Ruan Xingci’s expression shifted subtly. When she had taken Nangong Rang’s pulse the night before, she already knew his body was truly weak.
She had heard that the elders had forced him to drink yesterday, all because Old Madam said it was harmless.
“Consort of the Heir Apparent…”
Bailu grew anxious. If the Heir Apparent were to die on the second day of the wedding, Ruan Xingci would likely be branded as ill-omened, and all her previous actions would be scrutinized.
“Lead the way…”
Ruan Xingci knew that Bailu’s personality, shaped over the years, was difficult to change. She couldn’t simply tell her that she was now a different person inside.
She only said one thing to Nangong Rang’s attendant, Yuqiao.
“Who else knows about this now?” Ruan Xingci asked as she walked.
“As usual, we only reported it to the Marquis and are waiting for his decision—whether to summon a royal physician from the palace or to find a local doctor.”
Yuqiao’s brief sentence contained a wealth of information.
Ruan Xingci didn’t press further and followed him back to the courtyard.
The other attendant, Gengdu, had already helped Nangong Rang into the inner room. There weren’t many people in their courtyard, so there was no need to dismiss anyone.
“Consort of the Heir Apparent…” Seeing Ruan Xingci approach, Gengdu also grew nervous.
Ruan Xingci nodded and walked straight over, looking at Nangong Rang lying pale-faced on the bed.
A trace of red still lingered at the corner of his mouth, clearly not wiped clean in the panic.
Seeing her approach, Nangong Rang weakly opened his eyes and whispered, “It’s fine, I’m used to it.”
“Heir Apparent, you must not let anything happen to you…”
Ruan Xingci pretended to be flustered, as if the composure she had shown outside was all an act. She sat down by the bed and placed her hand on Nangong Rang’s wrist to take his pulse.
Nangong Rang’s face twitched slightly. This woman’s ability to change expressions was still as quick as ever.
Ruan Xingci’s expression turned serious.
Rapid Pulse.
More dangerous and urgent than yesterday’s Hollow Pulse.
“What did the Heir Apparent eat while I was away?” Ruan Xingci suddenly looked up and asked.
Gengdu was taken aback and said, “The same as usual, the medicine brewed by Madam…”
Madam’s side.
Ying Mei couldn’t possibly harm her only son. It seemed someone had tampered with it right under her nose.
Ruan Xingci thought to herself that her mother-in-law was indeed full of leaks.
“Where is the medicine bowl?” Ruan Xingci asked again.
“After the Heir Apparent drank the medicine, they took the bowl away immediately. It has always been this way…”
Nangong Rang, lying on the bed, had long understood. Of course, he had never doubted his mother.
Moreover, he had checked the medicine before, and there had never been any issues.
“Hasn’t Father already been informed? What exactly is being done? One of you, guard the entrance, and the other, go and hurry things along!” Ruan Xingci assigned tasks to Yuqiao and Gengdu, but the two hesitated.
Nangong Rang said, “Do as she says.”
The two quickly left the room. Only then did Ruan Xingci carefully examine other parts of Nangong Rang’s body.
“Don’t worry, I’m here. I won’t let you die. But from now on, don’t consume anything unless I allow it, even if it comes from Mother…” Ruan Xingci’s words were simple and clear.
Nangong Rang didn’t respond but looked at her intently.
“You don’t need to look at me like that. Right now in Dazhou, you are the person closest to me. I am your wife first, and only then am I connected to the Marquis’s household. If they neglect you and affect your recovery, I certainly won’t stand for it.”
Nangong Rang gave a self-deprecating smile.
“Recovery? I’ve long since given up hope.”
“Since you’ve already prepared yourself for death, consider survival an unexpected blessing. Just let me try—the outcome can’t get any worse.”
In her own world, Ruan Xingci had often been doubted due to her youth, but she had never shown this much patience before.
Seeing Ruan Xingci’s earnest expression, Nangong Rang realized he had no reason to refuse and finally nodded.
The Marquis of Changchun did not come in person, but he did send for an imperial physician for Nangong Rang.
It seemed he also knew how critical Nangong Rang’s illness was this time.
“Imperial Physician Wu, please come in.”
Yuqiao was aware of the other’s status and dared not show any disrespect.
Upon entering, Imperial Physician Wu immediately noticed the large figure sitting by the bedside.
After getting a clear look at her face, he could hardly believe that the outstanding Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Changchun had actually married such a wife.
News from the courier station a few days ago had mentioned that the noblewoman from Beiguo sent for the political marriage alliance was plain-faced and corpulent, but even that description seemed insufficient to capture this woman’s appearance.
Nevertheless, he was here to save a life, so he reminded himself to avert his gaze.
“Imperial Physician Wu, please examine my husband and see what’s wrong with him.” Ruan Xingci put on an act in front of outsiders.
Her appearance combined with such a gesture made Imperial Physician Wu quite uncomfortable.
Professionalism ultimately allowed him to hold back. He calmly approached Nangong Rang, took his pulse, then lifted his eyelids and asked him to stick out his tongue.
Nangong Rang had little strength left, and Imperial Physician Wu’s furrowed brows never relaxed.
“This pulse…”
He opened his eyes, hesitated for a moment, but refused to say more.
Ruan Xingci knew he must have detected something.
“Imperial Physician Wu, is my husband alright?” She still feigned a fragile, helpless demeanor.
“Oh, he’s fine…” Imperial Physician Wu hesitated briefly, likely searching for the right words. “He was probably overworked yesterday and couldn’t handle it. I’ll prescribe a calming medicine for the Heir Apparent. After taking it, he should show improvement.”
He didn’t ask too many questions. The waters of noble households ran deep, and as a frequent visitor, he knew what could and couldn’t be said.
Ruan Xingci knew questioning him further was pointless. Looking at the prescription he wrote, she realized he had already noticed something amiss, as the Phoenix-tail Grass in the formula was used to counteract Thunder God Vine poisoning, and another ingredient, licorice root, was the sovereign herb in Sini Decoction.
Imperial Physician Wu didn’t linger. After writing the prescription, he didn’t even offer further instructions before taking his leave. Ruan Xingci had someone fetch the medicine according to the prescription—it was quite appropriate.
She then asked Yuqiao and Gengdu whether Imperial Physician Wu usually had frequent dealings with the Marquis’s household. They replied that since the emperor ascended the throne and the Marquis settled in Fengjing, he often relied on Imperial Physician Wu to regulate his health, and the Heir Apparent’s condition also frequently required his assistance.
Ruan Xingci understood the situation. This Imperial Physician Wu would surely report Nangong Rang’s poisoning to Nangong Chen. It remained to be seen how Nangong Chen would react.
The medicine had been purchased, brewed, and delivered to Nangong Rang’s room, yet Nangong Chen never showed up, only sending someone to ask if the Heir Apparent was feeling better.
“It seems your situation has something to do with your father, who fails to act when he should,” Ruan Xingci remarked with a hint of teasing in his tone.
Having taken the medicine and received Ruan Xingci’s Qigong Tui Na, Nangong Rang was now feeling much more comfortable.
Hearing Ruan Xingci’s words, he wasn’t angry. Even if he denied it, over time, the truth would still come out.
Ruan Xingci calmly asked again, “Do you know who poisoned you?”