The atmosphere on the road back to Chen Nan Kingdom was somber due to He Xiaoyu's death, and even Hong Dai became less talkative.
As they were eager to reach their destination, they arrived on the twins' birthday.
The children were overjoyed to see them return, especially Ayu, who immediately hugged Li Yueshu and burst into tears.
Li Yueshu quickly comforted him, her own eyes reddening.
She kissed each of the children on their foreheads. "Today is Awen and Ayi's birthday. Mother will make you a cake!"
Seeing the children seemed to lift her spirits considerably.
The twins, having not seen her for so long, were naturally clingy and insisted on accompanying her to the kitchen.
Li Yueshu needed to enter the air-conditioned room, so she couldn't take them with her.
As she was about to find an excuse, Steward Yan suddenly announced that Princess Yonghe had arrived.
"Why is she here again?" Shen Tingyi asked impatiently. "Ignore her. If we close the door, she'll leave on her own."
Hearing this, Li Yueshu knew that Qin Yijia must have visited frequently during her absence in Qing Yan Kingdom.
Seeing that the twins had no intention of dealing with Qin Yijia, she didn't pry.
She never interfered in her children's affairs; they would come to her when they needed help.
Li Yueshu ruffled the children's hair. "Let your father check if you've been studying diligently. Mother is going to make the cake."
Upon hearing that their homework would be checked, the faces of the three children fell.
"Mother..."
As they were about to beg, a figure suddenly stumbled in. "Miss, you're finally back! No... no good, Concubine Rong is dying!"
The speaker was Mo Lian, who was supposed to be in the palace.
He ran in a hurry, sweat beading on his forehead. "Concubine Rong sent me to find you, Miss. She said there's something very important she needs to tell you before she dies."
Li Yueshu was startled and quickly put down Shen Zhiyu, whom she was holding, and entered the palace with Qin Moyuan.
Concubine Rong's condition was within her expectations, but she hadn't anticipated such news right after returning from Qing Yan Kingdom.
Concubine Rong's palace was sparsely populated, with servants intentionally dismissed.
When Li Yueshu entered the inner chamber, she saw only Concubine Rong lying on the bed, her face pale, and Shen Yimin kneeling by the bedside.
Shen Yimin's face was streaked with tears. This was the first time Li Yueshu had seen the child so vulnerable since she had known him.
Li Yueshu didn't have time to think and rushed to the bedside to check.
Concubine Rong's condition was even worse than she had imagined.
This was clearly someone on the verge of death, holding on to their last breath due to a strong lingering desire.
Li Yueshu frowned, about to speak, when her wrist was suddenly grasped.
Concubine Rong recognized her, her hand trembling. "Finally... you're back..."
She looked at Shen Yimin and spoke with difficulty, "Zimin, call her..."
Before Li Yueshu could understand what was happening, she heard Shen Yimin suddenly exclaim, "Mother!"
This "Mother" was directed at Li Yueshu.
Li Yueshu had always hoped Shen Yimin would call her that, but she never expected it to be under such circumstances, nor did she anticipate that this was what Concubine Rong wanted to say.
She looked at Concubine Rong, who seemed content, with a complex expression, her eyes reddening. She took Concubine Rong's hand and said, "Don't worry, A'min will be my child from now on. I will protect him."
Hearing this, Concubine Rong seemed to finally release the breath that had been stuck in her chest, her entire body relaxing.
The light in her eyes began to fade.
At the very last moment, she gripped Li Yueshu's hand and managed to utter four words: "Be careful... of the Emperor..."
Her jade-like hand dropped, and Concubine Rong's life forever ceased at that age.
"Mother Concubine!"
Shen Yimin, always composed and reserved, cried out in anguish for the first time.
Li Yueshu stayed by Shen Yimin's side as Concubine Rong's funeral rites were performed.
The Emperor also came.
He might not have had much affection for Concubine Rong, but he naturally provided the expected courtesies.
Looking at the Emperor at the front of the crowd, Li Yueshu couldn't help but recall Concubine Rong's last words.
"Be careful of the Emperor?"
What did that mean?
Seeing her gaze fixed on the Emperor, Qin Moyuan gently squeezed her hand. "What's wrong?"
Li Yueshu opened her mouth, looked at the Emperor who was offering incense, and ultimately did not mention Concubine Rong's words.
She lowered her voice and said, "Your imperial brother seems to be poisoned."
Qin Moyuan's pupils contracted, and he instinctively tightened his grip on Li Yueshu's hand.
Seeing the worry in his eyes, Li Yueshu's heart sank.
It seemed she needed to investigate Concubine Rong's words carefully.
As soon as Concubine Rong's funeral rites were over, Qin Moyuan quickly took Li Yueshu to see the Emperor.
However, Qin Moyuan did not mention the poisoning. He only said that the Emperor looked unwell and wanted Li Yueshu to examine him.
The Emperor knew Li Yueshu was skilled in medicine and readily agreed.
According to custom, not even imperial physicians had the right to take the Emperor's pulse, yet he readily extended his hand.
This was because Li Yueshu was someone his brother favored.
Li Yueshu took his pulse and her lips gradually pressed together.
After a long while, she withdrew her hand and turned to Qin Moyuan. "The Emperor is indeed poisoned."
"What?" Cao Zhuang exclaimed. "How is that possible! Miss Li, you must examine carefully. This is not something to joke about!"
Li Yueshu didn't waste words and pointed to the incense burner. "Where did this incense come from?"
Cao Zhuang instinctively glanced at the Emperor. Seeing him nod, he replied, "This was prepared by Noble Consort Lan. For years, the incense the Emperor has used has been personally prepared by Noble Consort Lan."
Cao Zhuang asked cautiously, "Miss Li, if this incense is problematic, why am I unharmed, having been with the Emperor day in and day out?"
Li Yueshu knew that more than just him had questions. She explained, "This incense is fine on its own, but when taken daily with ginseng tea, it becomes a poison that gradually weakens a person's health."
The Emperor's habit of drinking a cup of ginseng tea daily was no secret; Li Yueshu had heard it from Qin Moyuan long ago.
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room turned pale. Cao Zhuang quickly went to extinguish the incense.
Li Yueshu knew this matter was not simple and didn't say much, only leaving behind a prescription for an antidote.
She thought Noble Consort Lan wouldn't be foolish enough to use her own incense to poison someone.
As a result, that evening, Qin Moyuan brought news that the poison was indeed administered by Noble Consort Lan.
It turned out that when news of Qin Moyuan's accident in Da Geng Mountain had returned, the Crown Prince had volunteered to go, providing Noble Consort Lan with an excellent opportunity.
She had expected Qin Moyuan and Qin Yexiu to suffer heavy losses in Guanzhou, and by controlling the Emperor, the throne would undoubtedly belong to her son.
However, shortly after she made her move, she heard that Qin Moyuan had returned safely.
The arrow was already nocked, and there was no turning back. She had merely reduced the dosage of the poison.
With this incident, Noble Consort Lan and the Second Prince were finished.
But what Li Yueshu didn't expect was that Qin Moyuan brought another piece of news. "Noble Consort Lan's poison was given to her by the Poison King of Pang Mountain."
Li Yueshu was shocked. "Isn't the Poison King of Pang Mountain someone from Li Xiangru's faction?"