Chapter 85: Matriarchal Society 26 (Second Update)

The imperial physician wrote a new prescription and said to the two of them, “Liu Jun’s health is recovering well. After finishing this round of medicine, there will be no need for further treatment.”

Hearing this, Liu Qingyun’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Indeed,” Doctor Liu stroked his white beard.

After he left, Liu Qingyun circled around Le Yixian excitedly. “Sister You, did you hear that? Did you hear? Soon I won’t have to drink medicine anymore!”

“Yes, I heard,” Le Yixian nodded.

While the two were still rejoicing, a palace attendant announced the arrival of the Third Princess.

Le Yixian and Liu Qingyun exchanged a glance.

Hong Anle had come to express her gratitude. Upon returning to the palace, she had heard from her daughter that Le Yixian had rescued her from a tree.

“I heard brother-in-law has long been unwell. While outside the palace, I chanced upon a rare hundred-year-old ice lotus. Its medicinal properties are gentle, and it’s perfect for nourishing a frail body,” Hong Anle said, and as she spoke, her attendant respectfully opened a long rectangular box. Nestled in red silk was a flower as clear as ice.

“Thank you, Third Sister,” Le Yixian did not refuse her. Other gifts she might have declined, but she would never turn away the ice lotus.

This was a miraculous medicine in the story, able to cure all illnesses and greatly benefit her beloved’s health.

Seeing her accept so readily, Hong Anle was somewhat surprised.

“There are some matters I’d like to speak with you about privately,” Hong Anle said with a smile.

Le Yixian’s study was usually used by Liu Qingyun, so it was filled with medical texts, and the air carried a faint herbal scent.

Hong Anle looked around. “The love between you and your husband is truly enviable.”

“You and your husbands get along well, and your children are adorable,” Le Yixian replied.

After exchanging compliments, silence fell between them.

“Mother said that you’ve changed a lot over the years. I didn’t believe it, but seeing you today, you truly are different from before,” Hong Anle said, sitting down on a chair.

“Everyone changes once they have a family,” Le Yixian answered casually. Noticing an unfinished painting by Liu Qingyun on the desk, she couldn’t help but smile.

“I heard you intend to resign as Crown Princess?”

“Yes, I think you’re more suited to the role,” Le Yixian replied with composure.

Hong Anle was taken aback by her straightforwardness and could not find words for a moment. She sighed. “Honestly, I don’t want to be Crown Princess either.”

Le Yixian looked at her in surprise.

Hong Anle sighed again. “You know I’ve always loved beautiful things. In my years outside the palace, I met many handsome men and had brief romances with them. Life is short, and I believe in enjoying it. If I become Crown Princess, I’ll be busy all the time. In the future, I’d have to be as busy as Mother, unable to even visit the inner palace.”

“So I think it’s better for you to remain Crown Princess,” she continued.

Le Yixian blinked at her. “Sister, I don’t want the position either. Besides, in a few days, Mother’s decree will be issued. You should prepare yourself to be Crown Princess.”

Hong Anle was left speechless.

If she’d known, she wouldn’t have returned to the palace.

After Hong Anle returned, Baili Xingxue and Ximen Feng greeted her. Seeing her furrowed brow, they asked, “Did the Crown Princess trouble you?”

“No, she accepted the gift happily. She must truly care for Liu Er. Besides, I don’t think she’s the one who sent assassins after us.”

As for what was happening on Hong Anle’s end, Le Yixian knew nothing.

Liu Qingyun was overjoyed upon learning about the ice lotus. With his medical skill, he was well aware of its properties. “I’ll need to combine the ice lotus with several other herbs to make medicine. I’ll be in the pharmacy for a few days.”

Once the medicine was ready and his health restored, he could have children with Sister You.

The thought filled Liu Qingyun with bliss.

“Rest well. If the attendant reports that you’re skipping meals, I’ll come drag you out myself,” Le Yixian said, not stopping him.

“I’ll eat well. Wait for me, Sister You.” Liu Qingyun leaned over, and they shared a kiss.

After exchanging a few tender words, Liu Qingyun reluctantly left for the pharmacy.

Le Yixian watched him go, then turned to seek out the Empress.

The Empress sat high upon the throne, looking down at her, her voice calm. “I will remove you from your position as Crown Princess.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Le Yixian said with a bow.

“No need for thanks,” the Empress replied, her gaze deep and unreadable, a flicker of data passing swiftly through her eyes, though Le Yixian, with her head bowed, did not see it. “This way, things are easier for me as well.”

At those words, Le Yixian frowned slightly. Suddenly, a sharp wind swept behind her, and pain shot through her back. She staggered, disbelieving, and looked down to see the gleaming, blood-stained tip of a sword.

Blood? Whose blood was this?

Three days later, Liu Qingyun emerged from the pharmacy holding the finished medicine, only to be met by his mother and black-armored guards. Surprised, he asked, “Mother, why are you here?”

“My son,” his mother’s face was heavy with sorrow as she looked at his youthful features. “I’ve come to take you home.”

“Home? Why? Where’s Sister You?” Liu Qingyun looked around, but could not find the one he longed for.

“We’ll talk at home, all right?” Prime Minister Liu’s voice trembled.

Liu Qingyun sensed something was wrong. “Where’s Sister You?”

“Three days ago, Princess Hong Anyou murdered the Empress with a sword in the imperial study and was executed on the spot by the guards!”

Regicide? Executed on the spot?

“Mother, what do you mean?” Liu Qingyun’s body trembled, the box in his hands falling to the ground. With a thud, the wooden box burst open and two pearl-like pills rolled onto the floor.

“By imperial decree, the eldest princess, dissatisfied at being stripped of her title, attempted regicide with a sword…”

“Impossible!” Liu Qingyun shouted. “How could that be? She clearly said she wanted to live in seclusion with me. How could she do such a thing for this?”

As he spoke, blood spurted from his lips. Prime Minister Liu was alarmed and rushed to support him.

“A-Yun?”

“It’s not possible. Sister You would never do that. She said so herself, that we’d spend our lives together,” Liu Qingyun’s eyes dimmed. “Liar!”

Le Yixian, you liar.

—

In the hospital room, Le Yixian was on the verge of madness. “What happened?”

The NPCs rebelled? Someone stabbed her in the back for no reason? She’d been killed.

“Gousheng recorded everything. I’ll have to look into it,” Li Yue said, frowning deeply and pointing at the monitor by the hospital bed. “It’s not looking good. Your man is clearly traumatized; his consciousness is starting to fade.”