Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, and Bian Siyue were reunited.
Bian Siyue wept uncontrollably, her snot and tears smearing all over the Imperial Preceptor's daoist robe.
The Imperial Preceptor harbored some resentment that his beloved disciple had become Xiao Yun's concubine.
"What a waste of talent, what a waste of talent! Siyue, with her brilliance, how can she be confined to the small space of a back chamber?"
Wang Qingyao said, "Imperial Preceptor, please rest assured. Siyue and His Highness are innocent. If the day comes when the Imperial Preceptor no longer wishes to stay in the palace and wants to wander the world again, you can take Siyue with you at any time."
Bian Siyue hugged Wang Qingyao, "Your Majesty, you are so good to Siyue."
Wang Qingyao affectionately stroked her head twice.
Bian Siyue, only then realizing, exclaimed, "Ah, Your Majesty, your eyes are healed?!"
Wang Qingyao nodded, "With your master here, what is such a minor ailment?"
Bian Siyue looked up at Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, with admiration. Feng Fu involuntarily straightened his back again.
"But," Bian Siyue asked doubtfully, "Master, how did you become the Imperial Preceptor?"
This story had to be told from the beginning. Wang Qingyao ordered tea and pastries to be prepared, allowing the master and disciple to catch up while they ate.
By this time, the news of Wang Qingyao's regained sight had spread throughout the Ding'an Prince's mansion.
The Old Dowager Princess rushed over immediately, excited.
"It's really healed?"
Upon receiving Wang Qingyao's affirmative answer, the Old Dowager Princess's eyes welled up with tears of joy.
"As expected of the Imperial Preceptor!" The Old Dowager Princess was filled with gratitude towards Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor. When she inquired about him, she learned of his connection with Bian Siyue.
The Old Dowager Princess, loving Bian Siyue by association, immediately bestowed many good things upon her.
Within a few days, the news of the Ding'an Princess Consort regaining her sight had spread among the major aristocratic families in Duanjing.
Upon hearing this news, Grand Tutor Wei, enraged, spat out another mouthful of blood.
A significant portion of the thirty thousand taels of silver that the Wei family compensated Wang Qingyao was for her blindness.
Yet now, without a word, her eyes were no longer blind.
The first year's ten thousand taels of silver had already been gathered by the Wei family and stored in their treasury. They had only delayed submitting it to the national treasury to give the impression that it wasn't easy for them to gather the money.
Now, should they pay or not?
This matter had been settled before the Emperor. Although Wang Qingyao's eyes had recovered, the harm Wei Yu had inflicted upon her was real and had already occurred.
Because of Wei Yu's actions, the Emperor currently held a strong dislike for the Wei family. If they were to delay the payment at this juncture, the Emperor's opinion of the Wei family would only worsen.
Grand Tutor Wei gritted his teeth and ordered Wei Chong to proceed with the silver payment as usual.
Wei Chong had already inquired and learned that Wang Qingyao's regained sight was a result of a ritual performed by Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor.
Grand Tutor Wei scoffed. He had always considered Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, to be a charlatan and a rogue from the martial world, and he couldn't understand how he had managed to gain the trust of both the late Emperor and the current Emperor.
Wei Chong suspected, "Could the Ding'an Princess Consort have been faking her blindness? How could eyes be healed through rituals?"
Grand Tutor Wei was startled, then his chest heaved violently, and he began to cough severely.
"To think... to think I fell for... this bitch's... trick!"
Grand Tutor Wei cursed as he coughed, his words broken and intermittent, his whole body trembling with anger.
He finally understood why Wei Yu's seemingly flawless plan had failed!
Wang Qingyao had been faking her blindness all along!
She had been faking her blindness!
She had played everyone into the palm of her hand. She had staged a play, which not only prevented Wei Yu from becoming the Crown Princess but also extorted thirty thousand taels of silver from the Wei family, even worse than before!
Grand Tutor Wei refused to believe it. Coughing like a withered leaf drifting in the wind, he finally leaned forward, spat out another mouthful of blood, and fainted.
Wei Yu, confined to Changning Palace, was cut off from information and was unaware that Wang Qingyao had regained her sight.
However, there were those who would inform her.
Currently, Consort Lu was in charge of the Eastern Palace.
Although Wei Yu had been demoted to Fengyi, due to Consort Wei's frequent visits from her personal female officials to inquire about her well-being, the servants in the Eastern Palace did not dare to look down on her. Even Consort Lu did not overtly mistreat her.
One day, she learned the news of Wang Qingyao's regained sight and immediately rushed to Changning Palace to deliver this "good news" to Wei Yu.
"Consort Wei, you need not feel guilty anymore. The Ding'an Princess Consort's eyes have healed, and she can see again. Truly, heaven has blessed her!"
Wei Yu shot up from her seat.
What?!
Wang Qingyao had actually regained her sight.
She tried her best to control her emotions, but she couldn't help but reveal a look of shock.
"How could this be..." she murmured to herself.
That snake venom was highly toxic, and so much time had passed. It was impossible to counteract.
She couldn't understand.
Consort Lu kindly informed her, "I heard it was Feng Fu, the Imperial Preceptor, who performed a ritual to heal her!"
Wei Yu's eyes widened.
"Oh, right," Consort Lu added, "I heard that Consort Wei's grandfather is gravely ill. Alas, Grand Tutor Wei, at his age, is still worrying about national affairs. Truly admirable!"
"What happened to my grandfather?" Wei Yu asked anxiously.
Consort Lu put on a sorrowful expression, but a cold glint flashed in her eyes, "I heard he doesn't have long to live!"
Grand Tutor Wei had always been the pillar of the Wei family in Wei Yu's heart, a god-like figure.
How could he be gravely ill? How could he not have long to live?
Wei Yu was restless and could no longer bother with anything else. She said to Consort Lu, "I want to see the Crown Prince!"
Consort Lu smiled politely, "When His Highness returns, I will convey Consort Wei's wishes."
Consort Lu emerged from Changning Palace and saw He Rufang strolling nearby. She called out to her and asked. He Rufang merely said she was wandering around. Consort Lu didn't press further, pretending not to know, and gave a few instructions before leaving.
He Rufang was currently favored.
She wasn't without brains.
The named consorts in the Eastern Palace all had stronger family backgrounds than her.
Even with her great favor with the Crown Prince, she couldn't compare to them.
Therefore, she had always been honest, focusing on serving the Crown Prince diligently. When the Crown Prince ascended the throne, that would be when the real struggle began.
She had always thought Wei Yu would be her strongest opponent. Who knew that before she could even make a move, Wei Yu had disqualified herself.
In He Rufang's opinion, Wei Yu was not only her love rival but also Wang Qingyao's sworn enemy.
She felt grateful to Wang Qingyao and naturally hated Wei Yu even more.
At this moment, she had also received the news of Wang Qingyao's regained sight and wanted to provoke Wei Yu.
Of course, her status did not allow her to enter Changning Palace freely.
After Consort Lu was out of sight, she called out coldly from across the door, "Consort Wei probably doesn't know yet, but the Ding'an Princess Consort is blessed with good fortune. Her eyes have regained their light! All the efforts of those who harmed her have been in vain!"
Suddenly, the door opened, and a pair of hands pulled He Rufang inside.