Chapter 59: The Legendary Dragon Ying Flower

Li Ning’an approached Yan Suo and bowed deeply to thank him. Startled, Yan Suo hurriedly turned his head away, trying to avoid the bow, but Li Ning’an believed he deserved this gesture of gratitude.

“The emperor forbade you from speaking because he didn’t want me to take any risks, but as his daughter, I cannot simply watch as he faces danger,” she said softly. “Thank you for telling me the truth today.”

The emperor would most likely scold Yan Suo later, but given his long years of service, his life wouldn’t be at risk. Yan Suo still needed to return to serve the emperor, so he didn’t linger. “I must return to my duties.”

Li Ning’an nodded and said to Hongxiu, “Escort Yan Suo out.”

Hongxiu gestured for Yan Suo to leave. After sending him off, she returned and exchanged a worried look with Xing’e. Both of them were deeply concerned.

At the same time, they both asked, “Princess, is the emperor’s condition really as serious as Yan Suo said?”

Hongxiu felt relieved that only a few trusted guards outside had heard the conversation, so the matter wouldn’t spread. The second prince of Beiyue was about to arrive in the capital, and if word got out that the emperor’s health was deteriorating, it could lead to conflict with Beiyue.

Li Ning’an stood silently, her face showing frustration. She absolutely couldn’t give up.

“Xing’e, come with me to the Duke of Ding’s mansion.”

“Princess, it’s still early,” Xing’e said, noticing the faint morning light outside. “Why not have some breakfast first?”

Li Ning’an had no appetite; she was eager to ask the Daoist if her father could still be saved.

“Princess, at least eat something,” Xing’e urged. “The Ninth Prince is still young, and Concubine Tong is ambitious. You need to take care of yourself if you are to face her.”

Reluctantly, Li Ning’an sat down at the nearest seat. “Wendi is the type who won’t move forward unless pushed,” she muttered, weighing her options. If something happened to the emperor, there couldn’t be another person like Fu Minglang stepping in.

Speaking of Fu Minglang, she wondered what he had been up to recently. Without her support, his relationship with Grand Tutor Wen was decent, but if Wendi gained influence and Shui Mingxi recovered his mind, Grand Tutor Wen would no longer need Fu Minglang.

As for Wendi’s older brothers, they were capable enough to maintain stability but lacked the ability to break through challenging situations. That was why Grand Tutor Wen had refused the position of prime minister and hadn’t chosen any of his elder sons.

Indeed, as Princess Ning’an had observed, Grand Tutor Wen had high hopes for Mingxi. As for Wendi, it was good enough if he didn’t infuriate the tutor.

Even though Wendi had gained quite a lot during his trip to Xitong County, including a position in the Ministry of Revenue, Grand Tutor Wen wasn’t overly impressed. Instead, his attention had shifted to Yan Ziqi, the heir of the Duke of Xiang. Rumor had it that Yan Ziqi had become close with the second prince of Beiyue during their journey together.

During that morning’s court session, the Minister of Rites and the Director of the Court of Diplomatic Affairs gave their reports on preparations for receiving the Beiyue prince.

Emperor Mingde nodded in satisfaction. “Both of you have worked hard. Once the second prince of Beiyue arrives in the capital, ensure the Left and Right Guards remain vigilant in protecting the city.”

Fu Xi, the chief eunuch, caught the emperor’s gaze and instantly understood. “If there are no other matters, court is dismissed.”

The Minister of Rites and the Director of the Court of Diplomatic Affairs stepped back. No other officials came forward, indicating that there were no pressing issues to discuss. Fu Xi waited for a moment, then said, “Court dismissed.”

Fu Xi then helped the emperor to the side hall as the officials departed. Emperor Mingde boarded his palanquin, glancing at Fu Xi. “Yan Suo certainly trained a capable son.”

Since eunuchs couldn’t have biological children, they would adopt and raise godchildren. Fu Xi’s godson, quick-witted and clever, had served the emperor well in Yan Suo’s absence.

Emperor Mingde had decided to keep Fu Xi by his side while demoting Yan Suo to a mere tea-serving eunuch. Fu Xi wanted to plead for his godfather’s case but wasn’t sure what had transpired and feared angering the emperor by saying too much.

“I will inform Yan Suo,” Fu Xi replied, bowing.

The emperor nodded approvingly and signaled for the journey to continue.

When Yan Suo returned to the Qian Kun Palace and learned that he had been demoted from chief eunuch to tea-serving eunuch, he didn’t complain. He knew that after accompanying Princess Ning’an, there was no way to conceal what had happened. Failing to carry out the emperor’s orders had earned him this punishment, and he accepted it.

