Ri Ying lowered his head. He felt a deep sorrow for the Empress’s situation, but at that time, he couldn’t even ascend Xue Xiu Peak. He wasn’t fully aware of what had happened upstairs, so this was all he knew.
"What?"
Feng Lie and Liu Ting’s expressions turned grim. Dark, flickering light shone across their handsome faces, and they wished they could immediately rush to Xue Xiu Peak to rescue Liu’er.
However, the Emperor had not yet awakened, and they couldn't leave. Furthermore, the Emperor was unaware of the Empress's affairs. They absolutely couldn’t let him detect any clues, otherwise, he would disregard his recovery and head straight for Xue Xiu Peak.
“For now, stabilizing the Emperor is paramount. Also, we must not let Mu Xing know that his mother has lost her memory.”
Although Liu Ting was heartbroken for his sister, the thought of her losing her memory filled him with a rage that made him want to rush to Xue Xiu Peak at once.
But he knew his sister was a person of great integrity. If she knew he was neglecting state affairs to find her on Xue Xiu Peak, she would be furious. Even if she had amnesia and didn’t know, she would scold him once she regained her senses.
“Yes, that’s true. We must absolutely not alert the Emperor, nor His Highness the Crown Prince. They will undoubtedly go to find the Empress without any regard for consequences,” Feng Lie agreed, nodding. The three were discussing countermeasures in the room when Xiao Wanzi rushed in from outside.
“Reporting to Prince Yan, Your Majesty has indeed awakened.”
Upon hearing this, Feng Lie and Liu Ting flashed towards the Emperor’s sleeping quarters. Inside, the Emperor had awakened and was now fully lucid. Though he was extremely thin, it did not diminish his handsomeness. A faint blush colored his fair face, his eyes shone with a hazy, luminous light, and a smile played on his lips.
“How long have I slept?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, you have slept for over a month. Fortunately, the insect蛊 has been resolved, and Your Majesty can rest assured,” Liu Ting replied respectfully. Feng Xie nodded. It was good to be alive, to be able to live happily with Liu’er and Mu Xing as a family.
Feng Xie harbored no dissatisfaction with the suffering he had endured over the past month. On the contrary, the thought of his family living happily brought him unprecedented joy. He remembered the last words Liu’er had spoken: she had said they would start anew, beginning from their first meeting, and that only good things would follow, without any past hurts. How could this not make him happy?
“Where is Liu’er?” Feng Xie couldn’t help but ask. Although Liu’er was not by his side, he believed she was simply too tired, which was why she wasn’t with him.
Liu Ting’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged. He still replied respectfully, “Your Majesty, because Empress Niangniang worked tirelessly for over a month to obtain the Blood Dripping Gu, she is extremely weakened. Therefore, we have allowed Empress Niangniang to rest.”
Upon hearing that Liu’er had toiled for him for over a month, Feng Xie felt a surge of affection. A charming smile spread across his lips, “Yes, I am fine now. Ensure she rests well and does not need to come over. I will visit her in a couple of days when I am recovered.”
“Imperial Brother, you must take good care of yourself so that Empress Niangniang will not worry sooner,” Feng Lie reminded the Emperor. Feng Xie nodded immediately upon hearing this, “Alright, prepare some meals. I am hungry.”
“Very well, serve the meal,” Xiao Wanzi cried out from the side and dashed off to prepare the Emperor’s meal. The Emperor was extremely weak at this time and could not consume greasy food; he could only eat light congee for now.
He wasn't confident in what others would prepare, so he would prepare it himself. In his sleeping quarters, the Emperor meticulously inquired about matters of the court and finally felt at ease, as no major issues had arisen.
Due to the excellent secrecy maintained, no one knew the Emperor had been ill. Prince Yan had disguised himself as the Emperor daily for morning court, so everyone remained unsuspecting. Feng Lie felt a bit guilty about impersonating the Emperor to attend court.
“I beg Your Majesty to punish me. I have offended Your Majesty’s sacred might.” Although this was what Empress Niangniang had instructed him to do, it was undeniably a grave disrespect.
Feng Xie waved his fair hand, signaling Feng Lie to rise, “Enough. You have all worked hard. Feng Lie, rise.”
