Suddenly opening his eyes again, Xiao Tianchi couldn't hide the shock in his eyes. Taking advantage of this moment, Shen Lingyun slipped the spoon into his mouth, and he swallowed the medicine directly.
With a blank expression, she said, "There's poison in this medicine. Once you take it, it'll kill you. Xiao Tianchi, I'm here to kill you."
But Xiao Tianchi laughed. His chest vibrated slightly as he propped himself up a bit and said, "Lingji can joke now too." His voice was hoarse.
There was no trace of a smile on Shen Lingyun's face. Instead, it was icy cold. "I'm not joking. I got a kind of Gu poison from Zixi. After you take it, the Gu worms will gnaw at your internal organs, torturing you horribly. If you don't get the antidote within a month, you'll die suddenly."
As she spoke, she held out another spoonful of the medicinal soup.
Xiao Tianchi looked down at the bitter - smelling soup in the spoon. He smiled, then reached out and took the medicine bowl from Shen Lingyun's hands. He tilted his head back and drank all the medicine.
Shen Lingyun was stunned. "You—"
Casually wiping the corner of his mouth, Xiao Tianchi said, "Now Lingji can rest assured, right? My life is in your hands from now on."
Shen Lingyun took a deep breath to calm herself and said, "I heard about what happened today. I came here to find out if that rain today was natural or man - made?"
"The Astronomical Observatory found something interesting in the houses along the way," Xiao Tianchi said. He waved towards the outside. Soon, Eunuch Wang came forward with a tray in his hands. On the tray were the yellow talismans found by the Astronomical Observatory.
Shen Lingyun frowned tightly, picked up a yellow talisman, and studied it carefully.
Could these flimsy talisman papers really manipulate the weather and summon wind and rain? It was impossible!
But Xiao Tianchi had really been caught in that rain and was affected by it, falling ill.
If someone really could do such a thing, then could the heavy rain in Cangzhou also be man - made?
She knew that it was Xiao Yixuan who had tried to harm Xiao Jingcheng.
But as Zixi had said, the person who had incited the common people in the capital today had aimed to denounce Xiao Tianchi for seizing the throne and going against the natural order. This was definitely not something Xiao Yixuan would do.
She guessed that this matter must be related to Xiao Tianye.
Watching Shen Lingyun's expression, Xiao Tianchi said slowly, "It seems Lingji has already guessed. I'm not just on Lingji's hit list. There are others in this world who don't want me on the throne."
Shen Lingyun felt extremely heavy - hearted, angry, but most of all, a sense of strangeness.
If all this was done by Xiao Tianye, for the sake of the throne, could he really ignore the lives of the common people?
Was this still the Xiao Tianye she knew?
No, or rather, had she ever really known Xiao Tianye?
No matter who was behind this, causing the world to suffer for personal gain was nothing but beastly behavior.
Shen Lingyun asked, "How are you going to deal with this?"
The harem was not supposed to interfere in politics, and Shen Lingyun, as the former queen, was no exception. Apart from teaching the crown prince, Xiao Tianye had never let her get involved in other political affairs.
This question was actually quite overstepping, especially since she was no longer the queen but just a hostage trapped in the harem.
But Xiao Tianchi not only didn't think there was anything wrong with it but also told her his plans truthfully.
"I've sent Qiu Qi to lead troops to escort food and supplies to Cangzhou for disaster relief, ensuring that all the food reaches the common people. Qiu Qi will also lead people to rebuild the Jinning Canal and help the people of Cangzhou rebuild their homes. If anyone tries to stop them, they don't need to be polite."
Even Shen Lingyun couldn't find fault with this. As an emperor, he really did think about the common people.
"Chenger..." She opened her mouth, about to say something, but then suddenly remembered their bet.
Xiao Tianchi had already seen through her and said with a smile, "Don't worry. I'll also send people to find out the whereabouts of the crown prince, but just to find out. We won't interfere with any of his decisions."
Shen Lingyun tightened her fingers. Xiao Tianchi added, "Lingji, I'm a bit tired. I want to sleep for a while..."
"I don't know when I'll recover from this illness. The imperial seal is on the table. If..."
"If there's any urgent official business to deal with, it's up to Lingji..."
Shen Lingyun was extremely shocked. "Xiao Tianchi, you..."
Xiao Tianchi had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep. Perhaps knowing that the person he was most familiar with was by his side, his breathing became steady, and the fever on his forehead had subsided a lot compared to when she first came.
Looking at the sleeping man, Shen Lingyun's nose suddenly felt sour.
She couldn't help but recall something that had happened many years ago.
At that time, she was still an unmarried young lady of the Shen family. Besides the lessons that noble girls were supposed to learn, when she was free, she would secretly go to the library of the academy to read the books there for a whole day.
She liked quietness. Her personality was dull and cold. Even her younger sisters in the family didn't like to play with her. But when she was reading in the library, Xiao Tianchi would come to accompany her whenever he was free.
He didn't read books. Instead, he would sit across from her and polish his weapons. Sometimes it was a sword, sometimes a spear, and sometimes a dagger.
When he came, he would also bring her some small desserts. She didn't have a sweet tooth, but every time she would subconsciously finish the things he brought.
Finally, one day, she couldn't help but ask him why he always liked to come to the library but didn't read books.
He smiled and said, "A husband and wife should complement each other. It's enough for one person in the family to like reading. I like to be active, while Lingji likes quietness. In the future, one can manage the inside affairs and the other the outside. Lingji should read and learn more. If I'm sick or injured and can't pick up a pen in the future, Lingji can do it for me."
When he said this, the afternoon sun was shining through the library onto his face. The young man's face was full of confidence and anticipation for the future. His eyes were like hooks, hooking her heart.
After going back, she couldn't help but think that in his eyes, she could do anything. After marrying him, she would surely live a happy life.
But soon, she became his brother's wife, completely cutting off her relationship with him.
And the words he had said in the library had finally become a prophecy.
He had been seriously injured and almost died. Since then, although his hands could pick up a pen, he could no longer pick up his beloved weapons.
Lifting the thin quilt and gently covering him, Shen Lingyun got up and walked out.
When passing by the table that Xiao Tianchi had mentioned, she saw the imperial seal placed on it.
This thing was carved from white jade, with a flying dragon coiled around a jade pillar. It symbolized supreme power. Countless people were vying for it, fighting each other to the point of bloodshed.
He said that she could use it at will to handle official affairs for him.
It meant that she could completely use it to get an amnesty order to leave the palace. No one would stop her, and she could leave the capital and gain complete freedom.
It was a long time before Shen Lingyun withdrew her gaze from the imperial seal. Then, pressing her lips tightly, she walked out.