Fu Ci caught Jiang Wan’s wandering hand.
“Are you hurt?”
Jiang Wan couldn’t speak, only shaking her head helplessly.
Two conflicting voices battled in Fu Ci’s mind.
One said this was the perfect opportunity to break the ice with the one he loved.
If they remained cold any longer, when would they ever reconcile?
The other argued that taking advantage of her state was despicable and dishonorable.
Once Wanwan regained her senses, things might become even more complicated.
A soft touch brushed against his Adam’s apple, and Fu Ci’s resolve crumbled in that instant.
Cupping Jiang Wan’s face, he kissed her deeply.
He didn’t know how much time had passed when Jiang Wan scratched him in dissatisfaction. Fu Ci yanked the soft fur blanket from the couch and spread it over a spacious area.
The moon rose in the east and set in the west.
Fu Ci didn’t know exactly what kind of drug Jiang Wan had been given.
Seeing her cling to him once more was proof enough of its potency.
Leaving aside what might have happened if she had encountered someone else in that state, her body simply couldn’t endure such strain.
Rage surged within him. Once he uncovered the mastermind behind this, he would show no mercy!
This couldn’t go on. Fu Ci decided to fetch a physician.
“Don’t move.”
Jiang Wan’s eyes held displeasure and other emotions, but not a trace of romantic affection.
Fu Ci was taken aback.
Had he toiled all night only for this girl to treat him as a mere tool?
He felt a surge of frustration, stuck between anger and helplessness.
Fu Ci was convinced Jiang Wan would be the death of him sooner or later.
Gripping her waist, he spoke gently, “Let me help you.”
He shifted positions, turning her over.
By the time dawn tinged the horizon, Jiang Wan had finally fallen asleep.
Fu Ci brushed aside the sweat-dampened hair from her face, kissing her again and again.
His gaze drifted downward, noticing the marks covering her body. He quickly wrapped her in a blanket.
Fu Ci stepped down from the carriage.
Qiu Yue, who had been waiting at a distance, hurried over to receive orders.
“What happened last night?”
Qiu Yue had pondered all night and concluded that the only possibility was something mixed into the food.
Not daring to speculate recklessly, she simply recounted the events from beginning to end.
What Qiu Yue could deduce, Fu Ci naturally understood as well.
He had indeed sent someone to deliver food to Jiang Wan.
Originally, he had intended to deliver it himself but couldn’t bring himself to swallow his pride. He never imagined it would nearly lead to disaster.
Fu Ci’s face darkened ominously.
“Which families sent people to gather mugwort?”
“Several nearby families participated.”
Fu Ci now had a clear idea. “Fetch water to clean Madam.”
“Yes.”
After Qiu Yue returned with the water, Fu Ci instructed her to watch over Jiang Wan while he personally went to summon the imperial physician.
Passing by the site of last night’s fire, he noticed a new tent had been erected nearby.
His gaze swept indifferently toward the Yun family’s direction.
Aside from them, Fu Ci couldn’t think of anyone else who would target Jiang Wan so deliberately.
This matter required thorough investigation. If it truly was their doing, they shouldn’t blame him for repaying them in kind!
…
Fu Ci carried Jiang Wan back to the newly erected tent.
The imperial physician carefully took her pulse. “This kind of drug is impure and extremely harmful to the body. I will prescribe a formula for you. Decoct and take it for three days.”
Fu Ci pressed further, “My wife has a heart condition. Could last night’s events have affected her?”
“Regardless of whether one has a heart condition, marital relations should be practiced in moderation.”
Fu Ci felt a moment of awkwardness. In that situation, even if he had tried to restrain himself, Wanwan wouldn’t have allowed it.
After seeing the physician off, he instructed Qiu Yue to prepare the medicine.
He then lay down beside Jiang Wan, keeping her company as she caught up on sleep.
Perhaps exhausted from the previous night, Jiang Wan slept soundly, allowing Fu Ci to hold her boldly and without worry.
He had thought that by his side, she would be safe from harm, but he never expected someone would still find an opening.
“Wanwan, let’s not give each other the cold shoulder anymore.”
The first time he lost his temper with her, it triggered her heart condition.
The second time, he let her go through such an ordeal.
Once or twice might be forgiven, but a third time would be too much.
Their relationship was already hanging by a thread. If something like this happened again, it might truly be beyond repair.
