People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 263, You're Too Late

“Brother-in-law, matters at the palace are of utmost importance. The royal carriage is still waiting outside. You should go to the palace first. I can manage on my own.”

Nongyu looked at Xu Qing and said, although she didn't want Xu Qing to leave either.

However, the safety of the King of Han and the identity of the Tide Demoness in the palace were matters of life and death for everyone in the Quicksand organization, and she could still distinguish between what was important and what was urgent.

"Are you alright on your own?" Xu Qing asked softly.

"It's ok."

Nongyu shook her head slightly. She was not a helpless little girl. Although what happened tonight was a big shock to her, it did not affect her too much.

She wasn't as fragile as Xu Qing thought; otherwise, Zi Nu wouldn't have allowed her to undergo training and join the quicksand to carry out missions.

"Don't force yourself."

Xu Qing stroked Nongyu's hair and smiled calmly.

"will not."

Nongyu placed her hands on Xu Qing's shoulders, bit her lower lip, and slowly got up. She reached out to straighten her somewhat disheveled clothes, picked up the long sword from the ground, and, with her legs feeling weak, sat down on the seat.

Xu Qing looked at Nongyu, who was still determined, and said nothing more. He sat up from the ground, took off his outer clothes, and put on his official robes.

As the moon rose above the treetops, Xu Qing reluctantly left her home.

The coachman looked at Xu Qing, who had finally come out, and a look of doubt flashed in his eyes.

Why did it take Xu Qing so long to change his clothes? But he didn't dare to ask, after all, he was just a coachman, the lowest-ranking eunuch in the Han King's palace, and had no right to ask what Xu Qing had done.

"Let's go to the palace."

Xu Qing said something to the coachman and then climbed into the carriage.

"promise."

After Xu Qing was settled, the coachman drove the carriage toward the Han King's Palace.

After the carriage left, Nongyu, dressed in black, climbed over the wall of Cai Xuqing's house.

Watching Xu Qing leave, a hint of affection flashed in Nongyu's eyes before she put on her mask and returned to Zilan Pavilion, completely forgetting why she had come to find Xu Qing.

Fifteen minutes later, at the Han King's Palace.

When the guards at the gates of the Han King's palace saw that it was Xu Qing, they did not make way for him as they had for Han Fei, Zhang Kaidi, and the others, allowing Xu Qing to enter the palace.

Because of Tianze's attack on the Han royal palace, which caused King An of Han to fall into a coma, the security at the Han royal palace is tighter than usual.

Patrolling guards could be seen on every passageway and road, clearly a rearrangement made by Ji Wuye to prevent anyone from secretly approaching King Han An.

"Ji Wuye's arrangements are indeed meticulous."

After sighing, Xu Qing headed towards the sleeping quarters where King Han An was.

When the patrolling guards saw that it was Xu Qing, they did not stop him because the Tide Demoness had given an order in the name of King Han An, and let Xu Qing go to the bedchamber.

Before long, Xu Qing climbed the high steps and arrived at the palace where King Han An was located.

Xin'er, the personal maid of the Tide Demoness, was guarding the door of the bedchamber. When she saw Xu Qing arrive, she stepped forward and bowed.

"Imperial Physician, you've arrived! The King and Queen are waiting for you in the palace," Xin'er said, bowing.

Xu Qing nodded slightly, then pushed open the door of the bedroom and went inside.

Xin'er glanced at the maids and eunuchs around her, waved to them, and these eunuchs and maids were all from Mingzhu Palace, so they naturally understood everything and left without the slightest hesitation.

"Sigh, life is tough."

After sighing, Xin'er thoughtfully closed the palace gate for Xu Qing and then began to keep watch for Xu Qing and Madam Mingzhu.

The large sleeping chamber was dimly lit, with only one or two candles burning. Wisps of white smoke rose from the purple-gold incense burner in the center of the chamber, filling the room with the scent of incense.

After taking a sniff, Xu Qing noticed something strange about the incense in the air.

"You're late~" A charming yet gentle voice rang out. Xu Qing looked in the direction of the voice and saw the Tide Demoness emerge from behind a curtain.

