"Hearing Feng Xiwu's command, Shen Ci, without time to rest, said with a hint of helplessness, 'The methods of sealing the visual needle technique by the Consort were unheard of by this old man before. If the Consort asks me to administer the needles, and by chance, it were to harm your eyes, this old man's life would not be enough to compensate!'
Administering needles is not like using medicine; the acupuncture points and the force applied are fixed. There are no alternative points or techniques. Shen Ci was truly unsure.
At that moment, Lu Qingwan had already been settled on the couch by Feng Xiwu. Hearing this, she smiled and said, 'Physician Shen, there's no need to worry. These are just a few commonly used acupuncture points. I will tell you the points and the pressure, and you follow suit. After a quarter of an hour, you can withdraw the needles.'
Although Shen Ci was worried, Lu Qingwan's teachings were always rare opportunities. Moreover, with Meng Tang and Meng Sheng absent, he was the only physician in Prince Qin's mansion, so he couldn't refuse. After hesitating for a long while, he decided to face the challenge.
Lu Qingwan explained each acupuncture point and the force of insertion in great detail, just as she had said. Shen Ci didn't need to think; his hands moved according to Lu Qingwan's voice, and all the needles were inserted.
'You are too reckless!' Even though he knew it was best to obey Lu Qingwan given her status, Shen Ci couldn't help but frown. 'Li Jin has told me the situation. There are many ways to block vision. Wearing a veiled hat, or pretending to be asleep and having the Prince carry you in. These acupuncture points around the eyes are both sensitive and fragile. If anything goes wrong, it will be a regret that can never be undone! How could the second madam of the Yan family be worth risking your eyes for...'
Shen Ci, being older and often interacting with Lu Qingwan, had already started to treat her like a junior he was lecturing. Lu Qingwan, who was closing her eyes waiting for the time to withdraw the needles, couldn't bear Shen Ci's nagging and tugged Feng Xiwu's arm for help. However, Feng Xiwu, who was usually doting on her, remained silent as if mute, letting Shen Ci lecture Lu Qingwan.
Only when the quarter-hour was up did Shen Ci reluctantly stop talking and withdraw the needles for Lu Qingwan. No one knew the effect of the acupuncture. Shen Ci dared not speak to disturb them, and Feng Xiwu didn't dare to act presumptuously. He obediently followed Lu Qingwan's instructions to remove the glass lamp and waited for her to adapt.
Lu Qingwan first covered her eyes with her palms, then slowly parted her fingers to create a gap. Noticing that the light was not very bright, she dramatically covered her eyes again and exclaimed with an exaggerated tone, 'Ah, my eyes, it hurts so much...'
Shen Ci was instantly terrified. 'Could it be that I applied too much force when administering the needles? Your Highness, if it doesn't work, please summon the imperial physicians from Da Qin! Or perhaps send for the medical practitioners from the Hall of Reincarnation. Damaging the eyes is no small matter!'
Shen Ci was so anxious that he was almost resorting to desperate measures. Feng Xiwu, however, remained silent. After a while, the person who had been crying about her eyes pain stealthily parted her fingers to create a gap, and her furtive gaze collided with Feng Xiwu's sharp eyes.
The latter said calmly, 'No more pretending?'
Lu Qingwan, bored, lay back flat. 'How did you find out?'
Feng Xiwu pinched her cheeks fiercely. 'If your eyes were truly hurting, you would have already administered needles and medicine to yourself. Why are you covering your eyes and wailing? Do you think I only met you today?'
Lu Qingwan continued to play along. 'They say concern makes one flustered. Physician Shen's reaction was normal, wasn't it? I was almost crying from pain, and you were still thinking about other things. You truly don't love me anymore!'
Shen Ci, standing nearby, realized Lu Qingwan was having a spat with Feng Xiwu, and he had become an innocent bystander. The corners of his mouth twitched, and he silently retreated. As he closed the door, he saw Feng Xiwu walking towards Lu Qingwan with a gloomy expression. He silently prayed, 'Good luck, Consort!'
A moment later, earth-shattering laughter erupted from the main courtyard, Lu Qingwan's laughter sounding like heavy weights hitting the ground. Soon after, she was panting and scolding, 'Who told you to stand by and do nothing? I pleaded with you so much, and you just watched. You unfaithful man, you heartless wretch...' A barrage of epithets that no one in Prince Qin's mansion thought would ever be directed at their Prince poured out of Lu Qingwan's mouth, eventually fading into the quiet night.
Inside the room, Lu Qingwan lay on the couch, tears streaming down her face from laughter. She raised both hands in surrender. 'Stop, I surrender! Feng Xiwu, Your Highness Prince Qin, Si Fengwu! If you come any closer, I'll cry for real...' She used various titles until Feng Xiwu finally ceased his actions.
Lu Qingwan lay sprawled on the messy bed, glaring vigilantly at Feng Xiwu. 'I'm not playing anymore. Let's talk business. Who are those people who submitted their calling cards?'
Feng Xiwu looked at her flushed cheeks and tear-filled eyes, his gaze deepening. Thinking of something, he still walked to the desk and brought over all the calling cards. Seeing that he was willing to call a truce, Lu Qingwan also got up. The first thing she saw was the name Yan Zhiheng. 'Is this Yan Ruolan's father?'
Feng Xiwu removed his shoes and socks and sat opposite Lu Qingwan. 'With his wife and daughter both in trouble, it's only natural for him to want to see this King. As for the rest of these people, they are quite interesting.' All the calling cards were spread out on the ground between them, making it clear who was trying to contact them.
'This Gu family, is it the Gu family of the King of Youzhou?' Lu Qingwan asked in surprise. 'The Gu family still has people in Zhongzhou? That can't be right!'
Gu Lingxuan, the King of Yuzhou, was the maternal grandfather of Feng Xiwu and the current Crown Prince. He was thousands of miles away from Zhongzhou. Ever since Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne twenty-three years ago, the King of Youzhou had brought no more than a hundred guards when returning to Zhongzhou for his annual report. If he exceeded a hundred, Emperor Gengshi would find ways to refuse Gu Lingxuan entry into Zhongzhou, fearing that Gu Lingxuan might threaten his throne to avenge his daughter and son-in-law. Lu Qingwan was well aware of these facts, which was why she found it hard to believe that just two days after arriving in Zhongzhou, the Gu family had submitted a calling card to Prince Qin's mansion.
Feng Xiwu looked at the grand calling card and gently stroked the handwriting. 'My maternal grandfather and uncle are both confined to Youzhou and are not allowed to enter Zhongzhou. However, my cousin, Gu Xingzhi, has always been in Zhongzhou. Nominally, he is appreciated by the Emperor and holds the position of Commandant of the Grand Commandant's Mansion, but in reality, he is kept in Zhongzhou as a hostage. In these years, to avoid Emperor Gengshi's suspicion, my elder brother has rarely contacted the Gu family. If this attendant submitted a calling card, it's either entrusted by my maternal grandfather and uncle to check on this King, or it's under duress from Emperor Gengshi, coming to test this King's attitude towards Emperor Gengshi.'
Despite being his own cousin, Feng Xiwu displayed complete vigilance and caution towards the owner of this calling card, which should not have appeared at this time. Lu Qingwan also felt that Feng Xiwu's actions were not wrong.
'Let's not reply to this calling card for now. Let's understand this cousin's stance through my elder brother first. We just got married, and we have to enter the palace to see the Emperor tomorrow. Delaying it a bit is understandable. We don't even need to find an excuse. It's always best to be cautious.'"