Chapter 769: It’s Not Your Fault

Yun Zhao leaned against Feng Yi. “Who do you think would dare to order such a vicious attack?”

“No matter who it is, I will root them out. You have nothing to fear.” Feng Yi squeezed Yun Zhao’s hand. “Tomorrow, I will increase the guard at Hua E Building to protect you and Feng Yun.”

“But the palace banquet is tomorrow.” Yun Zhao’s head throbbed. The noble women from every major family had already received the imperial decree; it couldn’t be easily canceled.

“The arrangements you made previously were excellent. I’ll have Xu Sixi personally oversee things tomorrow.” Feng Yi was still worried. ‘What if that person tries to harm Yun Zhao?’

He would not be able to rest until the culprit was found.

“Alright.” Yun Zhao didn’t demur. At a time like this, the safety of her and her child was more important than anything else.

At that thought, Yun Zhao suddenly turned her head to look at Feng Yi. “I heard someone offered you a beautiful woman? A tribal princess, no less?”

Feng Yi was speechless.

“I refused. I rejected the offer,” Feng Yi said immediately. “What princess? I know of no such princess.”

Yun Zhao tsked, her eyes fixed on Feng Yi. After a long moment, she looked away. “It’s truly dangers at every turn. Why are there so many people with their eyes on you?”

Feng Yi pulled Yun Zhao into his arms. “It’s merely a test from an outlying tribe. Beiming is internally unstable right now. Some clans want to seize power and are seeking Great Chu’s support. A marriage alliance is the best and cheapest method they could devise. They send over one woman and expect me to provide money, men, troops, and supplies? There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

Listening to Feng Yi, Song Yunzhao suddenly thought, ‘That sounds just like him.’

“You’re right. We absolutely can’t let them take advantage of us. If they want our help, they need to show some real sincerity,” Yun Zhao said with a straight face.

“My dear consort speaks wisely.”

Yun Zhao collapsed into Feng Yi’s arms, laughing. The tension that had gripped her all evening finally began to subside.

The Imperial Physician had said An Shutong’s life was in danger, and it was uncertain if she would pull through.

She didn’t like the woman, but ever since Qin Xiyue’s fall from grace, An Shutong had been behaving herself. She hadn’t pulled any more tricks, and they had all been able to coexist peacefully. Naturally, Yun Zhao didn’t want to see her die just like that.

“You still have the banquet tomorrow. You should get some rest,” Feng Yi said, looking at her.

Yun Zhao nodded. Feng Yi didn’t ask about An Shutong’s condition, so she didn’t elaborate either.

She then recalled returning from Baihua Pavilion earlier that day. Zhao Ling’e had led her palace attendants out to see her off, appearing to be an exceedingly proper and polite concubine.

But Yun Zhao knew that, deep down, Zhao Ling’e wasn’t that kind of person.

Zhang Maoquan reported that Zhao Ling’e hadn’t left Baihua Pavilion for hours, both before and after An Shutong’s attack. Still, Yun Zhao knew that just because Zhao Ling’e hadn’t left the pavilion, it didn’t mean she wasn’t a suspect.

However, Zhang Maoquan had also found that aside from visiting the Empress Dowager at Yixin Palace, Zhao Ling’e had done nothing out of the ordinary these past few days. She had been keeping to herself.

She had already sent word to Feng Yunjin and the others, asking Feng Yunjin to keep an eye on Zhao Ling’e.

Feng Yunjin was meticulous and discreet in everything she did. With her watching from the shadows, if Zhao Ling’e truly was up to something, she would surely find out.

There could be no mistakes at the palace banquet tomorrow. Besides, she had no intention of suppressing the news of An Pin’s attack. Word was bound to get out.

The branch of the Zhao Family from the Capital City wasn’t important enough to be part of the imperial retinue at the traveling palace. Even if Zhao Ling’e wanted to do something, she likely had no one at her disposal.

Still, she couldn’t let her guard down. Something about the whole affair felt very strange.

The main problem was the lack of a motive for the attack.

Without a motive, it was impossible to deduce who the assailant might be.

Yun Zhao wasn’t sure how long she lay there thinking before she finally drifted into a groggy sleep.

Only after Yun Zhao was asleep did Feng Yi pull her a little closer and close his own eyes.

