Chapter 90: Volume 1 Chapter 90 Awake Again, Still a Hero

Rong Luoge didn't want to bother about what Han Yifeng's nerves were thinking, so she went to the Imperial Hospital to fetch the medicine, and after thinking she wasn't comfortable handing it to someone else to deliver back to Dong Gong, she simply carried the medicine herself and went back first.

Someone will look after the Crown Prince, and there's no point for her to go back again.

Back at Dong Gong, she had Rong Xin fetch a set of medicine furnace, and under the corridor eaves lit a fire, cleaned the herbs and placed them into the medicine jar to simmer slowly.

Three bowls of water to simmer one bowl of medicine, bring to boil over high fire, then simmer gently over low fire.

When the medicine jar started bubbling, Rong Luoge reduced the charcoal, and let it simmer over a small fire.

She felt her current state was off; her concern for the Crown Prince seemed a bit excessive. The two were just a transaction, why would she be unhappy seeing him deliberately get injured?

She didn't know what it felt like to like someone, but she knew that when you like someone, you care about their every move.

If today it were Han Yifeng who got injured, besides shouting "how painful!", she would probably also feel sorry that he didn't just die.

But when it was Han Xinglan, she strangely felt a pang of heartache.

Mainly because Han Xinglan acted so convincingly, playing so well for her, she truly couldn't bear it.

Whether in a past life or this one, no one has been as gentle to her as he is; no matter what he does, he considers her feelings, whether she thinks of it or not, he handles everything meticulously.

It's hard to imagine a Crown Prince would go to such lengths to consider a little woman's feelings; even with her iron heart, any woman would fall for him.

The point is, the Crown Prince doesn't truly like her; it's just a transaction.

Realizing this, Rong Luoge tossed the fan in her hand, stood up and looked at Que Cai, "You keep watch; when the Crown Prince returns, deliver the medicine."

"Good Lady, where are you going?" Que Cai felt a slight unease for some reason.

"I'm tired, going to sleep a bit." Rong Luoge said that and left.

After a nap, she woke up, still a hero.

Han Xinglan returned to Dong Gong, looked at the medicine soup Que Cai offered with both hands, and asked, "Good Lady sent you to bring this?"

Que Cai smiled and nodded, "Yes, Good Lady personally went to the Imperial Hospital to fetch the medicine, then returned and personally simmered it at the furnace. Before resting, Good Lady also instructed the maid that when the Crown Prince returns, you should have him drink the medicine promptly."

Han Xinglan felt a wave of comfort, took the medicine bowl and drank it all in one go, then asked, "Where is Good Lady?"

Que Cai, suppressing her unease, replied, "Good Lady has been traveling all day and is tired; she has already gone to sleep."

Han Xinglan was startled, "She slept?"

"Yes." Que Cai lowered her head, not daring to meet the Crown Prince's eyes, feeling uneasy.

Han Xinglan's smile gradually faded, sensing something was off.

He couldn't say he fully understood Rong Luoge's temperament, but he grasped five or six points; if it were like before, when she was injured, she wouldn't fall asleep without waiting for her return.

Han Xinglan waved his hand, telling Que Cai to step down, and summoned Shi An, "Go investigate whether Good Lady encountered anyone or anything when she went to the Imperial Hospital."

Shi An quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, I will investigate at once."

Han Xinglan leaned on a soft pillow to rest, the wound on his arm throbbed faintly; although the rescue drama was something he had prepared long ago, the injury was real, and Rong Luoge's attitude… made him somewhat irritated.

Yuan Bao hurried in, bent and replied, "Crown Prince, Lord Yu requests an audience."

Yu Yan?

"Proceed." Han Xinglan knew that at a time like this, Yu Yan wouldn't come without cause to disturb him.

"Your servant wishes to see the Crown Prince." Yu Yan hurried in and paid his respects.

"How is the matter progressing?" Han Xinglan waved his hand, asking Yu Yan to stand.

"As you expected, His Majesty indeed ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate this matter," Yu Yan said, "This time the Ministry of Justice has been tasked in crisis, cannot afford any delay, and has already begun the investigation. I am here to seek your instruction, should we continue to act according to the plan?"

Han Xinglan hesitated briefly, then said, "Proceed according to the plan."

Excitement flashed across Yu Yan's face, "Yes, I will arrange it immediately."

The Ministry of Justice's investigation naturally cannot uncover the true culprit; not only can it not find the real villain, but in pursuing the culprit it will suffer heavy losses, thereby forcing His Majesty to face reality and establish a separate bureau to investigate.

Only then will the most crucial part of their plan arrive.

Now everything is ready; he feared the Crown Prince might soften and change the plan, so he inquired once more, but fortunately, the Crown Prince did not do so.

Yu Yan was so pleased that he hurriedly left, knowing the upcoming battle would be harder, and he needed to focus his efforts.

Yu Yan left, and shortly after, Shi An returned, looking at the Crown Prince, about to speak but hesitated.

Han Xinglan glanced at him, "Speak."

Shi An trembled all over, quickly lowered his head and said, "Crown Prince, Good Lady Rong was intercepted by Prince Qi on the way to the Imperial Hospital; we don't know what was said, but distant palace staff only saw Good Lady Rong push Prince Qi and then leave."

It's Han Yifeng again!

Han Xinglan's eyes flickered, then he let out a cold laugh.

When Shi An heard the Crown Prince's laugh, he felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet.

Alas, why is Good Lady Rong so hopeless, why does she still want to meet Prince Qi privately?

As dusk deepened, Rong Luoge woke from a nap, realized no one was beside her, paused, then pulled on her clothes, looked up at the time, and saw it was the hour of the Rat.

Usually at this hour, Han Xinglan would have already returned to sleep, but today she saw no one.

Rong Luoge got up, and the night‑shift Que Cai, hearing the sound, hurriedly lifted the curtain and entered, "Good Lady, would you like some water? Or something to eat?"

Rong Luoge then remembered she hadn't had dinner before sleeping, but at this moment she felt no hunger, so she gently shook her head, and after thinking, still didn't ask the Crown Prince why he hadn't come.

Since she had resolved to guard her own heart, she would not meddle in any of the Crown Prince's private affairs.

Rong Luoge, having slept a long time and now not drowsy, simply put on her clothes and entered the study, saying to Que Cai, "You needn't worry, just rest yourself; I'll sit for a while and then return."

Que Cai responded with a word, but could sense Good Lady's mood wasn't great; she thought for a moment and returned to the small tea room, lit the fire‑clay stove, and placed the night‑cooked bird's‑nest soup onto a tiny steamer to heat.

When it was heated through, she placed it on a large red lacquered tray and carried it into the study.

"Good Lady, although you aren't hungry, please have at least a little something," Que Cai gently set the bird's‑nest cup on the table and said softly.

Rong Luoge couldn't eat, but she didn't reject Que Cai's kindness, nodded, and said, "Tomorrow I need to go out for a while."

Que Cai was startled, then said, "Yes, tomorrow morning the maid will have the carriage stable prepare a carriage."

Rong Luoge felt it was unreasonable to stay in Dong Gong all day; she should go out more, and things would improve once people were busy.