Fang Hanzhou, his face a mask of alarm, pulled back the carriage curtain. "Princess!"
Xiao Cui shoved him aside and yelled at the female guards by the entrance, "Quick! The Princess has fainted!"
The female guards at the door moved with swift efficiency, scrambling onto the carriage and carrying Li Yanzhu out.
Xiao Cui held Li Yanzhu's hand, running alongside her while directing personnel.
Suddenly, the entire mansion was abuzz with activity.
Only Fang Hanzhou stood outside the mansion, gasping for breath.
He grabbed a young servant. "How is the Princess?"
The servant glanced at his attire and bowed. "Young Master, please do not impede my journey to the palace."
He tried to grab the servant again, but his hand was gently pushed away.
"My apologies."
He attempted to enter the Princess's mansion but was immediately blocked by the guards. No matter how he explained, he couldn't get in.
Before long, his own servant arrived, chasing after him with a horse.
Seeing the physician following behind his servant, he shook his head.
What did the Grand Princess's mansion lack?
He had been presumptuous.
With this realization, Fang Hanzhou turned and left.
He needed to discuss today's events thoroughly with his father; this fire must not spread to the Fang mansion.
He hurried through the gates, colliding with a servant.
"Young Master is back!"
He nodded and headed towards the main hall.
"Young Master, the Forget-Worries Grass has been found."
Fang Hanzhou stopped abruptly, asking eagerly, "It's found?"
"Yes, Master Su sent it this morning."
"Su Weicheng?" Fang Hanzhou exclaimed in surprise. "Where did he get it?"
"He said he acquired it from a merchant caravan," the servant replied, lowering his head. "He heard the Fang family was looking for this herb, so he bought it at a high price and sent it to Master, hoping to protect his youngest son..."
"He's got quite the nerve!"
Fang Hanzhou swept his robes and strode inside. "Did Father accept it?"
"Master said he would consider it."
"Alright, I understand." He waved his hand, entered, and respectfully called out, "Father."
The elder in the hall nodded, set down his tea, and motioned for him to sit.
"Did you encounter the Grand Princess at the casino?"
"Yes." Fang Hanzhou dared not conceal anything; he had only just been released from confinement today.
His father had forbidden him from managing that casino and had confined him for a full month. He was only released after promising not to go back.
But now, Fang Hanzhou could not hide anything.
Greed and lust were insignificant matters when facing the threat of beheading!
Unexpectedly, his father did not scold him as usual but spoke kindly.
"Why would a proper Grand Princess go there?" Grand Commandant Fang stood up, pacing with his hands behind his back. "And this Forget-Worries Grass, we searched for half a year, only for Su Weicheng to get his hands on it."
He paused, then turned around. "It's a strange coincidence that his most beloved youngest son also committed a crime and sought my help."
Grand Commandant Fang strode quickly in front of Fang Hanzhou. "And the Grand Princess, right after leaving the Wang family, happened to run into you, who had just been released from confinement."
His eyes widened, like a bronze statue suppressing malevolent spirits. "The Grand Princess was fine after being there for so long, but why did she vomit blood immediately after speaking to you?!"
Grand Commandant Fang rubbed his stubble, turned around, and sat back down. "This is a case of watching a tiger fight from the mountain..."
Fang Hanzhou frowned in confusion. "Father?"
"Quickly go and chase after Master Su. Tell him I have agreed to this matter."
"Father!" Fang Hanzhou quickly stopped the servant who was about to leave. "Su Nanyi is our only pawn we let pass. If he returns, who will keep an eye on the Song siblings? Moreover, even if we agree, Cousin won't consent..."
"Cousin?" Grand Commandant Fang questioned sternly. "Is your life more important, or is your cousin more important?!"
He pointed fiercely at Fang Hanzhou, his expression one of utter disappointment. "Even if our family doesn't act, someone else will. But now, someone has a knife to your throat, and you are still thinking about the matters of the Song and Shen families? Foolish!"
Fang Hanzhou frowned, said nothing, and released the servant's hand.
Grand Commandant Fang moved past him, holding a vase of red coral to his chest with one hand, looking up at the gloomy sky. "The weather is changing..."
"This weather is indeed changing..."
Prime Minister Wang, hands clasped behind his back, gazed at the red coral screen before him. "Grand Princess, you have played a grand game of chess with this humble servant."
With a "bang," he slammed his hand onto the red coral.
Blood flowed down the coral branches. The sunlight striking it made it appear even more vibrant.
He was so enraged that his beard trembled along with his lips, yet he tried his best to calm himself, closing his eyes.
"Master," a servant, panting, rushed in from outside. "The Grand Princess is not well. The imperial physicians say she only has three days left..."
"Three days?" Prime Minister Wang opened his eyes. "Can this poison not be cured?"
The servant trembled and knelt on the ground. "A crucial ingredient is missing."
He secretly glanced at Prime Minister Wang's expression and swallowed. "Forget-Worries Grass."
Forget-Worries Grass?
Prime Minister Wang pursed his lips tightly and repeated the words through gritted teeth, "Forget-Worries Grass?"
His head throbbed with anger. The hand resting on the coral clenched tighter.
The servant quickly scrambled up to stop him, but he was trembling all over.
"This is revenge! Revenge!"
Prime Minister Wang grabbed the servant by the back. "For a sweetheart, she poisoned herself too. Good, good, truly worthy of being the Grand Princess!"
"Father! Father!"
A wailing cry echoed through the corridor, followed by Wang Xuancheng limping in. He stumbled into the hall and quickly knelt properly, but his panicked expression was as if his father had died.
"What kind of conduct is this!" Prime Minister Wang pointed at him. "What are you doing?!"
"Please, Father, save the Grand Princess!"
Prime Minister Wang's anger surged. He slapped his own chest, pointing at himself. "I save? With what shall I save her?"
More and more blood dripped from the coral, covering the pebbles in the flower pot. It looked as if the red coral had sprung from a pool of blood, making it so vibrant.
"You suspect me of poisoning the Grand Princess?"
Prime Minister Wang snapped the red coral with a "crack," holding a broken piece aloft. "How could I have begotten such a foolish child like you!"
He struck Wang Xuancheng's injured leg repeatedly.
Eventually, the color of the clothing on Wang Xuancheng's leg became more alluring and beautiful than the red coral.
He lay on the ground, motionless, but still murmured, "Little Princess."
Tears welled in Prime Minister Wang's eyes. He raised his head and ordered, "Thoroughly investigate everyone in the mansion. Dispatch people to capture that poison doctor. Meanwhile, except for the servants responsible for daily purchases, no one else is to leave the manor unless absolutely necessary."
He glanced at Wang Xuancheng, who was like a pile of dead refuse, and dropped the broken piece of red coral. "No one is to treat his leg injury. He is never to appear before me again."
Prime Minister Wang turned to leave, only to find his hem being fiercely grasped. But he ruthlessly kicked it away.
My son, only this way can I protect you.
He exited the hall, looking up at the darkening sky. "It's about to rain..."
The rain lasted for a full two days.
Li Yanzhu regained consciousness on the third day.
"My child!"
As she turned her head, she saw her father's aged face.
In just two days, it felt as if her father had aged even more...
She coughed and sat up. "Father, am I well now?"
As Li Yanzhu asked, she also looked at Xiao Cui. Seeing Xiao Cui nod, she lowered her head and smiled. "It seems I am well..."
She was pulled into her father's embrace.
"My Yanzhu has suffered."