Meanwhile, outside the palace.
Hua Yao felt an evil fire coursing through her body. She was somewhat disoriented, feeling the world spinning around her.
"Mmm... I'm so hot, my head hurts so much..."
She mumbled, trying to escape the discomfort, tugging at her collar and twisting back and forth.
"Yao'er!" The man's voice was gentle, tinged with concern.
Hua Yao felt the voice was familiar and forced her eyes open, trying to see clearly.
But her head was too dizzy. The more she opened her eyes, the more she felt like she was standing on a cliff, about to fall to her death at any moment.
"I'm uncomfortable..." her voice carried a pitiful plea.
Lan Heng sighed and said to the driver outside, "Old Ma, go faster."
Old Ma replied, "Sir, we can't go any faster. The ground is icy, and going faster would be dangerous."
"Then what should we do?" Lan Heng frowned. After a moment's thought, he said, "Head northeast, to my residence. It's the fastest and closest."
"Ah... aren't we going to the Hua Manor? Is this okay?" Old Ma asked.
Lan Heng lowered his gaze to his own crumpled clothes, revealing half his chest. He said, "It won't be good if we go there. It'll be hard to explain."
"Ah, what?" Old Ma didn't understand.
"Don't ask questions, hurry!"
"Oh!" Old Ma stopped speaking, turned the horse's head, and galloped towards the Dali Temple Minister's residence.
A moment later, the carriage arrived at the residence.
Lan Heng grabbed an outer cloak from a cabinet, wrapped the half-naked woman in his arms, thanked Old Ma, and jumped out of the carriage, rushing into the mansion.
Lan Heng's residence had few servants: a steward and three retainers.
The steward was aware of his master's affairs. Seeing him, disheveled and anxiously carrying a woman into the mansion, he dismissed the three retainers and prepared a brazier and bedding in Lan Heng's room before leaving.
Lan Heng glanced at the steward, too preoccupied to explain. Seeing him leave, he placed Hua Yao on the bed and was about to go behind the screen to tidy his clothes.
He had just taken off his outer robe and was preparing to put on his inner garment when a pair of hands suddenly embraced him from behind.
"Mmm... so cold... so comfortable..." Hua Yao's voice was soft, accompanied by a few cooing sounds, which made Lan Heng's body stiffen.
Lan Heng was about to speak a reminder.
Hua Yao's hands had already begun to move uncharacteristically on him. Each fingertip that grazed a part of his body was like a small flame, determined to ignite his twenty-odd years of dry kindling.
"Yao'er." His voice was hoarse, issuing a warning.
Hua Yao acted as if she hadn't heard him, only letting out muffled, heavy breaths.
Lan Heng glanced at the steam rising from the washroom, shook his head, and turned around. Unsure of what to do and unable to seek medical help rashly, he saw the half-frozen small pond outside through the gap in the window.
Without further hesitation, he scooped Hua Yao up and rushed out of the room.
Lan Heng stood by the pond and murmured, "I'm sorry," before leaping into the pond with Hua Yao.
Instantly, ice scratched his skin, and coldness penetrated every pore.
Lan Heng felt his mind become clearer. The woman in his arms seemed to be afraid of the cold. Although her consciousness hadn't fully returned, her body began to tremble.
"Yao'er... Mmm..."
Lan Heng leaned down to check on her, but Hua Yao suddenly lifted her head, pressing her crimson lips onto his thin ones.
His pupils widened, showing a look of shock.
Until... he felt lubrication and heat at the corners of his lips. His eyes darkened, and he reached out to embrace her waist.
-------------------------------------
The night of Laba Festival was the longest for everyone.
Zhong Li emerged from the palace in the daytime of the next day.
She felt somewhat weary, nestled in Lu Wu Xie's embrace, feigning sleep. She loved the scent of him so much; it always made her feel exceptionally at peace.
"You knew about the Emperor's condition all along, didn't you?" Zhong Li's voice was languid.
Lu Wu Xie gently smoothed Zhong Li's hair and said, "Not that I knew early on, but the Emperor himself mentioned it recently."
Zhong Li pondered for a moment, then looked up at Lu Wu Xie and asked, "Since returning from Jinzhou?"
"Mm!" Lu Wu Xie nodded, recalling how he and Lu Jing An discussed imperial matters on their way into the secret chamber. "The Empress has been poisoning him."
"Poisoning?" Zhong Li recalled checking the Emperor's pulse last night. No wonder she had frantically sought the imperial physicians. She initially thought his condition was due to extreme anger, but upon reflection, she found it odd. So, the Empress had been...
"Attempting to kill her husband is a grave crime."
"Heh." Lu Wu Xie chuckled and said, "Doesn't the Empress know this? It's just that the military generals in the court are out of balance. The Hua and Shen families have the greatest influence. Since the incident with Consort Rong, the Shu Rong kingdom has been restless. The Emperor is aware of this but relies on General Shen to guard the border, so he has no choice but to pretend ignorance."
Zhong Li closed her eyes, recalling the Emperor's hurried departure with Lu Yuan Feng, trying to avoid the imperial physicians, and felt a pang of sadness.
"The Emperor knows about our plan, doesn't he?" she asked.
"Yes, Hua Yao's marriage was also decided through discussions between the Emperor and me. Now that the Crown Prince has been overthrown, and Minister Wang is maneuvering among the surrounding officials, especially since he would abandon his own children for his glory, some ill-intentioned individuals are no longer able to sit still." Lu Wu Xie's brows furrowed, his premonition of something bad growing stronger.
Zhong Li pursed her lips, remembering Lu Wu Xie's greatest wish after his rebirth, and comforted him, "We've been planning this for so long, nothing will go wrong."
"Mm!" Lu Wu Xie nodded, burying his head in her neck, and quietly closed his eyes.
At this moment, in the Phoenix Palace.
"Bastard, bastard, bastard!"
Shen Nong, holding a poker, vented her anger in the palace. Any object she saw was pushed and smashed.
"Your Highness, please be careful..." Zi Pei reminded her, following behind.
Shen Nong seemed not to hear, her actions becoming increasingly frantic.
Until the door of the Phoenix Palace was pushed open, and a figure rushed in, embracing her tightly, "Nong'er, don't be like this, don't be like this, it pains me."
Shen Nong was soothed by the voice and turned to look at the man behind her blankly. At this moment, she could no longer hold back and sobbed into Yun Gonggong's embrace, "Yun Cheng, our Hong'er... Hong'er..."
"Nong'er!" Yun Gonggong tightly gripped Shen Nong's shoulders and said, "I came to the palace as soon as I got the news. Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Shen Nong nodded tearfully.
Yun Gonggong helped her to a chair, wiped her tears, and said, "I underestimated Zhong Li.
I didn't expect Minister Wang to defect."
Shen Nong shook her head, "It's not your fault. No one expected Zhong Li to still have Wang Mei as a card.
But now that things have come to this, what should we do?"
Yun Gonggong glanced around and then at Zi Pei. He leaned in and said to Shen Nong, "Nong'er, you need to leave the palace to handle something."
"But the Emperor ordered me..."
"Isn't someone covering for you? Don't be afraid!"