Turning to Fu Xi, Yan Suo said, “Serve the emperor well. I’ll go prepare the tea.”

Yan Suo made his way to the tea room, carefully preparing the tea. Fu Xi returned to the inner hall, and before long, Yan Suo arrived with a tray of hot tea. He truly took his new role as a tea-serving eunuch seriously, replacing the emperor’s tea cups before retreating to the outer hall.

Emperor Mingde continued reviewing memorials, aware of Yan Suo’s presence and departure. He also noted that Fu Xi hadn’t spoken a word in defense of Yan Suo. It seemed that Yan Suo had indeed found a successor.

Meanwhile, over at Li Ning’an’s residence, she finally endured until the si hour (around 9–11 a.m.) and asked Xing’e to prepare the carriage. She was heading to the Duke of Ding’s mansion.

Upon arrival, she had the gatekeeper announce her visit and waited for the Duchess to send someone to escort her inside. The Duchess knew Princess Ning’an had come and sent a maid to guide her to the main hall.

“What brings you here today?” the Duchess asked as she welcomed Ning’an and offered her a seat, then instructed the maids to serve tea. Ning’an sat at a lower seat and accepted the tea.

“I heard that the person treating Shui Mingxi is still in the mansion. Is that correct?” Li Ning’an asked.

The Duchess smiled at the mention of her son. “Thanks to you, princess, he’s much better now.”

The Duchess then ordered a maid to invite the old Daoist priest over.

The man had been brought to the mansion late at night by Eunuch Yan Suo with the instruction to treat Shui Mingxi well. Now that Princess Ning’an was here, the Duchess wondered if perhaps the princess had taken a liking to her son. After all, it seemed unlikely she would show such care merely for the sake of herself and her sister Yue Rong.

The Duchess had not yet arranged a marriage for Shui Mingxi. If he were to marry Princess Ning’an, it wouldn’t be a bad match, considering the court didn’t impose strict limitations on the official duties of a princess consort’s husband.

The Daoist, who had been staying in Shui Mingxi’s courtyard, soon arrived, knowing that the princess had asked for him. He followed the maid to the hall.

“I must ask the Duchess and everyone else to leave. I have something to discuss with the princess in private,” the Daoist said.

The Duchess glanced at Ning’an, and upon seeing her nod, she stood up and took her maids outside. The maids set up a rattan chair for the Duchess to sit on. From this distance, no sound could be heard from inside.

Once alone, the Daoist spoke. “The emperor indeed doesn’t have long to live. Only my elixirs can extend his life.”

Li Ning’an was shocked. “Only extend his life? It can’t fully cure him?”

“It’s already too late—the poison has reached his vital organs. There’s no way to cure it entirely,” the Daoist replied. “Had the emperor met me two years earlier, I could have cured him.”

Li Ning’an pondered for a moment before asking, “What do you need for the treatment?”

“Most of the ingredients are manageable, but one critical component—Dragon Ying Flower—is very difficult to obtain,” the Daoist explained. He had come to the Duke’s mansion to treat Shui Mingxi under the emperor’s orders. The emperor, knowing he wouldn’t live long, had wanted the Daoist to save Shui Mingxi first.

Thus, it had been easy for Yan Suo to persuade the Duke of Ding to let the Daoist treat Shui Mingxi and refine the elixirs for him.

The elixirs were not simple decoctions but pills that had been carefully tempered and fused. The Daoist, disliking bitter medicinal soups, had developed these elixirs, unlike other fraudsters who peddled fake remedies.

Shui Mingxi’s memory had gradually returned, and in about half a month, he would be fully restored. The Daoist, seeing his task here nearing its end, had been planning to seek out the ingredients for the emperor’s medicine even if Princess Ning’an hadn’t arrived.

“The other ingredients I can obtain, but Dragon Ying Flower grows on sheer cliffs in the snowy mountains, making it hard to find. What’s more, the flower is guarded by a monstrous creature that attacks anyone who tries to take it,” the Daoist continued. “I once suggested to the emperor that I go to the snowy mountains to gather the herb, but it’s something I’ve only heard about in legends.”

The emperor, ever mindful of the well-being of his people, didn’t want to trouble others unnecessarily. He had intended for the Daoist to leave after treating Shui Mingxi.

Li Ning’an understood. If she hadn’t lived through a second lifetime, she wouldn’t have believed in such fantastical remedies either. But since the Daoist had mentioned it, there might be records of someone having seen the flower.

Still, her own martial arts were insufficient for such a dangerous mission. She would need to find a trustworthy and skilled martial artist to carry it out in secret, without anyone knowing.

Before that, she had to visit her uncle, King Jing.

Li Ning’an asked, “If the poisoner has the antidote, could that save my father?”