At the entrance of the County Princess's estate, Song Qiming, who had been waiting for quite some time, saw the yamen runners passing by with lanterns and immediately walked out from the gates, feigning confusion.
He called out sternly to stop them, "In the dead of night, what are you all doing?"
Hearing the voice, Lin Jingshan thought they had disturbed the peace of the estate and hurriedly ran over to explain.
"To answer Your Excellency, an assassination attempt was just made on Prince Qi and the envoys of Shuobei on Central Street. I am currently leading my men to search the city for the assassins."
Song Qiming raised his bright eyes, his gaze full of disbelief, while he deliberately flattened the corners of his mouth.
"Who would dare to make a move right under the Emperor's nose? How are Prince Qi and the Shuobei envoys? Are they injured?"
Lin Jingshan replied, "Prince Qi is fine, but the two envoys have been in a deep sleep. A physician has already been called to see them."
Song Qiming furrowed his brows in feigned worry. "Nothing must happen to the Shuobei envoys, otherwise there might be a catastrophe. I will have my older sister go take a look."
Lin Jingshan widened his eyes in pleasant surprise. "If the County Princess could go, that would naturally be for the best. My lord would be at ease."
Song Qiming gave a slight nod and ran inside to call for her.
Not long after, Song Jinzhao walked out, having changed her clothes and draped an outer robe over her shoulders. Her dark hair was entirely pinned up with a single hairpin. Her face was completely devoid of makeup, without even a touch of rouge on her lips, making her look exactly as if she had just been roused from her bed.
The two boarded a carriage and sped toward the government office.
On the other side, a yamen runner hurriedly arrived with a gray-haired physician.
Worried that the drugging would be exposed, Prince Qi immediately clutched his head.
"My head aches terribly. Examine me first."
Jiang Dongsheng hurriedly directed, "Treat His Highness Prince Qi first. If it is serious, we will need to summon an imperial physician."
The physician rubbed his sleepy eyelids, opened his medicine chest, and began to take Xiao Rongche's pulse.
After a long while, he released his hand with slight hesitation, his gaze lingering on Xiao Rongche's eyes.
His body bore severe, unhealed injuries; stagnant blood was attacking his heart, and his constitution was frail. He feared the prince did not have many years left to live.
Afraid of being blamed if he spoke the truth, the elderly physician with trembling fingers tried his best to downplay the condition.
"Your Highness's severe injuries have not healed, and you just suffered a great fright. The instability of your mind has caused the headache. You need a good rest and just a few doses of a soothing prescription."
Not wanting the physician to stay, Xiao Rongche swayed as he stood up. "The imperial physicians from the palace won't arrive at my estate until tomorrow. You will come back with me first."
Seeing that he was going to take the man away, Jiang Dongsheng hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.
"Your Highness, please let the physician examine the two envoys first. They still haven't woken up."
Xiao Rongche waved his arm impatiently, feigning a look of angry agony.
"What could happen from being drunk? I am in pain and exhausted right now. Send someone to escort me back to my estate immediately. As for them, just find another physician."
The sleeping drug slipped into the wine would wear off in three hours. If he stalled for more time until they woke up, no one would be able to trace it.
Even if suspicions arose, they could completely pass it off as a drunken stupor.
Seeing him lose his temper, Jiang Dongsheng was put in a very difficult position.
Prince Qi had a grudge against the Shuobei envoys. He was likely hoping they would die and was deliberately taking the physician away.
"Your Highness, how about a quick examination first? These two cannot meet with any mishaps in Dongzhao."
Xiao Rongche kicked out in the direction of the voice, roaring furiously, "They can't have a mishap, but I can?! I am definitely taking this physician with me. Whether you find another one is up to you, Lord Jiang."
The shoe brushed past Jiang Dongsheng's calf. It didn't hurt, but it struck fear into his heart.
Even if the other party was currently blind, destitute, and out of favor, he was still a prince. How could a mere prefect like him dare to oppose him?
Jiang Dongsheng helplessly cupped his hands in concession. "This humble official will have someone escort Your Highness back to your estate at once."
He would definitely have to call for another physician, but first, he needed to send this person away.
Xiao Rongche, believing he had achieved his goal, left in Jiang Dongsheng's sedan chair. Right on his heels, the carriage from the estate arrived.
When the yamen runner announced that County Princess Linghui had arrived, Jiang Dongsheng dashed out as if he had found a lifesaver.
"This humble official pays his respects to the County Princess."
Song Jinzhao showed a trace of worry on her face and said, "Lord Jiang, there is no need for formalities. I heard that Prince Qi and the envoys were attacked by assassins and remain unconscious. I couldn't set my mind at ease, so I came to take a look. Where are they?"
Jiang Dongsheng hurriedly extended his hand to invite her into the front hall.
"County Princess, you have arrived at the perfect time. Prince Qi complained of a headache and forcibly took the physician away. The two envoys still haven't woken up. Please quickly take a look at them. Is it drunkenness or something else? Could it be internal injuries?"
The sister and brother exchanged a glance and continued walking inside with a tacit understanding.
They had no intention of telling anyone that they were the ones who had thwarted the assassination.
Ye Liangyu and Fei Yanzhang had been beaten with staffs and demoted for impeaching Prince Qi, and Song Qiming was Ye Liangyu's student. If they directly stated that Prince Qi had sent assassins to kill the envoys, it would be easy for Xiao Rongche to bite back at them.
The Emperor was protective of his own and would definitely favor his son, so this case had to be investigated by the Emperor himself.
As for who thwarted the attempt, they might as well let it remain a mystery.
