Chapter 219
"Your Highness, you have finally returned." Liu Ming, seeing Xu Heming seated by the Old Princess Consort's bedside, had tears of excitement welling up in his eyes.
"Steward Liu, where is Zheng Qiaoshu?" Xu Heming asked coldly upon seeing Liu Ming.
Since Zheng Qiaoshu dared to poison his mother, she should be prepared to face his wrath.
"Your Highness, this old servant has already had Zheng Qiaoshu imprisoned in the manor's dungeon, awaiting your judgment," Liu Ming said excitedly to Xu Heming.
Thinking of how Zheng Qiaoshu had falsely accused him of poisoning the Old Princess Consort, he felt deeply wronged. The reason he had endured these past days without seeking trouble with Zheng Qiaoshu was precisely to wait for the Prince's return to pass judgment on her.
Yes, to wait for the Prince to return and pass judgment.
Liu Ming knew the Prince would absolutely not let Zheng Qiaoshu off.
The Prince's punishment would undoubtedly be far more severe than anything he himself could do.
Xu Heming glanced at the still-unconscious Old Princess Consort and was about to head to the dungeon to settle accounts with Zheng Qiaoshu.
"Cough!"
"Old Princess Consort, you're awake?" Xiuhong, who was standing nearby, saw the Old Princess Consort give a light cough and hurriedly stepped forward to speak to her.
The Old Princess Consort only felt dizzy and heavy-headed, as if she had slept for a very long time.
In truth, she had woken up several times during this period, but she was simply too weak and would fall back asleep after a short while.
Xiuhong wasn't sure if the Old Princess Consort was even aware she was being called at this moment.
But with the Old Princess Consort in this state for several days now, everyone in the Ci'an Hall was extremely worried.
"Physician Zhang!" Seeing this, Matron Luo quickly called out towards the door.
In these past days, the Old Princess Consort had been in this condition no less than a hundred times, yet each time, they couldn't help but have Physician Zhang come to check on her.
Now, Physician Zhang simply waited outside the Ci'an Hall.
"Mother, how are you feeling?" Xu Heming, having just returned, initially thought the Old Princess Consort was awake and trying to get up.
"Your Highness, perhaps we should let the physician examine the Old Princess Consort first?" Physician Zhang, who had just entered, saw he had no space to conduct his examination and inquired softly.
"Mm."
Xu Heming stood to the side, waiting for Physician Zhang to examine the Old Princess Consort.
Xiuhong and Matron Luo stood by anxiously, fearing that, like before, the Old Princess Consort would fall asleep again after just a short while.
"Ming'er?" The Old Princess Consort remembered that Xu Heming had gone to Li'an County.
How was he back already?
"Mother? How do you feel?" Xu Heming quickly asked.
"It's nothing, just old and useless. Has Qing Shi not returned?" The Old Princess Consort was unaware that Zheng Qiaoshu had poisoned her, thinking it was just her advanced age causing problems.
However, seeing her son had returned, she looked past Xu Heming but did not see her dearly missed Xu Qingshi, and couldn't help feeling a pang of disappointment.
Xu Heming felt slightly awkward.
"Mother, Qing Shi and I only returned today. The journey was exhausting, and he hasn't quite recovered yet. He will come see you after resting for a while," Xu Heming said softly to the Old Princess Consort.
He didn't dare tell the Old Princess Consort that her beloved grandson was still recovering from seasickness.
Xu Heming was even more embarrassed to tell the Old Princess Consort that he himself had also suffered from seasickness.
"I'm fine. It's good that you're back. Has Zhiwei returned as well?" Hearing that Xu Qingshi was back, the Old Princess Consort's mood improved slightly, and she thought of Li Zhiwei, asking about her in passing.
She thought to herself, given her poor health, it seemed she should arrange for the two of them to formally discuss marriage soon.
Perhaps she might even live to see Xu Heming's second child be born.
Otherwise, if she were truly to pass, their marriage would be delayed for several more years.
She also felt somewhat guilty; if she were gone, the manor truly needed a mistress to be proper.
Otherwise, with her son being so busy, her grandson would likely suffer greatly within the manor.
"Mother, Zhiwei has returned. However, Madam Li came to the capital this time as well. Madam Li's health is not very good. Zhiwei will come see you after settling Madam Li in," Xu Heming, thinking the Old Princess Consort might be displeased that Li Zhiwei hadn't visited, quickly explained on Li Zhiwei's behalf.
"Madam Li is in the capital too? That's wonderful." The Old Princess Consort thought to herself that with Madam Li here, the matter of her son's marriage to Li Zhiwei could naturally be brought up.
However, considering Madam Li's arrival, etiquette dictated that she should visit Madam Li, but now she was bedridden with serious illness.
She wondered if Madam Li would take offense.
"Ah, this body of mine is so uncooperative. Properly speaking, since Madam Li has come to the capital, we should pay her a visit," the Old Princess Consort sighed, voicing her concern.
"Mother, don't worry. Madam Li likely doesn't have the energy to receive visitors right now either. It's best for both of you to recuperate first," Xu Heming quickly said.
In truth, Li Zhiwei had originally wanted to come along to visit the Old Princess Consort, but he didn't know the situation at the manor and didn't dare let Li Zhiwei return to the manor to take such a risk.
"Alright." After speaking for a while, the Old Princess Consort also felt tired.
Physician Zhang had been standing quietly to the side all this time without speaking.
"Mother, I have some matters to attend to. Please rest first. I will come see you again later." Xu Heming stood up, signaling for Steward Liu and Physician Zhang to follow him out.
After talking for a while, the Old Princess Consort also felt somewhat weary.
"I really am getting old," the Old Princess Consort sighed, also blaming herself for being so weak.
"Old Princess Consort, your health is still robust. Just now, the Prince mentioned that Madam Li has also come to the capital. Presumably, the matter of the Prince and the Princess Consort's marriage should be scheduled soon, and we are still waiting for you to oversee it," Matron Luo quickly soothed from the side, fearing the Old Princess Consort might become despondent over this.
Once outside the Ci'an Hall, Xu Heming turned to Physician Zhang and asked, "How is the Old Princess Consort's health?"
"Replying to Your Highness, the Old Princess Consort's constitution has been damaged by this poisoning incident, harming her foundation. She will need to recuperate for some time," Physician Zhang promptly replied.
"Do your best to help the Old Princess Consort recuperate. Take whatever is needed directly from the storeroom." Hearing there was no major danger, Xu Heming also felt relieved.
"Yes! This time, the Old Princess Consort was able to detoxify so quickly is largely thanks to Steward Liu administering the Hundred Antidote Pill in a timely manner. If it had been delayed even a quarter of an hour, the Old Princess Consort would have been in grave danger." Saying this, Physician Zhang also put in a good word for Liu Ming.
After all, at the time, Zheng Qiaoshu had accused Steward Liu of poisoning the Old Princess Consort.
Hearing Physician Zhang's words, Liu Ming cast a grateful look his way.
At that critical moment, he had saved the Old Princess Consort without thinking much of it.
But he was still grateful that Physician Zhang would speak up for him.
Xu Heming felt relieved to hear the Old Princess Consort was out of danger. However, upon learning that Steward Liu had promptly administered the antidote pill, he said to Steward Liu, "You saved the Old Princess Consort. You shall be heavily rewarded. The manor will remember this kindness."
"Prince, this old servant saved the Old Princess Consort because Lord Li recognized she had been poisoned. I dare not claim credit for this deed," Liu Ming quickly said.