Meng Jiuchang would vet every single person in the traveling palace that night. Unless the attacker could fly away or tunnel into the earth, he would be found, even if they had to dig three feet into the ground to find him.

「Baihua Pavilion.」

“My Lady, you’re awake?”

Princess Consort Zhuang had just been dozing off when the voice startled her awake. She immediately hurried into the bedchamber to see Yingxue helping An Shutong sit up for a drink of water.

Seeing Princess Consort Zhuang enter, An Shutong quickly tried to rise and offer a salutation.

Princess Consort Zhuang strode over and gently pressed her down. “Don’t move. Stay seated. How are you feeling now?”

An Shutong felt as if she were in a dream. She had thought she was dead; she never expected to be so lucky as to survive.

And she certainly hadn’t expected to find Princess Consort Zhuang here.

“Consort Zhuang…” An Shutong’s voice was hoarse and weak. She leaned limply against Yingxue, coughing after speaking only a few words.

Princess Consort Zhuang immediately sent for the Imperial Physician.

The Imperial Physician was already waiting at Baihua Pavilion. Hearing that An Pin was awake, he hurried over to take her pulse.

After taking her pulse, the Imperial Physician breathed a sigh of relief. “An Pin is truly blessed. Now that she is awake, she is out of any serious danger. She just needs to rest and recuperate properly.”

Princess Consort Zhuang felt a wave of relief as well. “Can she eat anything now?”

“She can have some porridge. Don’t let her eat too much at first. Let her recover slowly,” the Imperial Physician advised.

Princess Consort Zhuang sent someone to prepare porridge, then asked the Imperial Physician, “How long will it take for An Pin to recover?”

“An Pin’s main issue was severe shock. Now that she’s conscious, her physical condition is no longer critical. A few more days of medicine should suffice. However,” the Imperial Physician said, choosing his words carefully, “a swift recovery will depend on Her Ladyship’s own ability to calm her spirit.”

Many patients’ illnesses are not severe in themselves; the main issue is that they dwell on them, which makes treatment difficult.

An Pin had a near-death experience in the water. The fear is that she won’t be able to overcome this psychological hurdle. If she can’t let it go, it will become a knot in her heart, and the illness will naturally be much harder to cure.

Princess Consort Zhuang understood.

The Imperial Physician wrote out a prescription and took his leave.

A little palace maid brought in the porridge. Yingxue took it and began feeding her mistress, one spoonful at a time.

An Shutong had no appetite, but when she met Princess Consort Zhuang’s gaze, she forced herself to eat, one mouthful at a time.

The warm porridge settled in her stomach, and she finally felt a bit of her strength return. She looked at Princess Consort Zhuang and said, “Your Highness, I beg you to seek justice for me! Someone is trying to kill me!”

Princess Consort Zhuang looked at An Shutong and said in a gentle voice, “There’s no rush. Catch your breath first. There will be time to talk later.” She then looked at Yingxue. “Pour a cup of tea for your mistress.”

“Yes.” Yingxue quickly carried the empty bowl out to prepare the tea.

An Shutong’s eyes darted around the room. Her face grew even paler, and her lips trembled. Finally, she couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness… Mu Qing…”

“She’s gone.”

An Shutong covered her face and began to sob. In her heart, she already knew. In the water, Mu Qing had been completely still. She had grabbed her, trying to drag her to shore, but the girl hadn’t moved at all. She had known then… feared the worst…

Watching her, Princess Consort Zhuang was surprised. She hadn’t realized An Shutong felt such loyalty toward her attendants. She said softly, “The palace attendant who pulled you out said you were trying to bring Mu Qing up as well. But Mu Qing was struck on the back of the head as she fell. She was already unconscious when she hit the water. She couldn’t be saved. It wasn’t your fault.”

An Shutong’s sobs grew louder. After everything she had endured that night, Princess Consort Zhuang’s words caused all the fear, worry, and resentment in her heart to come pouring out.

Princess Consort Zhuang patted her shoulder. “Go on and cry. It’s better to let it all out.”

‘When her own family had met with disaster, she too had felt as if her world had collapsed. She had hidden away and cried her heart out, but life still had to go on.’

When Yingxue came back in, she saw her mistress crying so brokenly. At the thought of Mu Qing, tears began to stream down her own face as well.