PFC Chapter 166 Jiang Qingxue shields Qin Mu from a knife, Xu Fenghua is jealous?
Chapter 166 Jiang Qingxue shields Qin Mu from a knife, Xu Fenghua is jealous?
Xu Fenghua suddenly stood up, the candlelight flickering on her face, reflecting the shock that instantly erupted in her eyes.
Assassination attempt?
Qin Mu assassinated?
At this critical juncture?
Who is the assassin? Why did they want to assassinate Qin Mu at this time?
Are they from the North? Or from some other faction?
Countless questions flashed through her mind.
"How is Qin Mu?" Xu Fenghua asked quickly.
Wang Jimin shook his head and said, "It had no effect whatsoever. I'm perfectly safe and sound, and I wasn't injured."
Xu Fenghua frowned slightly, a complex emotion flashing through her mind.
If Qin Mu were to die like this, it would undoubtedly be a relief for her and a great blessing for the Northern Territory.
such a pity.
However, Xu Fenghua also knew that Qin Mu could not possibly die so easily.
So I wasn't too disappointed, but I was curious about who was trying to assassinate Qin Mu and who was with him at the time.
"Then..." She paused, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked, "What about Xuefei? Was she... there at the time?"
A complex light flashed in Wang Jimin's eyes.
He raised his head, looked at Xu Fenghua, and lowered his voice even further:
"Consort Xue... was taking a walk with His Majesty in the Imperial Garden at the time."
Xu Fenghua's heart tightened suddenly!
Are Qingxue and Qin Mu together?
Then she...
"How is she?" Xu Fenghua's voice was filled with barely concealed anxiety. "Is she injured?"
Wang Jimin nodded slowly, his tone heavy:
"Consort Xue... took a knife for His Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Xu Fenghua frowned.
Qingxue... took a knife for Qin Mu?
That girl who was always aloof and distant, filled with fear and resistance towards Qin Mu, would actually risk her life for him?
Why?
Were they forced into it?
Or... voluntary?
Countless thoughts clashed wildly in Xu Fenghua's mind, making it almost impossible for her to think.
"How badly is she injured?" Xu Fenghua asked softly. "How is she now? Has the imperial physician examined her?"
Wang Jimin quickly said:
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, Consort Xue's injuries are not too serious. It should only be a knife wound, without any damage to her bones or muscles. His Majesty has already taken my Jade Skin Powder and will personally apply the medicine to Your Majesty."
Xu Fenghua slowly sat down in the round-back chair and nodded gently.
Qingxue is injured.
He was injured because of Qin Mu.
And Qin Mu... seems to really care about her.
This realization stirred up a complex mix of emotions in Xu Fenghua.
There was concern and heartache for Qingxue's injuries.
The girl who grew up in the Listening Snow Pavilion in the Northern Border now has to endure such harm in this deep palace.
There are doubts and unease about the snow removal.
Why did she take a knife for Qin Mu? Was she truly forced into it, or... had her heart begun to waver?
There was also a hint of...jealousy, which she herself was unwilling to admit?
No.
It's not jealousy.
Xu Fenghua forced herself to suppress this absurd thought.
She is the eldest daughter of the Xu family, the young lady of the Northern Border, and Xu Longxiang's older sister. How could she be jealous of Qingxue?
She was just...worried.
He worried that Qingxue would be bewitched by Qin Mu, that she would forget her identity, forget Xu Longxiang, and forget the Northern Border...
What I'm even more worried about is... if Qingxue really sides with Qin Mu, will Xu Longxiang's plans and the great cause in the Northern Territory be affected as a result?
Xu Fenghua slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When I opened my eyes again, they were clear and cold.
"Physician Wang," she spoke slowly, her voice eerily calm, "you handled things very well tonight. This news is very important to me."
Wang Jimin bowed: "It is my honor to be able to share Your Majesty's burdens."
Xu Fenghua nodded, took out a small gold ingot from her sleeve, and handed it over:
"Take this. Continue investigating Cao Wei, but be extra careful and absolutely do not alert him."
"Your Majesty understands." Wang Jimin took the gold ingot and put it into his sleeve naturally.
