

Fang Qingyan lowered her eyes, a flicker of panic crossing her gaze before she steadied herself: "My Fang family once held a second-rank position; though we have declined, there were still many odd persons kept in the mansion before. This Gu poison was given to me by an old servant."

She looked at him with affection, intentionally changing the subject: "Second Master, you are a hero of the world, but because you are born of a concubine, you have been suppressed in everything by him. The Prince's Mansion's honor, wealth, and status all belong to him, and I deeply resent this."

"I willingly brave danger and secretly communicate with you, and even bore you a daughter; when you inherit the Prince's Mansion someday, you must not forget me and my daughter."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuanhua was deeply moved, feeling that the woman before him was the only one who truly understood him—his ambition, talent, and unwillingness to yield could only be comprehended by her.

Unable to restrain himself, he reached out and pulled Fang Qingyan into his embrace, his lips pressing against hers; they undressed and entwined together.

After an hour, Fang Qingyan returned to the Prince's Mansion.

The next day, Xiao Yuanhua indeed came; upon entering the mansion he went straight to the Yangzheng Pavilion to request an audience.

Everyone was present; Xiao Yuanhang hurriedly lay down, closed his eyes, and Cheng Ru'an covered him with a blanket, gesturing "shh" to the three siblings.

Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, still reaching out her little hand to pat Xiao Yuanhang: "Daddy, lie down and sleep nicely, don't move!"

Xiao Yuanhang couldn't help but lift the corner of his mouth slightly, then quickly pressed it down.

Only then did the Old Madam speak: "Come in."

Xiao Yuanhua strode in, performed his salute, and took his seat, his face full of joy: "Mother! Consort! Heaven has pity! Elder Brother Prince can be saved!"

He carefully produced a white jade bottle that looked extremely valuable and exquisite, holding it with both hands and offering it to Cheng Ru'an: "Please, Consort, quickly give this medicine to Elder Brother Prince."

Cheng Ru'an took it, opened the stopper, poured the pills into her palm, and examined them closely.

The Old Madam looked and said: "Hua'er, what medicine is this?"

"This medicine is called the Nine-turn Returning Soul Pill! It comes from a remote place in southern Yunnan, crafted by the hand of a reclusive Medicine King elder!"

"Truly, effort is rewarded by sincerity! I have worn out my iron shoes, spent a fortune, and painstakingly searched before finally finding this single pill!"

"This pill can consolidate the foundation and nurture the primordial, reignite vitality; after taking it, it will be like spring wind and rain nourishing withered wood, surely protecting Elder Brother Prince's heart meridians and awakening his consciousness!"

He spoke extremely fast, with a sincere expression, turning the poison into a divine elixir; while speaking, he furtively glanced at Xiao Yuanhang from the corner of his eye—still that lifeless corpse-like appearance, looking no different from before.

Tuan Tuan clung to Cheng Ru'an's hand, peeking with her little head at the pill: "Mommy!"

Cheng Ru'an reached out and touched her little face: "Be good, don't speak yet; Second Uncle has come with difficulty, listen to him first."

Xiao Yuanhua glanced disapprovingly at Tuan Tuan: "Elders are speaking; do not interrupt."

Tuan Tuan pouted her little mouth, and Xiao Ningxun picked her up: "I'll take her out to play."

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "Go ahead."

Xiao Yuanhua chattered on, describing the pill's efficacy as heavenly flowers falling in chaos.

Cheng Ru'an pondered for a moment: "First, thank you, Second Uncle, but since this medicine is said to be so effective, surely after the Prince takes it there will be an immediate reaction."

She looked at the Old Madam: "Mother, I think that when the medicine is taken, if the imperial physician could be present, it would be more appropriate. Coincidentally, Guo Taiyi will come to take the pulse tomorrow; why not wait until he arrives, then give the Prince the medicine?"

Xiao Yuanhua quickly interjected: "Why wait until tomorrow? Let's just go and fetch the imperial physician right now."

Cheng Ru'an remained silent, and the Old Madam took over: "Guo Taiyi comes every other day; he just came yesterday, he is old, and this is not an emergency—suddenly summoning him would be improper. Since the medicine has been found, what harm is there in waiting one more day?"

Xiao Yuanhua, afraid that persisting would reveal his flaw, had no choice but to agree.

Cheng Ru'an returned the medicine to him: "Second Uncle, for seeking medicine for the Prince you have worked hard; you may stay in the mansion today, and tomorrow we can together watch the Prince take the medicine."

Xiao Yuanhua indeed had this intention; not seeing with his own eyes Xiao Yuanhang swallow the poison, he could not rest easy: "Thank you, Consort." After performing his salute, he withdrew.

Xiao Ningxun took his sister and played in the courtyard of the Yangzheng Pavilion, not wandering far; seeing him exit the pavilion, he immediately led his sister back to his father's bedside.

Tuan Tuan lunged into Xiao Yuanhang's embrace: "Daddy! That medicine is bad, cannot be eaten!"

Xiao Yuanhang had already risen, holding his daughter; her fragrant, soft little body leaned against his chest, feeling delighted: "Bad? How does Tuan Tuan know?"

Tuan Tuan's little hand played with his father's collar: "I just know! That pill has a mouth; if swallowed, it will bite people!"

Cheng Ru'an recalled that strange worm, her heart trembling: "Prince!"

Xiao Yuanhang shook his head at her: "No need to worry; Tuan Tuan is more perceptive than the imperial physician—what is there to fear?"

He lifted his daughter's little face to his own, planting a firm kiss: "My good little lady! Thank you for telling Daddy; Daddy will listen to you and not take that medicine."

"Daddy listens to me! What a good daddy!" Tuan Tuan happily returned his kiss, rolling about joyfully in his arms.

Night deepened; Cheng Ru'an waited until Tuan Tuan fell asleep, then came to the Yangzheng Pavilion.

"Early tomorrow, send someone to inform Guo Taiyi to come again at night, tell Xiao Yuanhua that Guo Taiyi is out on a visit and will only return late. When Guo Taiyi arrives, then have him come over."

"From now on, seal the Defying Frost Pavilion; no one is allowed to enter or leave."

"Order Xiao Er to go now, taking advantage of the night, capture Jiang Yuan, avoid alarming his neighbors, imprison him in the mansion's private jail, give him half a day, and make him reveal everything."

Cheng Ru'an heard her husband's words and felt puzzled: "Why only let the imperial physician come tonight tomorrow?"

Xiao Yuanhang looked at her: "Grievances among adults have nothing to do with children; after they fall asleep tomorrow, we will then deal with these people."

"Especially Tuan Tuan, that child is full of spiritual energy, so pure; these dirty matters should be handled quietly, so as not to taint her in the slightest."

Cheng Ru'an understood: "It is still the Prince who has thought things through thoroughly; I will go make the arrangements now."