She lifted her clothes to take a look.
Just as expected.
There lay Yan Fei on the bed, mouth slightly open, expression rigid. If not for her moving eyes, she would look no different from a corpse.
The Princess Consort Qi started crying again upon seeing this.
"Quick... quickly summon the imperial physician and also invite the Daoist nun from the ancestral temple."
Soon, the imperial physician and the Daoist nun arrived.
The imperial physician took Yan Fei’s pulse, then frowned.
"Your Highness, the Commandery Princess’s pulse is stable, it doesn’t seem like she’s ill."
"Then how did she end up like this?"
"I... my skills are limited, I really don’t know, perhaps she truly is possessed." The imperial physician said, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
Since she was said to be possessed, they naturally had to exorcise the spirit.
So, a ceremonial table was set up in the garden in the inner courtyard, offerings were placed, and the Daoist nun started performing her ritual with a magic sword, yet Yan Fei showed no signs of improvement.
The Daoist nun, wiping the sweat off her face, gravely stated, "Madam, the evil possessing the Commandery Princess is extremely strong. I cannot deal with it; only my master might provide a glimmer of hope."
The Princess Consort Qi was already at her wit’s end; she was willing to accept any suggestion. Just as she was about to speak—
At that moment, a man rushed in, "Wait a moment!"
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness!"
The servants quickly moved aside, and then the man swiftly walked forward.
"What happened to my sister?"
Seeing the man arrive, the Princess Consort Qi felt as though she had found a central support, and tearfully recounted the events.
Upon hearing, the man frowned, first dismissing the Daoist nun and others, then approached Yan Fei to examine her closely.
The man was named Yan Peng, the son of Prince Qi, and Yan Fei’s older brother.
He had just returned to the Prince’s Mansion from outside and heard about the incident, so he rushed over.
After examining, Yan Peng stood up, his expression extremely serious.
"How is it, Peng’er?" the Princess Consort Qi asked.
Yan Peng said, "My sister isn’t possessed, but has been poisoned."
"Poisoned?" The Princess Consort Qi was shocked.
"Yes, the person who did this is extremely skilled in their craft; even after a long examination, I found only a trace, but I can’t determine the poison."
"So, what can be done? Is my sister going to lie there for the rest of her life?" The Princess Consort Qi began to cry again.
"No, that’s not it. I think the person who poisoned her didn’t intend to take her life. The poison seems to be a mild reprimand; I estimate she’ll recover in a few days."
As Yan Fei’s elder brother, Yan Peng knew her arrogant temper too well. She must have offended someone she shouldn’t have, leading to this.
"It will take several days for her to recover? There’s no other way?"
Although relieved to know her daughter was fine, the Princess Consort Qi felt distressed upon hearing it would take days to recover.
Yan Peng wanted to say that it might be good for her to face some consequence in this way.
But with his mother speaking, he could only sigh helplessly.
"Then we have to ask Senior Sister Yan at Washing Sword Manor."
Hearing this, the Princess Consort Qi’s eyes lit up, "You mean... Xizhao? Has she come out of seclusion?"
"Yes, just this morning, Senior Sister Yan has exited seclusion and successfully proved her Tao in the Fifth Realm," Yan Peng said with admiration.
Entering the Fifth Realm means one can control their own fate.
Especially since Yan Xizhao used the Realm-Breaking Guide to break through into the Fifth Realm; considering her age, opening the meridian is assured in the future. Her future is indeed boundless.
He and his father, Prince Qi, had headed to Washing Sword Manor early for this reason.
Not only them, almost all of the Great Yan royalty went there.
Although most didn’t have the qualification to even enter the mountain, only Prince Qi and other core royal members could, it didn’t diminish their enthusiasm.
Because they understood well that the long-declined Great Yan royalty would be revitalized with the emergence of Celestial Beauty Yan Xizhao.
Hearing this, the Princess Consort Qi was equally amazed.
"Shall we ask Xizhao to come now?"
Yan Peng gave his mother a helpless look.
"Mother, it’s fine to call her Xizhao at home; no one will say anything. But when you’re outside, please respect her title."
"Then... then what should I call her?"
"I’m a disciple of Washing Sword Manor, so I can call her Senior Sister; you should call her Princess Yan."
"Alright... alright, what about your sister?"
"Find a carriage. I’ll take her to Washing Sword Manor to have Senior Sister Yan take a look."
Although unwilling, the only option was to do as suggested. The Princess Consort Qi ordered a carriage to be prepared, moved the still stiff Yan Fei onto it, and Yan Peng accompanied her to Washing Sword Manor outside the Imperial City gate in the north of the city.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ya had also arrived at Anshan Square, near the Four Seas Building.
This area was bustling with teahouses and restaurants.
Zhao Ya chose a teahouse close to the Four Seas Building, sat in the downstairs hall, sipping tea and listening to the conversations around him.
Places like this were the best for information circulation, where even without trying, one could gather useful intelligence.
Like now.
Zhao Ya had just sat down when the discussions at a nearby table caught his attention.
"Hey, did you hear? There was quite a commotion at the Four Seas Building last night!"