The maids attending Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun would usually withdraw outside when the couple was being intimate, and over time, they grew accustomed to their close relationship.
It seemed to be the normal way for a husband and wife to be, unlike other couples who maintained a polite distance.
Wang Qingyao playfully pushed Xiao Yun away, "It's so hot, stop it."
Xiao Yun let out a breath; he was even hotter than Wang Qingyao.
"By the way," Xiao Yun took a sip of cold water to cool down, "I have something to tell you. In about a month, the Prince of Dingnan will be coming to Duanjing."
Wang Qingyao was not surprised and smiled, "Is he coming to attack already?"
"Indeed, but his visit is quite troublesome. First, the Emperor has to agree to the memorial requesting his presence in Duanjing, and the back-and-forth took quite some time. He can't arrive until September or October at the earliest. To show his importance, the Emperor specially converted the former residence of the Prince of Qi into the Prince of Dingnan's mansion and bestowed it upon the Feng family as their residence in Duanjing."
Wang Qingyao frowned slightly, "Doesn't the Prince of Dingnan find it inauspicious?"
Xiao Yun couldn't help but chuckle, "The Prince of Dingnan is a military general who has fought on the battlefield and killed enemies. Do people who live by the sword care about such things? Princess Nange has already moved in. We'll go over in a few days to celebrate her housewarming."
Feng Jiangduo, a woman of exceptional capability, naturally didn't care about such matters either.
Many people, seeing that the Emperor had bestowed a residence, speculated that Feng Jiangduo would likely marry in Duanjing. Hearing the news, they rushed to send housewarming gifts.
Feng Jiangduo, however, was impatient with such formalities and refused them all.
The housewarming banquet was only for those from the Prince of Ding'an's mansion, keeping everything simple.
As Wang Qingyao was contemplating what to give Feng Jiangduo, she heard Xiao Yun lower his voice and continue, "My people have found my maternal grandfather. He is in Nanzhou and, upon learning that you gave birth to twins, is preparing to return to Duanjing with the Prince of Dingnan."
"Oh," Wang Qingyao exclaimed in surprise, "What a coincidence! When grandfather returns, we'll be able to find out the whereabouts of the Eldest Prince."
Xiao Yun nodded. "The Prince of Dingnan also sent a letter to me through the envoy he dispatched. He said..." He paused, his voice lowering further, "The Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu seems to be looking for an antidote for the Green Demon..."
Wang Qingyao's eyelids twitched. She looked up sharply, staring at Xiao Yun in disbelief.
"The Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu is looking for an antidote for the Green Demon? Wasn't he ordered by the Emperor to search for the elixir of immortality?"
"So, searching for the elixir of immortality was just a cover. In reality, he was ordered by the Emperor to find the antidote for the Green Demon. And since the Green Demon originated in Nanzhou, the Imperial Preceptor and my maternal grandfather went to Nanzhou and visited the Prince of Dingnan..."
Xiao Yun laid it out clearly, point by point.
The Prince of Dingnan, knowing about both the Eldest Prince incident and the truth behind the Xiao family's curse, was extremely sensitive to the Green Demon poison.
When the Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu first arrived in Nanzhou, being unfamiliar with the place, he would surely rely on the influential figures there.
Although the Prince of Dingnan was a rough man, he was meticulous in his own way. He soon discovered the clues and informed Xiao Yun.
"Wait," Wang Qingyao waved her hand, interrupting him, and extracted the crucial information, "So, the Emperor knows about the Green Demon, and the Green Demon is related to the Emperor?"
"Yes."
"The Emperor isn't looking for the Green Demon, but for its antidote?"
"Yes."
Wang Qingyao rubbed her forehead. A bold thought began to form in her mind.
She looked at Xiao Yun, and he looked back at her.
"The Emperor is the Son of Heaven. If he issues an order, who dares to disobey? Yet, he specifically ordered the Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu to search for the antidote for the Green Demon. This means he cannot control the person who administered the poison..."
Who is someone the Emperor cannot command?
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun looked into each other's eyes.
It was the Empress Dowager.
Only the Empress Dowager.
And Eunuch Changshou was from the Empress Dowager's palace.
The Empress Dowager's age also matched.
Their breaths hitched.
Xiao Yun said, bewildered, "But why? The Empress Dowager has always been very kind to me. When I was young and in the palace, I was treated almost like a prince. Even now, the Empress Dowager dotes on me."
Wang Qingyao also couldn't understand. She remembered the first time she entered the palace to meet the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was so kind and amiable. Even though Wang Qingyao knew nothing, the Empress Dowager was still gentle and pleasant, showing no disdain.
How could such a good old lady be the mastermind?
There was no motive for murder.
"Could it be that the Empress Dowager and Grandmother were rivals in love?" Wang Qingyao guessed.
"Grandfather wasn't that popular. Besides, the Empress Dowager wasn't the first empress of the late Emperor; she was the second wife. She entered the palace after the late Emperor ascended the throne. There's no entanglement of love and hate with our family."
"Then why? A deadly pursuit, reaching the third generation."
Xiao Yun shook his head.
They stared at each other for a moment, then both sighed.
"Never mind," Xiao Yun said, "Tomorrow is the babies' full moon celebration. Let's not dwell on this troublesome matter and prepare for the celebration properly."
Wang Qingyao nodded.
Despite saying this, both were still heavy-hearted, unable to avoid thinking about the matter.
The attending maids couldn't understand why the atmosphere in the room had shifted from relaxed, happy, and sweet to so solemn in an instant.
Was it because of Consort Wei?
The maids could only think in that direction.