"Furthermore," Xu Fenghua paused, a sharp glint in her eyes, "what is the palace's reaction to His Majesty's assassination attempt?"
Wang Jimin pondered for a moment and said in a low voice:
"On my way to Huaqing Palace, I noticed that the palace was much more heavily guarded than usual, and the Imperial Guards were patrolling much more frequently. It seems that all the palaces have received the news, and the lights are on, but the specific details... I'm afraid only the Imperial Guards themselves know."
Xu Fenghua nodded slowly.
The assassination attempt on Qin Mu and the subsequent martial law in the palace were expected.
But the question is... who is the assassin?
Are they really from the North?
If so, why did Xu Longxiang make his move at this time?
Doesn't he know that this will only alert Qin Mu and make him more vigilant?
Or is there someone else who is the assassin?
Liyang? Xiliang? Or... those forces in the court who are dissatisfied with Qin Mu?
Xu Fenghua's mind raced, trying to sort out some clues from this mess.
"Physician Wang,"
She spoke again, her voice tinged with weariness, "You've had a hard night. You should go back now. Remember, you came to Huaqing Palace tonight only to present the new prescription; you know nothing else."
"Your Majesty, I understand." Wang Jimin bowed deeply. "Then I shall take my leave."
........
Inside Huaqing Palace, Xu Fenghua sat alone in a round-backed chair, remaining motionless for a long time.
The candlelight flickered in the night wind, casting her long shadow on the wall, much like the turbulent thoughts churning within her.
Qingxue is injured.
He was injured because of Qin Mu.
This news was like a boulder thrown into her already turbulent heart, stirring up countless waves.
Xu Fenghua slowly stood up, walked to the window, and pushed open the carved wooden window.
The cool autumn night breeze swept in, scattering the stray hairs at her temples and also dispelling the slight restlessness in her heart.
She looked in the direction of Yuxiu Palace.
The place was brightly lit; Qin Mu must be applying medicine to Qingxue.
Qingxue must be in a lot of pain right now, right?
That girl who was afraid of pain since childhood, who would cry for half a day if she got a small cut on her hand while practicing swordsmanship at Tingxuexuan when she was young, now has to endure the pain of a knife wound on her shoulder...
A strong feeling of heartache welled up in Xu Fenghua's heart.
She wanted to go to Yuxiu Palace immediately to see Qingxue, to check on her injuries in person, and to ask her why she had done this...
But she can't.
The palace is under martial law tonight. If she were to go to Yuxiu Palace rashly, it would only arouse Qin Mu's suspicion.
What's more... Qingxue is with Qin Mu now.
In what capacity did she go? As her elder sister? As Consort Hua?
Regardless of one's status, going there at this moment would be inappropriate.
Xu Fenghua slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes again, the heartache in them had been forcibly suppressed, replaced by a cold resolve.
There must be a deeper reason behind Qingxue's act of shielding Qin Mu from a knife.
Either she was forced into it. Qin Mu coerced her in some way, forcing her to do it.
Or... it's Qingxue's own choice.
If it's the latter, then the problem is serious.
This means that Qingxue's heart may have begun to waver.
This means that she may have really developed a dependence on Qin Mu, or even... feelings for him.
No.
Xu Fenghua forced herself to break free from this terrible thought.
Qingxue wouldn't.
She loved Xu Longxiang so much and trusted him so much, how could she change her mind in just a few months?
Qin Mu must have used some means to bewitch and coerce her...
But if that's the case, does Xu Longxiang know about it?
Did he know Qingxue's situation in the palace? Did he know the dangers Qingxue might face? Did he know that Qingxue might... no longer completely trust him?
Xu Fenghua's heart sank little by little.
She suddenly realized that Xu Longxiang's understanding of Qingxue might still be limited to that of the naive girl from Tingxuexuan in the Northern Border.
He didn't know what Qingxue had gone through in this deep palace, how much pressure she had endured, or that her heart might be changing little by little...
And all of this is because her older sister... failed to protect her.
Xu Fenghua clenched her fist silently inside her sleeve, her nails digging deep into her palm, drawing blood.
Guilt, self-blame, worry, anxiety... all sorts of emotions intertwined, almost overwhelming her.
But she can't break down.
