FID – Chapter 904

Chapter 904: Thunderous Means, Total Annihilation

Feng Mohan’s expression was now extremely grim.

Incense!

His sleeping quarters also burned ambergris incense every single day!

“Xiao Feng’er, give me your wrist,” Liu Yusheng said as she pulled his hand over and carefully took his pulse.

“Aunt, do you suspect she also laced my incense with xizi herb?” Feng Mohan’s lips were pressed into a tight, hard line.

He trusted his aunt’s medical skills. But Shan Lai’s schemes were endless, impossible to guard against. Just because he hadn’t been poisoned before didn’t mean he wasn’t now.

If she wanted the child in her womb to be the only heir, maybe she didn’t need to kill him. She only needed to take away his ability to produce an heir.

“Fortunately, your pulse is normal,” Liu Yusheng said as she let go of his hand, breathing a sigh of relief.

She had been so tense while checking his pulse that she held her breath.

Because even though she had the spiritual spring water, it couldn’t reverse the damage caused by long-term xizi herb poisoning. Like those concubines, what had been destroyed in their bodies, the spring might help heal the wounds, but it couldn’t restore their function.

Even if it could, it would be an extremely long and difficult process.

No one at the meal had any appetite.

And the angriest of them all wasn’t the Empress Dowager or Feng Mohan, it was Grandma Liu.

The entire way back to the King’s Manor after leaving the palace, she kept furiously cursing the utterly heartless culprit.

Although she was from a rural family in a small town, she had seen with her own eyes how women who couldn’t bear children were treated—worse than pigs or dogs.

“Nannan, you must catch the person behind this. They’re too vicious! If we don’t root them out now, when Xiao Feng’er chooses more concubines in the future, they might use the same trick again. That person wants to cut off Xiao Feng’er’s bloodline!”

“Grandma,” Liu Yusheng said gently, “Those who harm others will surely be punished. Don’t get too worked up. Feng Qingbai and Xiao Feng’er will investigate thoroughly. But once we get back, don’t mention this again. There are many servants in the manor, and where there are many people, there are many mouths. If word gets out, it could alert the snake before we strike.”

“Don’t worry, I know what to do. I definitely won’t mess up your plans. I won’t say another word!”

The carriage trundled slowly toward the King’s Manor. In her arms, the two little ones occasionally let out soft cries, playing with their own drool. But despite the heartwarming sight, Liu Yusheng couldn’t feel at ease.

There were three palaces and six courtyards in the imperial harem. From the time Xiao Feng’er turned twelve, the court had begun selecting women for the harem. Over the years, if not a thousand, at least five hundred women had entered the palace.

She didn’t know whether all of them had been affected, or only those of high enough rank to be granted the emperor’s favor. Even so, it was already a staggering number.

Shan Lai… Her mind flashed back to the first time she met that woman.

It was by the lotus pond. She had feigned a stomach ache to escape a crowd, and Shan Lai had happened to pass by and helped her out of the situation.

Back then, she had thought the woman was clever and quick-witted. Now, remembering it, all she felt was a chill down her spine.

Was Shan Lai truly just passing by that day or had she been lying in wait, ready to strike from the shadows all along?

If it was intentional, then what was her reason for approaching her?

The two little ones in her arms let out soft coos again, and one of their tiny fists bumped into her chin.

Lowering her gaze, Liu Yusheng looked at the two babies in her arms, their eyes clear and innocent, yet holding a faint spiritual aura. Suddenly, a chill crept through her very bones. She tightened her arms around the babies, holding them close.

Not long after meeting Shan Lai, she had suffered stomach pain and a fever. Perhaps that wasn’t a coincidence either!

There were far too many suspicious things about that woman.

If not for the veil being slowly peeled away layer by layer, who would have ever thought that a mere low-ranking medical maid could stir such a storm in the imperial harem?

Even now, those concubines in the palace probably still thought Shan Lai was a powerless and easily bullied medical maid, completely unaware that she had already stolen their lifelong happiness from them.

How terrifying.

After returning to the King’s Manor, Liu Yusheng sat in the nursery holding the babies, but her expression still hadn’t recovered.

Feng Qingbai came out of the study that afternoon and was met with the sight of her looking completely lost in thought. His brows furrowed, and he went over to pull her to her feet.“Shengsheng, what’s wrong? What happened? Where are Grandmother and Mother?”

“I sent them to the main hall to chat,” she replied in a daze, then suddenly buried herself tightly in Feng Qingbai’s arms.

At the time, she was completely unaware that the other woman had approached her with an ulterior motive. She had nearly endangered the two babies. Even though it was all in the past, the thought of it still sent chills through her.

If it hadn’t been for her spatial spiritual spring, would she have survived relying solely on those imperial physicians? No—she definitely wouldn’t have.

There were people from Baicao Valley among the imperial physicians too!

Feng Qingbai didn’t press her with questions right away. The woman in his arms was breathing unevenly, and that instability stirred a dark anger within him.

“Feng Qingbai, hurry and investigate the connection between that woman, Shan Lai, and Baicao Valley. I fear she might still harm the Empress Dowager and Xiao Feng’er.”

A chilling sharpness flashed in Feng Qingbai’s eyes. Was Shengsheng’s state related to Shan Lai?

“Alright, I’ll get to the bottom of it quickly,” he promised.

Shengsheng was likely still hiding something from him, but he could mostly guess. Shan Lai must have done something to her.

Shengsheng had always been smart. For her to be this frightened, whatever had happened must have come very close to succeeding.

Shan Lai!

Surrounded by the comforting scent of the man, Liu Yusheng slowly relaxed. She finally regained her composure and looked up to give him a small smile. “I’m alright now.”

Those words were exactly what he had said to her that night when his painful memories had resurfaced and she had comforted him.

He leaned down and kissed the corner of her lips. “If anything ever happens, don’t hide it from me. You know I’ll always protect you and the two little ones.”

“Mm.”

In the cradle, the napping Xiao Badou and Hongdou were waking up. Their eyes barely open, still drowsy, their tiny mouths already puckered as if ready to nurse.

Their little cheeks puffed up and down, absolutely adorable.

Liu Yusheng smiled helplessly and teased them, “It’s been just an hour, and they’re already hungry again.”

“You feed the children, I’ll keep you company.”

“Okay.”

The lingering gloom in the nursery was dispelled by the two little ones.

When a woman breastfeeds her babies, a radiant glow naturally appears around her eyes and brows—soft and warm.

Feng Qingbai helped support the little babies. At times like these, besides occasionally stealing a glance at the babies, what he loved most was watching her gentle expression.

After feeding the two little ones and soothing her to rest, listening to her breathing become shallow and calm, the warmth on Feng Qingbai’s face suddenly turned cold. He quietly turned and left the room.

“Increase the guards at Changle Palace. Report everything from what Plum Concubine does daily, who she meets, and every detail without omission!”

“Yes, Master.”

“Also, send orders to Dongyue and Beicang: have the Dongyue Emperor and Prince Ting issue warrants within the borders to capture Xue Zhong!”

Wei Zi received the command and immediately withdrew.

Standing by the window with hands behind his back, Feng Qingbai gazed toward the dusk on the horizon, his eyes dark and cold as ice.

Before, he had patience to slowly wait for clues about Shan Lai, thinking to follow the trail step by step.

But since they dared to set their sights on Shengsheng, he would now use thunderous measures to force Xue Zhong out—hunting them down one by one, leaving none alive!