Chapter 158

Chapter 158: Seeking an Edict

Qi Shu Xian shifted as if to speak again, but Sheng Zhi Wan already thanked Emperor Chong Sheng for the grace. Sheng Zhi Wan rose and walked into the tent without any hesitation.

Qi Shu Xian stared at Sheng Zhi Wan’s back as if Qi Shu Xian had lost his soul.

Meng Yang spoke to Qi Shu Xian several times, and Qi Shu Xian did not respond at all. After a long moment, Qi Shu Xian’s body suddenly trembled as Qi Shu Xian snapped back.

Right- the Empress Dowager.

If the Empress Dowager found out, perhaps the Empress Dowager could save Sheng Zhi Wan’s life.

Thinking of that, Qi Shu Xian could not care about Meng Yang anymore. Qi Shu Xian flung Meng Yang’s hand away and hurried off, only thinking about how to send the news back to the Imperial Palace as quickly as possible.

Emperor Chong Sheng did not believe Sheng Zhi Wan could save Lu Chuo either.

Emperor Chong Sheng only thought Sheng Zhi Wan planned to trade her life for peace between Sheng Kingdom and Northern Di.

Just like back then… just like that person…

That person had offered death willingly, in exchange for Emperor Chong Sheng sparing Imperial Mother, and sparing Sheng Zhi Wan…

Remembering the past, Emperor Chong Sheng’s gaze grew heavy.

Inside the tent, Sheng Zhi Wan turned her back to the others. While the physicians prepared the few herbs Sheng Zhi Wan had named, Sheng Zhi Wan slipped half an antidote into Lu Chuo’s mouth.

The man who had been lying there with his eyes closed, enduring the pain, suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s lips moved.

Lu Chuo saw clearly that Sheng Zhi Wan spoke Northern Di. Lu Chuo’s eyes filled with shock.

Lu Chuo did not recognize Sheng Zhi Wan, and Lu Chuo did not know why Sheng Zhi Wan wanted to save Lu Chuo. Perhaps it was for Sheng Kingdom.

But since Lu Chuo was destined to die anyway, why not gamble once?

Lu Chuo used every bit of strength left to swallow the half pill.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan finally breathe out.

In Sheng Zhi Wan’s previous life, Sheng Zhi Wan had already seen that the poison in Lu Chuo was Fu Ding Flower. But Sheng Zhi Wan chose to hide her ability and handed the antidote to Qi Shu Xian instead.

Qi Shu Xian did not believe Sheng Zhi Wan.

Only when Lu Chuo had just one breath left did Qi Shu Xian finally take the medicine out, using Meng Yang’s name to present it.

Lu Chuo did not die… but because Lu Chuo had been poisoned for too long, the poison left a lasting sickness. With Lu Chuo’s heart illness on top of it, Lu Chuo returned to Northern Di and soon fell gravely ill, then died.

The physicians ground up the herbs Sheng Zhi Wan asked for and brought them over. Since this was an imperial hunt, people might get injured or bitten by poisonous insects or snakes, so the physicians had brought many medicines with them.

Now those medicines came in handy.

Sheng Zhi Wan had them pour the mixture into Lu Chuo’s mouth.

Half of it went in. Half of it spilled back out.

The physicians began to doubt whether it would work at all.

Then Lu Chuo suddenly coughed. “Cough…”

Lu Chuo felt something surge up from his stomach. Lu Chuo turned slightly and vomited a clump of filthy matter.

When the physicians saw the black blood Lu Chuo spat out, they were overjoyed.

One physician blurted out, “Princess, what method was this? How did you make Prince Lu Chuo spit out the poison?”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled apologetically. “It was only an emetic method I read in a book. Also, Prince Lu Chuo was not deeply poisoned. Otherwise, even I would have had no way.”

“Thank you… Princess.” After the physicians wiped him clean, Lu Chuo stared at Sheng Zhi Wan. Lu Chuo still did not know Sheng Zhi Wan’s name or title.

“No need.” Sheng Zhi Wan stood up.

Someone had already gone outside to report. When Emperor Chong Sheng heard that Lu Chuo truly vomited out the poison, Emperor Chong Sheng was shocked.

Qi Shu Xian heard it and thought Qi Shu Xian misheard. Qi Shu Xian grabbed a physician beside him. “Prince Lu Chuo… is Prince Lu Chuo alright?”

The physician had been irritated at being grabbed, but when the physician saw Qi Shu Xian was Princess Qing Ning’s husband, the physician immediately smiled. “Yes, Young Master Qi Shi. I truly didn’t expect the Princess to have such medical skill. Thanks to the Princess, we won’t be punished for failing!”

The physician hurried off to continue working.

Only then did Qi Shu Xian feel like Qi Shu Xian came back to life. Qi Shu Xian rushed into the tent to find Sheng Zhi Wan.