She had to stay calm, think things through, and come up with a solution.
First, she needed to ascertain Qingxue's true thoughts as soon as possible.
This matter must be asked of Xue in person.
How can we see each other?
Under Qin Mu's watchful eye and the surveillance of the Dragon Shadow Guards, how could she possibly meet Qingxue alone and have a heart-to-heart talk with her?
Xu Fenghua's brows furrowed more and more tightly.
Perhaps... we could use the pretext of visiting someone in the hospital?
It is perfectly reasonable for Qingxue, as her "older sister," to visit her after she was injured.
Even if Qin Mu had doubts, he probably wouldn't stop it.
The problem is that Qin Mu is likely to be present when he visits.
Even if they weren't present, there must have been palace maids, eunuchs, or even members of the Dragon Shadow Guard secretly monitoring them.
How can she ask those sensitive questions without arousing suspicion?
Xu Fenghua's mind raced as she tried to find a feasible solution.
After a long while, a glint of light flashed in her eyes.
Perhaps... we could use the pretext of delivering medicine?
She could have Wang Jimin prepare some excellent external wound medicine, and then she would personally deliver it to Yuxiu Palace, saying it was a small token of appreciation between sisters.
When delivering the medicine, she could use the excuse that she needed to apply it herself for Qingxue, and dismiss everyone else...
However, this still carries a significant risk.
If Qin Mu were to become suspicious, he could easily see through her intentions.
Moreover, Qingxue's attitude towards Qin Mu is unclear, and whether she will cooperate is still unknown.
Xu Fenghua sighed slowly, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.
Even with her brilliant strategies and countless methods, there was still little she could do in the face of absolute power and tight surveillance within the palace.
Perhaps... she should first try to find a way to deliver tonight's message to Xu Longxiang.
The assassination attempt on Qin Mu, the injury to Qing Xue, the martial law being declared in the palace... this intelligence must be very important to Xu Longxiang.
How can I send it?
We cannot easily use Wang Jimin's connections right now.
There was still no news from Cao Wei, and she couldn't let Wang Jimin take the risk.
Are there any other channels?
Xu Fenghua quickly reviewed in her mind the chess pieces she had secretly laid out in the palace over the years.
There were several low-ranking eunuchs and palace maids, several kitchen servants, and a few guards...
However, these people are either in too low a position to access core intelligence, or the risks are too great, as they could be exposed if used.
Xu Fenghua felt a headache coming on.
She suddenly realized that although she had been secretly working in Jiangnan and making arrangements in the palace over the years, when it really came down to it, the pawns she could use were pitifully few.
This is what makes the inner palace so terrifying.
That's what makes Qin Mu so terrifying.
He trapped everyone in this cage, using absolute power and strict surveillance to stifle any possibility of resistance.
Xu Fenghua slowly turned around and walked to the round chair to sit down.
The candlelight flickered on her face, reflecting the cold yet resolute light in her eyes.
Don't rush.
In situations like these, it's crucial not to rush.
She must wait patiently for the right opportunity.
Waiting for news from Cao Wei, waiting for Qingxue's injuries to heal, waiting for the palace to be under martial law...
Then, we'll plan for the future.
Xu Fenghua slowly closed her eyes, forcibly suppressing all her anxiety, worry, and unease.
When I opened my eyes again, they were clear.
She stood up, walked to the dressing table, opened the makeup box, and took out the small black pill, the Breath-Binding Pill, from the bottom.
The pill gleamed with a dark luster in my palm, cold and heavy.
This is the last card we have.
It is a last resort.
Hopefully... I'll never need to use it.
Xu Fenghua put the pills back into the bottom of the makeup box and closed the lid.
Then, she blew out the candle and sat alone in the darkness, gazing out the window at the deep night.
Moonlight peeked through the gaps in the clouds, spilling into the courtyard, creating a cool and serene atmosphere.
night, deeper.
........
On the other side...
Qin Mu gently sprinkled the Jade Skin Powder evenly onto the swollen wound on Jiang Qingxue's shoulder.
Jiang Qingxue kept her eyes closed, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, but she kept biting her lower lip and didn't let out a groan.
Qin Mu took a clean, soft cloth and carefully wrapped it around her again.