Having experienced life and death, the Emperor became even more gentle and refined. However, a lion is always a lion, and the four ministers were well aware of this. It was unwise to treat a sleeping lion as a sickly cat, for they would be the ones to suffer the consequences.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Feng Lie rose. Xiao Wanzi brought the prepared meal, and Feng Xie ate some. He was eager to regain his health because he wanted to see Liu’er. She must be very sad.
At the last moment, he saw her cry. He knew how strong and proud she was, yet tears had fallen. Thinking of this, his heart ignited with a spark of warmth. She did care about him in her heart. With this thought, his gaze softened like a clear spring.
“You may all return and rest well. I need to rest for a while.”
“Yes,”
The four bowed and left Yong Yuan Hall. As they parted, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of worry. The Empress was missing, and they wondered what the Emperor would do if he found out.
The thought made their heads ache, but for now, they could only keep it from the Emperor. They would hide it for as long as possible.
However, three days later, the truth began to surface. The Emperor could move freely within his sleeping quarters, and his complexion had improved significantly, appearing rosy and smooth.
But when Feng Lie and Liu Ting walked in, the Emperor’s face was a shade of purple and blue. Beside him stood the five-year-old Mu Xing.
Seeing this display, Feng Lie and Liu Ting knew that the Empress’s situation had likely been revealed by His Highness the Crown Prince. They could only kneel, awaiting the Emperor’s judgment.
“Speak. What has happened to Liu’er? Mu Xing said Liu’er has not returned to the palace yet.”
Feng Xie’s tone was exceptionally ominous. His dark eyes were filled with thunderous rage, and his lips were pressed into a thin, cold line, as unyielding as early spring ice, showing no signs of melting.
Liu Ting glanced at Feng Lie and spoke with immense gravity, “This Blood Dripping Gu was returned by Ri Ying. He said that in order to obtain it, Empress Niangniang willingly remained on Xue Xiu Peak and even consumed a pill that causes memory loss.”
As soon as Liu Ting finished speaking, he heard the Emperor let out a piercing cry. He furiously called out towards the outside, “Ri Ying.”
Ri Ying immediately flashed in. Prince Yan and the Prime Minister knelt on the ground. A chilling aura continuously emanated from the sleeping quarters. The Emperor’s finely sculpted face was covered in a dark, cold expression. He immediately understood that the Emperor now knew about the Empress’s situation. He quickly knelt and called out,
“Your Majesty?”
“Speak. What is the matter with Niangniang? Why is she remaining on Xue Xiu Peak?”
These words were gritted out, spoken one by one, like the eerie pronouncements of a hellish apparition, filled with a sinister terror. Ri Ying trembled slightly and reported,
“On Xue Xiu Peak, there lives a woman named Aunt Yun, an old woman in her seventies or eighties. She possesses a Blood Dripping Gu that can resolve the蛊 poison in Your Majesty’s body. Empress Niangniang, in order to obtain the Blood Dripping Gu, voluntarily exchanged it for herself. That woman then gave Niangniang a pill, which seemed to be a memory-loss pill. Niangniang was kept on Xue Xiu Peak, and I retrieved the Blood Dripping Gu.”
As Ri Ying’s words fell, Feng Xie furiously raised his hand, and the ivory low table beside him cracked in response. Everyone’s hearts trembled. They hadn’t expected the Emperor’s power to have recovered so much. It seemed that with a few more days of recuperation, he would be back to his normal self, which was truly wonderful.
“I must go to Xue Xiu Peak immediately,” Feng Xie said, hastily standing up. He had finally awakened, and Liu’er had finally opened her heart and agreed to start anew with him.
He absolutely would not allow her to forget him, and as for that detestable old woman, she shouldn’t expect him to let her off the hook. He would personally kill her for harming Liu’er.
“Your Majesty, absolutely not,” the three in the sleeping quarters exclaimed in alarm, trying to stop him. The Emperor’s body had not yet recovered, and if he rashly left the palace, he might encounter members of the Iron Blood Thirteen Eagles or Feng Luo. Therefore, it was truly best for him to focus on resting and recuperating. They could go find her after some more time.