Chapter 377 Foster Father

"My dear minister, you are truly both wise and brave." Emperor Wenyuan looked at Li Xi kneeling below him, his eyes full of admiration.

Li Xi: "Your Majesty flatters me. I am merely fulfilling my duty and sharing Your Majesty's burdens."

"Good, reward me!"

After receiving the reward, Li Xi returned to the mansion, where Meng Zhelan and the others also arrived.

She grabbed Li Xi's hand, extremely anxious: "I heard you were injured, please sit down and let me take a look."

Ling'er, standing nearby, also became anxious, her eyes slightly red: "Yes, you've lost weight. I need to hurry to the kitchen and cook you some good dishes."

After saying that, she ran towards the kitchen, and Tian Tian followed to help.

Back in the room, Meng Zhelan carefully examined Li Xi and even took her pulse. Only after confirming that there was nothing seriously wrong did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Seeing Li Xi looking somewhat stunned, Meng Zhelan chuckled and said, "What's wrong? Are you dumbfounded? You're usually so resourceful, how come you can't even take care of your own health today?"

She gently shook her head: "No, I was thinking about when we first met. I was so badly injured back then, and you were able to save me, so this little injury is nothing to you."

Meng Zhelan: "You always take such care of your body. Although you are highly skilled in martial arts, you are not invincible. Falling off a cliff is no joke. And did you take that life-saving pill I gave you?"

She figured she must have used it already, and would refine it again when she got back later.

"I used it on the person I saved; he was barely clinging to life at the time." Li Xi still retains most of her memory, and she remembers this incident.

"I see. You are quite generous." Upon hearing this, Meng Zhelan's eyes flashed with approval, but then she added with a hint of reproach, "But you should also know that the medicine is extremely precious and should not be used lightly unless it is used by close relatives or friends. Although your intentions are good, you should also consider your own safety."

Li Xi: "Okay, I've got it."

Looking at Xiaoxi's somewhat indifferent expression, Meng Zhelan was a little puzzled, but she thought that her injury here was probably a fundamental one.

So without thinking much about it, she hurriedly went to find the kitchen staff. She wrote down several medicinal recipes and instructed them to prepare them carefully.

At this moment, Li Xi was somewhat dazed, feeling that these people were both unfamiliar and familiar.

Doctor Meng seemed very nervous about himself, but his adoptive father said that for the sake of his great cause, he must remain vigilant and not easily trust anyone.

He also said that it was because the current emperor was incompetent that her biological parents starved to death, and she became an orphan.

Li Xi's thoughts were chaotic and disorganized.

This conflicting emotion made her frown, her gaze wandering around the room as if searching for a place where she could find a moment of peace.

"Xiaoxi, what's wrong?" Meng Zhelan's voice came from outside the door, interrupting her thoughts.

She held up a steaming bowl of medicinal food. "Why are you sweating so much?"

Her clothes were soaked through, and Meng Zhelan was very anxious: "Go take a bath quickly, I've asked the kitchen staff to prepare a medicinal bath."

Li Xi looked up and met Meng Zhelan's anxious expression, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart.

She took the bowl, gently blew on it to cool it down, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Although the medicinal food tasted bitter, it had an indescribable sweetness that seemed to reach straight to the heart and soothe all pain and doubts.

"Thank you," Li Xi said softly.

She suddenly realized that no matter how much her adoptive father taught and advised her, the person in front of her was genuinely concerned about her and had her best interests at heart.

"When did you become so polite?" Meng Zhelan pouted, seemingly dissatisfied with her thanks.

As night deepened, Li Xi tossed and turned in bed, constantly recalling the events from her memory.

Whenever she recalls the details of her interactions with these people, a voice in her head tells her: there's a purpose behind getting close to them, and her godfather is the person she trusts most.

But the concern these people showed her was genuine, and this sense of disconnect made it difficult for her to distinguish what was real.

She closed her eyes, trying to find a glimmer of clarity amidst her chaotic thoughts.

Her adoptive father's teachings were like heavy chains, binding her emotions and judgment.

The warmth and care from these people were like a gentle breeze, quietly dispelling the gloom in my heart.

"What should I believe?" Li Xi murmured to herself.

My head began to feel dizzy, and the sounds of the outside world gradually faded away, like the tide receding, leaving only a lingering melody of a flute echoing in the abyss of my consciousness.

At the same time, the venomous parasites hidden within her body were quietly awakened.

As if summoned by some force, they began to wriggle gently in her veins, and an indescribable power was quietly eroding her mind, leaving her powerless to resist.

Li Xi, however, was completely unaware of this and had already fallen asleep.

a house

"Father, can Li Xi really be controlled by you?" the young man asked doubtfully.

Luo Yun wiped the jade flute, one of the many treasures left by their ancestors.

He looked confident and said, "As long as it's useful in a critical moment, that's fine. Lies may be exposed, but she has already been infected with Gu worms, and the old doctor's medical skills are beyond doubt."

The young man felt much relieved upon hearing this. "Father is wise. So, what should we do next?"

He set down the jade flute, its fine surface gleaming warmly in the moonlight, seemingly still warm from his fingertips. He gently stroked the instrument that had been with him for so many years, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"Next step: expedite the Emperor's deposition of the Crown Prince! Prince Liang is currently still in control, Prince An is nothing but a sickly old man, and Prince Ming is mediocre. Now is your best chance to shine!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Two days later, the atmosphere in the imperial court suddenly became tense.

Wang Youzhi, the remonstrating official, resolutely knelt down on the ground.

Then, his voice, loud as a bell, pierced the silence of the entire hall, each word clear and resounding: "Your subject, Wang Youzhi, dares to impeach His Highness the Crown Prince for his mistakes!"

These words caused an uproar in the court, and all eyes were focused on this outspoken censor.

Emperor Wenyuan's face darkened: "Minister Wang, do you know the gravity of these words? The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation and the future ruler. Do you have any solid evidence to presume to speak so recklessly?"

Emperor Wenyuan's voice was deep and majestic, each word like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of everyone present.

Wang Youzhi raised his head, his gaze firm, without the slightest hesitation: "Your Majesty, I know that these words are of great importance, but I also know that a ruler should put the people first and govern the country with virtue. Recently, His Highness the Crown Prince has done many things that deviate from this principle. Although I am of low rank, I dare not remain silent."

"Oh? Tell me, what exactly has the Crown Prince done that has violated moral principles?" Emperor Wenyuan's tone held a hint of scrutiny, but even more so, an expectation that Wang Youzhi would provide a convincing answer.