He Qingyi's eyes lit up. That was right. The He family was a family of imperial physicians. With her current status, she could still invite them.
"The doctor is settled, and the medicinal herbs..."
"The medicinal herbs will be handled by Ajin. I guarantee good quality and fair prices."
He Qingyi nodded with a smile, "I am assured when the Shangguan family head handles things. What I am not assured of now are the people in the General's mansion. The old madam has been in the palace accompanying the Empress Dowager for several days. I always feel she is plotting something."
Xiao Man nodded, "I understand. Thank you, Mother."
"By the way, when are you coming home?" He Qingyi hesitated, "It's almost the Mid-Autumn Festival. Find a way to come back for a meal, so as not to worry the General."
"I will find a way to come back then." Xiao Man turned to leave, "Mother, take care. I will trouble you with the affairs of the mansion."
After Xiao Man left, she went to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Qin Xue brewed a pot of superior Biluochun. "Miss, the Crown Prince has sent an invitation for Xue Ji of the Immortal Music Pavilion to perform at the Mid-Autumn banquet."
Xiao Man took a sip of tea. "The Crown Prince has been involved in too many matters recently, which has displeased His Majesty towards him. Coupled with the Empress Dowager's return, he must be feeling anxious."
"The Crown Prince is anxious. Is that a good thing?"
"Of course, it's a good thing." Xiao Man picked up a pastry. "He is the Crown Prince, and in Yusheng, the Crown Prince cannot be deposed unless he commits a grave offense. Even if he is mediocre, as long as he doesn't make a mistake, no one can remove him from his position. However, this Crown Prince is not broad-minded enough. He always feels he needs more bargaining chips to secure his position, unaware that too much is as bad as too little."
"The Empress and Uncle Xue will not allow the Crown Prince's position to be shaken."
"The Empress Dowager and Uncle Xue can stop others, but they cannot stop the Crown Prince from destroying himself." Xiao Man took a bite of the pastry. "This pastry is good."
"If Miss likes it, eat more." Qin Xue said with a smile, "Ajin made this herself and sent it over early this morning. You can try Ajin's craftsmanship."
Xiao Man teased with a smile, "It seems I should prepare your wedding for you..."
Suddenly, the pastry slipped from Xiao Man's hand. Xiao Man's breathing became rapid. She pressed her chest with one hand and propped herself up with the other, as if she could not breathe.
"Mistress, Mistress, what's wrong?"
"The pastry..." Xiao Man's gaze fell on the plate of pastries. Shangguan Jin would not poison Qin Xue. The problem lay with the pastry ingredients. "What kind of pastry is this?"
"Jasmine pastry. What's wrong, is there poison in it? That can't be right. I ate a few pieces when it was delivered."
Xiao Man hurriedly put her fingers into her mouth to induce vomiting, forcing herself to throw up the jasmine pastry she had eaten. She had been careless. Xiao Man's constitution was special, and she was allergic to jasmine flowers. However, very few people knew this, and Qin Xue was unaware.
"Doctor! Someone, quickly go and invite the doctor!" Qin Xue's face turned pale with fright. She had never seen Xiao Man like this before.
Xiao Man tried her best to vomit out all the pastry she had eaten, but her breathing became more and more difficult, as if something was blocking her throat, drawing all the air away. She couldn't help but clutch her neck uncomfortably, as if only then could she alleviate some of the pain. Sudan Novel Network
"Mistress, what's wrong with you? What exactly is wrong with you?" Qin Xue grabbed Xiao Man's hand to prevent her from scratching herself, but seeing Xiao Man's increasingly ashen face, she panicked.
The maidservant rushed out to invite the doctor and happened to run into Prince Qi, who was accompanying Du Yulan to select face powder.
"Isn't this Chunlan?" Nangong Yi stopped her. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
"A guest is feeling unwell and needs a doctor." Chunlan said anxiously, "Your Highness Prince Qi, please move aside quickly. If the guest has an accident, our Hundred Flowers Pavilion cannot bear the responsibility."
Nangong Yi quickly moved aside. Du Yulan looked towards the room Chunlan had come from. "Why did something happen? Could it be an allergy to the face powder?"
A flicker of unease crossed Nangong Yi's mind. He involuntarily walked towards the room Chunlan had emerged from. The door was ajar, and Nangong Yi pushed it open without much effort. The first thing he saw was someone lying on the ground, while Qin Xue knelt beside them in a panic, not knowing what to do.
"Isn't this Mr. Xiao?" Du Yulan asked in confusion.
Nangong Yi's mind went blank. He rushed to the person's side in three steps, supporting them.
"What did you feed her?" Nangong Yi roared like an enraged lion, his eyes bloodshot, as if he were about to devour Qin Xue alive.
Qin Xue had never seen Nangong Yi so furious. Her voice trembled, "Jas... Jas... Jasmine pastry."
"Damn it!" Nangong Yi quickly reached for the accessory hanging from his waist, opened it, revealing a pill inside. He immediately took the medicine and fed it to Xiao Man's mouth.
"Water."
"Here's water." Du Yulan was the first to pour a cup of water and hand it to Nangong Yi.
Nangong Yi fed Xiao Man some water. Reassured that she had swallowed the medicine, he was still worried. "How much did she eat?"
"Only half a piece." Qin Xue's gaze fell on the half-eaten pastry on the table. A small portion of that pastry remained, and Xiao Man had not eaten much.
"She'll be fine, she'll be fine!" Nangong Yi held Xiao Man, his body trembling slightly. Only when Xiao Man's breathing gradually stabilized did he let out a sigh of relief. He carried her to the soft couch and carefully covered her with a quilt.
"Is she alright now?" Qin Xue asked cautiously.
Nangong Yi suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with unconcealed killing intent. A moment later, he turned away, concealing all emotion. "She is severely allergic to jasmine flowers and cannot consume or use anything related to jasmine."
"I apologize. I did not know Mr. Xiao was allergic to jasmine flowers."
Nangong Yi's hands clenched into fists. If he hadn't happened to encounter this today, he couldn't imagine what would have happened to Xiao Man. He still remembered the first time Xiao Man had an incident after eating jasmine pastry; he had been scared out of his wits. Since then, he had never eaten his favorite jasmine pastry again, for fear that Xiao Man might accidentally consume it. He always carried a pill with him, which was prepared for Xiao Man.
"How could you be so stupid? Knowing you're allergic to jasmine flowers, you still dare to eat them randomly? Are you tired of living?"
Du Yulan frowned, looking at Nangong Yi in confusion. Nangong Yi's panic when Xiao Qin collapsed and the heartache on his face now all told her that Nangong Yi cared deeply for Xiao Qin, even liked Xiao Qin very much, but Xiao Qin was a man!
"Your Highness Prince Qi, since Mr. Xiao is no longer in danger, let's go back first." Du Yulan said.
"Yes, Your Highness Prince Qi. Since Mr. Xiao is no longer in danger, leave him to me to take care of. Your Highness can go back first." Qin Xue said quickly, somehow feeling that the Prince had seen through her mistress's identity.
"You go back first. This Prince will wait until she wakes up before leaving." Nangong Yi said without looking up, holding Xiao Man's hand tightly.