Feng Jin's words were utterly shameless, the kind that only she could utter without blushing or batting an eye.
"You... you little imp! I know exactly what you're thinking. Weren't you just concerned with appearances a moment ago? Now you've completely abandoned them."
Having long ago foreseen Feng Jin's little stratagems, the Empress Dowager had only spoken those words to provoke her, to see how long she could hold out. She hadn't expected her to break so quickly, not even lasting a quarter of an hour.
Feng Jin chuckled sheepishly, but continued to argue her case with a glib tongue. "But that's only because I don't want to defy Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager's wishes. Otherwise, people would call me unthinking..."
"Tell me then, what reward do you desire? If you keep refusing, I might really go back on my word."
"No... I'll tell you... I'll tell you right away..."
Feng Jin blurted out, her eyes darting around as her mind raced to figure out what reward would be best. After much thought, she finally settled on it. "Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager... I shall be bold and speak. If my request is too much and angers you, please do not blame me."
"I won't blame you. Speak, what do you want?"
"I want... I want Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager's token..."
The Empress Dowager was intrigued by Feng Jin's request. Why was she so fixated on her token? What was this imp planning now?
"Why do you specifically want my token? Does this token hold some special significance for you?"
"With this matter resolved, Prince Jing's ascension to Crown Prince is a foregone conclusion. I've had some unpleasantness with Prince Jing before, and besides, with my temperament, I'm bound to clash with him again in the future..."
"I was thinking... I was thinking of asking Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager for a token. With your token as protection, Prince Jing would surely show me some consideration. At the very least, he wouldn't simply have me executed in a fit of pique."
Hearing Feng Jin's explanation, the Empress Dowager was at a loss for words, amused and exasperated. She never expected Feng Jin's reasoning to be this.
She had truly thought this girl feared nothing, only to discover that there was indeed something that struck fear into her heart.
"Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager... you don't want to give it to me, do you..."
Seeing the Empress Dowager's prolonged silence, Feng Jin finally couldn't hold back and asked directly. She couldn't let the prize she almost had slip away. Wouldn't that be too much of a loss for her?
"Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager, if you go back on your word, then I'll just pretend I didn't hear anything. Rest assured, my lips are sealed, and I won't speak of it to anyone."
"Alright, you sly girl, you've got a hundred schemes brewing. I've already spoken my word today. If I don't grant your wish, I fear you'll turn the whole place upside down."
The Empress Dowager unfastened a token from her waist and handed it to Feng Jin. "This token is yours from now on."
Feng Jin was overjoyed and clutched it like a precious treasure. "Thank you, Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager."
With this token, she no longer had to fear Chu Chenyi. This was truly her heart's desire.
"You mustn't use this token to act recklessly. With my token in hand, you no longer need to worry about Chenyi causing you trouble."
"This is my talisman! With Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager's protection, Prince Jing certainly won't dare to bully me anymore."
Now she could truly control Chu Chenyi. She refused to believe he could still make trouble in the face of the Empress Dowager's token.
"Chenyi bullies you... I don't believe he has that much power!"
It seemed Chu Chenyi had been on the receiving end of Feng Jin's bullying. Now that Feng Jin was asking for the token, she was worried that after Chu Chenyi ascended the throne, he would seek revenge. This was her seeking a talisman.
This girl was truly cunning. Chu Chenyi would naturally not be her match.
Now, with her token in hand, she would likely become even more fearless.
"Not at all, it's Prince Jing who has been bullying me. I only offended him for self-preservation."
Feng Jin spoke with such earnest sincerity that anyone unaware of the truth would surely be deceived by her words.
The Empress Dowager shook her head helplessly. At her age, being able to see her descendants before her was a great blessing. Now, with this clever Feng Jin accompanying her, her mood had improved considerably. She was willing to indulge Feng Jin's antics.
As long as it wasn't something too outrageous, she would protect Feng Jin and give her the capital to be spoiled.
...
"Father Emperor... Father Emperor..."
Chu Chenyi, who had been keeping vigil by the bedside, noticed Emperor Xuanwen's stirring and rushed over to inquire.
Emperor Xuanwen, who had been in a coma for a long time, began to show signs of movement, his fingers twitching, as if he were about to wake up.
"Water... water..."
Emperor Xuanwen murmured softly, his lips dry and cracked, trembling slightly.
Chu Chenyi leaned close to Emperor Xuanwen and finally heard what he was saying. He quickly got up with a cup of water and fed him some with a spoon.
"Father Emperor... Father Emperor..."
After calling out a couple more times, Emperor Xuanwen's tightly shut eyelids twitched slightly, and he slowly opened them.
Having been unconscious for so long, and only just waking, Emperor Xuanwen's consciousness was very hazy. He stared at Chu Chenyi for a long time before slowly opening his mouth and saying, "Chenyi... why are you here?"
"Father Emperor, you're finally awake. I'll go call Feng Jin to examine you."
Chu Chenyi breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally woken up. Just as he was about to get up to call Feng Jin, the Empress Dowager, supported by Feng Jin, entered.
"Imperial Grandmother."
"How is your Father Emperor?"
"Reporting to Imperial Grandmother, Father Emperor just woke up. He just drank some water."
While they were talking, Feng Jin stepped forward and approached the bedside to examine Emperor Xuanwen.
"How is the Emperor?" The Empress Dowager, her heart filled with concern, asked impatiently as Feng Jin took Emperor Xuanwen's pulse.
Feng Jin withdrew her hand from Emperor Xuanwen's pulse. "Your Majesty's body still has residual toxins that have not been completely cleared. Your Majesty has been deeply poisoned and requires several more days of slow detoxification to completely remove the poison from your body."
"Then is there any serious issue with the Emperor's condition now?"
"Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager, please rest assured. Your Majesty's body is no longer in grave danger. He is merely a little weak and only needs a few days of rest."