Everything happened too quickly. When everyone was distracted by that wave of assassins and thought they had been eradicated, they believed there would be no further danger. Who knew that the true trump card was here?

There weren’t many guards left here, and even if there were, they were too far away to arrive in time.

Seeing that her cover was blown, the palace maid wanted to make another move, but Rong Si acted first.

"Bang!"

She struck with her palm, a powerful Palm Force hitting the palace maid directly, sending her flying. At the same time, a dark-colored Jade Pendant flew out from her sleeve.

"Clang clang clang!"

The guards arrived and restrained the palace maid. Unexpectedly, the woman had hidden a poison bag behind her molars; seeing the assassination fail, she bit down on it and poisoned herself to death.

Meanwhile, Li Qingmu was pushed hard by Long Yue and stumbled a few steps. His heart sank as he sensed danger. When he turned back again, he saw the scene of the poison needle piercing Long Yue’s body!

In that instant, Li Qingmu’s eyes widened with fury!

"Yue..." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

He wanted to cry out loudly, but his subconscious told him he couldn’t!

Once Long Yue’s identity is exposed, she will certainly die, and he will become a complete shell of a man!

So, he mustn’t!

But the agony and grief were too intense to suppress; if they were bottled up within, it could have very bad consequences!

Thus, Li Qingmu found himself unable to speak!

He held the fallen Long Yue in his arms, watching her beautiful eyes gradually close, feeling a heart-wrenching pain!

He clutched his throat with his other hand, wanting to call out to her, even if just with a shout of "Yan’er," at least to let her hear his voice!

To let her know he’s right by her side!

However, he couldn’t!

No matter how hard he tried, how much he attempted, he couldn’t utter a word!

Rong Si saw Li Qingmu in such pain and thought he was injured too, quickly saying, "Quick, call the Imperial Physician!"

The already unsettled forest erupted in waves again!

Li Qingmu was led back in a daze. He wanted someone to save Long Yue, but he couldn’t speak and could only hold her tightly.

Seeing her son clutch Wei Yunyan without letting go, Rong Si knew immediately, and said: "Save her!"

"Princess, she is poisoned, and not by an ordinary poison!"

An experienced Imperial Physician took one look and reached a conclusion.

Rong Si’s eyes gleamed sharply, not an ordinary poison? So it’s the secret medicine?

She looked to Yin Li beside her: "Go get the State Preceptor!"

The State Preceptor has deep expertise in secret medicines, only he could save Long Yue.

"Princess, we have already used the Silver Needle to seal her major meridians to prevent the poison from spreading. The rest... is up to fate!"

A disoriented Li Qingmu, upon hearing this, immediately let out a low growl. He lunged forward, grabbing the Imperial Physician by the collar, his eyes bloodshot, almost as if he would tear the Imperial Physician apart!

"Your... Your Majesty, I have done my best..."

The Imperial Physician was frightened, and seeing the situation, Rong Si stepped forward and pressed the sleeping point on Li Qingmu, causing his body to stiffen momentarily as he closed his eyes.

"Quick, check His Majesty’s condition!"

Rong Si was more concerned about Li Qingmu’s health. How could he suddenly lose his speech? Also, why was he so agitated over this just now?

It’s just a woman, and he used to always say women were like clothes, tools to discard at will, yet his current behavior did not match that at all!

Rong Si was puzzled, pondering over the matter.

Soon, the directive from the Imperial Medical Bureau personally arrived, saying: "Reporting to Princess, His Majesty temporarily lost speech due to extreme shock and unstable emotions. We will prepare a heart-calming and mind-soothing prescription, and see how it works over time."

Rong Si felt something was amiss hearing this. What does "see how it works over time" mean? Is this medicine ineffective?

Rong Si gave the Imperial Medical Bureau directive an unpleasant look: "Can it be cured or not?"

The Emperor being mute? If this gets out, won’t Daliang become a laughingstock?

Moreover, if the Emperor can’t speak, he can’t communicate with the ministers, nor can he argue with them. This would foster dissent among the ministers, which is very bad for the stability of the court.

The directive from the Imperial Medical Bureau was conflicted, pondering for a while before saying: "It should be curable. The key is... His Majesty’s affliction is a heart ailment. As long as Lady Ming Fei can be saved, His Majesty’s condition can heal of its own accord."

There were no secrets on the Emperor’s side. His previous intention to make Long Yue "Lady Ming Fei" spread rapidly, and now she has blocked a poison needle for the Emperor, solidifying her status beyond dispute.

Hearing the directive’s words, Rong Si couldn’t help but coldly laugh, "So, this Lady Ming Fei must be saved no matter what?"

"Uh... is that the case?"

The directive was puzzled. Isn’t it obvious? How many concubines in the world would disregard their own life for the Emperor? Such a Lady Ming Fei should be saved, right?

But he could only mutter this internally, not daring to say it aloud.

Rong Si understood this logic, but for some reason, she felt Wei Yunyan was a bit suspicious.

She couldn’t pinpoint where the suspicion lay, but it stirred unease within.

"Princess, the State Preceptor is here!"

While pondering and hesitating, Yin Li entered with the State Preceptor, You Su, trailing behind.

Rong Si immediately stepped forward, slightly bowing: "Lord State Preceptor, please! Everyone else may leave!"

She had questions for You Su, unsuitable for others to overhear.

Yin Li understood and promptly led the people away.

"Lord State Preceptor, please take a look at this woman and see if she should be saved?"

Rong Si asked if she should be saved, rather than if she could be saved, these simple words revealed her thoughts.

You Su stepped forward, examined briefly, and turned back: "Princess, this woman is rather unusual."

"Oh, how so?"

"Princess, what is this woman’s background?"

"She was born in the countryside, grew up in the mountains and forests."

"Hmm, that explains it. The mountains are home to various herbs. This woman has lived among them for years, probably eating some herbs, even using them as food, making her body more resistant to poison than the average person."

"Resistant to poison?" Rong Si slightly frowned, "Can the State Preceptor clarify a bit more?"

"It’s that the secret medicine, while highly toxic and capable of immediate death, due to her uniqueness, she barely escaped death. In other words... her fate is not to die!"

Rong Si’s eyes slightly narrowed.

Her fate is not to die, meaning she must be saved?

Rong Si was unwilling, asking again: "If she’s not saved, can she survive?"

"She can, but... she may remain in a coma’s slumber, commonly... a living dead!"

Rong Si remained silent for a while, considering her son’s situation, reluctantly said: "Then let’s trouble the Lord State Preceptor!"

"Princess, you’re too kind!"

"I won’t disturb the State Preceptor’s treatment then, I’ll leave it to you."

After saying this, Rong Si left. You Su looked at the sleeping Long Yue and suddenly smiled strangely.

"I know your intentions in coming to the Da Liang Palace aren’t pure, but does it matter? Hahaha..."