Meng Yang watched Qi Shu Xian’s back. Hidden under Meng Yang’s sleeve, Meng Yang’s hand slowly clenched.

But Sheng Zhi Wan had already been summoned to the main tent.

Emperor Chong Sheng’s gaze was deep. “I truly didn’t know Qing Ning had such impressive medical skill.”

Sheng Zhi Wan knelt on the ground and shook her head lightly. “It wasn’t that this child’s medical skill was impressive.”

“Oh?” Emperor Chong Sheng’s voice turned colder. “If it wasn’t impressive, then how did you do what the imperial physicians could not?”

Sheng Zhi Wan stayed calm. “It was only luck. In a medical book I once read, the signs after poisoning matched Prince Lu Chuo’s condition exactly.”

“Is there truly such a coincidence?” Emperor Chong Sheng did not believe it.

“If Imperial Father is interested, Imperial Father can order someone to fetch the medical book from the Duke manor after we return.” Sheng Zhi Wan had been preparing for this day, and Sheng Zhi Wan had naturally prepared everything.

“So it truly was that kind of coincidence.” Emperor Chong Sheng nodded. “Fine. When we return, I will have Su De Yun accompany you to retrieve it.”

Emperor Chong Sheng gave Sheng Zhi Wan no time at all to prepare anything new.

Sheng Zhi Wan lowered her eyes and looked obedient.

Emperor Chong Sheng waved for Sheng Zhi Wan to leave.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not move. “Does Imperial Father still remember what Imperial Father promised this child?”

Emperor Chong Sheng paused, only then remembering. Emperor Chong Sheng had never believed Sheng Zhi Wan could save Lu Chuo, so Emperor Chong Sheng had not taken her request seriously. Now Emperor Chong Sheng studied her. “Speak.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said each word clearly. “This child wishes to ask Imperial Father to issue an edict allowing this child and Qi Shu Xian to separate by mutual divorce.”

Emperor Chong Sheng could not hide his shock. “Mutual divorce?”

Back then, Emperor Chong Sheng had other plans for Sheng Zhi Wan’s marriage, but before Emperor Chong Sheng could speak, Sheng Zhi Wan had knelt decisively in Zi Sheng Hall to beg for an edict to marry Qi Shu Xian.

Emperor Chong Sheng had been furious at the time.

But Sheng Zhi Wan had begged so loudly and publicly for a man that Emperor Chong Sheng’s original plan became impossible. Emperor Chong Sheng gave up, and Emperor Chong Sheng granted the marriage.

Yet now, only two years later, Sheng Zhi Wan wanted to divorce Qi Shu Xian?

Emperor Chong Sheng’s anger rose. “An emperor does not joke. My orders become law. Back then you forced me to issue an edict with that stubborn insistence, and now you want me to take it back with a single sentence? Qing Ning, what do you think my words are?”

Sheng Zhi Wan bowed low, her tone firm. “Qing Ning knew, which is why Qing Ning dared to wager my life today and beg Imperial Father to grant this edict!”

Sheng Zhi Wan knocked her head down again.

Her smooth forehead hit the stone under the tent with a dull thud.

Emperor Chong Sheng stared at Sheng Zhi Wan with cold eyes. “Why? You are a Princess, and you are the principal wife. Is that farm girl truly so unbearable to you?”

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted her head, eyes cold. “Back then, this child was willing to marry Qi Shu Xian for love. Now this child is unwilling to stay with Qi Shu Xian, also for love.”

Sheng Zhi Wan lowered her head again. Two tears gathered at her lashes and fell.

Emperor Chong Sheng snorted inside, but Emperor Chong Sheng also relaxed a little without realizing it.

A woman was still a woman. Her vision was limited. She grew foolish for love, and she did foolish things for love. If Sheng Zhi Wan wanted a divorce, then so be it.

Besides, in Emperor Chong Sheng’s private heart, Emperor Chong Sheng did not want Sheng Zhi Wan bound to Qi Shu Xian as one body.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s identity was a hidden danger. If Emperor Chong Sheng later needed to promote Qi Shu Xian, it was hard to say whether Qi Shu Xian would develop dangerous thoughts after learning Sheng Zhi Wan’s true identity.

Now that Sheng Zhi Wan herself asked for the divorce, it also solved Emperor Chong Sheng’s worry.

“Since that is so,” Emperor Chong Sheng said, “I will agree. Tomorrow when we return, go back to the Duke manor first. I will have someone deliver the divorce edict there.”

Relief hit Sheng Zhi Wan all at once. Under her sleeve, Sheng Zhi Wan’s tightly clenched fingers finally loosened.

Sheng Zhi Wan bowed again, voice firm and clear. “This child thanks Imperial Father!”