Li Shu ultimately took Li Man'er's medicine. Eunuch Xia watched, daring not to refuse. At worst, he'd be poisoned, but if that happened, Li Man'er wouldn't escape; regicide was a grave offense.
Though Li Shu could not speak and his body shook uncontrollably, he understood everything. Even as he swallowed the medicine, his eyes burned with venom, fixed on Li Man'er.
Eunuch Xia grew impatient, repeatedly asking Li Man'er, "Princess, how long will this medicine take to work?"
Li Man'er pocketed the remaining medicine from Eunuch Xia's hand and replied, "It has already begun to take effect."
Taken effect?
Eunuch Xia leaned closer to the bed, and Li Qingyun also hastily lifted the bed curtains to examine Li Shu. However, they discovered nothing. Li Shu himself felt no improvement and cursed Li Man'er as a liar and a scoundrel in his heart.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Li Qingyun dared not speak, but Eunuch Xia had no such reservations. He pointed at Li Shu, "Marquis, he..." There was no change at all!
"I am refining pills, not elixirs. They take effect immediately upon ingestion."
Li Qingyun mumbled quietly, "Didn't you say it had already taken effect?"
"Look at his hands, aren't they no longer shaking?"
The two glanced, and it was indeed true. Li Shu's limbs had been shaking severely, but now they seemed still.
Though Li Shu was immobile, he now felt the change in himself. He let out a few cries, gesturing for Li Qingyun to snatch back the remaining medicine. He had seen clearly that the medicine box had been in Eunuch Xia's hand, and Li Man'er had taken it later.
"Father, what do you wish to say?"
"Ah, ah, ah..." Li Shu cried out, saliva unintentionally dribbling down his chin.
Li Qingyun frowned in disgust and subtly stepped back. "What do you want?"
Li Shu saw the expression on his legitimate eldest son's face and was instantly struck by lightning. He never imagined that his most doted-upon son would despise him.
Li Man'er crossed her arms, watching as if it were a spectator sport. "He wants the remaining two pills."
"Oh, right!" Li Qingyun was not foolish. He immediately bowed to Li Man'er to beg for the medicine. "Eldest Sister, Father's medicine..."
"If it belongs to me."
"How can medicine belong to you?" Li Qingyun grew anxious. "It was bestowed upon Father by His Majesty." With this medicine, Li Shu had a greater chance of recovery. At the very least, even if Li Shu did not recover, as long as he lived, he would remain the Marquis of the Iron Gallbladder, and Li Qingyun's status as heir would still have prospects.
If Li Shu died, the title would be immediately demoted. Li Qingyun was not yet an adult; no one knew how he would manage the marquisate after its demotion.
All of Li Qingyun's calculations were clearly visible to Li Man'er. Indeed, he was a scion of the Li family, heartless and self-serving, focused only on schemes. It was understandable, too. Li Qingyun was Guo Shi's son; what good could a woman like that produce?
"The medicine cannot be given to you."
Li Man'er ignored Li Qingyun and turned to speak specifically to Li Shu, "This medicine is more potent than ordinary pills and cannot be taken immediately. It depends on your condition. Only after the first pill is fully absorbed and metabolized can the next dose be administered. Therefore, I will keep this medicine for now. It is for your own good! Right, Eunuch Xia?"
Eunuch Xia knew nothing of these matters, but he understood that he had to side with Princess Anning.
"That is natural. This medicine was refined by the Princess, so she knows its properties best. His Majesty will also need the Princess's instructions before taking it. Young Master, I advise you to listen. You are still a child!"
Li Qingyun was unconvinced. He disdained Eunuch Xia's fawning nature. "She's not much older than me." He said dismissively.
Eunuch Xia smiled. "The Princess is indeed not much older than the Young Master, but the Princess has capabilities. When she was in Mobei, she led troops in battle, routing the barbarians and allowing tens of thousands of border residents to escape war. That is capability! The Princess, relying on her own abilities, received rewards and is more capable than many men." He said, glancing pointedly at Li Qingyun with obvious sarcasm.
How did you inherit your title? How did your father obtain his marquisate?
Inheritance!
In contrast, Princess Anning earned hers through actual combat. If he were a man, achieving such merit in this battle alone would secure his descendants' prosperity for three generations. And he dared to look down on Princess Anning?
Bah!
Li Qingyun was so angered he nearly choked. He spoke without thinking, "The medicine is in her hands. Who knows if she'll tamper with it? What if the next dose is poisoned? Eunuch Xia, you'd best advise His Majesty as well, not to be fooled by those who pretend to be virtuous and steal fame. What if it harms him?"
"How dare you!" Eunuch Xia's face immediately turned stern. "Iron Gallbladder Marquis's Heir, you presume to speak of His Majesty like that."
Li Qingyun's hands and feet became utterly clumsy. "No, Eunuch, a misunderstanding. I, I didn't mean to disrespect His Majesty's intentions, I didn't mean it like that!"
"Hmph! Given you are the Princess's younger brother, this matter ends here. Otherwise, your title as heir might not be secured."
Li Qingyun stood meekly to the side, not daring to speak.
Eunuch Xia rolled his eyes, thinking him useless.
Li Man'er was returning to the Princess's manor. Before leaving, she specially instructed Eunuch Xia, "That medicine, if His Majesty wishes to use it, he must also wait for me to set a time. He cannot take it carelessly. Remember, remember."
"I understand, Princess, rest assured."
Eunuch Xia returned to the palace to report, recounting precisely what had happened at the Li residence, even indirectly reporting Li Qingyun's transgression.
Emperor Chenghua remained silent for a long time. "Enough, I need to read memorials. Prepare the ink."
Poor Eunuch Xia, without even a sip of tea, was put back to work.
In Qitai Palace, Consort Rong was listening to a junior eunuch's report. Upon hearing that Li Man'er had seen the Emperor and then accompanied Eunuch Xia out of the palace to deliver an imperial decree, her face was clouded with gloom.
"We servants cannot ascertain any news from His Majesty's side, nor dare we approach recklessly."
"You did right. We cannot let a small gain lead to a great loss." Consort Rong then asked, "Where did Eunuch Xia deliver the decree?"
"I heard it was to the Iron Gallbladder Marquis's residence."
Consort Rong said impatiently, "The Marquis of the Iron Gallbladder is a dying man, yet they still deliver a decree. Are they perhaps still seeking to bestow honor upon their family?"
"I heard it was to grant medicine."
"Medicine?" Consort Rong said, "It's likely something Princess Anning stirred up again."
The junior eunuch dared not respond, only bowing and standing to the side.
"Keep an eye on Princess Anning's movements. Inform me the moment she enters the palace."
"Yes."
A smile played on Consort Rong's lips. This time, there must be a reckoning between them.