The trendy woman was unusually dressed in a dark blue strapless palace dress, the dress clinging tightly to her graceful figure, her fair shoulders and collarbones exposed, and her snow-white breasts alluring.

Her slender waist was bound so tightly it could be grasped in one hand, and the long skirt, like a blooming blue rose, flared slightly at the floor, its narrowness between her calves creating an exquisitely beautiful curve.

Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, held in place by several exquisite hairpins. A long hair ornament with two precious pearls hung from the end, swaying slightly as she moved, accentuating her stunning beauty and allure. Her narrow, beautiful eyes blinked slightly.

Her smile was enchanting, seemingly radiating allure. Her small lips were slightly upturned, and her red lips parted slightly, as if inviting someone to kiss her.

Her hips were tightly wrapped, and the long skirt hugged her beautiful legs all the way to the ground. She wore a pair of purple high-heeled boots.

The last time the trendy fairy dressed so formally was when they first met. Back then, he was still an innocent young doctor, while the trendy fairy was a wicked woman who liked to toy with him.

"It took you a while to get home and change clothes. What did you put in the incense?"

Xu Qing looked at the Tide Demoness, and the anger he had suppressed rose again.

"Just a few small ingredients, otherwise how could I control the person inside the house?"

The fairy maiden, with a gentle voice and a smile, walked to Xu Qing's side, stretched out her fair, lotus-root-like arm, and wrapped it around Xu Qing's neck.

Xu Qing glanced at Han Wang'an, who was sleeping soundly in the room amidst the incense. His aged face was extremely pale, and his lips were slightly purple, making him look as if he had been poisoned.

"Aren't you afraid of poisoning the King with such strong incense?" Xu Qing asked.

"What? You still care about this old man's life?"

Chao Nu Yao tilted her head slightly and looked at Xu Qing, speaking softly.

“I care about you. If the king dies from poisoning under your care, you will be the one in trouble.”

Xu Qing reached out and skillfully wrapped his arms around Madam Mingzhu's waist, looking at her with tender eyes.

Hearing Xu Qing's words, the Tide Demoness's eyes softened even more, and she leaned against Xu Qing, whispering...
"Hmph~ Don't worry about him. Ji Wuye wants to take advantage of the king's fright to seal off the palace and control the court. If we don't use some drastic measures, how can we make him obey?"

"It's normal for him to have this reaction. The incense he was given usually contained a lot of toxins, which had accumulated in his internal organs over the years."

"This sudden administration of strong medicine caused the toxins to erupt, but don't worry, I gave him an antidote to suppress the toxins."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing glanced at Han Wang'an with some sympathy.

In order to control the Korean court, Chao Nu Yao didn't care about the life or death of King Han An at all. With his body weakened by wine and women, it was hard to say when he might suddenly lose control of the poison and die suddenly.

After turning his gaze away, Xu Qing looked at the pretty face of the Tide Demoness and asked...
Why did you suddenly summon me to the palace?

"What can I do? What else could I possibly do? Have you forgotten what I promised you?"

Madam Mingzhu smiled and spoke in a soft, sweet voice.

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Xu Qing's eyes. He then looked at the unconscious Han Wang'an inside the room and said hesitantly.
"That seems a bit inappropriate."

Upon hearing this, Chao Nu Yao pushed Xu Qing away, gathered her inner strength in her palm, and pushed open the door to reveal a clean and tidy room.

"What? Are you scared?"

The Tide Demoness was surrounded by dark purple internal energy, and her originally form-fitting palace dress fell down, revealing a white robe.

Xu Qing recognized the white clothes immediately; it was the one he had given her.

"Fear? I don't even know what fear is."

Xu Qing was just being polite; the anger that Nongyu had stirred up hadn't subsided yet, and he was still very angry.

Xu Qing picked up the Tide Demoness and headed towards the small room.

"An impatient little man~"

The trendy girl gave a coquettish laugh and rolled her eyes at Xu Qing in a spoiled manner.

(End of this chapter)