Fu Ci dared not imagine what life would be like without Jiang Wan.
He silently resolved that no matter how she treated him in the future, he would never lose his temper with her again.
Nor would he ever leave her alone in an unfamiliar place.
Fu Ci had official duties to attend to and could not stay by Jiang Wan’s side indefinitely.
After lying down for an hour, he got up.
Unable to set his mind at ease about Jiang Wan, he arranged for a team of guards to watch over the tent so that he could be promptly informed of any unusual developments.
Just as he stepped out of the tent, he encountered the Fourth Prince.
“Cousin, Father is very angry. You should be prepared to face his reprimand.”
“Understood.”
Fu Ci’s expression remained unchanged as he made his way to the Emperor’s tent.
Inside the grand tent, the Emperor and Consort Fu sat at the head.
Fu Ci bowed with clasped hands. “Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and Consort Fu.”
The Emperor’s gaze was deep and stern. “Is the Jiang girl settled?”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s blessings, Wanwan is fine.”
The Emperor snorted coldly. “You’ve caused such a commotion and feel no shame, yet you’ve thoroughly disgraced Us!”
Consort Fu stepped in to mediate. “Your Majesty, A-Ci has always acted with discretion. Last night’s actions were unavoidable. The ones who truly deserve punishment are those who schemed behind the scenes.”
The Emperor had been busy for most of the year, looking forward to relaxing during the autumn hunt.
He never expected such a scandal to erupt on the very first day, and his anger was palpable.
In a grave tone, he commanded Fu Ci, “We entrust this matter to you to investigate. If you fail to uncover the truth, you will bear the punishment.”
“Your subject accepts the decree.”
Even without the Emperor’s order, Fu Ci was determined to get to the bottom of this.
He could not let certain people think that Wanwan was someone they could manipulate at will.
Consort Fu was Fu Ci’s aunt. Having suffered the pains of love in her youth, she was the only one who supported Fu Ci and Jiang Wan’s relationship.
“Ci’er, I see dark circles under your eyes. You must not have rested well last night. You should skip today’s hunting competition, get some proper rest, and handle the matter His Majesty has entrusted to you.”
Seeing that the Emperor did not object, Fu Ci bowed again in gratitude.
Ever since the incident involving Grand Tutor Jiang and the deposed Crown Prince’s rebellion, the Emperor had held a deep prejudice against Jiang Wan.
If not for Consort Fu’s sake, this matter would not have been let off so lightly.
The Emperor waved his hand. “Dismissed.”
Fu Ci bowed once more and turned to leave.
The Emperor squeezed Consort Fu’s hand. “A-Ci’s attachment to the Jiang girl is not a good thing.”
Consort Fu forced a smile. “Your Majesty and I grew up together. Back then, for the sake of your grand ambitions, you had no choice but to marry the former Empress. My heart ached, and I do not wish for A-Ci to follow in my footsteps, drifting further and further away from the one he loves.”
The former Empress was the birth mother of the deposed Crown Prince. Her maternal clan was powerful and influential, with talented descendants emerging generation after generation.
Such powerful in-laws were a death sentence for any ruler.
Thus, in the year the Emperor ascended the throne, the Empress passed away.
Since then, the position of Empress had remained vacant.
Most men in this world are fickle in love, let alone an emperor who rules over the realm?
Consort Fu pretended not to understand the Emperor’s meaning, playing deaf and dumb.
Today was the first time she expressed her own sorrow.
The Emperor knew he had wronged Consort Fu and tightened his grip on her hand.
Finally, he said, “When the old year passes and the new one arrives, I will confer upon you the title of Empress.”
Having lived to this age, whether she became Empress or not no longer mattered.
Consort Fu only wished to plan for her child and her maternal clan.
There were plenty in the harem eyeing that position, and she did not want to become the target of everyone’s arrows at this critical moment.
Even more, she did not want the Fu family to become the next group of imperial in-laws the Emperor would deal with.
“I do not wish to become Empress.”
The Emperor pursed his lips. “Why?”
“Once I become Empress, there will be many more rules to follow. Right now, I only wish to stay by your side, living as freely and easily as possible.”
The Emperor laughed heartily.
“Then it shall be as you wish. Whenever you decide you want to become Empress, I will hand the Phoenix Seal over to you.”