"Even Duke Ningguo, who seemed to be Feng Qingheng's supporter, couldn't help but ask, 'Regent Princess Consort, is it truly the divine doctor Lin Sa from Bai Xing Lin?'
'Does it matter if it is or not, now?'
Lu Qingwan held Feng Qingheng at knifepoint, pressing her advantage against the officials. 'Tang Xiao, go and bring Meng Tang over to treat His Majesty. Otherwise, I will kill him immediately!'
Feng Qingheng was never a heroic figure, and with the throne within his grasp, he couldn't bear to be buried with Lu Qingwan. The moment Lu Qingwan's hairpin touched his neck, he urged, 'Quickly, quickly call Meng Tang!' He figured that as the concubine had said, with the silver needles in place and a blood-activating medicine, death was only a matter of time and even a celestial being couldn't save him. If they delayed any longer, his father, the Emperor, would be on his deathbed. By then, neither the doctor named Meng nor Lu Qingwan would escape.
Although Concubine Yu had accused Lu Qingwan, she had kept her actions within a range that allowed for plausible deniability, and thus did not stop Tang Xiao from fetching Meng Tang. Tang Xiao also wished to save Emperor Jingyou and was familiar with the palace, so Meng Tang arrived quickly. Upon seeing the situation in Weiyang Palace, he was so terrified his legs almost gave out.
'Master,' he almost uttered, but stopped himself. Lu Qingwan couldn't bear to look.
'What are you standing there for? Move His Majesty to the dragon couch immediately and administer the Heart Protection Pill and the Tianwang Shenshewan to slow the blood flow...'
Having treated Emperor Jingyou for so long in the palace, Meng Tang was no fool and knew something was amiss. Without time to ponder the situation, he followed Lu Qingwan's instructions and administered the medicine to Emperor Jingyou.
However, Feng Qingheng and his group were determined to take Emperor Jingyou's life, and they wouldn't allow Lu Qingwan to save him so easily. As expected, after Lu Qingwan finished speaking, Duke Peiguo raised his voice, 'Hold on! If my memory serves me correctly, isn't this Doctor Meng also from Bai Xing Lin? I heard that His Majesty was poisoned by Bai Xing Lin previously. How can we let this Doctor Meng administer medicine to His Majesty? Who knows if you are trying to save His Majesty or harm him?'
Lu Qingwan ignored Duke Peiguo. She applied a little more pressure with her hairpin, and blood appeared on Feng Qingheng's neck. 'Feng Qingheng, what do you say?'
'Lu Qingwan, don't you dare threaten me! I am my father's son, and also his subject. You...'
'Tang Xiao, what are you doing?' Duke Peiguo roared. Just as he and Feng Qingheng were trying to prevent Lu Qingwan and Meng Tang from administering medicine to Emperor Jingyou, Tang Xiao decisively snatched the medicine from Meng Tang and fed it to Emperor Jingyou. To avoid being stopped, he even audaciously dislocated Emperor Jingyou's jaw, shoved the medicine in, and then put it back. This act was undoubtedly bold, but Tang Xiao was fearless. Seeing that Emperor Jingyou had swallowed the medicine, he said, neither servile nor overbearing, 'I am His Majesty's personal guard. I don't care what you intend to do, but I must protect His Majesty's life. When His Majesty wakes, I will personally ask for his forgiveness for my disrespect, so you need not worry, Duke Peiguo. The Shence Camp is only responsible to His Majesty, and you have no right to manage me or the Shence Camp!'
With that, a group of Shence Camp soldiers rushed in and blocked the officials, respectfully cupping their fists to Meng Tang. 'Please, Doctor Meng, save His Majesty!'
'Tang Xiao, well done!' Lu Qingwan shouted excitedly, digging her hairpin into Feng Qingheng, making him wince in pain. She continued, 'Meng Tang, perform acupuncture on His Majesty. Zhong Chong point, single-hand thrust...'
With Tang Xiao's protection, Lu Qingwan spoke of acupuncture points and techniques, while Meng Tang, like a puppet, operated on Emperor Jingyou with great vigor. Lu Qingwan's mouth was dry from talking, and Meng Tang was sweating profusely from his needling. Just as Duke Peiguo and Duke Huaguo were about to start their complaints again, Fuan's sharp voice rang out, 'He's awake, His Majesty is awake!'
Feng Qingheng was startled and looked at Concubine Yu. 'What's going on? Didn't you say even a celestial being couldn't save him?'
Concubine Yu was also taken aback by Lu Qingwan's seemingly miraculous medical skills. Amidst her surprise, she suddenly cried out, 'Doctor Meng, what are you doing?!' She shouted loudly and lunged to push Meng Tang.
'Tang Xiao!' Lu Qingwan cried out, raising her hairpin to throw at Concubine Yu. However, Feng Qingheng seized the opportunity and broke free from her grip. As a member of the royal family and having practiced martial arts since childhood, Feng Qingheng struggled free from Lu Qingwan's restraint, grabbed a nearby chair, and smashed it down forcefully towards Lu Qingwan's head.
'Prince Chen, no!' Prime Minister Wen lunged forward, causing Feng Qingheng to stagger. The chair flew out of his hand but still struck Lu Qingwan on the head, causing her to bleed profusely. One could only imagine how dire the situation would have been if Feng Qingheng had truly landed a solid blow.
'Your Majesty!' Concubine Yu half-lay on Emperor Jingyou's body. 'Tang Xiao, His Majesty is convulsing, quickly apprehend Meng Tang!'
Meng Tang quickly shook his head and denied, 'It wasn't me!'
'If not you, then who? I saw you poke the needle into his dantian with my own eyes. His Majesty is already like this, and you still injure his vital energy? You are clearly trying to kill him!'
Emperor Jingyou convulsed all over, as if trying to leap off the couch. Meng Tang was at a loss. Lu Qingwan, dazed from the blow from Feng Xiwu's chair, could not speak.
Feng Qingheng, basking in his momentary triumph, declared, 'Regent Princess Consort Lu Qingwan, in collusion with Doctor Meng Tang of Bai Xing Lin, conspired to harm His Father the Emperor. The crime is treason! Guards, escort them to the Imperial Prison and interrogate them severely, ensuring that the mastermind behind this is revealed!'
As soon as he finished speaking, the guards he had arranged did not appear. Instead, a sharp voice announced, 'The Regent arrives!'
Everyone in the hall turned their heads in unison. Regardless of their allegiances, disbelief was etched on every face. 'We were told that the Regent was critically poisoned and had little time left, unable to even leave his sickbed. How could he...?' This was the thought on the minds of most officials. Lu Qingwan, on the other hand, felt a profound sense of relief, having longed for his arrival.
Just as she was about to get up, she heard Tang Xiao shout, 'Princess Consort, be careful!' Lu Qingwan turned and saw Concubine Yu lunging at her with a comb-like object. She cried out in sync, 'No matter who it is, if they harm His Majesty, I will not let you go!' Before her hand could touch Lu Qingwan, the poison alarms in the spatial laboratory began to blare incessantly, giving Lu Qingwan a headache.
Suddenly, Lu Qingwan had an inspiration. Pretending to be dizzy and unable to dodge, she allowed Concubine Yu's attack to land. She then used the Myriad Phoenix King to slash Concubine Yu's neck. The wound was so small that Concubine Yu didn't even notice it, but Lu Qingwan deliberately tore and wrestled with her.
Feng Xiwu entered the hall and saw two women fighting. His little Princess Consort was rolling on the ground, yet her clothes and hair were perfectly neat. However, seeing Lu Qingwan's blood-soaked head, his heart ached as if gripped by an invisible hand. Seizing the opportune moment, he stomped down. With a crisp crack, Concubine Yu screamed, her cries utterly piteous."